In a dystopian future, a mysterious pandemic kills most of America's children while the survivors, now afflicted with various superpowers, are labeled a threat by the government and segregated into brutal internment camps. After a decade of cruel confinement, Ruby Daly, a resilient 16-year-old with powerful telepathic abilities, escapes her camp with the help of the Children's League, a resistance group fighting against government oppression. Traumatized by her experiences and fearing the uncontrollable nature of her powers, Ruby wrestles with the decision to embrace or suppress them.

Outside the camp, Ruby meets a group of runaway teens, including the charismatic Liam, insightful Zu, and cautious Chubs, who are all also gifted with extraordinary abilities. As they journey across Virginia in search of East River, a rumored safe haven led by a mysterious figure known to shelter powered children, Ruby and her new friends must navigate a landscape fraught with dangers. Government forces and bounty hunters are relentlessly tracking down the fugitives, forcing Ruby to confront the grim realities of trust, survival, and the merciless tactics of government officials determined to suppress and control the enhanced youth.