Chapter 18 is OUT! Use the spacebar/click to read it i hope you enjoy!! Go to this studio to read the previous chapters! https://scratch.mit.edu/studios/28662358/ I know you all probably want to hear from the other characters in the Lost Cities, so I promise you will be seeing them soon! Next chapter is out next week! For now....KOTLCforever- out! --> (CHAPTER 18) Mr. Forkle and Fitz exchanged looks and smiled sadly. “What?” Sophie squeezed Iggy a little too hard and gagged from the fart he let out. “The thing is that he isn’t broken Sophie.” Mr. Forkle placed his wrinkled hand on Sophie’s shoulder. “It isn’t possible because he has a perfectly functioning mind. Keefe is probably just tired and overwhelmed by his powers which means when he wakes up tomorrow we are heading straight to meet Lady Gisela.” Sophie shook her head, “Not his mind...his heart–his emotions are broken. Whatever Lady Gisela did to Keefe with the stellarlune is not normal. It literally changed Keefe in a way I thought wasn’t possible!” She took a deep breath and continued, “Keefe isn’t the same boy he used to be, and it’s not all because of his scary powers..” “Then what is it?” Fitz walked up and placed his hand on Sophie’s other shoulder. “What else could have caused Keefe to become like...that” Fitz pointed to a sleeping Keefe. His hair was matted against his sweaty face and he was shivering violently. Sophie closed her eyes and looked away. She couldn’t stand watching Keefe being tortured. “I’ve been thinking about this for some time and Keefe wouldn’t let this power change him like that. Not this bad. Something is wrong. I know it.” Sophie pulled away from Mr. Forkle and Fitz’s hands and stroked Iggy’s fur with teary eyes. “What if–what if Lady Gisela took away his character–his way of life–his...mischievous, fun, daring self, and replaced it with…” Sophie looked at Mr. Forkle, his face pale and eyes wide. “It–it’s not possible Sophie. You can’t just take away someone’s character.” Mr. Forkle took Iggy from her hands and said, “You should rest. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.” * * * * * * * * * “I know I’ve asked this already, but–are we there yet?” Fitz kicked a rock as he, Keefe. Sophie, Mr Forkle, Ro, and Iggy (sleeping noisily on Sophie’s shoulder) all trudged up a steep hill. Mr. Forkle weezed, “Actually, yes.” He stopped climbing halfway up the hill and pulled an invisible handle. “Step in.” He gestured to the top of the hill. “Umm...okay”, Fitz looked confused as he continued climbing the hill, but disappeared from sight as he crossed an invisible border. Sophie, Keefe, and Mr. Forkle stepped in while Ro stayed outside to guard. Sophie gasped. They were in the same secluded forest with the ice blue lake that Silveny had been at. “What is it?” Keefe covered his mouth with his hand. Sophie glanced sympathetically at him and answered, “This is exactly where Silveny was staying…” Mr. Forkle nodded, “We gave them this place to live in, but one day they left and never came back. How did you know they were here?” Sophie dragged her fingers through the ice cold water. “I teleported here when trying to find Keefe and Fitz. Silveny helped me find them. Somehow she knew where they were...but I haven’t seen her since.” Mr. Forkle looked deep in thought. “We’ll have to investigate that later. For now…” He opened a velvet pouch and took out a small silver pin with a moonlark etched into it. “The collective thought the symbol you made was pretty clever, so we made you this. Never forget who you are Sophie.” Mr. Forkle placed it in her hand. Sophie took it and carefully placed it on her cape. “Where is Lady Gisela?” “They should be here shortly. Tinker is bringing her in the contraption she made so she doesn’t escape.” Keefe closed his eyes and sat down to steady his shaking body. Sophie and Fitz took a seat next to him on the soft grass. “You ready Fitz?” Sophie asked. “As ready as I’ll ever be.” He smiled at her and gave Keefe a meaningful glance. “Are you good Keefe? Are you sure you’re up to talk?” Keefe looked down and nodded. Mr. Forkle walked up to him and sadly smiled. “Good. If we can prove to Lady Gisela that you have controlled your powers and we are more powerful than ever...it would give us an advantage.” Sophie frowned, “But we’re not more powerful than ever. And Keefe hasn’t mastered his abilities. We’re at a disadvantage!” Fitz looked at her, “Enemies don’t play nice. And enemies don’t tell truth. Enemies do what they have to do to survive.” “Precisely.” Lady Gisela’s cold voice filled the small closing. Tinker was following behind her with a small gun-like machine–green sludge oozing from the tip. THE END
