Undercover

Chapter 7

Keefe

Keefe watched as she started to tremble, tears streaming, her face scrunched up in pain. He didn't understand how it happened, one second she was fine and the next she trembling so hard it looked like she might topple over. 

Not now Keefe, Calm her down first, He scolded himself.

Everyone else was still frozen, so he took it upon himself to help. He rushed down beside her and started comforting her by rubbing circles on her back and saying things like "It's okay, you're fine," or "It's not real, just breathe."

When everyone else saw this, they snapped out of their daze and rushed to help. "I'm gonna go get my parents!" Biana cried.

He didn't know what her parents would do but they would need all the help they could get. He had never seen anything like this and didn't know how to react but he figured what he was doing helped because her breathing had smoothed and steadied.

He picked her up and set her down on Biana's bed just as Della and Alden raced into the room. They both raced over to her when and he wouldn't have questioned it but he noticed something suspicious. While Della looked horrified as she took in the scene, Alden looked like he expected it. 

He didn't have time to question it because the adults decided that Sophie needed peace and quiet, therefore ushered everyone outside. 

When they quietly closed the door behind them, his curiosity got the better of him, and blurted, "What happened?" Everyone looked at Alden, even Della. He rubbed his temples, "You asked about her parents?" When the group of teens nodded, he grimaced. "Don't do that again, she has PTSD." Keefe waited for him to elaborate but when he didn't he had to ask, "Oh come on is that all, for example, what do her parents have to do with that, and more importantly, how do you know that?" 

When he said the last part, Alden's gaze hardened and said nothing more than, "Sophie will tell you when she's ready and Keefe," he waited until he nodded and then continued, "Don't question it."

Keefe scrunched his face confusion at Alden's warning. What does that mean? Is Sophie ok? What is Alden's connection to Sophie? These thoughts swarmed in Keefe's head and he was so involved that he barely registered anything for the rest of the evening. 

It wasn't until Della went up to Biana's room to check on Sophie that he focused. He heard her yell down that Sophie was gone and there was a note on the bed. 

It said: 

Hey Guys,

Thanks for helping me through that. I'm good now but I have to go. Can't stay right now and it's not your fault. I just need a little time to myself.

Thanks for your understanding.

- Sophie

Sophie (happening while everyone is downstairs.)

Sophie opened her eyes to the blinding glow of the room. She quickly closed them when the light stung her coronas. She slowly reopened them, then groaned and reached up to her temples, trying to soothe the pounding headache. 

She jumped when she heard the door open, relieved when it was only Alden. He smiled when he saw her. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. Just wanted to check on you." 

Sophie smiled at his thoughtfulness. "I'm okay now, just... had a flashback of my family." She said the last part in a whisper, half hoping he didn't hear it. 

Unfortunately for her, he had. He smiled sympathetically and sat down on the bed. "I know it's hard, you've had to go through so much at such a young age. Over 500 kills and you're only 16. I also know that being around people your age and your friends makes it harder but remember you have a mission to complete." (Pretend Alden knows since he works for the government)

She noticed his voice had hardened around the edges and she remembered that his kids' lives were on the line. The reminder felt like a bucket of ice water dumped on her. She couldn't believe she had almost forgotten. 

She silently cursed herself nodded. He patted her head. "Goof girl." He got up and left but Sophie sat there not quite ready to go down yet. She couldn't stop thinking about her family. 

A few minutes later she got up, hoping that Alden hadn't told everyone she was awake. She assumed he didn't from the obvious lack of people storming up here.

She grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil and wrote a note telling everyone to to worry about her.

She put the note on the bed and quietly opened the door, slipping down the hall and the stairs. She silently thanked the gods for her stealth training. 

She walked in the shadows when she got into the living room and prayed that no one spotted her. Thankfully, no one did except Alden, who gave a subtle nod, acknowledging that he was okay with her going.

She stepped out the door, letting the cool wind blow through her hair. She looked up into the midnight blue sky and let out a whisper. 

"I miss you."

853 words!

Sorry this chapter was a little boring but we're almost to the good stuff. I just have to start a foundation.

Happy Reading!

- Lover_Sokeefe