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

Zenith rushes to my side tearfully. “Mom and Dad decided we’re leaving tonight. I wanted to stay here with you, but they’re too afraid.”


I sigh in resignation. “It’s probably best for all of you that you leave. I don’t want you to be in danger because of me. Are you going to California?”


Zenith nods. “The way your parents are talking, I think that’s where they want to go too after you’ve recovered some more.”


Far too quickly, the Lanagans are headed out the door, carrying what few bags and belongings they brought with them from Mapleville.


“We’ll contact you once we arrive,” Z’s dad says, hurrying out.


I wonder if he is really on our side at the firm expression on his face, and if he’s angry that his association with me has put his family in this position.


I hug my best friend tight. “We’ll set up a video chat as soon as possible.”


Chapter 63