Everyone has a birthmark on their cheek-a number. The lower your number, the more dangerous your power. The higher your number, the less dangerous your power. 50 is the accepted mark between dangerous and not, and everyone with a number higher than 50 has pulled away from everyone under. They're afraid, jealous, and as a result, avoid or mock those under 50.
Ella has a 15 on her cheek; she's one of the most dangerous people in their small town of Palatka, Florida. Only her fellow under 50's are kind to her and don't know her power. But when the rest of the town attacks, their over 50 friends and family start shooting at them and they have to escape or fight. To keep from injuring those they love, they choose to flee.
It's happening all over the world, and no one can explain why. A few people are left unaffected by what seems to be a virus that affects only those with numbers over 50, and while everyone is wary of them suddenly turning, they've experienced enough discrimination to allow the unaffected to blend in.
With Ella's parents on the attack, her friends scared of her power, and danger slowly closing in, besides the fact that her low number has nominated her to lead their group, Ella is faced with how strong she is and how strong she has to be. To win, they need to form a united front to push back while simultaneously figuring out why this is happening.
Killing has never been the answer in this war, especially since they know something is very wrong. A virus? Perhaps. But the answer seems more sinister, and Ella's morals will be tested in a vicious battle that may only end with one side completely decimated. Lives are at stake-and the biggest clue lies in why Ella's parents, while holding a gun to her head, are still terrified of her dying. It's their worst fear, in fact. Putting two and two together is more difficult than Ella first assumes, and the clock is slowly ticking down. Along with it, the number of under 50's still alive.
There was a major war that happened and now the government is trying a new experiment on the city. The main character, Alex, and her best friends who are twins are seeing that something isn't right. They're seniors in high school but because of the war, they've been separated on government orders. No one is allowed outside because the government is making people to believe its toxic. They believe that if the parents believe it, the kids will too. But it doesn't stop Alex. She and her best friends decide that they are going to try and stop this. But how? They have no clue. But the first step, going outside. Is it truely toxic out there ? They're about to find out.