Keeper of the Great Adventures

Chapter 19

"Sophie, honey, you need to wake up," Edaline said while gently shaking her awake.

"It feels like it's two in the morning," Sophie groaned.

Edaline gave her a small smile and said, "That's probably because it is,"

"Why did you wake me up so early?" Sophie asked. She looked out her doorway and saw Grady and Sandor. "And why do Sandor and Grady look like they saw a ghost?"

Edaline's smile faded as she said, "Something happened, and Alden needs your help," Sophie paled.

"What happened?"

"He doesn't know, and that's why he needs you. Biana heard Fitz scream, and she rushed to see what was wrong. He won't wake up but occasionally twitches or screams."

Sophie's vision started to become tinted with red, but she pushed those feelings down.

"Can't I go one day without someone getting hurt?"

"That would be ideal, yes," Grady called from the door. Sophie sighed as she got out of bed.

She wasn't in the mood to wear pants or a tunic, so she settled for a simple dark green dress. She pulled half her hair up as she ran to meet Edaline to leap to Everglen.

"Who all is here?" Sophie asked as they arrived.

"Keefe, you, and me," Edaline said while pulling her through the gates. Sophie took a deep breath and promised herself that she would be able to help Fitz.

"Thank you for coming so early and on such short notice," Alden said as they walked through the front doors. Sophie sucked in a breath when she saw how lifeless Fitz looked. She wasn't sure how much more she could handle. She had almost lost Keefe, and now Fitz? When does it end? In 5 years, will all her friends still be here?

"Sophie, are you alright?" Biana asked, appearing next to her.

She nodded and said, "Of course,"

Biana raised her eyebrow and said, "Then why does Keefe look like he's about to be sick?"

"Someone slipped him a bad elixir?"

"Hate to break it to you, Foster, but you reek of stress and worry." Keefe walked over to her, took her hand, and calmed her.

She let out a shaky breath, looked at him, and said, "Thanks,"

"No problem," He said. Sophie looked away and forced herself to keep her emotions under control.

"So, do I need to enter his mind?" Sophie asked, unsure of what the plan was.

"See if anything looks off. Keefe and I will be here to help you. If either of us feels anything off about you, we'll bring you back." Alden said.

Sophie nodded and said, "Okay. Can you give me a minute to clear my head?"

"Of course." He replied. Sophie sat on the floor and tried to clear her thoughts. Her mind felt like a tangled web of worry, and she wasn't sure she could untangle it.

"Are you okay?" Keefe asked. She looked up and saw he has sat down next to her.

"No,"  She transmitted. She didn't feel like talking.

"He'll be okay, you know that, right?"

"But what if he isn't? Everyone will hate me if he isn't okay."

"You can't put that pressure on yourself. Della and Alden only asked for your help because they trust you. Alden could've seen if he could do anything, or they could've asked some other telepath to see what was wrong. But they chose you. Not because they think you can fix it, which you can. But they chose you because they trust you and they know you'll do everything you can to help."

"Thanks. Lately, it feels like everyone expects me to fix everything, and it scares me. So, hearing that really helps."

Keefe smiled and pulled her into a hug.

"You got this," He whispered. Sophie pulled away and smiled.

"I'm ready," She said, surprised that her words were true. She would do everything she could to make sure Fitz was okay.

She walked over to him and placed her hands on his temples. She took a deep breath and pushed into his mind. Sophie was surprised by what she saw; nothing. It was like all his memories had been erased. She wandered further into his mind calling, "Fitz" every few seconds. But there was no response. There was no life.

Sophie tried looking for warmth. She tried sending him memories of her with him and his family. She felt like she had tried everything.

Sophie tried to hold on and look for something. Anything. She felt like she was drowning in nothingness, but she promised she'd save Fitz. That's when she was forced out of Fitz's mind.

Sophie stumbled backward into Edaline.

"What happened?" Sophie asked.

Edaline held on to her and said, "Keefe couldn't feel your emotions, and Alden completely lost you."

"I don't understand. Fitz had no thoughts or memories. There was nothing,"

"Wait, you couldn't see or feel anything?" Keefe asked. Sophie nodded.

"I think I know how we can save him," Keefe said.