I give up on posting frequently. I will post at random times probably.

How could the Council do this? Sophie thought, curled up in a ball on her bed. Wouldn't the guilt break them? Has guilt broken any of them already? If so who, and would they kidnap her to try to bring them back?

A thousand other questions pounded in her mind, making it hard for her to focus on anything else, which included breathing. She was so lost in her thoughts, she didn't even notice when Fitz gave a slight knock on her ajar door and walked over to sit next to her, until he put his arm around her.

He didn't know. He didn't know his parents were kidnapped and tortured by the council. And worse of all, because of her.

Sophie tried to take a deep breath, but she couldn't hold back a sob as she leaned into Fitz's arms.

"What's wrong?" Fitz whispered into her ear.

She tried to answer but another sob took away her words, so she just shook her head and clung to him.

This was all her fault.

Fitz would hate her if he knew.

That's why she couldn't tell anyone what she saw, or they would hate her like they did when Alden's mind broke.

That's why she had to stay strong.

Sophie sniffed and wiped away her tears. "I'm sorry, I just wish I everything could be how it was..." her voice trailed off. "but it isn't, and I need to accept it." She continued and stood up.

Fitz looked down, "I know what you mean, I wonder how my family is doing and wish we were at home all the time."

Sophie froze. What if he knew? Did Mr. Forkle tell them what he knew?

But then Fitz wouldn't say that so casually, and he wouldn't be so calm.

Fitz looked up and Sophie willed herself to move, but she couldn't. She just stood there wide eyed, staring at Fitz in terror.

Fitz narrowed his eyes and stood up, "Sophie, what's wrong?"

"N-nothing. I should go..." Sophie racked her brain for an excuse to leave and escape the suspicious glare locked on her as she tugged out a loose eyelash.

"Where? We don't have anything to do until training at three."

"Um..." Fitz's teal eyes dug into her skin and she squirmed. She couldn't find anything to say, so she just mumbled something that was really gibberish quiet enough Fitz wouldn't understand and rushed out of the room, her eyes starting to fill with tears.

So much for being strong.

Now Fitz was suspicious of her. He would probably share her odd behavior with everyone else and she would have to tell them everything.

And then they would hate her.

Sophie ran down the hall, into the main training room, and down the stairs into the out-of-place open area filling the air with birds chirping and leaves rustling. She had messed up. Again.

She felt the guilt starting to tug at her consciousness, making her realize that she couldn't let guilt overtake her. Then there would be no point to any of this. No point in running away and risking her friends' safety, no point in letting Grady, Edaline, Alden, and Della be captured.

Although, what was she going to say to her friends. They deserve to know. But how could she tell them any of this? It is something no child should have to hear. Ever. But she had to do this.

Sophie stood up and wiped away her tears. Maybe this time would go better. Probably not, but she can try.

She slowly climbed the spiral staircase up to the main floor and walked into her room to find everyone huddled in a circle talking about what they think happened to her.

"Maybe Mr. Forkle knows. We should try asking him," Keefe suggested to the rest of the group.

"Or maybe we co-" Dex started quietly.

"Yeah, that's a good idea, Keefe," Biana interrupted.

Dex shrank back, curling into a ball, and scooting slightly back from the other group. Sophie felt bad for him. She knew how he felt. This was how she was for the first part of her life, when she was living with humans. An outcast. Not wanted. She wouldn't let Dex feel that way too. That was one thing she could fix.

Keefe met Sophie's eye and nudged Fitz who was talking. Fitz stopped talking, looked at him and followed his gaze to Sophie. "Hey," he said gently.

"Hey," Sophie muttered and softly walked across the room to sit on the bed between Biana and Dex.

"So… What's going on?" Biana asked quietly.

"Yeah, Foster. Spill. Don't leave out any details." Keefe agreed.

Sophie had no choice. She told them everything.