Starved, sun-scorched, and dangerously dehydrated Demetria is barely recognizable as human when she is rescued from the ocean. Having risked everything to escape her oppressive life on High Island she desperately hopes she is finally free. But the world beyond the island is even more terrifying; here people are condemned for their beliefs and castaways like Demetria are accused of being enemy spies. Snatched first by the government who want to interrogate her, then 'rescued' by the resistance, Demetria fears she will never be free. But as she learns about the political situation, about those who go 'missing' and those forced into exile, Demetria begins to understand that there are more important things to fight for than her own freedom...