Suddenly, the ground rumbled and a ray of light- pure, bright light- shot through the floor and then through the ceiling, burning everything it touched.

"Get back!" Tam yelled.

Siraye (wait I just realized that sounds kinda like "Siri") lunged back as far as she could, gasping. "What is that?" she shrieked.

"Oh, no." Tam stared wide-eyed at the crack in the floor. "Siraye, go. Now."

"But I want to help!" she protested.

"SIRAYE, GO!" he yelled. "NOW!"

And then she saw them. Two elves levitated through the whole as the light shut off. One had chocolate brown skin and piercing blue eyes with brownish hair. The other elf had a light skin tone, blackish hair, and bright eyes that shone like teal stars. Teal stars... where had she heard that before...?

"SOPHIE!" the latter elf screamed. She looked around. No other girl in sight. Was the girl a Vanisher? But he was staring dead at her.

"Siraye, don't listen to him! That's Wylie, and the other elf is Fitz! The evil telepath!"

"Siraye? Evil? Me? Oh no oh no oh no..." Fitz said.

She screamed as he lunged for her, yanking her wrist away. "Don't touch my memories, you monster!"

"Soph, please," Fitz pleaded. "Listen to me. Remember. Your name is Sophie Elizabeth Foster. You-"

"Stop! Don't do anything to my head or my memories! And my name is Siraye!" she yelled with a pure vengeance in her voice.

"Sophie Elizabeth Foster, you are the adopted daughter of Edaline and Grady Ruewen, part of Project Moonlark, and the love of my life! Please, don't let me lose you, too," he begged.

Siraye- Sophie- whatever her name was- turned around, to see the "Wylie" person fighting Tam, and he seemed to be winning. She felt a strong urge to help him, yet something held her back. A feeling. Those eyes stared at her like teal stars... teal stars... teal stars...

Sophie's memory came rushing back and she gasped. "Fitz! What is going on? What was that light?"

"I'll explain later. Now, come with me."

She grabbed his hand and he dragged her to the window, motioning to Wylie, who ran up alongside them. Weak and trembling, Sophie kicked at the hatch on the window, jamming it three times with her foot before it opened. She pulled the boys out and used the last of her energy to teleport.

***

Sophie blinked her eyes and sat up. She was in her bed back home at Havenfield. Slowly, she swung her legs down and opened the door, where Sandor was pacing.

"...should've never let her go without me... total lack of security... I told Lady Ruewen that I go where she goes..." he mumbled in his squeaky voice.

"Sandor, I'm okay!" Sophie exclaimed.

He looked up at her and sighed deeply. "I'm so relieved. Let me retrieve your mother. She is so worried about you."

A minute later, her parents were rushing up the stairs. Edaline immediately hugged her daughter, checking to make sure she was all right, while Grady pestered her with questions.

"Was it That Boy? Or That Vacker Boy? Or That Dizznee Boy? Or-"

Edaline whapped her husband in the stomach. "I'm sure she has time for questions later," she said. "Come on down and get something to eat, Sophie, while I call Elwin on my imparter. I'll send Fitz down- he's been worried sick about you."

Sophie had never been gladder to see her boyfriend in her life. He kissed her forehead and then hugged her so tight she could barely breathe. When he finally let go, he whispered, "I'm so glad you're okay."

"Me too," she said. "What was that light beam thingy that Wylie shot?"

He sat down and picked up a purplish strip of something from the table, toying with it instead of eating. "Well, you know how Tam and other Shades can use shadowflux, right?"

"How could I forget?"

"Well, Wylie had this idea that, because shadowflux was an element that Shades could control, maybe quintessence was an element that Flashers could control."

"So that beam was..."

He nodded. "Quintessence. He had been experimenting with it for a while, on his own. He got a few burns, but eventually, he could call upon and control quintessence whenever he needed to. So after locating you and blasting through the floor with quintessence, we would need a battle plan. Remember how Ruy's powers were damaged by the mix of the full spectrum and shadow?" She nodded. "Well, Wylie thought it might affect his powers too. So he waited for Tam to use shadows, and then blasted it with light. And it worked!"

 She hugged him. "I'm so glad you're okay."

"Me too."

Elwin came in with his bag. After it was searched by Flori, he sat down and examined both of them. He gave them both a strengthening serum, which made them both gag because it tasted like maple syrup. Like, pure maple syrup. Then he handed Fitz a pain reliever- he had broken a rib with the echoes- and something to heal the bones, which looked like a chunky pink smoothie. Judging by the way that he gagged and turned green, Sophie decided that she did not want to know what it tastes like, nor what it was.

And then her friends came in. Keefe (who avoided Grady at all costs), Linh and Dex (Linh was crying on his shoulder), Biana (who looked perfect as always), and Star!

She ran to Sophie and hugged her. "I'm so glad you're okay," she whispered.

"Me too. Thanks for saving my life."

"No problem."

"STARPHIE!" Keefe fangirled.

The girls broke apart and Sophie raised a fist. "I will punch you with my Sucker Punch, Keefe," she warned.

"Save that for Bangs Boy," he advised. "I swear, when I find him, I will kill him. Brutally."

Grady grumbled from the corner, "Well, at least you're not as bad as That Song Boy, That Boy."

"Is he talking to me?" Keefe stage-whispered to Biana, though everyone else (including Grady) could hear. "I can never tell. I don't think my name is That Boy on official record."

Everyone (even Grady) laughed. Edaline came in, carrying lots of food. While Keefe attacked the desserts, Sophie walked over to Linh, who was playing with some kind of neon green vegetable.

"Hey," she said. "You okay?"

She shrugged. "A few days ago, I found out that my brother died heroically. Now, I know he's alive- but he's a villain. I don't know which is worse."

"The shadows changed him. I promise, once we defeat the Neverseen, we will find him and get rid of the shadows."

She sniffed and wiped her eyes, picking up the vegetable with a fork. "Thanks, Sophie."

Edaline tapped Sophie on the shoulder. "Mr. Forkle is here. He wants to talk to you."

She led Sophie to a room that she had never seen before. It had a tray of desserts gently sat in the center of a table, surrounded by plush couches. Grady was already sitting in one.

"Where's Mr. Forkle?" Sophie asked.

"He's here," Grady said, but didn't elaborate.

Edaline left, and Grady leaned forward. "I think it's time for you to know one of Mr. Forkle's identities," he said. "Me."

A/n: I'm killing you guys, aren't I?