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The ninja gathered around Sensei Wu as he cleared his throat.
“I have decided rule Four,” Wu said calmly. “Do not go into the giant red door in the basement that glows.”
Silence.
Jay blinked. “I’m sorry—did you say giant?”
“And red?”
“And glowing?”
Wu nodded.
Kai crossed his arms. “Why would there even BE a giant glowing red door in the basement.”
Wu smiled.
“That is not important.”
Lloyd stared at him. “That feels… extremely important.”
“I will be nearby,” Wu added.
Everyone immediately looked at Jay.
Five minutes later.
They were all in the basement.
Because of course they were.
The door was impossible to miss.
It was huge, carved with swirling patterns, glowing a menacing red like it was actively daring someone to touch it. Heat radiated off it. It hummed softly.
Jay whispered, “Okay but… hear me out…”
“No,” Kai said instantly.
“I’m not saying we go in,” Jay continued. “I’m saying—why does it glow?”
Zane scanned it. “It appears to be powered by an unknown energy source.”
Cole frowned. “Why does everything in this monastery try to kill us?”
Lloyd squinted. “Sensei Wu said don’t go into it. He didn’t say don’t touch it.”
Everyone turned slowly to look at him.
“…Lloyd,” Kai said carefully, “back away from the door.”
Jay grinned. “The kid has a point.”
Cole put a hand on the door.
Nothing happened.
Jay poked it.
Still nothing.
Kai rolled his eyes. “See? It’s probably just—”
The door creaked open.
Everyone screamed.
The glow intensified. Wind rushed out. A loud whoooooosh echoed from inside.
Jay grabbed Kai. “WHY IS IT BREATHING.”
"It's not breathing, Jay"
Inside was a long hallway glowing red… filled with shelves.
Shelves of—
Jay squinted. “Is that… Sensei Wu?”
Cole leaned in. “Those are mannequins.”
All dressed like Wu.
Hundreds of them.
Zane tilted his head. “Fascinating.”
A voice echoed from behind them.
“I wondered how long it would take.”
They all whipped around.
Sensei Wu stood at the bottom of the stairs, sipping tea.
Kai pointed wildly. “THAT’S WHAT’S BEHIND THE DOOR?!”
Wu nodded. “Yes.”
Jay yelled, “WHY.”
Wu took another sip. “Practice.”
“For WHAT,” Jay screamed.
Wu gestured into the room.
The Wu mannequins’ eyes lit up.
They all moved at once.
Everyone panicked.
“I OBEY RULE FOUR,” Kai shouted, slamming the door shut.
Silence.
Heavy breathing.
Jay slid down the wall. “I’M NEVER BREAKING A RULE AGAIN.”
Wu smiled peacefully.
“That is why the rule exists.”
Cole stared at him. “So… what happens if we go in again?”
Wu’s smile widened.
“We add Rule Five.”
Jay screamed from the basement.