Kai led the way, shoving the door open. It was quite heavy, and even he found himself grunting with the effort. Nya snickered, and lifted up on the door handle, causing the door to lift up on its hinges ever so slightly. The door swung open with ease, and Kai huffed. His anger soon disappeared as he saw Jay lying on the ground.
"Jay! What happened to you?" Kai knelt by him. The others, with similar reactions, did the same.
"A lot of things." A faint smile crossed his face before it fell once again.
"You're going to be ok." Zane analyzed. "As long as we can get you to a hospital soon."
"Thanks." Jay shut his eyes again.
"Stay with us now, bud. We need you." Cole tapped Jay's forehead.
"Ok, ok. Being fatally wounded really takes some energy, you know." Jay allowed his eyes to flutter open again, and he fixated them on his friends, one by one.
"I bet it does." Kai chuckled. "Now, let's get you out of here. Could you go outside and contact Pixal to get us Sensei, Zane?"
"On it." Zane nodded, and hastily made his way outside.
"Now, what do we do about the angry ghost girl that's currently tied up outside?" Lloyd turned his head towards the door where Zane had just exited.
"Well, we can't leave her here to torture more citizens." Cole said, grimacing at the numerous weapons hanging around the room.
"Kryptarium Prison, anyone?" Kai shrugged.
"Sounds good to me." Nya nodded.
"I'll wait here with Jay until Sensei gets here." Cole rested on the stone floor, leaning against the wall.
"That works." Lloyd confirmed, and the three walked out, leaving Cole alone with the tired Lighting Ninja.
"So." Cole paused. "We know Zane's side of the story. what happened to you?"
"Well, I was locked in a closet for a while. But then she caught Zane hanging out with me for too long. So she investigated and he had broken free of the spell, so tied Zane up... somewhere, and threw me here." Jay took as deep of breath as he could, preparing himself for the next part. "If you look at exhibit A," Jay shifted his leg to draw attention to it. "You'll see the first thing she did to me."
Cole inhaled sharply as his eyes feel upon the engraving dug into Jay's leg.
"Jay, that's... terrible." Cole ran his fingers around the cut.
"Yeah. I've noticed. A while after that, she showed up again, and I may of said the wrong things and ended up like this." Jay sighed.
"That's our Jay." Cole shook his head. And just like that, Zane reappeared in the doorway.
"Sensei's on his way. I'll help escort Jay outside." Zane stepped inside, bending down to pick up Jay.
"No, I got it. You run on ahead. It'll be easier with my strength." Cole gently scooped up Jay, and Zane nodded.
"As you wish." He glanced over Jay once more, and held the door open for Cole as he cradled Jay, who was starting to drift off. Cole jostled him a bit, worrying that if Jay fell asleep, he might not wake up.
His black uniform was stained with spots of red as he made his way outside, following Zane. The nindroid seemed solemn as he walked out, even more than his usual blank stare. He was obviously upset, but hiding it for Jay's sake.
"You ok, bud?" Cole quickened his pace to catch up.
"Yes, I'm fine. Don't worry about me." Zane waved him off.
"You're not fine. Come on, Frosty." Cole kept up with Zane's brisk pace, careful not to bounce Jay.
"I told you, I'm fine." Zane turned his head away, choosing to watch the old bricks instead.
Cole sighed, but didn't push further. Maybe he'd be more open to conversation once Jay was ok. The two eventually reached the entrance, where the Bounty was waiting. Sensei stood by himself, leaning over the railing. Cole figured the others had already left for the prison, with the cursing ghost in tow. Cole gingerly climbed the chain, and Zane helped him lift Jay onto the deck.
"Oh, Jay." Sensei sighed as Jay smiled weakly up at his teacher.
Cole carried Jay into the bedroom and wrapped a makeshift bandage around his chest with Zane's help.
Sensei prepared some pain-relief tea while Zane steered the Bounty towards the nearest hospital. Jay eagerly downed the tea, and gladly accepted the warm blankets thrust upon him. With Cole keeping watch over Jay's medical condition, the exhausted Lightning Ninja finally got some well-overdue sleep.