Keeper of the Lost Cities: Elysian

Chapter 46

Sophie ran. Ran boldly ahead of the others, her heart racing.

Ran to the place in the forest where she knew Elysian was: in the clearing of the graves and white flowers. 

She saw Elysian hunched over, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs.

So Sophie's hunch was correct. In the moment of darkness, Elysian went to the place that reminded her most of her past- her family's graves.

She was trying to find solace... find peace.

"Ethan... William..." she whispered to the ground.

What could Sophie say to comfort her? 

What did she want?

Could she promise to help hide her from the Councillors? Promise protection?

But protection was something she couldn't even control. Besides, Elysian was far more powerful than she was. 

All she could do now was try to get her attention. And pray the rest was going to work out.

"Elysian!" Sophie called.

Elysian turned, her frightened face streaked with tears.

Sophie tried to speak but couldn't.

Her tongue was numb.

Everything felt numb.

Everything was frozen around her.

In that moment of stasis, Sophie felt herself get slammed backward...

Into?

"Merida, stop saying it will be bad," Justin said.

Another memory. Why now? What triggered it?

Sophie watched Merida, who was curled in a tiny ball. She didn't answer, even as Justin shook her.

"You haven't even seen my writing," Merida countered, but her voice shook. "So you could just be saying that." 

"I'm sure it's not that bad. Show me. Please." 

Merida squirmed and looked away. "It's gone. My father-" 

"You can't make the excuse that your writing is gone," Justin said. "You have photographic memory, for heaven's sake!"

"I'm sorry," Merida whispered. "It's just... not easy."

"Oh, Merida," Justin whispered back. "People have hurt you, and you have built such a strong shell around yourself. But some people are willing to help you. And sometimes, the only way for that to happen is if you... open up a little. Small steps."

Small steps.

A huge crack sounded out of nowhere as if someone had forcibly split a connection.

Sophie was suddenly flung back into her body, flung onto the ground.

But she pushed herself back up, fueled by adrenaline.

Where was Elysian?

She channeled her mental energy to find Elysian's presence.

There was a massive beacon of light in the distance Sophie instantly knew to be her.

Should she try running after her? Or try to teleport?

She had a feeling that the void wouldn't open.

Or something else would happen to deter her from her course.

She couldn't lose that valuable time- even if it meant spending more energy.

Elysian was out there. Running.