Шеннон Мессенджер - Keeper of the Lost Cities

Seconds passed before Alden turned to her, obvious pain in his eyes. “If that’s what you want, we’ll do it that way.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, hardly believing what she was saying. It felt like her brain was shutting down, too overwhelmed to function.

Had she really agreed to have her whole life erased?

She sank back into the massive armchair. Tears streaked down her cheeks and she scrubbed them away. “Will I get to say goodbye?”

Alden shook his head. “The Council specifically forbade me to take you back.”

The room spun and a small sob slipped out. It never occurred to her when she left for school that it would be the last time she’d see her family—ever. It was too much. “Please. I need to say goodbye.”

Alden studied her face for a long minute before he nodded. “I can’t take you without risking a tribunal, but I can give you twenty minutes before I alert the Council to the change of plans and let Fitz take you. You’ll have to change clothes before you go, and get out of there before anyone sees you or it would be very bad for him. Can you do that?”

She nodded, wiping away more tears. “Thank you.”

Alden rushed to the door and called Fitz. Sophie couldn’t focus as Alden explained what was happening. She was too busy trying to figure out what she would say to her parents.

How was she going to tell her family goodbye?

W HERE HAVE YOU BEEN?” HER DAD SHOUTED ASSophie set foot through the door. His round face—usually so soft—was bent and twisted into hard lines.

Her mom rubbed her temples. “We almost called the police.”

Sophie’s eyes burned with unshed tears. Her parents, her house, her whole life for the past twelve years—this was the last time she would see any of it. It was far, far too much for her brain to process, so she did the only thing she could do. She raced across the room, threw her arms around them, and hugged as hard as she could.

“Did something happen, Sophie?” her dad asked after a minute. “Your school called and said you left early.” His mind flashed to unspoken horrors.

Sophie cringed away from his thoughts. “Nothing bad happened. It’s just been a strange day.” She buried her face into her mom’s side. “I love you guys.”

“We love you too,” her mom whispered, totally confused.

“What’s going on, Soybean?” her dad asked.

Sophie trembled at the nickname—proof that she really didn’t belong with her family.

“She’s just trying to get out of trouble,” Amy said, bouncing into the room. She loved watching Sophie get busted.

“Amy, how many times have I told you not to eavesdrop?” her mom asked.

Amy shrugged. “How long is she grounded for?”

“Three months,” her dad answered.

Amy shot Sophie a triumphant look.

“It doesn’t matter,” Sophie said, still hugging her parents. “I’m sorry for worrying you guys. I won’t do it again, I promise.” For once she would be able to keep her word.

“Well, maybe two months,” her mom decided, rubbing Sophie’s back.

Amy pouted and Sophie couldn’t help smiling at her pettiness.

She was stunned to realize at that moment that she was going to miss Amy. Her bratty, obnoxious, pain-in-the-butt little sister. Sure, they fought all the time, but fighting with her was . . . fun. Why had she never realized that before?

She ran over and wrapped Amy up in a hug.

Her parents gasped.

“Ugh, what are you doing?” Amy asked, squirming in Sophie’s tight embrace.

Sophie ignored her struggles. “I know we don’t always get along, Amy, but you’re my sister, and I love you.”

Amy jerked away. “Why are you being weird?”

“I’m not being weird. I just wanted to tell you I love you. I love all of you.” She turned to her parents, who were watching the strange scene play out between their daughters with their mouths open. “I couldn’t have asked for a better family.”

“What happened to you?” Amy asked.

“Nothing.” She turned away to blink back tears. “I’m going to my room now.”

Her dad cleared his throat, coming to his senses. “You’re not off the hook yet, Soybean. We still need to talk about what happened today.”

“We will,” she agreed, desperate to get out of there. Fitz was keeping watch outside, and she had to hurry. “Later.”

SHE RACED TO HER ROOMand packed in a daze. She didn’t take much. Everything felt like it belonged to someone else—to another life.

When she was done, she allowed herself one minute to rememorize every detail of her old room: the pale blue walls, the dusty stacks of books piled on every available surface, the blue and yellow quilt her mother made for her when she was a baby. Her room looked empty now. Maybe that was because she felt empty.

Then she took a deep breath, turned off the light, and closed the door.

She tripped over Marty’s furry body in the hall. “Sorry, boy,” she whispered, crouching next to him. She rubbed his soft fur, trying not to cry. He’d been her only friend—but she couldn’t take him with her. Her family would need him.

“Amy will take care of you,” she promised as she stood up.

His pink mouth opened, releasing one tiny, pathetic meow.

“I’ll miss you too.”

FITZ HAD GIVEN HER Adisk of sleeping gas to release if she couldn’t sneak out. She’d hoped she wouldn’t have to use it—the idea of drugging her family made her physically ill—but they were waiting at the base of the stairs.

“Where do you think you’re going?” her dad demanded, glaring at the backpack slung over her shoulder.

Amy giggled. “Aren’t you in enough trouble already?”

“Sophie Elizabeth Foster, you tell us what’s going on right now!” her mom yelled.

Sophie stared at them, clutching the sleeping gas, too afraid to use it. “I’m sorry,” she managed to say. “I have to leave.”

Her dad moved between her and the door. “You’re not going anywhere.”

“It’s not up to me.”

“Sit down,” he demanded, pointing to the living room couch.

Clearly, they weren’t going to let her go, and time was all but up. “Fine. I promise I’ll explain everything if you just sit down and listen to me.”

She cringed at the lie, hating herself for saying it. But it worked. They moved to the couch and waited for her to start talking.

She fingered the disk, ordering her hands to spin the top the way Fitz had shown her. But she couldn’t—she couldn’t let the last words she said to them be a lie.

“Please, please know that I love you. I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me. I have to go now, but I will never forget you.”

Tears blurred their faces as she held her breath and twisted the disk between her hands. Air rushed past her fingers as the gas released, and she dropped it and backed away.

Somehow she managed to count to thirty to let the gas clear before she breathed. Then she crumpled to the floor, burying her face in her hands.

“IT’S OKAY, SOPHIE. IT’S GOINGto be okay.”

It took her a second to recognize that the voice belonged to Fitz. He crouched on the floor, holding her against his shoulder. Some part of her brain knew she should be embarrassed about smearing tears and drool and snot all over his jacket, but she couldn’t make herself care.

“I drugged my family,” she whispered.

“You did the right thing.”

“It doesn’t feel like the right thing.”

He squeezed her tighter as another round of sobs overcame her. “Look, Sophie, I feel like a jerk for saying this, but we have to get out of here. The Washers could be here any second, and they can’t find us here.”