Continued from chapter 1:
Kennen, like Akali, was already in his battle gear as well.
"Akali just left! How did he-?"
"Hahahahaha..."
Zed, perched on the tree behind me.
The metal wrapped around him did not even glint in the sunlight.
In a chokehold, Akali.
I could hear the sounds of battle surrounding us.
"I see that even though your friend is in my hands you are still relaxing..."
I didn't even have time to change!
My heart pulsing in my chest, the stress building up in me...
My vision narrowed.
I knew that I was angry, but I kept my anger down. He wants me to act rashly. I will not fall into his trap. My ninjas are more than ready.
That's a lie. I knew it myself. We had nowhere to run. Only Akali, Kennen and myself were ready to fight Zed. By himself he could already easily win our ninjas.
But his ways are harmful to everyone, including himself. And we will not stand for that.
"Put me down, Zed. We can talk through this." Akali pleaded, the fear and pain evident in her shaking cry, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"What a joke. You heard her Shen. We can talk through this. Bow before me now and we will let you join us. It's a one in a lifetime offer- count it on our past friendship."
At the corner of my eye, I saw our ninjas being brought in by Zed's shadows.
"Kennen... Do the necessary. I'll handle Zed." I whispered.
As Kennen turned into a bolt of lightning, all the shadows were dispelled.
In that moment, I dashed towards Zed, reaching out to Akali.
But I was too late.
Zed cackled through his mask as he faded into his shadow portal.
I tried to follow, but the shadow gripped me and threatened to rip me to shreds.
No! I will not be destroyed by you, Zed!
Suddenly, I felt something gripping at my feet, pulling me out. The rest of my body had grown numb by then.
I felt ashamed. I actually felt relief from doing absolutely nothing there.
As I was pulled out, and the world came into view, the sight of my fellow ninjas surrounding me, I passed out.
What a useless person.
"Don't say a word."
My eyes had barely opened after being dragged through by Zed.
Ropes tied tight around my limbs, I couldn't even move. My weapons were probably confiscated.
I didn't even know how long I had been out, but it was dark all around, with little candles dotting the walls.
Zed turned away as he took off his mask, his pale, sickly features, and his brown hair, tainted with white, coming into view.
"Zed I-"
"Silence!" He screamed, with the same rage he had when he ordered the old ninjas to be killed.
How? How did he find out?
I could see him wiping off his sweat off his forehead with his left arm.
Ah right, he was left- handed. He could never get rid of his old self.
"Zed."
"What is it?" He rasped, his voice shaky.
It's getting worse...
"May I have a glass of water? The trip through the shadows was too... Intense."
He sighed.
Snapping his fingers, a shadow brought a wooden cup to me, a pool of clear, swirling water in it.
The shadow nodded at me, as if to ask me to open my mouth.
How cute. I never knew he could do that...
I opened my mouth, and the shadow poured the revitalizing liquid in between my parched lips.
"Thanks, Zed."
Zed twitched, as the shadow disappeared.
Did he hear me?
"Thanks, Zed!" I repeated, louder this time.
"I heard you the first time, ninja."
He's still refusing to call me by name...
"I see you have mastered your art well, Zed."
He seemed to be examining himself in a mirror, on the wall away from me.
Not turning around, he replied, "If I gave you a chance, would you take it?"
I... Know it is not the right path. I know he can feel the adversity of his situation as well. Yet...
"Endless power, unlike any you have dreamed of."
He turned around.
"Come on, Akali. We can be together again."
"Zed..."
The words escaped my mouth, as tears rolled down my cheeks.
"Why Akali? Why choose balance, when the shadows offer so much more?"
"You know why Zed! The shadows not only made you a monster, killing our master, killing our friends, it's killing you on the inside!"
He stared at me in silence, anger brewing in his features.
"That's your last chance, Akali. Consider it wisely."
With that, he vanished, like the shadow before him.
Maybe I had been talking to a shadow all along.
After all, he is a shadow of his former self...
As I lay there, I recall the past. The times when Zed, Shen, Kennen and I were still friends.
Great, great friends.
PS: Still not much humor here! I'm seriously sorry, but I've already started work on the next chapter and I hope it can make up for this disgusting 2 set-up chapters! My releases are scheduled for Saturday PST, though I might be slightly earlier or later, just as a note.
Shout out to NinnaCat for following and favorite! Thanks for your support!