Chapter 78
Ellie's POV
The November wind bit through my sweater the second we stepped outside, but Lily didn't seem to notice. She shoved her phone screen in my face before I could even ask.
Campus Whispers – 847 Comments
[CVU Music Major Megan Davis Allegedly Kept by Business Mogul—Luxury Car Pickups from Five-Star Hotels]
The photo was blurry but unmistakable. Megan in jeans and a simple sweater, emerging from the side entrance of the Sheraton downtown. Getting into a black Mercedes S-Class. The comments below were vicious.
"Explains how she affords those designer bags"
"Always knew something was off about her"
"Wonder how much he pays per night"
My stomach twisted. "When did this—"
"Started blowing up last night." Lily's voice was tight, fast. "But it gets worse." She scrolled. Another photo appeared.
The three of us sitting around that table at The Crow's Nest, tarot cards spread between us—Jackson and his roommates there too, all of us laughing over the ridiculous readings. That Halloween thing we'd done for fun. Now captioned:
Kept Woman Allegedly Involved in Occult Practices—Group Rituals at Local Bar
The comments on this one were worse. "Selling her soul for money." "Modern witch vibes." "CVU needs to investigate this."
I sucked in a breath. Forced my hands not to clench into fists. Thalia was snarling inside my head—Find them. Track them. Make them hurt.
"What actually happened?" My voice came out rougher than intended. "What's the real story?"
Lily shook her head, helpless. "She won't say. I asked like five times. She just cries and keeps saying 'I didn't do anything wrong,' but she won't explain whose car that was or why she was at the hotel." She paused. "But we know Megan. There's no way she's being—" Her voice cracked. "There has to be a reason she's not talking."
I turned to look through the glass door at Megan. Her cello sat abandoned against the wall. This was the girl who left food out for stray cats. Who made us all hot chocolate during finals week. Who cried through the entire ending of The Notebook.
And now people were tearing her apart online. Strangers hiding behind anonymous accounts, spewing the most vicious shit they could think of, not caring about truth or consequences.
The anger in my chest ignited. "Those keyboard warriors..." I bit out. "They literally disgust me. Hiding behind anonymity, attacking someone they don't even know, not caring about facts—"
"Right?" Lily's eyes lit up. "Actually, I had an idea. We could trace the poster's IP address. Then—" She made a typing gesture.
I understood immediately. Computer Science majors. We had the skills.
"Not just the original poster," I added, my mind already working. "Everyone who spread it. Everyone who added fuel. That whole platform needs to face consequences. Campus Whispers has been destroying people's reputations for years without any accountability."
Lily and I locked eyes. Silent agreement passed between us.
This wasn't just about defending Megan. This was about declaring war on the entire culture of anonymous cruelty.
Yes, Thalia growled in approval. Protect the weak. Punish the guilty. This is pack law.
Back inside, I went straight to Megan's bed. Wrapped my arms around her. "We believe you," I said firmly. "Whatever's going on, you don't owe anyone an explanation. But we're going to make the people who did this pay."
Megan lifted her swollen eyes. Her lip trembled like she wanted to speak—but no words came. Just a choked sob as she clutched me back, shoulders shaking.
Lily joined the hug. Three of us tangled together in the middle of our tiny dorm room, a knot of solidarity against the ugliness outside.
When we finally pulled apart, Megan managed a watery smile. "Thank you," she whispered.
I squeezed Megan's hand once more, then turned to Lily. "Okay. Let's get to work."
Lily pulled out her laptop. I grabbed my tablet from my bag. We set up at my desk, screens glowing blue in the dimming light.
"Campus Whispers claims to be anonymous," I said, fingers already flying across my tablet screen, "but their security is actually garbage. We can start by accessing server logs, cross-referencing post times with campus WiFi login records."
Lily's eyes gleamed. "Then use data mining to analyze posting patterns and language habits. We can literally narrow down who the asshole is."
"Not just identify them," I clarified. "Expose them. Publicly. Make an example."
My phone buzzed. Jackson's name flashed on the screen.
Made it back safely?
Yeah. Dealing with roommate emergency. Talk tomorrow?
Of course. Let me know if you need anything.
I pocketed the phone and turned my attention back to the screen. I could feel Thalia stirring, restless beneath my skin.
Want to hunt them, she whispered. Track their scent. Make them understand what it means to hurt pack.
I knew that urge. The primal drive to protect through violence, through dominance, through showing teeth and claws. But that wasn't who I wanted to be.
"We do this smart," I said aloud. "Not just punishment. We change the system. Make everyone who hides behind anonymous cruelty understand there are consequences."
Lily nodded sharply.
I opened my laptop. Cracked my knuckles. Let my fingers hover over the keyboard.
"Let the war begin," I murmured.
My eyes caught the screen's reflection—and for just a second, in the blue light and the rising moon's glow, they flashed amber-gold. Not just Ellie Green's eyes. Thalia's eyes too.
Tomorrow might bring consequences. Tomorrow might be complicated. But tonight, we had work to do.
And I'd learned something important this weekend: sometimes protecting the people you love means fighting back. Not with teeth and claws.
But with truth, technology, and the unshakeable certainty that some lines should never be crossed.
"Lily? Megan? Let's show Campus Whispers exactly what happens when you come for one of us."