Darkness

At first all she saw was darkness.

It offered a bleak outlook on the future too her emotionless heart

She felt no happiness, fear, nor warmth.

The only thing she felt was ice.

The chills throughout her stayed long enough she was used to the cold, long enough that she almost didn't notice they were there.

Years could have passed and she would've had no recollection.

But than came the light, and as if a fire was set off in her she jolted back, it was as if she was floating. Her memories resurfaced, and her emotions chanted at the back of her mind, every little thought she'd ignored was pressing at the core of her heart.

They zoomed in and out, all around her mind stabbing at her heart, influencing her sight, her warmth, until she was floating no more.

Now she was falling,

Down,

Deep into the darkness she'd only just gotten away from. Far away from where any light touched.

Too far.

And suddenly she couldn't breathe, the air sucked out of her as she gasped for breath, but none would come as she sputtered out. None would come as she felt her heart stop beating.

And that's when it all stopped.

As if nothing was ever there.

No hope. No peace.

No fear.

Nothing.

Until a voice consumed her every thought, awakening every emotion she'd ever lost.

It's time.

The voice felt familiar, almost like her own. But... different somehow.

Time.

It's time.

It's time to go.

The words repeated over and over in her head, begging her too give up, to let go, to fall deeper into the darkness till she couldn't come back. Till she couldn't hold on any longer.

But something kept her alive,

She'd never know what it was,

It could have been Ella for all she knew,

Her lone reminder of her parents.

Or it could have been Keefe, the constant smiles that he brought too her lips.

The one she...

But in truth, it could've been all these things. But now she was never too know.

A sweet scent filled her mind as the voice carried on,

Give up.

It yelled like a scream in her mind.

Let go.

You're done.

You aren't needed.

It's time.

It's time to go.

She could feel herself slipping, and yet she couldn't feel anything under her feet, she yearned to listen to the voice, to bow out, to... give up. If only to have some rest.

But one memory was stuck in her mind, and it wouldn't let up.

The way Keefe had looked at her just before they kissed,

Just before everything went wrong.

The memory was sealed in her mind,

His eyes were focused on her, a certain light to them she'd never seen. And she'd never be able to mistake the warmth in his eyes for anything else, and the smile on his lips was unlike any other he'd let her see before. His lips were pursed in that of awe, as if her very closeness meant so much too him. His lips parted ever so slightly, a look of adoration when they inched just a centimeter closer.

If only the moment had ended than.

If they hadn't...

Hadn't closed the gap.

But somehow, she didn't regret it.

He's not okay.

The voice was back, but this time it seemed changed, as if it had a new goal. A new purpose to be fulfilled, one it would never let go of.

He's not okay.

Help.

Help him.

Help Keefe.

Her mind nearly shutdown at the mention of his named, but maybe that's what it needed.

A reboot.

A fresh start.

And slowly she found herself opening her eyes too see Elwin's healing center.

~~~

"Sophie! You're awake." Elwin stared at her a second as if in fear hed imagined it. But a second later he was passing her elixir upon elixir till she could drink no more. She didn't protest till he suggested some slumberry tea.

"No. I need to stay awake. I have to go do something." Sophie said and started to get up, only to have Elwin gently push her back down.

"You're not going anywhere Sophie, you need to recover." Elwin said and Sophie frowned.

"I'm fine, honestly, but I know someone who isn't." Keefe. She needed to find him.

"I agree, but let someone else take care of him, you're in no position to leave the healing center," Elwin said and Sophie rose again, to object.

"You know as well as I, I could blast out of here. All I would ne-"

"Elwin's right." Grady said, interrupting Sophie.

"What?" Sophie said, knowing that even if she was very strong against Grady in this state she'd never get too Keefe. Not till she was... fully recovered.

"Elwin's right, you can't light-leap anywhere, But," Grady said, silencing her before she could protest.

"I will grant you permission to transmit too Keefe. Take all the time you need." Grady said and went to hug Sophie. She smiled in his arms, glad they could find a middle ground.

~~~

Keefe.

She transmitted the message, searching the world for his conscious thoughts.

KEEFE!

She felt his thoughts and let herself into his mind. However what she saw would never find its way out.

His mind was breaking.

She could already see the glass-like cracks that demanded to shatter.

She couldn't let him.

Not now, not when they'd come so far.

Keefe! She yelled in his mind, but no response came, his thoughts were spinning, it practically made her nauseous as she yelled out his name again.

KEEFE! He still didn't hear her, but this time she saw a breach, an escape. She dived into it, till she saw the parts of Keefe still intact, the heart of his emotions, memories, that was still there.

And she knew what she had to say.

Fight it Keefe.

I know you can.

I believe in you.

This time his thoughts spiked. He'd heard her. Hope reared at the back of her mind, hope that he wouldn't break. Hope that he wouldn't leave.

Hope that he would still love her when he realized what she was about to do.

Keefe would never forgive himself for hurting her.

He would keep breaking.

Hurting.

There was only one thing she could do to stop it.

And she knew exactly what it was.

And however much she hated it...

She had to do it.

It was the only way.

And someday she'd remind him of what he was about to lose.

What she was about to take from him.

But for now she had to keep him safe.

She had too put Keefe first.

It's time to go.