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Chapter 22

The Council left soon after that, Oralie giving Sophie a look of despair before leaping away. Sophie crumpled to the floor on the podium, and her friends rushed to her.

"Arina . . ." she whimpered into Keefe's tunic. Biana kept whispering words of assurance, but they all bounced off of her skin. Nothing mattered anymore. Keefe leaped her home as well as the rest of them, and they all crowded around her.

"Are you okay?" Dex asked. Sophie stayed silent.

"Sophie, please. We only want to help you." Keefe said. She turned away from them and ran to her room. Slamming the door, she grabbed Ella and practically strangled the elephant in her tight grasp. She clambered into her bed and cried. 

Half an hour later, a soft knock came at her door.

"Go away, Keefe." she said. Dex's head poked through the door.

"I'm not Keefe, but I'm here to help." he took a seat on her bed and she glared at him. He didn't flinch. "Look, Sophie. We're all sad, and we know you are especially. But we're going to get her back."

"How?" she asked quietly, sitting up.

"Didn't the Council say two weeks? They'll realize what a mistake they made and then Arina will be back with us."

"I don't think that's likely."

"Sophie-"

"It doesn't matter. She's gone." Sophie said, and turned away from him. He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze and walked out, knowing that she wanted to be alone. She felt bad, so she went after him and found her friends conversing quietly in the living room. Peering down at them, she saw Biana crying while Tam was consoling her.

How did it go? Marella asked Dex. He shook his head no.

I don't think she even realizes that it's her birthday tomorrow. Arina and I had been preparing for months. Biana spoke up. So that's what the decorations in Arina's room were for. Sophie wondered.

She's not going to want to celebrate it. Especially after what happened today. Wylie said, and Linh nodded with him. 

Do you think it's time? Tam asked.

Time for what? Keefe responded.

Time for you to try, obviously. You're probably the only one who can get through to her, if even Dex can't.

She definitely wanted to be alone. But you could give it a shot. Who knows? Maybe she'll listen to you. Dex said, shrugging. Sophie was glad his feelings weren't hurt. She went back to her room when she heard Keefe get up and start up the stairs. Taking a seat on her bed, she heard her door creak open.

"Foster?" Keefe called.

"Yeah?" she replied softly. He came into her room fully. 

"You good?"

"I guess." Sophie said. "I don't know," she continued, and buried her face in her hands.

"You know I'm not great at the whole comforting thing, Foster. Are you trying to make me uncomfortable?" he joked. She didn't smile. "Sorry,"

"It's not your fault."

"Is there anything you want me to do for you before I go?"

"Just . . . stay with me." Sophie replied, and reached for his hand. He took it gently and took a seat next to her. He brushed a stray hair off of her face. After a few minutes, a tear slipped down her cheek. 

"Foster? What's wrong?" he asked. 

"What if we don't get Arina back?" 

"We will," he assured her. "Don't worry."

"So it's my Birthday tomorrow."

"Oh, really?" Keefe pretended not to know.

"I overheard you guys talking about it. I can't believe I forgot. I'm surprised that you guys remembered.

"No point in pretending, I guess, then." he said. "What even happens on a Birthday? We don't exactly celebrate them. But maybe we should start."

"Usually people give gifts to whoever's Birthday it is. Some people have parties, but I never had one."

"Why is that?"

"Did you forget that I didn't have any friends?"

"Oh, yeah. I guess you told me about that, didn't you?" he asked, leaning backwards. There wasn't anything behind him, though so he started to fall. Sophie rushed to catch him. "You're catching me now, Foster? The world is ending."

"It sure seems like it does, doesn't it? Especially with Arina being . . . you know." 

"Hey," he pulled her face toward him gently. "Please don't worry about that."

"Okay," Sophie said hesitantly. 

"Just, get some rest," he replied. "You need it."

"But I'm not tired," she insisted. 

"Then do you want to talk to everyone? They're worried about you."

"I don't know if I'm ready for that yet."

"Of course." he said. "Call me if you need anything." he told her, kissed her forehead, and left her room. 

Soon after he left, Sophie pulled out her only pale pink crystal. Holding it up to the light, she slowly stepped into the beam it created. She appeared in Arina's former home before she had come to live with her and Biana. Walking through the beautiful hidden cave, she glanced around at the empty place. The crystal lights that she had had installed sparkled in different colors. 

And there it was. The quaint cottage that she had built for Arina was sitting there, empty. She stepped inside and admired the small place. It was filled with tiny trinkets that Sophie had collected for Arina over the years. She picked up a small alicorn plushie and was immediately reminded of the alicorn family. Her eyes filled up with tears, but she didn't let them spill over. No. She wouldn't cry anymore. They would get Arina back. No matter what.