In Maddison's last visit to the ancient city, she encountered a man. More surprising was what he lacked on his face.... He wore no mask. A hundred years since the Great Disaster and he not only lived beyond infancy, but he breathed the air. No one breathed free air anymore at the risk of dying cancerous and crazed. Nothing of value is free-not the water, not the land, not the food... ...and certainly not the air.

Phil lives underground with his father, safe from the hellscape of the surface. Till now, they get by just fine. But Phil wants more to life than to die an impoverished miner's son. Even in an underground world, there's a higher echelon and decides to pay any price for a chance at fame and fortune.In steps a brooding starlet Phil idolizes. What she offers is an opportunity too good to pass up.