==I thought I wouldn't get this chapter done in time, but here it is! A good long one :) I think a lengthy one is one you all deserve. ==
Sleeping With Sirens - "If You Can't Hang"
…knew [he] meant the world to me, so I gave [him] everything, and [he] did the same for me. Imagine that!
Haunted: Collapse into Caliginosity
Chapter 27:
Gray Ashes
My body ached from workouts today. Linus wanted us to push our limits for the official start of the tournament. I usually lift one-hundred-thirty pounds consecutively throughout the hour-and-a-half, but today was ten pounds heavier. When we were finished, I saw how muscular I actually was. Feeling the blood pump through my veins made me feel powerful. Normally I look ordinary, but after testing my body, I seem indomitable.
I like being the way I am, but the stink that comes with it is something I don't enjoy. An icy shower is always my solution. I feel rejuvenated by the morning with less soreness to deal with.
Not planning on doing anything else for the rest of the day, I dressed lazily. All I had now was a date night with the TV.
One thing I always do is stay informed through the news. It's important. That was what I flipped to after picking up the remote.
A big red bar flashed at the bottom of the screen saying "Breaking News." A news helicopter circled a pile of debris in the middle of Wildwood Forest. The voice of Gayle Gossip spoke about the details.
"This morning, a couple of hikers came across this heap of destruction. After investigating the scene, they found the dead bodies of many Serpentine, a clear sign that the Ninja have been here to take care of business."
That certain word caught my attention. Ninja.
"Zane," I immediately said aloud.
"Traces of the Ninja are a couple days old, but it seems that our heroes will still fight another day. I'm Gayle Gossip. Now back to you, Nelson."
I went to get my laptop and looked up the story I just watched. A little article popped up with pictures of the wreckage.
This morning on May 9th, two hikers found a scene left behind by the Ninja. It appears to be the remains of what once was a large treehouse being constructed by Serpentine. The only casualties found were snakes.
Authorities question the intention of this building. The foundation is placed around the trunk of a tree in Wildwood Forest, but snakes were the ones constructing it all. Even a young child could say snakes do not live in trees, so why would they attempt to build a treehouse? The people of Ninjago may never know, but the Ninja will always be in gratitude for their bravery in handling the rising Serpentine problems.
I continued to view the pictures, even finding one a dead serpentine. It was blue with detailed yellow scales; the same from Jamanakai Village.
Steering away from the story, I looked up information about the Ninja. There were absolutely no pictures of them. I couldn't believe it. The only thing I could find was just some vague descriptions from anonymous sources.
Not good enough, I cursed. This information was suddenly urgent to me. All I could think about was Zane and our one night together. Other than my revenge plan, I was ready to find my friend. He was out there somewhere, and I was ready to go to any lengths to reconnect with him.
But doing that was harder than I thought. Anything related to the Ninja or the news story that I typed in the search box brought up nothing valuable. Finally I just called someone for help.
"Hello?" a man's voice answered after two rings.
"Brian? This is Macca."
"Oh, I haven't heard from you in a while."
"Yeah I know, but I need your help."
"What is it?'
"Do you have any information on these 'Ninja'?"
"Not that much. Why?"
"Well, I met the white one a few days ago, and I want to see him again, but I can't even find a picture of him."
"I think I know a guy who can take you right to them..."
Someone came every Tuesday to deliver mail to the apartment complex I lived in. Brian told me about this man and how he always made a trip to a secluded monastery every once in a while. If I could get a set of directions, I would be unbelievably happy.
Trying to not seem like I'm loitering, I stayed out of sight in the lobby. Erica was on her lunch break right now. I was hoping to get this done before she came back.
The front door eventually opened, letting the outside noises of cars momentarily audible. I barely peered over the counter of Erica's desk to see a middle-aged man wearing a purple tunic. His back was turned to me as he filled little cubbies with mail from his large sack.
I came around the desk. "Excuse me, sir—"
He screamed loudly and jumped, sending envelopes flying through the air. The occurrence startled me. "I-I'm sorry," I carefully said as he whipped around in annoyance.
His face was wrinkly with age. His eyes glared at me from behind his glasses. Frail hairs clung to the corners of his upper lip. A kasa rice hat rested on top of his gray hair. This was the busiest postman in Ninjago.
"What is with everyone sneaking up on me?!" he loudly complained.
"I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to ask you about the Ninja," I explained.
"The Ninja? All I know is that I'm too old to be hiking up that mountain just to deliver their fan mail."
"So you have been to their monastery?"
"Of course I have. I was just there a few days ago, actually."
"Can you give me the directions?"
"Directions? Sweetheart, it's not that hard to find. The only hard part is getting there."
"Then where is it?"
"Past Wildwood Forest and on top of the one mountain that's there. If you're wanting to go there for a little visit, I don't think the work is worth much of anything. I only do it for my paycheck."
I took in all the information and made my way to the elevator. "Well, it is to me. Thanks."
The only thing I really knew about Wildwood Forest was the famous walking trail that took you right through it. After work, I drove over to Linus's place to meet him there.
Two dirt bikes were already secure in the back of his truck when I arrived.
"So why are we going on a bonding trip?" Linus asked me when I got in the truck.
"Because I love you," I joked.
"Wow, that's a first."
That wasn't the end of our funny business. We spent the hour long drive goofing off. When it got quiet, one of us would do or say something that would make us laugh, like an inside joke. A big reason I felt so giggly was because I was anxious and excited to finally find Zane again.
My heart was racing when we pulled up to the trail's entrance. It was very dusty and well used year round, but nobody was here.
"Shouldn't it be kind of busy?" I asked.
"Well, think about it. Those ninjas had to stop the snakes in there somewhere. People don't want to risk running into a straggler," Linus pointed out.
"See why I brought you with me?"
"Yes, you love me so much that you prefer me to die in order to protect you from giant snakes."
"It sounds morbid when you say it that way!" I laughed.
"We'll see who's more cruel when one of us actually gets to the other side of the forest."
"Is that so?"
"Hell yeah. I'll race you."
"Fine. May the best badass win."
We unloaded the dirt bikes from the trunks. Once helmets were on and engines were growling, we were off.
Linus was next to me for about a minute before he accelerated onward. I was too inexperienced to go as fast, so I veered off the trail to take a shortcut. As Linus went around the bend, I drove right through small shrubs. My bike burst back onto the trail. Linus was far behind when I glanced.
I got this in the bag, I confidently thought.
When another bend in the trail came along, I took a shortcut again to ensure my chance my winning. But Linus followed me. Now this race was nothing but speed and who could best maneuver around nature's obstacles.
Both of us hopped over small hills and drove around massive trees. The trail became nothing but an option in case we actually needed it. It seemed like we were making our own little path as the bikes' tires ruined the ground underneath them. I didn't realize how, little by little, my hand turned the handle more. Speed no longer fazed me. All that mattered was my determination to reach the finish line first.
One time when I looked over my shoulder, Linus wasn't there. It scared me at first, because I thought about the Serpentine. I slowed down and turned around to go check on him.
ZOOM!
Linus's bike flew by on the trail, almost making me wrecking because it scared me so bad.
"Son of a bitch!" I grumbled to myself. Now I had to turn back around and catch up. All I could see was the dirt and dust he was kicking up. Slowly creeping up next to him, I tried to avoid as much of the dirty cloud as I could. Linus noticed my approach and tried to go faster, but I already had the increasing momentum. Getting those few inches in front of him took all my focus for just the right amount of seconds. One moment I was in the lead, the next I was taking a sudden dip too fast.
My bike swerved after a severe wobble and slammed against the ground. I went rolling as a horrible pain spread throughout my chest from the impact I took. I refused to move once I stopped.
"Macca!"
I groaned as I struggled to breathe.
Linus came running and kneeled down next to me. "Did you break any bones?" he asked as he pulled my helmet off.
"I don't know," I said with pain apparent on my face.
"You got the breath knocked out of you?"
I nodded.
"Okay. Just breathe."
I laid there for a few minutes as the pained began to subside. Linus got the bikes together and leaned them against a nearby tree. He knew I was okay when I finally sat up.
"Feeling better?"
"Much."
"But seriously, no broken bones?"
"No. I feel okay." I looked past him and saw a huge boulder on the side of the trail. A strange sense of déjà vu seeped into my mind. I got up and approached it.
"Mac?"
The palm of my hand pressed against the cool stone. Deep down in my heart, I knew we were close.
"Come on," I said, going around the boulder.
"What? Why?"
"Just come on!" I didn't check to see if he was coming. I was just concentrated on the journey in front of me.
The area filled up with more of the boulders. I had to climb over some smaller ones just to keep going. A gray mountain soon came into view within the thinning trees. The sight got me excited. I was so close.
Hard work soon paid off. The forest was behind me. I stood at the base of the mountain.
Why does this seem so familiar? I continued to ask myself. For some reason, I felt like I should be finding something, so I searched.
Then it came to me. A short jog led me to stone stairs. I knew this hike was going to kick my butt, but I had to do it.
My running quickly went to walking and then to crawling. I had to stop so many times to catch my breath and give my legs a rest. Sweat dripped down my face.
You're like halfway there. You have to keep going.
I picked myself up and kept going. If that postman can do it, I knew I could.
I'm coming, Zane. But I'm never making this trip again.
After crawling more, I finally looked up and saw the top of the mountain. My heart jumped. This was it.
The pain in my legs suddenly lifted. I sprinted the rest of the way up.
There was nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Wind filled my ears as my heart stopped. I didn't know how to feel. Meager remains of the monastery's foundation was all that was left. It was all…gone.
The excitement I once felt was now misery. I looked around at all the destruction and spotted something black and small. Kneeling down and brushing off the gray ashes, I discovered the dog tags I had given Zane, which were now charred from fire.
My face twisted in immeasurable sorrow. Tears filled my eyes and rushed down my face as a devastating wail erupted from my throat. I picked up the dog tags and cradled them into my chest. Zane was dead.
Shoutout to KRR and Kai4Ever for leaving a review!