Board Thread:Short Stories and Fanfictions/@comment-43957690-20191111212029/@comment-43957690-20191113055137

Chapter two: The Change

"I swear I saw him move." Sophie insisted. That's what she'd been saying for the last fifteen minutes- but it didin't seem to change anyones mind.

"His vitals are the same, and I'm not picking up any conciousness." Elwin told her, for what had to be the millionth time.

"Sophie, don't you think you might be just a little paranoid?" Fitz asked her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"I know what I saw. He was stirring!" She insisted, snapping at the audience of family and friends she'd hailed for the anticipated "Waking up moment". Everyone looked uncomfotable, pitiying her hopefulness. Even her adoptive parents seemed doubtfull.

"Look, you've been really stressed lately," Elwin said in that 'why-don't-you-go-get-some-rest' voice. "And between working with team Valient, and trying to track down Lady Gisela, you're probably a litte desperate. We can't blame you, either."

It wasn't like he was wrong. She had been super busy- with other things as well, including a certian cache that was proving to be very difficult to deal with.

Sophie ploped down on the nearest armchair, feeling like an idiot. "Guys, I wasn't making stuff up. His hand moved!!!"

Another round of muttered excuses and awkward glances were exchanged, and Sophie was about to scream. Why didn't they just listen?

"Look, Sophie, we want to believe you-we really do." Dex told her, and he looked like he meant it. "But... it's not like this is the first time this has happened."

It was hard to find a way out of that one. Probably because it was the truth. Once she'd sworn she'd seen his eye twitch- and another time his breathing had gotten faster! But this meant that maybe it was time to accept that she hadn't seen anything.

Which made Sophie want to rip apart the pillows on the fluffy armchair which was now surrounded by her friends. The longer Keefe stayed asleep- the more Sophie let herself worry. About everything. But mostly the part where Keefe was supposed to be going through some sort of aledged 'transformation'. That could mean anything...

"Okay." Sohie finally said. "Maybe I didn't see anything."

"See?" Elwin said. "Just go home, and get some rest. Don't give me that look- you need it too."

Sophie sighed. "Only after I check in with team Valient."

"I can cover for you." Dex offered, with a reassuring smile.

The temptation to let him do so was overwhelming.... but.

"No, Dex, I'm fine. Really." And with that she got up form the chair, and made for the door, where Sandor and Flori were waiting.

But then there was a gasp, from the back of the room, and Sophie whipped around to see what it was. And there she saw, the most blessed thing that her eyes had ever seen. Keefe. Was. Awake.

Sophie didn't stop to think, she just ran with all her might to his bed, and threw herself on him in the biggest, tightest hug she'd ever given. But something twanged inside when... he didn't hug her back. Or call her Foster. Or even laugh.

She stepped back suddenly, concern swelling. "Keefe?"

And then the beautiful blonde boy with the ice blue eyes looked at her with complete confusion as he said:

"Who's Keefe?"