In Hazel's hometown, those who do not fit in are shipped away and out of sight, so when her parents enroll her in a boarding school across the country, she is not surprised. Once there, her ostracization continues, and she quickly finds herself targeted by the local bully, Braxton. To avoid him and his posse, she spends as much time as possible off campus, traversing the surrounding woods. There, in a cave, she meets a creature that will change her life forever and make her question the true cost of survival.