Cole POV: I know that I said that I could find Kai, but I was really nervous about being in here alone. Mostly because I didn't want to go through my nightmare again. However, Kai is one of my best friends, and he needs help. So after I ran into the tunnel, I didn't stop until I fell, again. And landed on my face.
I groaned, and I sat up and felt everything in my body went cold. The place was dark and dim, with a really dark red sky. Small, but really sharp looking, black rocks and thin black trees, at least what I think are trees, were scattered everywhere and the wind howled in an unnerving way. But what exactly was this place? Was there someone else in here, or is this one of the other criminals' memories? I haven't seen them yet, so that was a possibility, I guess. But I need to focus on Kai right now.
I pushed back the feeling and started to run through the place, though I couldn't help but be on guard. Mostly because this place just seemed so off. I continued to run until something ran full force into me.
I rolled and took up a stance before I saw it was Kai. He was on the ground and was bleeding slightly from his hands. He was dazed for only a few seconds before scrambling to stand up.
"Kai, I was wondering-" I started to say until he turned to me, and I was shocked.
All the time I have known him he's never looked this terrified. He stood up fast and looked like he wanted to run. He was also breathing really fast
"How are you here? What's going on? Why, here of all places?" He was talking fast, clearly in a panic. Which was also concerning.
He may be a bit of a hot-head, but he doesn't panic like this, ever. Plus, his fear was intense, and he wasn't making much sense. We all had a bad time here, but it just seems like Kai is having it worse than I thought.
"Kai, it's okay. This place…" I started to say, but I stopped when I noticed he wasn't listening. He was breathing hard, and harder by the second, and looking around like something was going to attack.
"Kai." I said, grabbing his shoulders.
He blinked in surprise, but he managed to take a couple of normal breaths and said, "Yeah?"
"Dude, are you okay?" I had to ask. He was more important than anything else right now.
But instead of answering, he just looked away, his eyes darting around again. Something was making him paranoid, but I don't know what. I haven't seen this place before.
"Look, Kai, about this place." I said, and he started breathing fast again.
He tried to pull away, but I didn't let go. Mostly because he just seems like he's ready to pass out. Another thing that was weird was the way he didn't fight against me after that.
But before either one of us could say anything, something rammed into the both of us, and I slammed into a tree hard. I nearly blacked out, but I managed to stay aware. I tried to shake it off and slowly got to my knees. That's when I noticed the weird noises.
I was dazed when I looked, but wasn't anymore from what I saw. Some tall woman who was covered completely in black was standing over Kai and strangling him. He was trying to fight while choking, and she wasn't budging.
"Hey! Get off him!" I yelled and ran at her.
I threw her off, and Kai started coughing. I covered him and didn't take my eyes off of her. But when she faced me, a chill ran through me.
Because she was nothing but pitch black with glowing red eyes. Her hands were talons that had blood on them that had to be Kai's, which made me more protective of him. That and the fact that her eyes were glancing at him.
Then her jaw clicked to the right and opened unnaturally wide, showing sharp white fangs and lunged at me. But, even though that scared me more than a bit, I stood my ground. And nailed her hard in the face. She flew from that and into a larger rock and turned into ash.
I sighed a little and thanked every good in the world that this place's enemies are so easy to defeat. Then I turned to Kai, who was still trying to catch his breath. I went down to my knees and held his shoulders. That's when I noticed how bad he was shaking. That and how he was starting to get a panic attack.
"Kai, calm down. Everything's okay." I tried to reassure him, but he shook his head.
"It's not okay. It won't be okay. Nothing's okay here." he mostly mumbled and started shaking harder.
At this point he's going to pass out, and there's no way he could break this nightmare by himself. I looked around and saw a cliff not too far from us. I could use that to break this.
"Kai, this isn't going to make sense at first. So I'm sorry for this." I said, having him stand up with me.
Despite his fear and panic, he gave a confused look. But I didn't wait and grabbed his arm, and ran towards the cliff. He was forced to run with him, but the second he saw the cliff, he tried to pull away. But I didn't let go and jumped off with him. He screamed as we went over, but instead of falling to our deaths, we landed in yet another arena-like section.
I finally let Kai go, and he just stood there, completely shocked and still shaking.
"What?..." Was all he said.
"Yeah, that guy Hry created this place to recreate our worst memories. But none of that was real." I briefly explained.
He just looked down and, again, was breathing faster than he should. Then he started to collapse, and I barely caught him. I checked his pulse, which was okay enough to not be too concerned. But he was still out, and that was worrying.
Though I can't help but think about that place. I thought it was someone else, but it was Kai's memory. And that… thing was trying to hurt Kai, and only him.
I shook those thoughts away for now. I need to get him out of here first. I'll worry about all of that later.
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Lloyd POV: We've been waiting for Cole and Kai long enough for me to get really worried. I was paced as Nya and Jay worked on Zane's leg. Hry was just watching his mirror without saying anything or looking at any of us. That probably means that nothing has really happened, but the quiet was driving me crazy.
"Lloyd, it'll be alright." Nya said, turning to me.
"I know, but I can't help it." I responded, and she just nodded. But despite that, she also looked worried.
She stood up and said, "Okay, I've done enough. I can, and you should be good. But P.I.X.A.L. should take a look once we get back."
Zane simply stood up with Jay's help and carefully tested his weight. "It seems okay, but I will follow your advice."
"Good, but now what are we going to do? Just wait until they come out?" Jay asked, but no one really answered him.
I looked at the portal, and I really wanted to go in and find them. But at the same time, I couldn't forget the feeling of Morro that I felt. Instead, I glanced at Hry. He could see inside, and he could update us at the very least.
But before I could say anything, he said, "They're on their way out."
We looked towards the portal, and he wasn't lying because they did come out. But not in the way I had hoped. Cole was carrying Kai on his back, and Kai was unconscious. Nya moved immediately once they were clear of the portal and took Kai into her arms.
"What happened?" I asked, going over to Kai. He was slightly dirty and looked exhausted despite being out.
I glanced at Cole, and he seemed uncomfortable, but he just said, "I'm not entirely sure, but we can worry about that later."
He usually doesn't put stuff off, but I trust him and nodded.
Jay spoke up and said, "Then I get Hry to the prison with Cole. The rest of you guys can check back in at the Bounty."
Nya looked grateful at him, and I said, "Alright, but be careful."
"When have I ever been… You know what, I'm not going to finish that." He said, and we all laughed slightly.
Cole and Nya lifted Kai up, and we made our way out of the building. Zane followed behind us, not going too fast to avoid undoing his quick repairs. At least now the worst part is finally over.
Hry POV: The two ninja lifted me up in silence, and I let them. But I couldn't help but laugh a little as we walked.
"Uh, you do know you're about to go back to prison, right?" The Lightning ninja said, confused by me.
"Plus you're going to the biggest and much more secure prison in all of Ninjago because of what you did here. Unless this is what you wanted, you shouldn't be excited." The Earth Ninja added.
"Oh I had a feeling that would happen, but I have my own reasons to laugh." Is how I responded.
They just gave each other a look and didn't say anything else. But that didn't matter. Because not only did I get amazing entertainment from these heroes, but I now know how to get even more of it.
Oh this will be so much fun.
