Deadly Secret

Runaway

I can't believe I've written three chapters in the last four days! Granted, they are pretty short chapters. Anyway, here you go! Enjoy reading!

Esther applied a deep purple salve onto Beren's wound. He sucked in a breath, and she hesitated.

"Should I try something else? How did it react?" Esther inquired. She stood up and reached for a lemon green bottle full of fuschia slime.

"I'm fine," Beren said, but he gripped the cot tightly, and his jaw was clenched.

Esther raised her eyebrows, "You know, if I'm going to do this right, you have to..."

"'Tell me how you're feeling?' I know the drill, you sound just like Elwin," he smirked.

She curtsied, "I'll take that as a compliment. I'm sorry Elwin can't be here,"

Elwin, Sophie, and Ro were congregating in a corner, and every so often, a few words met Esther's ears that piqued her curiosity.

Keefe, ran away, humans, pathfinder.

"Hey, it's fine," Beren wiggled his eyebrows, "Elwin isn't this pretty,"

Esther blushed and grabbed a cloth soaked with water, gingerly rubbing the purple poultice away, "So how'd you get this? It looks nasty,"

"Oh, that? Umm..." he paused, as if racking his mind for an answer, "I got it in... gym,"

Esther narrowed her eyes, "Right,"

"Well what are you doing here?" Beren leaned forward, and Esther's stomach fluttered.

"I accidentally light leaped here. Or something. It's... not important,"

Beren glanced at her, eyes widening, a grin playing on his lips, "Right,"

Esther shrugged playfully and began applying a hot pink, sparkly liquid to the boy's wound. It gave off a strong stench of moldy citrus, but Beren visibly relaxed.

"Is that better?"

Beren nodded, running his hands through ink black hair. His eyes fixed on Luna as Esther began wrapping a clean bandage around his forearm.

"Is that yours?"

"Yeah, she was my only friend for a while," she said. Esther silently cursed her voice for wobbling.

The shimmery alicorn was proudly coated in the same bold colours that stained Esther's own tresses. Her snout was lifted high in the air as if displaying her contempt for elvenkind, but Esther gazed at the stuffed animal fondly.

"Oh," Beren said. He exhaled softly and Esther's heart skipped a beat when his eyes met hers, glittering like shards of sea glass, "Well, I'll be here tomorrow, too, and I need someone to dress my wound. Would you do the honours?"

"Of course," she beamed, bowing exaggeratedly, "It would be my pleasure, dear sir,"

"Well, until then," he saluted her and nimbly hopped to his feet.

Esther breathlessly watched as he exited the healing center with a flourish, and she almost forgot the others were present until Ro shouted a particularly vulgar curse.

It seemed they were still discussing Keefe. Her brother. Esther strained to listen as Sophie began listing possible locations. After a while, the brown eyed girl stopped and sighed,

"He could be anywhere," Sophie breathed. Her hands began to tremble, and she glanced at Elwin sorrowfully, "Please. There has to be something. Some clues. Could we search your house?"

Ro nodded, "That's my girl! We're going to find him, and he better prepare for the wrath of Team Ro-Foster-Heslege!"

Elwin chuckled, "I'd be glad to offer any assistance needed. Why don't you finish your classes for the day, and I'll bring you over,"

Sophie nodded numbly, as if drained of life and will.

"On second thought," the healer gestured to the cots, "Why don't you stay here for a bit,"

Esther aided Elwin in preparing a cozy hangout for Sophie. A mountain of pillows and stuffed animals soon began to form on one of the cots, and Esther noticed a picture of Sophie fastened nearby. In the framed photo, she appeared to be dressed up as a mastodon.

Esther raised her eyebrows and shot a glance at Sophie Foster. There was a significant amount of mystery surrounding Sophie, but most importantly, she appeared to be connected with Keefe.

Keefe Sencen... Who was he?

"Who was Keefe?" Esther spoke up. Her voice cracked the silence, and she winced as all eyes turned on her.

"Keefe," Sophie took a deep breath, eyes welling with unshed tears, "Was an amazing friend. He... he meant a lot to me," she stumbled towards the pillow bed, wrapping her arms around a worn stuffed elephant. She was silent after that.

The air was heavy with unspoken thoughts, and Elwin seemed a bit more absent minded than usual.

I need to find him, Esther scanned the room, pausing to assess the weight each of them felt from her brother's absence. He'll know... about my powers, and Lady Gisela. And maybe he'd understand.

The girl paused for a moment, weighing her options before deciding to speak up, "Could I help you? In your search for Keefe?"

Ro spun around, "Who are you? I asked before and didn't get an answer,"

"I'm Esther," she responded coolly, "Who are you?"

"Why are you here? You're not even wearing a stupid cape like most of the students," Ro noted, "Okay, actually, I love you for that. But what are you doing here?"

"You didn't answer my question," Esther smiled sweetly, "Ro, right?"

Ro rolled her eyes and turned to Elwin, "I can't decide if I want to kill her or adopt her,"

Esther smirked, "I'd rather not do either. I get the feeling you're an... interesting person to live with,"

"She's not wrong," Elwin grinned.

Ro bared her teeth in a grin, "Keefe..." she faltered and the grin fell, "Keefe would know,"

Esther paused, not knowing how to respond.

Elwin cleared his throat, "Well, as much as I love your company, Ro, someone needs to break the news to the others, and Sophie... well, you know,"

"Trust me, I know," Ro grinned, sharp teeth gleaming, and nodded to Esther, "I need someone to light leap me,"

Elwin hesitated, "Esther just recovered from light leaping, maybe it isn't the best idea that she..."

"Sorry," Ro shrugged, "It's decided. C'mon Sparkly Hair, you're coming with me,"

This was a really fun chapter to write :)  If you liked it, leave a comment and vote! Thanks so much for reading.