Keeper of the Lost Cities Moonlark

Chapter Eleven: Sophie

"How is she?" it was a voice she couldn't quite place, maybe Elwin? She was too focused on her current mission to care. Sophie had been hearing different voices all day, but it had been harder and harder to figure out who was who. Sometimes they even sounded like strangers.

"Miss Foster, you must hurry." Clarisna's voice was rushed and panicked. "I fear the more time you spend in here, the more you'll forget people. I have just discovered it when I was looking through your memories, don't ask why I'll explain later if you can survive this. I saw someone's face that I thought I knew, so familiar and yet, no recognition. You must turn of this reaction or soon you will forget the people closest to you. Have you found a way out?"

"Wait, so, you're coming to tell me this now?! Like right now?! I could be forgetting more and more people at this moment and I wouldn't even realize it?"

"Well, yes. That's exactly what I'm saying. Don't worry too much though, you should only be forgetting them for... hmm, well, I'm not sure, but I do know that it isn't permanent. As soon as you see them it should set off a trigger, but it may take some time. I will work on this."

"No, this can't be happening. No no no no no no no." Sophie muttered to herself. "Why do you seem so calm huh? Like you don't even care!"

"Do you really want to know?"

Sophie stopped her pacing. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, there is something I haven't told you. Are you sure you want to know?"

She turned pale. "I, don't know. Maybe?. No, wait... yes I want to know." Sophie knew she would regret this decision, might as well get to know Clarisna better before she forgets her.

"The truth is, I know what it's like to lose everything. I used to be a regular elf like everyone else. Then, Mr. Forkle came to me. Asking for 'assistance' he just said that I would be making a change for the better. I agreed and..." Her voice trailed off as a tear ran down her cheek the size of a mountain. "And, he brought me to this egg shaped room. One of his offices. He told me that it would be a quick procedure. I would be a test subject. What he didn't tell me is that things could go wrong."

"Mr. Forkle risked your life?! Why?"

"The Black Swan wasn't fully developed by then, everyone still kept most things to themselves. No one was there to object and show him the holes in his idea. There wasn't any warning that I could be trapped in your mind forever. Anyways, I did what was asked and, um, when you were born years later I found myself still in your mind. While you slept in your human house I'm sure Mr. Forkle has told you that he trained your mind. What he didn't tell you is that I was in there. He found me, and you know what he did?" Her eyes turned to fire, her entire face scrunched up. "He just apologized for ruining my life! He tried all he could to get me out. Finally, he came up with a solution."

Clarisna looked into the distance leaving a silence. "Well? What was the solution?"

"I have promised to never tell you since it could leave you in a fatal position. It's highly dangerous so... I'm stuck here." Clarisna wiped her face and smoothed out her dress. "That's enough of me for one day. Come on, let's get to work on opening that crack that you found. "

"Seriously? You're just gonna change the subject after telling me all that? Just 'Your creator ruined my life I'm not going to tell you how to fix it let's talk about something else.'?"

"Well when you put it that way... yes that's exactly what I'm saying."

"How did you even know I found a way out?"

"I'm in your mind, Sophie. I know things."

"Fine, what if I take you with me through the gap?"

"I wouldn't be able to, it would just cause you a headache. Come along Moonlark."