Kotlc one shots

covered

A distant song played in the background as we all waited anxiously at Havenfield. It was too slow and calm for how everyone was feeling. Edaline insisted on playing the music when we first heard from Sandor that Foster had snuck out her window, saying it always helped Sophie calm down when she was feeling stressed. I recognized the music from the Forbidden Cities, the English words playing quietly but filling the silence nonetheless. 

Sandor reported that the only thing left behind was a small piece of ripped paper with the words "I have to do it" scribbled on it, from Foster, left for us on her desk. No one knew what she was talking about, what she had to do, or why she didn't tell anyone before leaving. 

Luckily, Sandor detected she was missing sooner rather than later, and less than fifteen minutes later, me, Ro, the Vackers, Dex, Tam, Linh, Team Valient, and the Black Swans collective were all gathered in the Ruewen household. Forkle and Sandor were the only ones who had left to go find Sophie. Everyone wanted to go but Forkle said they would be back soon and Alden assured us there was "nothing to worry about" as usual, even though none of us really know if that's true or not.

I wish Sophie would have come to me before going off like this, but I understand, more than anyone here, why she didn't.

I just hope she's safe.

The sound of the front door creaking open and footsteps stepping into the house made everyone stand up and look over at the hall, where Sandor appeared. 

His normal shade of green skin looked somehow lighter, like he was going to be sick. 

"I think it's best everyone goes home now. Miss Foster is safe and it would be best to leave her alone at the moment," he said. I could hear how he was trying to keep the shaking out of his voice, which was strange for Sandor. I could feel all his emotions from my spot twenty feet away from where he was standing.

Confusion, dread, and worst of all, fear. 

His words caused an outrage. 

"Are you kidding? You come in here looking like you've seen a ghost and expect us to believe she's okay?" Fitz said from somewhere behind me above all the voices.

Everyone is talking at the same time, all their voices getting louder and louder as they fight to be heard.

"EVERYONE QUIET!" Sandor shouted, silencing everyone in an instant. He took a deep breath before continuing. "Miss Foster is safe. She is up in her room and you will be able to see her tomorrow if she is willing to see you, however right now, she will be left alone and you all will leave this house before I personally escort you out, is that clear?"

We all sit in silence, shocked at Sandor's sudden rant.

"IS. THAT. CLEAR?" He shouts and we all jump and people scurry to get to the door. Sandor leads Grady and Edaline to the kitchen, saying he needs to talk with them.

I lag behind the crowd, hoping to get a peek upstairs to see if I could see Foster, or try and convince Sandor to let me see her. 

Ro seems to get the hint and stays behind with me so we're a few feet behind everyone.

They all get out the door quickly, too involved in their own conversations about what might have happened to Sophie to notice that Ro and I didn't follow them outside. I'm watching the door to make sure everyone is truly gone when Ro nudges my arm.

I look over at her and her eyes are wide and almost panicked. She points at the floor and I feel dizzy when I see a pool of blood next to the staircase, just out of everyone else's sight when they were walking out the door. There's a trail of blood drops and bloody footsteps leading up the stairs and deep down, I know they're Fosters.

I can hear Grady, Edaline, and Sandor all talking in hushed voices in the kitchen, even though there's supposed to be no one else in here other than Sophie and Mr. Forkle.

I bite my lip, contemplating whether it would be better to sneak upstairs or ask permission from Sandor and the Ruewens. Ro seems to notice this and rolls her eyes before quietly making her way up the stairs.

Guess my decision was made for me. 

I followed her up to the third floor, which was Forsters. I could hear Forkle's voice through the door and before I could lose my nerve I knocked lightly.

I heard a sigh and footsteps coming up to the door.

"Sandor, Did you get everyone to-" his sentence was cut off when he saw me. He quickly shut the door more so my view of Sophie was cut off and I could only see him. 

"Mr. Sencen. What are you doing up here? I told Sandor no one was to see Miss Foster at this time," he whispered harshly, but I wasn't focused on his words at all. My gaze landed on the bloody, wet rag in his hand.

Mr. Forkle quickly hid the rag behind the door when he saw my eyes on it.

"I'm going to have to ask you to leave now, we can talk in the morning," Mr. Forkle said, and I could tell he really wanted me to go. 

"What happened? Where is Sophie?" I questioned, my voice hardening.

"Miss Foster is in here. We will all talk about what happened in the morning, now please go." He tried shutting the door but I stopped it with my hand, pushing back more than him.

"Is she okay?" His eyes softened slightly as if he understood how much I needed to know and he opened the door back uo slightly so I didn't need to push on it anymore.

"She's not harmed."

"That's not what I asked."

"Mr. Sencen, please-"

"I need to see her," I cut him off.

He's quiet for a moment as he looks at me and then looks back at where I assume Sophie is. I wonder why she hasn't said anything, she must be able to hear me.

"Please," I beg because it's all I can do at this point.

"Fine. I will let you in, but under no circumstance are you to discuss this with anyone, understood?" 

I nod, not fully understanding what he was talking about. Discuss what? What had happened?

"And Keefe? ...Prepare yourself," He whispered and gave me a minute to take in those words before opening the door slowly.

I couldn't comprehend what I was seeing at first. I really couldn't. It was impossible. Because there was simply no way Sophie was the one sitting on a desk chair in the middle of the room, covered from head to toe in blood, quietly singing to the music Edaline had put on earlier.