During the Second Civil War, a new U.S. political party called the Family Protection Movement established The Divide, which separates Normal people from those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. Seventeen-year old Serenity Blackwater lives in the normal Midwestern town of Mapleville, but she is not normal. She hacks into an illegal gay chat room and meets Dawn, a lesbian who lives in a gay community less than a mile away. Serenity discovers normal people can bribe their way inside the walls and decides to go, both to meet Dawn and check out what may be her future home. Dawn is even more beautiful than Serenity hoped, and the two soon become a couple. But Serenity only has a few months before she must take the Normal Verification Test, and then she’ll be separated from her family forever. So she joins the Human Equality Organization, an underground group working to end The Divide. Dawn thinks the rebellion is too dangerous, and since Dawn’s ex-girlfriend Malaki is also a member, Serenity doesn’t tell Dawn about her involvement. Serenity reveals to the HEO that her parents are leading a campaign to organize attacks on all Gay Communities. With her help, the HEO creates Project Jericho, in which all Gay Communities walls will implode at once. But after too many delays, and when Dawn discovers Serenity has been spending more time with Malaki than her, Serenity knows she has to start the revolution herself. She heads to D.C. to contact a group of senators secretly against The Divide ... or straight into a trap set by the Family Protection Movement.

Uprising

Mal’s eyes widened. “We’ve had an outing! You’ll probably be living in the community soon. You should hang out with me today so you can see something besides Dawn’s yard.”


The back door slammed, and Dawn strode to the fence. “What, Mal?”


“I just asked if Serenity wanted to see the town with me.” Malaki’s eyes were round and green, and for a moment they looked innocent before hardening into what was apparently her usual smirk-masked face.


“She doesn’t want to go with you,” Dawn said.


“Let her speak for herself. You can’t keep her chained in here forever. Not this one.” She grinned and backed away. “When the revolution comes, Serenity, you’ll be free to do whatever you want. Remember that. I’ve got to go to an HEO meeting now, but I’ll see you around.”


As she left, I asked, “What does she mean?”


Chapter 13