Replacement

Brief authors note! I kept this chapter the way it had been written originally simply because I felt if I tried editing it it'd lose the magic. Hope you enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed writing it!

I shivered and sat up, where was Kai? He was right here. Looking around the room, I had to squint a bit because there was a light coming from the floor and heat. Very intense heat. Kai.

Practically falling out of the bed, I ignored the pain in my limbs as I crawled over to Kai, he was crying again. I shook him, trying to wake him up but he curled up, hands covering his stomach. Was he sick? Did… did I make him sick? I shook it off and tried to make him look at me, I touched his hands and hissed in pain. He was burning up. Literally.

"Kai!" I yelled in concern, trying to shake him out of it. "Buddy come on please." I pleased, feeling tears of my own prick my eyes. 

Finally he woke up, when he looked at me he seemed confused. He frantically moved his hands around him as if checking that he was in one piece. "She let me go?" He asked, voice cracking.

"What? Kai… I think you had a bad dream." 

"Dream? Dream? I-" he looked around the room, breathing heavily and I could see tears still falling from his eyes. I gently cupped his face in my hands but he flinched and scrambled back away from me. "Y-you could be her." 

What happened in that dream?

"Kai… please trust me?" I asked, slowly approaching him. "What happens here stays in here remember?" 

That must have been the magic words because he calmed down and let me wipe away his tears. He hugged me tightly, crying. "I-It was horrible Cole… b-but felt so real." 

"Do you want to talk about it? I-It might help?" 

He looked reluctant but told me the story, every detail right down to his final breath. I hugged him tightly and he buried his head in my shoulder. I gently stroked his hair and tried my best to not do anything that would remind him of that dream. He started to yawn and I rubbed his back. "It's okay Kai, you're safe." I whispered and he looked up at me.

"Cole?" 

"Yeah?" 

"Thanks for believing in me." 

I smiled and nodded, "No one can get rid of you that easily." 

~~~~~~~

Breakfast was a welcomed sight along with all my friends. Kai seemed to relax a little too which was nice. I hope he knows we would never just let him be hurt. I knew I wouldn't at least. At times I felt Kai hold my hand under the table but fought the urge to look at him. Maybe he just needed to make sure he wasn't asleep?

"So, what's everyone doing today?" Lloyd asked and there were a few people awake enough to explain their plans. Nya was going to be working on something with Jay, Zane wanted to see where his falcon was, and Sensei Wu had some things he wanted to do but didn't tell us what. 

"Well we're going to Mega Monster amusement park." Kai said suddenly and I looked a bit surprised. 

"W-we are?" I asked and he nudged me.

"Yeah! I mean think of all the fun stuff we can do. It's perfect, and being outside might help you get better faster." 

There was also a lot to distract him with. I guess that was the real reason we were going and just nodded. I wanted him to get better too, I didn't like knowing my friend was hurting. "Alright, but don't get mad if I beat you at the strength test." 

He chuckled along with the others and Lloyd smiled. "Hey, got room for one more?"

Kai nodded, "Sure, the more the merrier right?" I squeezed his hand under the table and he smiled at me. I could tell it was fake but didn't say anything and finished breakfast before limping back to Kai's room for some clothes.