Forbidden ~ after unlocked

Chapter 22 - Sophie

Sophie knew the words were coming, but that didn't make them any easier to hear.

Mr. Forkle might have been talking, but she couldn't tell what he was saying over the roaring in her ears. Her heart pounded, each beat seeming to amplify and echo in her chest.

A planting in the Wanderling Woods for Keefe.

The world faded into incoherent shapes and sounds as she curled her knees into her chest and buried her face in her hands. Sophie shook her head. This can't be right, she thought desperately. The Council wasn't that ruthless.

But Mr. Forkle had told her that the decision was unanimous. Every single Councillor had agreed. Even Councilor Oralie. Sophie bit her lip to try and swallow her tears. Someone she'd started to trust again, only to let her down.

"But... Keefe's not dead," Sophie finally said weakly, peeking her head up.

You don't know that, a voice in the back of her head taunted. She tried to silence it.

"No," Mr. Forkle agreed, "he probably isn't."

Probably.

"Then why would they even decide to do something like this?" Sophie demanded, her shock suddenly replaced by rising anger. "This is a horrible idea!"

"It's a manageable idea."

"Manageable? What does that even mean? Why are you defending them?"

"I'm not defending, I'm explaining."

"We don't need another wanderling for someone who's still alive!"

"Sophie—"

"Me, Alden, Dex, and now Keefe? How can you possibly think this is right? All it's going to do is cause more chaos!"

"The Council is trying to provide a sense of closure. It's easier than holding a tribunal for all the laws he's broken."

"Easier? So the Council's just being lazy? They're just taking what appears to be the safest road and hoping it doesn't lead to a dead end?"

"It may not be the smartest idea, but right now it's what makes the most sense."

Sophie threw her hands up in exasperation, stuttering over something to say. She forced down the tears that threatened. There was no point in crying again.

"This isn't happening."

"That's not something you can control."

"Then I'll go to Eternalia right now and yell at all the Councillors and force them to change their minds."

"The same way you're yelling at me? Sophie, as much as I agree with you, I think this decision is in all of our best interests."

"Whose side are you on? Mine or theirs?"

Mr. Forkle hesitated. His pause told her everything she needed to know.

As Sophie opened her mouth to speak again, Sandor suddenly appeared next to her and laid a protective hand on her shoulder. Had he been behind her the whole time?

"Maybe it's best if Miss Foster goes upstairs to rest for the remainder of the evening. It's been a long day of... jumping off cliffs."

"I'm not tired," Sophie stated, ignoring Mr. Forkle's puzzled expression at Sadnor's cliff jumping remark. She crossed her arms. "I'm mad. And for a perfectly practical reason!" She whirled on her heel to face her bodyguard. "Do you agree with the Council?"