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

Not that I planned to rebel, or anything. No, I wanted to be safe. But I wanted it on myterms, not theirs. Maybe this little trip would give me some ideas on how to stay out of sight without losing the dreams and desires recently awakened within me.


Finally, the guide leading us stopped in front of a shut door. She had a faint smile on her face as she waited for us to gather around. With one hand on the door knob, she told us, “This is the exact center of the Colony, right here. So it seems only natural that here is where we safeguard everyone—all of you, all of us—behind this door.”


A collective gasp rose from my fellow students. I stood on my toes, trying to see around the others, but Kyer’s height gave him a perfect view. “What is it?” someone asked.


Chapter 40