KOTLC Characters Read The Books!

Chapter 5

THERE YOU ARE!" HER MOM SHOUTED. HER panicked thoughts battered their way into Sophie's brain as she entered their cluttered living room and found her mom still on the phone. "Yes, she's home now," she said into the receiver. "Don't worry, I will be having a very long talk with her."

Edaline: So this is your mother...?

Grady: WE'RE BETTER THAN THEM

Sophie: *sighs*

Sophie's heart jolted.

Her mom hung up the phone and reeled around. Her wide green eyes glared daggers. "That was Mr. Sweeney calling because he couldn't find you at the museum. What were you thinking, wandering off like that—especially now, with the fires making everyone nervous? Do you have any idea how worried I was? And Mr. Sweeney was about to call the police!"

"I'm—I'm sorry," Sophie stammered, struggling to find a convincing lie. She was a horrible liar. "I . . . got scared."

Her mom's anger faded to concern, and she tugged nervously at her curly brown hair. "Scared of what? Did something happen?"

"I saw this guy," Sophie said, realizing the best lies were based on truth. "He had the article about me. He started asking all these questions and it was freaking me out so I ran away from him. And then I was scared to go back, so I walked to the trolley and took the train home."

"Why didn't you get a teacher or a museum guard—or call the police?"

"I guess I didn't think of that. I just wanted to get away." She tugged out an eyelash.

Keefe: As cute as ever

Fitz: Shut up

Sophie: *super embarrassed and in the corner*

Me: *cough cough* Love triangle??

"Ugh—stop doing that," her mom complained, closing her eyes and shaking her head. She took a deep breath. "Well, I guess the important thing is that you're okay. But if anything like that ever happens again, I want you to run straight to an adult, do you understand?"

Sophie nodded.

"Good." She rubbed the wrinkle between her brows that always appeared when she was stressed. "This is exactly why your father and I were upset about that article. It's not safe to stand out in this world—you never know what some weirdo is going to try to do once they know where they can find you."

No one understood the dangers of standing out better than Sophie. She'd been teased and tormented and bullied her whole life. "I'm fine, Mom. Okay?"

Edaline: *hugs Sophie* Oh dear, I'm so sorry

Her mom seemed to deflate as she let out a heavy sigh. "I know, I just wish . . ."

Her voice trailed off and Sophie closed her eyes, hoping she could close out the rest of the thought.

You could be normal, like your sister.

The words slipped a tiny pin into Sophie's heart. It was the hardest part of being a Telepath—hearing what her parents really thought.

Fitz: oh my...

Linh: That sounds so terrible, as a human :(

She knew her mom didn't mean it. But that didn't make it any less painful to hear.

Her mom wrapped her in a tight hug. "Just be careful, Sophie. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you."

"I know, Mom. I'll try."