Taking Control. (a Ninjago fanfic)

Chapter 17- Broken but stubborn

Quick note before you read:
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First of all I just wanted to say thank you so much for the support! (Especially you deyveedi , I love reading your comments <3)
And also it's my birthday tomorrow! (26th) So there won't be another chapter for at least a couple days. Sorry guys.. but it should get super action packed soon so I hope it makes up for it ^^

Have a great day and I love you all <3
Bye ~~

K A I

I groaned, the sound escaping my lips before I could stop it. Everything hurt—every inch of my body screamed in protest. But my chest... my chest was the worst. What in the name of Ninjago was wrong with my chest?

My eyes fluttered open, and the blurry outline of the room slowly came into focus. I didn't recognize it at first—the faint hum of the Bounty's engine in the background grounding me—but my gaze landed on Nya slumped in a chair nearby, and the panic bubbling in my chest simmered just a little.

Her head jerked up when she noticed me stir, her eyes widening as relief flooded her face. She was at my side in seconds, her grin a mix of exhaustion and relief. "Hey!" she said softly, though her voice was tinged with forced brightness. "How are you feeling?"

I grimaced. The pain was still relentless, despite whatever painkillers Zane had managed to pump into me before I passed out.

"Not great," I admitted, trying to shift myself upright. The second I moved, though, fire erupted in my chest, radiating through my ribs and down to my stomach. I gasped, slumping back down, clutching at my torso.

Shit.

I looked down, noticing for the first time the bandages wound tightly around my chest. They were already stained with dried blood, the murky brown spreading in uneven patches, staining the white bandages a horrible shade. The sight of it stirred the memory—Jay's face, his purple-glowing eyes, the katana—plunging into me with a force I couldn't stop. My stomach churned as it all rushed back.

"I-" My voice cracked. I couldn't finish the thought.

"Easy," Nya said quickly, her hands gripping my shoulders as she helped me ease back into the bed. She called out for Zane, her voice sharp, the worry barely concealed.

I stared at the ceiling, trying not to focus on the suffocating ache in my chest. Instead, I focused on the fact that while my friends should've been tracking down Jay—helping him—they were here, wasting their time on me. I felt so fucking helpless, pinned down by my own body while everything else fell apart.

Zane appeared, his expression calm as always, but his steps quicker than usual. "Sit up," he said, kneeling beside me. "I need to check your vitals."

The second I moved again, the pain shot through me like a blade, and my breath hitched. Zane didn't comment, though his careful movements suggested he noticed. His fingers were cold against my wrist as he took my pulse, his gaze clinical. "You've lost a lot of blood, Kai," he said, matter-of-fact as ever. "Your body is in a heightened state of stress. It's doing everything it can to heal the damaged tissue, but you need rest. I strongly recommend you remain in bed for at least two days."

"Two days?" I repeated, my voice rising in disbelief. "Zane, we don't have two days."

His expression didn't change. "Your body won't heal faster just because you want it to. Overexertion will only worsen your condition. You need to-"

"No," I snapped, cutting him off. "I'm fine."

Before either of them could stop me, I forced myself upright, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed. The world tilted violently, and suddenly it felt like my brain was trying to escape my literal skull. The room blurred, the edges swimming, colours swirling together like some abstract piece.

"Kai!" Nya's voice was sharp with alarm as she lunged forward, but Zane caught me first, his hands steadying me before I could collapse completely.

"You're clearly not fine," Nya said, her tone biting as she glared at me. Her arms were crossed, her brow furrowed in frustration. "You're just going to hurt yourself even more!"

"I can't just sit here!" I argued, though the trembling in my voice betrayed me. My chest burned, every breath coming shallow, but I bit my lip to keep from crying out. I had to do something. Jay needed us—he needed me.

Zane's hand rested firmly on my shoulder, his icy blue gaze steady as he spoke. "Kai, being stabbed through the chest is a life-threatening injury. Even with immediate care, your body is still in shock." His tone softened slightly, but the finality of his words didn't waver. "You cannot help anyone if you collapse."

I hated that he was right. I hated it so much I wanted to scream. But instead, I clamped my mouth shut, glaring at the floor like it was the source of all my problems.

Zane turned to Nya, his voice quieter now. "Get Lloyd. We need to leave soon."

My stomach twisted at his words. "Leave? Where are you going?" I asked, my voice hoarse.

Zane hesitated for a fraction of a second, but Nya answered instead. "To a temple," she said briskly. "There's something there that can help us save Jay."

"It's called the Mirror of Shadows," Zane elaborated, his tone more cautious. "Wu believes it can sever the Overlord's connection to Jay, but..." He trailed off, and Nya picked up where he left off.

"But the temple is in Hiroshi's Labyrinth," she chipped in, crossing her arms.

I blinked, the name sparking recognition. "That place is a death trap!"

"Which is why you need to stay here," Zane said firmly.

I opened my mouth to argue, but the exhaustion pulled me down, my chest throbbing with every beat of my heart. I slumped back against the bed, glaring at them both.

"Fine," I muttered, though it was anything but. As they left the room, I clenched my fists, fighting the helplessness clawing at my chest. I couldn't lose Jay.
I couldn't lose anyone else.