Page 71 of Psyop Kings

Me: Which group home did you come from?

Theo: What?

Me: It’s not a hard question. Caius came from Reno Umbra Center for Boys. How do you know Ted?

Theo: Caius told you that?

Me: Stop answering questions with questions. I need to make sense of this place and you all. If you’re my friend like you claim, help me understand.

Theo: Pittsburgh Dominion House. And yeah, I know Ted. Everyone knows Ted.

I’d asked about Ava, but he’d stopped responding. Since it was late, I assumed he went to bed. My conversation with Gareth was more difficult. It definitely hurt more.

Me: You did me dirty earlier. Is Megan even here? Did you give me the keys to watch me get caught? I must be so amusing to you.

Gareth: I’m sorry. That wasn’t supposed to happen. Forgive me.

Me: Right. Also, what kind of getaway car was that?!

Gareth: I could have thought that through better.

Me: You lied to me. Megan’s not here, is she?

Gareth: It’s not that simple.

Me: Not that simple? Really? It’s literally a yes or no answer. This is just another one of the games you people play. Is she dead? Did Solomon kill her?

Gareth: I hate that you had to see what he did to that girl.

Me: Do you? Seems like you led me straight into his path.

Gareth: That will never happen to you. You’re protected.

Me: I don’t trust a word you say. You flaunted me to him knowing what a sicko he was. If it weren’t for Caius, I’d probably be locked in the trunk of that man’s car by now.

He’d also stopped responding after my last text. I hated that I admitted Caius saved me from that leering murderer, but it was the truth. While texting Gareth, I’d wanted to make him feel bad for what he did.

What a liar.

These people are experts in playing with my emotions. I’m clearly a toy to them.

With anger boiling up inside me, I fling off the covers and climb out of bed. I quickly dress in jeans, boots, and a T-shirt over a thermal. My bedhead hair gets brushed and tossed in a messy bun. After washing my face and brushing my teeth, I venture out of the bedroom.

On the dining room table is a covered plate beside a carafe of orange juice and a bowl of cut fruit. As much as I want to eat, I need to gauge Caius’s mood. If he’s back to his usual emotionless self, I’m going to probe him on Megan. However, if he looks like he wants to shove me into a roaring fire for uncovering his secrets, I’ll turn tail and hide for the rest of the day.

As I near his office, I hear a woman. Slowly, I creep over to the door and listen.

“I’m fine,” she says. “I can handle school and a boyfriend, Dad. People do it all the time.”

My blood runs cold.

Does Caius have a daughter? Is her name Calista?

“And, before you say it, I’ll be home for Christmas. Promise. As long as you’re okay with my boyfriend coming along, too. Things are serious between us, and I want to spend my time off from school with him.”

Caius responds with, “Fine, but you won’t share a bedroom under my roof while you visit.”

I almost giggle at the absurdity of his statement. This, coming from my kidnapper. Suddenly he has morals?

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