Board Thread:Short Stories and Fanfictions/@comment-43347423-20200111144721/@comment-43347423-20200210160244

Keefe didn’t say anything, but he was somewhat red, and Oralie definitely noticed, sending a small, knowing smile his way. Keefe turned redder in reply.

Sophie laughed again before taking his hand, and she twined his fingers with hers.

Oralie looked at their hands for a beat before clapping her own. “Okay, let’s get started. I was thinking that today we’d try practicing Keefe’s new ability.”

Keefe’s hand turned to stone.

“Um, but when we practice his ability, it hurts everyone who doesn’t have an impenetrable mind like me,” Sophie said for Keefe, knowing that was at least one of the reasons he was so scared.

“We’d still like to try it on me,” Oralie said.

Keefe finally spoke up. “But you’re a Councillor. I’m… pretty sure the Council will kill me if you get hurt.”

“Try to think of me as a Mentor,” Oralie said. “You’re just practicing your ability.”

Keefe nodded, although it looked forced. His expression was queasy, and Sophie wished she could help him. But this was Keefe’s battle to fight, not hers.

The fuzziness was there, yet Oralie wasn’t screaming.

“Wow, that feels so weird,” Oralie said.

Then it shut off, and Keefe’s jaw was clenched, his eyes tearing up.

“Keefe?” Sophie asked.

“I’m… fine. Just… this time, it hurt me, too.”

“What?” Sophie asked. “Why didn’t it hurt you the first time? And why didn’t it hurt Oralie?”

“I don’t know,” Keefe said.

Oralie looked at Keefe. “Perhaps we should try again?”

Sophie squeezed his hand.

Sophie felt the fuzziness seep into her mind at the same time Oralie started to scream.