***Oh, boy, fellas. This book climaxes over the next couple chapters...get ready. I hope my Ninjago brain cells don't kill me first. Um, excuse me, but I cannot write a proper ending if I'm dead.***
***(Jay's POV; song for this chapter: "The Lonely" by Christina Perri)***
When I come to, it's dark. And wet. And kind of smelly.
I moan, then sit up frantically. It causes me to smack my already aching head on the wall.
"Ow!" I groan and flop back down.
You know, I believe using bad language is a sign of poor grammar skills, but I so badly want to swear right now. That really hurt.
Then it all comes back to me: Nya forgetting her backpack, running it out to her, her warning me about Zane...and then nothing.
Nya! I wonder where she is?
Through the dim lighting, I see several other bodies. Some are unconscious, some are quietly crying, some seem to be lost in another world. A sweet, soft voice drifts toward me. Someone is singing.
"Two a.m., where do I begin?
Crying off my face again.
The silent sound of loneliness
Wants to follow me to bed."
I shiver at the haunting tune. I have to find Nya.
I try to get up, but feel an enormous weight on my hands. I look down.
I'm handcuffed.
It's then that I panic. What if the Sons of Garmadon have already taken my power? How long have I been down here? What if the team needs me?
My breathing speeds up, but I force my mind to clear. I have to find Nya. She can come up with a plan to get us out of here. She's good at that kind of thing.
"I'm a ghost of a girl
That I want to be most.
I'm the shell of a girl
That I used to know well.
Dancing slowly in an empty room.
Can the lonely take the place of you?
I sing myself a quiet lullaby,
Let you go and let the lonely in
To take my heart again."
The singing is anguished, but there's some note of familiarity to it. Nya? But – it can't be. I love Nya, but she's not known for her vocal capabilities.
I wriggle along the floor, searching for her. I hope she's in here with me. I mean, the Sons of Garmadon would be smart to separate us, but if they've stolen our powers, what's the point?
That's when a door creaks open. Light floods in, making me squint. I hear someone yell in agony from nearby.
"Close the door! Please!"
"Paleman?" I ask."Close the door!" he begs again.
It slams shut, but not before a familiar form is thrown in.
Nya!
I caterpillar toward her. With what little light I do see, I can tell her face has broken out in hives.
They must have taken her power!
"Are you okay?" I exclaim, finally reaching her.
Somebody nearby groans. "Speak quieter, please!"
"Jacob?" I wonder.
Nya takes a shallow breath beside me. "Their powers have been stolen," she explains. "They're having withdrawals."
"But that means – you shouldn't be on the floor! It's wet!" I arrange her in my lap. "Are you feeling okay? You're not going to die, right?"
"Don't panic, Jay," she replies weakly. "I'm fine. My withdrawals are just a normal allergic reaction." She sneezes. "Don't expect me to drink much water, though. I'm not taking any chances."
"But – that doesn't make sense," I frown. "You're allergic to yourself. The other elemental masters are having problems with outward stimuli. You, however, are constantly in a state of being inwardly touched by water."
"That sounded really smart, Jay," she responds.
"Well...I'm just glad you're okay." I wrap my arms around her, once again noticing her uneven locks.
That gives me an idea. Even handcuffed, I can still braid hair.
"Jay, what are you doing?" Nya sniffles.
"I'm fixing your hair."
"All right. Why?"
I think. "It gives me something to focus on other than our imminent peril?"
She sighs. "Have at it."
"Too afraid to go inside
For the pain of one more loveless night.
For the loneliness will stay with me
And hold me till I fall asleep."
"Can whoever's singing stop?" I ask, annoyed. "It's already hard enough to stay positive down here."
I don't get an answer. The soprano continues to float through the air.
"I'm a ghost of a girl
That I want to be most.
I'm the shell of a girl
That I used to know well.
Dancing slowly in an empty room.
Can the lonely take the place of you?
I sing myself a quiet lullaby,
Let you go and let the lonely in
To take my heart again."
"Look, I know you have a nice voice and all," I snap. "Your song is really pretty. But some people are trying not to totally freak out here!"
"Quiet!" pleads the master of sound.
Resigned, I continue to braid Nya's hair.