Buried in a place, uninhabited by the sun, rests a community built upon the false premise that the world above them is dangerous. Lies sown into the minds of this society by their governors, the Officials, are meant to confine its people between the dirt walls of the tunnel complex.

Emma Beckett is just one of the many people trapped underground, but unlike the rest, secrets surround her life and her mysterious past. When her best friend suggests that they join an adrenaline-seeking adolescent tournament, things begin to unravel. Emma finds herself falling for the charismatic boy on the opposing team. Soon she begins tumbling unwillingly into a life filled with shocking truths.