Because There Is a Future

Chapter Nineteen

She fumbled for a fancy bag.

Eve rushed out and came back a minute later, wearing a tight red V-neck dress. Her dark, wavy hair was hanging loosely on her shoulders. "How do I look?" She asked.

"Fabulous." Sophie smirked. "Have fun at wherever you're going!"

Eve grinned. She pulled out a spyball out of her bag. "Here, you can use it to see your friends. You're gonna be bored without me here." Eve winked but excused herself and ran out.  

Sophie looked at the spyball. It would show anyone -- her friends who thought she was a murderer, too. The adults and Keefe weren't there when the Council announced her crime, but she knew they knew it, along with the entire population of the Elvin world. Word spread quickly. 

"Show me Grady Ruewen." Sophie whispered. He was sitting next to Edaline with a mug of some sort of beverage in hand. They both had dark circles under their eyes, and Sophie knew it was because of her. It wasn't everyday people got news that their child killed one of the most important people in the world. 

Looking at them made Sophie's eyes well up with tears, but she blinked them back. She couldn't hear anything from the spyball, but she knew they sighed. All Sophie wanted to do then was reach in and tell them it wasn't real, or to erase all the memories they had of her. 

Sophie couldn't bear the sadness any longer. A tear dropped onto the spyball, and Sophie wiped it away. 

"Show me Tam Song." She croaked. He was wearing a black coat with stylish pants, walking down the street with... a woman. She had auburn hair, a tight black dress, and bright pink lips. Sophie squealed, the sad feeling evaporating temporarily. He deserved it. Maybe she was paranoid of being excited about someone who didn't know they were being spied on, but yes, yes, yes!

But maybe she had jumped to conclusions a little too early. A familiar brunette marched up the street into their view. She had her hands on her hips, her beautiful eyebrows arched questioningly. Sophie could see Tam gulp, and the woman beside him frowned at Biana. 

How Sophie wished she could make out what they were saying. Biana's mouth was moving furiously, and for the first time in Sophie's life, she saw Tam scared. Afraid. Sure, he had been cautious plenty of times in their missions, but they were all nothing compared to the look of pure fear on his face that instant. 

The woman next to Tam began yelling at Biana (or so Sophie assumed, for her eyebrows were arched down angrily and her mouth was moving as fast as Biana's.) Tam looked as though he wanted to be anywhere but there, and he was saying something too, but what it was, Sophie didn't know. 

"Show me Fitz Vacker." Sophie spoke again, her voice still choked from the laughter. 

He was sitting in a high, throne-like chair with a paper in hand. He was frowning, as if he did not understand what was on the paper. Then he suddenly looked up, his mouth moving. 

The door opened and in came Councilor Emery. He said something to Fitz, who bowed and nodded. Emery formed a little smile, said something, then walked out. Fitz was grinning like an idiot. 

"Show me Dex Dizznee." The poor boy was lovesick. 

Marella and Dex were in Dex's new shop, Marella sitting on the counter and Dex standing next to her. His arm was protectively wrapped around her petite waist, and she was laughing at whatever he had said. She leaned down and kissed Dex, and he did the same back to her, even more passionately. 

Smitten people. But good to know they were happy and alive. 

"Show me Linh Endal." Did she already have her baby or...?