Betrayed

Dark River: Different POV's

A vision of figures, snaking through a forest divided. Storm is rising. The only way to control is to be an outcast. A veil of shadows, forming into a roaring snake. Dark River.

Linh's POV

"Show me Sophie Foster." Linh commanded her Imparter. Nothing. Huh, maybe Sophie was busy. "Show me Tam Song." Nothing. Oh, right, he'd left his Imparter at Choralmere. "Show me Biana Vacker." Biana's face appeared in the screen a few seconds later. "Hi, Linh! What's up?" "Do you know where Sophie and Tam are? I can't hail them, and Tam was gone when I woke up." Biana frowned. "Weird. Let me try. Just a sec, my Imparter's on the dining table..." Biana came back with a worried crease between her eyes. "I can't hail them either. But they'll be back soon, probably." Biana bit her lip, and the Imparter screen turned blank. 

Edaline's POV

Edaline paced back and forth, turquoise eyes fixed on the window, hoping to see Sophie glitter into view. She glanced at the clock. Another hour had passed. Seconds ticked steadily by. Every flash could be Sophie. Every flicker, every flare of light. But it always turned out to be a misunderstanding. Then, at dusk, a piece of paper fluttered down from the sky. Edaline unrolled it.

I can't trust traitors. The Black Swan let me down. They never will again. Don't be too sad, I'm where I belong. Trust me, I know what I'm doing. Don't reply to this message, it will not reach me.

~Sophie

Keefe's POV

A piece of paper floated down from the sky at about sunset. Keefe reached to grab it, but Ro was faster. She swiped it out of the air and unrolled it with lightning speed. Silence. Ro's eyes widened. "What does it say? What does it say?" Keefe demanded. "See for yourself." Ro thrust him the message and skulked into the shadows.

You were right, but wrong. I risked my life for the Black Swan and this is how they repay me. I'm fine. You should know. Don't reply to this message, it will not reach me.

~Sophie

Biana's POV

Biana felt her eyelids droop, and she shifted her position on the emerald grass. "Look!" Linh pointed at the sky above them. It was twilight, slowly shifting from blue to purple, but that wasn't what Linh was pointing at. A piece of rolled-up paper. Slowly drifting gently downwards. Linh caught it, cupping it with both palms, and unrolled it ceremoniously. "It says..." Linh froze, scanning the paper, then handed it to Biana without a word. Biana felt the corners of her mouth turn down as she read the note.

I am where you can't follow me. This is the last time I will attempt to communicate with you. I can't say I'm sorry, but I can say this. I will survive. Don't reply to this message. It will not reach me.

~Sophie

Tam's POV

The rope rubbed Tam's wrists red. He watched as night fell, and a figure darted through the crumbling ruins. Whoever it was sliced the bonds around his wrists and ankles easily, then immediately raised a crystal and leaped away. He opened and closed his hands to get his blood circulating again, and held up his own crystal. Tam didn't have to wonder who his freer was. Underneath their black hood, he'd seen the brown eyes.