Hey guys, just a note, I won't be able to update next until Tuesday which is one day after what I would normally do.

It's because I have a busy weekend with my driving lessons and family coming over and a school event so I just wanted to let y'all know.

Anyways, enjoy! Lol

Sophie's P.O.V

Sophie fell back onto her knees as her whole body shook. She was in utter shock and couldn't process what she was seeing.

How— how was it possible?!

Sophie's eyes started to spill with tears as she whispered, "I—I don't
underst-stand."

"You have a couple minutes, I'll be waiting out the door," Mai said, exiting.

This couldn't be real.

"Sophie," her biological parents called at the same time, weak where they were locked behind some bars.

"IS THIS SOME KIND OF SICK JOKE?!" Sophie shrieked, bursting into tears as her whole body continued to shake.

"Sophie, it's us. I know this is a shock, but we'll explain everything," her mom said, reaching out to Sophie through the bars.

After a few seconds, Sophie crawled over and gripped her mother's hand so hard, causing Sophie to breakdown. Her mother was tearing up and her father had misty eyes. Sophie hated how the bars separated them.

"We've been waiting so long," her father said, his fingers lightly brushing Sophie's hair.

"Wh-what happened?" Sophie managed to say, wondering if this was all a dream.

"The Neverseen had faked our death with that fire. They've been keeping us here ever since," her mother explained.

"It's been ten years," Sophie whispered, looking right into their eyes.

"We know," her mother replied, reaching out to touch her face. "We missed you so much."

"I missed you too," Sophie said, closing her eyes.

They sat there for a few minutes and all Sophie could think about was how this all wasn't possible.

There was no way this was happening.

After all the hurt and pain, they were alive all this time.

"What do I do now?" Sophie asked, looking back up.

"Do what Mai asked and they'll let your mother and I go," her father replied.

"And we can all be free together," her mother added, her face showing hope.

Sophie's eyes widened as she thought about leaving to be with her long lost parents again. Her heart ached from all the years it was empty without them.

Freedom.

"I'd escape with you guys?" Sophie asked, needing to hear it again.

"Yes, we'll never leave you again. We'll travel the world and do so many of the things you missed," her mother said, her face brightening.

Sophie felt overwhelmed and thought about that future.

But then a terrible thought crossed her mind.

Her friends and family back home.

Oh no...

Sophie immediately frowned, realizing that her biological parents didn't know.

What would she do?!

"What's wrong?" Her father asked.

"Sophie!" Mai called from outside the room before she could reply. "It's time to go."

"I-I have to go," Sophie said, slowly getting up but still holding her parents' hands through the bars.

"Go on, sweetie. We'll be waiting here for you," her mother urged.

Sophie reluctantly let go and slowly backed away. "I-I love you."

"We love you too," they both said, not breaking eye contact.

Mai continued to call for Sophie so she quickly spun around and ran out of the room.

There, she found Mai standing there with a smug look.

"When do I start?" Sophie asked.

"I knew you couldn't resist," Mai said. "Tomorrow," she then added.

Sophie suddenly felt so much hatred towards this woman after coming to the realization that it was her fault for making Sophie think her parents died in that fire.

She was the reason for her suffering all those years.

Sophie wanted to get as far away from this place as she could so she would do what she asked.

Later on, Sophie found Carter and he shared that he was assigned to come with her on the journey.

They both started to prepare and pack their things for what was ahead of them.

"How do you feel about it?" Carter asked.

Sophie shrugged. "I'm not sure how hard this mission will be but anything to get my freedom."

"I meant, your parents," he clarified.

"Oh," Sophie mumbled, feeling many emotions hit her at once. "I guess...I'm just in shock. I can't believe that they've been alive and now I can get them back."

Carter slowly nodded. "What will you do when you're free?"

"Good question...I guess, be with my parents?" Sophie said, pausing.

Carter raised an eyebrow. "You seem unsure."

Sophie sighed and placed her things down. "I don't know," she mumbled. "If I'm being honest...I still think about my friends and family back home. I'm not sure what I'll do about them when I'm free. Like do I just never see them again and go with my real parents? Or just ditch the parents I just got back? I can't have both," Sophie rambled.

Carter was quiet for a while. Eventually, he spoke, "I think you should do what your heart is telling
you— what you want the most."

"But I'm not sure! I'm confused, in shock, and I want too much for me to ask for," Sophie admitted, getting worked up.

"Hey, calm down, it'll all work out eventually," Carter said, holding her shoulders to calm her down.

Sophie's shoulders relaxed but her heart paced rapidly as she realized how close in proximity Carter was.

Sophie felt her face heat up so she shrugged him off and pretended she had to go grab something, hoping he didn't notice.

"I guess you're right," she quickly said, still not looking his way and confused as to what had just happened.

"For now, let's just focus on the mission," he concluded.

With that, Sophie set her mind to focus on what was ahead.

She couldn't mess this up, not when her future depended on this.