The events leading up to Benjamin’s disappearance are revealed from Benjamin’s perspective. As Cass thought, Benjamin’s art is inspired by all the shapes, sounds, tastes, and colors he associates with the different things in his surroundings; “to Benjamin, everyone and everything was a unique combination of sound and color, smell and taste” (253). On the day of his disappearance, Benjamin was approached by two strangers, whom he refers to as the Golden Lady and the Silver Man. Although they were very complimentary of his art, Benjamin did not trust them because he experienced them as having gray voices, which signals dishonesty. The Golden Man and the Silver Lady told Benjamin they were taking him to art camp; although this sounded unusual to Benjamin, the strangers had already ushered him into their limousine before he could protest.

As he looked back at the school, he saw Cass. Benjamin was subsequently drugged, and when he awoke, he didn’t know where he was; he found himself in a bare, white room, wearing nothing but a white tunic, with his head completely shaven. The Golden Lady stood nearby and told him that he was in a purification chamber; he wasn’t supposed to have any stimulation, although the Golden Lady gave him a white elixir to drink when he complained of hunger.