Wait, what does she mean Kai isn't what he seems? I questioned within my thoughts. I turned to look at Lilly, who was standing a few feet from us all, trying to look as confident as she could. Though, just by her eyes, I could tell she was slightly uncertain, but very alarmed. What's going on?
"Kai's the trai-!" before she could finish speaking, two thin blades impaled her between her shoulder and breast. I immediately went into full panic and alarm.
"LILLY!" I screamed, beginning to run towards her, but Lloyd restrained me as I struggled.
"Karma, don't! You don't know who's holding those blades," he whispered to me as I watched my friend fall to the ground, clutching where she was stabbed. In her place stood Alex, who licked a bit of blood off his blades. That sick bastard.
"What a shame, I was looking forward to working with her," he gave a fake frown, then laughed. I prepared to shout something, but I was interrupted by Kai, who was walking towards Alex.
"No use keeping this disguise on anymore," he sighed, his skin, hair, and eyes changing color. His eyes glowed red, his hair was black, and his skin was much paler than Kai's. I was repulsed by the sight.
"What the hell!? You're not Kai!" Nya shouted, her look of horror becoming anger. The impostor chuckled.
"Great observation, Captain Obvious. Can you tell me more?" he said sarcastically, smiling. Nya pulled her katana from it's sheath, pointing it at the impostor.
"Where's my brother?" she asked in a much more serious voice. The impostor continued to smile.
"You're going to ask that? When your dear friend here is bleeding out?" he questioned, gesturing to Lilly, who was struggling to get up now. The fabric of gi was starting to become soaked with blood.
"Just because I care about family first doesn't mean I don't care about her! Kai's all I have!" Nya argued, still pointing her blade at the impostor. He chuckled.
"Okay, enough of this sappy family crap. I wanna get to the real main event here," he said, a blade similar to Kai's falling into his hand. Where the hell did it come from!? Did some bird just drop it!? Did he use magic!? Just...what the hell!?
He swung his sword towards Nya, causing Jay to act immediately. The master of lightning slid under his blade as quickly as he could and punched the impostor in the gut, adding a huge jolt of electricity with it. The impostor froze when he was electrocuted, but recovered immediately, taking a swing at Jay this time.
Lloyd finally released me and immediately ran towards Alex, who was fighting Cass and Hunter. As I ran, I extended my staff out of it's dormant form and into it's combat form, ready to take him on. I slid between Cass and Hunter and smacked Alex with the staff one time. Then, I kicked him out of the way, running towards Lilly.
"Are you alright!?" I asked with a concerned voice as she continued to begin to stand off. She shook her hand as if she were shooing me away.
"I-I'm fine. Don't worry...just go fight him," she winced as she held a hand over where she was stabbed. I could see the splotch of blood on her gi begging to grow.
"No! You need help! I'm not leaving you to bleed out!" I protested. She grumbled under her breath.
"Karma...just go. I told you that I'll be fine," she said much more firmly. I shook my head.
"I'm not leaving you!" I argued. Lilly sighed.
"Karma-"
"I'm not abandoning you and that's final! I'm not letting you die!"
"Maybe I want to die!" What she had shouted left me speechless. Though, she acted as though she had said nothing of the sort. She...wishes death upon herself? Why!? What would make her feel this way!? Is it something she's never told me about? Or something I already know of?
I looped her arm over my shoulders, beginning to try to get her out of here. Lilly didn't protest at all as I struggled to get her out of here. She was much heavier than I, but that shouldn't stop me. I'm strong, right? I think I am.
Though, when I tried to take another step, I ran right into someone.
"Aw, leaving so soon? But the fun's just beginning!" Alex smirked as he kicked me away. Lilly stumbled as I rolled to the ground, though, once I stopped rolling, I searched around frantically for Cass and Hunter. What did Alex do to them!?
"Now, as for you, I might as well be a nice guy and put you out of your misery," I heard the master of psion say, to which I turned my head quickly in his direction. He stood before Lilly, both of his blades extended. I could see Lilly beginning to slowly back away. "I'm doing you a favor."
He swung one time, aiming for her chest, but she dodged it, landing a punch on his face. It wasn't as effective as it usually was though, because he recovered quickly. Lilly must be losing her strength like how she's losing blood. Though, when she tried to land another punch, Alex pierced her arm with his blades, causing her to yelp in pain. Instant alarm and panic rose inside me.
I got up quickly, sprinting towards Alex. I instantly headbutted him in the stomach and used my staff again as a bat, knocking him away from Lilly. I didn't even bother to check on my friend (though I really should have.) and ran after him, feeling a sort of energy radiating from my hands. Does this have something to do with my powers?
I threw a few orbs of dark energy at him, with only one hitting him. He quickly attempted to fight back, swinging his arms furiously as though he were a dancer. Though, I was much faster. I was able to block all his swipes with my staff without missing a single one. Damn did I feel lucky!
Though, as we fought, I could see a grin growing on his face. It was that kind of grin where the person wither knows more than you, or has some sort of vile plan up their sleeve. Yeah, that kind of grin. I couldn't help but wonder what he was smiling about, and feel like I wanted to wipe that stupid grin right off his face.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, I felt a strong tug on my scarf, pulling it off of my neck and causing me to turn the other way. Before I could turn around, I felt something hard hit me on the side of the head. I whipped around quickly, ready to take someone down. Instead, I was pulled forward by Alex. I expected him to headbutt me into unconsciousness...but instead he connected his lips with mine. I was immediately filled with extreme disgust. What the freakin' hell!?
Before I could react and push him away, he kicked me to the ground, smirking.
"You kinda owed me that a year ago. Good thing it serves as a distraction," he claimed triumphantly, satisfaction in his smirk. I was so disgusted. He just stole my first kiss from me! Something that was going to be sacred for me! That disgusting, desperate-ass bastard! I owed him nothing! Though, I suppose I had bigger things to worry about, I was still sickened by it. Good thing there's one thing he'll never take from me.
Immediately, as I started to get up, a bright flash of light engulfed the area, nearly blinding me. I covered my eyes as I heard Alex curse. I could hear the sounds of scuffling, and saw another flash of bright light. It had to be Sammie. Nothing else could produce light that blinding.
Once the light disappeared, I uncovered my eyes just in time to see Sammie suplex the master of psion, causing him to groan in pain. The master of light turned and stood over him, using a foot to keep him down. She held a kama in one hand, pointed at him.
"End of the line, buddy," she smiled victoriously. Alex began to look panicked.
"No. No. Nope!" he shouted, moving his hands in a motion before disappearing. Sammie looked around frantically for him, only to be left disappointed.
"He does that a lot," I informed her as I got up. She sighed.
"I see."
We walked over to Lilly, who was trying to stay on her feet. Her sleeve was now starting to become soaked in blood, and the huge red splotch on her gi had grown. She beginning to look pale.
"Come on, we'll go find Cass and Hunter and we'll find a way to stop the bleeding, okay?" Sammie said as she put Lilly's arm over her shoulder. The blonde didn't protest, nor did she even speak. She just simply nodded. I took her other arm, and as I looped it over my other shoulder, I felt something hard bump my shoulder. Curious as to what it was, I peeked into her sleeve to see that it was just her katana. I had forgotten she stores it in her sleeve.
"Hey, have you seen where everyone else went?" I asked Sammie as we walked. I was beginning to notice how quiet it was now. It was becoming eerie.
The master of light responded by shaking her head. "I've only seen Cass. I couldn't tell you where she's at now though."
We both looked around, searching for any sign of our teammates. I could feel a gust of wind run through the trees a few times, telling me that Cass or Hunter could be near. Though, this was beginning to remind me of something. Forest. Dusk. Fighting. Someone dying. A sense of danger. Feeling like you're being watched. All of it. It all reminded me of the night that I wish would stop haunting me. The night my sister died. Will this night end the same way, except with someone who isn't blood related? Luo's lifeless expression forced it's way into my mind and didn't leave. I could see the same lifeless face on almost all of my friends in my mind, leaving me fearful of what tonight's outcome may be.
After a bit of walking, we spotted someone waving ahead. It had to be Cass. No one else here wears a purple gi.
"Hey! There you guys are!" she shouted as we rushed up. I started to notice that a half of the leg for her trousers for her gi had been ripped away, leaving one of her knees exposed.
"Are you alright?" I asked her. She nodded.
"Yeah, but Hunter's leg isn't. Alex decided to make his leg a freakin' kebab," Cass gestured to Hunter, who was sitting by the nearest tree. His leg was bandaged in two areas, with the bandage being what looked like fabric from Cass's gi.
"That was quite rude of him, but I can still kick the crap out of him with my other leg!" Hunter exclaimed, moving his other leg. Well, that's one way to look at having your leg stabbed I guess.
"Is Lilly alright?" Cass asked as we sat her down beside the tree. The blonde looked pale now, but she was wide awake.
"She's still losing blood. That dingus Alex got her in the arm while you guys and Karma were trying to fend him off," Sammie informed them as she cut off half of a leg of her trousers with Lilly's katana. She took it and tied it around Lilly's arm first, making sure it stayed together with a firm knot.
As she started to patch up Lilly's chest, I turned to Cass.
"Have you seen any of the others?" I asked her. She was silent for a moment, then shook her head.
"Nope. I do remember seeing Jay sprinting off farther into the forest though. That was much earlier though," she recalled. That was a clue at least.
"Do you think they-" Before I could finish, Cole ran up, panting (although he's a ghost.). He didn't have a scratch on him, but he looked relieved to find us.
"Oh thank god, I thought you guys were dead," he sighed, showing a relieved smile. Cass raised an eyebrow.
"What made you think we were dead?" she questioned.
"I ran into Alex and he claimed he had murdered you all. I should have known it was too farfetched to be true," Cole explained, taking a look at us all, "Though, I see you guys didn't get away unscathed."
"Yeah...my leg still hurts," Hunter nodded, then glanced at Lilly, "Is she gonna be alright?"
"I think so. It doesn't look like she's lost a lot of blood, but I'm afraid Alex's blades may have impaled one of her lungs," Sammie sighed as she tied the last makeshift bandage. Lilly looked just barely conscious. I sighed.
"Okay...and Cole, have you seen Nathan at all?" Hunter asked the ghostly ninja.
"I'm pretty sure I saw him following Jay and Nya. Though, I'm not sure if he's with Zane now or still with those two. Nya was going after that Bizarro Kai anyway," the master of earth answered, looking off into the trees. I took the time to adjust my scarf back to perfection, lasting feelings of disgust making me grimace as I rewrapped it. Oh, how I hate Alex now.
"You guys mind if I go look for them? I'll see if they've had any luck with stopping this impostor," I offered. Sammie nodded.
"Go on ahead, we'll stay back with these two," she smiled. I nodded and ran through the sea of trees, listening for yelling or any sounds of scuffling. I searched the ground and trees while looking for them, but only found a huge slash on one of the trees. Well, that was something at least. I moved ahead, in the direction where the slash was found, still searching.
After a couple minutes of running, I could hear someone shouting. The voice sounded similar to Jay's, but I couldn't really tell. I ran in the direction of the voice, extending my staff out of it's dormant form in case of emergency. I hurriedly climbed up a tree and hopped tree to tree, still following the sound. I stumbled on some branches a few times, but I recovered quickly, continuing my pursuit of the voice.
I finally stopped on a branch when I could see someone standing below. Beneath the trees, I could see Nathan, Jay, and Nya fighting the fake Kai. I crouched on the branch, trying to watch the fight to see where I could break in. I watched as Jay attempted to electrocute the impostor again, only to fail miserably and knocked unconscious. Nathan and Nya stood back, both taking defensive stances. The impostor just smiled. Okay...when is this nutjob going to quit smiling like a freaking psychopath!?
I watched Nathan and Nya combine their powers, attempting to wash him away, but that failed too.
"Thanks for the bath. It was unnecessary, but thanks? Really, the one who needs a bath here is you sir!" he exclaimed, pointing at Nathan. The male master of water looked offended.
"Excuse me!? I'm the best smelling one on the team!" he shouted, obviously ticked. The impostor snickered and threw a log at his head, knocking the poor guy over. Nathan didn't get up. Nya was now the only one left. She held her katana with slightly trembling hands and a look filled with determination. Seeing her look filled me with determination.
"I'll ask you one last time, where is my brother!?" she questioned him in a firm voice. The impostor smiled.
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe this is his body and I'm possessing it. Maybe I am him. Maybe he's dead," he answered, beginning to circle her from a few feet away. Suddenly, I heard a rustling in a tree.
"If I was dead, would I be able to do THIS!?" I heard a familiar voice shout from the tree. A young man in a red shirt jumped from the tree, his fists igniting into flames. He punched his impostor across the face, knocking him to the ground. Oh yeah, that was definitely Kai.
"What the hell!? You're supposed to be back with Marléne!" the impostor exclaimed in disbelief. I saw Kai crack his knuckles.
"Yeah, and she's easy to escape from. Trust me, you can get away from anyone who runs in heels...except for my sister," the master of fire grinned, before attempting to kick his impostor unconscious. Unfortunately, Bizarro Kai was too fast for him. The impostor rolled out from under him, landing a kick in the stomach. Kai stumbled back and stayed on guard as Nya ran up and joined him. I decided now my time to strike.
I jumped down from the tree and ran to join them, standing by Nya.
"Thought you guys may need help," I smiled. Nya's determined look didn't falter.
"Good to see you're here," she said in a much more positive voice. The impostor narrowed his eyes at us.
"You two afraid to fight me on your own? So you call in a runt?" he question. I was instantly enraged. I'm no runt!
I knelt down and slammed my hands on the ground in a split second. Long, snaking black lines jetted towards the impostor, wrapping around his limbs. Looks like my rope ability is just like uncle Clouse's, except mine are intricate black lines instead of deep purple snakes. I've really grown in my ability with the Dark Arts (Hopefully Sensei never finds out I've been studying this stuff behind his back. He'd be so pissed!).
The impostor struggled to get free, but my lines didn't waver. I tried to hold him in place as I turned to Kai and Nya.
"Get him! Now!" I commended them as I struggled to hold him in place. Kai nodded and he ran towards the imposter, his sister following him. Just as they approached the Bizarro ninja, he broke free from my powers, attacking them immediately. He threw Nya into a tree, grabbing her blade and cornering Kai, who was of course unarmed. I cursed. Come on, why won't the Dark Arts work now!?
"Now, how about we end this once and for all? Let's make what I said earlier become a fact instead of a lie," I saw the impostor raise the blade. Panicked, I began to get up and run towards him, but after two steps, I halted to a stop. I was immediately shocked on what my eyes fell upon.
Same Time, Same Place
Kai backed up against the tree as Hus double approached him, a smirk plastered across his face. He was only slightly scared of this guy, but since he was now stuck between a tree, a rock, and a double that wanted to kill him, he was even more frightened.
"Now, how about we end this once and for all? Let's make what I said earlier become a fact instead of a lie," the double smiled as he raised his sword above his head. Kai could feel heat growing on his hands again. If I could just heat up again, I could roast this guy!
Unfortunately for him, the night was cold, putting him at a disadvantage for raising the heat of the fire. He'd just chill it instead of warm it. He closed his eyes and tried desperately to think of something, but couldn't. It would only be seconds now before the sword fell upon him. Though, as he waited, he heard a grunt come from his double.
The master of fire opened his eyes, only to see a blade sticking out from the double's chest, and black steam erupting from where the blade impaled him. He was shocked. Who did this!?
"Heh, how does it feel to have a blade in your chest? Painful, isn't it?" A weak but familiar voice said from behind the double. Kai's clone dropped the sword, his hands falling to his side.
"It hurts especially when people twist the blade, making it all much...more...painful," the voice paused as it twisted the blade in the double's chest, making him cry out. More black steam erupted from his chest.
"Maybe you should have thought of all that before terrorizing my friends," the blade was pulled from his chest, then Kai watched as it cut half of the double's throat, causing black steam to billow from the neck too as well. The clone then fell to the ground, revealing that it was Lilly behind him. A makeshift bandage soaked with blood covered the area between her shoulder and breast, and a huge splotch of blood covered most of her chest and most of the side of her gi. Another makeshift bandage covered her arm, which was partly soaked in blood. She was pale and looked weak.
Kai didn't know whether to be pleased, concerned, or frightened. He was happy she saved him, concerned on what happened to her, and a little frightened that his girlfriend just killed a clone that looked just like him with no remorse. He had to admit, he felt all three emotions, maybe even a fourth.
"Lilly, are you alright?" Kai asked her as she looked over at him.
"I'm fine," she replied simply, looking tired. Kai was starting to become much more concerned.
"Lilly! You were supposed to stay with Cass and the others! Aw man, you've probably lost lots more blood from moving!" Karma exclaimed as she ran up with Nya. Lilly glanced at her bandages, then looked back up at them. Her expression didn't change.
"Guys, I'm okay, alright? I'll be fiii..." she began to say, but her voice faded as her eyes closed and she fell. Kai rushed over to her quickly, catching her.
"She must have fainted," he observed as her head rested against his shoulder. Karma nodded as she picked up a half awake Jay.
"Probably from blood loss. We're gonna need to get home quick," she said as Nya looped Nathan's arm over her shoulder and assisted him over.
"We should probably meet up with the others then and get back," she suggested, to which both Kai and Karma agreed.
"Uh, yeah, anyone know where Lloyd and Zane are by the way?" the master of darkness asked as they went to find Cass and the others.
"They're probably bringing the Bounty back, or Zane is chasing Alex so he can get Pixal back. Who knows," Kai shrugged. Nya nodded.
"Well, we better go stop Zane before he shatters his eye again," she said.
"Agreed." Both Kai and Karma replied at the same time as they walked through the sea of trees. Everything was starting to seem peaceful for once to everyone, except for Jay. Although he was only half-conscious, he could feel a presence within the forest. A presence that crackled with electricity just like him. A presence that produced the same energy as him.