In the year 2052, the Western Allied States have risen as the new power in North America. Inured by the ravages of war, the young nation tolerates no disobedience from its citizens. The insubordinate are eliminated before their taint can spread, their children taken to ensure the nation's stability. When they come for eighteen year old Chris, he soon learns there are fates worse than death in this cruel new world. Spirited away into the Californian mountains, he becomes a guinea pig in a depraved government experiment to enhance the human race. To survive he will need to beat The Framework-a deadly trial designed to sort the strong from the weak. But Chris soon learns The Framework is more than just a test. It's a battle to the death, and his fellow inmates are the contenders... New York Times bestselling author Aaron Hodges delivers a gripping new tale that explores the dangers of ultimate power in a not so distant future. With characters you'll grow to love and hate, you'll soon be left wondering where the line between the fiction ends and reality begins.