Sophie awoke slowly, savoring the moments between sleep and wake. She didn't want to open her eyes yet; she had a feeling it would hurt when she did, and, anyway, now she was in a soft gray fluffy cloud that was quite to her liking. But now, she could hear someone speaking. She pushed herself up out of the fluff, just a little bit, to hear what they were saying.

"No," she heard Fitz's voice state. Then Biana's: "But, Fitz, the prince always kisses the princess in the stories. Please?" Fitz again: "No. And what about Dex? He's a prince too, as far as I've heard." Sophie could practically see Dex shaking his head. "No. No, no, no, no, absolutely not. She's my best friend, not my girlfriend." Sophie faintly realized that they were talking about her, but she didn't really care. And now it was Fitz's voice again. "We'll try something else. Come on, Biana." Biana: "We've tried everything. You've tried to get in to her mind over and over, we've tried CPR, we've tried loud noises and whispered words. What's left?" Fitz sighed. "Alright."

Then she could feel someone's breath on her cheeks, and she ripped her eyes open blinking in the light. Fitz was an inch from her face, teal eyes wide, blushing from the roots of his hair. "Um…hi?"

And about a thousand sparks of pain shot through Sophie's neck. It seemed it was still burning, still hurting, Brant's fingers were still on it. She sat up slowly, glancing at her reflection in the windows. They were back in the room they had started in.

Burns, charred almost black, made their way in anguishing fingerprints up her neck. Red welts caressed her cheeks and eyelids, as well as her arms. Fitz, Biana and Dex only looked at her sadly, Fitz's blush still colouring his cheeks. "We thought you were gone," Biana said, voice cracking, fighting off tears. "For real. Gone, Sophie."

Sophie fingered the charred flesh around her neck. Someone had spread a cooling liquid on it, taking away most of the burns' pain. Fitz spoke now, his eyes on her burned fingers. "I'm sorry, Sophie, but Keefe said he had to tell us something. He said he'd take us where we needed to go, but we had to meet at the window. Can you walk?" Sophie took a shaky breath. "I know the secret. Or at least part of it." Her voice cracked, like it had been charred along with the skin. "He's going to be—he's going to—" Her voice was too strained. "Keefe's going to be executed."

Biana gasped. Dex looked like he had developed a terrible illness. Fitz was deathly pale. "Are you sure, Sophie?" She nodded miserably. "Then there's no time to lose."

Fitz and Dex helped her to the window, where Keefe pulled her through, a swirl of black in the navy night sky. His touch was surprisingly gentle.

The trip was hazy—Sophie had pushed herself to the limit going to the window—and all she remembered was being carried by Keefe, the others surrounding her like bodyguards. The scene became all-too-familiar, though, when she was set gently on the ground. They were in the museum, specifically the wing where she had met Fitz. Keefe sat next to her, looking like he was going to be sick.

"The reason I've brought you guys here, the reason I've told Sophie part of my secret, is that—is that—is that I'm going to be excecuted. But you already know that." He broke off here, and Biana hugged him before he carried on. "This crystal will leap you directly to the room you're in." He held up a blue leaping crystal.

"I've been sworn to secrecy on this, so I have to say goodbye now. Because—because my mind will break when I tell you." He went around the huddled circle now, embracing everyone. Biana was crying, silent tears streaking down her face, mingling with the dirt and crusted blood. Keefe sat down again. He was trembling.

"I know Sophie's parents."

He stopped, expecting reactions, but everyone was silent, still processing that he would be gone. The dark skeletons of the dinosaurs seemed strangely appropriate.

"Bronte, and—and—" Keefe gasped. He was going now, the light in his eyes fading. "Lady Cadence."

Sophie heard herself gasp, but everything seemed muffled. Fitz was shaking Keefe, asking his to please leave, tears running down his face. Keefe was broken, it was for sure, but not because of guilt. This was different. He was truly gone, and as Dex pulled Fitz away and held the blue crystal to the moonlight, Sophie knew it. Keefe wouldn't be there to double cross, wouldn't make jokes, wouldn't annoy his parents, wouldn't be there ever again.

If only it hadn't had to be this way.