Enemies to... Lovers? - A Sokeefe Special by SilvenySlays

~The Danger We All Hate, Chapter 22~

(Sophie's POV)

I could feel the life draining out of me as my eyes fluttered open.

"Hey, pretty brown eyes." He whispered. I smiled sadly.

"What are you still doing here?" I asked. "You don't have to stay with me all the time."

"Yes I do."

"Go home, Keefe. I'll be okay." I said.

His expression softened. "When will you learn that you can't lie to an Empath?"

I sighed. "It'll be too painful for you to see me go."

"You're not going anywhere." He insisted.

"Keefe, you can feel the life draining out of me." I whispered. He froze.

"You're going to make it out of this." He insisted, his hand tracing my thumb. I shook my head.

"Nothing can fix me. Not Elwin. Not you." Tears blurred my vision. "I'm terrified, Keefe. I'm trying to hold it together. So you can't be here when I..."

"No." He said firmly. He walked over to one of the machines. "I researched while you were asleep. Only a burst of all the emotions at the same time can activate a form where you'll be unconscious, but alive. You'll be in a coma for..." He swallowed. "You'll be in a coma for a week, if we get all the help from the physicians in the Lost Cities. Then you'll be able to live for real. Not like this." He gestured to all the medicines she was drinking to stay stable.

I sighed. "Keefe, you can try it, but... You have to promise me something."

"Yeah, Foster, I know. I promise I won't dye Iggy teal." He said. I laughed.

"No, that's not what I meant." I took his hands. "Promise me you won't lose yourself over this. Okay?"

Before he could respond, Elwin came rushing into the room.

"You're not supposed to be awake, Sophie. You could accidentally set off Keefe's empathy, and then you could blow up this entire building."

"Yeah, that's how Foster works. Never a boring day with her here." Keefe teased.

"But seriously, we're going to have to put you on a sedative before the emotion dump tomorrow." Elwin insisted.

"How do you know about that?"

"I can hear you. Very easily. From the other room. I've heard some things I probably shouldn't have..." He admitted.

Me and Keefe exchanged a look.

"Including... You know." He gestured to the way they were holding hands. "It's nice that you're willing to be a bad match. You're gonna prove the world wrong."

"You can check that off your nice little bucket list." Keefe said with a smirk shot in my direction. "Remember? Get rid of the Neverseen, get rid of the-"

I kicked him in the shins to make him shut up before he exposed me even more.

"Anyway," I muttered. "Maybe that's how we'll get rid of the match. If I survive this."

Elwin's alarm went off. "Oops. Sedative time. Sorry, Sophie." He handed me a vial, and I tipped my head back, and then everything went dark as I fell into Keefe's comforting arms.

*****

I swear all the stuff in my brain seemed to slosh around my head as I was unconscious. This unconsciousness was different. Not like I was asleep. More like I was... In my head, and nowhere else.

All the song lyrics from my time in the human world resurfaced. All the information from high school hit me, like solving for stupid x on a stupid algebra problem. I mean, I was smart, but that didn't mean I loved math.

My sister Amy also resurfaced. I could see her petting our cat Marty.

Then I saw my human parents, staring down at me and saying that they loved me as they tucked me into bed.

Then I saw my life in the Lost Cities. From my first light leap to my first kiss with Keefe. And everything in between.

I was suddenly aware of a couple of things: I  had never really experienced everything that I wanted to. But there are was no time to fix that now.

In my head, I saw a Moonlark, standing on the side as it's babies padded on the beach. I had been left on that beach. And now I was still struggling to keep my head above water. Soon I would sink under.

And no one would be able to pull me back up to breathe.

*****

(Keefe's POV)

I knew that Sophie was close to death. Her face was gray, but I wouldn't admit that she was sick. She needed to get out of this. Otherwise...

I shoved that out of my head. Elwin started to rebandage her cut, when suddenly, the beating of Sophie's heart slowed.

Elwin's eyes widened. "No no no no no..." He muttered. He fumbled with the machine and poured another exilir into Sophie's mouth. "Come on..." He begged. But Sophie's heartbeat kept slowing down... Until it finally stopped completely.

*NOOOOOOOOOOOO

Sorry I didn't post yesterday, I was a bit busy with a football game and being sick from allergies but I'm good now 👍

Hehehehehehhe cliffhangers are my love language. I need a tote bag that says that.

Anyway, Bible verse: “Repent, change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God's purpose for your life, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2.

Have an amazing day y'all! 💕 (Even after I just emotionally scarred you for life)

TEAM FOSTER-KEEFE FOR THE WIN!

-SilvenySlays :)