Sixteen year old Aine lives in the Colony, and his whole life was decided before he was born. In two years he will marry the girl next door, Brin, who was assigned as his Other at birth. Then he will be given a position in the Colony's workforce that best suits his talents. Each night he takes four pills, like everyone else in the Colony, and he knows the pills keep them safe and their world in order. Everything is fine. Perfect, in fact. Until Aine accidentally drops one of his pills. Terrified, he tries to hide the mistake, but when he dreams for the first time in his life, he discovers all he's been missing. What scares him more than not taking the pill, though, is how alive his dreams make him feel. Because it isn't Brin he dreams of but his best friend Kyer. Another boy. Suddenly Aine's world turns upside down, and he doesn't know what to think or who to trust. All he knows for sure is he's falling in love with Kyer, which is forbidden by the Colony's Code, and he will do anything to protect their budding relationship. Even if it means defying the Overseer and leaving the Colony behind.

The Colony Book 1: Rebellion

And give up the dream?my mind whispered. The image flooded my senses—Kyer’s closeness, his hand on my leg, the delicious feeling of anticipation deep within that lingered upon awaking. As my Other, Brin could touch me without it seeming improper, but I’d never felt with her the way I had with Kyer in the dream. I’d face any inquisition if only to feel it again.


Thinking fast, I explained, “I woke early this morning for some reason. I guess I just feel a little off today.”


“Before the chime?” Brin narrowed her eyes as she studied me. “That can’t be good. Did you take your pills last night?”


“What? Of course.” I gave her a strange look as if to say, Are you mad?“Didn’t you?”


Her smile slid shyly into view. “Every night. Maybe you need a higher dose. That happened to me once.”


I turned to her, interested now. “When?”


Chapter 6