Original - The 17th Realm (The Maniac Trilogy - Book 1)

1 - The Return of the Darkness

LLOYD'S POV

I was sitting on the bounty, legs dangling off the edge, staring into the horizon, watching the sun set. I looked down to see a small village. Kids playing football, hide-and-seek and tag, enjoying the childhood I never had. I sighed and looked up again. 

Kai startled me slightly when he came over to sit next to me. "What's up?" he asked.

"Nothing." I didn't even look up at him. I continued staring into the distance, desperate to ignore him and spend some time alone.

"I can see that something is bothering you," he said, nudging me slightly. I turned my head slightly towards him but looked at the floor beside me instead to avoid eye contact.

"It's nothing. I'm just relaxing," I stated with a shrug. I looked forward again.

"You sure? You seem distracted..."

"It's nothing," I said, slightly raising my voice. I'm pretty sure he stood up and left. I didn't pay much attention to him. I trailed off in my own thoughts circling around my head. Since the whole Crystal King thing, I don't know how to feel.

My father disappeared again, Harumi started a new life and wasn't put in prison (I don't know how to feel about that...), and there weren't any villains to be seen for years. Being a green ninja seemed... pointless.

I turned around and, sure enough, no-one was there. Just a second later I heard everyone scream at each other.

"YOU'LL NEVER BEAT ME, COLE!"
"HA! YOU WISH, JAY!"
"SHUT UP BOTH OF YOU, I'M TRYING TO READ!"
"STOP SHOUTING AT EACH OTHER!"
"SAYS THE ONE WHO'S SHOUTING!"

Mood.

I stood up and walked inside and saw Jay and Cole play video games. Then there was Zane steering the bounty, talking to PIXAL and Nya reading in her room. I went to the kitchen to see Master Wu writing something in a scroll and Kai continuing his cooking. He isn't the best at cooking but much better than Cole, although Cole did somewhat improve his cooking over the years. If there's anyone who should be cooking right now, it's Zane. His food is delicious.

"Master Wu, what are you doing?" I asked curiously.

"It is none of your business," he snapped.

Damn, okay. 

He seemed quiet lately... it started to worry me. If Master Wu is quiet and locked away with scrolls, you know that shit is about to go down. I went after him and acted as if I'm seeing him for the first time this morning... or at least tried to act like it.

"What's bothering you, Master?"

A loud noise startled us and caused the entire Bounty to shake. The hideous noise was like a screech, a scream and a bang mixed together.

"This," Sensei finally replied. We ran outside to the bridge. A shiver slithered right down my spine when the cold air hit my face. It was pitch black. I could just about make out the shapes around me.

"Why is it so dark?! The sun was out a second ago!" Jay exclaimed.

Zane turned on all the lights. We didn't see much but it was something. Nya went to the steering wheel and pushed the lever that would've made the bounty accelerate faster, but it didn't.

"START, YOU PIECE OF JUNK!" she screamed, sending a fist at the controls. Usually, this method works...

However, that didn't sound well. The engine rattled and the bounty started moving... down?!

"Hold on everyone!!"

The bounty zoomed towards the ground, I didn't see a single thing, not even the lights. I held on tightly to the ledge.