Topper1502: On my profile. If you're on desktop/tablet mode, it should be right next to or under the story title. On mobile it should be up at the top next to the story title.

Once you're on my profile, look at 'My Stories'. It's titled "Hidden Identity, Hidden Darkness, and Hidden Destiny". Although this story is muuuch better in my opinion.

Sorry that it's taken me so long to update... Again, the usual stuff has made me busy... However, I got 3 chapters and a prologue written out for my book! I'm sooo excited! I love my character so far: she's kinda badass ;)

So...are you all ready for a depressive chapter?

Everyone: NO!

Me: Too bad, because that's what you're going to get!

Everyone: Oh no...

Me: Well...this should help the cliffhanger...maybe...

Everyone: Really?

Me: Haha, enjoy~

Kai: I'm glad Ever doesn't own Ninjago.

Me: JERKFACE!

Kai: O-o

Chapter 23: Eyes Still Closed

(Elijah's POV)

It's been a day since the encounter in the cave.

When the cave finally stopped collapsing, the adults rushed in to go investigate. When they walked in with a broken Zane and an unconscious Lindsey, the team collapsed.

Day and night Julien has been working on repairing Zane, not stopping for rest or food. The entire team has been in complete grief.

Jay speaks only when necessary, which is weird, because the guy can normally never shut up.

Kai has spent the time watching the same movie over and over again in the game room, and if anyone tries to talk to him, he won't respond.

Cole has locked himself in the weight room, not wanting to see anyone's face.

Lloyd is in denial. He paces up and down the halls, muttering to himself.

Abigail cried all through the night, and now is eating through her sorrow.

Christy has been calling friends and telling them that her cousin's in the hospital (which is obviously a lie), and that she won't be coming to school anytime soon.

Anna's been even more moody than usual lately, snapping at anyone who tries to talk to her.

Nya is in the girl's bedroom, curled up in bed reading her favorite book over and over again.

And I... I've just been sitting here, on a wooden chair by Lindsey's bedside, studying her face. Her expression is calm and serene, yet it troubles me that her eyes are still closed. Her breathing is slow but steady, and her heart is still beating, but everyone on the Bounty fears that these signs of life will fade.

I run my fingers through my dusty, filthy hair. I'm still covered in cuts, bruises, and dust from the cave. Misako has offered to clean me up, yet I refused and told her to focus on Lindsey.

"Elijah?" I turn towards the doorway to find Lloyd. He looks at me with watery violet eyes, and speaks with a quaver in his voice. "My...my uncle wants to talk to you."

"Uncle?" I ask.

"Sensei," Lloyd mumbles, and then he walks off without telling me where Sensei even is. I sigh, and slowly stand up.

"I'll be back, Lindsey," I whisper, moving a strand of hair from the girl's tranquil face.

I eventually find Sensei in the bridge with the other adult Garmadons. They are deep in discussion when I enter, and what they're saying reminds me of what I overheard earlier.

"I was right," Misako was saying. "It was her the entire time."

"But if that's so, couldn't the power have...killed her?" Garmadon says.

"We don't know that for sure," Sensei sighs. "We can only hope she makes it through."

"Well, are we certain we know about the others, too?" Misako asks.

"Yes," Sensei says. "I am positive about two, but the other two could still be up for debate. Although I'm almost certain I know who is who..."

"Well Na-"

"Elijah, come in!" Misako interrupts her husband.

"Hey," I say awkwardly, sitting down in one of the chairs. "Um...Lloyd said you needed to tell me something, Sensei?"

"Yes," Sensei responds, stroking his beard. "I want to thank you, Elijah."

My eyes go wide. "Wh-What?"

"You were incredibly brave," he continues, picking up his tea cup. "And you carried on throughout the entire time no matter what the others thought of you. That takes strength, Elijah."

My mouth is wide open. "Uh...you're welcome...?"

"Look at that, Brother," chuckles Garmadon. "He's speechless!"

Sensei smiles. "That is all, Elijah."

"Wait!" Misako cries. "Has anything changed with Lindsey yet?"

"No," I sigh. "Same old, same old." Misako nods.

"No change is better than a bad change," Garmadon says. I nod.

"Yeah...thanks."

"No problem," Garmadon grins.

"DONE!" shouts a voice suddenly from across the Bounty.

"What the...?" I trail off as the bridge door bangs open.

Dr. Julien rushes in, carrying Zane's repaired form. The second he sees me, he says, "Go find the others and bring them here!"

"O-Okay," I stammer, and rush out of the room.

First, to the girls' room. I knock on the door, and get a response from one of them to come in.

Abigail's sitting on her bed, a half-empty bow of chocolates on her lap. Anna's kneeling on her bed, scratching a swear word into the wall with a kitchen knife. Christy's lying on her back, earbuds in her ears. Nya still sits on her bed, reading her book again.

"What's wrong, Elijah?" Christy asks, removing an earbud.

"Julien wants to see you guys in the bridge," I pant.

"ZANE!" They all gasp. Abigail shoves about three more chocolates into her mouth, and her cheeks are bulging like a chipmunk's. Christy yanks the other earbud out of her ear, Anna drops the knife, and Nya slams her book shut without saving the page. They all push past me and out the door. With a sigh, I go to find the guys.

Jay and Lloyd are in the guy's bedroom, and when I tell them the news, they bolt out of here faster than lightning. I find Kai in the game room, and he pauses his movie and immediately leaves.

Cole is going to be the hardest, since he hates me. I walk up to the weight room and knock on the door.

"Go away!" Cole shouts.

"It's Zane!" I reply.

"You're not Zane!"

"No!" I mentally facepalm. "I mean, Julien's done repairing Zane!" That makes him open the door.

He grunts when he sees me. "Oh, it's you." He eyes my still filthy clothes, hair, and face. "You're a mess."

"Says Mister Sweaty here." I wrinkle my nose. "And put a shirt on, will you?"

"Don't tell me what to do," he grumbles, but he does what I asked and follows me to the bridge.

When we arrive, the others are all crowded around Julien and Zane.

"You all ready?" the inventor says when he sees us.

"Yes," Lloyd replies for everyone. I cross my fingers, hoping that our friend is okay.

"One..." Julien starts counting down.

"Two...

Three!" With that, he flicks Zane's power switch. Everyone holds their breath, waiting in anticipation. With every passing second, the tension becomes worse and worse.

And then...Zane sits up.

"ZANE!" The room erupts as the team screams in joy and hugs him. Zane blinks, seeming a bit confused, but hugs them back. When everyone backs up, he gets to his feet.

"Hello, everyone," he smiles. "I am surprised to see you again."

"Thanks to your awesome dad, you're okay!" Jay grins.

"Thank you, Father." Zane looks at his father.

"Of course, Son," smiles Julien. Zane's ice blue eyes scan the room, searching for someone. His smile slowly fades into a frown.

"Where's Lindsey?"

The entire room falls silent. Everyone had been hoping Zane wouldn't ask...

The silence seemed to be the only answer Zane needed. With one fluid motion, he slams his fist into the nearest wall.

"Zane?" gasps Nya. The Nindroid doesn't reply. Instead, he rushes out of the room, leaving us in shocked silence.

When I return to the medical room to see Lindsey, I find that my chair has already been occupied. Zane sits silently with his head in his hands, and I can tell that he's very upset.

"Hello, Elijah," he says softly.

"Hey..." I reply. "You okay?"

"No.."

"Neither am I..."

We sit in silence, looking at Lindsey's peaceful face. We both listen to her slow breathing, the sound giving us hope. She has to live...she has to...

"Zane?"

"Yes?"

"Have you...?" I take a deep breath, unsure of how to word my next question. "Have you ever considered the thought that maybe Lindsey's strength wasn't the only thing that defeated the Overlord?"

"Yes, I have," he responds, looking at me. "In fact, I know it was not just her..."

"Huh? What do you know?" I ask.

"The 8th element..." Zane whispers.

"Excuse me?"

"The 8th element," he repeats.

"Yeah, I heard you," I say blankly. "But what is it?"

"The 12 elements..."

"Um, didn't Misako only list 11 that one day?" I ask.

"Yes, she did, but she was only listing the elements needed to create pure light," Zane explains. "Dark Lightning is not one of them. But never mind that, I was talking about the 8th element."

"I'm still confused..." I murmur.

"The elements in order," Zane says, "are Light, Lightning, Earth, Ice, Fire, Water, Metal, Healing, Nature, Wind, Love, and Dark Lightning."

"So the eighth would be...Healing?"

"Yes..." Zane confirms.

"So...Lindsey controls Healing?!" I exclaim.

"That's my theory," Zane states. "Of course, my reasoning could be flawed. No one's perfect, including Nindroids..."

"Does it bother you?" I ask him. "Being the only Nindroid I mean."

"Yes," Zane sighs. "It does...it really does... I'm always worrying about being accepted... Yes, Ninjago knows that I'm a Nindroid but...it still hurts..."

"I'm sorry for the way I acted when I first found out..." I apologize. "It was definitely my judgmental side kicking in. That and maybe Overlord-y influence... I also apologize for all that stuff I said in the cave when I said it would be easier for you...it wouldn't have been...would it?"

"No..." he whispers, looking away from me. After a moment of silence, I speak again.

"Zane... What was bothering Lindsey so much? Like...when she came back from getting clothes..."

"I can't tell you," Zane whispers. "I promised Lindsey I'd keep it a secret..."

"But...but..."

"Elijah..."

"Okay," I sigh, backing off. Zane looks ready to cry. "Do you want me to leave you alone?"

"Maybe you should take a shower," Zane suggests.

"Sounds good," I reply. "See you later, Zane."

"Bye, Elijah... It was nice talking to you..."

(Zane's POV)

Darkness...

Pitch black...

No sound at all...except for a distant drumbeat...

Thump thump... Thump thump... Thump thump...

I feel a tug on my pant leg... "Mister?"

Looking down, I see a young girl with blue-green eyes and blond hair.

"Yes?" I ask, squatting down next to her.

"I'm scared..."

"Scared of what?" My own voice sounds distant...

"The drums."

"The drums can't hurt you," I smile. "You don't need to worry."

"The drums..." she whispers. "The drums are slowing down..."'

Thump thump... ...Thump thump... ...Thump thump...

"Soon they will stop," she finishes.

"Yes," I tell her, "and then the scary drums will be gone..."

"No, the drums aren't scary..."

Thump... ...Thump... ...Thump...

"Then what's scaring you, sweetie?" I ask gently.

"Do you know what song they're playing?" she says suddenly.

"No... I don't..." I whisper.

"It's called Heartbeat..." Her blue-green eyes look up at me pleadingly.

"Who...who are you?" I whisper.

"I miss my sister...I don't want to say goodbye again..." the girl whispers.

The world around me spins, engulfing me in blackness and silence.

BONK!

I rub my throbbing head, ignoring my fiery brother's complaints about me making a racket. Jay and Cole's complaints join his, and Lloyd groans and tells them all to shut up.

I swing my legs off my bed. My Sixth Sense is giving me an aching feeling in my chest. Something is terribly wrong.

"Zane...go ba' to sleep," grumbles Lloyd exhaustively.

"What's 'rong Zane?" Jay groans.

I ignore all of them and rush to the door.

I don't care if Sensei gets mad at me for getting up at night, I need to check...

I throw the door to the medical room open and rush to Lindsey's beside.

Anything...give me anything...just one breath...

I check her pulse...

I check her breathing...

And I scream, bursting into uncontrollable tears.

The others are in the doorway in what seems like seconds, their hair tousled and sleep still in their eyes. Questions are flying from their lips, but I don't hear them. All I hear is that drumbeat...that fading drumbeat...

It finally hits everyone and they realize what happened. They erupt into a storm of screaming, swearing, punching, crying, hugging, denying...

Reality hits us again...and another life gone.

Sorry about that tiny length...

Anyways... Heehee...

Everyone: *death glare*

Me: I'm so sorry! Really guys, you don't have to give me those- *gulps* Oh shit...I'm outta here guys! See you soon (hopefully)!

~ForeverDreamer12, running for her life!