Earlier that day~
"Lloyd—!"
He hit cold water, the voice cutting off as the waves submerged over his head. A tug of a current dragged him under. He coughed, struggling madly, everything a blur. The light of the sun shone through, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly where, the waves tossing him head over heels.
He was going to drown.
This wasn't the first time he'd fallen in a river. He once had during a fire in the Outcast. It had been his only escape. He thought he was going to die, but somehow, survived. And now here he was again.
Lloyd continued to struggle, the world starting to grow dark as the water tossed and turned him violently. Something hard smacked into his head, then his side. Splitting pain struck him, but he continued to move his arms and legs desperately, trying to get to the surface, to air.
The water roared in his ear, pounding on him and thrashing. The cold seeped into his skin and bones, the taste of dirty water rushing into his mouth.
Then, suddenly, everything vanished beneath him. The waves tumbled down, spraying him, and he coughed for a second.
Crack!
Then it all went black.
Current time~
Lloyd faintly became aware of cold, hard rock beneath him. Something bright shown against his eyes, flicks of water spraying him softly in the face. The gentle bobbing of the water covered half his body, chilling him like ice.
He cracked open his eyes blearily. Brown rock was above him, jutting out into sharp corners. Water dripped down from them, some onto his face and some to other rocks. He flexed his fingers, suddenly having the urge to make sure he was alive.
He seemed okay. Other than a splitting headache and a throbbing in his arm. He gingerly sat up, muscles screaming at him. Lloyd glanced around, blinking, then scooted back so he was completely out of the water.
The waterfall spilled before him, pounding into the water. The river led further on into the jungle, snaking, though Lloyd could barely make it out. He realized he was behind the waterfall, under some jagged rocks that mostly hid him from view.
He stood, wobbling slightly, and then made his way out of the waterfall. He went to the other side, the stared back at the waterfall. It wasn't too big, but big enough that the fall must have knocked him out. Rocks made up the cliff edge, plants growing on the sides.
Where were the others?
He looked around, seeing the sun just barely rising, its rays flickering through the branches and leaves. Birds chirped, and insects buzzed around. It seemed peaceful, calm.
Lloyd took a breath. The others must have gone back when they couldn't find him. He'd have to run, though. He didn't want to miss the tournament challenges.
He stumbled, climbing up the cliff edge to the top, heading upriver, back the way he'd come. Hopefully, he'd be able to find his way back.
Because if he didn't, Chen would say he'd lost, and he'd get kicked out of the tournament. That couldn't happen. He needed to find his mom.
About an hour later, Lloyd was exhausted. His "swim" yesterday must have taken more out of him than he'd thought. He sat down on a rock, panting.
He'd made good progress, anyway. He was nearing the palace. And, he really hoped it was just the next day, and that he hadn't slept through a few days. Because if that was the case, then Chen had already kicked him out. He'd already lost.
He hoped Chen wouldn't take it out on his friends, Dad, and uncle, though.
Lloyd ran his hand along the rock the he sat on, feeling the rough, yet smooth, surface. Around him, foliage and trees covered the area. Green and brown and purple colored the place, along with a variety of flowers. Even if his predicament was unfortunate, at least it was pretty. The Outcast was pretty dark and drear, with few flowers and lots of green and brown. Birds chirped, but not as loud and varied as here.
He smiled, leaning back on his hands. He was probably wasting time too now, but he would hate to use all his energy in getting to the palace, then be unable to compete anyway.
"We're not. And besides, at least we'll know whether—" Lloyd's foot suddenly slipped. He yelped, the air rushing out of his lungs and branches snagging at his face and arms. Then there was nothing but air beneath him.
"Lloyd—!"
He hit cold water, the voice cutting off as the waves submerged over his head. A tug of a current dragged him under.
He frowned. How had he fallen, anyway? He'd been on solid ground. Sure, there'd been a river beside them, but he wasn't stupid enough to walk too close to the edge. Unless they'd been on an overhang, and it'd broken?
But…that was odd.
He knew how to be careful. He'd lived in the Outcast his whole life, where being careful kept you alive. He'd kept that early training throughout his life, and even though his family didn't live in the Outcast anymore, he wouldn't have forgotten his training.
Right?
But then, what had happened? Maybe one of his friends had seen what had happened, or his dad or uncle…
He stood, stretching. He winced, then continued on towards the palace. This time he went at a quick pace—he'd lost enough time already.
P.I.X.A.L. paced Borg Tower, hands clenching and unclenching. Something was very wrong. Zane was missing. She'd checked everywhere again, the school, the place he used to work at, the monastery, his orphanage…but nothing. She had even gone near the palace, searching for any sign he may have gone there for some odd reason.
She didn't understand how, or why, he would disappear. It was unlike him. This was not the Zane she knew. So if he would not disappear, then did that mean he had been kidnapped?
And there was something else odd.
Zane's friends, the ninja, were also missing. So were Lloyd's parents and Master Wu. They had all vanished, on seemingly the same day. It could not be a coincidence. Perhaps the new Emperor wanted revenge on the ninja? But then why take Master Wu, Misako, and Garmadon? And why not her? She had helped; she had been an accomplice.
"P.I.X.A.L., you've been pacing like that for the past three hours. Is something bothering you?" Cyrus Borg wheeled over, frowning.
She did not want to bother him. He had a company to run. But she turned to him anyway, rigid with anxiety. "I cannot find Zane anywhere. Or his friends, or mentor."
"That is odd…"
"I agree. I do not know what to do. Zane would not disappear like this."
"Maybe the Emperor did something…he is pretty strange. Letting half breeds in suddenly? Freeing nindroids? Seems suspicious, even if it was the right thing to do."
"Yes…" She stared out the window, at the city. Skyscrapers and other buildings rose up, the village lands in the distance, where Jamanakai and Ignacia were.
"I will see what I can find on the security footage." Cyrus wheeled over to his computer.
"I have already searched. They are gone."
"Hmm. I'll search anyway; maybe an extra set of eyes, a different viewpoint, might help. Works with tech, anyway."
She nodded, frowning. Zane, wherever you are, please be safe…
Author's note: I've decided to give myself a break on Sundays, so I won't be posting a chapter on Sundays (:
