FAYZ Barrier

The FAYZ barrier, also known as the FAYZ wall, or simply as the dome, is a huge barrier, taking the shape of a sphere (dome), which surrounds the entirety of Perdido Beach and its surrounding countrysides, better known as the FAYZ zone by those trapped inside the barrier. The barrier appeared suddenly without explanation at the beginning of GONE, and effectively cut Perdido Beach from the outside world. The dome is a completely impenetrable barrier, delivering a painful burn to anyone who dared to try to touch it, and being capable of withstanding explosions.

Origin, Creation, and Behaviour
The barrier was created by Little Pete during the beginning stages of a meltdown of the power plant, which would end up being the exact center in the dome. It's creation also occurred simultaneously as the First poof occurred, which caused every inhabitant over the age of fifteen to disappear without a trace.

The exact behavior and nature of the dome remains unknown, but it quickly made itself apparent to be an almost impenetrable wall, being able to deliver painful shocks to those unfortunate enough to touch it, and easily being capable of surviving even bigger explosions. Although the barrier appeared to be solid, it did not cut objects in half. Rather the barrier would just go straight through them, apparently leaving no immediate damage. It was noted as time went by and the barrier was explored that although objects like tree branches were not cut, the barrier did prevent them from growing; leaves would wither, and the part of trees that remained inside the barrier upon its creation would begin to die.

The dome was also big enough to create its own micro-climate, being capable of producing rainfall, and gusts of wind, though the latter was very weak and hardly noticeable to those living inside the dome.

The dome initially sported a greyish-white color, which hindered anyone from looking through it. However, several months into the FAYZ, the United States Military reached the decision to detonate a small nuclear device at the desert-fronting eastern edge of the dome. The explosion rendered the dome transparent for a second, although it was unknown if it was this or Pete's broken Gameboy that caused this, as both coincidentally happened at exactly the same time. . The dome would later turn completely black, blocking out the sun, and causing a panic to break out among the inhabitants of the dome. Finally, at the end of the Battle of the Highway, the barrier turned transparent, and would remain so for the rest of the days it existed until it fell at the end of Light.

Appearances
The wall came into being at exactly the same time everyone at the age of 15 poofed. Sam, Astrid, Quinn and Edilio were the first characters to discover the FAYZ Wall at Clifftop, while looking for Little Pete. Lana also discovers the FAYZ wall behind Hermit Jim's shack.
 * Gone

In Hunger, Lana walks through Perdido Beach and along the southern rim of the FAYZ Wall almost every day, to be sure that it was still there. The barrier stays exactly the same color and strength as in Gone.
 * Hunger

The wall disappears for a few seconds because Little Pete's game-boy was knocked out of his hands and broken, he was devastated and lost control, so the FAYZ wall went away for a few seconds. It revealed everything outside of the FAYZ wall (parents of the FAYZ children and news crews), but it came back down a few seconds later. Some people start making the assumption that when Little Pete dies the FAYZ barrier will come down, and all the kids will be free.
 * Lies

In Plague, while Dekka, Sam, and Toto are flying the missiles container up to the top of the dome, they notice that the barrier maintains an illusion even that close, as Sam said "...expected the stars to be painted on..." They make the similarities between the wall and a snow globe. They hope that, just like a snow globe, there will be an air pocket at the top.
 * Plague

At the beginning of Fear, everybody starts noticing that the barrier is starting to turn black. They call it "the stain". It starts at the bottom of the barrier and gradually makes its way up the sides. The kids of the FAYZ are preparing themselves for when the entire barrier becomes black and any light would be gone leaving them in utter darkness. Close to the end of the book, complete darkness takes over for about a day and after the Battle of the Highway the barrier becomes clear.
 * Fear

In Light the barrier is transparent, and everyone inside the FAYZ can see out into the world. When Gaia Soren-Ladris "hits" Peter Ellison a man called Alex falls into the FAYZ and Gaia eats his arm. Alex finds Drake's head and Drake (being immortal) tells Alex to bring him to Gaia. Gaia takes Alex's body and puts Drake's head on top, and regenerates his whip hand. Also, when Gaia attacks Perdido Beach she uses Sam's killing light to kill three adults on the other side of the barrier. At the end of the book, Little Pete (in Caine Soren's body) and Gaia have a showdown. Gaia attacks Little Pete with Sam's killing light, and Little Pete attacked Gaia with a light that was said to "come from all directions." Both were killed, and, since the FAYZ barrier was Little Pete's creation, the FAYZ barrier came down. Also, since the Gaiaphage was killed, all its creations (the mutations of the people and animals) disappeared.
 * Light