Kai POV: I took Zane's advice and immediately went to my room. Cole and Lloyd tried to talk to me when I left the med bay, but I couldn't say anything. Zane guessed it and that made it easier in a way. But there was no way I could explain to them. I thought that it was over, all that… I don't know what to even call it. But I still hate it so much. I just want all of this to be over already.
Once I got to my room I laid down and wrapped a blanket around me. It made me feel a little bit better, even though I was still numb and cold. It was the same feeling as before, and it was getting worse. And I knew that it was because I was becoming more and more exposed. Why can't this all be over by now?
I sighed and closed my eyes. I didn't want to sleep yet, but there was no way I could keep them open. Eventually, I heard someone knocking on my door. But I didn't do anything and I just hoped that whoever it was would just go away. However, that doesn't happen and they open the door. They didn't say anything and just sat next to me. At first they just sat there and waited. It was a little weird but I didn't care.
"Are you alright?" They finally said, it was Zane.
I shrugged without saying anything. I really didn't want to talk right now.
But he didn't let it go and said, "Cole and Lloyd are worried because you wouldn't talk with them. I assume that you didn't want to tell them, correct?"
"Yeah, I didn't." I said, knowing that he asked just to get me to talk. But whatever, he wasn't hurting me.
"I see… Do you want to talk with me about it?" I glanced at him after he said that.
He was patiently waiting, and it seemed like he would go if I said no. And I would have if telling him didn't help. Truth be told, when he figured it out and I answered a couple of questions it did help with the fog in my head. So I guess a couple more couldn't hurt.
I slowly sat up, without removing the blanket, and said, "Alright, just for a little bit."
He looked a little pleased when I said that and asked, "You said that you stopped yourself. But have you relapsed before?"
I should have guessed that would be the first question. "No, but sometimes they can reopen a bit during one of our… more difficult fights."
"Does that happen every time?" He sounded concerned, but I shook my head.
"I've tried to be careful ever since the first time. Sometimes they don't, but other times I can't focus on them." I explained, and he relaxed a little.
"Have you ever considered telling anyone about what you did? Before now I mean." I don't know how to respond to that.
There definitely were times when Nya almost caught me before I stopped. And there have been times when I just wanted to break down. But I couldn't, not then or any other time. Nya needed me, and I nearly let her down. I was practically ready to leave her alone in the world. Without anyone to protect her all because I couldn't handle it. What does that make me? And how can I explain that to her without making her feel terrible. It was never her fault and I don't want her to feel that way ever.
In the end I just shook my head and looked down. Zane just took my hand and said, "There's nothing to be ashamed about Kai."
"I shouldn't have started though. I'm Nya's older brother and I kept doing that. I almost left her alone forever." I said, I heard my voice breaking. And maybe some tears falling down my face.
Zane just gently gripped my shoulders and said, "But you didn't. You pushed through the suffering that you were in and rebuilt yourself. You healed yourself enough to get back to your life."
I looked away but he continued, "Yes, you let your worst thoughts win for some time. However, you didn't succumb to them. You beat them and even now you're trying to fight back. But now is the time to face those thoughts. Face those memories to see what type of person that you are now."
He made me look at him and stated, "Only then can you really move forward."
I didn't know what to say. I know that he was trying to help, but how can I relive all of that? When it was this hard just to walk through the fog in my head.
Now I could feel the tears start to pour and Zane pulled me into a hug. As the master of ice he was naturally cold, but I didn't mind it. I just hugged him back and buried my face in his shoulder. I just want to stay like this for a while. I wanted to ignore the fog and the feelings. I didn't want to think or do anything. I needed this break from the reality that I put myself in for now. Maybe after a while I might be able to make sense of something. But screw that for now.
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Zan POV: I held Kai as he cried himself to sleep. I didn't even realize that until I noticed that he wasn't shaking anymore. I then laid him down and cleaned his face. The tears marks covered his face and I didn't want him to wake up to that. I finished and just looked at him. I noticed this earlier, but he just looked exhausted despite sleeping. Like he hasn't slept well in several days. Lloyd mentioned to me that Kai had a nightmare days ago and now I wonder how often that has happened in the past. Perhaps it would be a good idea to get him a precipitation of sleeping medication. But that's something to think about on another day.
I quietly left his room and closed the door behind me. That's when I noticed Cole and Lloyd in the hallway. They were sitting on the floor, but when they noticed me they immediately stood up.
"Is Kai okay?" They asked at the same time. I underestimated how worried they were.
"He will be. He's sleeping now and I will check on him later." I explained, and that didn't work very much.
"What exactly happened during the tests?" Cole asked.
I know that Kai would never forgive me if I told them without his permission. So I just said, "We just had a heavy discussion. It wore him out and needs some space right now."
They gave each other a look, but they eventually nodded in agreement. Despite that, they both obviously wanted to ask more about that discussion that we had.. But that's going to have to wait for our brother. If he'll ever be ready for that conversation.
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Hry POV: After I arrived at this new prison I immediately looked for the perfect sacrifices. A glimpse that the master of fire's nightmare was all I needed. And I didn't even realize it until after it was already over. That doesn't matter anymore because it just gave me the tools to make my labyrinth better.
It took more days that I would have liked, but eventually I found the perfect souls that I needed. Though it definitely took some time to manipulate the guards to have us placed in the same cell. But it was definitely worth it after listening to their conversation.
"Those ninjas are going down once we get out. And they won't even see it coming." the tall one said as they did pull-ups on his bed. A pointless exercise if you ask me.
"Yeah, and it will be satisfying to see their faces." the skinny one said with a cruel-looking grin on his face. He was the intelligent one, and the complete opposite of his friend.
They really are perfect.
I cleared my throat and said, "Well then, I have the perfect plan for that."
They both looked skeptical at me and the taller one let go and said, "Sure you do."
"I do, and it will work so well with the both of you." I smiled at them, which made them both look at each other.
But they smirked and came closer and said, "Tell us then." Faithful fools, just as I thought.
I pulled them in close, but instead of saying anything. I pulled out the metal shard I hid and got them both right there. They were shocked and they both went down. The skinny one was already gone, but the tall man was trying to crawl to the bars.
He tried to call out, but I covered his mouth. I saw the terrified look in his eyes.
"Be patient. You will make my plan work perfectly." I said, as he slipped away.
The guards didn't notice at that moment, but were going to eventually. Since this place was going to change soon. I just hope that the master of fire will show up when the rest of them do.
It will make for an excellent show.