Keefe, can you hear me?

He tried not to give anything away but Abbie is very observant.

"What just happened Keefe? You jumped."

"No I didn't, what are you talking about?"

She sighed, "Well even if you didn't- which you did- obviously you're not used to another person being able to feel your emotions. Though I still can't remember what that's called."

"First of all, it's called being an Empath." He said, chuckling under his breath. "Second, you're right. I'm more than 'not used to it', it's never happened to me before. And third, Sophie Foster, the one I've been telling you about, just transmitted to me and I need to answer, I just don't know what to say."

Abbie laughed, "Well now I know how you feel when I talk about pancakes and Buddy the Elf," She paused and looked at him with a new perspective, "You and I are really the same aren't we? And Sophie Foster came from Earth too?"

"Well we still live on Earth," Keefe said, cracking up. "Just in places humans can't access without one of these." He held up his pathfinder, expecting her to life like Fitz said Sophie did. She didn't laugh at all, she was nothing bus serious as she looked at it curiously, "That's a pathfinder right?"

His jaw just about hit the floor, "How did you know that?"

"I… I'm not sure. The word just came to me when I looked at it. Is that crazy?" She said as she fussed with her hair.

"It's not crazy, just… different. I don't like to keep comparing you to Sophie because you are both very different people but, when Sophie came to the Lost Cities she didn't know any of our basic stuff that we use. It's just odd that you do, I guess." He said with a shrug.

Abbie sighed, "Well everything about this conversation is odd. And it's getting late, why don't you mind-talk with your elf girlfriend while we walk to my house. I assume you're going to have to stay there? It won't be weird right?"

"No it won't, I promise. And, Sophie's not my girlfriend. She's a very close friend of mine but that's all. But yeah, I'll talk to her while we walk."

KEEFE SENCEN ANSWER ME!

Foster relax, I'm fine. I just needed to finish up what I was doing.

He could feel Sophie's worry from here- well...not actually- but he knew her too well to know that she is freaking out.

Keefe you can't do that when you know I'm freaked out.

Bingo.

I'm fine. He doesn't want to seem rude but he can't possibly be the one to tell her about Abbie. Sophie would freak out.

Keefe you can stop playing right now. I know everything.

He felt his heart fall to his feet. What are you talking about?

The other Moonlark? Abbigail? Ring any bells.

Well, I guess I do know what you're talking about then. But I can't tell you much. The Neverseen could find her and she has a ton of abilities, Sophie. She has really good control, it's actually insane. I'll tell you more later but we're going to her house right now. I have to go.

He felt bad disconnecting like that, but she'll understand later when he explains everything.

Abbie smiled, "I can tell by your forehead lines that it didn't go very well."

"Your observation of my forehead lines is correct." He laughed, "She's going to be very mad but I can't tell her much about you right now."

"What's the big deal? I mean you kind of explained Moonlarks and stuff but if Sophie can be there, why can't I?"

"It's a big deal because you have the most abilities of an elf ever. Sophie was a shock to our little, quite world and she only has five abilities. You have eleven and counting!"

She laughed, but it sounded forced. "I guess that makes sense. But there's something else. Who is the Neverseen?"

He cursed inside his head, he told her that they existed but not about all of the things they've done to Sophie. He couldn't imagine what they would do if they found out about Abbie. A shudder rippled through him.

"They're really bad. Abbie I don't mean to scare you, but it is really important that we keep you secret because of them. They did really bad things to Sophie when they found out about her. They will be desperate to get to you before you can go to the Lost Cities." He took a breath, "They would know that once you get to the Lost Cities, you'll have more protection. While you're still here, I am your only protector and while I can fight better than most, I can't compare to them and their abilities." He admitted quietly.

She kept walking without another word, Keefe couldn't think of anything else to say so he let the calm quiet surround them. She stopped in front of a small house on an even smaller street. He didn't realize how long they had been walking, his legs burned and he was even sweating a little.

"Do you walk this far every day?"

She shrugged, "It's not bad. I listen to music on my way to school and back so it goes by fast."

He didn't say anything else, but he was exhausted. It was pitch black outside by the time they had made it.

"We can't afford to get me a car of my own. Which is totally fine, walking keeps me in shape." She said with a laugh as they made it up her long driveway.

He stopped in his tracks. "Wait, how am I supposed to sneak in with your Mom?"

She smiled, "Here, hold my hand."

He looked suspicious.

"Not in a weird way Keefe, just do it," she groaned.

He gently took her hand and tried not to overthink his red face and sweaty palm. Next thing he knew, he was invisible and couldn't see his hand.

His jaw dropped for the hundredth time that night, "You're actually insane. You're a vanisher too?"

"I guess? If that's what it's called then yes? Is that normal?"

He looked at her really closely since she couldn't see him, "Yes Abbie, being a vanisher is very normal. You just shocked me because you have really really good control over your abilities. For example, another one of my close friends, Biana, is a vanisher with really good control and she can't do that yet."

Abbie sighed, "Why am I so different from all the other elves?"

"I can't believe I'm actually an elf." She added, cringing.

"Well if it makes you feel any better, you aren't as different from the other elves as you are from the humans you've been surrounded by your entire life."

Abbie fell silent and Keefe let her lead him inside her home. It was a three story building with a main level, upstairs, and basement.

"Be quiet, it's not just me and Mom, I have two sisters upstairs who probably aren't asleep yet." She whispered.

He observed as she walked around her house trying not to draw much attention to their linked hands. The house hadn't turned off for the night and that was for sure. A man, presumably her Dad, was watching TV.

"Why didn't you tell me about your Dad?" He whispered.

"I didn't think he would be home." She muttered.

He felt some strong emotions there but decided to let it be. He continued to follow her through the house, noticing the small child sitting at the counter in the kitchen, looking to be around 7.

"Hey Livvy! How was school?" Abbie asked in a high pitched voice.

Keefe had to keep in a laugh, if only Abbie knew her sister shared a name with one of the physicians that helped create Project Moonlark. Keefe was too busy taking in the human house that he didn't realize he was being led up the stairs and into what must be Abbie's room.

"We're here." Abbie said quietly, "I don't really know what to do here. I can't hold your hand forever, as much as you might want me to." She winked, "But if you're not invisible, and my sister comes in here… we're toast."

"I'm sure that Livvy won't say anything, she's only what, seven?"

"She's six, but that's not who I'm worried about. I'm worried about my other sister, Raylee. She would definitely flip out. She's only thirteen but she's really smart."

She sighed and let go of his hand slowly. Disappointment washed through him, but he tried to hide it.

"I can hide out somewhere else if I need to."

"Keefe we just did all that work, and you need to be here you already said that." Keefe could see all of the gears turning in her head.

"I'll just go downstairs," She said slowly. "I have to act normal and since it's already late I don't need to be down there long. Just like... sit under my bed or something in case Raylee comes into my room, she does that a lot."

Keefe was about to say something, but Abbie had already dashed out of her room.

It's going to be a long night, he thought.