There was a small rustling sound coming from some of the plants surrounding the two ninja.
"What was that?" Brooke asked.
"A bird perhaps?" Zane suggested.
"A bird on the floor. Seems 'logical'."
"It could have landed. Or it could be some four-legged beast."
"Maybe."
The noise continued. The two ninjas stood up, drawing weapons.
"If it comes out, then we attack." he muttered.
"Alright." she held the katana in her hands tightly.
The noise finally stopped. As soon as the two ninjas were going to believe that whatever had made the noise had left, there were more than they expected. It was the inhabitants-the tribe-of the island!
"Well," Zane muttered half-carefreely, "we found ourselves in a mess."
"No joke." Brooke replied, trying vainly to free her hands from behind her back, "I can't feel my wrists or hands anymore from how tight these vines are."
He eyed her, worried. "If I could, I would use any weapons I may have to free you." After hearing what he had said to her, he felt himself blushing.
She smiled. "That's sweet of you. I would do the same thing for you."
The tribesman leading them turned back to glare at them. He forced them to move faster by prodding them with a bamboo stick.
"Do you think they can understand us?" she asked, this time under her breath.
Zane looked around at the several tribesman marching behind and alongside them. "I do not think so."
They walked until they approached what had appeared to be a large cave carved out of the side of the only mountain on the island. It had crudely made lamps hanging on the walls and on the outside at the entrance. Above on the ceilings were cage doors and occasional trapdoors. The hallway at the entrance was long and wide, but also had many twists and turns. The overall feeling of the place didn't seem very eerie.
The tribesman led them down the large hall, then down a few more hallways that didn't seem to match the one they saw at the entrance. No, these hallways had many computers and monitors that showed the many areas from around the island, including the ninjas' camp spot. As they were led deeper into the mountain, they had forced themselves to memorize the path they were led down, just in case they would later somehow manage to free themselves and would be able to run back to the entrance.
"This is a maze carved out of the mountain, so to speak." Zane muttered.
"Agreed. But it doesn't seem like it has any end. We're still walking." Brooke looked around, taking in the rooms they passed.
The tribesman stopped walking and then opened a set of large gates. With a prod of the bamboo stick once more, the two ninjas were forced down the hallway.
"I want to just...knock these guys out and look around. It's so tempting, but I know that I can't do it." Brooke whispered, cursing mentally. She had told it more to herself than to her partner.
Zane found himself smirking. "Not alone, you won't."
Their eyes met. A small connection set them into a fight with the two tribesman that led them down the hall.
"Pity that was unsuccessful." Zane joked, half smiling.
"It was." Brooke stared at the ceiling.
"All is not lost, Brooke. Just look and you'll already notice that we're close to a large exit. Look."
They both turned their head. To their right was a large entrance that was carved out of the mountain. Broad and fresh sunlight swept into the large cavern they were in and made the room feel brighter and cleaner. However, they also knew they were in danger. Below them was the sound of quick running water.
"One fall, and we could both be killed. If someone were to let this small cage go down, we'd both be dead." he muttered.
"Right you are." a horribly high deep voice said. They saw that it was the scientist that had so vainly wanted to kill them.
"Are you serious?" Brooke asked.
"Yes. Once I let this," he showed them a crudely made stopwatch, "reach zero, I can watch you two fall to your deaths."
"But, that wouldn't work." Zane pointed out.
"Well? Why not?!" the scientist asked.
They didn't answer. It was clear and right in front of them, sitting next to them even. But they were surprised that this scientist didn't even see it.
"I will leave and be right back when the time reaches zero!" the scientist scurried away.
Brooke avoided Zane's gaze.
"Zane," she muttered, "you know that I can't really save us both. My powers aren't strong enough and I'm afraid that if I let them out, I'd kill us both in the end."
"I know that isn't true, Brooke. I know you're a strong person. Don't be scared to let your powers come out. I saw them that day we first met." he started smiling. "You can do this. I believe you can. You defeated Kai. You, unintentionally, hit Jay, which has saved us from hearing him talk."
She laughed slightly.
"And you even managed to defeat Cole and Lloyd. How do you consider yourself not strong now?"
"I'm not as strong as you." she admitted.
He froze for a few seconds. Then he shook his head and added, "I'm only staying strong just to make sure you're okay."
There was silence. They turned and faced each other. Then they closed their eyes and met each others lips.
