My mind raced. I thought it would be much harder to find Cole but, how did I just coincidentally stumble across him, in the middle of a creepy forest of all things?

Luckily, we happened to be in a more densely covered area, so I could see him for longer. I had a feeling if he was here, the terrorists would be too.

"Cole-" I managed to say, despite his strong grip on my neck. "i-it's me... Kai."

He released and stumbled backwards. I coughed and held my chest, taking ragged breaths in. I looked over at Cole, who glanced at his hands with a terrified look. I kinda was mad at him. Not because he tried to choke me, but because I was so worried for him. He ran to my side and supported me.

"Kai! You have to get outta here! Before I hurt-"

I slapped him across the face, not too hard or too soft.

"OW! What was that for?"

"First of all, why do you look so attractive right now, and two, why did you sacrifice yourself?"

Cole rubbed his cheek. "Your first point wasn't a valid reason to slap me."

"Whatever, just answer the second one."

"Uh because I love you and I wanted to get everyone out safely."

I stared at his face for a while, taking in all his perfect features. I jumped into his arms. "I'm just glad you're not dead."

He wrapped his arms around me in return, digging his face into my neck. I could feel his hot breath tickle my skin.

I grabbed his shoulders, looking into his green eyes. "Are you okay?"

He reluctantly started to nod, but grabbed his head and yelled in pain, crumbling to the floor.

"Cole!" I reached for his shoulders as he started coughing. Red blood stained the forest floor, and it only ticked my anxiety more. "what are they doing to you!"

He wiped the remains off with his arm, leaning onto me weakly. "T-they put a weird device thingy in my head that's connected to this remote and it kinda brainwashes me? I don't know I just have a really hard time remembering stuff."

I clenched my fists in anger. "Those bitc-"

"Hey hey! No cursing!" Cole slapped a hand over my mouth. I ripped it off.

"No time for jokes! You need to come with me!" I yanked him up. "Are they nearby?"

"Yes! That's what I've been tryna tell you! Also," he stepped away from me and groaned, rubbing his head. "They give me this serum stuff that doesn't make me feel like myself. I loose control and- just- I don't wanna hurt you."

"Cole...," I advanced towards him but he kept retreating. "I know you won't hurt me. Besides, Sensei can heal you with his tea or whatever."

"No Kai you don't understand. If I go they'll notice and come after you guys. I can't let that happen." he pleaded. I thought of that time we had our argument as he glanced behind, hearing distant footsteps. "You should go. I have a feeling they're coming."

"So their new headquarters is nearby?"

"Yes!" he paused. I think. Now go! I don't want you to get caught by them."

"But why are you wandering-"

"Just go!" Cole yelled, interrupting me. "Please."

I reached a hand to him but stopped myself. At least I knew he was alive.

I closed my eyes for a second as he slowly walked up to me. He caressed my cheek, and I couldn't help but to lean into it.

"Kai... I'm trying to protect you. I don't want them doing to you what they're doing to me. Just know I can handle their tests and whatnot-"

I looked into his eyes, feeling hot tears brimming the edge of mine. "But you're not safe."

Cole closed his eyes and connected our foreheads, brushing his fingers through my hair a bit. "I know. Just focus on taking them down. Don't worry about me," he rubbed my back reassuringly. "I promise we'll meet again."

I nodded. We locked eyes for a moment, and I could feel our faces growing nearer. I pulled him closer as our lips were about to touch, but loud rustling forced us to break quickly.

"Go." Cole whispered, nudging me in the opposite direction. I squeezed his hands and turned around, not looking back. My heart ached and I could feel a few tears roll down. I quickly wiped them away and took cover behind a tree, peeking to see if the noise was a group of guards coming.

"Ah found you," I heard one of them say. They tied Cole's hands behind his back. "Turns out you can hold more of that serum than we thought."

"Yah. The effects are startin' to wear off," shuffling was heard, so I inched a little closer to see what was happening. Cole caught my eye and made a face. "should we tell er'?"

The dude from before jerked Cole into the direction they came from. "Aye. We gotta either make it stronger, or give im' more doses."

I narrowed my eyes. Her must be that lady Cole and I tried to take down. But I was worried how much of that stuff they were giving to him.

The guy that wasn't holding Cole pulled out a needle, and I had to flatten the burning urge to tackle him. He guided its sharp end to Cole's neck.

"C'mon man. What's the point of knocking me out with that?" my fiancé leaned away. The other guy pushed him towards it.

"So you can shut yo' annoyin' mouth." he retorted.

"Yeh'," the other agreed. He paused as they looked at each other. "also so that you don't know the exact location of where we camped."

Cole rolled his eyes. "Fair enough."

I looked down as they injected him with it. He gasped and slowly went unconscious, neck giving away and falling unnaturally to the side. The guard struggled to hold up his weight as they both slipped their arms around Cole's shoulders to carry him back to their hideout. Cole might not know where it is, but I definitely will.

Once the guards were out of sight, I swiftly followed, cringing at the crunching leaves that sounded underneath my feet. They didn't seem to realize me for a while, and I had followed them deeper into the forest.

It seemed like I was traveling for ages. This forest was as if it never ended, and I wondered how far they must've camped. I glanced at my watch, following myself on the GPS. I had traveled a pretty long distance, considering I could've went around on the opposite side I entered. It just seemed like longer because they camped on the other end of the forest.

A thick, vine wall separated me from seeing the other side. The two guards dragged Cole along the edge until they stopped at a section. I shifted over to see better.

A rusty, metal clip was hidden underneath the overgrown leaves. They pulled the lever up, opening a fence door. It creaked and moaned while they pried it open, and the leaves shivered once they slammed it shut.

I strained my ears and listened to the surrounding noises. It didn't seem like there were others lurking around, so I dashed as quietly as I could to the covered fence. I figured it would make too much noise and cause a distraction to where I was. Instead, I opted to climb a tree, and followed them from above.

The closely packed branches made it easier to jump from tree to tree, and the lack of leaves thankfully made it so that they wouldn't fall down. I watched closely, pausing every so often when I heard more voices from below. Nothing seemed surprising, for the only scenery I had seen so far was a mossy, stone pathway, lined with cobblestone. As I followed deeper, I could faintly see an abandoned building through the small gaps of branches. I had no idea it was ever there in the first place.

They stopped at a courtyard of some sort, decorated with a chiseled pattern of short grass. I imagined it would've looked a lot neater back when whoever lived here before maintained it.

I listened to their hushed conversations. It seemed like they ran into more of them, but I couldn't make out what they were saying.

I sat there for a while, until the guards continued on. The path ran on for thirty yards or so, until it was met with a larger, main road. Most of the bricks that were strategically placed got pushed out by tree roots and thick vines. Grass grew wildly in between the cracks.

The sound of large wooden doors groaned open. I started to climb right, where they lead me to another large courtyard. This time, it was surrounded by eroded stone bricks. Grand archways provided shelter on the edges, creating long walkways that lead to other doors.

Cole was dragged towards the main doors. I wasn't sure how I was supposed to track him once they went in. They stopped, and it made me a little off balance. The weak branches shook a little. My heart started to beat faster as I anticipated they'd find me, but nothing happened. I exhaled in relief.

"Where's miss boss?" One of them said.

A deeper, more intimidating voice rumbled. "I'll do it."

"Oh you sure Mr. Dunnere?"

I peeked through the branches, looking down into the scene. A man with a black tuxedo roughly grabbed Cole and threw him over his shoulder.

"Do not question me. You are dismissed."

They bowed in respect and ran off in another direction. I continued to climb forward as Mr. Dunnere walked through the main entrance. I reached the back of the building, assuming her office was at the end. I guessed it was an abandoned mansion, but I had never heard of it before. Seemed reasonable though; not many people explored this forest, and it's not like they had any desire to.

A few large windows were opened just the slightest. I tried to see through them, but the dirt and moss made it hard to tell.

Voices to the left of me caught my attention. I moved over to longer window, framed with faded black wood.

That woman in the leather red jacket and brown skinny jeans bent over her desk, talking to the guy in the tuxedo.

"He's stronger than we expected," she hissed, narrowing her sharp eyes at Cole. "I'll have to get them to make the serum stronger."

"Miss, where do you want him?" Mr. Dunnere said randomly, standing straight and too perfect.

The boss scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Aye, always so stiff and serious. Loosen up a bit."

He looked uneasy and shifted his stance a little. It didn't really change much. "My apologies ma'am. I just wanted to-"

"Oh I'm just messing with you," she interrupted him, waving her hand to the side. "just plop him on that couch thingy."

"Yes miss."

He walked over to drop Cole on a small, dusty couch as the boss lady walked back to her desk. She folded her hands together and waited.

"Close the door will you? I want to have a little private conversation."

Dunnere walked out of my frame of vision. I heard a faint creak and thud while he came back into my line of sight.

"Y'know that boy is very important to my plan of taking over Ninjago City."

Mr. Dunnere didn't make an expression. "Um... why is that miss?"

She fidgeted with a pen on her desk, spinning it around while leaning against her knuckles. "He is the son of the original earth master. When I found out she was resurrected, I had to do something to get revenge."

I felt the emphasis through the window. We had resurrected Cole's mom eight years ago or so. Why would she strike now?

"Felt like they needed a little time to settle in, get comfortable. Especially with all these attacks, the ninja's attention will be directed somewhere else, and they won't expect the real reason as to why I want everyone to fear us." her gaze seemed to pierce through Mr. Dunnere's eyes.

He cocked his eyebrow just the slightest. "I'm sorry ma'am. I don't quite follow your reasoning."

She slammed her palms on the table. "Good heavens did I not explain to you? Sorry."

"No need to be miss."

"Anyways, after she killed my mother, I had of course wanted her to feel the pain. But before I was able to, I heard rumors Samukai killed her, and I never got the chance. So after I get what I want, I'll have the ninja eliminated one after the next. The citizens won't know what to do."

"So, you want to take away the son of the past earth master to dwindle their mental state, force the ninja to yield then kill them off one by one, then..." he started, but lost his train of thought.

She started to laugh. It was kinda creepy; short and high pitched but sharp.

"Oh isn't it obvious? I need you to help me get stronger. Discipline the troops, get us weapons, clean up this filthy place and whatnot. I don't care about the ninja; I just want them out of the way," she leaned forward and placed her long, red acrylics on the desk. "but what I do care to successfully accomplish, is to kill Cole's mother, and finally get my revenge."

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