A fire's shadow

Helping a kid

Shadow bolted into a sitting position with wide open eyes.

His panting broke the silence that had previously filled the room.

Placing a hand on his forehead he smiled a smile he had forgot he could even do.

The smile of a psychopath.

Tears formed in his eyes and he started to laugh, a laugh mixed with sobs.

"It...It was just a dream......"

His smile started to fade and was replaced with a sad and painful expression.

"They......They don't hate me......it wasn't real......"

Shadow placed his hands over his eyes and started shaking his head as the tears continued to escape his eyes.

"It wasn't real......It was just a dream.......They don't hate you......."

There was a knock on the door which caused Shadow to flinch and remove his hands from his face.

"Who's there?" He tried to hold back the sobs that were stuck in his throat.

"It's me. I just wanted to check if you were awake. We're having breakfast." Kai's voice was heard from the other side of the door.

"Oh, yeah, I'm awake. I'll.....I'll meet you guys in a minute."

Footsteps that walked away from the door down the hallway made Shadow calm down a little.

"See, they want you there. They don't hate you. Not one bit. Just......tell Nya you're sorry and everything will be alright...."

Getting off the bed, Shadow made his way out the door and down the hallway.

His heartbeat sped up more and more for every step closer he took.

He paused in the doorway, staring at his family who sat by the table while eating their breakfast.

Maybe he could just turn around and run back to his room, hide there for the rest of the day.

Just then Jay looked up and spotted him, "Shadow! Come and eat."

Well, there goes the idea of hiding in his room for the rest of the day.

Letting out a sigh, the teen walked over to the table and sat down next to Kai who was currently talking to Lloyd about something.

Grabbing a piece of bread and spreading some butter on it, Shadow started eating.

He noticed that Nya was acting like normal for the most part, the only difference from her usual behavior was the fact that she kept glancing in Shadow's direction.

Shadow munched down one sandwich before letting out a sigh and turning his head to his sister, "Nya?"

The water ninja turned her head to him, "Yeah?"

"I just wanted to say sorry for earlier, I know you were only trying to help. I was just tired, but I know that's not an excuse. So sorry."

Nya gave him a smile, "It's okay. I figured that you didn't mean it and was just tired. And I was pushing you even though you said everything was fine so I'm not fully innocent either."

Shadow smiled back, "Thanks, sis."

"No problem."

The others shared a confused look but brushed it off seeing as whatever it was, it was solved now.

There was a long minute of silence before Kai cleared his throat. Everyone except for Shadow gave Kai a questioning look. Shadow knew what he was going to do and at the nervous look on Kai's face, Shadow gave him a smile and mouthed, "You got this bro."