Stellarlune - KOTLC Book 8.5 Fanfic

Chapter 3

"Sophie? Sophie."

Sophie's eyes flared open. She was lying on her bed, in Havenfield. Edaline was standing beside it.

"Is something happening?" She whispered groggily. It felt like it was the middle of the night. Sophie clapped her hands twice to elevate her shades for the window. The night was purplish-black, which meant it was probably close to dawn.

"What's wrong?" Sophie asked. All she remembered was being helped upstairs to her bedroom. And collapsing before she reached her bed. Then she remembered.

"The cache?" Sophie asked.

"No..." Edaline replied, fingering her dress. "Keefe."

"Keefe?! What happened?" Sophie's heart skipped a beat, as visuals of Keefe's suffering appeared in her mind.

"He - he," Edaline faltered. "It's best to see for yourself."

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"He's here," Elwin said, meeting Sophie Edaline, and Sandor at the door of the Healing Centre. Sophie had put on a simple white tunic, with a yellow cape. They had hurried to light leap to the Healing Centre, where they found Elwin anxiously pacing.

As Sophie ran inside the Healing Center, she saw Fitz and Biana sitting on a chair beside a bed. She neared closer to Keefe's bed, and her heart stopped.

Keefe was flailing his arms and legs, parts of his body glowing like quintessence and some like shadowflux. His eyes were bloodshot and white, as his body continued to jerk up and down, side to side.

Sophie felt herself tremble with fear and worry. What was happening? Was he in pain? How would they fix this?

She stumbled over to the side of Keefe's bed, as tears slipped down her cheeks. How could this happen? He had been fine just a day ago. Sophie felt herself falling. Crumbling. Her mind retreated and disappeared from reality.

Sophie. Sophie didn't want to follow the voice. Not this time.

SOPHIE. She buried herself deeper into the dark fog in the depths of her mind.

SOPHIE! The voice didn't relent. She didn't want to go back to the harsh reality until everything would be fine.

FOR KEEFE! Somebody transmitted. Sophie could feel herself drifting upwards into the light. But the clouds dragged her back down, rain pouring against her. She needed an anchor. Something to help her climb back up to reality.

HE'S AWAKE! Suddenly, all the clouds dispersed. The stampeding rain turned into mist. And Sophie grabbed the mist, shaped it into peaceful memories, and used it to launch her back up to... light.

"FOSTER!" Somebody yelled.

Keefe.

Sophie's eyes flashed open and she saw Keefe looming over her. Unable to control herself, she hung her arms around his neck, and tears started to come like a wave.

"Looks like you missed me a lot, right?" Keefe smirked. "Well of course you all missed me. 'Cause I'm the Keefster." He pulled away, and looked into Sophie's eyes.

"Promise, you'll never do that again," Sophie whispered, voice cracking. "Promise."

"Don't worry, I won't," Keefe said, with a sad smile. "I won't ever leave you again."

They both stood there, neither wanting to move.

Fitz grunted.

Sophie turned away from Keefe and looked at Fitz.

"Hey Fitzy! What's up?' Keefe broke the silence.

"We missed you.' Fitz reluctantly replied.

Then there was silence, with Biana staring wordlessly at Keefe. Then she ran over and hugged him super tight, Sophie was sure he was going to explode.

"I missed you," She blubbered, sobbing.

"I did too, though I mean, what was up with my awesome mother trying to drown me in darkness?" Keefe smirked again. "At least I could've gone out in style."

Sophie had been too relieved that Keefe had woken up and was making jokes, that she had never wondered how he woke up.

"Keefe?" Sophie asked, "How did you wake up?"

"I don't know," He replied. "One second I didn't even know that I was alive, and the next, it was just a blur of pain. It felt like I was being torn apart by the influence of darkness and light. Strange. But then light won me over. I think." Keefe frowned.

"It doesn't hurt now?" Sophie checked.

"Nah, Elwin got rid of the headaches and stuff. After light won me over, most of the pain disappeared," Keefe grinned. "Does that mean I'm the enemy of Bangs Boy? Where is he anyway?" Keefe clutched his heart like he was being wounded. "And wheres Linh and Dex?"

Sophie looked around but only saw white walls, the alchemy area, Elwin's office, and four beds.

"I don't know," She admitted. "But I'm sure they'll come soon."

Keefe shrugged. "Eh, it's not like it's been a long time anyways. How many days passed?"

"Two," Sophie answered. "We only tried to open Oralie's -" Sophie stopped herself right in time. Elwin was still in the room. "We tried to open Oralie's .... Imparter! I mean that her imparter wasn't working and it kept insisting a password. So Dex was trying to help with that." Her eyes darted to Elwin. He seemed unfazed.

Keefe's eyes narrowed. "Okay." He said.

"KEEFE!" Linh, and Dex rushed into the room.

"Hi Linh. Hi Dex. I'm surprised Bangs Boy isn't with you. Actually, I'm not that surprised." Keefe raised his eyebrow.

"I am," Tam responded, walking in the room.

"Cool, so this is like a slumber party?" Keefe's eyes strayed across the room. "Where's Ro? Gigantor, Girzel, Woltzer and Lovise?"

"Sandor's outside, guarding the entrance," Sophie replied. "And the others are probably checking Foxfire for any danger."

"Alright." Keefe agreed. "What about Mr. Forkle?"

"I don't think anybody got the chance to tell him that you're awake. I'm sure Squall is telling the rest of the Collective right now." Sophie said, checking the doors of the Healing Center.

"Ok. Then how about we have some fun?" Keefe exclaimed.

"What do you mean?" Sophie asked,

"I mean, that why don't we test out my new ability?" He laughed as everybody looked bewildered. "Don't think I forgot about that. I hope it's something cooler than being an Empath." Everybody stared at him. "I mean, as long as I don't participate more in my legacy, it should be fine!"

Sophie looked at the rest of her friends. Then at Elwin.

"Before you say anything," Elwin interjected. "You have my approval. Keefe is as healthy as he could be right now. You don't feel dizzy or anything, right?"

Keefe nodded. "Yeah. I guess."

"Don't you think we should wait for the Collective to come here first?" Biana asked.

"Yeah, and how are you even going to trigger it?" Dex added.

Keefe looked down at his feet. "Actually, I'm pretty sure my ability has already been triggered. By the magisdan, shadows, and light from before. The effect's just hitting me now."

Sophie glanced at the Healing Center's door again. Nobody came in.

"If you're really up for it," Sophie decided. "But don't you dare start using your ability until the Collective comes. And I think we need to do it somewhere more private."

"Beats me," Keefe shrugged. "I need my beauty sleep anyways."