James and Carl were only 10 years old when they kidnapped and murdered 3 year old David McClendon. They were caught, tried, convicted and placed in separate juvenile facilities. At 18-years old, both are given new names and released back into society - much to the horror of the nation. They can have no contact with each other or with their past friends or relatives. The story follows the lives of these two boys as they try to start over, escape the past and survive the growing outcry following their release.

艾力克斯麦肯德里克在罪恶之成的阴影中长大,并过着相当普通的生活。这一切在艾力克斯拥有前所未有的力量后开始改变。由于他的母亲去世,他在不断被人利用的生活中终于再度出现了希望。他寻求着布鲁斯神父的意见,并开始想做些伟大的事情,而不是永远在当地的仓库做存放货物的杂工。