CHAPTER 11

RUN AWAY OR STAY

COLE'S POV:

John drove Sam and I to his grandfather's home and helped me inside. John explained what happened and began patching me up immediately. A lot of things have happened tonight. I made a lot of mistakes and caused the biggest trouble of them all. I ended up getting not only myself hurt, but someone else was hurt as well. I wish it didn't end up the way it did. I couldn't just sit here and do nothing. My mind only had two choices. The first one was to run away. I would be on the run for life. I'd be a criminal for the rest of my days. It wouldn't be easy, but it was still a plan. My second option was to turn myself in. That would be easier than leaving. Sure something will happen and I'll end up getting punished, but it's better than being on the run for the rest of my life. I wasn't really sure what I would do.

John's grandfather was finally finished. "That was a pretty bad wound you got there. It should heal up in a few weeks. I checked to make sure and it seems that you don't have any broken bones. You've got a pretty good amount of cuts and bruises, but their not too severe. Other than that, I think you'll be fine. All you need is a little rest. I'll let you go in about an hour. Keep him here, boys."

"Can do, pops," John said while his grandfather left the room.

"Okay, Cole, you've got a lot of explaining to do," Sam said.

"I know I do," I said, "I'll tell you everything. No lies. I promise."

"Better keep that promise. It states that no man will ever break his pledge. The Great Sensei made that statement."

"Would you just stop talking? No one can ever say anything when you keep rambling on and on about stuff no one cares about listening to. You may be smart, but you don't have to rub it in."

"I can see you are upset, Cole, and I will say that I am a bit offended by what you said. I may not be showing it, but deep in my heart, my soft spot is letting all my sadness leak out."

I sighed. "I'm sorry, Sam. It's been a long day and a bad night. I'm just not in the mood right now to deal with anything. Listen, I'll tell you guys everything. It may take a few minutes."

"Go ahead. I won't interrupt."

"I sure hope not," John said, sitting down in one of the chairs available.

I started off my story with Sensei Wu finding me. As I went on, I saw that Sam didn't say one word and John didn't fall asleep. They were staring at me, wide eyed and used their hands to motion me to continue every time I paused. I actually got their attentions for the first time in their entire lives. I finished the story off with Jay defeating Tigre and saving Ninjago before it would be attacked. By the time I finished, forty-five minutes passed and all I could think about were the two choices from before. Run away or stay.

Sam walked up next to me. "You may be a hero, but now people think of you as a criminal. I've seen it happen with a lot of well known individuals and celebrities. Their lives are wonderful and magnificent at first, but after a few years they do something bad and ruin the life they lived for so long. It happens to the best of people. Sometimes fame can go to people's heads."

"It wasn't like that for me," I said, "I don't know what to do from this point."

"Excuse me, boys, but I think the news has something it wants to explain to you all," John's grandfather said from down the hall.

"What?" I asked.

"My grandfather gets his words mixed up sometimes," John said, "Let's go figure out what he needs."

We went into the living room and saw the TV turned on to the news. It was live and stated It was an event happening at the spark of the moment. I looked down at the headline, which said, "EIGHTEEN YEAR OLD BEATEN UP AND KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS." The anchorwoman was at the scene, talking about the situation. A video was shown of me and Jimmy fighting and how bad it was at the end when it showed me doing spinjitzu. The video ended and went straight back to the scene.

"Folks, the video that you just saw explains the entire fight and situation that has just happened here tonight," the anchorwoman said, "You may just think of this scene as a mystery, but we have evidence that was Abe to explain the culprit. The culprit`s name is Cole Brookstone. Eighteen years old and was described to wear all black clothing. Mr. Borg has just announced that he has three days to call and meet with him at city hall or he will be arrested. If you have any idea where Cole Brookstone could be or if you know who he is, please contact the local authorities or tell him to do so himself. Back to you, Jeff."

I grabbed the remote and turned off the TV. To be honest, I don't know how that got on film. I don't even know how it was let out. My life is over. I am a criminal. I'm a guy that can hurt anyone in my way. Tears ran down my face. I didn't make a noise, but I couldn't stand holding them back. Sam placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Don't worry, Cole," Sam said, "As long as I've known you, I'm sure you'll do the right thing."

"I really don't know what to do," I said.

"Don't you have options?" John asked.

"I have two," I said, "The first is to run away and be a criminal for life or the second option is to do what's right and turn myself in."

"I think you should go with the second option," Sam said.

"I gotta agree with him," John said, "Living on the run for the rest of your life can be hard and makes you feel lonely and abandoned. You never get to live life your way. Turning yourself in would involve punishment, but it's better that running away from your problems."

"I couldn't have said it better myself," Sam said.

"Well," I said, "If that's what you guys think I should do, then I'll do it. I may still have unfinished business, but I'll get them done. I know I will. Either of you mind driving me home?"

"We'll both take you home, man," John said, "After all, this may be the last time you ever see us again."

"You're right. Let's get out of here. Take me home."

We piled into the car, taking the long way so we wouldn't be disturbed. We didn't really talk much, but it was a good car ride to enjoy. I couldn't really think about anything else but the future. How bad would my punishment be? What is Borg planning to do with me? Will I ever see my friends and family again? I don't know if I made the right choice or not. I made mistakes. A lot of mistakes. Big mistakes.


SENSEI`S POV:

The ninja and I were downstairs, watching the news and waiting to see if Cole would ever come through the doors. I was worried about what would happen in the near future. I know what Borg is planning to do, but should I say something to my students about it? I really didn't know what to do. It was best to wait in the morning. After all, the girls and the others were asleep. It was best to wait until then.

Kai turned off the TV. "This is hopeless. Just sitting here and waiting for Cole to come to us is not working."

"Patience, Kai," I said, "That's the only answer I have. I may not have any idea where Cole is, but one thing I do know is he wouldn't leave the city without seeing us again."

"Sensei, I think maybe it's a good idea if Cole just runs away," Jay said, "It'll be way easier than deserving the punishment that he gets. Besides, you know what Borg does to the famous people that do something like Cole just did."

"I think it is best if Cole stays here," Zane said, "He may get punished, but it is easier than being on the run."

"Nothing is easy anymore. Don't you remember what happened to Claude Andrews? He was one of the greatest actors in the world until he ended up in a fight with a whole bunch of producers. What about Angela Manners? She was the best skier in all of Ninjago until she started hanging out with a crowd of robbers and stoled millions of dollars from a bank. What about the scientist Edward Jenkins? He discovered three new diseases and ended up robbing a science museum to test for new diseases. Don't you remember what happened to all three of those people?"

"They were banished from the city," I said, "There's something I need to tell you before Cole returns. You may not believe this, but I was banished once myself."

"What did you say, Sensei?" Kai asked.

"I do not think I heard you correctly," Zane said.

"Did you say you were banished?" Jay asked.

"I was," I said, "Allow me to explain. I was at home one day when I got a call from Lora`s father. We were dating at the time. He told me that Lora was injured by a man named Titan Frederickson. I remembered him from my school years. All the times he came and almost tortured me. Now he decides to hurt the people I love. I decided to get vengeance. I did make plenty of mistakes, and I did get banished for it."

"How did you get free?" Kai asked.

"That's a story for another time."

I heard the door open and saw Cole come inside, walking slowly and trying to keep his balance. He almost fell, but Zane grabbed him. I walked up to Cole, but I didn't do anything. I just stood there, not saying a word. I think he knows what to do.

"I know what your gonna say, Sensei," Cole said, "I made a lot of mistakes and I deserve to suffer the consequences. I'll go see Borg tomorrow. I'll call him when I get upstairs. I just need to rest for now. See you all in the morning."

I couldn't say anything. There was nothing to say. Cole knows what will happen. At least I hope he does.


COLE HAS ONLY TWO CHOICES. RUN AWAY OR STAY. NOW HE PLANS TO STAY. HE DOESN'T CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO HIM. ITS BETTER THAN BEING ON THE RUN FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

THE NINJA ARE SAYING THAT COLE MIGHT GET BANISHED. THAT'S WHY SENSEI SAID COLE WAS THE SAME WAY HE WAS. HE MADE A MISTAKE, BUT HOW DID HE GET OUT OF BANISHMENT? BY THE WAY, JAY IS HALFWAY BACK TO HIS NORMAL SELF.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

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