Keeper of the Great Adventures

Chapter 20

"That makes no sense,"  Sophie transmitted after Keefe explained his theory for the third time.

Keefe sighed. "You know how Tam was in that weird trance until Linh told him that she loved him? And you did a similar thing with me? I'm saying there's a pattern, and maybe telling him you love him will work."

"What?"  All she could understand from what he was saying is that he wanted her to tell Fitz she loved him.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not explaining it again," Keefe thought. "Just transmit to him that you love him, okay?"

"But I don't. Not in that way, at least."

Surprise rippled through Keefe's mind. "You don't?"

"Well, I mean, I do. But I don't." Sophie tried to explain.

"It's my turn to say: What?"

"How do I put this... I love Fitz, and I love Dex. I love Tam, and I love you. But only one of those people I love more than a friend."

"Fitz?" Keefe guessed.

"Nope."

"Dex,"

"No,"

"Tam???"

"No."

"Mr. Forkle...?"

"What?? I didn't- What- NO!!"

Keefe burst out laughing.

Alden walked over and said, "So do you have a plan?"

Sophie glared at Keefe who was still laughing and said, "Not quite,"

"Okay, so what do I need to do?" Sophie transmitted to Keefe, hoping he'd drop what they had been talking about.

"Now hold on, you never answered my question. Who is it??" Keefe asked. Sophie looked up at him and saw his eyes glistening with curiosity.

"You're kidding me, right?"

"About what?"

"You, that's who."  Sophie transmitted. She met his eyes, which were now filled with shock.

"Ugh, don't give me that look,"  She said after seeing his shock turned into a smirk. "Just tell me what I need to do."

"You need to confess your love,"

"Excuse me?"

"Foster, I love you, but you are seriously driving me crazy. Go up to Fitz and transmit to him you love him. Then come back and transmit to me, you love me,"  Keefe grinned. Sophie rolled her eyes, but got up and walked towards Fitz.

"I'm ready," Sophie told Alden. He gestured for her to get closer. She took a deep breath and set her hands on Fitz's temples again. She pushed into his mind and told herself to keep this quick.

"Hey, Fitz. This is Sophie. I really need you to wake up. We all really miss you, and we don't understand what's going on."

She started to feel like she was drowning.

"I thought I should tell you that I love you and that you need to wake up."  She transmitted. She felt a small ripple go through his mind before she was dragged out of his mind.

"Are you okay?" Alden asked with a worried expression on his face.

"I think so, what happened?" No one answered her question because they were crowding around Fitz, who's eyes were slowly opening.

"Is he okay?" A quiet voice asked from behind her. Linh stood there, fidgeting.

"I think so. I'm going to call Elwin. Linh? Take Sophie outside to the hall and explain what happened." Alden said. Linh nodded and took Sophie out into the hallway.

"So, what happened?" Sophie prompted.

"Well you started, as Keefe described, drowning in Fitz's mind. So they hailed me to come over. I arrived and you looked just as lifeless at Fitz. Keefe briefly explained what had happened before and I had an idea. Tam and Biana love each other. So it makes sense why you saying that to Fitz didn't work. I whispered to Fitz that I loved him and wished he'd wake up and end this misery. He started to wake up, and you were pulled out of the trance." Linh explained. Sophie noticed how she didn't mention anything about Keefe and herself.

"What caused all of us to go under the trance, though?" Sophie asked after processing all that Linh had shared.

"I think that the machine the Neverseen has been using connected our brain to it somehow, and they have control over what happens to us. In other words, putting us in a trance. For Tam and Ro, it was turning rogue. For your, Keefe, and Fitz, it was going into a trance where you seem lifeless. Who knows what else they can do." Linh said. Sophie didn't say anything. They needed to stop this before it got any worse.

Elwin arrived and checked her, and Fitz then sent them home. It was almost sunrise, but Edaline told her she needed more sleep.

Sophie laid in bed, trying to think of ways to stop the Neverseen. That's when she remembered she owed Keefe something.

"Keefe?"

A few seconds later, she heard, "Miss me already, Foster?"

She rolled her eyes, smiled, then transmitted, "I love you,"

"I love you too, and I'm glad you're okay,"

Sophie let her mind wander and thought about everything that had happened. She forgot she was still connected to Keefe and accidentally thought, "What are we?"

She instantly realized what she had done and started apologizing.

"Calm down, Foster, I can feel your stress from Candleshade,"  He teased.

"Do you want to be..."  Keefe started, but his thoughts trailed off.

"Do I want to be what?"

"I don't want to make you uncomfortable. One thing I noticed while you were with Fitz is he seemed to push you into everything."

"He did. But you aren't pushing anything. Like you said, if something gets to be weird or it's going to fast, we'll talk."  Sophie transmitted. "What were you going to ask?"

"Do you want to be my girlfriend?"

"Oh. Well- " Sophie started.

"I'm sorry, that was a stupid question."

"No, it wasn't. And I was going to say that it depends."

"On what?"

"Do you really want to be my boyfriend?"  Sophie asked.

"Of course,"

"Well, then there's your answer. Now, I need to go to sleep, or else Sandor will murder you for keeping me awake."

"Okay. Get some rest," Sophie smiled and severed their connection. She was happy until she realized she'd have to tell Grady about Keefe.

"I'll worry about that later," She told herself. She rolled over and fell asleep minutes later.