Chapter 10

Double Traps

A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews! :) Disclaimer: I do not own Ninjago or Shell gas station. :D

FireIce: I guess he has. Maybe he's for the leading and not the brain stuff.

"Are there any unique markings or details about the place you are being held?" I ask, hoping he's okay and that I can find him as I press the recording button again.

"There's a-wait a minute. Don't hang up or say anything," Lloyd says and I hear a shuffle.

"What do you have behind your back?" a voice demands.

"Nothing except my hands that you tied behind my back," Lloyd retorts in an irritated tone.

I hear a smack and heavy panting, probably from the green ninja, and the man's voice sounds like his teeth are gritted. "Don't play with me, kid. I am not dumb."

"I know, right?" my brother's sarcastic voice concerns me deeply. He's going to be in real trouble if he doesn't learn to keep his impudent mouth closed shut, but…poor kid. How many things has he gone through at such a young age? He's only about twelve at the moment, but has gone through things even adults should not have known.

"Silence!" I hear another slap and another sound, perhaps a blow.

Someone spits and Lloyd responds, "You're going to pay for this when my brothers find you!" I get it now. He's distracting the kidnapper's attention from the cell phone, so this is a precarious situation. I have to remain silent.

"Are you just going to let him mouth off like that?" a second voice that is a woman's shouts and footsteps are approaching.

I hear a blunt sound and a metal clinking sound, again. "Ah!" Lloyd cries out. More shuffling. I am going to go crazy if I can't find him and find out what's going on. Being a human has made me less patient apparently.

"Why…are you…doing this to…me?" Lloyd coughs violently and chokes on something, which may be blood.

I hope he's okay. The sooner I get this over with, the better. A sudden sickness assaults my stomach, and that unpleasant, yet familiar feeling of something wanting to shove its way up my throat returns. I glance at the road ahead of me, seeing a gas station next to me, and turn off to that direction.

"Move away from the wall," the woman's voice tells him.

"Do…you-think I…can?" Lloyd coughs again as I park the hover car, and quickly open the door; then take my seatbelt off while I press the speaker button.

I put the cell phone in my pocket and hear more shuffling before darting off the concrete, onto the grass. Next to the station, I retch, releasing a pale, yellowish, as well as bitter, substance on the ground. It's repulsive. I just wish the sickness would leave me and I could find Lloyd, but all I do at the moment is release more that forced its way up my throat. I shut my eyes, feeling a swoon and a third wave of nausea attacks me, before I hear that woman's voice saying something, but I do not catch the words.

"Is anyone here?" the voice asks.

I wipe my mouth and open my eyes, pulling the phone out; then respond, "This is Zane Julien."

"Zane Julien, are you close to the village?" she questions me.

"Yes."

"Where are you?"

"At the," I glance at the sign of the building next to me and tell her, "Shell gas station."

"My man is coming to pick you up." The phone hangs up and I stop the recording.

I put it in my pocket and close my eyes before I go for another round of nausea and throwing up. How long will this last? I open my eyes again; to see a bit of blood mixed in with the substance I just expelled and touch my burning and aching forehead. I just hope I will be able to do this, until he's safe. I stumble back to the car again, and grab two plastic containers from the cup holder, filled with white powder, setting them on the seat next to me. I lean my head back, waiting for the accomplice to pick me up, always on the verge of leaping out of the vehicle and finally close the driver's door.

Someone taps on the window on my side, and I flinch, before turning and seeing a little brunette girl of about ten. I roll the window down and she asks kind-heartedly, "Are you lost?"

"No," I respond, giving her a fake smile. She's a cute little kid, but right now all I need to worry about is rescuing Lloyd at the moment. The person could show up at any time and this child could be in peril.

"Then why are you out here?"

"I'm waiting for someone."

"A girlfriend?" she asks.

"No, a friend. I already have someone," I tell her, showing her my gold ring.

"Sweet! Bye now!" she waves at me and takes off her little braids bouncing up and down as she runs.

That did seem a bit strange, but perhaps I'm worrying too much. Sighs. Where are you Lloyd? I spot a black hover car pulling up next to me a few minutes later and a man, wearing a black coat, and a black cap that is low enough I can't see his face walks up to the vehicle. I slip the white powder under the driver's seat and he comes in the passenger's side.

"Drive. I'll tell you where to go," he says curtly.

I drive with him in the tense atmosphere for about ten minutes, all the while wanting to ask him questions, but not daring to speak. My nausea is another concern at the moment, though I try to ignore it as much as possible. I keep driving, yet when the village comes into view, he tells me, "Turn to the right." My sixth sense goes off.