A/N: I'm going on a trip on Saturday so this chapter is going to be posted early. There might not be an update next week because of this trip too so don't be surprised when Saturday and Sunday come and there's no new update. I hope you guys understand.
After making sure the rumbling had stopped for good, I ran back into the mansion, yearning to go look for Hunter but not wanting to get caught alone. I don't want to see what Nadakhan can do. I don't want to see what my friends saw before they disappeared. I never want to know. Just as I approached the doors though, Zane's falcon flew out, startling me for a moment. I watched it fly over the trees until it was out of sight, leaving me curious. Are we scouting an area? Or are we sending a message to an ally?
A reminder of what you were going to do! my mother's voice brought my focus back and pushed me to go inside, to which I walked in on the exact scene I left, except Jay was sitting on Cole's lap. You know...I always kinda knew Jay had a thing for Cole...but Jay has a thing for literally everyone. I'm not kidding.
"Karma? Where's Hunter?" Lloyd asked, leaning his head to one side to look at me instead of Zane's head. I sighed, trying to keep my worry under control.
"I have no idea. We were outside for a moment but then he hallucinated or something and then ran off! He kept yelling for Nathan but I didn't see him! Even worse, that stupid earthquake thing happened while I was trying to stop him and I lost sight of him!" I explained, secretly worrying that Nadakhan may have already reached him by now. Please don't let me be too late. My friends immediately got up, running to the door with me.
"We need to act fast! There's no telling when that damn Djinn will show up!" Cass shouted, bolting out the door with me. The others followed as we ran through the forest, whatever clues we could find leading us to where he could be. Every shoeprint in the mud, every shoe imprint in the leaves that littered the ground, broken twigs, all of it. We came to a stop though when we found a tree with a broken branch, various clues of someone being dragged through the leaves, and something that looked like a piece of cloth hiding beneath the old, crunchy leaves. It was like walking in on a crime scene.
"Do you think-?" Cole began, looking at the tree. He didn't even need to finish. I could already tell we were too late. Hunter must have been abducted already. I sighed, not needing the various clues to tell me that I failed at saving a friend yet again. Someone give me a round of applause.
They're going to blame you for this, I know it. You didn't run after him after falling, and now they're going to blame you. You're the easiest suspect, the voice claimed, making me worry. I didn't do anything wrong though! Is it wrong to fear for my own life? Is it wrong to keep myself safe? I mean, who would have told them what happened if both Hunter and I were gone? I technically did the right thing, but I could help but fear how my friends felt.
I watched Zane pick up the slightly small, orange piece of cloth, scanning it and forming a concerned expression. Though, it took me a minute to see why.
"There must have been a struggle," the nindroid claimed, moving one of his hands to reveal drops of blood on the cloth. My worry did not cease. "This must be from his gi. Either he fought Nadakhan, or he fought whatever came out of his wish."
"Nadakhan must have got in a fight with him because Hunter kept mispronouncing his name," Jay observed, to which some of us snickered. That could actually be the case. I heard Lloyd sigh then.
"Another person gone..." he mumbled, looking at the ground. I frowned. It was starting to seem like everyone was disappearing fast. It scared me. What if I'm next!? What if I'm captured next!?
"We'll put a stop to this soon, Lloyd. We just gotta get that venom and then we can turn Nadakhan into Djinn Sushi!" Cass told the Green Ninja with enthusiasm and determination in her voice. The boy looked up, his silk-like blond hair shining in the soft light that filtered through the trees above. A smile appeared on his lips, belief in his eyes. Something about him is so calming to me...or maybe it's because I get distracted easily. Maybe it's because just the sight of the one you admire puts you at ease. I'm not sure. My actions are always odd.
"Cass is right, so we should probably start heading to the island," Jay spoke up, rising from his crouch, "Since it's pretty obvious Hunter is no longer with us, we should head over to the docks and go get my d- I mean my private boat!"
I glanced at Jay with a bewildered look at what he almost said. Was he about to say 'dad'? Last I recall, he told me his father gets seasick easily, so why would he own a boat? Is Jay hiding something from us?
Of course he is. No one who is being truthful would stutter like that. He's lying, Seiko. It's evidence that your teammates are untrustworthy, the voice broke in, making me lose the belief that it was my mother for a second. She'd never say anything like that, would she? I mean, she liked Lloyd and Lilly. Why would she think the team is suddenly untrustworthy? I shook my head, eliminating those thoughts. Let's just save those for later and focus on our current situation.
"Good idea. Let's get going," Nya agreed, getting up and leading us though the forest and out to the docks. Something didn't feel right though. I had remembered seeing a weather report that called for storms today, but did they already pass? I don't recall seeing any rain or dark purple clouds. Perhaps they moved to southern Ninjago...or I hope they did at least.
After talking to a drunken sailor who warned us of possible storms, we boarded the slightly large boat, the damp and humid air warning my nose of what may come. I wasn't sure if it was just the ocean water or the fact that there really may be a huge storm brewing. I don't know. I don't know a lot about sailing or how to sense storms. It seems more like a thing I'd think that drunken old sailor had. Too bad he probably won't be sober until the day we return.
Just for the trip, I had grabbed a newspaper to see what kind of story the police had conjured up about us, just so I could laugh at it. Though, as our ship began to sail and flipped the paper over onto it's top side, I was met with a surprise. An awful, yet slightly relieving surprise.
There, on the front, was a headline in bold that read:
Another Prison Break!: Kryptarium Steps Up Security Measures After Big Breakout!
Beneath it were two monochrome mugshots of faces that I knew all too well. One was of a boy with shaggy hair and a heart-shaped face, and the other of a young man with chin-length hair and a chiseled nose. I stared at the mugshots with disbelief as I read the article, their names escalating my disbelief, but it was unmistakable. Nathan and Alex had teamed up, excluding Sammie somehow. What had happened to her!? Nothing in the article even mentioned her!
See? Even one of the new members is joining those you oppose! Do you see how unfaithful your team is becoming!? the voice spoke louder, making me wince when hearing it. I tore the article off the newspaper and stuffed it inside my gi, tossing the rest of the newspaper onto the deck as I leaned on the railing of the ship. I ignored my mother's voice and tried to forget what I just saw, the lasting guilt of leaving Hunter behind haunting me despite everything. Though, my own personal problems decided to haunt me too. Everything I fretted about concerning Lloyd and I, the worry I had concerning who Nadakhan would prey on next, what my father thinks of me, all of it. It all tormented me like a bully teasing the smaller kid. It wouldn't stop. Especially the things between Lloyd and I. Really, what would people think!? Though, what would be new!? I've always been seen as odd for how short I am at my age, how I used to have negative body fat, how I've never experienced being turned on even through world says I should already know how it feels, how my teeth aren't straight, how I cope with depression, all of it!
"You look stressed. Is everything okay?" a soft voice startled me, making me squeak and recoil from the railing. I turned to see that it was Lloyd, who wore a worried yet charming smile on his face. I sighed. Is he even aware of how much he sneaks up on people!?
"I'm fine...there's just a lot of things on my mind right now," I admitted, leaning on the railing again. Lloyd did the same.
"Well, maybe I could help lessen the load...if you want that is," he offered. I paused for a moment, then nodded. I think it's about time we talked about this...
"There...is this one thing and it concerns the both of us," I started, afraid of how this could end. A look of interest appeared on Lloyd's face as his eyes switched colors. He didn't look worried yet. I don't want to worry him.
"Does my age bother you at all? I mean, do I, or my age, make you uncomfortable at all?" I asked him, looking down at the deck before looking back up at him. His eyebrows were knotted in confusion.
"It never has. Why ask?" he questioned. I sighed.
"Just...I'm gonna be twenty next month and I really don't want you to view me as creepy or manipulative for getting in a relationship with you at your age," I told him. His expression didn't change.
"You're not like that at all! Karma, we're only four years apart. That's not as big as some of the age gaps Fritz Donnegan had between some of his mistresses! If you wanna see creepy, look at that!" the master of energy told me. I didn't question how he knew that, but he had a point.
"I just didn't want to disturb you or anything. I didn't want to be judged or viewed as some creep because we're together," I admitted, sighing. I felt Lloyd take my hand and squeeze it gently.
"Well, Cole has always told me that the maximum age gap should only be six years while my parents are probably a hundred years apart. There's nothing wrong, okay? We're alright. Some may have different ideas, but that's just what I think, and none of that will change my idea on who I love," he smiled reassuringly, squeezing my hand a second time. I felt a bit of relief rush through me and smile form on my face as I looked down at our hands.
"You know...you can actually hug me. We aren't around any unknown stalkers or cameras," I told him, looking up. The blond smirked, his red and green eyes showing hints of adoration.
"You think I don't know that?" he asked as he pulled me forward, his other hand placing itself on my back as he leaned me back. Unable to suppress a surprised giggle, I felt my cheeks warming up.
"Who taught you this one? Kai? Hunter?" I questioned, resting a hand on his arm. He smiled.
"Maybe I taught it to myself," he claimed before leaning forward and brushing his lips against mine gently. I leaned into the kiss, my cheeks becoming warmer as a solid 10 seconds passed before I heard a whistle behind us.
"Have you guys been holding that in ever since we became famous?" I heard Cole's voice as we both froze. We broke apart immediately, our faces becoming a bright red as we faced the ghostly ninja. The master of earth chuckled at the sight of our blushing faces. I had to admit, we may have been holding that all in for a few months.
"Do you guys need help with something?" Lloyd asked, to which Cole nodded.
"Yeah. Could you take the wheel and let Zane take a break for a moment? One of the gears in his left arm locked up and now he can't move it," the ghostly ninja asked, moving some of his raven hair out of his face.
"Of course," the master of energy replied with a smile, squeezing my hand one last time before walking off with Cole. I watched him walk off until he was out of sight, then turned back to the sparkling waves below. They seemed to be getting rougher, but I didn't worry. It's just wind, right?
Could you stop crushing me with your thoughts!? I'm trying to keep you safe! the voice shouted, startling me. I sighed, gripping the railing. Could you just leave me alone!?
I'm keeping you alive and I'm going nowhere! You're just trying to deny the fact that your team is manipulative because some ugly boy has captivated your heart! the voice shouted again. I gripped the railing tighter, trying to not be affected by the remark. What kind of mother is this!? If she wasn't my mother I would have kicked her butt by now! Besides, last I recall, she actually enjoyed Lloyd's company! What's with this sudden mood swing!?
Suddenly, I could feel the ocean becoming rougher and the sky darkening. Seawater began to spray onto the boat as a downpour began to pound the decks of the ship. I turned to see Jay running up to the antenna of the boat as Cole hurried inside, emitting green steam as he ran. I guess my luck is still horrible.
That storm didn't pass after all.
Same time, Ninjago City
The gusty winds from an approaching storm made Nathan's hair dance in the wind as he looked for signs of the Bounty. He knew it had to be somewhere in the City, more than likely by the police station for investigation. Though, he did not see the familiar oriental sails of his home anywhere by the police station. Did they destroy it? No, they'd never destroy evidence.
Though, a feeling from earlier invaded his thoughts. A feeling that something was wrong. A feeling that something had happened, but what? The master of water's brow twisted in confusion as he tried to think of what could have happened. Though, he believed it to just be a feeling that was spawned from worry.
"I don't think it's here," Alex notified him as he reappeared, the hood of his jacket covering his bright hair. Nathan sighed, turning to face him.
"I'm beginning to think the same thing. Maybe they took it back?" he replied. Alex shook his head.
"I doubt it. They would have been caught again already. You'd think it'd be in the junkyard maybe, but there's a huge crater where the junkyard used to be! It's like a nuclear bomb went off there!" he exclaimed, pointing to an empty space beyond the buildings. Nathan rubbed his chin.
"Are you sure you checked everywhere?" the master of water questioned. The redhead shrugged.
"It'd take me forever to search every square inch of this city. Of course I didn't-!" he began before being abruptly cut off by Nathan.
"Then it's still out there! You probably missed it! Gosh, maybe if you weren't so lazy with this we would have found them by now!"
Alex huffed. "May I remind you I have an energy limit with my powers!? I'm not some magical leprechaun who has an unlimited power source!"
Nathan sighed, turning away and glaring at the tall, shiny buildings that reflected the evening's twilight. Why can't he just cooperate more!? I'm trying my best, why can't he!? He then heard the master of psion sigh.
"Listen, I know you don't like having me around. I'm annoying and a nuisance, believe me I know. I'm sorry this Djinn chose to take your dear crush instead of me, but there's a reason why everything happens, Nath. You just gotta take what life throws at you and make something out of it," Alex told him, "I promise I'll leave once you all are reunited, but for now we just need to deal with each other."
A period of silence stood between them from a few minutes before Nathan heard Alex's footsteps grow distant.
"I'll check one more place, but that's all. We need to move on," the master of psion notified him before disappearing. The master of water then stood alone, the humid wind making it feel as though he were breathing under water. He couldn't help but feel Alex had a point with his words from earlier, but he still wished he were stuck with someone else. Maybe then they would actually accomplish something.
If only Hunter were here.
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