Salt: A Ninjago story

15: Give and Take

Kai set about trying to explore his cell, he shouldn't be here and aimed to leave as soon as possible. The girl with the red eyes had miraculously taken the pain of his injuries away, but he knew he was anything but in good shape; like something was holding the pain and numbing it. He moved tentatively, the motion somehow stirred the pain like soup, which spilt a little and burnt him. He held onto the bars to steady himself and let the pain settle back. He pulled on them to see how securely they were fixed into the ceiling. He could tell this wasn't an actual holding cell. It was probably somewhere they locked things, just to keep them safe from the wrong hands. He dragged the bunk away from the wall and standing on it, reached up to test the ceiling. If he couldn't leave through a traditional method, like a door, he might be able to bring the ceiling down. He pushed at it with his fist, the plaster gave a little under pressure; it could be a possibility, but what was above?

Kai heard a noise; the door at the top of the stairs had been opened and a small amount of light cast down. He skipped off the bunk and pushed it back against the wall just as the door shut. A dizzy wave swept through his head and he fell back onto his bed. He pulled himself together just as the girl with red eyes entered from the stair.

'Brought you something' she held a brown paper bag through the bars to him. Kai took it and the girl backed away. Kai looked inside the bag suspiciously 'Bread?'

'Uh, well, I managed to take the left overs from the kitchen. The Grand Master has the best bread... obviously. It has a perfect crust...' She rambled, animated, then cast her eyes down again, uncomfortable 'Uh... Yeah, so I managed to get the left overs today and, well...' She swallowed 'I thought you might like it' She cringed.

'Uh... thanks' Kai said, confused by this uncomfortable offering.

'Ok... bye...' She turned to leave.

'Wait!' Kai called after her 'Would you like some?' The girl hovered and then came forward slowly. Kai held his hand up to his swollen jaw 'that crust looks good, but... I don't think I could do it justice'

'Oh. Oh no. I didn't think' She cast her eyes down again 'I'm sorry about that'

'No, no. Its still great. There's still some good soft bread here too'

'That's not what I meant. I meant... your injuries'

'Yeah well, so you should be. You better bring me bread every night to make up for it... You want the crust?'

She came over to the bars. Kai held the bag out to her and she grabbed a chunk. She pulled the blackened, floured crust off, handing the soft centre back to Kai. He looked at the dough in his hand, slightly squashed by her small fingers and then tucked in.

'It's really good bread. Thank you... for this' She shrugged. Kai pulled a face, wincing in pain

'What are you, a wimp?' she said in response.

'You were almost nice there for a hot second...' Kai said as he held his jaw 'that thing you did last night, for my pain. Is that your power? Or can you do other things?'

'Well that would be telling, wouldn't it? You are 'the enemy' after all'

'Phtt' Kai snorted 'Good call. Can't be fraternising with the enemy now can we?' She laughed a little and Kai asked 'What's your name?'

'Hitch'

'Hitch? Er, well that's... pretty?' Kai said awkwardly.

'I didn't ask for compliments. It's just a name. If I had a pretty name, it would sound wrong... gouge their eye's out Peony...' She said, lowering her voice to emulate her Masters orders 'See?'