How Did We Get Into This Mess - KOTLC Oneshots

CONTEST ENTRY 1

Quicker than a blink, a gust of wind propelled the device towards Sophie, who only noticed it from two meters away. At first, it was seemingly innocent, a tube of lipstick. Not a lethal weapon. Sophie watched as the makeup folded in on itself, contorting until its use was clear. A blade aiming to take down the Moonlark. Sophie was enraptured by the change, frozen. 

She tried to use telekinesis to no avail. Sophie wasn't just shocked still. Moving was impossible. So she watched, helpless as Keefe dove in front of the simple dagger, taking the killing blow. Even immortals could die.

Sophie never thought Keefe would go this way. She assumed it would be a huge flashy showdown. A battle with the Neverseen. Not a silent attack spanning a millisecond, leaving Sophie lost for words. 

Sophie collapsed. The murderer didn't seem to care who they had hit, releasing hold on Sophie's body.

"Sophie. Listen to me." Sophie, Sophie, Sophie. A name she had never heard before from Keefe's lips. He clutched at her hand, having already pressed his panic switch.

"I'm here. I'm listening."

"I would do it again Sophie. Do you know why?" Sophie looked down at the lodged knife, tears falling on the dagger's hilt. "Because I love you. No jokes. Not now. I love you Sophie."

"How do I save you. How do I fix this?" Sophie was in utter hysterics, laughing and crying as she held on tight to Keefe's hand. Her thumb traced his knuckles, trying to memorize what she was losing. What was too late to save. Keefe's answer was simple.

"You don't."

"Stop! Stop it! You're not allowed to die!"

"I never did play by the rules, did I?" Keefe's eyes slowly closed, with just the tiniest bit of life left within.

"I love you Keefe. More than you'll ever know." Keefe's voice faded, the blood previously seeping out of his wound trickling to a slow.

"I'm an empath, remember?" Keefe's hand was no longer warm, but Sophie didn't let go. He was gone. And she was still here.

Sophie knew right then, the Black Swan wasn't doing enough. They weren't driven with the same mad passion as the Neverseen, their cause solely to barricade said enemies. Now Sophie had a purpose that wasn't just for others. She would do this for herself. No guilt. No queasiness at the sight of blood. Sophie Foster would now only refer to herself as Lark.

Lark would hunt every last member of the Neverseen down. Lark would avenge Keefe. She would never feel this small and helpless again. Lark doesn't hide in the shadows. Lark would only let her guard down late at night, after the worried glances, after the bloodshed, and cry herself to sleep. Sophie would drop her facade in the deep dark, feeling her broken pieces. She would pull her eyelashes out, stress-eat mallowmelt, and Lark would wake up to repeat the process. No one else would get hurt. There wasn't enough of Sophie's heart left for more losses.