Always & Forever

Chapter 21

          "Wait, you're not mad at Oralie? But she broke the number one rule," Dex said.

          "Yes, we know that. But we've realized how, if Oralie didn't take a chance to be apart of Project Moonlark, we may have never had such a talented girl," Emery replied.

          I just stood there, stunned. How could they just let her get away with this? She broke a rule, then lied about it. 

          "Wait, so what you're saying is that you're just going to let Oralie get away with this?" Keefe asked. "Are we going to tell the public about this?"

          "We will not be letting the public know about this. It is better to keep this a secret from them than risk them from thinking we've always supported the Black Swan," Emery said.

          "So you're just going to let Sophie stay unmatchable?" Keefe asked.

          Emery nodded. At that point, I couldn't take it anymore. I walked away from the conversation. I knew Keefe was following me, but I didn't care. I just kept on walking, to where I don't know. They're just letting Oralie get away with this and at the same time, they're just going to let me stay unmatchable. It's so stupid.

          I looked for something to kick and it ended up being a boulder. Pain shot up my leg and I winced. I sat down on the boulder and rubbed my foot. 

          "Okay, I understand that you're upset. But there is no reason to go around kicking things. For one thing, you're hurting yourself." Keefe bent over and took off my boot. "And two, you're going to end up beating yourself up so bad that you're going to have to visit Elwin again."

          I look down at my foot and see that it's bleeding.

          "Okay, you stay here while I go get something to fix this up." Keefe got up.

          "Wait, so what you're saying you didn't bring something when you know that I'm bound to hurt myself," I say jokingly.

          "Sophie, this isn't something to joke about. You get hurt all the time and you've almost died too many times to count." Keefe looks away, "There have been times where I thought that I had lost you for good."

          I walked over to him and wrapped him in a hug, "I'm not going anywhere."

          "Neither am I."

          We stand there for what feels like forever. But, a good forever. But Keefe finally let go of me and said, 

          "Okay, now I really need to go get something for that foot. Don't you dare go anywhere or do anything that could potentially hurt you." With that, he walked off to the house.

          I looked around and noticed that I had found my way to the lake. It would have been pretty if it wasn't almost completely dark out. I found a bench next to the lake and took a seat. I began thinking about how life could be if there was no Neveerseen. Just a regular life with no problems no expectations no almost dying. 

          SNAP

          I got up as quickly as I possibly could and scanned the forest. With there being no walls around Everglen it made it easier for people to get in undetected. 

          "I know you're there!" I called. "So yourself!"

          "I don't think I want to. You could easily take me down, oh wait you can't because I have this handy hat on."

          Apparently the mystery person hasn't gotten the memo that I can Inflict on the heart now.

          "And I've got your little boyfriend with me."

          "Hey! I'm not little!" Keefe said.

          And they don't know that I can Inflict on one person now.

          "Oh, I'm so scared," I say sarcastically. "How will I ever save Keefe?"

          "Oh, you won't and I'd drop the attitude if I was you."

          I search for the thoughts of the intruder and when I zero in on them, I let out my rage. Well, not all of it since I'm not really mad I'm more annoyed with the fact that this dude interrupted my daydreaming.

          "Wow, Foster you've never heard so much sarcasm come from you."

          "Yeah, well whoever that person was, he had no idea what I can do now."

          "Yeah, he obviously didn't know because he is supposed to be dead."

          My eyes widened and I made my way over to the body. I look down and see that he's covered his face with a mask. I slowly remove the mask and what I find surprises me the most.

          "You can't Inflict on a person with the hat on," Alvar said. "And how come Keefe wasn't hurt at all in the process?"

          "I had my Inflicting reset so that I could reach my full potential with the ability. This means, no more hiding behind these stupid hats because I can inflict on not only the mind but the heart as well." I pick up Alvar using Telekinesis and bring him to the Council, even though I want to be as far away from them as possible.

          "Sophie, we have come u- Where the heck did he come from? Bring him to his old apartment with the others," Councilor Emery said.

          Sandor came up to me, "I'll take him. I don't think you want to see the others," he whispered.

          I hand Alvar over to Sandor and let him deal with the backstabber.

          "You said you had an idea?" I ask.

          "Oh yes, right. Let me warn you though, this will be a challenge to keep a secret. Most everyone in your school knows that you are unmatch-"

          "Wait, this is about Matchmaking?" I ask.

          "Yes, we have agreed to tell the Matchmaker who you're parents are. But they won't be allowed to tell anyone. We will be talking to the Matchmakers tomorrow. After that, you will be allowed to get your packet."

          Keefe laces his fingers with mine.

          I told you that we would figure out all of the Matchmaking issues.

          Yeah, but now we have to hope that we're on each other's lists.