UNLOCKED, kotlc

Chapter 16

Why?

It was the one word that echoed over and over and over, bouncing around through Sophie's mind as she tried to grasp on to the tiny strands of reality she had left.

The Neverseen had taken away everything she'd ever cared about. Her friends. Both her parents.  Even her home.  And they didn't seem to find any right in what they were doing, did they? They just kept taking, and taking, and taking, until Sophie felt like there was nothing else inside of her that they could take.

Part of her knew that she should be focusing on more important things. Surely Wylie was freaking out over the fact that his cousin was gone- probably taken by the Neverseen now that they didn't have Ruy, their precious Psionipath, who'd been injured when Tam had attacked him with shadowflux.

And when the Black Swan managed to get Maruca, a new Psionipath to work for them, the Neverseen took her away too.

"Technically we don't know if the Neverseen took her," Keefe whispered, sending cool breezes into her mind.

"You know they did," Sophie whispered darkly.  "Who else would?"

Keefe looked like he was struggling to find the answer, but was interrupted when Wylie's voice echoed across the room darkly.

"Sophie?"  Wylie asked, and Sophie felt a million emotions buzzing through her brain, she doubted even Keefe could interpret what they meant.  Would he blame her? After all, she was the one that had brought Maruca into the whole mess anyways...

"Yes?" Sophie squeaked, and then cleared her throat as she realized how uncertain she sounded. "I mean, yes?"

"You heard."  Wylie's voice sounded hollow- a statement, not a question.  

"I did," Sophie said, marveling at how utterly un creative their conversation was managing to sound.  Two word questions, two word answers.

The half heartbroken, half trying-not-to-be-angry-at-you glare hurt Sophie more than if Wylie had just straight up punched her.  She would've taken a nice long whacking rather than having to face Wylie, who'd asked her from the very beginning to keep Maruca out of it.

And here they were.  The situation felt much, much too familiar... which reminded her...

Do you think they'll put the bonds on her like they did to Tam? Sophie transmitted to Fitz, who jumped back, startled as her mental voice rippled through his consciousness like waves.

They saw how well that worked out, Fitz pointed out, and before Sophie could respond, Fitz severed their communication and turned away from her.

Sophie looked at him in surprise.  Were all her friends mad at her now?  Wylie, Fitz... even Linh looked bitter, as she had been Maruca's friend.  Marella too...

Keefe grasped for her hand again and sent more green breezes, but she jerked her arm away from him as tears welled up in her eyes.  She was not going to let Fitz see her cry. Nope, not an option.  But her vision was getting blurry and she worried that if she blinked them out they would just trickle down her cheeks...

Foster, Keefe transmitted, and Sophie jumped so hard she slammed painfully against the back wall. 

How are you even doing this? How did you get past my blocking?

You're emotions were spiking like crazy, and somehow I just managed to, I don't know, slip in?  

Oh. The word felt hollow and empty, which was no better than Sophie felt at the moment.

Maruca was gone. Keefe had waken up with a new ability.  The Neverseen had attacked them. Gethen was secretly stalking her.  Just a normal day in the Life of Sophie Foster right?  Sophie thought bitterly.

It's going to be okay, Keefe tried, but Sophie refused to hear any of it.

If she could, she would've run off again, but they still didn't know if Gethen had a way of tracking her...

She glanced toward the door, and instantly Sandor, Bo, and Flori all jumped toward it.

"Where do you think you're going?" Sandor asked, glaring at her protectively.

"I- I want to go to Havenfield and stay there," Sophie stammered.  "I don't think I want to stay here tonight."

Translation: I don't think anyone wants me to stay here tonight.

Flori must've understood because she whispered something into Sandor's ear, and he reluctantly let Sophie through.

She tried to avoid meeting anyone's eyes.  Not Linh's, or Fitz's, or Biana's, or Tam's or anyone else's. Especially not Wylie.

But as she walked out the door, she locked eyes with Keefe.

See you in the morning, Foster? Keefe transmitted.

Sophie nodded briefly, as she stumbled out the door, wondering what they would talk about when she was gone.