KOTLC "Choose em'" Oneshots

Sokeefe 4

Sophie trembled as she walked down the rocky path, each rock crumbling underneath her light step. Not only was rage coursing through her, but so was fear. Pure fear at what would be waiting for her, but even more was the fear of what wouldn't be there. She blinked, a small tear leaking from the corner of her eye.

She slipped, almost tumbling and crashing down the embankment, thankful for the tree branch hanging by her right hand. However, as she clung for dear life, her hand scraped and tore. Now as blood covered her hand, she knew that one more misstep would cause her to fall down and not climb back up.

Sophie kept wishing she had Sandor or Keefe or her Mom and Dad, but she did not want to put them in any more danger. She couldn't help but think of them like the endangered species that the elves protected from the Forbidden Cities. She knew she shouldn't, but she did anyways.

Snapping back into the cold reality of her situation, she continued treading wearily down the path of doom. The Neverseen had called this meeting, her only. Not just the Black Swan were concerned about this demand, but so were the Vackers, Ruewens, and Dizznees felt equally "in the middle" in the whole situation. Keefe, though usually laid back and joking, looked genuinely concerned and apprehensive and caring, in almost an "I am your boyfriend I will protect you" kind of way. They were only friends though, right?

At least she had occupying thoughts to distract herself from the unknown at the bottom of the path. Whispering encouraging thoughts to the frigid emptiness around her, she reached the end of the treachery. There was the cave, its massive jaws opened in a roar, waiting to chomp on its prey, which happened to be Sophie. Rallying her last wisps of bravery, she entered the cavern while cradling her injured hand.

Inside, it was oddly warm for such a desolate location, there were small furnishings like a table and couch, and a kitchenette. It almost looked like someone lived there. Could she tell the Black Swan and infiltrate their hideout? Though highly improbable that they would bring her to meeting at a valuable hideout, there was still the possibility.

Lounging on the striped maroon and mustard couch was a familiar looking Ancient. Sophie only felt enraged by the familiarity. She knew that face, the murderer, destroying Kenric in flames, killing innocent goblins at the Summit, escaping while Mr. Forkle's twin died.

"Oh, Sophie! How nice of you to join us!" Sophie stared at the man, golden haired with sharp features, with growing rage. "Really, Sophie. I thought you would have much to say, especially about the rising rebellion."

"Oh, I do!!" Sophie exclaimed, "your heartless slaughter of innocent humans AND elves needs to be stopped!" She could feel the pent up emotions lodged under her ribs beginning to rise to her chest. Fintan chuckled like he did when she healed his mind. With dryness and mock, he patted the seat next to him.

"Now, dear Moonlark, you must face the consequences of meeting with no back up. Honestly Sophie, you should have been smarter." He clapped his hands twice, and then a dark, twisting, black fog obsructed her vision.

Sophie knew better than to scream. She knew that no matter what she did, no matter what bargain she made, no one would hear her.

Then there was only silence. Darkness. Rustling. Memories resurfacing. Searching. Pleading. Nothing. Emptiness. Unconsciousness. Silent. Light. Whispers. Trails. Happiness. Sadness. Anger. Sweet. Sorrow. Calling. Called. Calls. Calling. Calling. Calling. Answers. Disappear. Vanish. Invisible. Call. Calls. Calling. Calling. No answer. "Sophie. Sophie, please come back. We need you. I need you." Silence. Passing time. Darkness. Pleading. Calls. Called. Calling. Rescue. But it was all imagination. There were no calls. No one was there. Light. Bright. Flash. Clap. Snap. Dark. Light. Bright. Flash. Clap. Snap. Call. Calling. Rescue?

Flashing lights around her face brought her out of the daze. Out of the darkness, nightmares, silence. A pair of dazzling ice blue eyes stared into her own, clouded with with confusion and pure relief that it could never be put into words.

"Sophie!! Sophie, oh my goodness. Sophie!" Keefe whispered, his voice cracking with exhaustion and desperation. Her Keefe. His Sophie. She was back.

Sophies voice, crackling with neglection, managed to whisper like a willow, "Keefe?" Her eyes flooded with unshed tears, threatening to fall down her blushing, heated face.

She tilted her head down to see what had happened when Keefe looked extra concerned, but his hand rested on her chin, tilting back up. Keefe shook his head, a silent plea not to look at the damage done to her. "What happened?"

He didnt respond, nodding to Elwin. Elwin, the wild physician looked stressed, dark circles under his eyes, his hair mussed up more than usual, and his usually welcoming smile was strained. Sophie took the time to survey Keefe as well, who looked similar to Elwin, garb and everything.

"What happened? Where is everyone?" She cried, her throat clenching, every muscle clenching to the point of bursting. The tears that were held at bay finally spilled over.

"It's been," Keefe choked, "6 months. You were gone. Y-"

Elwin held up his hand, shushing Keefe before he told her too much, too much about what had happened. "Sophie, you were just found and," he cut hinself off, "declared dead by Alden and the Councillors, and no search was conducted. Until yesterday."

She cried more than she ever had, and Keefe offered comfort to her emotional pain, but nothing could help with her physical pain. He held her, rocking her back and forth as he whispered to her many things, though she couldn't really understand what he was saying. She choked on her pain, she choked on her tears, and she choked on her overwhelming sorrow.

"Keefe. Leave. You deserve so much better than me. After all, I was gone for 6 months." The pure idea of being gone for that long disgusted her. "You shouldnt have waited."

"Stop lying. You are perfect. And Fitz didn't want to wait for his Cognate. He left you for Linh. He deserted you, he gave up after a week. A week of searching for you and he didnt want to try anymore. I waited, I trained to be a physician so I could fix you when you came back. I NEVER gave up."

"He left?" She asked, explaining why it wasnt her ex-cognate by her side. "Wait, what?! You're a physician now?" Her brain finally processed what he had said, "I thought you had to train for longer?" Then it clicked. He crammed the studies into his photographic memory for her. But he was only a prodigy, not even in the Elite Levels. However heartwarming it was, she still couldnt grasp that he had waited for her. And skipped years? Her mind reeled and she gasped from a sudden blinding headache.

Keefe grimaced, like it pained him to see her with a headache. She had faced much worse, but then again, it had been half a year since she disappeared off of the face of the Lost Cities. He looked to Elwin for confirmation before he quickly grabbed a sedative vial from the tray table next to him, flicked off the lid, turned Sophie's head back and opened her mouth, held her mouth open with gentle fingers, and poured it down her throat. She tried spitting it out and vomiting, she kicked and punched before lack of oxygen turned into its own sedative. Silence. Darkness. Pleading. Blinding. Screaming. Endless. Waiting.

Sophie woke, seeming to have been asleep for decades, to see Keefe next to her. The betrayer. The ender. The saver. The keeper. The lover. The one who became hers the day she dissappeared.

1331 words
That took forever to write. Writers block is a real thing, everyone. Well, this is it for a couple weeks. Testing is hard, and writing is hard. So I will probably add another chapter in two weeks, deal? Thanks, bubye.
-sherlockiantacokeefe