700 READS?! AHHHHH! I remember back when I was celebrating 27 reads, and now here I am. I NEVER would have thought I would be here. So thank you to everyone who comments, reads, and votes on this story. It means so much to me! <3 <3

Edaline, Grady, Sandor, Fitz, Biana, Dex, Linh, Tam, Wylie, and Mr. Forkle were all in separate cages, tied in bounds with gags on their mouths. Biana's gag was loose.

"Sophie?" She whispered, as if she didn't believe it could be real.

"Biana? Everyone? I'm going to get you guys out of here," Sophie walked over towards them.

"STOP!" Biana screamed. Sophie halted right in her tracks.

"There's a trap right there," Her voice turned to a whisper, "Do EXACTLY as I say, and you won't die, got it?" Biana asked. Sophie nodded sharply.

"Okay. Walk three steps to the right, two steps forward, 1 step to the left. 1 step backwards. 2 steps to the right. 4 steps forward. 3 steps to the left, and then 4 steps forward."

By the time Biana was done with her directions, Sophie had made it across the room and was standing right in front of everyone's cages. She was in between Grady and Edaline's.

"How do I get you guys out of here?" Sophie asked.

"I don't know," Biana said quickly. Sophie tugged out a loose eyelash and looked around for an opening or key. Nothing. Nothing. Lady Gisela. Nothing. Wait-

Sophie jerked her head around and found herself face to face with her worst nightmare. Lady Gisela.

"What do you want?" She growled.

"Oh, nothing really. I just have something you might want..." She laughed coldly. Sophie shivered, and she hoped her voice didn't shake when she said,

"Return my family and friends, or else."

"Oh, yes of course. They're useless anyway."

"Then why did you want them?" She pressed.

"Bargaining chip. You really don't know how to play this game, do you Sophie dear?" She paused, "Or should I call you... Foster?"

All the color drained from Sophie's face, "What did you do to him?!" She shouted.

"Nothing too bad," Lady Gislea snapped her fingers and a black cloaked figure emerged from the tunnel, yanking Keefe along with him like a dog. Keefe's hands were bloody and in chains, his shoulders were slumped and his head was down. He looked so... Defeated. Sophie growled.

"Why are you doing this?"

"I thought you already knew? I guess the Moonlark isn't as smart as I thought," She taunted. Sophie clenched her jaw.

"What do you want with my family, and my friends? And Keefe."

"Oh, it's simple really. You can get all your friends back, safe and sound, if Keefe comes with us. And don't try to break him out this time. I promise you won't be as lucky."

Something in Gislea's voice made Sophie know that she was telling the truth.

"You want me to choose between my family and friends, and Keefe?" She asked, her voice trembling.

"I thought that was obvious by now."

Sophie gritted her teeth together. She couldn't choose. It was impossible, she loved her family and friends too much to watch them be killed, but she loved Keefe too much to give him away to the Neverseen, where he would probably never return. Sometimes there's no good options. Her mind whispered. Unless...

"Take me."

"What?"

"Take me instead. I'll be a good little Moonlark. If you don't ever come near my family, friends, and Keefe again, I'll do whatever you say."

Keefe jerked his head up.

"No! Sophie! You can't!" He shouted.

"Silence!" Lady Gislea commanded, "How do I know you'll keep your word?" She asked.

"Because. You have the upper hand on everyone else already. Why would I risk their safety later by trying to escape, when I'm offering myself up now to save them? If I ever betrayed you or the Neverseen, you have my permission to kill all of them."

Lady Gislea looked thoughtful for a moment before saying, "Deal."

"Good. Now release my family and friends. Make sure they are NOT harmed. Or you're going to have a very mad Moonlark on your hands," Sophie growled.

Lady Gislea gave a cold smile, "Alright then. Take them away, and make sure they're not harmed," She snapped her fingers, and the black cloaked figures unlocked the cages and dragged everyone away.

"Could I at least say my goodbyes?" Sophie asked.

"Make it quick," Gislea snapped.

"Goodbye, Mr. Forkle," She whispered.

"Goodbye, Sophie," Mr. Forkle had tears shining in his eyes as he pulled her in for a hug, "I always knew you were one of the greats. Never stop fighting, Sophie. See you on the other side."

"Goodbye, Sophie," Fitz pulled her in for a huge hug.

"Goodbye, Fitz. I love you."

"I love you too."

"Never forget me, Sophie!" Dex threw his arms around her.

"You're my best friend, Dex. And you always will be. I'll never forget you."

"I'm going to miss you, Sophie. You were always kind to me. Even when I wasn't with you. Never stop being you," Biana whispered. Sophie pulled her in for a hug.

"I won't."

Biana smiled through fresh tears. Tam walked up to her and pulled her in for a huge hug. Neither of them said anything. But they both knew all the words that were left unsaid.

"Goodbye, Linh," Sophie hugged Linh tightly.

"Thanks for believing in me when no one else did," She whispered.

"You're welcome."

"Goodbye, Sophie. I hope to see you again someday," Sandor said. His face was emotionless, but Sophie could hear the tremble in his voice.

"Goodbye, Sandor," Sophie whispered, and pulled him in for a huge hug. He hugged her back and then cleared his throat.

"Goodbye, Sophie," Wylie bowed his head to her.

"Goodbye, Wylie."

"I'll never forget the sacrifice you made today."

"Thank you."

"Good luck out there, Sophie."

"Good luck to you too, Wylie." Then he was dragged by the Neverseen into the tunnel that she came from.

Her parents stood in front of her. Tears streamed down their faces. Neither of them could move for a second.

"I love you, Sophie!" Edaline sobbed, and crushed her and Grady with a hug.

"I love you too, Mom. You too Dad."

"I'm so sorry, kiddo. You're a better person than I ever was."

"Please don't go, let us stay with the Neverseen," Edaline whispered into his shoulder.

"We both know that the Neverseen want me. It's the only way to save you."

Edaline looked at Sophie with her big turquoise eyes, and placed a hand on her cheek, catching a few fallen tears that Sophie didn't realize were spilling over.

"We're so proud of you," Grady whispered, a tear leaking from his cheek.

"I love you guys."

"We love you more than anything in this world."

"I'll see you again, one day. I promise," Sophie gave a sad smile. Edaline returned it.

"We know."

Then her parents were taken away. And only one person remained. Sophie looked away. She didn't have the heart to look into his beautifully broken ice blue eyes.

Keefe traced his thumb across her cheek. Sophie didn't meet his gaze. He gently pulled her chin up to face his face. His hands were so gentle, so soft, and so loving, like he was putting in all the love that could never be said into his touch. The thought of never being able to feel the tingle in her spine when he brushed her shoulder, or the way that nothing else mattered when they kissed, was enough to make tears spill out of Sophie's eyes. It was at that moment that she realized she might never see Keefe, her family, and friends ever again.

"Don't leave me," She whispered, even though she knew he had to go. He didn't say anything as tears rolled down his face. He grabbed her waist and pulled her into a hug.

"You are my number one priority," He whispered into her ear.

"And you are mine," She choked, "I love you, Keefe Sencen," She sobbed. She felt a slight tugging at her neck, but chose to ignore it.

"And I love you, Sophie Foster. Which is why I'm doing this."

Before she even had a chance to register what he meant he had her home crystal in his hands, he raised it to the light.

"Goodbye, Sophie," He whispered quickly.

"KEEFE! NO!" She screamed, then he pushed her into the light.