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Nya concentrated, feeling the pulse of the water in the pipes, dragging it towards her. It resisted, pressured against the metal casing, but she pulled harder; she was its master. Yanking it free, she turned and blasted it at the thugs approaching her. They went down, spluttering under the onslaught.
Grinning slightly, she swept the scroll off the floor, running towards the exit.
"Guys, I've got it," She yelled over the coms, ducking under a sword aimed at her head. She spun a kick into his legs, decking him and twisting back to the room. Cole was off to one side – the ground vibrated as he punched the earth, sending the enemies around him flying upwards. "Cole—Kai, let's go!"
She yelled again, turning to find her brother. What she saw made her whole-body freeze. Kai was on his knees; one arm twisted roughly behind his back as the leader of the group held a katana to his neck. She heard Cole gasp and start forward, before stopping as the man pressed the blade closer to her brother's neck.
"Ah ah ah—not so fast ninja," He crooned, "I wouldn't want to damage your friend now, would I?"
He tilted the blade against Kai's throat. Nya searched Kai's face - he met her gaze, no panic showing, just calm. His hazel eyes held hers, chest rising in perfectly measured breaths. Nya's heart pounded, and she tore herself away from her brother, glaring at the man who held him.
"So, Ninja," He began, leaning forwards and pushing her brother's head back, "Let's make a deal. You give me that spell, or this one dies."
Her grip tightened on the paper scroll. She couldn't give it to him, people would die. But Kai—
Cole whipped around to face her but didn't move either way. He just looked at her, at the scroll she held, and at his friend. They were helpless. No time to plan, no way out. Most of the thugs they had been fighting were down, only the leader and two cronies remaining. One of them started towards her but froze when she raised her trident at him. It was a standoff.
Her heart pounded, vision tunnelling in on the blade at her brother's neck. She couldn't think, what was she going to do. She couldn't give him the spell, but, but that was her brother.
"Nya—Nya listen to me," Kai spoke up, voice level. His captor made no move to stop him. "You have to leave. Take the scroll to the others."
She shook her head rapidly, eyes blurring. Dizziness washed over her, trembling frame. Her mouth was dry and she swallowed. No, no she wouldn't leave him. She couldn't, she, she needed him. Cole made no move, just as torn.
"You can't give it to him Nya," Kai continued, "Take it—find the others. It's okay, it's okay Nya."
No, it wasn't okay. Her voice wouldn't work; no more than her body would move. She wanted to scream, to run at him, to drag them all out of there. There was nothing she could do, it didn't matter how she thought, she was too weak. They all were.
She looked at Cole, desperate for his help. She could see him thinking, turning the situation over and coming up just as empty. He shifted one of his hands behind his back.
The man laughed, and she looked back at him, "Time's running out little ninja, choose."
He had a mad glint in his eye – and with his plans for the spell they'd fought so hard for – she didn't doubt he would follow through. Kai still hadn't moved a muscle, though he looked like he didn't even care about the blade on his neck. He smiled up at her, small and gentle, just like he used to when she was younger, terrified everyone would leave just like their parents.
Her hands shook, grip on the scroll tightening. Nya's breath trembled. She couldn't choose. The man sighed dramatically, "I suppose, that's time up then."
Her eyes widened, taking a single step forward as the room exploded into motion. A green blur dropped from the skylight and kicked the man away from Kai. Cole spun and grabbed the thug advancing on Nya, throwing him across the room. Jay and Zane burst through the door to her left, the latter running over to check on Kai.
A pair of hands grabbed her and turned her to face them. The worried face of her yin met her, concerned gaze flicker over her, mouth moving at a million miles an hour. Something clattered against the floor as her arms went slack, dropping the scroll and trident. Nya shook, tears pouring down her face, but no sound escaping her.
Jay pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her, whispering soft reassurances. She felt her limbs go weak, sagging against him. Still, she could not move, could not make a sound. Her breath gasped slightly as Jay held her, gazed fixed on the wall, eyes unseeing.
He simply held her, manoeuvring them to sit on the floor as her legs threatened to give out. Nya rocked slightly, oblivious to the team moving around them until a red blur crouched in her vision. Gentle hands tilted her chin up, amber eyes staring at her softly.
"It's alright sis," Kai spoke, "It's okay. I'm okay. See," He gestured up and down his body, "Not even hurt."
He moved to her other side, slipping his arms around her as well. Finally, her silent tears broke into sobs. They held her as she cried, the others tying up the criminals and taking them form the room.
"Don't ever do that again." Her voice shook, barely audible in Kai's shoulder. "Don't ever tell me to leave you again."
"Okay. Okay."
She took a deep, stuttering breath, raising a hand to wipe her face. She sniffed, broken out of whatever trance had held her. Leaning back slightly, she looked her brother up and down. He did seem to be uninjured, and the fact Zane had let him come over, and wasn't hovering, supported this fact.
Raising her chin, she punched his arm.
"Hey! What was that for?" He pouted, rubbing at the spot her fist connected. Jay snickered behind her.
"That, was for being a stupid, self-sacrificing idiot!" She yelled. Jay put a hand on her shoulder, preventing her from physically jumping on Kai. Nya huffed, turning to her yin. "How did you know?"
"We heard you say you had the scroll," he explained, "We were on our way to your position—ready to get out of here—when Cole sent an SOS."
So that was what he'd been doing with his hands. Clever. He must have snuck his earpiece out and used it to send a non-verbal signal.
"Sorry it took us so long," Jay looked down guiltily, rubbing his neck, "It was really hard to work out how to get in here before the guy would be able to follow through."
"Yeah—well, not like I nearly died or anything," Kai snarked. Nya threw him a glare, and he wilted slightly. She stood, still shaking slightly. The boys rose as well, and she picked up her trident, stashing it on her back before grabbing the stupid scroll.
"Come on," Nya grabbed Jay, giving him a peck on the cheek.
"Ew." She smacked Kai again for that, grabbing his Gi and dragging him with them.
"Let's get out of here."