Heroes POV
Noah's eyelids fluttered open at the chaotic symphony of voices and footsteps echoing through the dimly lit room. His bleary eyes struggled to focus as he attempted to discern the source of the commotion. Through the haze of exhaustion, he managed to make out the figure of Dream Kai standing before him, his expression wrought with stress and urgency. With a groan, Noah pushed himself into a sitting position, the fatigue weighing heavily upon him. The darkness outside hinted that it was still the dead of night, leaving Noah with zero clues as to the cause of the sudden upheaval.
"What's going on, Kai?" Noah's voice was tinged with weariness as he struggled to make sense of the chaos. "Why is everyone running around and screaming?"
Dream Kai wasted no time, his grip firm as he pulled Noah to his feet. "WE NEED TO LEAVE NOW!" he exclaimed, his urgency sending a jolt of adrenaline coursing through Noah's veins.
Confusion clouded Noah's mind as he stumbled forward, his thoughts muddled by sleep and bewilderment. "Why?" he managed to stammer out before the building was rocked by a deafening explosion from the lower floors, the shockwaves reverberating through the walls.
As Dream Kai steadied him, Noah's eyes widened in horror, realization dawning upon him. "They followed us here," Dream Kai explained, his voice strained with tension. "One of our people got bitten. He hid it from us, and now almost every Shadow Wraith in the area is here."
Noah's heart sank at the grim revelation, a wave of dread washing over him. Despite his efforts to keep watch, a single lapse in vigilance had allowed their deadliest enemies to infiltrate their sanctuary. "How?" Noah's voice was barely a whisper, disbelief coloring his words as he struggled to come to terms with the dire situation.
"There's no time to explain," Dream Kai replied, urgency lacing his tone as he guided Noah out of the room. "We need to move, now."
As they made their way through the besieged hotel, Noah's frustration simmered beneath the surface. The people they were trying to evacuate seemed utterly helpless, relying on Dream Nya and Dream Zane to lead them to safety. It grated on Noah's nerves—how could they be so ill-prepared, so utterly dependent on others for their survival?
A Shadow Wraith materialized out of the darkness, launching itself at Dream Nya with startling speed. Caught off guard, she stumbled backward, her eyes widening in fear as the creature's jaws snapped hungrily at her. With lightning reflexes, Dream Zane sprang into action, his sword slicing through the air with deadly precision as he drove the blade into the creature's shadowy form, vanquishing it with a final, decisive blow. As Dream Nya scrambled to her feet, her breath coming in ragged gasps, Noah's heart pounded in his chest. He knew all too well the terror of facing such a malevolent foe.
The sudden chaos drew the attention of the other evacuees, their panicked cries filling the air as they surged back towards the safety of the hotel. In the chaos, Noah was knocked to the ground, the impact sending a jolt of pain radiating through his weary body. His hand instinctively went to his face, coming away slick with warm, crimson blood. Ignoring the pain, he pushed himself upright, his resolve hardening with each passing moment. Enough was enough. Gathering his friends close, Noah led them towards the rooftop, determination burning in his veins.
They raced up the stairs, dodging the frenzied onslaught of Shadow Wraiths that sought to impede their progress. Dream Zane paused to assist a bystander, but Noah's voice rang out sharply, cutting through the chaos.
"Leave them!" Noah's tone brooked no argument as he urged his friends onwards. "There's no saving them now."
Dream Zane hesitated, his expression torn between duty and urgency, but ultimately he followed Noah's lead. As they reached the rooftop and sealed the door behind them, Noah finally allowed himself a moment to catch his breath, his chest heaving with exertion. But any sense of relief was short-lived as Dream Kai's voice cut through the tension, his anger palpable as he confronted Noah.
"What's going on with you?!" Dream Kai's words were laced with frustration. "We could have helped those people!"
Noah met his friend's gaze with steely resolve, his jaw set in determination. "What do you expect us to do?" he retorted. "How on earth are we going to save Ninjago if we're dead?"
Dream Kai's outrage only fueled Noah's frustration. "It's either us or them," he insisted, his voice unyielding. "Besides, they're expendable. Sacrifices have to be made for the greater good."
Dream Zane interjected, attempting to diffuse the tension, but Noah's patience was wearing thin. "I say…" he began, but the words died on his lips as Noah turned his piercing gaze back to Dream Kai.
His friends stared back at him, their expressions a mix of disbelief and disappointment. But Noah refused to back down, his convictions unwavering.
"Let's get out of here," he suggested, his tone brooking no argument. "We'll figure out our next move once we find a safe place to regroup."
With wary glances exchanged between them, Dream Kai reluctantly acquiesced, lifting Noah once more as they leapt from rooftop to rooftop, leaving behind their former refuge and fallen comrades in their wake.
…
Noah lay on the makeshift bed, exhaustion weighing heavily on his eyelids despite his inability to succumb to sleep. The silence of the room was punctuated by Dream Nya's persistent coughing, a stark reminder of her illness. Dream Zane's attempts to alleviate her symptoms with medicine seemed futile as she continued to suffer. Staring up at the ceiling of the abandoned house, Noah's thoughts drifted to the absent owners. Had they fled in fear, or had they met a darker fate? The uncertainty gnawed at him as he contemplated their own precarious situation, wondering if they would survive another day trapped in this relentless dream.
His rest was interrupted by the sound of retching from the adjacent bathroom, signaling Dream Nya's ongoing struggle with illness. Dream Kai's presence by her side was a testament to their unwavering commitment to one another, despite the challenges they faced. With a sigh, Noah rose from his makeshift bed and made his way to the bathroom, catching a glimpse of his disheveled reflection in the mirror. His appearance was a far cry from the confident teenager he once was, his clothes dirty and his hair unkempt. Stripping off his uniform, he stepped into the shower, relishing the feeling of warm water cascading over his weary body.
Emerging from the bathroom, Noah felt a sense of renewal as he joined his friends downstairs for breakfast. Noah descended the stairs, greeted by the sight and aroma of breakfast prepared by Dream Zane. The eggs and toast laid out before him seemed like a simple luxury amidst the chaos of their situation. As he picked up his fork and began to eat, he couldn't help but marvel at the rarity of such a moment—a cooked breakfast enjoyed with no worries weighing on his mind.
Glancing at Dream Nya, who sat beside him without touching her food, Noah couldn't shake the concern gnawing at him. Her lack of appetite raised questions in his mind, prompting him to wonder if there was more to her condition than just illness. Dream Zane's interruption pulled Noah's attention away from his thoughts, the gravity of their situation once again looming over them.
With a heavy sigh, Dream Zane voiced the collective concern—"We really don't have a plan to defeat that Thing."
Noah's fork froze midway to his mouth as he mulled over the dire reality they faced. Despite their determination, they were outnumbered and outmatched by the Shadowy being and its legion of Shadow Wraths. Dream Kai's suggestion to retreat to the school sparked a glimmer of hope amidst their uncertainty. The school, a bastion of safety and familiarity, seemed like their best chance at regrouping and strategizing their next move. However, Noah couldn't ignore the immediate obstacle they faced—Dream Nya's illness.
Her sudden departure to the bathroom only served to heighten their concern for her well-being. Traveling while she was in such a state would only jeopardize their chances of survival. As he glanced at his half-eaten toast, Noah made a decisive choice—one rooted in pragmatism and concern for their collective health.
"Let's wait until Nya gets better before we make any moves," he suggested, his tone firm yet compassionate. "Our health has to be our priority right now."
His friends nodded in solemn agreement, recognizing the wisdom in his words. As they settled into a tense silence, the weight of their uncertain future hung heavy in the air, overshadowed only by the hope that they still had time to turn the tide and save their world from impending doom.