UNLOCKED, kotlc

Chapter 64

Sophie could feel Adela's voice ebbing into her mind, pushing through her mental barriers, twisting and contorting to fit itself into the thin cracks of her consciousness...

But Sophie shut her out- yes, she wanted to answers. But that was because she was desperate.

And desperateness was the weakness that the Neverseen fed off of. They took their weakness- their liabilities, their flaws, their love -and used it against them. And Sophie hated it- she hated it so, so much.

But still the nightmares raged into her mind like balls of frost hail crashing against stained-glass windows.

Those black cloaked figures... the white eyes... closing in on her... trapping her.... pinning her...

And they never stopped- she just kept fighting and screaming and flailing and losing and still, still they just kept pushing...

"Yes Sophie," someone's voice told her as she squirmed. "We're always here. Waiting. Predicting. Deciding. You will never win."

And Sophie screamed, screamed until her throat felt raw as the figures closed in, for what felt like eternity... "Sophie, Sophie, Sophie".... and all she wanted to do was thrash and scream and send them flying and flailing away like she was...

And when her eyes snapped open, her forehead still beaded in that horrible sticky cold sweat, she felt so relieved that none of it was real.

Or was it?

Sophie could barely think- barely speak -as she stumbled through her morning routine and tripped down the two flights of stairs (seriously a safety hazard, considering her usual clumsiness) where Edaline was waiting for her at the counter, drizzling caramel onto a fresh plate of ripplefluffs.

"Where's Grady?" Sophie asked her, still groggy as she slid into her seat and practically sank into the delicious elvin treat.

"Council stuff," Edaline supplied helpfully, brushing a bit of chocolate off her chin. "Emery called him over there personally."

"Did he tell you anything about it?" Sophie asked, mainly out of curiosity as she studied the intricate lining on the plate.  "About Oralie?"

"No... it sounded pretty secretive though."  Edaline shrugged and put a hand on Sophie's shoulder. "But it'll be alright."

"It won't," Sophie promised her sadly.  "It's my job to save her, that's why they took her."

Edaline straightened.  "It's not your job to do anything.  Through all of this, remember: you have a choice.  We'll get her back."

"They'll only be satisfied if I do it,"  Sophie insisted, telling herself just as much as she was telling her mom.  "They'll just keep taking people and taking people until I come."

"And we'll just keep getting them back and saving them," Edaline countered gently.

"Exactly," Sophie mumbled, thinking of her nightmare. "We just keep going.  On and on and on."

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"I need to talk to Mr. Forkle," Sophie said suddenly, dropping the food she was about to throw to Verdi. "It's important."

"What is it?" Grady asked suspiciously.

"Something... about Oralie," she added quickly when Grady gave her a dangerous glare. "And it's important- like really, really important."

"Then he can come here," Edaline persisted, pulling out her Imparter to hail him, "And you can stay here."

Sophie blew out a frustrated breath, sinking onto the grass as Edaline hailed Mr. Forkle. After all of this, did her adoptive parents still not trust her? Sophie smirked thinking of all the times she had sneaked off- and almost died in the proccess -and decided to keep her mouth shut.

The familiar ruckleberry-covered figure faded into view and Sophie ran over to him.

"I need to talk to you," she told him hurriedly, forcing urgency into her tone- but Mr. Forkle's own stone hard glare deflected it as he announced,

"And I need to talk to you- this is probably more important than whatever squabbles you've decided to punish me with."

Sophie blinked at him for a second and then sighed. "Fine," she conceded, "But they're not 'squabbles.'"

Mr. Forkle ignored her and his mental voice pushed into he mind.

I know her abduction has brought up... mixed feelings for you.

Yeah, and you've finally decided to acknowledge that? Sophie asked him angrily.

For a second his voice went quiet- thoughtful, even -before inquiring, Why are you angry at me? Not the Neverseen? Not Oralie?

Because you chose her as my biological mother, Sophie told him.

The same case would've been if I'd chosen somebody else- and she wasn't chosen. She volunteered- and Calla was the one who 'chose her' if you really would like to call it that.

Don't talk about Calla that way, Sophie told him darkly, her mind already going into hyperspeed. Don't talk about her like-

And we're getting off track, Mr. Forkle interrupted- which was a frustratingly good point. And we need to get on track.

Alright... Sophie transmitted slowly.

It's still your job to save her. It doesn't matter if she's your genetic mom or not- doesn't matter if she's lied to you or betrayed your trust. She is an elf like all of us here and she deserves saving no matter what she's done to you in the past.

The sharpness in his tone dug into her like knives and her guilt turned so queasy she felt like barfing.

Of course I would save her! I don't care if she's a Councillor or my biological mom or whatever- you're right, Sophie told him indignantly, not sure if the anger pulsing from her words was an act or not.

HIs voice hesitated before telling her, Okay.

Okay, Sophie repeated, not knowing what to do with the word. So... I'm allowed to go to the Neverseen and get Oralie back?

Outside of her mind she could sense Mr. Forkle chewing his lip nervously. I... haven't quite gotten your parents permission yet, he admitted.

I don't need their permission, Sophie told him fiercly. I'm perfectly capable-

And I know that, Mr. Forkle said patiently. Which is why I'm letting you go.

Without my parents' consent? Sophie asked him, off guard.

Yes. And you better be grateful for it, he added pointedly.

So... does that mean you know where they're keeping her? Sophie asked him nervously- and she knew she would have no idea what do with his answer.

Sadly, I do, Mr. Forkle said- and his voice showed regret as he told her, It's.. a cave

Not the cave where they kidnapped me, right? Sophie said nervously.  And her mind flashed to a different cave- and this one was both worse and better as the black cloaked figures danced around her mind...

You're talking about the cave where you reset my abilities.

A statement. 

Not a question.

Not a worry.

Just the simple truth- but Sophie knew that sometimes the truth was the hardest thing to face.