Happy 4th of July! Sorry I didn't post a story for today's holiday, because what I would have in there would not make sense, unless if you read The Discovery of Mt. Horn, and I'm not done with that yet. Sorry again for not updating in a while, I was on a road trip with some of my relatives. But enjoy the chapter! P.s what are you guys doing for the 4th? I'm going to The Stadium of Fire :D

Day 1

The sky was still dark when Zane was still being chased by the pair of killer ghosts-Ghoultar and Bansha-a few hours after the attack. Zane was surprised that he had made it this far. His eyes fixed straight ahead, where the dirt road still stretched strong southwards.

When will the road end? Does it even have an end? When will the chase end? Where was he going? Would he live to see another day or die out here alone?

Zane shook his head to shake off the questions racing through his mind as the ghosts began to slowly gain on him. Pushing himself, Zane tried to put as much distance between him and the ghosts as possible. The already intense pain from Zane's gash was steadily rising as a response to the change in pace. Zane seriously thought he would pass out from it.

But he had to keep going.

Clutching his side, Zane looked up to the sky. The moon he was looking up at from the bounty's deck only hours earlier was still hanging in the east, and dark, murky clouds were scuttling over the stars. Looking back to the seemingly never-ending road, Zane gritted his teeth and kept on running.

...

Zane never thought he'd be so happy to see the sun rise over the trees. He had been running and hiding all night. No matter where he went, they always found him.

But now that the sun was out, he could finally stop to rest. Ghoultar and Bansha would die in sunlight, so they were forced to take cover under the trees during the day.

Zane's knees gave out and he flopped onto the ground. He gasped in pain as his injury throbbed. He was too weak to get up.

Zane let himself lie on the road. Maybe someone would find him?

Trying to catch his breath and calm the pain of his wound, he stared up at the sky. It was a clear day, and the sun was warm with white clouds drifting lazily on the breeze. It was beautiful. In any other circumstance, Zane would have enjoyed it. But this time it felt like it was mocking him.

Zane tried to get up, but his body wouldn't let him. His limbs felt like they were made of lead. He groaned.

First Spinjitzu Master, why was this happening? Zane didn't deserve what was happening to him. He was a good person. Bad things didn't happen to good people, right?

What happened after he had run? What became of his brothers during that fight? Were they okay? Were they looking for him like they said they would?

"That's an unnecessary question to ask..." Zane muttered to himself. "Of course they would come looking for me. Cole said so himself..."

But would they make it to him before the ghosts did? Or would they stumble upon his dead body instead?

Zane couldn't help but think about what would happen if they found him dead. Carrying his half scrapped body onto the Bounty, his family weeping over him, reliving the entire nightmare all over again like when he sacrificed himself to defeat the Overlord. His team, broken. PIXAL, alone once again.

The thought of it made Zane's eyes burn as tears threatened to fall.

No. He couldn't let that happen. Not again. He had to get back to his family.

Zane propped himself on one elbow and tried for the third time to get up. His vision swam and warning signals flashed in front of his eyes.

Zane grunted in pain as he lay back down.

"Morro must have damaged some of my systems." Zane told himself. He winced as he reached over to open up his arm panel. "Perhaps I should run a system check of myself..."

He pressed a few buttons in his arm. A few moments later the results of the diagnostic came back. Several minor systems were damaged. Zane breathed a sigh of relief as nothing major was hit.

But still, the pain from his wound was absolutely debilitating.

Zane closed his eyes and took deep breaths, trying to calm his still racing heart.

He was so tired from running, and the sun's warmth on his face was making him drowsy.

No, no. He couldn't fall asleep. Not now. If he did, he would be a sitting duck.

He tried to fight the fatigue that was creeping up on him, but he wasn't strong enough. His energy levels were too low.

Zane slipped off into a deep sleep.

...

Zane roused from his sleep. He rubbed his eyes and looked up at the sky, and a jolt of terror went through him.

It was sunset. He was asleep for far too long!

Down the road, Zane saw two ghostly figures coming towards him.

He jumped up and ran. The second night of pursuit was on.

Day 2

Despite him sleeping all day, Zane had grown weaker and was stumbling over roots and stones in the road as it became rougher. He fell a couple of times, which aggravated the pain in his side.

But he kept running. He had to.

His lungs and legs were burning as he kept on. He never knew he could run so much, but he didn't know how much more he would be able to take. Even though he was a nindroid didn't mean he was invincible.

Luckily, Zane made it through the night and finally let himself fall to his knees as the sun shone on the forest. Gasping for breath, he finally was able to rest.

He was in really bad shape, being famished, dehydrated, and exhausted. His throat burned. He needed water more than anything else.

Struggling to get up, Zane stumbled into the other side of the forest from the ghosts to find a river, creek, pond, anything. After walking a short distance he heard the sound of bubbling water. Following the sound, he came to a very steep slope. Looking down, he saw a creek.

Zane began making his way down the hill but slipped as the forest floor was slick.

"Aah!" Zane cried as he went tumbling down the hill before landing at the creek's edge. He landed hard on his injured side and passed out.

He came to after he didn't know how long. His torso throbbed in agony so much a couple of tears rolled down his face.

The pain dulled, and Zane got up when he saw the creek.

Water!

Relieved he was finally able to rehydrate, he scooped the water with his hands and drank. It was icy cold and refreshing. Even after his thirst was quenched he kept drinking to edge off the hunger as well.

Zane wiped his mouth and looked up at the sky. The shadows of the forest were getting longer as the sun sank to the west. He had to get going.

Using trees to support himself, Zane climbed back up the hill and back to the road. Feeling somewhat better he took off in a sprint and did his best to ignore the pain from his wound and continued on the faltering road that continued south.

The ghosts caught up with him quickly over the course of the night. While he was running, Zane took a bad fall as he stumbled over himself. The pain was so bad he couldn't get up, and he couldn't get his knees under him.

The ghosts sped ahead and took their chance, lunging at the injured ninja. Ghoultar swung his scythe at him

Zane rolled to avoid the weapon, but he was too slow. He yelled out in pain as the blade sliced the skin on his back.

Zane blasted ice at the ghost, making both of them drop back. But Bansha rushed him, and Zane kicked her in the stomach sending her reeling back.

He used their distraction to jump up and run as fast as he could. He could feel his blood soak the fabric of his gi from his new injury. But he continued to run because it was all he could do.

When the sun came up again and the ghosts were forced into the shadows, Zane collapsed facefirst onto the ground.

When will it end?

Zane lifted his head and saw the road had thinned very much, and the forest had grown much, much thicker.

"Where am I?" He asked himself. He tried to get his coordinates, but they came out scrambled.

What? Where was he then?

Searing pain in his back jolted him from his thoughts. He groaned.

He would use this day to conserve as much energy as possible. He was lucky to get away from the ghosts once. He wasn't so sure if he would a second time.