The Glade and Its Glitch: Book 2 Allies or Enemies

Chapter 6

 "I'm glad you're finally back." Nya grasped Jay's hand as they began the walk back to the monastery.

"So am I. The junkyard is home, but so is this place. Thanks for going on a walk with me," Jay looked down at Nya.

"No problem. I've been sitting by Cole most of the time, it was good to stretch my legs. And I did miss you."

"Aww, I missed you too." Jay put one arm around Nya. He was planning on asking her to be his Yang, he didn't know how he was going to do it yet. Plus he still needed to ask Kai for his permission.

"How was the junkyard?"

"Calm. It was nice, the nightmares let up a little. But now they're getting weird."

"What do you mean weird?" Nya looked up, concerned. It wasn't like Jay to be this mysterious. He was typically goofy and bubbly.

"They're just... strange. Halfway through they just start falling apart. I don't know how to explain it. It's like I'm going insane."

Nya stopped and put a hand on Jay's cheek, "You're not going insane. We're all confused and don't know who to trust. Soar's still a little shaken up and doesn't want to talk, but Zane thinks he'll be ready within the next week."

"But what if he's not?" Jay burst out, "What if we're too late? What if Cole doesn't make it? What if-"

"Jay!" Nya interrupted, "It's ok, everything's ok."

"But what if it's not?"

"Jay," Nya said, sternly, "Please, relax." She pulled him into a hug, "We're alright. We're safe. The Glade hasn't attacked us yet, have they?"

"They attacked Cole," Jay protested, but he returned the hug.

"We found Cole and Soar in one of their bases, it only makes sense they'd attack him."

By this point, Nya and Jay were right in front of the monastery.

"Look Nya, it's late. We both should be in bed."

"No, it's not Jay. It's only nine."

"Well," Jay stared at his feet awkwardly, "I'm tired, driving home wore me out. And you know how my parents can talk."

"Ok, I won't keep you up. But please, talk to me. I'm here for you, and I know we're on the same side."

Jay kissed her cheek and headed toward his room. He was exhausted, but he also knew that Nya wanted to know everything that had happened. The dreams, Nadakhan, and she didn't even know half of it. The two of them had been separated for most of their time with Nadakhan. She didn't know about Scrap-N-Tap, or how creepy Nadakhan had been when he talked about Nya.

Shivers slithered down Jay's spine at the thought. Nearly every moment spent with Nadakhan had some kind of scar or memory that put him on edge. More than once one of his brothers had noticed a scar that had been given to him by the djinn. They always questioned it, especially the N on the back of Jay's hand. He'd had to make excuses for them, he told them he got the N from a few different cuts that had joined together.

Once he was in his room, he relaxed. Jay took off his shirt and flopped onto his bed. Rolling over, he rested his head on the pillow. It didn't take long for him to fall asleep. He was able to get a few moments of peaceful sleep. But then the nightmarish dreams began.

~~~

Jay was back in the junkyard, he had been there this morning and knew what it looked like. But this was different. All of the junk piles looked bigger... or Jay was smaller. A quick glance at his hands, legs, and clothing proved that Jay was a kid again.

He walked forward and noticed that the door to the trailer was open. Ed sat on a bench just outside the home, tinkering with a small device. When Jay craned his neck he could see Edna inside bent over a ball of green yarn and her knitting needles.

Without warning, Jay's body moved. He wasn't in control anymore. His feet skipped towards the trailer, ignoring any attempt Jay made to regain control. As he climbed, against his will, up the steps into the bright yellow home, his mother looked up.

"Jay! There you are your father and I wondered when you'd be home from school."

After a moment of estimation, Jay decided he was about twelve or thirteen. Less than two years before he met Wu.

"I ran all the way home," Jay felt words spill out of his mouth. It was an uncomfortable feeling, and Jay hated it.

"All the way home huh?" Edna set down the green weaving. "Well, why don't you go rest for a minute? Go catch your breath."

It was then that the dream began to break. Tables and chairs, bits and bobs, random things around him fell over and shook. Jay groaned internally, and more words flowed out.

"No, I want to play. Is-" The dream really began to spazz. Jay never heard the end of the question, which bothered him considering he was technically the one who spoke it.

The spazzing abruptly stopped, and things stopped moving. Edna started talking again, "Oh yes they're out in the yard somewhere. I'm sure you'll find 'em if you look hard enough." She winked once she finished. Then picking up the knitting needles again, she fell silent.

Jay didn't recognize what was happening. He guessed the dream wasn't a memory, although some parts felt familiar. The placement of everyone seemed right, but he had no idea what his mom was holding, and he couldn't remember who he was looking for.

His legs abruptly started moving, and he ran out the door.

"Careful Jay. Don't run into anything." Ed smiled, but as he smiled the dream broke again. Terror gripped Jay as his father's face split apart and then reformed.

"Careful Jay. Don't run into anything."

Jay shook his head, or at least he thought about doing that. He wasn't in control of his body anymore. He was positive Ed had already said that, but tiny Jay either ignored it or didn't notice. He took off running across the junkyard.