Transgender Jay : A Ninjago Story

60 - Bagged

Jay couldn't remember leaving the tomb. One minute he was there, one minute he was gone, picked up on a gust of wind and flying into the distance.

He didn't know how he'd gotten out. Perhaps another tunnel, as secret and single use as the one he'd used to enter. He didn't care whatever it was.

All he knew at that moment, was that there was one place he needed to go.

There were many uncertainties that were taking over his life. Some weren't fixable, some were painfully permanent, some were outside of his possible understanding, but others, he could work on.

His parents. Ed and Edna.

They may be able to clear up at least one of them.

He pondered as he flew, the dreadful image of a blank slate staring back at him plaguing his thoughts.

What could it mean?

Cole saw nothing when he looked in way back when, but that was largely because of his ghost status at the time. He could indeed become invisible in the future, and the lack of reflection was most likely a reflection of his technical lack of life.

Jay didn't have a reason like that to blame. He was perfectly alive, a human in every way, never anything more or less.

The only reason he could logically link to what he saw was... a lack of future.

An imminent death that was coming for him, and coming for him quickly at that. Maybe within the week, maybe a month, maybe a couple. There was no way of knowing.

It was a very sudden set of information to deal with, made all the worse by Jay's already tender mental state.

The edges of the familiar junkyard came into view, and Jay began to execute a wide downward spiral that would hopefully place him right outside the entrance, ready to walk inside and find his parents. Maybe get some closure, or answers, or anything reassuring at this point. Even a simple hug would do.

His feet hit the sandy ground and he almost lost balance, however regained it without much trouble.

It was the middle of the night, prime time for battering winds and a chill to the bone that wouldn't leave, no matter how quickly Jay rushed to the entrance.

Then, all of a sudden, another realisation hit him.

Ed and Edna would most likely be asleep.

He knew that they ultimately wouldn't mind if he woke them up - especially considering his dire situation - though he still felt guilty even thinking about it.

But he couldn't wait outside all night either.

Jay carried on forward, the caravan that his parents abided in coming into view. It seemed that the piles of trash had grown larger recently... or perhaps it was simply a trick of the night, shadows looming far higher than they would during sunlight.

He stopped a few metres in front of it, panting and gasping for air. Jay hadn't realised how breathless he was.

He stood and stared, wondering what the best way to pull his parents from their slumber would be. Light? Noise? Gently going inside and shaking them awake?

None of those would go well. It was creepy enough that he would turn up so late in the night, and it would be made even worse if they didn't immediately know it was him.

He stared at the windows of the small structure, and the delicately patterned curtains drawn to a close on the inside of them.

It seemed that fate temporarily shined on him, however, as the caravan door suddenly flew open, revealing a furious Ed, holding a crowbar.