Flames of the Past #5: Lost Souls (Ninjago Fanfiction)

Chapter 20

Kai removed the blindfold from Brutus' eyes. He smiled as the boy squinted against the light. "Hey, kid," the red ninja said. "We're back."

Brutus blinked up at him. "Kai," he remembered. Then he looked around at the rest of the team, gathered in front of his chair in the back of the jet. He didn't say anything else.

Having joined them, Beech stepped forward. "So this is the boy?" she sniffed, leaning closer.

"Yeah," Kai replied as Brutus shrank away from her.

Beech moved back again. "Untie him," she demanded.

"Wait a minute," Cole broke in. "Why would we do that?"

Beech looked at him. "You say he's harmless," she spat. "Show me."

Still crouched beside the boy, Kai unwrapped the rope from Brutus' wrists. The kid lifted his hands and rubbed his skin, glancing nervously at the ninja, but didn't make any sudden movements.

Kai suppressed a sigh of relief. "See?" he breathed.

Beech's eyes narrowed at the boy. "Hm," she grunted. "So you think he's been spelled somehow?"

"That is the theory," Wu answered. "He seems to have trouble with his memory."

"I see. If I focus, I can feel if there's any dark magic in him."

Brutus stared at the Guardian, forehead crinkling in thought. She moved closer and reached her hands toward her, and panic exploded on the boy's face. With a sharp gasp, he stumbled off his chair and darted against the wall.

"Whoa, whoa!" Kai gasped, following the boy to the edge of the jet. "Hey, it's okay. She's not going to hurt you."

Brutus shook his head, his wide eyes locked on Beech. "B-but she's Sara!" he stuttered. "She's the chief of the Guardians!"

Beech drew back a pace, raising an eyebrow. "Did Sleete tell you that?" she inquired.

Brutus shook his head.

"Then how do you know who I am?"

Brutus opened his mouth, but no words came out. He looked at the ninja as if searching for answers in their faces, but he found nothing.

"See what we mean?" Lloyd huffed. "He's delusional."

Beech looked at Kai. "He seems to like you," she said. "Calm him down, won't you?"

Kai bit back a retort as he knelt to Brutus' level. "Miss Beech is going to check if Clouse put a spell on you," he explained softly. "She's doing this to help you, okay? You don't have to be scared."

Brutus shifted uneasily, switching his gaze to the red ninja. Gently, Kai placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I'll stay right here, okay?" he assured him.

Brutus hesitated another moment, soaking in the ninja's words, before giving a slow nod of his head.

Moving to the side, Kai nodded to Beech. The Guardian came over and knelt in front of Brutus. She rested her hand on his shoulder and shut her eyes. Kai and the others watched intently. Her brows knitted together and a line of sweat crossed her forehead. Brutus grew antsier with every second that passed, and Kai eventually clasped the boy's hand in his. The kid glanced at him, and kept his gaze there.

Beech's face twitched. She seemed to struggle against something before jerking away from Brutus. She opened her eyes and gasped softly, giving herself a shake. "I've never felt so much darkness," she rasped out. "It's almost like they injected dark magic straight into him. Several times."