Finding Jay ⚡️

Chapter 38- Jungle

       Jordana tried to ignore the swarming insects as they buzzed around her head. She was tired of this hot, smelly jungle full of things trying to kill her. Sweat dripped down her face and she panted as she attempted to keep up with the rest of the group. Cinder kept throwing concerned glaces over his shoulder, and Jordana hated the sympathy on his face. She wished he would go back to his annoying, selfish self instead of giving her pitiful looks all the time. Ever since the arena, he had been treating her like she was some fragile little girl who would break at any moment. He slowed his pace, dropping back to walk beside her. Walk. The infuriating man was ambling along while Jordana was practically jogging to keep up.
"Are you okay?" he asked in a low voice, eyebrows crinkling. "You're like embarrassingly out of shape." Jordana shoved him, shooting him a glare.
"And yet I would still be able to kick your ass," she panted. He gave her a mocking smile.
"You're not taking care of yourself," he continued. "You haven't been eating or sleeping right since-"
"Are you stalking me Cinder?" Jordana asked quickly, cutting off his words. "You're such a creep." Cinder shrugged.
"Someone has to make sure you don't guilt trip yourself to death. You didn't mean to hit him," he reminded her almost gently. Jordana winced as the image of Jay collapsing hit her full force once again. She fell silent, and Cinder nudged her shoulder.
"Stop doing that," he told her sternly. Jordana ignored him.
You killed him, the voice laughed in her head. You killed the only guy you've ever loved. You're the reason he's dead.
Jordana didn't even bother arguing. It was probably true, after all. Lately, it has been exhausting to keep the voice at bay. She could feel her control slipping, but she couldn't find the energy to care. Cinder stopped in his tracks, watching her eyes glaze over. He shook her gently, snapping her out of her inner battle.
"Where do you go when you do that?" he asked, concern evident in his voice. Jordana avoided his eyes, staring down at her feet.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she lied, staring at a tiny ant as it made its way across the jungle floor.
"Jordana, you need to-" Cinder started, but Lord Ras's booming voice suddenly interrupted him.
"Jordana, Cinder, come," he ordered, and the two of them rushed to fall in step beside him.
"Yes my Lord?" Cinder asked, still not tearing his eyes off of Jordana's tense face.
"We are almost at the Labyrinth's temple. It is time to put the next step of our plan into place." he explained.
"Of course," Cinder replied. "And what exactly would that be?"
"We need Jay to come to the jungle so that he can act as the connection between the three medallions," Lord Ras answered, his eyes landing on Jordana. She noticed his intense stare and felt her veins to ice.
"How?" she whispered, scared to know the answer.
"You of course," Lord Ras responded, eyes alight in anticipation. Jordana's face went pale, and Cinder reached out to steady her before he could think better of it.
"You will establish a connection with him using your magic and send him a message luring him to the temple," Lord Ras continued, ignoring Jordana's obvious reaction.
"He's dead," she breathed, not trusting herself to say anything more. Lord Ras's eyes flashed in rage, his face darkening.
"For your sake, let's hope he is not."
"Even if he is alive, he wouldn't listen to me. He knows we betrayed him," Jordana said shakily, desperately hoping Lord Ras would let it go.
"Not if he thought you were in trouble," Lord Ras replied confidently, his face twisting into a wicked smile. "I'm not blind, Jordana. I have seen how the two of you care about each other. Jay is a ninja at heart. His morals wouldn't let him ignore a plea of help even if it was from the girl that tried to kill him." Jordana shook her head, taking a step back.
"Lord Ras, I don't know if-" Cinder jumped in, before being cut off by his commander's barely harnessed rage.
"DO NOT," he barked, eyes flashing, "question my choices." Cinder shut his mouth, watching Jordana nervously.
"I can't," Jordana begged, "please don't make me do this. Please." She pointed to the machines being lugged by the army of Lord Ras's followers desperately.
"I can't be the one who makes him go through that again," she pleaded, barely controlling the wave of fear and nausea that washed over her. Lord Ras watched her in amusement, the ghost of a smile on his lips.
"I didn't realize what a hold Jay has over you," he almost laughed. "Pathetic really. Love is a weakness, Jordana. Learn that lesson before I have to teach you myself."
His words blended with those screaming at her in her head, and Jordana felt herself losing control. The mental barriers she had so carefully constructed, the ones she put in place to protect the world from the evil prescence inside of her, were crumbling.
"If you do this, Jordana, you have a chance. You could make him forget it all. He would never remember how you betrayed him, how you used him. It would be a fresh start," Lord Ras continued, voice low and convincing. Jordana felt Cinder stiffen beside her.
Yesss, the voice hissed in her ear, louder than ever. He can be yours. Make him forget and he will be yours.
"No," she responded to both of them, shaking her head frantically. "No. I can't. I won't do that to him. Never." Before she could react, Lord Ras slapped her, the force of his blow sending her careening backwards. Jordana's eyes stung as Cinder caught her by the arm before she could fall. The amusement disappeared from Lord Ras's eyes, and he glared at her with ice in his gaze.
"I'm not giving you a choice," he responded calmly. "Either you help me, or I will track him down, force him to give me the electricity I need, and then kill him. Do you understand me?" Jordana's eyes widened, and his face softened slightly.
"I am not an unreasonable man Jordana," he said almost gently, his face contorting into a mask of sympathy. "I am giving you a chance to save him. An opportunity to start over."
Jordana nods dully, unable to speak.
"So are you going to help me?"
"Yes," she croaked, the guilt in her chest threatening to smash her into the earth. She wish it would.

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"Hand me that impact driver," Nya asked from under her latest machine. Jay passed her the tool, content to watch her work. He loved the way her hands flew over her work, the look of concentration on her face as she considered a problem. It was peaceful in the workshop. He had started coming down here with her the past few days, after she showed it to him for the first time. Nya had told him it used to be one of his favorite places on the ship, and he could see why. It felt right. He smiled as she hummed absently. She was so cute when she was distracted.
"I don't understand why this isn't working," she huffed, hauling herself up from the ground. She looked at him sadly, and he suddenly felt uncomfortable. Her Jay would know how to fix this problem, he knew all about machines. Jay cursed his stupid amnesia.
"I could take a look?" he offered hesitantly. Her face broke out into a bright smile, and Jay felt a surge of warmth in his chest. He loved making her smile. She sunk back to the floor, and Jay scooted under the machine beside her. The car was supposed to have wings that extended at the press of a button, but something had gone awry with its ability to transform. Jay studied the inside of the machine, hoping to have a sudden insight to help her with this problem.
"What is this supposed to do?" he asked, pointing to wire that seemed to be disconnected.
"FSM I'm so stupid," she groaned, quickly fastening the wire back into place. She leaned over him to reattach it, and Jay felt a brush creeping onto his face. She sighed, pulling herself back from under the car. Jay followed her and watched as she slammed the button, the wings popping into place.
"I think it would be impossible for you to build that if you were stupid," he told her, admiring the car. She grinned at him, and Jay was suddenly half-convinced she left that wire unattached on purpose just so he could feel useful.
"Did you-" he started, but was suddenly startled by a pop of color behind his eyes. Jordana's frightened face stared back at him, and he nearly jumped out of his skin.
"Jay?" Nya asked, noticing his suddenly blank expression. She waved a hand in front of his face but he didn't respond.
Jay! Jordana yelled in his head frantically.
What the hell? He screamed at her, trying not to panic as his limbs froze in place. What are you doing to me??
FSM you're alive, she responded, relief flooding her features.
No thanks to you, he snapped, glaring at her.
Look, I'm so sorry for everything, she said earnestly, I don't have a lot of time. Lord Ras has gone crazy Jay. He's planning on bringing the Forbidden Five back to kill innocent people, okay? I never agreed to this part of the plan! You need to stop him. We're in Hiroshi's Labryrinth, in some old temple. Please, before it's too late!
Jordana, Jay started, but suddenly her face faded away and was replaced by a very worried Nya.
"What was that?" she demanded.
"Nya, we need to warn the others," Jay told her grimly. "I think we may be headed straight towards a trap."