@Soccerbadger OVER HERE

one

Sophie's POV

Sophie huffed. She came, she saw, she got. But Glimmer almost forcefully told her that if she didn't step up her game, she couldn't expect any wins soon. So, Sophie destroyed the Neverseen's only storehouse and she did something she probably shouldn't have.

She left her sign.

A sign that this was her doing, and that she was now set to fight. Mr. Forkle said that what she did was impressive and that this is truly what she was made to do, but Sophie was having second thoughts.

Glimmer wasn't trustworthy yet, still, Sophie had taken her advice. The adults disapproved, and when the Neverseen found out, they would retaliate. And it would be bad.

Paired with all this and Keefe just telling her to stay away, Sophie felt terrible. She just wanted to go home and sleep, preferably till all the Neverseen drama was over. She was even prepared to take the horrible, glittery, hot pink sedative, even though she knew her mind would turn into "Sparkle Overload." Turns out, she didn't have to.

Sophie raised her home crystal to the light and let it whisk her away. She felt the warm, soothing sensation, and she was so tired that she almost melted into the feathery feeling. She already had a bad day and didn't need any more incidents coming her way. As if that ever actually happens.

She sped up her stairs, but not before noticing Grady's grim expression. As soon as Sophie entered her room, she could sense something was different. The window was open, the petals on her carpet looked crushed and on her bed was a newly dyed Iggy sitting in his cage. She wondered if Dex had been over. She felt bad as she realized how left-out he must feel— while they all were off chasing bad guys and doing the actual killing, um, dying, he had to sit home and work on gadgets.

Well, in a way that was better, but it still felt unfair to Dex. Lost in her thoughts, Sophie dropped onto her bed with a yawn. That was when she noticed the little slip of paper.

Hesitantly, Sophie moved Iggy's cage and took the slip of paper. She hoped it wasn't the Neverseen, and that they hadn't found out what she did. But what was to come would probably be much, much worse. Sophie dubiously looked at the first words— and her heart fluttered against her will. Stupid emotions.

To the Mysterious Miss F!

Only one person would call her that. Keefe. Maybe Keefe wasn't ignoring her after all— maybe he was just feeling terrible about what happened in the Healing Center and had told her he wanted her to stay away. Her mind cheered up considerably as she read the next sentences.

Ugh—I'm already regretting starting this letter that way. But I don't have any extra paper, and crossing it out would look worse, so... I guess we'll just have to add it to my list of mistakes.

Sophie smiled— only Keefe would find a way to cram his whole personality in a sentence. 

And I know you're going to think that everything I'm about to say should also be on that long list of Keefe Fails. But I swear—that's NOT what this is. I'm not trying to fix everything or save everyone this time. I'm just trying to make sure I don't hurt anyone.

I can't tell you more than that without putting you in danger, so just... trust me when I say that the powers my mom gave me are super bad. There seriously aren't strong enough words to explain how horrible they are. And I CAN'T control them—just like I can't stop my mom from forcing me to use them.

Sophie paled. Whatever Keefe was trying to imply in his letter, it sounded bad. And why would Keefe say this to her now? And what's with the letter? She racked her brain, wondering if he didn't want to call her because he would have to use his voice.

So... this is the only way. I don't want to do it. But I have to.

And I'm not going to ask you not to hate me. In fact, it might be better if you do, because I need you to PROMISE that you won't try to find me. My mom will be waiting for you to track me down—and since I know how stubborn you are, I want to make sure you understand who you'd be putting in danger.

I'm going to be hiding the same way the Black Swan hid you.

That's why you have to stay away. Well, there are lots of reasons. So again, please, just... trust me, okay?

And since this is the last time I'll ever talk to you, I just... I want to say that I'm really going to miss you. You mean a lot to me, Foster. More than you'll ever know.

Please be careful. Please be happy. And PLEASE forget all about me.

It'll be better for everyone that way. You'll see.

Love,

Keefe

Sophie's heart dropped into her stomach. What had Keefe gone and done now? Where had Keefe gone? And what did he mean when he said that this would be the last time he had ever talked to her? 

Not even talk, he had written to her. The last time she saw him, he wasn't even speaking. It wasn't his fault, but it still stung a lot when he asked her to go away. There were too many questions than answers, too many uncertainties than certainties, and WAY too many defeats than victories. 

Her breathing sped up, the pain in her chest leaving a gaping hole where her heart should have been. Her heart had dropped into her stomach. She was tired of it all. That strong front she'd put on all these days was slowly crumbling. The last thing she saw were the words "Love, Keefe" and Iggy's ice blue fur before she sank to her knees on the floor in unconsciousness.