Hello there everyone! To those of you asking when I'll update, well now is the time! I'm back with another chapter! This is going to last you till Everblaze I hope. Anyhoo, sadly this story is almost over. Not yet, but soon. It's sad. I love writing for you all. I am thinking of maybe writing a love story with whoever Sophie picks from this story. But it's a very vague and not very planned out idea, so it probably won't happen. I hope you like this thrilling chapter! Keep blowing this story up with reviews. I love reading them. Till next time-

-little miss author

Chapter 11

"Sophie, are you sure this is where he is?" said Fitz breathlessly. "Yes, I am sure." Replied Sophie bitterly. The truth was though, she didn't know. They had been trudging through the forest for at least an hour and a half. They were all starting to loose hope. "Guys we need a better plan." Said Keefe coolly. He did not look out of breath at all. Sophie turned around and glared at him. He threw his hands up in innocence. "Look, all I'm saying is that we need to be sure of where we are going. Is it possible Sophie, that you could search for Brant's thoughts again?" Fitz eyed Sophie wearily. It was obvious he had been thinking the same thing. "I guess I can try," she said uneasily, "If I start to turn purple again though, one of you better stop me." "You got it." Said Keefe.

Sophie took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and stretched out her mind. Little thoughts of animals pricked at her brain, but she ignored them. She was looking for something ruthless, something deep. Suddenly a cold darkness filled her mind and started swirling and spreading around in her body. Chills ran up her spine. Something was taking over, and it was beyond Sophie's control. All she could do was stand in agony, and hope the something, whatever it was, would get out. She tried to open her mouth but it was sealed shut. A loud voice pounded in her ears. It wasn't her own. You're running out of time my dear. The darkness left as quickly as it had come. Sophie ripped her eyes open. Fitz started yelling, "Sophie! You went all rigid and everything. Are you okay? We tried to help, but-" Sophie interrupted him. "He entered my mind." She said dazed. "He WHAT? He took control over you?! Oh my gosh, Sophie." Fitz reached out his hand to feel her forehead. "Hey take it easy, mate." Keefe said quietly. Fitz whipped his head around "Don't tell me what to do." He snarled. "Sophie could have died." "Please, look. I don't think your helping." Keefe gestured to Sophie.

She was pale and sweaty and had her head in her hands. "Sorry," Fitz mumbled to Keefe. He turned back towards Sophie and awkwardly tried to comfort her. Keefe did the same. This whole time Sophie had believed that maybe Brant wasn't as powerful as he had claimed. That maybe she would have a chance of saving Dex. But now that just didn't seem likely. She took a shaky breath and stood up. What good was sulking going to do? At least now she knew what she was up against. "Come on guys, he's this way." Sophie pointed to the left and started to hike. Keefe and Fitz stood there bewildered for a moment but then hurried after her.

At Havenfield…

"You sure she's not still at your house." "Yes, I'm sure!" Grady cried. "Okay, Okay." Alden ran his fingers through his hair. "I'm sure there's no reason to worry." Grady closed his eyes and rolled them under his lids, so Alden couldn't see it. "We need to go after her." Said Alden. "I agree, but how do we know where she is?" Alden sighed. "Well, if my guess is right, she's with Fitz. So I could always try and track down his thoughts." "That might work, but it'll take too long. Say, I think Sandor's trackers are still sewn into Sophie's clothes. I'll see what I can do. Can you come over here as soon as possible?" "On my way." Alden's face flickered and then went black.

Sweat trickled down Sophie's forehead. She was getting tired of hiking. Brant was supposed to be around here. She parted the thick forest greenery as she walked. They were close and she knew it. Sophie stopped. "What is it?" asked Fitz. "This is it. I've got to alone from here." Keefe and Fitz shared a worried and exasperated look. "Sophie, you're kidding. We aren't letting you go alone. We're here to protect you," said Keefe. Sophie sighed. "Yes, I know and you've done really great so far. You've helped me a lot, both of you." Both boys' eyes shot towards the ground. "But this is about me. I've got to go alone. Don't you see? All these powers, all this stuff that has been happening to me, well it wasn't just for nothing. Everything has been leading up to this. And now," Sophie let out a shaky breath, "I'm ready." Keefe and Fitz were silent. Somehow they knew this was going to happen. They knew she was right.

Sophie's eyes started watering. This could possibly be the last time she saw them. If it was, she wanted to do it right. She ran over to Fitz and grabbed his shoulders. Her face was close to his ear. "Thank you Fitz for always comforting me," she whispered as she lightly kissed his cheek. She turned and went over to Keefe who was looking as though someone had just thrown a bucket of ice water over him. Sophie grabbed his hand. "Thank you Keefe for always brightening up my day. I always know you'll be there for me." She kissed his cheek as well. With a flip of her blonde hair she was gone, leaving the two boys stunned.

This was it. The final battle. She could feel it. The greenery suddenly thinned out. Sophie found herself in a fairly large clearing surrounded by big flat bolders. There was someone crumpled on the ground. Dex?! The figure sat up. It was indeed Dex. "Sophie? Is that you?" Sophie's heart skipped a beat. "Oh my Gosh. Dex-I thought you were-oh my-" She started running towards him. Suddenly she skidded to a stop. Something wasn't right. Go! Her mind said. He's right there. Save him! What was she thinking? She had to save him. She started running again. No-this was wrong. Something about Dex wasn't the same. She stared at him. A brief look of impatience crossed his face. "Come on, Sophie! Help me, I'm hurt!" Her eyes studied his. They were a dull gray blue. She took a step back. This wasn't Dex. She pointed a shaky finger at him. "No."

Strength pulled from inside her mind, and before she knew it she had lifted him up in mid-air. Even though she knew it wasn't him, it was heart breaking seeing "Dex" up in the air by her own accord. "Oh, oh no!" Dex cried out, faking an expression of terror. All the sudden without warning, "Dex" vanished in a puff of black smoke. Brant appeared on the ground cackling madly. "So, so, so you're finally here Miss Foster. Took you long enough, love." "Don't you dare call me 'love'. Where is Dex?" "Now, now, let's not be hasty." Sophie snarled. Brant started circling around. Sophie kept her hands out in defense. "It's time to see what you're really made of. Come on." Brant's eyes flashed. Sophie held her ground. "Not till you show me Dex is okay." "Oh, little miss Sophie's worried about her boyfriend." Brant said in a mocking girlish voice. Sophie glared. "Oh, fine." Brant twirled his hand nonchalantly, and Dex appeared across the clearing, bound in ropes.

"Dex!" Sophie cried. Dex looked around wildly. Sophie could see his bright twinkling periwinkle eyes shining at her. "Huh? Who are you? Why am I here?" Sophie's heart sunk and her jaw dropped.