give up the fantasy - (hsmtmts au)

After a messy, family-dividing divorce with her now ex-husband, Lynne notices a change in her son's behavior. Outgoing and friendly as a child, Richard is now quieter, always anxious, and has buried himself deep within his books; befriending fictional characters. Sure, there's nothing wrong with being an avid reader, but after a sudden incident occurs at school, Lynne seeks professional help.

She forces him to the Salt Lake City mountains where he'll be attending an organization for kids "just like him." But as soon as he walks through those grand iron doors, Richard senses there's something off about this place. He can't quite put a finger on it until he meets a certain group of Wildcats.

Fictional friends are hard to let go of, but no one can live without human interaction.

He'll have to close his book every once in a while in order to uncover the many secrets hiding behind every door, every hallway, and every half-smile.

Soon, he'll need to learn to give up the fantasy so he can solve his new reality.

Because that's the thing about mysteries: they demand to be solved.