Keeper of the Lost Cities: Unlocked: A Fan-fiction

Chapter Twenty-One - Sophie

"So, how is this going to work?" Keefe asked nervously, sitting in the chair Sophie brought over. "Are you going to do something to my brain? Wrap me in slimy goo? Send a bolt of light at my head? Cause, this is feeling awfully like another experiment I went through a while ago."

Sophie couldn't help feeling that he was right. The process was eerily similar. Making him sit on a hair wasn't helping matters.

"Mr. Sencen, now is not a time to joke around."

"Aw, but you know I'd never listen to that! Forkle, it's in my blood – well, actually, both my parents are serious wrecks, so it's probably not. But, point is, no way!" Keefe grinned.

Mr. Forkle shook his head. "Do you want your other friends to be here for this?"

Keefe's smile faded. "Um," he said.

"Relax, Mr. Sencen. This is not a big deal. I helped Miss Redek with hers only a short while ago, and you saw how short a time it took. If you would rather keep it quick and quiet, I'm sure your friends would understand."

"Except me," Sophie jumped in "I'm staying, whether you want me to or not."

"I figured," Keefe said a weak voice. "Um, yeah, at least ask them if they want to come."

Mr. Forkle called all their friends, and they all leapt over immediately. Wylie, Maruca, Linh, Tam, and Stella all leapt together, and Marella, Stina, and Fitz leapt separately, but Biana and Dex came together, surprisingly.

At Sophie's confused look, they both blushed, almost in unison.

"We were just-" Biana started.

"We only-" Dex said at the same time. They looked at each other in surprise.

"Biana wanted me to make her a makeup gadget," Dex said, flushing deeper.

"Yeah," Biana agreed. Was Sophie imagining the look of relief on her pink face?

"Okaaaay..." Sophie said slowly. She shook her head. Now was not the time to ponder whatever had just happened. "Did Mr. Forkle tell you all the details of what we're going to do?"

All her friends shook their heads.

"So, it's basically what Mr. Forkle did to Marella a while ago," Sophie said. "He's going to try to activate Keefe's ability."

"Do you think it'll work?" Stella asked worriedly.

"It did for me," Marella said.

"Speaking of which, do you have any tips for me? I wasn't there," Keefe reminded everyone.

She shrugged. "Nope. Forkle's about to tell you everything you'll need to know about it."

"You're becoming very perceptive, Miss Redek," Mr Forkle said, moving closer to Keefe's chair.

Another shrug. "Not really, we've just all been through these sorts of processes a lot."

Mr. Forkle chuckled, but Marella was right. He preceded to give Keefe all the details about what would happen, weird experiences he'd probably have, cautions he should take, and what he needed to do.

"Overall," he finished, "this is not as big of a deal you kids are making it out to be. Just try to keep your mind calm and empty. I'll be in and out before you know it." Mr. Forkle cleared his throat. "Mr. Sencen, are you ready?"

No answer. Keefe's eyes were glazed, and he was staring ahead at nothing. Oh, no. Not this again.

"Mr. Sencen?" Mr. Forkle called, louder.

"What's happened to him?" Stella asked, sounding panicked. "Why isn't he answering?"

"We have no idea, Miss... Sencen. Miss Foster tells me she first noticed it happening last night," had it really only been yesterday that Keefe had woken up? "but it happened earlier today as well. He simply wouldn't move, or speak, for about three minutes."

"That's horrible!" Stella cried. Everyone else looked shaken, too.

"But he will be normal again?" Wyle asked, carefully not looking at Mr. Forkle.

"I guess we'll see," Mr. Forkle said in a grim voice.

A minute later, Keefe's eyes unclouded. "As I'll ever be," he said. Then he trailed off, taking in everyone's worried looks. He sighed. "Great. It happened again, didn't it?"

"You don't remember?" Fitz asked.

Sophie and Keefe both shook their heads. "He doesn't remember any of the times," Sophie said. She hated her voice for cracking. Stupid voice.

"Miss Foster, Mr. Sencen, I'm hoping this is connected to Mr. Sencen's ability. The sooner we figure out what that is, the better off we'll be," Mr. Forkle said.

Keefe nodded. Mr. Forkle pressed his hands against Keefe's forehead.

"Relax, Mr. Sencen. Please clear you mind."

"Okay," Keefe said. His eyes were squeezed shut, and his voice was tense. "It's clear."

"No worries, Mr. Sencen. I don't want to see any worries."

"I'm trying! It's kind of hard when you're about to give me some creepy brain-push thing!"

"It's not creepy. It is complicated, and difficult, but not creepy. And – oh, my."

Silence.

"You – you saw that, did you?"

"Indeed, Mr. Sencen. Indeed! Ahem. Indeed."

"Uggghhh. And – oh, wow. This is weird." Keefe shivered. "Are you done now?"

"Almost. One last push..."

"Woah," Keefe said, opening his eyes and going cross-eyed.

"You will be dizzy for a moment, Mr. Sencen."

"I can tell," Keefe said. He was avoiding Mr. Forkle's gaze.

A minute later, Keefe sat up straighter, his eyes focusing, looking around him. Then they popped. "Oh my – what?"

"What is it?" Sophie asked, panic filling her. What was going on now?

"You – you don't see it?" Keefe said, sounding sincerely astonished.

"See what?"

Keefe drew in a sharp breath. "The earth. It's alive."

I'm so happy right now! I've been waiting and planning this since I started this, guys. And it's finally here! Sorry the chapter's kind of late. Night!

Word count: 952. Wow. That's short. Sorry! So much dialogue hehe.

Please vote and comment if you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading!

- Total_KOTLC_Fan