A/N: hey everyone! I found this in my back pocket and figured I'd post it!

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ScarlettParker15: Oh, I hope you're feeling like suspense is great, because this chapter has even more than the last!

Lloyd stared at the parchment - the prophecy. The words were in a strange language - he couldn't read most of the characters, and shouldn't be able to read any of them, but they somehow felt familiar - and there was a picture, clearly depicting five figures: one girl in pale cyan blue, and four boys each in red, dark blue, white, and black. The few words he could pick up were 'hero', 'protect', 'guide', and 'aide'. All good things, really good things. Too good of things.

"Can- can you read it?" He hated asking, especially since she could just lie, but he wanted to know.

A hand grabbed the back of his shirt, easily hoisting him off the ground.

Lloyd let out a terrified squeak, his captor easily grabbing the paper from his hands.

"So, this was why you wanted it." The sensei's voice sent chills down Lloyd's spine.

Nya's eyes had gone wide, but now were narrowed in anger. "Wu, put him down."

"Why?"

Lloyd could barely breathe, his airway being blocked by the front of his shirt pressed against his neck. He couldn't even get his fingers under it to pull it away, the most he could do was flail about in the adult's grip. (This was what happened when he let his guard slip, even for a second.)

"Because you don't understand!"

"Which is why I'm going to interrogate the both of you inside the monastery." Wu moved around Nya in a swift motion, Lloyd was sure if he'd blinked he'd have missed it. The very thought of how fast this man moved, how precise his movements were, sent icy shivers of terror through Lloyd's veins.

Lloyd got a glance at Wu's wrinkled hand as he yanked the door open, ensuring Nya - who gave Lloyd a concerned, apologetic look - went in first. After all of them were in the door was slammed shut, the tell-tale sound of a key clicking as it was turned in a lock reaching Lloyd's ears.

Inside was what looked like a courtyard, just with an actual roof (that had been painted bright blue) instead of the sky. Three people stood, staring open-mouthed at them. One of them was Jay (who Lloyd could now see was a teenager), another teen wearing a black outfit that matched his hair, and an adult blond (maybe thirty) dressed in white.

Tears crept into the corners of his eyes. He allowed them, he didn't see much of a way to get himself out of this mess.

Although, thinking about it, tears might help. He could play the 'random innocent kid,' and with enough sympathy he might be able to get them to let him go without too much trouble.

"Wu? Nya? What's going on? What's with the kid?" Black-hair guy stepped forward.

Wu dropped Lloyd unceremoniously on the ground, putting his foot on Lloyd's chest so the kid couldn't get up. "Who are you? Who do you work for?"

Lloyd finally got a look at Wu, a thin elderly man with golden eyes and a long, flowing white beard.

"Sensei! Really, this isn't necessary!" Nya grabbed the arm of his robe, but he easily shrugged her off.

"Well?" He pushed his foot further into Lloyd's chest. He was wearing one of those sandals made out of a block of wood, the loose splinters catching on his shirt and making it even harder to move.

At this point, the other three people had crowded around as well, watching the scene with curious, concerned eyes.

"I'm sorry, sir." Lloyd croaked. "My name's Nathaniel. I don't work for anyone just y-yet, but I'm going to be an archaeologist wh-when I grow up. I talked Nya into letting me see tha-that document because I wanted to try and help translate it, it would be great practice. There aren't exactly a ton of ancient papers around anymore, nor are there people who know how to read them. I want to help you guys wi-with your translation of it." While normally he tried to keep the waver out of his voice and keep it nice and flat, here he let it do that in just the right spots; to keep the illusion of telling the truth.

Wu narrowed his eyes. "Draconic is not a language easily learned."

'Draconic', a strange language name. "I'll admit, I couldn't remember the exact name," just in case the name he'd been given was a lie, "but I recognized the characters. I can tell you some of their translations if you'd like."

"I would like."

Lloyd swallowed. He tried to maintain eye contact. "The character that looked somewhat like a figure with a shield means protect, meanwhile the one two lines above and a little earlier means hero, or savior."

"And how did you learn this?" The man looked genuinely impressed.

"Study. A lot of study. And a little bit of rooting around for books that were supposed to be burned and stuff." Lloyd let himself relax just a little bit, Wu had taken the bait so he should be relatively safe. He could actually get out of this.

Wu glanced at Nya. "Is all this true?"

Crap. Right, of course he'd ask her to verify.

"Well... um..." Nya glanced away.

And this was why Lloyd had never told anyone before - in addition to how few people were truly trustworthy, of course.

Satisfied with Nya's hesitation, Wu turned back to Lloyd, pressing even harder. Lloyd winced, any harder and he was sure his ribs would break. "You're a good liar. Give me one good reason I shouldn't kill you right now."

All four observers started protesting. "Sensei!" "He's just a kid!"

Lloyd swallowed. "Because you'd regret it. In more ways than one." True, and vague. An almost perfect response.

"How?"

"Well, first of all... killing people changes you. A lot. And I'm not your enemy." Again, no lies there. Well... maybe the last bit. It was too early to be certain.

Wu sighed slightly, exasperatedly, looking back at Nya. "I don't suppose you're going to be more helpful?"

To Lloyd's surprise and relief, Nya shakes her head. "Sorry, I can't break my promise. Just- don't hurt him."

"You know we can't let him leave with this information."

Lloyd tensed. Although... that might be for the best. If he stuck around with a resistance awhile, just until the Peacemakers stopped looking around Jamanakai, he could escape after it was safe.

"Sensei, please. He's just a kid. He doesn't even have anyone to tell, and you saw how good a liar he is. He won't tell anyone, I promise."

Wu went quiet. After a moment his eyes drifted back to Lloyd, meeting the younger's too-vivid green eyes before widening ever so slightly. "Cole, get my paper."

"You mean-" Black hair - Cole - started.

"Yes, that paper."

"Wait-" Nya was cut off by a glare from Wu.

Lloyd's heart was racing. He really, really hoped this wasn't what he thought it was.

When Cole returned he held a simple piece of card-stock, from his angle Lloyd could barely see the circle of golden powder in the middle.

It was exactly what he thought it was. But- a resistance shouldn't have one of those, they shouldn't be able to- those papers were government issued specifically for the Test.

He had to get out of there.

Raise your hand if you were ready for creepy Wu! He's so much fun to write! :D