At seventeen, Susan runs away to the wilderness and becomes involved with Paul Chapman. She ignores the possible danger he poses. But her emotional rope is about to snap and her options are limited. His kindness wins her over. Though Paul explains he loves someone else, Susan is determined to return to the forest and have him for herself. Paul mysteriously dies and Susanas sanity is increasingly in question. When corruption seeks to find and destroy Elena, Susanas sanity returns. When the darkness confronts Elena, she has the chance to explain why she exists and to explain Susanas purpose.