Tess Hunter arrives with her mother in Century Falls, a village devoid of children where the natives are far from friendly, and downright hostile when they discover Mrs Hunter is pregnant.

But Tess isn't the only new arrival in Century Falls. The rather strange Ben Naismith and his twin Carey have been summoned to the village, after being sent away many years ago.

Ben is determined to show Tess things and the three children visit a ruined temple, burnt down exactly forty years ago. Ben takes time back to when fire ravaged the building and a woman flees the temple saying, 'It's all our fault, it's all our fault!'

But that's not all Ben has to show Tess and they visit a waterfall, where Century Falls began, and where a child beckons Tess, causing her to fall into the water�

What caused the fire? Why are there no children in the village? Who is the strange girl? But, more importantly, what is Century?