I turned around to see a pale sickly Keefe. He was so thin, you could see his bones, his once muscular build under a tunic that fit him perfectly, was falling off his shoulder. His usually styled hair fell limp over his forehead, his eyes lost the mischievous twinkle. His voice, barely above a whisper. The worst part was that he was so weak, he had to walk with a cane.

"Keefe!" I say, running towards him. I slow down, I don't want to hurt him, and engulf him in a hug. He seemed to be lighter then me, which is saying something.

"Miss me, huh Foster?" He laughs. But then he starts chocking and wheezing. He was having trouble breathing. I helped him sit down and gently rubbed his back. Dex stared at Keefe, a single tear falling off of his face. Keefe starts clenching his jaw.

"What's wrong?" I ask quietly.

"You shouldn't be here," His voice is strained, but still is cold. "They're going to hurt the people you love, don't you get that? Grady and Edaline, will end up like this. You shouldn't have come."

"Keefe, the only person they wanted to hurt was you," I whisper.

He coughs again from a dark laugh, "Sophie, they want to hurt you," He whispers.

"Sior and the Black Swan are going to find the gnome that created the elixar, and make a cure from it!" I say, rubbing his back, as he leans his head on my shoulder.

"Sophie, call it off," Keefe whispers.

"Why?" I ask, panic in my voice.

"It'll be to late, you have false hope. They won't get it in time," Keefe whispers.

"Wh-what do you mean?" I ask.

"Sophie, how would you even know the name of the guy? You used telepathy. It's a trap to capture the Black Swan. They'd know that you told someone the minute you escaped. And I'm guessing they didn't even try to fend off Mr. Forkle and Dex, they're going to destroy your world. Call it off," Keefe whispered, I felt a warm tingle on my neck. It was a tear--Keefe's tear.

"No, you're wrong!" I say.

"Sophie--please," Keefe begs.

"No, you're going to be fine! Mr. Forkle can get it, they don't know what I know!" I say.

"Sophie," Keefe whispers, his eyes pleading for me to see his reasons.

"You should see Elwin," I say. The look Keefe gave me split my soul into millions of tiny shards stabbing my heart. It showed depression, worry, pain, and betrayed. Keefe felt like I just betrayed him.

"Sophie, it isn't your fault, any of it. Just--Just remember that when I'm gone," He whispers, struggling to stand up.

"Don't say that. Don't say that you're going to be gone, because you won't!" I say.

Biana rushes to Keefe's aid. Tam comes up behind her. After Keefe walks inside. I hug the life out of Tam, sobbing uncontrollably.

He rubs soft circles on my back. "Sophie, Keefe's in pain. He's dieing, but he isn't dead yet," Tam whispers, trying to calm me.

"Tam, do you think he's right?" I ask.

"What, about it being a trap?" He asks. I nod my head. "I mean, both are very possible!"

"Tam," I warn.

"Ok, fine, I think Keefe's probably right about it. Didn't it seem almost to easy to you?" Tam asked.

"Kind of, but maybe it was because we caught them off guard!" I groan in frustration.

"Sophie, you are now grasping at straws! The truth is that Keefe is right, and you are afraid of loosing him. Sophie, you need to call it off," Tam whispered.

Part of me knew he was right, but I didn't want to give up!

"We need to talk to Keefe, you get Dex and tell Forkle it's a trap!" I say as I start running into Everglen.

"Elwin! Where's Keefe!" I yell frantically.

"Sophie! Shush! He needs rest!" Elwin whispers as he rubs his temples.

"Elwin, you don't understand! HeneedstotellmewhathappenedtodaysoIcanfigureoutwhoat Foxfireswitchedoutyourelixars!" I said quickly.

"Sophie, say that again in a way that I'll actually understand!" Elwin says.

"Keefe needs to tell me everyone he encountered and what happened today because someone switched out the Elixar that you thought would help him with one that would actually kill him!" I say slower.

Elwin's face drained of color, "I-I did this?" His voice quavered.

"NO! Elwin, one of the teachers did it! Someone who checks on you sometimes, one that knows the ins and outs of your room. Someone who knows what Elixars you'd use on someone whose mind was breaking. They packaged it to look a like and then switched it out so you would accidentally let Keefe drink it," I reassured. The last thing I needed was Elwin's mind breaking.

"There are a few teachers, actually, Sir Austin, Lady Austria, Sir Finklestine and Miss. Raven," Elwin stated in a daze.

"Who was there when you thought his mind was breaking?" I asked, my brain whirling into action.

"Sir Teirgan, Miss. Raven, Lady Austria, Alden, Fitz, and me where there," Elwin noted, taping his chin deep in thought.

"It wouldn't be Sir Teiran, Alden, or Fitz, because they all like Keefe and wouldn't do that," I said.

"So that leaves Lady Austria and Miss. Raven," Elwin mumbled.

Lady Austria seemed more likely then Miss. Raven, she was in the hallway when he blacked out.

"Sophie, I know who it is," Elwin said, voice barely above a whisper as his face drained to a ghastly white.

"Who?" I ask, heart pounding in my chest.

"Miss. Raven," Elwin answered in shock.

A/N: Ok, I just want to say, YOU ALL ARE AMAZING!!! I now have 1k views, 129 votes, and 75 comments!! AH! The feels! You all are really awesome, and I really want to thank you all and give you all big hugs because this brings me so much joy! Comment below if you want me to write a sequel after this book or a different fanfic about Keeper of the Lost Cities. You can also message me if you want it to be more private! Thanks I would really appreciate! No, the next chapter won't be the end of the book, I'll probably write a few more. Anyway, thanks for reading, and STAY BEAUTIFUL!! ;)

~Tapqueen101