The Source!

P3: The collar

I made my way back to my room, but somehow ended up in the kitchen where Cole and Kai were engaged in conversation. They waved me over, their smiles welcoming, but nerves fluttered in my stomach as I approached.

"Hey, Violet!" Cole greeted me warmly, flashing a grin as he leaned against the counter.

Kai's smile mirrored Cole's as he gestured for me to take a seat. "Oh, uh, hi! What's up?" I replied, trying to mask my nervousness as I settled onto a nearby chair.

"How are your injuries?" Kai inquired, genuine concern coloring his tone.

"Oh, they're fine now. Thanks again," I replied with a grateful smile, feeling a warmth spread through me at their kindness.

"You're welcome," Cole chimed in, his smile widening, which in turn brought a smile to my lips.

"Violet, I have a question for you if you don't mind," Kai began, his expression thoughtful as he moved to join Cole.

"Of course, ask away," I replied, eager to engage in conversation.

"What were those things chasing you anyway? They looked like shadows, not Oni," Kai questioned, his brow furrowing in confusion.

I hesitated, uncertainty gnawing at my insides before I finally spoke. "They were General Ren hunters," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper as memories of the chase flooded back.

"Who's General Ren?" Kai asked, his curiosity piqued. "Yeah, who is that?" Cole chimed in, echoing Kai's curiosity.

"He's their leader," I explained simply, not wanting to dwell on the details of my past.

"Why were they after you anyway? What's the deal with that?" Kai pressed further, his curiosity unyielding.

Before I could answer, a sudden sharp pain lanced through my neck, and I let out a scream of agony, my hands flying to the source of the pain as tears welled in my eyes.

Cole and Kai rushed to my side, confusion and worry etched into their features. "Violet! What the heck is going on?!" Kai exclaimed, his voice filled with concern.

Whimpers escaped my lips as I continued to tug at the collar around my neck, the pain intensifying with each passing moment. "I sense that Violet seems to be receiving several shocks, each of them getting stronger. Kai, Cole, get your hands off before you get shocked as well," Zane's voice cut through the chaos, his concern evident.

Trembling with pain and fear, I struggled to free myself from the collar, but my efforts were futile, and the pain only intensified.

"Someone get that thing off her!" Nya's voice rang out, her concern palpable as she scanned the room for a solution.

"We can't, we'll get shocked as well!" Kai exclaimed, his voice tinged with desperation. "What do we do?!" Lloyd's voice joined the fray, his own worry evident.

As the pain threatened to overwhelm me, Jay approached, his expression determined. "Jay, stop, don't touch her, you'll get shocked as well," Cole warned, but Jay ignored him, placing his hand on the collar with a resolute determination.

Surprised and bewildered, I watched as Jay closed his eyes, his hands emitting a burst of energy that disabled the collar before tearing it off, freeing me from its grasp.

Collapsing to the floor, tears streaming down my face, I trembled uncontrollably, small shocks still sparking at random intervals.

A gentle touch on my shoulder drew my attention, and I looked up to see Jay's concerned gaze. "Are you okay?!" he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.

Without hesitation, I launched myself into his arms, seeking comfort in his embrace as he held me tightly, his hands hovering uncertainly before returning the hug.

"T-thanks," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper as I gradually regained control of my trembling limbs, one hand still clutching my neck.

"That was about 3 million volts of shock. Only Jay could have survived that much. How?" Zane questioned, confusion etched into his features, though relief colored his voice.

"Yeah, how?" Kai echoed, his curiosity piqued once more. "Me too," Cole added, nodding in agreement. "Me three," Nya chimed in, her gaze fixed on me with concern. "Me four," Lloyd interjected, his expression a mixture of relief and curiosity.

"I didn't think it would get revealed this soon, but... I'm half Source Dragon," I confessed, bracing myself for their reaction.

"A what now?" Kai's confusion was evident, his brow furrowing in disbelief.

Suppressing a sigh, I explained, "You know, dragons, but... Source, meaning with a lot of energy and power. I assume my power absorbed most of it," I offered, hoping to make sense of the situation. "And the collar thing is like a way of keeping me from trying anything. They probably found the button and used it," I added with a frustrated groan, memories of captivity still fresh in my mind.

"Whoa, does that mean you can use it? Like, right now?!" Jay's excitement was palpable, his eyes wide with wonder.

"Well, yeah, but I don't have enough energy. I can... try," I replied, lifting my hand and concentrating, though only small sparks of purple energy materialized.

Despite my frustration, Lloyd's words brought a small smile to my lips. "Worth a shot," he remarked, his tone filled with optimism amidst the chaos.