Empath of the Forbidden Cities

Chapter 9

(A/N THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! Because this story hit (and totally went past) the 50 reads milestone, I decided to try and finish this chapter as fast as I could as a reward! Thank you all for paying so much attention to what was once just a silly idea in my head.)

"Why?"

Keefe and Oracle asked it at the same time. "Especially because Foxfire is on hiatus. What do we need to do there?" Even if Thelia gave an explanation, Keefe wasn't sure if he wanted to go. This would be his first time back in the Lost Cities, even if no one knew, and he didn't know if he was ready.

"Well, Foxfire's on hiatus currently," Thelia continued, answering Keefe's question, "But I doubt it's going to stay that way forever. Knowing the council, they'll probably reopen it sometime soon, considering how long it's been closed." Keefe nodded, the council would probably do something like that, even if it wasn't completely safe honestly. "So what's the plan then?" Keefe asked.

"Well, it's mostly just gathering information." Thelia started. "So, we're going to break into Foxfire's records or something?" Oracle chimed in. "No, mostly because the most important details of a person won't be on record. We don't know who everyone in the Neverseen are, so I'm planning to get more info on the mentors, as well as the student body." "And how do you propose we do that?" Oracle asked, a skepticism that Keefe shared evident in his voice. 

Thelia smiled. "Listening devices."

-

Keefe watched as their core group of six huddled in the Tuned Clearing in the middle of the night. All of them were wearing black stealth uniforms, as well as a mask and a cloak. They would leap to Foxfire as soon as Thelia could review the plan with everyone.

"Okay, so basically, this is the listening device our technopath built." Thelia held out a small disk. It was coin sized, but it had a thicker edge. Keefe was tempted to ask about the technopath, but he knew he should pay attention. Thelia handed ten to each of them. "We'll go in groups of two, and each group will focus on two grade levels. Once you stick a listening device to the wall, press your thumb against it. It'll recognize you're finger print and camouflage itself. Also, there's a button on the side. If you press it, the side will open up and give you a ring with a leaping crystal that leaps back here." Keefe looked at the side, and made sure to memorize where the button was. Phal looked towards Thelia.

"But why not just give us each leaping crystals?" Phal asked. Thelia turned. "If the Neverseen ever planned an attack on Foxfire and we had to intercept them inside the school, then we could use those to get out if our original crystals are lost or damaged."

Keefe was impressed that Thelia had really thought of everything. "Everybody ready?" After receiving nods from everyone, Thelia held up the crystal to the light and watched as it created a path. Everyone began to light leap to Foxfire.

Keefe took one last look at Thelia before stepping forward and letting the light whisk him away.

-

Keefe couldn't help but glance down the sapphire blue hallways as he and Bloom made the familiar trek through the level two area of Foxfire. They had already placed around seven of the ten they needed too, and were currently keeping an eye out for another unassuming wall. Keefe wasn't worried about being caught, Thelia had planned this mission so perfectly that it seemed almost impossible. He was worried though, about how quiet Bloom was being. It didn't seem like angry silence, more thoughtful than that.

"Okay, there's a good place in front of us as well as two classrooms, we can place the rest in there." Bloom commented, breaking Keefe's train of thought. That was what it had been the entire night, just one or two sentences of instruction and then nothing. Keefe watched Bloom out of the corner of his eye as they made their way to the level three section. She paused for a moment, then began to speak.

"I never said thank you Keefe." She noticed Keefe's confusion, and continued. "Before you came... I had always felt alone. Of course there were Thelia and the others but... they all had someone who came before me. Thelia and Facet, Dynamite and Oracle, I just didn't seem to fit, but now you're here... and now I do." Keefe walked in stunned silence for a bit before he nodded. It reminded him a lot of when they were in Alluveterre, and Fitzphie started happening. It was when he first started to feel out of place. But also when he got the first piece of reassurance he ever had: that Sophie could never hate him. He may have doubted those words sometimes, but they always stuck with him.

"I'm never going to leave." He said the words suddenly, but he didn't take them back. They were the truth.

Bloom paused for a moment. Then she smiled. "Best friends?" She invited.

"Best friends." He confirmed. Even if he had best friends here in the Lost Cities, there was always room for one more. And he wasn't going to let Bloom, the girl who had almost started to feel like his family feel as alone as he used to.

"Well, if we're going to be best friends, then you'll probably need to know my name. My real name." She continued. Keefe sucked in a breath. Sure, Phal had told him his name, but that seemed more like a spontaneous burst of will. This was a genuine proposal. He glanced toward her in anticipation.

"Riley Knotthorn. My name is Riley Knotthorn." Oddly, she sung the second sentence, but he didn't question it, probably a human reference he didn't get. Regardless, he was glad the tension  had been broken. They continued through the halls, placing the rest of the listening devices periodically, and occasionally making small jokes.

Suddenly, they heard shouting down the corridor.

Then a scream. 

Then a crash.

They both looked at one another for a second, then ran toward the sound. They rounded a bend into the cafeteria. Facet was there, and so was Thelia.

It wasn't pretty.

Thelia had tears running down her cheeks as she held Facet in her arms.

Facet was passed out.

Her leg was twisted at a devastating angle.

Thelia looked up at there arrival.

After a beat, she voiced their thoughts.

"Facet's leg is broken."