For most of her life, Nixie's home was a rusted, abandoned ship beached on the shore of a beautiful lagoon. The daughter of Atlas, a cult leader, and his three wives, Nixie lives with thirty other cult members. Forbidden from leaving the boat for fear of encountering a "drylander", she passes time with a few friends and her cats. Life's rough on the outside, she's told. People judge based on physical appearance instead of character. But, inspired by old movies and the occasional books her father gives her, Nixie romanticizes life outside the boat. One night, she dives into the lagoon to save a drowning boy. When they begin to develop feelings for each other and want more than just brief encounters on the beach, Nixie plots her escape from the boat to venture into the city-a bold action that's bound to stir up trouble.