Kai and Lloyd were walking for a long time, then Kai heard a bubbling sound. He looked around, then saw a sparkle inside the mouth of a cave. The ground around it was damp with water. It was a small hollowed out boulder, with a small spring inside it.
"Lloyd!" Kai called. "Come here for a second."
Lloyd turned, running back over to Kai. Lloyd's eyes lit up at the sight of water.
"Get job, Kai," Lloyd smiled.
The two boys crawled into the cave, drinking the water bubbling out from it. They drank and hydrated themselves. Then Lloyd took his mask off Kai, being careful around the wound to avoid opening it again. A couple small spots started bleeding again, but only a slight bit. Kai leaned against the cool cave walls, relaxing. Lloyd took his mask over to a small puddle in the cave. He set it in the puddle, allowing it to soak up the water. He washed it as best as he could, watching the water get a little darker. He pulled out the slightly cleaner mask and ringed it out. He walked outside, setting it on a rock to dry.
"Lloyd, should we keep moving?" Kai asked.
"We'll rest here for a little while," Lloyd replied, walking to the mouth of the cave. "I'm going to go out and find more food, since you ate the rest of the berries."
Kai smiled, knowing it was true. Lloyd turned and walked into the darkening forest. Only about an hour left before sundown. They had almost made it. Lloyd found a small bush of raspberries. He picked them, using a ripped part of his sleeve as a basket to carry them. He was in sight of the cave, then a vision flashed in front of Lloyd's eyes.
Everything was a blur. Lloyd hit a tree, red splattering everywhere. Jay walked up to him, a knife in his hands. Lloyd screamed, sitting on the ground with no escape.
"Look at that, almost sundown," Jay smirked. "Too bad it's not sundown. Bye Lloyd."
Then Jay shoved the knife at Lloyd's chest.
Lloyd snapped out of it, looking around. He was lying on the ground. Sweat dripped down his forehead. Kai was beside him, looking worried.
"Lloyd, what happened?" Kai asked. "You passed out."
Lloyd was in shock. Lloyd's eyes remained straight up, looking at the sky above them. They sky was a dark purple.
"A vision," Lloyd muttered.
Kai went pale, knowing something bad was about to happen. He pulled Lloyd up into a sitting position, only for him to fall back down. Kai caught him before his head hit the ground.
"Lloyd, you need to snap out of it," Kai told him.
Lloyd's eyes blinked furiously, looking around.
"Kai?" Lloyd questioned.
"Look, we need to get back to the cave," Kai said. "We only have a couple more minutes until sundown."
Lloyd gasped. He quickly got to his feet, looking around. Kai could sense his panic. Something was about to happen.
"We need to hide," Lloyd whispered.
"You do, do you?" a voice rung out around them.
"No," Kai gasped.
An arrow flew between Kai and Lloyd, causing them to stumble away from each other. Then Lloyd felt hands on his shoulder. He tried to pull away from them, but they held him firmly. Kai started to run to Lloyd's aid, but froze. Lloyd saw Roy with his bow and arrow, loaded and aimed at Kai. Kai slowly backed away from Lloyd.
"Look who we have here," the voice said again.
Then Jay walked up beside Lloyd, Alex on his other side between him and Roy. Lloyd struggled in the grasp of whoever was holding him.
"Mai, Nicki, don't let him go," Jay said.
Lloyd's wrists were grabbed, the hands still on his shoulders. Each girl held him, one on each side.
"Run, Kai!" Lloyd cried.
"You have a choice Kai," Jay smirked. "Come with us and Lloyd will be spared, or you can run and we will kill Lloyd here and now. You're choice."
Kai looked, knowing he was outnumbered.
"Fine, I surrender," Kai sighed.
Alex walked towards Kai, Roy still held his aim, ready to shoot him. Alex took Kai's hands, no struggle involved, and walked him back over to the group. Then, as Roy drew back his weapon, putting it away, Kai broke out into his spinjitzu, spinning and taking Jay, Alex and Roy out. Lloyd joined him, spinning around in his and freeing himself.
"Come on," Kai cried.
Lloyd stopped, sprinting away with Kai. As they were disappearing into the brush, Lloyd was blown sideways, hitting a tree and falling to the ground. Lloyd looked up, seeing Jay towering over him. He screamed, hoping Kai would hear him. The berries Lloyd had picked were everywhere, on the tree, the ground and on Lloyd.
"Look at that, almost sundown," Jay smirked. "Too bad it's not sundown. Bye Lloyd."
Lloyd closed his eyes as Jay jabbed a knife at Lloyd's chest. Lloyd didn't feel anything. He looked up and saw Jay frozen in his spot, the knife millimeters from Lloyd's chest. Lloyd looked up, seeing Mai behind Jay, holding her hands up.
"Run, Lloyd," she cried. "Run if you want to live!"
Lloyd nodded. He scooted out from between the knife and the tree, then sprinted off. Kai was waiting, watching in shock. Lloyd grabbed his arm, spinning him around and causing him to run after Lloyd. They heard someone running behind them, but they didn't stop. They only stopped when Kai collapsed from exhaustion. Lloyd turned, running to his side. He realized the wound had reopened from all the moving around and Kai was slowly bleeding out. Then Mai appeared in front of them. Lloyd fell back, trying to get away from her.
"Please," Lloyd begged. "He's already hurt. Don't kill us."
"I'm not going to hurt you," Mai smiled.
Lloyd looked at Mai, her eyes shimmering, even without light. Kai laid motionless on the forest floor, breathing quietly and slowly. Lloyd moved to Kai's side, looking at him with worry. Mai sat on Kai's opposite side, looking him up and down.
"Lloyd," Mai whispered. "Back away from him."
"What?" Lloyd asked.
"I need you to step away," Mai repeated. "Trust me. Please."
Lloyd looked to Kai, seeing him suffering. If she was going to save him, then he had to. Lloyd slowly stood up, backing away. Then he was blinded by a bright white light. It faded away, leaving Kai on the ground, asleep.
"What did you do?" Lloyd nearly shouted.
"Keep your voice down," Mai snapped. "A. He's sleeping. He needs to rest if he's going to survive. B. It's none of your concern."
"It is my concern," Lloyd replied. "He's my friend, my teammate and you used some sort of magic on him. How do I know you aren't lying and he's dying?"
"How could I think I could trust you," Mai muttered to herself. "Look, Lloyd. I'm not who you think I am."
"Then who are you?" Lloyd demanded. "Why are you helping us? Why are you suddenly changing sides? What the heck did you do to Kai!?"
"I'll explain," Mai said, cutting him off before he could ask anymore questions. "I was helping Jay for a reason. To protect him. To protect all of you."
"What does that mean?" Lloyd cried.
"I said let me explain!" Mai snapped. "If you would just listen, you would understand!"
Lloyd fell back, shrinking away from her. Mai sighed, shaking her head.
"Ok," she said. "As I was saying, I was protecting him. Alex is the real threat. Yes, he's Jay's brother, but his mind is twisted and corrupted. He's the one who sent him the necklace. It's what corrupted Jay, turning him evil. I realized this once it was too late. I agreed to stay on the ship, but for a different reason. You, the other ninja, and him," she pointed at Kai. "I can't dare to see him hurt."
"What do you mean?" Lloyd asked. "How do you know Kai?"
"Kai was," Mai stopped, looking down at him. She stopped talking for a moment, then spoke again. "Kai's mine and my brother's cousin."
"Who is your brother?" Lloyd asked, curious.
"You know him," Mai smiled.
Then Kai moaned, cutting her off. Lloyd looked down, seeing Kai's eyes slowly opening. Kai looked to Lloyd, who engulfed him in a hug. Kai sat in shock, confused at why he was being hugged. Lloyd, with his eyes closed, was smiling, tears falling on his cheeks.
"Did I miss something?" Kai asked.
Mai laughed. Lloyd backed away, looking down at the ground.
"You nearly died," Mai said. "If that counts as something."
"What?!" Kai cried.
He looked to see Lloyd shaking. He pulled the green ninja in tightly to comfort him. Then a rustling sound echoed around them. Lloyd held close to Kai as the noise got closer and louder. Then Mai stood up, looking at them with guilt. Then a venge-net was tossed over Kai and Lloyd from behind.
"What's happening?" Kai asked.
"I'm sorry," Mai muttered.
Kai and Lloyd stared at her in silence as someone joined her. In the darkness, Kai couldn't figure out if it was Alex or Jay. They both wore longer jackets that hung down by their knees, but he couldn't see too well to see their face.
"Looks like games over."
Jay's voice. It was him. But where was Alex. Then Lloyd screamed in pain, causing Kai to jump.
"Not too much, brother," Jay said. "Only enough to knock him out."
"I know," Alex's voice replied.
Lloyd was clinging to Kai, who was looking around frantically for Alex. Lloyd held onto consciousness, but barely.
"Lloyd, what's happening to you?" Kai asked, shaking the green ninja.
Lloyd didn't respond, causing panic for Kai.
"What did you do to him!?" Kai shouted, outraged.
"You'll find out in due time, Kai," Jay replied.
Kai flinched at the tone of Jay's voice when he replied. Then Kai felt a pinch in his arm. Almost immediately after, Kai lost control and fell onto Lloyd, unable to move.
"Grab them and bring them back," Jay ordered. "Lock Lloyd away in the lower storage area and bring Kai to the play room."
Jay turned, grabbing Mai's arm and pulling her with him.
"You made a really risky move, Mai," Jay muttered to her.
"It was the only way we were going to get them," Mai insisted. "I swear, if I saw another way, I wouldn't have done it."
"I believe you," Jay said. "But just incase you really are turning, I need you to report to my brother for an inspection in the morning."
"Yes, Captain," Mai said quietly.
Jay and Mai walked onto the boat and Mai walked straight to her quarters. Nicki and Roy carried Lloyd to the prison below deck. Kai yelled at Alex to release him, but was dragged into Jay's room. Jay stood by his bed, watching Kai try to escape, even though he wouldn't get far. Alex tossed Kai into the corner, chaining him to the wall.