Hello!

...I still exist. XD

I have a long list of excuses, but that doesn't change the fact that I feel HORRIBLE pulling a disappearing act. Not only have I been sick for an entire flipping week, but I accidentally deleted half this chapter THREE TIMES. I have no idea how I made the same mistake that many times, but I'm so mad. I really liked the 2nd one, too...

Anyhoo, I'll stop my babbling. Enjoy.

~Chapter 3: Search Party~

December 19th

(Lloyd's POV)

As my Uncle blabs on about some sort of new training program, my mind forces me from listening. For some reason, I keep hearing Pythor's voice in my head, taunting me, laughing at me. He keeps breaking my concentration, his voice echoing in my mind. ("You should've died when fighting the Overlord.") I want him to stop haunting me, leave me alone. ("This is the kind of show I like to see!") No...please...leave me alone... ("Well, hello, again, Lloyd. It's been awhile.") Just stop...I've had enough of you... ("Oh, tut-tut, you won't even let me introduce yourself to your girlfriend?")

"LEAVE ME ALONE!"

I suddenly feel the eyes of my teammates on me, staring straight at me with concern. "Hey, you okay?" Jay asks, but I ignore him.

"Lloyd?" Nya says softly.

"Nephew, please, talk to me," Uncle says, walking over to me. I see Mom and Dad follow him, worry flooding their faces.

"It's nothing..." I reply. "I just zoned out. Keep going, Uncle."

"Are you sure, Son?" Dad asks.

"Why don't we go talk?" Mom suggests, placing a hand on my shoulder. Somehow, she can see right through me. I nod silently, and she leads me and Dad to the Bounty. Ever since we started training here, the only time we're aloud on the Bounty is for meals. Sensei wants us to get more in tune with nature, and get the girls used to the harsh conditions we may have to deal with in the future. Yes, we encountered a similar problem back during the whole Christy/Nya fiasco, but that was back in the tail end of summer. It was still warm then.

Mom and Dad take me to their room, and shut the door behind them. Their faces are still etched with lines of concern as they study my expression.

"What's wrong, Lloyd?" Mom asks gently. I take a deep breath.

"It's...it's Pythor..." I whisper.

"Pythor?" Dad echos, confused. "What about him?"

"He's...inside my head..."

I watch their expressions carefully. Mom horrified, and Dad looks taken aback. "Lloyd..."

"He won't leave me alone!" I cry. "He already bothered me as a child! I had nightmares of him following me and attacking me because of that one time he tied me up! It may seem silly, but I don't know all he's capable of! He could be here, right now, watching me! Maybe I'm not even hearing him in my head, and he's whispering these things in my ear!"

"...Lloyd, Pythor's dead," Dad says softly. I freeze, remembering that Dad did not know that Pythor was part of the cave incident.

"You're right," I say, trying not to sound guilty. "I know he is. I just...am a little bothered sometimes, that's all." I watch as my parents' worry turns to suspicion. I've never been good at hiding things, but I really blew it this time.

"Son..." Dad speaks at last, looking straight at me. My heart is pounding. He's going to find out...but why am I even hiding this from him? Is it because I want to look strong? Could it be that I-

My thoughts are suddenly cut off by a loud knocking on the door, followed by Cole's voice. "Lloyd! Abigail's missing! We need your help!"

"Abigail?!" I leap off my parents' bed and run to the door in a flash, leaving Mom and Dad behind. I run out the door, and Cole keeps pace with me. "Fill me in."

"We don't know what happened," he replies. "She's just...gone. There's no evidence of where she went, either. The others are trying to find her as we speak."

I set a determined look on my face. "Count me in."

When we arrive in the clearing, the rest of the team is scouring the area for any possible clues about Abigail's disappearance. Christy is calling Abigail's name over and over into the forest, hoping for an answer. Zane is scanning the ground, with Lindsey looking at Abigail's sleeping bag nearby.

"No answer," Christy sighs worriedly, turning around. "She must be really far out."

"Don't worry, Christy," Nya says, wiping some snow off of her jacket. "Abigail tends to think before she acts. My own brother is like that, and from what I know, Abigail will come back."

"Are you saying that I'm reckless and impulsive?" Kai shouts.

"Yes, I'm saying exactly that." Kai opens his mouth, probably about to say a witty retort, only for Zane to butt in.

"Kai, it would be illogical to protest. Nya is absolutely correct."

Kai throws his hands up into the air, "What is this, 'Let's Bash Kai's Self Esteem Day'?!"

"Sounds like fun," Anna smirks.

"So, why would Abigail run off?" asks Christy, cutting into the conversation.

"Knowing her, she probably followed a squirrel or something," Anna groans.

"Maybe it was a flying squirrel!" Jay chuckles.

"Would you stop it?!" I snap suddenly. "You're all goofing off, and Abigail's missing! She's MISSING!"

"We know that, Lloyd," Jay says. "It's a good thing to stay positive when the going gets rough."

At that, I lose it. "Says the person who got DEPRESSED when Nya disappeared!"

Somebody in the group gasps. All eyes fall on Jay and I, watching us carefully. The only sound I could hear was the wind blowing in my ears. I was slightly out of breath from my sudden run, and yelling didn't help. I watch as my breath creates a white mist in front of me, reacting to the cold.

Jay trembles a bit, looking fearful. His right hand slowly touches his left shoulder, as if remembering the pain in his scar from many months ago. Everyone's looking at him now, waiting for his reaction. "You're right..." Jay says softly, shocking everyone. "I was a fool back then...I let my emotions get the best of me... But still, Lloyd... She was gone for a way longer time than Abigail's been gone, and I've known Nya for way longer... It hurt a lot, you know?"

I glance down at my feet. "Yeah...I understand."

Cole clears his throat, startling everyone. "We should make a search party."

"Not a bad idea," Christy agrees, trying to help dissipate the tension in the air.

"Hmm..." Cole looks at the team as if trying to decide who to send. "Lloyd, Zane, I'm definitely sending you two." Zane nods, and I mutter under my breath,

"You better send me..."

"And I'm thinking Anna..." Cole continues. "Since you know her best. And Kai, too."

"Why me?" Kai asks, evidently confused.

"You think like she does," Cole responds, folding his arms across his chest.

"Not this again..." groans Kai.

"Shut up," Anna snaps, reaching for her daggers. "We need to head out." For a second, I swear I see concern flash across her face, but it was then gone as quick as it came. I sigh to myself. She's become so good at hiding her emotions that sometimes I wonder if she even remembers how to show them.

"Okay," I tell them. "I'm ready. Let's go find Abigail."

Ugh. I feel like that chapter sucked... I felt like Jay and Lloyd were OOC... Well, I'm my own worst critic... *sigh*

Oh, I finally saw the finale to Ninjago! *sighs in relief* It wasn't as bad as I expected. I mean, they executed Zane's death well, and I loved the whole Jay-fanboy thing XD Of course, there were many things I didn't like, but I didn't loathe this with a passion. But, knowing me, I'll end up hating this later on too. I mean, at first, I really liked Rebooted. Then the love triangle happened, and I began to realize how Lego truly was destroying it...

Anyways! The poll for favorite SSS couple is still on my profile! The current results are this: Kai and Anna are leading by a MILE with 4, while Lloyd and Abigail trail with 2, and Zane and Lindsey have 1.

Cole: What about me and Christy?

Me: ...

Everyone else: ...

Me: MOVING ON! Thanks for reading, please leave a review!

~ForeverDreamer12, signing out!