Ten years after the End, Rachel Brown is living in a barricaded city with no law, no government. She was a nurse in the Before, and survives by bartering skill for food. Into her life comes Teddy, who has grown up hiding and dreaming. Teddy promises to get Rachel to the Outside. He's in love with Rachel, but she doesn't dare love: bad survival. The most powerful person in the city is Cap, leader of Capsband. Cap and Rachel share a secret, a secret that has kept her alive and has kept him in power for ten years. But Cap's lieutenant, Slag, has plans of his own: to kill Cap and take over Capsband. Rachel discovers Slag's plan, and she and Teddy join Cap in a strange and stealthy war. In the midst of fire and war and betrayal, will Cap finally realize what Rachel means to him? And will Rachel finally stop running and dare to fall in love?