Page 10 of Psyop Kings

providing support and friendship

It tells more about their facilities located all over the US and contact information for applicants.

Is this something she got involved in?

Before I go chasing this rabbit, I decide I need to speak with someone reputable. Drea is far from reputable. I stuff the pamphlet into my bag and then rise to my feet. The walk to the admin building of USC is a long one, but I need the fresh air.

As soon as I push through the door, I inhale the pumpkin cinnamon coffee scent ruminating from the shop nearby. I’m tempted to grab a drink to help clear the confusion in my head, but I’m feeling too anxious at the moment. Coffee might make things worse.

Fifteen minutes of walking and I’ve not come up with any answers about Megan. I did scour her Instagram, but the last thing she posted was weeks before we even spoke. Nothing since then. I shoot her a message there but don’t wait for an answer since she doesn’t seem keen on giving me one.

The admin building isn’t too busy since we’re well past the halfway mark of the semester. It was bustling with people the first few weeks after the fall period started, but it’s practically crickets now. Again, it makes no sense for Megan to drop out so randomly and without even mentioning it to me or her roommate.

I find a student aide manning the front desk, face buried in what looks to be a chemistry book.

“Hi,” I say, grabbing her attention. “I need to speak to one of the counselors. It’s an emergency.”

The girl stifles an annoyed sigh before slowly rising from her seat. Then she shuffles with no real hurry down the hall. Several agonizing minutes later, she returns.

“Mrs. Caplan will be with you in a minute.”

She plops down in her desk chair and gets back to studying. I pace the floor as I wait for the counselor to arrive. Another few minutes and a rail-thin woman with a bird beak nose gives me a warm smile.

“Come on back,” Mrs. Caplan says, gesturing at me to follow her.

I scurry after her, itching for information. Before we hardly make it into her office, I’m already bursting with the need to speak.

“My friend is missing,” I rush out. “Well, not missing. She, uh, wasn’t in class this morning. Then Professor Bolton said she’d dropped out. When I went to her dorm room, her roommate said she’d packed up and left. I’m really worried something bad has happened to her.”

The woman blinks at me, her smile still plastered on her face. “I’m afraid we can’t give out information on other students.”

I visibly tremble with a mixture of anger and defeat. Rather than lash out at her, I swallow down my emotion and meet her with an even stare. “Please,” I beg softly. “Tell me anything. She won’t return my texts. I think someone kidnapped her.”

Mrs. Caplan’s eyes crinkle as her features transform into one of concern. “Oh, hon. Have a seat. I’ll investigate just to give you some reassurance but without details. I can at least do that.”

Relieved, I sit down, ignoring the ache of my backpack weighing down my shoulders. I know it’s close for my next class to start, but it looks like I’ll be missing today. Luckily, I’m pretty ahead in most classes.

“All right,” Mrs. Caplan says as she also sits and then turns toward her keyboard. “What’s your friend’s name?”

“Megan Benson. She’s a freshman staying in Marks Hall.”

Mrs. Caplan taps away at the keys and then leans toward the screen, squinting. Her bird beak nearly touches the screen. “Hmm.”

My stomach twists. “What? What happened?”

“Nothing. It just says she withdrew from all of her classes online yesterday afternoon.”

“Does it say why?”

“I wouldn’t be able to tell you if it did. But no, there’s no reason. I’m sorry, but that’s all the information I have.”

I stare at her, dumfounded. “But why would she do this? It makes no sense. Could someone have taken her and withdrawn her?”

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