Lloyd POV
I looked at the group of people gathered in a heated discussion about who should be eliminated. Their hushed whispers and furtive glances only added to the tension in the air. I couldn't help but feel a knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach, silently hoping that Kai and Skylor would make it back in time with the crucial evidence.
Mr. Pale, standing nearby, offered me a handkerchief. I took it gratefully and used it to wipe the sweat and soot from my face and neck, attempting to regain some semblance of composure. I needed to buy some time, to delay my inevitable elimination and ensure that I wouldn't have to face the humiliation of having my powers stripped by Master Chen.
"Before you start pointing fingers," I said, projecting confidence into my voice as I addressed the group, "shouldn't you try and collect evidence?" I let a smirk play a the corner of my lips. "I don't think the viewers would be happy if you got rid of someone based on a hunch."
Everyone stopped whispering and looked at me, their faces twisted with disgust. It wasn't the first time I'd seen those looks, but it never got easier. The way they stared at me like I was some kind of abomination, made my skin crawl. One contestant, a woman with sharp features whom I hadn't noticed before, stepped forward with a smug look on her face.
"I don't think that's necessary," she said, her voice dripping with condescension. "Because you were there when all three incidents happened."
I tilted my head to the side, confused by her assertion. "And that proves what…?"
She walked closer, jabbing her finger into my chest with each word. "You keep sabotaging our tasks. You're the one destroying everything."
I raised an eyebrow, trying to keep my cool "If I wanted to sabotage, why would I put myself on the spot, idiot?"
Everyone went silent, but I had made a point. The point of the spy was to sabotage the group tasks and not get caught. If I were the spy, why would I expose myself instead of keeping my identity a secret?
"Don't listen to a single word that comes out of his mouth," the stubborn woman shouted. "He's trying to confuse us."
My eyes narrowed, growing tired of this random woman's baseless accusations. "Who on earth are you?"
"Who am I?" She looked caught off guard by the question. "I'm…"
"Never mind, I don't think it is worth my time trying to remember your name," I cut her off. "I am exhausted by the amount of crap I am dealing with in this tournament, so let's just vote. I will tell you why I should not get eliminated, while this random woman will go against me. Whoever thinks that I should be eliminated goes to the right, while whoever thinks I should be spared goes to the left. Simple, right?"
The group exchanged glances, uncertain but clear;y inrigued by the idea of a direct vote. The woman, still fuming, opened her mouth to protest but I raised my hand to silence her.
"Look," I continued, addressing the crowd. "If I were he spy, I'd be much more discreet about my actions. Sabotaging tasks in such an obvious manner would be counterproductive. Besides, I have as much to lose as any of you. I want to win this tournament, not get eliminated for someone else's game."
The contestants began to murmur among themselves, weighing my words. I could see some nodding in agreement, while others remained skeptical.
"Fine," the woman snapped. "Let's do this your way."
…
Heroes POV
Kai and Skylor stood in front of the secret passage, or rather, the secret tunnel in the kitchen. It looked like Lloyd had been correct. The entrance was cleverly hidden behind a stack of old crates and barrels, leading into the darkness.
"This is technically cheating," Kai muttered under his breath, staring into the abyss. "Master Chen is a snake."
"You can say that again," Skylor echoed, her voice just as low and cautious.
Kai glanced at her, curiosity piqued. "If you don't mind me asking, how did you and Lloyd meet?"
"He came to me, but aren't we supposed to catch the spy instead of talking about who mat who?" she replied, a hint of annoyance in her voice as she adjusted the strap on her shoulder bag.
Kai felt a bit embarrassed but pressed on, "Just curious. It seems like you two have a strong connection."
Skylor sighed, softening slightly. "He's a nice and relatable guy. That kind of thing creates a bond. But seriously, we need to focus. The spy could be anywhere down here."
Skylor's eyes wandered over to the unconscious Elijah, who still hadn't woken up. She was pretty sure Lloyd had somehow saved him, but she didn't know why he was in this state. She sighed and turned toward Kai, the tunnel was a bit small to fit either of them comfortably.
"Kai, do you know what the next task is?" she asked. "I bet the spy is over there right now."
"I think the next task has something to do with trees or something along those lines," he said, recalling the details.
"Then that's where we have to go," she said, her gaze returning to Elijah. "But what are we going to do with him?"
Kai glanced at Elijah. "We can't leave him like this."
"But we can't carry him around with us either," Skylor pointed out, trying to shake him awake. "He's dead weight to us."
They both stared at the unconscious Elijah. Kai walked up to him and started to rub his knuckles onto his sternum hard. Elijah's eyes snapped open, and he nearly smacked Kai in reflex. He looked around, disoriented, and then down at his clothes and hands, which were covered in ash.
"What on earth is going on?" he asked angrily. "Where is that pesky Garmadon?"
"Let's just say that pesky Garmadon saved your life so we wouldn't have to deal with burying your body six feet under," Kai replied sharply. "Now, are you going to repay your savior by helping him?"
Elijah looked at Kai in annoyance before sitting up. "And why should I help him? It doesn't even benefit me in any way."
I don't think the viewers would like that," Skylor snarked. "I don't know what beef you have with Lloyd, but he risked his life to save you. Now he's going to be eliminated because of you as well."
"I thought you were a cool guy, but I guess I was wrong," Kai muttered. "Let's go, Skylor."
Skylor looked at Elijah one last time before turning away. "Yeah, let's just go."
Elijah glared at the ground, processing their words. He hated the idea of owing anything to Lloyd, yet the thought of letting him be eliminated sat uncomfortably in his gut. He clenched his fists, remembering the heat and the smoke, the way Llyod had shielded him from the worst of the explosion.
As Kai and Skylor began to walk away, Elijah's voice stopped, "Wait," he said, begrudgingly. "What exactly do you need me to do?"
Kai and Skylor exchanged a glance. "We need to find the spy before Lloyd gets eliminated," Skylor said. "And we think we know where they might be hiding."
Elijah sighed, standing up and dusting off his clothes. "Fine. Lead the way."
…
Noah found himself in the black void he had seen too many times. He sighed in annoyance, the oppressive darkness closing in on him. He hadn't dreamed of this place in a while, and the sudden return unsettled him.
"Where are you, you shadowy bastard?" he called out, his voice echoing into the emptiness. "I don't have time to be playing with you."
"Who said that we are here to play?" a whisper hissed next to his ear, sending shivers down his spine.
Noah jumped to the side, his heart racing. There, beside him, were floating red eyes, staring at him with an intensity that pierced through the darkness. He still wasn't used to this creature's presence. Forcing the fear deep down inside him, he tried to build up the courage he barely had.
"Why did you bring me here now?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady. "I am quite busy, you know."
The shadowy being remained silent for a moment, its red eyes boring into Noah. The silence stretched, thick and suffocating, before the being finally spoke. "I'm just making sure you don't forget what is going to happen."
Suddenly, the black void shifted, transforming into a bustling, vibrant scene. Noah found himself in the heart of Ninjago City, the familiar skyline stretched out before him. But something was wrong. He looked up and saw the moon, unnaturally close and growing larger by the second. The sight filled him with a deep sense of dread. The moon was descending, threatening to obliterate the city he had sworn to protect.
Noah couldn't help but sigh. The weight of responsibility pressed down on him. He needed to figure out how to save Ninjago before there wasn't anything left to save. Closing his eyes, he braced himself for the inevitable destruction. The ground trembled, and a deafening roar filled the air as the moon crashed into the city. The building crumbled, and the screams of its inhabitants were drowned out by the cataclysm.
When Noah opened his eyes again, he was back in reality, sitting next to Jay. Jay was uncharacteristically quiet, his eyes downcast and filled with sorrow. The loss of Cole had hit him hard. Noah understood the weight of their friend's sacrifice. Cole had allowed himself to be eliminated so that they could focus on finding the spy, a move that was as brave as it was heartbreaking.
Noah glanced at Jay, feeling a pang of helplessness. He wanted to offer words of comfort but struggled to find the right ones. How could he console his friend when he felt the same pain and guilt gnawing at his own heart?
Noah stared at the popularity poll on the big screen, baffled by the drastic drop in his ranking. He usually held the second spot, but now he was down to rank seventeen. He wracked his brain, trying to recall any recent actions that could have alienated his fans. He glanced at Jay, who sat silently beside him. Jay's usual chatter was conspicuously absent, replaced by a heavy, sorrowful silence. Cole's elimination had taken a toll on him.
"Why are you guys so gloomy?" Kai's voice broke through their shared despondency as he placed a hand on each of their shoulders. "And where's Cole?"
Both Noah and Jay looked up to see Kai standing there with a raised eyebrow, his demeanor exuding a mix of curiosity and concern.
"Cole got eliminated," Noah explained, his voice tinged with sadness. "Did anyone get eliminated from your group?"
"Almost, but you won't believe how we found our spy. It was crazy!" Kau said, his excitement cutting through the grim atmosphere. "And don't worry about Cole, he's a tough cookie. He'll be okay."
"Where should I begin?" Kai muttered to himself, eyes gleaming with the thrill of his story. "I guess I should start when they wanted to eliminate Lloyd, and we have to catch the spy so Lloyd wouldn't get eliminated.