Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-76.196.233.46-20191016000314/@comment-76.196.233.46-20191022235824

Chapter 3

'''Mr. Forkle was pacing and muttering under his breath. “Must… no…not right… warn… prevent... compromised...perhaps…no....never…'''

He went on and on and on.

Sophie was sitting on the couch in her living room, afraid she’d driven the leader of the Collective mad.

'Finally, Mr. Forkle stopped pacing and turned to Sophie, “Well, that'' was unexpected. Although I suppose we should have anticipated it…” He sighed. “With only one of me, the Collective is falling further and further behind. Now we must take action.”'''

'''“How?” Sophie had to ask. “Tam knew almost ALL of our secrets. There’s got to be hundreds of things that have to be protected now.”'''

'''“Yes.” Mr. Forkle agreed. “And we’re going to have to protect all of them. Sadly, there’s no way to speed up the process, so we should anticipate a lot of changes in the upcoming days.” '''

“Can I help?” Sophie asked, feeling terrible and guilty about not realizing what had been compromised before.

'''“Yes. But Ms. Foster, please do not feel guilty about this. This was not your fault. And now, I must hail the Collective to see what must be done. And before you ask, no, you may not join the meeting.”'''

“But why?”

'''“Because I need you to go warn your friends about this. And please, Ms. Foster, do not tell any of them about Mr. Sencen’s mother wanting Mr. Tam to kill him. The Collective and I must discuss this matter further.” Mr. Forkle told her. '''

'''When she nodded, he added, “We are in a crisis. Two of my identities, as well as the identities of Granite, Squall, and Blur have been compromised. There is much to be done.”'''

'''Sophie was about to ask what she could do to help again when she realized what he had said. “Tam knew Blur’s identity?” she exclaimed.'''

'''Mr. Forkle looked like he wanted to kick himself for the slip. When he spoke next, he chose his words carefully. “Mr. Tam and Ms. Linh knew many things. This was one of them.”'''

'''“But… why did they know and not the rest of us?” she asked feeling small and a little bit… betrayed. She had helped and been a part of the Black Swan for far longer than Tam and Linh had. Why hadn’t she been told Blur’s identity?'''

'''Mr. Forkle sighed. “You kids, always feeling betrayed. We had planned to reveal Blur and Wraith’s identities to you a while back. The Song twins were even going to live with Blur. So we told them his identity, though we didn’t tell them Wraith’s. But then Blur’s living conditions got… complicated. And then your human parents were taken, and then everything just snowballed. So we didn’t get the chance to tell you all.”'''

“So why don’t you tell me now?” Sophie questioned him.

“Maybe soon.” Mr. Forkle replied.

'''Sophie was about to protest, but she could tell he wouldn’t budge. There had to be something big about their identities he wasn’t telling her. But then, she had and idea. “Couldn’t I just ask Linh?”'''

'''“You could. But trust me, Ms. Foster, she will not tell you. She has specific instructions not to tell anyone, and even though she is your friend, she won’t tell you.”'''

“Why?” Sophie asked.

'''“I can’t tell you that. So please Ms. Foster, please go tell your friends.” He pulled out a pathfinder and glittered away without saying another word.'''

-bookhugger