Skybound: Charlie's Story

On a Wish and a Prayer

I'm back, baby! PSAT studies are beating the life outta me, but I'm back!

~~~~~

"Welcome to my humble abode," Jay opened the doors to a mansion, leading the Ninja inside. Charlie's eyes widened at the sight of the inside. A main open room with sunlight filtering in through the large windows. Hardwood floors creaked beneath her feet and the scent of cherry blossoms filled her nose. It was a beautiful place, all the Ninja marvelled, but the Master of Darkness couldn't help but wonder where her friend aquired the means to buy this place.

"So, how did you come across this place again?" She asked as the Fritz Donnegan animatronic played his iconic line.

Jay's eyes darted around nervously. "I saved up. Yeah, that's it. Uh, I saved up every little bit and now, ta-da, here's my secret hideout," He chuckled nervously. "Of course it can be our secret hideout."

Something about the way Jay kept glancing around gave Charlie the feeling he was lying. He had always splurged his money as soon as he got any. It was unlikely that he was saving up, especially for a place like this.

Lloyd frowned, his pale spots catching the light. "First we lost Wu, then Misako. Now Kai. I don't know about you, but I'm starting to see a pattern."

"Whenever one of us finds ourselves alone, we disappear," Zane affirmed.

"Then we stick together from here on out," Nya decided. "We need to take a look at that lantern. Jay, hit the lights."

The Master of Lighting tensed, and Charlie sensed his rising anxiety. "Lights," he muttered as he looked around. "Lights. Where would they be?" He ran around, looking for something he should already know, considering it was his house, after all.

He found a few buttons on the wall. "Found them! Sorry, big house," He pressed a few wrong buttons, turning on the AC before he found the button that closed the windows.

Charlie frowned. Jay should know his own house, right. She glanced at Cole, who gave her a troubled look. Something was up with Jay.

But before either of them could do anything, Zane lit the lantern and set it on the table. The wood glowed with a map, leading them to the place they could find their weapon.

"Wow," Nya breathed. "So this is supposed to point to the only thing that can stop Nadakhan?"

"Not stop, slow," Lloyd corrected. "Remember, a drop of venom from a Tiger Widow can kill a normal person, but slow a Djinn down before he can disappear on us. If we need to trap him, we'll need this venom so let's figure out a plan."

As they began to talk about their strategy, Charlie made her way over to Jay. "What's going on?" She asked, her tone gentle yet probing.

"What do you mean?" Jay asked, tugging at his gloves.

"You know what she mean," Cole said, standing on Jay's other side. "You saved up for this place? Baloney. Whenever money comes your way, you waste it on junk food and video games. What's really up? And don't think you can lie to us, we know you too well."

Jay glanced between them, his gaze landing on the floor. "Fine. I made a wish with Nadakhan."

"You what?!"

"You've seen Nadakhan and haven't told us?!

Jay hushed them quickly, lowering his voice to a sharp whisper and leading them away from the others to a couch. "He came when I was alone. I wished to be rich and impress Nya, and instead I got a letter telling me I've inherited my dad's estate, only it turns out I'm adopted and my birth dad is Cliff Gordon."