Tim Rivali

Samson and Beyah have nothing in common on the surface. She comes from a life of poverty and neglect; he comes from a family of wealth and privilege. But one thing they do have in common is that they're both drawn to sad things. Which means they're drawn to each other. Beyah and Samson agree to stay in the shallow end of a summer fling. What Beyah doesn't realize is that a rip current is coming, and it's about to drag her heart out to sea.

While present-day firefighters John Kirk and his partner are inside a burning house trying to locate the fire, something goes terribly wrong. The next morning, John awakes in a hospital surrounded by a group of men claiming to be the crew of Engine Company 8 and that they had rescued him from the porch of a burning house, the night before.