Zoe Harper is in the last few days of her freshman year of high school. She tells her parents that she struggles to figure out what to do on her summer break, since she failed to form any meaningful friendships during the school year.
The next day, on her way home from school, Zoe encounters a neighborhood book exchange. She takes an anthology of poems by various writers in many different languages. Interestingly, the anthologist is anonymous.
Curious about who the anthologist might be, Zoe searches the internet for information about the book. She finds a summary on a website which heavily implies that the anthology is part of some secret, grand, evil plan the anonymous anthologist has—related to kidnappings he has committed.
School ends. Summer vacation has begun.
Upon more scouring of the web for information, Zoe discovers that the anthology’s “publisher” is located at an abandoned, flooded house about an hour away from her.
A few hours later, Zoe rides her bike all the way to the flooded house.