Author's Note:

Y'ALL

THERE'S GONNA BE LIKE

TEN MORE CHAPTERS

TEN

MORE

CHAPTERS

OH MY GOODNESS

I CAN'T

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

Also, I know the story is kinda losing its point because I'm too lazy to write anything but fluff, but I promise in these next few chapters it will get more interesting, everything is sorta coming together. Sorry about the long stretches of pointless fluff, I can't write action to save my life, but I'm going to try.

Next chapter will be posted later tonight, or maybe tomorrow. I'm not sure yet.

Anyway so this is a Keefe POV enjoy the chapter and leave a review!

I wake up with Sophie's arms still around me. Her breath is warm on my neck, her eyes closed right in front of me.

I am glad that my lies haven't ruined our friendship, that we can still act like we used to. Although, having her this close is making me rethink this whole plan.

Earlier, when she thought I was sleeping, I could hear her thoughts. Not just her emotions, but her thoughts. And I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one obsessing over that kiss. It was ridiculously hard to feign unconsciousness, though. But as soon as she thought she saw something, I had to get up and comfort her.

I have the same nightmares she does, and although I'd never admit it, they scare me. I comfort her because simply being around her comforts me.

Sophie blinks a few times, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Hi," she says.

I smile. "Hi."

"We should probably get to breakfast and start planning," she decides. "I have the beginning of an idea, and I'm hoping you can help me work the rest out."

We get dressed and walk to the elevator, which is one of the coolest contraptions I have ever seen, purely because it was built without the help of abilities. Humans are weaker than us, but they build things that make them strong.

Over breakfast, Sophie says, So, I was thinking. The Balmoral hotel is somehow under the Neverseen's jurisdiction. I'm assuming Gisela helps fund it or something.

Sounds about right, I say.

Well, I was thinking about how the shields block my telepathy, but they probably don't block you, because you're not a telepath. Since our abilities are strangely connected, I wonder if I could send a signal through your head.

Would that work? I think.

I'm not sure, she admits. But it's worth a try. The thing is, I don't want our friends coming here without knowing what's going on.

True, true. The only problem is, we don't really know what's going on, either.

That's why we need Gisela, she transmits. We already know I can breach her mental shields. I need you to help pull me out. But, using that, we can get a good layout of her plans.

We could do this today, I offer. When she takes us to that room.

I don't even need my empath senses to feel Sophie's distaste. I can see her shiver every time I mention the room, and it frequents her nightmares. The pain reminds her of the ability restrictor, I know.

You're right. Good idea, she says after a short pause.

I almost regret bringing it up.

The plan seems solid enough, albeit slightly risky. Together, I'm sure we can pull it off.

When we're back in the elevator, Sophie transmits, How about we enter her mind as soon as we reach the tunnel place? We'll need a solid amount of time to search through it, and I'm not sure if I'll be mentally. . . stable enough after the whole machine thing.

Sounds like a plan, I confirm. Are you sure you're up for it, though? This whole thing has taken a toll on both of us.

I am, she says grimly. I have to be.

We walk up to the clock tower, the silence almost palpable. Gisela is already there, as always. The first few times we did this, she attempted to make small talk. She quickly realized that we weren't interested in talking to her, and were only there because it was necessary to save Linh, and we only stayed because before, we didn't have an escape plan. In the past weeks, she's stopped trying to talk to us.

My mother holds up that same crystal, and within a few seconds, we've arrived in that tunnel.

Time to put our plan in action, Sophie transmits as we start walking. Since I can't hear you when I'm in her head, don't bother trying to talk to me. I just need you to find the way out. I'll transmit to you when I find something, just so you know what I'm thinking.

She enters Gisela's mind, and suddenly, I am there too. It looks the same as it did before, all winding, ornate hallways and gilded memories. Sophie hunts through them, looking for anything related to the Neverseen.

I follow her, keeping an eye out for any more of those escape routes that we used last time. We don't want to get trapped in here.

I am vaguely aware of the real world. We are walking down the tunnel. And all of a sudden, I notice a difference. This is not the same tunnel we walk every day. This one has rougher walls made of stone, and the end is nowhere in sight.

Suddenly, Sophie's consciousness jolts to a stop in my mother's mind. She's looking at a memory, or maybe a thought. I can't see it clearly, but Sophie can.

Keefe, she transmits, confirming what I have just realized. She's taking us somewhere else.