after unlocked: a sokeefe fanfic

Chapter 17-Keefe

"You're late," Grady informed him.

Keefe resisted the urge to say, "Yep! Wanted to postpone my murder!" Instead, he nodded mutely and sat down.

"So..." Grady shuffled the papers in front of him.

"How do you want to start this?" Alina asked, flicking her hair over her shoulder.

Keefe shrugged.

Alina sighed. "Okay. Let's just get straight into it."

She stood up, pacing a few steps before speaking again.

"You new ability depends on your tone. Beguiling, though very similar, does not have that type of lasting effect."

Keefe nodded.

"So?" Grady said.

"So?" Keefe echoed.

"Put me in a trance. We have earplugs."

Keefe looked down at his hands. Long fingers, calloused palms. "I've been controlling it. If I use it..."

"Keefe," Oralie sat next to him. "You have to trust the process."

He didn't answer.

"Does Sophie believe in you?"

"Foster believes in everyone." He said in a low voice. "She even believes in my mom—somehow." He thought for a moment and amended the statement. "Well, maybe not anymore."

"Sophie knows you better than any of us. Trust her."

Alina snorted under her breath.

Oralie shot her a glare.

Keefe smirked, meeting Grady's look. He was also smirking, though it was definitely a tired one.

"Okay." He waved a hand between the two females' faces. "Let's start please."

Keefe's smirk disappeared. "I don't... I can't..."

"Do it." Alina told him disinterestedly.

She did not.

He glared at her. "No."

Grady groaned under his breath.

Oralie winced.

Alina raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

Keefe tried to school his expression, but honestly? Alina just annoyed him to death.

But he didn't say that.

She'd probably hurt him.

His hair didn't deserve that.

"If I hurt anyone... I just can't. I'm sorry."

Grady opened a drawer, withdrawing a pad of paper out, along with a pencil.

He plopped them in front of Keefe.

"Hmm?"

"Draw. Anything. Anyone. Draw."

Keefe blinked several times. "Why?"

"I need you relaxed."

He sighed, a deep breath out of his mouth, and inhale through his nose.

Then he began to draw.

In his mind, he could see it.

***

He leaped up, jostling her arms, shaking her—anything.

Where were her emotions?