Prologue

Sixteen year old Samantha Briggs has always followed the Institute's rules. In her society, people are given the exact time and date of their deaths, determined by a government machine. There was a rebellion against this, but its last few members were snuffed out ages ago.

Isaac. He's everything Sam finds disgusting. Rebellious and much too flirty for her liking, she's stayed away from him out of hatred and fear. But this hate can't last forever. Isaac knows something about her brother, and something about the uprising that could change everything. It's up to her to figure out what she'll do-follow the Institute's rules and die in a week, or go with an undignified rebel and live.