Chapter 8

I couldn't feel the pain anymore. I stayed right where I was. The darkness. I knew I should be afraid, but I couldn't bring myself to come out. To deal with it. To be paralyzed and helpless. To hear my sister's cries, begging me to stop. To hear my friends, screaming to the point their voice cracked. So I stayed. The voice was ringing in my ears. We will see you soon. I forced it out, listening to the silence instead. But the silence broke.

Kassie please. I need you to wake up. You have to wake up, you have to. It was Sophie. I could see something. Warmth. A string of warmth and light coming towards me. Closer and closer. I grabbed it. I felt just as calm. I wanted to stay right there. The voices immediately disappeared from the darkness. They were miles away, sure. But still there. It was so much better than the darkness. The darkness was calm. And cold. But this. This was warm and my worries seemed to wash away. I didn't want to let go. Pretty soon the trail ended, and I was blinded by intense light.

"Kassie. Kassie, you're ok. You're ok." Sophie began crying, holding my arm tight. I grimaced. I hurt. Whatever had hit me hit me hard. She quickly let go, mumbling "I'm sorry" repeatedly under her breath.

"It's fine," I managed to rasp. I forced my eyes open, causing a headache.

"Everyone watch out. I have vials coming," a voice I didn't recognize said. I saw a man with crazy dark hair and glasses coming toward me. He looked a lot like a mad scientist. He handed me bottles of liquid, all different colors. I carefully chugged each one. Some of them tasted horrible, but others? Others were amazing. He snapped his fingers after I had taken all of them and a colored orb showed up. I jumped back, remembering the forcefield. Sophie laid a hand on my shoulder and nodded.

You're ok. His name is Elwin. He's like family, her voice said in my head. I stood still, my headache slowly going away, and the pain flowing through my body fading. He did different colored orbs and shone them all over me. Finally, after what felt like forever, he looked up and said, "You took a hard hit. Luckily, no permanent damage has been done. But I can say this: You strained yourself using your ability on 8 people. You need yo be careful. More training before you do something like that."

"I'm sorry. I panicked and I-. I wanted to help but I think I made it worse." I put my face in my hands, blinking back tears.

"You most definitely didn't make things worse. You saved us, Kassie," Sophie told me, rubbing my back. I looked up and she had a soft smile on her face. But then her expression hardened. "But if you ever do that again, I will use my inflictor ability." I shook my head.

"If I had listened to you, they might not have come back."

"Oh, they would be coming back either way," Elwin said. Sophie sent a glare his way. "I'm just saying. She doesn't need that kind of guilt or stress. Out of all people you should know that." Sophie turned her attention toward me. I didn't want to ask what he meant.

"I'm just glad you're ok. You gave all of us a heart attack. Fitz was having a hard time telling if you were breathing, and we had to find the adults and goblins and making sure they were ok."

"And they are?"

"Yes. They are. And do is everyone else." I sighed in relief. My heart was slowing down. Not much, but enough where I didn't feel like my chest would burst open from it's beating.

"They're not only fine, most of them are waiting outside that door." Elwin pointed across the room to a door. "They won't leave until they know you're ok. Are you up for visitors?"

"She better be because I'm here and about to let everyone else in too," A familiar voice said. Biana appeared in the corner. "Before you ask, I snuck in when Sophie came back. I've been here the whole time."

"How long was that?" I asked.

"Not too long. About 3 hours. You've been out for 5 hours total." My eyebrows shot up.

"Really?" Biana nodded. Then, while Elwin tried to stop her and ask me again if I wanted visitors, she opened the door.

"Come on." I could hear murmuring, and a few seconds later Keefe, Fitz, Tam, and Linh were all inside. Goblins, Ro, and Alden and Della trailed behind them. Fitz sat down, breathing deeply. Keefe sighed too and muttered something, whereas Linh ran over and hugged me.

"I'm so glad you're ok." I smiled and hugged back. It felt awesome for a person who only met me that day was worried. Alden approached, a grim smile on his face.

"I heard what happened." I put my head down. He hugged me. "Thank you." I wanted to say 'No problem', but my voice wasn't really listening. I just sat there, opening and closing my mouth. Fitz walked towards us.

"I told you not to go!" He exclaimed.

"I'm sorry. You were all in trouble and-"

"It doesn't matter! You could've died, Kassie!" He sighed. "I don't know if I should be proud of you, or scared of how much you're like Sophie." I forced a smile.

"Maybe both." Keefe came up.

"You're tough Mini- Foster. But you gotta promise me one thing: You can't beat mine and Sophie's record of 'Most Elwin Visits'." He smirked. Tam sat back in the shadows.

"You gave us a scare," he said quietly. "Sophie's the best at that. Don't make it a competition." I really smiled at that.

"I won't." Sophie gave me a hug.

"I'll be holding you to that."

"Is she good to go home?" Della whispered, wiping tears from her cheek.

"Maybe. I want her to stay for a while longer, just in case I missed anything."

"Come on, Elwin. She's fine. Just as strong as Foster," Keefe told him.

"She's not leaving yet." I sighed. Guilt washed over me as I remembered something.

"Are Dex's parents ok?" Everyone exchanged glances. "Are they?" Sophie looked at me, her expression a mixture of sweet and fear.

"Kassie, the Neverseen still have them."

"Do you have any idea where they might be?" Sophie sighed.

"We did research while you were asleep. We also made plans. Dex and Bex is staying with Tam and Linh for now, where we know they'll be the safest as of right now."

"But what about their parents?"

"We know they have several hideouts. Sadly, we have no idea where to start."

"Meaning you don't know where they are at all," I said, more to myself than them. Sophie nodded, and that scared me.

"Actually, I think I might know where they may be," Dex's voice said. He appeared in the doorway. He looked terrible. His eyes were red, and he had bags underneath. He obviously wasn't getting any sleep.

"Where?"

"The ogre territory."