A Future Elvin World

Chapter 5-Sophie POV

The next day, things went on as usual. Sophie ate breakfast, then joined Keefe and Fitz in the library, where they'd spend the rest of the day looking through scrolls. 

Though this time, she had something to tell them. 

"Tam visited me last night." Sophie says, plopping down in the seat between the two boys. Both their heads snap up immediately, two very different looks on their faces. Keefe, looked like he was about to murder someone, his face flushing pink, eyebrows furrowing. His fists clenched as if he was trying to keep himself from punching something.  Sophie was expecting this reaction from Keefe, but for some reason, she was expecting him to be a little calmer. Especially since it'd been his idea in the first place to include Tam into the plan. 

 Fitz, on the other hand, looked full on surprised. his eyebrows had shot up his forehead, large teal eye glimmering in curiosity and intrigue. 

Just by seeing both of their different reactions, it reminded Sophie of just how different they are. Fitz and Keefe are exact opposites of each other. 

"How'd he even get in here?" Fitz asked. Sophie opened her mouth to respond, but Keefe's low, angry voice interrupted her. 

"Does it matter? Doesn't he know how much danger he put you in by showing up unannounced?" He snaps and Sophie meets his gaze, blinking slowly and calmly.  He glances away, jaw clenched. "The Neverseen could've followed him here."

"I see where you're coming from, Keefe." Sophie places a hand on his shoulder gently, "but there's always a risk of us seeing him. When you were with the Neverseen you still found ways to get to me."

"But that was different." Keefe responds, meeting her gaze again. "I wasn't being watched as closely as Tam is. I wasn't as important to them." His voice lines in bitterness. Sophie heart stings hearing it. 

"But as Sophie said, Keefe." Fitz butts in, bringing both their attentions to him. "Tam is apart of the plan so far. And if he is going to be, we'll need to see a lot more of him. Unfortunately, that'll increase the risk, but," He smiles slightly, "what's the fun if there's no risk?"

Sophie expected Keefe to let out some snarky comeback. Or some thoughtful joke about risks. But instead, he just turns his head away, glowering at the scrolls laid out in front of him. 

What's up with him?

Matter of fact, he's been acting strange all morning. 

She'll have to interrogate him later. Right now, Sophie needed to brainstorm.

"So what'd he say?"

"Nothing." Sophie responded, "Well I mean, he said some things, but when I told him about the plan he left a few moments later."

"So we don't know if he's in yet or not?"

Sophie nods and Fitz lets out a small sigh. They all sit in silence for a few moments, then Fitz breaks the silence by saying, 

"We should let Mr. Forkle in on the plan."

"You haven't told him yet?" Sophie asked incredulously. When Keefe and her had told the others of the plan, Fitz volunteered to break the news to the Collective members. 

"Haven't had the chance." Fitz responded, rolling up a scroll. "I haven't seen him around."

That's strange. 

Mr. Forkle is always in Tara....

What could be so important he'd leave? 

Sophie frowned, her thoughts creating a whirlpool and drowning her into thought.  

Is there something going on we don't know anything about?

There must be if he's gone....

Are the other collective members with him? Did Fitz look for them as well? 

Sophie clenches her fist with irritation; they weren't kids anymore. If something is going on, they all deserve to know what....

Don't jump to conclusion, Sophie. 

She can't be to quicks to judge, no matter how much her overthinking brain just loves to do so. 

But... just because Forkle is gone, does not mean that they won't go on with the plan. Sophie is tired of hiding away, acting like a scared rabbit in a hole. 

It's time she become the predator and chase the Neverseen into their hole. 

........

Sophie sits outside her treehouse, leaning up against the trunk of the supporting tree. Looking through scrolls was just a waste of time. And yes, Keefe might know a way to get into Tribunal Hall, but the passageway is a one way entrance and exit. She'd be trapped if something were to happen to it, and being trapped in the Neverseen's own headquarters is not something Sophie wants to happen. Especially if Tam were with her. 

She knows they would not hesitate to kill him if they knew he'd betrayed them. Her? They wouldn't dispose of her right away she knows that. 

They'd threaten her friends first... then get rid of her. 

Or maybe they would-

"EARTH TO SOPHIE!" A loud shout jolts Sophie from her suffocating thoughts and she glances upwards, meeting the periwinkle gaze of her best friend, Dex. He grins, though it doesn't meet his eyes. His strawberry blonde hair is ruffled and unkempt and he has giant dark circles under his eyes, making it look like he has two painful looking, black eyes. 

it's not secret Dex has been forcing himself to work day and night, trying to figure out something that would help us defeat the Neverseen, but everything he has come up with, genius or not, hasn't exactly worked out. Sophie knew it was killing Dex inside and she's tried being there for him as much as she could. Though its hard when he doesn't speak or let her into his room. 

She would've pounded down his door, but Dex thought about that fist and did something to his door that makes it pretty much impossible for Sophie to get inside. 

The only time she saw him these days was at meal times, and even then he was like a ghost. Silent and invisible. 

 "You haven't been sleeping." Sophie comments and Dex plops down besides her, leaning his head back on the tree. 

"No kidding." He grumbles, sighing and closing his eyes. 

Sophie watches him for a second, then asks, "Are you okay?"

"No." Dex murmurs and Sophie isn't surprised by the answer. 

"Anything I can do to help?"

He opens his eyes and turns his head to look at her. He grins slightly, but sadly and the look shatters Sophie's heart. He looks so... defeated. "Just... be here."

"I am." She replies softly, leaning her head against his shoulder. "I always am and you know that."

Dex lets out a small sigh, resting his head on hers. "Yeah... I do."