"Moving in," Wu's voice called over the radio.
The other four sat outside the cave entrance, out of sight yet eager to get inside. The cave entrance sat about 10 feet away, beyond the bushes that sheltered them from view.
"How long do we need to wait?" Kai groaned. "We should be in there and looking for Cole."
"We will, Kai," Lloyd assured. "We need to wait until it's safe."
Kai shook his head as he continued pacing. The uneasy feeling from everything wasn't sitting well, and waiting around didn't help anyone. The amount of unknown kept everyone on edge as they hoped this plan would work out.
"What do we do if the Senseis don't call back?" Jay asked, looking over at Lloyd.
The blond shrugged, "I don't think we need to worry; the Senseis will be fine."
Kai huffed, leaning against the wall behind him. "I still think we'd be fine going in now."
"We don't know that," Nya frowned. "We also don't know if Lilly is waiting for us or not."
"She probably is," Jay replied.
All three cast glares at the redhead, who tried to sink into the bushes.
"Regardless, we are better waiting," Lloyd turned away. "Who knows what's happening in there."
"Exactly my point," Kai retorted. "We don't know what's happening in there, if someone is hurt, or if they were captured, or they could've died-"
"Kai, you aren't helping," Nya snapped.
"No, we aren't helping by being out here," Kai seethed.
The red ninja pushed through the bushes and darted for the cave. The others jumped to their feet, racing off after him. Who knew what was awaiting them? Or was Lilly waiting only a few feet inside? They could be walking into a death trap and not even know it.
Jay, Lloyd, and Nya entered the cavern, looking around. It was a small, narrow pathway, and their heads were inches from the ceiling. The air was damp and reeked of mould, with moss patching along the bottom of the walls.
"It's so dark in here," Nya whispered.
"Just keep to the left, and we should be able to get to Cole," Lloyd responded, cautiously stepping further into the cavern.
The three cautiously stumbled through the cavern, listening to the soft footsteps confirming that the others were nearby. Lloyd led the way, although no one could see where they were going. They walked in silence, as no one could see anything.
After a few minutes of wandering, a faint, flickering light emanated from down a pathway. The orange glow reflected that of a flame. As they approached, they saw Kai standing at a fork in the path with his hand acting as a torch.
"Kai, you can't just run off like that," Lloyd scolded. "We have a plan. Everything relies on our plan."
"Plans useless since the caves are what Vania said," Kai turned to him.
"That's beside the point; you can't take off," Lloyd said.
"Wait, what do you mean?" Nya asked, her features highlighted by the flames.
"There isn't supposed to be a fork here," Kai turned, waving his unlit hand around at the paths before him. "It's supposed to be a straight tunnel to Cole."
"So, what do we do?" Jay asked. "Do we just pick one?"
"It would make more sense to take the left one," Nya pointed. "The right one looks like it loops back up the way we came, so it probably leads out."
"Nya's got a point," Lloyd hummed.
"Then let's go," Kai concluded, starting down the tunnel.
"Kai, hold up!" Lloyd called.
But the red ninja was already disappearing down the hallway.
"Come on, we've got to catch up with him," Jay called.
The three raced after Kai, quickly catching up with him. They walked down the tunnel, looking around. The tunnel started opening up before they wandered into a large cavern.
The group stood on a ledge about 20 feet above the ground. Below them, munks and geckles were chained together, forced to mine the vengestone that lined the cavern walls. To the left, the ledge ramped up, leading towards more pathways. The ramp continued down on their right, leading to the ground.
"The mines?" Jay frowned. "How'd we get here?"
"The better question is, why are you here?"
The ninja turned around, seeing two confused and unimpressed senseis behind them.
"It was Kai's fault," Jay pointed.
"Of course it was," Garmadon groaned.
"Regardless," Wu interjected, "we've got our work cut out. There is no sign of Lilly or your friend. There are several prisoners, so it may be best for us to split up and search for him."
"The munks and the geckles?" Lloyd asked, looking down below them.
"We saved them in our world, so we might as well help them here," Jay commented.
Nya frowned, "even if we free them, nothing stops Lilly from rounding them up and putting them back to work as Vangelis did in our world."
"So we stop Lilly, too," Kai stated. "Simple plan. Let's go."
"Hold up," Garmadon grabbed Kai's collar, stopping him from running off. "You aren't going anywhere."
Kai huffed, glaring at Garmadon as the Sensei released his grip.
"Even if we work here, we have no idea where Lilly or Cole are," Wu frowned. "We could be ambushed at any point."
"So we find and deal with Lilly first," Kai suggested. "It's not that hard."
Garmadon grabbed Kai again, stopping him from running off with a glare. Kai glared back, challenging the sensei.
"We should split up," Garmadon said. "Some of us stay here and look for Cole while the others head up there," he pointed up the ramp. "That way, we cover more ground."
"So we'll go up there while you two stay here," Kai declared. "Sounds like a plan. Let's go."
Garmadon grabbed Kai's arm, holding the ninja at his side, much to Kai's protest. "You aren't going anywhere. You and the others shouldn't be here, but you are."
"Because you two were taking too long," Kai argued. "And you are only slowing us down right now."
"All the more reason for you to stay next to me from here on out," Garmadon glared.
"What?" Kai cried. "That's not fair."
"Lower your voice," Wu snapped. "Do you want Lilly to hear us?"
Kai glared but kept his mouth shut.
"You three," Wu motioned to the other ninja, "head up that way and see what you can find. Kai's going to stay with us and help free the prisoners and look around down here."
"How's that fair," Kai cried.
"It's not supposed to be," Garmadon glared. "You didn't follow the plan, so now you get supervision. Let's go."
Kai glared, storming down the ramp with Garmadon close behind him.
"Be safe, and let us know if you find something," Wu told the others.
"We will," Lloyd nodded. "Let's go."
The three raced up the ramp to the top, where an outcropping viewed over the mine. A tunnel disappeared further inside, illuminated by torches that lined the walls. The three walked down the hall, listening and watching for any movement.
They paused as the room opened into a small office space. A desk sat in the middle of the room with a few bookshelves scattered around.
"Split up and look around," Lloyd whispered. "Maybe something in here will help us figure out where Cole is."
Jay and Nya nodded. Jay wandered over to one of the bookshelves, scanning the books for anything useful while analyzing for possible levels and hidden compartments.
Lloyd and Nya dug through the papers and books around the desk, hoping to find something useful.
"Check this out," Nya whispered.
Lloyd leaned over, looking at the book she held. The words Maps and Blueprints were scribbled across the front of it. She flipped the pages, watching the maps change with each page. It was clear that the maps were large-scale maps of the caverns, yet they changed constantly. New tunnels appeared where there wasn't one on the previous page, tunnels changing directions, and even pathways completely disappeared off the map and reappeared on the next page.
"The hell is this?" Lloyd frowned.
Nya glanced up, offering a shrug before flipping to the first page. "Look at this. It says, 'These caverns are protected by dark magic, meant to keep the vengestone within safe from people who wish to misuse it. Only those with this book can safely access and navigate the tunnels without risking being trapped forever.'"
"That explains why the tunnels were different than the map Vania made us," Lloyd sighed, looking at the book. Nya set the open book on the table before them as the two flipped through the pages, scanning each map. "Too bad there doesn't appear to be anything about where she'd be keeping Cole."
"Or which version is currently active," Nya sighed. "We're going to have to hope we can get out on our own."
"Still would be good to keep it with us," Lloyd decided. "It could help, even if we don't know which map is accurate."
"Fair enough," Nya agreed.
"Hey guys," Jay called. "Come check this out!"
Lloyd and Nya ran over to Jay, where he was looking through a journal. He continued reading, skimming the pages.
"What's that?" Lloyd asked.
"I'm not too sure," Jay replied. "I thought it was just random numbers and letters, but it almost seems to be a code of some sort."
"I see what you mean," Nya commented. "Some numbers represent letters, and when you swap them out, it spells words."
"Some of them don't, though," Jay frowned. "It's hard to figure out, and would take far more time than we have."
"We know it's here," Lloyd commented. "We can come back for it if we find a use for it."
Jay nodded, setting the book back on the shelf. "You guys found something?"
"It's got maps of the caverns," Lloyd held up the book. "Unfortunately, the caverns are constantly changing, and there's no way to know which map is accurate right now."
"That sucks," Jay sighed.
"Any signs of a hidden door or anything?" Nya asked.
"I found this?" Jay held up a key that was sitting on the shelf. "Doesn't look like a normal door key, though."
"It still might open something," Lloyd commented. "Look around for a hidden door or compartment."
The three split up, searching the room high and low for a door. Just as they were about to call it quits, Jay called out. He'd found something. Nya and Lloyd ran over, hopeful.
A small keyhole was hidden on the mount of one of the torches near the back wall. Jay slipped the key into it, turning it in the lock. All three looked around, hopeful that something would move. But nothing.
"There goes that theory," Lloyd sighed.
"Maybe not," Nya hummed, looking at the torch.
She grabbed the bottom of it, shaking it in the mount. She then pulled the torch off the mount as the sounds of gears moving echoed around them.
"You did something," Jay smiled.
All three watched a segment of the wall beside them shift into the floor, revealing a narrow staircase.
"Hidden staircase?" Jay grinned. "That's cool."
"And possibly a trap," Lloyd cautioned. "We don't know what or who's down there. Be on high alert. We don't want to get caught off guard."
The couple nodded as Nya handed Lloyd the torch. The blond led the three down the staircase. The three were tense, listening for signs of something or someone waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs. They emerged into a large, circular room. On the far side, a pile of rocks and debris blocked another path The room was about the size of the office they were just in, yet doors lined the walls—large metal doors. Each door had a small opening at the top, enough room for someone to see out.
Or for them to see inside.
"Those look like prison cells, right?" Jay asked.
"Sure do," Nya sighed.
"Come on," Lloyd ordered. "Start looking around. Cole might be in one of them."
Lloyd walked down to the end as Nya and Jay split up, checking the cells closest to them. After a few cells, Jay called out to them.
"Over here! Cole's over here!"
Nya and Lloyd raced over, glancing inside as Jay twisted and pulled at the handle.
"Cole? Can you hear us?" Lloyd called.
"Lloyd?" a faint voice called back.
"It's us, Cole!" Nya called. "We're going to get you out!"
"Nya?" his voice echoed.
"It's locked," Jay cried. "We need a key."
"I saw one over by the door. Hold on," Nya ran over to the stairs. A key ring hung on the wall, cloaked by the shadows. She grabbed it before racing back over to the door. Lloyd and Jay stepped back, letting Nya try the keys to the door.
All three sighed in relief when the third key turned in the lock, opening the door. Nya pulled the door open as Jay and Lloyd rushed inside. Nya quickly followed, leaving the keys hanging in the lock.
Cole lay on a makeshift bed in the corner; a small sheet kept him warm in the cold cell. He looked up, hardly moving as the three ran over to him
"Cole, are you ok?" Jay asked, frantically looking over his friend.
"What are you guys doing here?" Cole asked as Nya helped him sit up.
"We came to find you," Lloyd claimed. "Vania called Sensei Wu, and he and Garmadon brought us here."
"You shouldn't have come here," Cole shook his head, wincing in pain.
"Don't worry, Cole," Jay assured him. "We'll get you out of here."
"No, you need to leave," Cole pleaded. "She could be back anytime. Who knows what she'll do to you guys."
"We'll stop her," Nya assured him. "Kai's with the Senseis now. She won't even be able to get to us."
Bang.
All three spun around as the lock turned on the door. Lloyd ran over, only to step back as he saw who stared back at him through the door.
"How nice," her voice echoed through the cell. "Cole's little friends did come."
"No," Cole mumbled, shaking his head.
"And thanks for letting me know who's causing chaos down in my mine right now," Lilly smiled at them. "I've been wanting to get rid of those pests you call 'senseis' for a while. Maybe your friend will join them."
"They'll stop you!" Nya snapped. "Just you wait and see."
"Sure they will, love," Lilly chuckled. "Just how you thought you could stop me?"
"You just caught us off guard," Lloyd glared. "They know your coming. They'll stop you. You'll see. And when we get out of here, we'll make sure of it."
"Maybe talk to your friend there," Lilly taunted. "Ask him what happened when he tried to escape me. I get the feeling that will change your mind real quick."
Nya and Lloyd glanced back at Cole. The earth ninja had gone ghostly pale, leaning against Jay who sat next to them.
"And thanks for leaving the keys out here," Lilly smirked. "Made this all the more easier for me."
"You'll regret this," Lloyd growled.
"Sure I will," Lilly mocked. "God, you sound just like your father. I'll see if you'll sound like him when begging for mercy."
"That'll never happen," Lloyd snapped.
"Oh well," Lilly shrugged, turning away. "Time will tell. I'll see you four later. Get some rest; you'll need it."
Lloyd growled, watching Lilly disappear from their line of sight. They all knew she was going after Kai and the Senseis, but they couldn't stop her, not in their current situation.
Nya turned, walking back over to Cole and Jay.
"What did she mean by all that?" she asked. "What did she do to you?"
Cole motioned to his leg, which was still wrapped in bandages. Dots of dried blood poked through the white material.
"I tried to run when she attacked me," Cole mumbled. "She drove a dagger straight into my leg. I can barely stand on it now."
"But you're her son?" Jay frowned.
"Not in her eyes," Cole replied. "To her, I'm some imposter who took her son's place. She doesn't care what happens to me. She won't care what happens to any of us."
"All the more reason to find a way out of here," Lloyd affirmed.
"Good luck with that," Cole grumbled, pushing past Jay to lay back down.
Jay looked down, feeling bad for his best friend. He glanced up, seeing Nya and Lloyd searching the cell, hoping to find something to use to get out. He turned back to Cole and sighed.
Hopefully, Kai and the Senseis will get them out of this.
Hopefully, they'd all get out of this alive.
Somehow.