Alexander (Alex) Kelvik is a normal, lanky boy in Oregon when one day something happens that changes his life forever. After being attacked by some sort of beast and being sick for weeks, Alex wakes up to a series of questions that never seem to be answered. Why is his family being so secretive about what happened to him? Why did his best friend, Eric, run away? Why is the sickness so painful? And what is the image of the beast that haunts Alex's dreams?But when Eric comes back acting and looking completely different than before, Alex begins to wonder if he is as normal as everyone around him tries to make him think he is.