Keeper of the Great Adventures

Chapter 15

Sophie woke up to the sound of Elwin shouting.

"What's going on?" Sophie asked groggily.

"Not right now!" Elwin snapped. Sophie jumped back, surprised with his tone. He was rarely angry unless something was severe. She stayed quiet, afraid of distracting him.

She had started counting numbers and got to 839 until Elwin finally said, "I'm so sorry."

"For what?" She whispered.

He looked away and said, "He's gone,"

Sophie froze. She didn't believe him. Keefe couldn't be gone. He just couldn't.

"No," She whispered. She ran over to Keefe's side and wrapped her hand around his lifeless one.

"I- I can fix this. I can heal him," Sophie stuttered.

"His mind isn't broken. The poison got to his heart. I'm sorry."

"No! He can't be gone! There has to be something we can do!" She cried.

Elwin was about to say something when Sophie cut him off, saying, "It's not fair! Why does Brant get to live?? How come Fintan gets to survive?? Why does it have to be him?! Why did he have to- " She shouted. She couldn't finish that sentence.

"Sophie, please forgive me," Elwin said with a sad look on his face. She was about to yell something back when a cloth covered her mouth and nose, and before she knew it, it went dark again.

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Sophie woke up a day later. She was furious at Elwin for knocking her out, but also kind of glad. She would've lost herself if he hadn't have done that.

Elwin wasn't in the room, so Sophie got up, dragged a chair next to Keefe's bed, and sat down. She thought about going into his mind to see if there was anything she could do, but she was too weak. So, she settled for transmitting to him.

"Hey," Sophie transmitted, half-expecting Keefe to reply back.

"I know you can't hear this, but it makes me feel like you are still here."

She paused, fighting back the tears.

"This all feels like one big never-ending nightmare. I keep hoping that I'll wake up and you'll be here with me. Smiling. Laughing. Cracking jokes."

She felt a sudden burst of sadness filled her mind. Before she could question it, Elwin came in, breaking her "connection."

"Before you say anything, I forgive you. And thank you." Sophie said.

Elwin sighed a sigh of relief and said, "I'm glad you don't hate me." He glanced between her and how she had moved closer to Keefe.

He cleared his throat and said, "His planting is tomorrow, and I know he'd want you to be there."

"Elwin, can you do me a favor?"

"What is it?"

"Keep him here. Please. Don't... get rid of him." She said, not believing the words coming out of her mouth.

"I can't- "

"You can. You have to. It will be the only way to keep me sane."

Elwin sighed, then said, "Okay. But not forever." Sophie nodded. He wouldn't have to, because she was determined to bring him back. He wasn't gone. He couldn't be. And she needed to prove that.