Chapter Twenty-Three

In the Dark of the Night

Just a little further, Kai thought. It's got to be here somewhere.

Truth be told, Kai had no clue where he was going, but he felt the pull of the current guide him. One of the biggest impulses of his life was leading him to the desired destination with no said plan.

Should I be doing this? Kai thought.

He had spent the past year regularly remembering his time with Blaire and the adventure they got to experience together. It wasn't like the episode of depression he faced when Blaire had scrambled together a goodbye note and disappeared before he got the chance to speak with her. The same day they crossed paths again at the fair in Ninjago where he discovered that she was a part of a group of angels sent to defeat her demon brother Dimitri.

Kai looked down at the rolling river and repeated the last words of the letter she had left for him, "You'll find me where the river ends".

Where it was going, he hoped, would give him a feeling of clarity. It kept him going, but there was a pang of worry in the back of his mind.

Should I be doing this? Kai thought again.

One step after another, Kai squished through the damp earth. His steps sloshed and sputtered into the mud while rushing streams of water pulsed near his path. The darkness of the night kept his eyes focusing in and out without a clue of what could be lying ahead. He continued to walk and continued to remember.

An image of a girl with blue and black hair stayed plastered in his mind. A waterfall, a dog, an archery set- they were all a part of her. Then there was her best treasure, his gift to her. A simple silver chain with the letter 'B' encrusted with fake diamonds. He had given it to her after their first movie date and he even had the honor of putting it on for her. She looked so beautiful wearing something he had given to her, and what made him even happier was remembering how he had purchased it.

Since none of the members of the team had any actual paying jobs, most of their income relied on what the citizens would gift them and whatever money Nya would make off of her mechanical repairs. Jay frequently also pitched in with money his parents would send him from their junkyard sales and Cole would also help with money his father would send from his various gigs. It was almost always enough to have a treat here and there: a trip for ice cream or a new video game.

Most of Kai's savings had accumulated by picking coins off of the sidewalk or hanging on to his change anytime he broke a dollar. He had counted his change while no one else was around and deduced that he only had enough to buy a few snacks and the tickets for the movie. An instant red rush of embarrassment flowed through his face that day, along with a wretched realization: a man without money taking a woman out on a date was about as awkward as showing up to a gas station with no car.

He breathed, "Jeez. I've gotta get her something".

A knock rang out. Kai's head shot up. He thought everyone had left.

"Yeah?" he called out.

"It's me," Nya's voice called back.

Kai got up and opened the door. Nya was dressed in her usual red kimono and had her wallet in her hand.

"I thought you were heading somewhere?" Kai said.

"I am," Nya replied. "I was just coming to give you this".

Nya held out her hand and revealed a roll of dollar bills. Kai froze.

"Nya, I can't take that from you," Kai said.

"You will because every special girl deserves something nice on her first date," Nya replied. "You guys have fun!"

Nya forced the money into Kai's hands and turned to leave. Kai gaped at the money in his palms. Man, was he blessed to have a sister like Nya. What would he get for Blaire?

Suddenly, the guys came into the room. After a long discussion on how he needed to freshen up before his date, everyone chipped in to buy Kai a brand-new outfit and took him to the hair salon to get his hair trimmed.

The hair salon was on a strip with various stores neighboring it. One, in particular, caught his eye. The window displayed various earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, with a sign next to each of them labeling their design and price. Custom engravings and initial jewelry 50% off read one poster. As soon as Kai glanced at the sign next to a mannequin sporting a simple silver chain with the letter 'B' hanging from it, his mind had been made up on what he would give to Blaire.

#

In the distance, Kai could hear the sound of something growling. He froze. The growling continued in a low rumble, followed by the slow shift of grass blades and the consistent thump of feet walking toward him. Then suddenly, it stopped. Kai held his breath and stayed glued to the ground. He listened for any sign or sound that the animal was still nearby, but the only sound that filled his ears was that of the water lapping against the dirt.

I need to get to higher ground! Kai thought.

He turned his head wildly, searching for any sign of a tree or platform he could climb, but there was nothing. His only thought was to get low to the ground. The thumps kept getting closer. Kai's heart pounded against his chest. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple as he waited hopelessly against the unknown of whatever faced him. He was plastered to the ground, hoping that the earth would swallow him whole. His heart dropped when he heard the footsteps cease. It was quiet again. He listened for something, anything, and then it happened.

The creature appeared in front of Kai. It stood motionless with its silhouette beating against the light of the moon. Kai could make out its ears and size but was still unsure of what it was under the darkness of the night. He held his breath and gazed in fear. Should he run? Should he stay still? Then, the creature leaned in and pressed its wet nose against the tip of Kai's nose. It sniffed and huffed out a moist breath. It took two steps closer, and Kai could feel the brush of its fur against his hand. The rough bristles tickled his skin as the animal pressed closer into his body. It let out a grunt and leaned into his face again. However, the animal sniffed Kai's face this time and almost instinctively began to lick his cheek. The animal jumped and put its paws on Kai's shoulders as it proceeded to lick him and thump its tail against the ground.

"Wait a minute-" Kai said out loud. "Lexis?!"