Darkness from Within #5: Uneasy Trust (A Ninjago Fanfiction)

Chapter 27

Cole gasped for breath as he drew up against the wall, chest heaving. Letting out another cough or two, he spotted Kai a little ways down the hall.

"K... K-Kai," he called weakly.

But the red ninja didn't hear him.

Cole took a deep breath and took a step forward, summoning all his strength. "Kai!" he gasped out, then he immediately bent over and went into a bout of coughing.

Kai at last turned around, furrowing his eyebrows suspiciously. "Cole?"

Cole straightened up again and staggered closer to the red ninja. Kai rushed over to him before he could stumble to the ground and he fell into the red ninja's arms instead. "What happened to you?"

Cole wanted to reply, but he knew he only had enough strength to tell Kai what he came to tell him. "Th-the d-dark... darkness is c... coming," he panted.

Kai stared at him in concern. "What are you talking about?"

Cole gazed up at him intensely. "For... f-for y... you..."

"What?" Kai pressed, utterly bewildered.

Cole suppressed a cough. "You... you have to... to w-watch—watch out," he wheezed.

"You're talking nonsense!" Kai exclaimed. Then he furrowed his eyebrows. "Is this some cruel joke or something?"

Cole gasped for breath as he took a step backward. "D-darkness," he repeated quietly. "I-it's coming..."

Then he disappeared down the hall.

Kai scratched his head. What was that all about? he wondered. Darkness? What kind of darkness? He shook his head. Whatever he means, it's not like it's anything important. He gritted his teeth. Nothing Cole said was ever important. Nothing he or any of the others ever said meant anything. Kai felt his heart harden. And I know that's the truth.

A chuckle sounded from behind him, and Kai turned around to spot Lloyd leaning against the wall in the shadows of the hallway. The green ninja snorted and stepped into the light.

"What is that guy ever blabbering about?" he snickered.

Kai took a deep breath. "I don't know," he grumbled.

Lloyd drew up beside Kai and stared in the direction Cole had left. His eyes were deepened, and Kai spotted some sort of anger in his gaze.

"I know how you feel," Kai huffed. "First, he torments my sister, then he starts shouting things at me like a conspiracy theorist or something."

Kai's head shot toward Lloyd in alarm as the green ninja suddenly let out a gasp. He bent over with a hiss, panting.

"Lloyd?" Kai pushed with concern, reaching out to place his hand on the green ninja's shoulder.

Lloyd shot his hand up. "Don't touch me," he made out through gritted teeth.

Kai drew his hand away and watched with round eyes as Lloyd straightened up again. The red ninja's gaze fell on Lloyd's stomach. "That was almost as if you..." His voice trailed off as he felt a jolt of realization. How could I have been so stupid? he thought. Cole wasn't just shouting nonsense. He must've had a vision!

A low growl rumbled in Lloyd's throat as he watched Kai's change of expression. I'll get that little tattletale, he thought. I'll get him good.

* * *

Nya sat beside Cole on his bed, listening to his violent coughing. She ran her hand down his back soothingly, but that didn't stop his constant jerking. It pained her heart to see how hard the black ninja was suffering, and even more that she couldn't do anything about it.