CHAPTER FOUR- You Only Die Twice

Twenty years-

It's okay. I've got this. We've got this.

He's a kid- a kid- a KID!

Jay's eyes snapped open. Voices swirled in his head. He couldn't make them make sense. Still, they looped and blurred and made him feel very, very anxious. Jay was so focused on trying to make his head stop spinning, it took him a few seconds too long to realize what was wrong with his surroundings.

And his body.

Once reality clicked, everything hit Jay at once. There was a pressing pain on his chest every time he tried to take a breath. There was a persistent itch under the bandages wrapped around his rips. And his head.

Jay reached up to touch his forehead, flinching when his fingers made contact. The room around him swam, until the pain receded into the background again.

He was in a hospital room. No other place would have such painfully bright lights. Plus, there was the beeping machinery. Made it all pretty obvious. The worst part of it though, was that he was alone.

Dareth. Nya. Snakes in armor. And lightning. Jay fell back against the bed, trying to sort out his present and his thoughts. Now what?

"You are awake."

Jay jolted, causing the pain to return. An android had stepped into his room. She looked very human, even with her silver hair and bright green eyes. Jay stared. He couldn't help it. He'd heard about OverCorp's new technological breakthrough, thanks to Cyrus Borg and his innovative mind. But Jay had never seen an android in person. His mind whirred with excitement.

But only for a moment.

All too soon, Jay recognized the name stitched upon the nurse's scrubs. West End Hospital. The very same place Cole's dad had called from. The very same place Jay had religiously avoided. The very same place Cole had died in.

"Are you alright?" The nurse must have noticed the shift in Jay's features. She approached, glancing at the machines beside Jay. Jay glanced at them too. Another thought occurred to him. This was a very good hospital. I can't afford this? How am I here? "Hmm. You seem to be recovering quickly. You were very lucky. Aside from a bruised rib and a nasty bump, you are unscathed."

The last thing Jay felt, was lucky. "And the-"

"The other person that was with you is quite alright as well." The nurse smiled at him reassuringly. A sliver of her sliver hair slid from her ponytail. She brushed it back up, behind her ear. Jay got a flash of the news reporter (-what seems to be a random attack.) "Nya Smith, right? She's better off than you. Just a scare and some bruises. She's in the room right by yours."

"And Dareth?"

"Excuse me?"

"In the car. The accident. The man driving. Is he okay too?"

The nurse's frown deepened. "I was under the impression you were the one at the wheel. Try not to stress too much. You are still under the effects of the anesthetic. You might feel a little confused."

Jay was, indeed, confused. But he was also sure he hadn't imagined Dareth. After all, he would still hear the man's voice. He was supposed to protect you.

The lights flickered. Jay hissed out a slow breath.

The nurse glanced up at the lights briefly, before returning her attention to Jay. "If you need anything, call me any time. My name is Pixal."

"I'm Jay."

"Yes. I know." Pixal smiled, tapping at the clipboard in her hands. Jay blushed. With a nod of her head, the android stepped out of the room.

Jay wondered if he should try and see Nya. Pixal had said she was only one door over.

He sat up slowly, feeling out the pain on his chest. It wasn't unbearable, but it wasn't something he could easily ignore. It made each of his breaths shot and stiff.

"Secret agents and snakes and superpowers. When, exactly, did my life turn into this?" Jay scooted to the edge of the bed. "You could have given me a little warning, Cole. Dating you should have come with a disclaimer."

Standing was a bit of a challenge. His body hunched forward instinctively, begging him to curl up and let healing take its course. It was a tempting proposition. Jay would have loved to lay back down, to forget everything and go to sleep. Still, he shuffled forward.

It became a little easier, with each step. He managed to straighten. As he gained confidence, Jay missed the moment his awkward shuffle turned into a fall. His legs wavered without his permission, hurtling the floor forward at an alarming speed. Gravity at its worst.

"Whoa, dude." A voice said, quickly rescuing Jay from kissing the ground, and adding to the growing list of injuries. "Are you even supposed to be out of bed?"

"Maybe." Jay said, frowning at his savior. "Kai? What are you-"

"-doing here?" Kai finished for him with an eye roll. "Nya is my sister, you know. Usually, family worries about family. However insufferable said family might be."

"I'm not Nya, though." Jay pointed out. "She's in the next room."

"Can't I visit my sister's best friend, too? I have a big heart, you know. I worry about all kinds of people." Kai smirked, ruffling Jay's hair before helping him back down onto the bed. "Also, there was something I needed to tell you."

"There it is."

"Chief Wu wants to talk to you."

Jay blinked. He looked at Kai. Chief Wu. Technically, the man's work was independent from Ninjago's police force, but all those who worked with and around him had a habit of calling him chief. Kai had worked for Wu for some years now, and yet, Jay had never managed to figure out what it was that they actually did.

"Why?" Jay asked. He then thought, momentarily, about the flash drive sitting in Cole's hoodie. "Am I in trouble?"

"No! Not at all. It's about Cole. I mean. Uh. It's about, mainly, your safety." Jay saw Kai's eyes shift, as if he were sorting through information. Deciding very carefully which things to voice, and which to keep secret. "The Chief has been worried Cole's death might not have been random, exactly. He just wants to make sure you're not in any danger."

"It's been a month." Jay's voice was strained as he stated the fact. "Why now?"

"Hey, I'm just the messenger." Kai shrugged, walking backwards toward the door. "Chief will meet you in the cafeteria. Just let Pixal know when you're ready. She'll take you to him."

"But why does-"

"And just . . ." Kai cut off Jay's question with a wave of his hand. He then eyed Jay carefully. Jay waited.

"Just . . .?"

"Don't . . . Don't trust anyone, okay?" Kai's voice was steel. "Especially if they mention Cole's name."

BEFORE

"A museum? Really?" Jay faked a yawn. "Since when are museums interesting?"

"Since always?" Cole scoffed. "Are you seriously telling me you think they're boring?"

"I mean, yeah?" Jay shrugged. He shoved his hand into Cole's hoodie, taking hold of his boyfriend's hand. "I mean, it's just a bunch of things with a bunch of words I don't really want to read."

"Knowledge can be a lifesaver, freckles." Cole said, guiding them forward. Jay was amused to find that Cole knew every hall and every turn of the grand building. How much time did the guy spend here? "It's one of the few things no one can really take away from you."

"Deep today, aren't we?" Jay teased. "I'll admit knowing stuff is helpful. But then, wouldn't a history museum be better? Science, perhaps? What I mean is, why here? All they have is myths and stories."

"They're only myths and stories because people can't accept stuff like this existed. Or exists. You never know."

"You're lucky I love you, because you're too crazy for anyone else." Jay rolled his eyes. "I mean, a race of anthropomorphic snakes? Really want me to believe that's real?"

"Yeah."

"But there's so much wrong with that! Biologically and otherwise. Would they still lay eggs? Shed skin? How would they manage to keep bodies that large warm enough to stay alive? They'd have to stay in the sun for days at a time."

Cole ignored him then, opting instead for continuing to drag him forward. Jay accepted his fate. It was impossible to resist Cole's exited explanations. Boring or not, in the moment, it didn't really matter. In the end, Jay was a simple guy, with simple needs. All he really needed was a hand to hold and a smile to cherish.

With Cole, he had plenty of both.

"I hope you've learned a thing or two." Cole said, leaning forward against one of the rails surrounding a large exhibit of bones. "Wouldn't want you to die, if you faced off against one of these babies."

"Of course we wouldn't want that." Jay chuckled. He studied the exhibit before him. Dromaeosaurid Theropod Grundalicus. Otherwise known as Grundles. Jay really, really wanted to laugh. "How would I ever survive against something that's either been dead for eons, or maybe never existed at all?"

"Hey, you never know." Cole said. There was something about his voice that Jay didn't know what to do with. He looked away from the bones, to study his boyfriend's expression. He didn't know what to do with that, either. "So how do you keep yourself alive, in this very, very plausible scenario?"

"I don't know, Cole. But I'm sure you'll tell me."

"Light. Grundles are primarily nocturnal. Their eyes are too sensitive to properly take in any sort of bright lights."

"Cool. I'll be sure to keep my phone's flashlight handy." Jay began to pace in front of Cole, his usual energy making every bit of him restless. "Next date, I'm in charge. I have the best idea. One you'll love, since you're all about fitness and oddly specific survival advice."

"Stay still. You're such a puppy." Cole took hold of Jay's hand. He then pulled Jay closer. "What's this idea?"

"A hike!" Jay beamed with pride. "Nya recommended a good spot. She says the view is great, if we can make it to the top. Which means, of course, that you'll have to carry me. I wanna eat a ham sandwich on the top of the world baby!"

"Now who's oddly specific?"

AFTER

Jay watched Kai leave the room. The world just kept molding itself into more of a nightmare. A very confusing nightmare, where nothing ever felt quite real.

It made Jay feel like an actor without a script.

He thought about Dareth. About this mystery person, 'Garmadon'. Was that who Kai was warning him away from?

Or had Kai been warning him about Chief Wu?

Jay needed to talk to Nya. She was the one thing in his life that hadn't stopped making sense. He prepared himself to stand again, planning to move slower this time. Before he could succeed, a doctor rushed into his room.

At least, Jay assumed he was a doctor. The man had a very thick, very scraggly beard. His face was practically drowning in it. His eyebrows were worse still, hanging low over his brown eyes. Jay couldn't help but think of a werewolf. Which, at this point, why not?

The doctor slammed the door shut behind him. Jay scooted himself back.

"Well. Looks like you're okay. That's good. That's real good. Sorry about the crash. Wow! I have never done that before. Except that one time." That voice! Jay recognized it in an instant. Dareth! "Garmadon's annoyed, but when isn't he? Honestly. The only person he smiles at is his bratty little son."

"What are you doing here!? Why are you- Why do you look like that?"

"I'm undercover, ah-duh." Dareth rolled his eyes. He flipped through the chart, nodding along and scribbling nonsense as part of the act. Jay wondered who he was acting for. Were they being watched? "Garmadon himself is going to come for you. Tonight. He'll be in the parking lot. Don't worry about recognizing him. He'll recognize you."

Jay shook his head. "And . . . how am I supposed to get out of here?"

"I'm sure you'll think of something. You have those scary sparks, don't you?" Dareth leaned closer to the machinery, using his distorted reflection to adjust the oversized beard. "And I'd find a way out as soon as possible. Garmadon isn't the only one who'd love to chat with you. And others might not be quite as . . . civil."

"You mean like . . . Chief Wu?"

Dareth whirled around. "Wu!? You talked to Wu?"

"Not yet. But he does want to talk to me."

"Crafty old sneak." Dareth shook his head slowly with each word, placing his hand on his hips. "Well. No. I didn't mean him. But don't talk to him either."

"Why? And who else would want something to do with me?"

"Oh, you'll figure it out. Hopefully I'll see you later. Better hurry and find a way out. "Dareth tapped his wrist, although there was no watch upon it. "Tick, tock Gordon."

"Gordon?'

Instead of answering, Dareth shuffled out of the room. He looked more and more suspicious with every step. In the end, the man seemed to give up on pretending to be a doctor. He broke into a run, disappearing into the stairs. Jay shook his head.

The sun was lowering quickly. Soon enough, the day would end, and he'd have to make a choice. Garmadon or Wu? What about just . . . staying in his room, pretending none of this was happening at all?

Jay was really, really leaning into that last option. He wanted to find the truth, of course. Not only for himself, but for Cole. Despite this though, things were quickly spinning away from what Jay could handle. He was tired and scared and overwhelmed.

"First things first," Jay told himself. It was a comfortable habit, speaking out loud. "I should talk to Nya."

With a slow breath, Jay managed to stand. He looked around the room, doing his best to match his breath to his steps. A small chair sat in the corner of the room. Upon it, were the few possessions he'd had when the crash occurred.

Jay leaped for Cole's hoodie. He regretted the quick move. As he waited for his aches to settle, he hugged the fabric tight, before finally slipping it on over the hospital gown. Jay felt around for the container. Somehow still there. Somehow still safe.

"We're getting out of here little buddy." Jay said. The floor shook beneath him. With a frown, he waved it off. "But first, Nya."

The halls of the hospital were surprisingly empty. Jay stepped out, unnerved by the silence.

Nya should have been in the room right next to him. At least, that's what Pixal had told him. But when Jay peeked into the rooms on either side of his own, he found them very empty.

"Maybe . . . I heard her wrong?" Jay whispered. He thought he felt the building shake again, but it could have just as easily been a tremor of his own nerves. "Or . . . maybe she went home. No. She wouldn't . . . leave me. Right?"

Not wanting to return to his own room and to the choice that awaited him there, Jay continued to move down the hall. He peeked into each room as he went. He recognized no one, but he noticed the pressing absence of any sort of medical personal.

"Maybe they're on break." Jay said, when he reached the end of the hall. "All . . . all at the same time? Yeah. Very logical."

Another tremor shook Jay from his thoughts. It was strong enough to make him fall back, making it impossible for him to wave it off again. Not only that, but it was accompanied by a deep, threatening growl.

Jay froze. The tremors continued, rhythmic steps that only drew closer.

The source of them burst from the stairs, creating a considerably sized hole in the wall. The growl came again, louder now that the creature was before him.

"You've got to be kidding." Jay whimpered, recognizing the creature from a picture he'd seen in what felt like another lifetime. Grundel.

Sharp claws sunk against the floor as the creature moved, heading toward the room Jay should have been in. As the creature burst into the room, Jay himself stumbled to his feet, looking around wildly. Both Kai's and Dareth's warnings swirled in his mind. He rushed to the door closest to him. Locked. Jay bounced on his feet, trying to keep his breath steady.

Crash sounds echoed down the hall. It wouldn't take long before the creature realized its prey was elsewhere.

The door Jay tried next was locked too, but the door was mercifully an electronic one. Jay did not have a keycard, but he did have a pocket full of lightning. He fried the door lock with a jolt, then forced it open. With his heart tearing at his chest, Jay slipped inside.

He shut the door behind him, quickly wedging a chair under the handle. It wouldn't really make much of a difference when it came to the monster's claws, but it did make Jay feel a little safer.

The room was small, and dimly lit. There were shelves filled with files, a wide window, and a desk. Jay began to head to the window, marking it as the best way out of this situation. As he passed the desk, however, what sat upon it caught his attention.

It was a computer, with a large, bright monitor. And within the monitor, was Jay's own name.

Jay read the words. It was nothing unusual, for once. Only small quick details about the accident. His injuries, his age, and a bunch of comfortably average details.

Curious, Jay moved closer, clicking on the search bar and typing out Nya's name. Her information was just as normal as his. The only difference being, was that her file stated she had been released. No less than an hour ago.

"So you did leave." Jay bit his lip. "Why?"

The screen had no answers. Jay stepped back, a set of heavy steps reminding him of the danger he was in. The creature had continued its hunt.

Jay needed to get out. But . . . something held him in place.

He looked back at the monitor. His fingers twitched and he tightened them, trying to hold himself back from making a mistake. Bad idea, Jay. You need to get out of here.

Despite his own warnings, Jay returned to the computer. With his stomach in a knot, he typed out another name.

Cole Brookstone.

The results unfurled before him.

And the now familiar goosebumps enveloped him once again.

Nowhere, nowhere, did the file mention a gunshot wound. Multiple fractures and internal bleeding due to vehicle collision. Jay shook his head. He'd seen the news report. He'd memorized the news report.

His eyes continued to run over the information. They screeched through a halt, as they reached the time of death.

Jay's sight blurred. The date. It should have been no more than a month ago. And yet-

Yet, the numbers before him plainly stated that Cole had been dead for two years.