Brendan Frye, a high school loner in Southern California, receives a desperate phone call from his ex-girlfriend Emily, pleading for help before abruptly falling silent. Determined to find out what's happened to her, Brendan embarks on a solitary investigation through the dark underworld of his high school. He navigates a web of cryptic clues and encounters a range of archetypal characters including the enigmatic Brain, the seductive Laura, and the brutish Tugger. Brendan's journey takes him deeper into a world of deception, drugs, and danger.

Determined to uncover the truth and facing escalating threats, Brendan infiltrates a local drug ring led by the calculating and ruthless figure known as The Pin. As he digs deeper, he uncovers a complex conspiracy that involves betrayal, murder, and a substance referred to only as "the brick." Brendan's relentless quest for answers forces him to confront not only the perilous figures within this high school underbelly but also his own vulnerabilities and moral limits. His path becomes increasingly perilous as he attempts to piece together the mystery behind Emily's fate, revealing layers of corruption and deceit that threaten to consume him.