Sentry of the Arcane: Befall

Chapter Three: Sophie

After somehow being dragged into another one of Laurel's makeovers, I was finally allowed to go back to my room. Sighing, I can't help but fiddle with the flowing knee-length skirt of my crimson red dress. The dress was originally rather loose around my waist, so Laurel had decided to make me wear a brown braided belt that's about three inches in width. Although I will admit that the black heeled ankle-boots made the entire outfit much classier.

Grateful that the only "makeup" I was forced to receive was a tinted chapstick, I open my door to see my clean and tidy room again. Curling some of my straightened hair behind my ear, I walk over to my desk to take off the unnecessary and bulky bracelets that Laurel stole from my room to make me wear. I only notice the beige folder on my desk when I stand up again after putting the excess jewelry away.

The corners of my lips tugging into a frown, I slowly walk over to my desk. I pick up the folder tentatively. "Arien Leroy," I whisper to myself, the back of my mind trying to remember when I've seen the folder before.

My eyes then suddenly widen as I drop the folder, the unopened file falling gently onto the desk surface again.

Michelle Barrera.

David Grahams.

Dread pooling into my stomach and fear clouding my mind, I rush outside, hastily closing the door behind me. Laurel jumps up when the door slams loudly. As she walks besides me, she asks, "Where are you going already?"

"Fitz," I quickly reply as we both step into the elevator. I press the button for the ground floor and watch as the metal doors close slowly.

"Why him?" she asks.

I turn to see the sly smirk on her face again. My eyes widen at this. "Oh, no- it's not like-"

"Are you sure?"

Even though I know that now isn't the time, I still feel my face warming. I press my lips together and look anywhere but at her. I then realize that Laurel is most likely taking the silence the wrong way as well. Looking at the female Altruistic, I say, "Your theory is completely wrong- it's for another reason entirely."

Laurel only winks at me in a suspicious what. "Sure," she says, the word dripping with sarcasm. "By the way, I think he's in the conference room with Benen." Her eyes widen. "And I think Donovan went after them. With pies."

My eyes widen and the two of us rush out of the elevator. Mentally cursing the heeled boots, Laurel watches me silently as I place my hands on the door handles. She smirks at my hurry.

I shake my head. "But seriously-" I pause, opening the conference room doors. "I need to talk to Fitz because..." My eyes blink in surprise as I take in the scene in front of me.

Donovan and Benen are caked from head to toe in pie remnants, glimmering slightly from all the sugar. I look to see Fitz dodge yet another pie that's being flung at him by the male Sovereign. I clear my throat obnoxiously loud to make their heads turn towards the entrance. Fitz blushes in embarrassment and turns away from me, running a hand through his sugary hair. "Um...Don't ask," Fitz finally say, glowering at Donovan after he ducks to avoid a pumpkin pie.

"Hey, Sophie!" Laurel calls. "You were about to say something, but you didn't..." Laurel stops mid-sentence like me when she finally sees the three boys. "Oh. Wow."

Benen smiles and waves at her. "Hey, Laurel!"

Laurel blushes deeply. Smiling softly, she waves at him. "Hi, Benen."

Donovan claps two pies together, grabbing our attention . "Okay," he begins loudly, earning an eye roll from me. "Now that the blush fest is over, can we please continue this? Mr. Wallace seems to want to throw another pie at me since I hit him."