The Liar (ON HOLD)

Chapter 39

...Has anyone else done spring cleaning or is doing spring cleaning? I just started this week and now I'm exhausted and my arms are sore. I hope you all aren't suffering the same fate. (TwT) Anyways, onto the story!

Cole

A few days had passed since Kai had returned and they hadn't gotten much useful information from him. Cole specifically was growing more and more restless by the day. Cole really hoped he wasn't the only one who was thinking this, but everyone else seemed at ease...well at least as eased as you can get when you're being attacked daily by strange shadow monsters.

Cole snuck out of the mass of people that were sleeping on the ground and made his way out of the square. During the last day or so, people got over their initial shock and worked together to put up tents. It was amazing what people could do when they put their differences and problems aside.

Cole walked down the street, lost in thought. Cole had been keeping his mind to himself recently, mainly because he didn't want to ruin the ninjas' good moods. They were all worried and focused on the battle at hand, but because of that they didn't question their own 'allies'. Apparently, Cole was the only one who could tell something was fishy with Kai. He didn't know if it was just because he was paying attention or because he was in love with Kai...the Kai that was there now wasn't the boy Cole fell in love with.

Though Cole would never dare admit it, he liked Kai's sassy attitude. He liked the fact that Kai was quiet, but also daring and kind, and of course there's the incident that happened the other day where they were cuddling. The Kai that was with them acted like it never even happened. 

Cole continued walking until he realized he had walked to the front of his house. Cole sighed sadly. 

Lou had been one of the people taken by the shadows...that left Cole without a family and with a fake lover. "Wait...lover? No, we're not dating." Cole thought. Cole frowned and walked past his house.

After a few minutes Cole heard a rustle and spun around. 

"Who's there?" Cole asked.

Cole looked around but saw nothing.

Cole then shrugged and kept walking. 

After a minute Cole heard a crack and then a whoosh as something or someone sped through the air.

"Ok, that's it!" Cole stated aloud. "Just come out! I don't feel like dealing with this!" Cole yelled angrily.

Cole sighed when no further movement was heard.

"Jay, please stop following me. I can't deal with this right now." Cole stated.

A figure in blue jumped down from a lamp post.

"Cole, you need to talk to someone. It does no one any good when you're sulking." Jay stated. His voice held genuine concern.

Cole looked away, avoiding the eyes of the auburn-haired boy that walked over to him.

"Is this about Kai?" Jay asked slowly. "Is he not giving you any attention or something?" Jay joked.

Cole stared blankly at Jay.

"Right. No time for jokes." Jay apologized.

"That's not Kai." Cole muttered.

Jay tilted his head. "What are you talking about? Of course, it is!" He exclaimed.

Cole shook his head. "You don't know him like I do, he's different." Cole answered.

"Cole, I think you're reading into things too much. Kai seems normal to Nya, and Kai's her brother." Jay replied as he put a hand on Cole's shoulder. "I think you're overthinking this." Jay added.

Cole frowned. "Ok well then explain this to me..." Cole began, "Kai's personality is different. He doesn't sass and he isn't snappy at everyone like usual. He's also moere chatty." Cole stated.

Jay removed his hand from Cole's shoulder. "It's probably caused by what's going on with the battle and everything. He was unconscious three times, he was kidnapped, and the world is at stake." Jay offered.

"Ok...what about the fact that he gave us almost no information. Kai usually over-exaggerates things; in this case, he literally skimmed by the conversation like it was nothing. He mentioned an empty room, wouldn't he give us more than just an 'empty' room statement? He won't tell us how he escaped as if he doesn't even know himself. And on top of that he doesn't know where Alptraum's base is even though he literally escaped from it!" Cole exclaimed.

Jay hesitated, "Maybe in the heat of the moment he forgot?" Jay asked, but it was obvious that he was less confident that he was right this time.

Cole sighed, "Kai was stabbed if you remember correctly. You and I both know he was transferred to a hospital where he was later kidnapped. Back then he could barely walk without collapsing. He barely had energy. Now, it's only been a week and he's walking and running around like-" Cole was cut off.

"Like it never happened." Jay finished; his eyes were wide like he had just realized something.

Cole nodded sadly. 

Jay frowned, "Ok, I believe you. Something's definitely wrong with Kai, but we still don't know what." Jay stated. "We should tell the others." Jay added.

"No. We have to find proof that we're telling the truth. Nya would never believe it, not even if you said it. She was so excited to have Kai back that the truth would do more harm than good. The others need to figure it out for themselves, or we need to catch the fake Kai in the act." Cole declared.

Jay sighed but agreed. "Ok, so how are we going to do this?" Jay asked. 

"Good question. Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for that." Cole replied.

"Alright, well for now, let's get back to the square. The others will notice our absence sooner or later." Jay stated with a grin.

Cole smirked, "Race ya?"He asked.

Jay smirked back, "You bet." He answered.

Cole started running.

"HEY! NO FAIR!" Jay yelled from behind as he raced to catch up.

"EAT DIRT BLUEBELL!" Cole shouted as he picked up his speed.

...

Little did they know that from the top of a building, two gleaming eyes watched them.