CHAPTER 9

JOURNEY THROUGH THE CITY

I left the Lunners home as they were in a state of sadness and in need of help. I just know that they needed help. They seemed like a happy family before all this happened. Now both the parents are working harder than ever to protect a son that seems to be as rude and furious as a tiger and a sweet little daughter who was scared to be anywhere near the windows. Maybe I should turn back. Turn back and see if I can't do anything to help them. I tried, but it didn't work. I just couldn't turn back. I had to move forward. I had to find my family. It was time to begin my journey. It'll all start with finding the ninja. I missed Cole and Zane. Sensei Wu, Garmadon and Misako. I missed Pixal. I missed Lloyd. I missed my dearest brother Kai. I missed my boyfriend Jay. Jay. Kai. Two very important people in my life. I had to find them. All of them. So my quest begins.

For the start of my journey, I went back to my home so I could get some supplies that might be able to help. The moment I went inside the house, I saw that the man that was under the blanket three days ago was no longer there. He must have left when the wanderers had woken from their slumber. I didn't see any others so I went into the control room. I didn't see much of anything in there. My samurai suit was still there, so I shrunk it and placed it in my bag. It was a new upgrade that I added into it a few months ago. I'm actually glad I did that. It helped a lot to fit it inside a small bag. I walked back downstairs and gathered up some food and water. I knew I needed something to travel in, so I decided to take the ultrasonic radar.

When I got to the garage, the radar was gone. Including the van and the backup car. All that was left was Jay`s pick-up truck. I'm sure he wouldn't mind me borrowing it. All I needed were the car keys and I'd be good to go. I'm sure he kept them up in his room. I went back inside the house and made my way into Jay`s room. I've never been inside another guy's room before, but this was my only way to find what I needed when it belonged to someone else. I searched the room high and low. I was able to find a few pictures of Jay and I together. I figured it would be a good idea to take some along. I searched every corner of the room, but the car keys were nowhere to be found. I was able to remember that Jay had said he kept his keys under his mattress. Looking under there, I saw nothing. The keys were nowhere to be found and he didn't have any spare ones. Looks like I was out of options. It wouldn't be a good idea to walk all the way through my journey considering that it would take a while and those wanderers only slept for three days. I needed a vehicle. Then I remembered something that happened a couple of years ago.

It was just a couple of months after my father passed away. Kai and I had to deliver some iron to a well known blacksmith in Oak Village. It was a four hour trip all the way there and back. It was just after we had delivered the iron and started getting hungry, so we decided to stop somewhere for lunch. We had went back to our car afterwards and Kai had suddenly lost the keys. The car was unlocked, thank goodness, but we didn't have any keys to start it with. I had made the mistake of leaving the spare car keys at home. Kai had figured something out, though. Our car was at least ten years old and it usually would start when we had the brake and the gas pedal on at the same time. He also had to wait a few seconds and pressed the emergency blinkers as well. He did all that, and it felt like the Great Sensei was gonna get us home that day. Kai was disappointed to have lost his favorite key chain, so I went and bought him another one, along with a new spare pair of car keys. I figured that if our father's old car could do it, then maybe Jay`s truck would do it as well.

I went back down to the garage and managed to open Jay`s car. He was always forgetting to lock it before he came into the house. I placed myself in the driver's seat and shut the door. I knew it was time to put this baby in gear. I placed my feet on the brake and gas pedal while I pressed the emergency blinkers. A second later, I heard the car charge up. This baby would be in full speed soon. I had to keep it in park as I forgot that the garage door needed to be opened. I used the remote from my pocket and make the garage door automatically open. Once I could see the outside world, I saw a figure standing in the driveway, scaring me out of my wits. I looked to see that it was only John. He walked up to the truck as I rolled down the window.

"Did I startle you?" John asked.

"Not too much," I said, "Is there something that you need?"

"I was wondering if you needed this." John handed me the rose that I found when I first woke up in the hospital. I took it from him and help it tightly in my hands. "I figured you would be looking for it."

"Thank you, John." I had remembered taking the rose out of my bag and showing it to Emma. She had asked me who it was from and I told her about Jay. She then asked if we would get married some day, but all I told her was that he would have to ask me first. I placed the rose in the passenger seat and looked at John. "I don't know what I would've done if I had lost it. It's very special to me."

"I was hoping we could stay in touch. If something were to ever happen, I would need you to help us." He took out a walkie talkie and handed it to me. "If ever you need me or if my family needs you, just use this to keep it touch."

"Thank you. I will." I started up the car. "You keep your family safe, John. I hope to see you all again soon once this whole thing is over."

"Believe me, I'm ready for it to end. Safe travels."

"Thanks."

So I placed the truck in drive and rolled out of the driveway. I looked through the side mirror on my side and saw John standing there with a straight face. I didn't look back. It was time to look ahead no matter what. I had to keep going. At this point, there was no turning back. I had to keep going. I just had to.

I started driving through a few blocks, being careful to avoid sleeping wanderers on the roads. I didn't accelerate my driving. I was only going twenty miles per hour, according to the speedometer. I looked at the gas tank to see that I had a full tank. I was hoping that Jay at least kept a couple of gas cans in the trunk. At least I hoped he did. I was able to make my way into the city, looking around at Ninjago Square, seeing wanderers inside cars and lying on the sidewalks and crosswalks. It was a horrible sight to see. So many innocent lives just littered all over the ground. I hated it. Every part of it. I had saw something in the middle of the road, so I got out and went to see what it was. I went to pick up what looked like a used blow dart. I'm sure it probably just needed to be cleaned and reloaded. It was actually loaded with some spare darts, but it just needed to be cleaned. I went back to the truck and placed the blow dart in the passenger seat. I continued forward as I made my way out of the city into the sea of sands. It looked as though some wanderers decided to take a nap around a heated place. I had made my way over to the city of Oraborous, wanting to know if anybody was there. So I took a pit stop.

I stopped the car and grabbed the blow dart as I got out. I wasn't sure if there was anything around, so I decided to go in and make sure. I didn't walk fast, but I walked at a steady pace. I was already in the midst of the city as I saw the slither battle pit and the Serpentine temple. I hadn't gotten very far, but I was able to find the marketplace in the city. It looked empty. Where were all the Serpentine? Did they place themselves back in their tombs after they saw what happened? I heard noises coming from behind me. It sounded like footsteps. I turned around quickly with my blow dart aiming at the individual. The individual turned out to be a young Serpentine, and not just any ordinary one. This one happened to be Skales Jr. His face looked scared and I had a confused expression.

I made my way over to him. "Skales Jr.? Is that you?"

"It's me, all right," Skales Jr. said.

"What are you doing out here all on your own? Where are your parents? More importantly, where are all the Serpentine?"

"You've gotta get out of here. It's not safe."

"Skales Jr., what are you talking about?"

"There's no time to explain. Come with me to the temple. We'll be safe in there."

"What do you mean? What's going on?"

"Behind you!"

I turned around to see an entire group of Serpentine walking slowly towards us. I started to back away along with Skales Jr. Before I knew it, we were already sprinting away, with nowhere to go and found not a place that was safe. I knew it was a mistake coming here. I thought I could get help from the snakes, but it looks like I was wrong. Keeping up the pace with the young Serpentine, I kept running until I saw something. Out of nowhere, a large bus that looked like a giant snake was sitting in the middle of the road, looking at us with its eyes. I grabbed Skales Jr. by the hand and took him inside. I was hoping we were safe in there.

I poked my head up and saw that the snakes were walking past the bus, not having a clue that we were in there. They were all traveling in one big group, walking like there was no tomorrow. Seeing that the coast was clear, it was time for some answers.

"Skales Jr., what is going on?" I asked, "What happened to the Serpentine?"

"I don't know," Skales Jr. said, "They didn't start acting like this until two days ago. I keep asking my daddy about it, but he says I'm too young to understand."

"You got that right," a voice said from out of nowhere. I was confused to where it was coming from. I was finally able to hear it from a radio surrounding the passenger seat. "Stay where you are. Don't leave the bus. I have some people coming to get you right now."

Having no choice, I decided to sit and wait. I wasn't very sure if those Serpentine were coming back, but if they didn't in the next five minutes, Skales Jr. and I were getting out of here. Right now, all we could do was sit and ask the Great Sensei to give us hope.

SEEMS THIS CHAPTER WAS KIND OF INTERESTING, BUT A LOT OF SUSPENSE. I KNOW IT DIDN'T HAVE MUCH DIALOGUE, BUT I PROMISE THAT THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE. OKAY, LET ME GO AHEAD AND GIVE YOU A SPOILER ALERT. I KNOW SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN WONDERING WHERE THE NINJA ARE. WELL, THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL TELL YOU ALL ABOUT THEM. I'M JUST GONNA GO AHEAD AND PUT IT OUT THERE.

SORRY I HAVEN'T POSTED IN A WHILE. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SCHOOL WORK AND STUFF. I'VE BEEN BUSY WITH A LOT OF THINGS. WELL, ENJOY.

I'M A BIT TIRED, IF YOU WONDERING, BUT ENJOY.

PLEASE REVIEW.