Word count: 1,898 words.

Let's just say...This isn't my favourite chapter.

I had trouble writing it and I kept asking myself, "Now what should I do?" Not at all like me when I write chapters. I write chapters at a very fluent pace, and I don't ever get writers' block (yes, I don't. Don't act so shocked) so it was really surprising when I struggled with this chapter.

It's not that anything really drastic happens or something, but I just don't like writing about people's minds. Shannon Messenger does it so well that I have to learn some of her "inside of the mind writing style" from her. Otherwise it's all mine. Though I have to admit that the ending of this chapter makes no sense even to me.

But the next few chapters are going to be fun to write, as something big is going to happen to Sophie. Don't worry, not really THAT big, but it's character development BIG. Haha. Get it? That sort of chapter is what I love to write the most! But I'll manage with the confusing mind chapters thingy. ;)

pen. edge: It's very kind of you to wait for the next chapter in excitement, but I don't think I did really well for this chapter and you might be confused and irritated. Sorry. And thanks! :)

daringwolf2000: Oh yes, the new pictures of Jensi and Marella seriously are awesome...And Wylie's out too now!

A person: Well, about your question, I know it seems weird for Sophie to go cold warm cold warm all the time...but yanno, mood swing. She's going through a lot of stuff and development, and she doesn't know how to act strong but warm at the same time. So she's kind of adjusting to her new personality and how she'll scrape through, I hope that makes sense...:/

ForeverFreeFall: Well, the pictures aren't really in a site together. I guess you can find them on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter, and find Shannon Messenger's account. For Fb, Insta, Twitter, just scroll through her profile until you find them, and Pinterest: Find her, and go to the board that is named KEEPER Extras. The pictures will be there. And Thanks, you're my biggest fan? I'm sure of it too! Thanks for the love!

Keeper update: Wylie official art is out now!

Keeper update 2): The 1st teaser of Neverseen has come out! The quote is: "It was time to fight fire with fire." :P How mysterious...

Prentice's mind was exactly like what Sophie had experienced before. Cold. Dark. Empty. Thick scratchy black prodded at her mental barriers. She tried to fight back, but to no avail. The relentless horrible shadows still found a way to seep through. Blurred, quick flashes of images ran through Sophie's mind, and in one, she thought she could see Wylie, laughing with Cyrah.

It was too painful to watch.

Sophie? Fitz asked, transmitting into her mind, you alright there?

Sophie managed a nod and pressed in deeper to the bottom of Prentice's mind-like there was a bottom at all. The twisted thoughts of a twisted mind-nothing Sophie could comprehend. She felt panic twist in her gut as butterflies with wings with gigantic creepy eyes flew past her and grey trees came alive, their long branches reaching for Sophie. Sophie shut her eyes and inflicted calm on herself. Strangely, it worked better than the techniques that humans came up with. She blew out a breath and transmitted four words over and over again-just like she had done once upon a time:

I am Sophie Foster.

Suddenly, a stream of golden light cut through the darkness and more memories of Prentice came rushing through. A pair of teal eyes. A voice whispered, "No reason to worry." Laughing. Running. Promises. Healing. Everything came out in pauses and breaks, and Sophie had no idea what to do next. Fitz was feeling as unsure as she was. Sophie knew if they followed the stream of light, they could uncover something else that had been hidden for a long, long time. But it could lead to dangerous things too.

Sophie took a deep breath and dived into the lower part of the abyss, catching the stream of light with her own hands, imagining that it was solid and nothing else. Sophie and Fitz travelled across Prentice's mind until the beam of light ended. A graceful, black swan dived beside them and a white swan with fluffy feathers landed beside the black swan and its webbed feet turned into claws, poised for battle. Upon seeing the white swan, the black swan did the same too and growled at it, so unlike its usual graceful self. The two of them fought until the white swan won and pulverized the black swan into shreds and a pool of red blood. Sophie tried hard not to puke as the white swan groomed its feathers and flew away, flapping its wings strongly.

Sophie transmitted to Fitz, Let's follow the white swan. What do you think just happened?

Black swan= The Black Swan

White swan= The Neverseen

That was what Fitz transmitted. Sophie bit her lip as she realised the impending doom of the Black Swan. Then she used her telekinesis power to stop the white swan. She grabbed on tightly to the white swan's tail and flew away with it, with Fitz in tow.

This was definitely something new. Prentice, somehow unconsciously knew that Sophie had joined the Black Swan. Maybe he was willing to share more. But why would Prentice show her this...horrible thing? Sophie wondered as the white swan swooped into a grassland and blue sky. Sophie yelped and let go as the swan landed on the soft grass, which made Sophie want to sleep. She sternly told herself that this was a healing and she was in someone else's mind, so there was no time for sleeping. She collapsed into someone's lap. Blonde hair so very like hers curled onto her shoulder.

Sophie looked up with a start. Fitz just stayed silent.

Jolie again.

But she isn't my mother. Master Leto told me otherwise.

Why is she still here?

Jolie laughed, as if she had heard Sophie's thoughts. And this time, she spoke in clear and complete sentences. "Sophie, it'll be fine. You'll win the war. And he lied. I am your mother, Sophie."

What? Jolie's words hit Sophie like a bullet train. Why would Master Leto lie to Sophie? He had been truthful when he was healing Sophie, the Black Swan didn't murder Jolie. So why would he lie that time? Sophie could still see their conversation unfolding so naturally.

"Who was Jolie?"

"She was the daughter of Grady and Edaline."

"No, I mean, who was she to me?"

"To you? You think she's your mother."

"So is she?"

"No."

It had ended so perfectly, without any flaws or acts. Master Leto had made it seem like the truth. Who exactly was telling the real truth? Master Leto...or Jolie?

Jolie sighed. "I wished I had treasured the times with Dad and Mum more. Hindsight is a dangerous game to play. I should've ran, not walked. Brant...Brant..." She lapsed into silence, and Sophie knew Jolie still loved Brant. And Brant still loved Jolie. That was exactly what she transmitted to her.

"He does? Well, I guess that's a good thing to hear," Jolie said, her voice turning bittersweet. "Sophie, please do not be fooled by love. I fell for that trap. I was blinded by love. What a...horrible thing. I really thought Brant and I were forever ever, and I used to say never say never. Turns out how wrong I am."

I'm thirteen.

"Yes, and a lot of things can happen when you're just thirteen," Jolie sighed again. "Those evil villains made it wholly possible. Anyways, this piece of advice before you continue to heal Prentice."

She faced Sophie with proud, turquoise eyes that shone and misted with bitter feelings at the same time.

"My daughter," Jolie lisped. "Trust no one."

Sophie nodded, Jolie's words ringing inside her mind.

Trust no one.

Jolie smiled and put two long, elegant fingers to her lips. She looked so fragile and weak as she whistled loudly. Suddenly, the same black swan from before swooped down and folded its winds around its good as new body.

Sophie gaped.

But how?

Jolie snapped her fingers and the swan knelt down, growing bigger and bigger until it was the size of a boat. "That was just an illusion," she explained. "I did not know if you knew the seriousness of this situation, so I wanted you to see how terrible the consequences could be if you messed up." She shot a pointed look at Sophie.

Sophie clenched her fists in determination. I won't this time, she promised Jolie as she and Fitz slid their legs over the swan's gigantic body and steadied themselves as the swan took off into the air.

"Do me proud, Sophie," Sophie could hear Jolie say before they escaped out of the fluffy world into the world of darkness once again, this time with a black swan to help them. Fitz wrapped his arms around her waist as Sophie grabbed on to the swan's neck.

Where to go now? Sophie wondered as she thought.

It was time to find the place where Prentice kept 0.1% of his consciousness.

She closed her eyes and summoned all the mental energy she possessed in her mind, drawing it into a glowing aura. She held the aura until she saw a flash of memory that was larger than the usual hopeless ones.

Now! Sophie thought as she thrust the mental energy at the image and held on to a string of the energy and Fitz's hand. They spun and spun and bumped hard into something.

Ow...Sophie groaned mentally as she rubbed her forehead painfully. She lifted her gaze up to what she had bumped into.

She and Fitz gasped loudly when they saw the amazing sight.

It was nothing at first sight-just a dull mental barrier that was terribly strong. However, when Sophie focused some of her mental energy onto the wall, millions of tiny light blue pinpricks appeared where she had contacted with, and she felt a strong repulsion rebound her back. Fitz caught her as they fell down from the swan. The swan grunted and flew away as fast as lightning.

We'll have to break this mental barrier. I'm very sure that this is the place Master Leto told us about. Fitz, could you help too?

Okay, Fitz agreed.

Sophie flashbacked to the time when she and Alden had combined their forces together. It had been strong enough to clear the fog, but not enough to stop Fintan from controlling the memory. And he wasn't even a Keeper.

What hope did they have with a strong, near-to-Ancient Keeper whose mind had been broken for a very long time already?

But Sophie knew they had to try. It was the key to everything. But trying wasn't enough either.

They had to give their all.

Sophie gathered her mental energy around her again. She felt slightly weak and knew that it was taking its toll on her.

Ready? Sophie asked Fitz.

Ready. Fitz replied. On the count of three.

Three...

Two...

One...

GO!

Sophie did the most mind-wrecking brain push she had ever did in her life, and it combined with Fitz's core energy. Mental energy and core energy didn't mix, so the two auras swirled around each other, faster and faster, until they hit the mental barrier.

The wall instantly lit up with a glowing blue light that illuminated Prentice's mind. Sophie's mouth went slack as she surveyed the queer scene that was happening around her. The wall glowed brighter-

Then dimmed and went out.

For a few seconds, nothing happened. Sophie felt the hope drain out in her and her knees buckle. Fitz caught her before she fell to the ground.

A tear streaked down her cheek. She knew that had been their last chance. Her body was too tired, too weary to summon anymore energy now. Three brain pushes had taken a lot out of her.

And it had been for nothing.

Sophie sniffed, "I-" The wall suddenly lit up again, sparking the hope in Sophie's stomach the second time now. She felt a little energy return to her, and transmitted to Fitz, Do you think we can try one last time?

Fitz nodded. Of course.

They sent the energy rolling towards the wall at a fast speed again. The wall glowed brighter and brighter until it was blinding.

So blinding.

Sophie shielded her eyes with her arms as the wall collapsed into a million pieces. A mysterious force seemed to attract Sophie to the core of the inside.

There were no words to describe the inner, deep part of the mind. Dull. Empty. But so bright at the same time, unlike the dark, dark mind that they had seen at the start of the healing.

In the center, rested a small, gleaming pond filled with silver liquid. Sophie felt the force pulling her towards the pond again.

There was something inside the pond. And she knew it.

Sophie had to get it.

Almost tripping and knocking Fitz down, she ran past him and inhaled through her mouth, taking a few more steps closer.

Closer to the edge of the lake.

It looked so tempting.

Whatever could be inside?

Sophie thought no further, and dived into the silver liquid.

The last thing she heard was Fitz crying out in her mind before she fell into a sleepy daze. The silver liquid started to fill her lungs, but there was nothing she could do to stop it. It was like her limbs were totally paralysed.

She was drowning.

She was going to die.

In Prentice's mind.

Question: Do you think something is going to go wrong, either with Prentice's healing or Sora's rescue mission? I know the answer, but evil author is evil. Not going to give y'all spoilers.