Page 101 of Psyop Kings

It’s a betrayal beyond my comprehension.

Romy

“It’s okay. You don’t have to be scared ever again.”

I stare at my big brother, wanting badly to believe him. It sounds too good to be true. When Bastian goes to lacrosse practice after school, I’m scared. When Dad works on the days school is out, I’m scared. When the lights go out at night, I’m scared.

“I’ll always be scared,” I tell him, voice small and trembling. “What if…”

He shakes his head, face turning angry. His bottom lip quivers and I think he might cry, but Bastian never cries. He’s strong and big. Nothing ever hurts his feelings, even when Dad is grumpy toward him. I stare in confusion as a tear streaks down his face.

Why is he crying?

Bastian kneels in front of me, pulling me in for a tight squeeze. I always feel safest when I’m near him. I just wish he could be with me always.

“I’m sorry this happened, sis,” Bastian rasps out. “We didn’t know. If we knew…”

They know now and I didn’t even have to tell them.

I thought Dad was going to send me away once he found out because that’s what I’d always been told.

If anyone finds out, Romy, they’ll all leave you because you shouldn’t have let those things happen.

I’d been lied to, though. He did find out and I wasn’t the one to be sent away.

“Come on,” Bastian says, pulling away, eyes red and teary. “Dad says we’re going to see a nice doctor to help you.”

I’m not sick.

Why would the doctor want to help me?

“I don’t want a shot,” I tell him stubbornly. “I’m not sick.”

A flash of anger crosses over his face again, but I know it’s not aimed at me. “I know,” he assures me. “But your mind is a little bit sick. The doctor is just going to help you sort it all out.” He grins at me. “After, we’ll convince Dad to take us to that gelato place you love so much.”

I squeal in excitement, no longer upset over all the terrible things that have happened, instead eager for a sweet treat.

“Race you to the elevator,” I tell him with a toothless grin.

“You’re slow like a turtle,” he teases. “You’ll never win.”

My memory fades and fresh tears come about. I hug the pillow to my face, letting them soak the pillowcase, no doubt ruining the material with my makeup.

Why are Bastian and Megan acting like a couple?

There’s a lot about that conversation that confused me, but hearing my own brother speak so fondly to my missing friend as if they had a long, established romance was mind-blowing.

Caius let me crawl into bed and didn’t try to talk to me about it. I’m sure he gleefully listened to my heartbroken sobs and thought,This girl is so easily fooled. What fun!

Anger tries to rear its head anytime I think of Caius’s smug face, but then my brother’s voice brings pain crashing down around me.

She was taken. I know it. They made it look like she dropped out. When I went looking for her, they took me too. Since then, weeks have passed, and I’ve been dealt into their wicked mindfuckery of a game. Whenever I resist against their head games, they double down on the trickery and gaslight me into submission.

But she’s with my brother, seemingly free and happy.

What happened?

Deep down, I know what happened. They ran her through the CUP program, brainwashed her with their awful ways that clearly have successful results, and then…

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