Running from shadows

And the rising night

With no one to help you

In this hopeless fight

Jay was up and about again, evidently having recovered from his illness. Sensei said nothing concerning his recovery, but Jay could feel the mentor watching him closely. In an odd, secret part of his being, it made him nervous, though he could not fathom why.

Jay had found himself becoming more attuned to this "secret side." It had been manifesting itself more and more, creeping into his day-to-day life and invading his thoughts. He'd tried to hide it, for something told him that this sort of thing needed to be kept secret. This secret was becoming dangerous, and he couldn't let anyone else find out about it.

He shook his head, and almost fancied that his vision had cleared. What's going on here? he wondered. I feel so different... like something's changed. Like... like I'm a different person. Like...

He wasn't sure what it felt like any more, and the feeling faded again, leaving him alone with his Secret. A strange drowsiness crept into him, numbing him, and he suddenly felt an overpowering urge to lie down and rest...

Jay made his way back to his room to lie down. He was just so tired... so sleepy...

He climbed into bed and fell back on the pillows. Immediately his eyes slipped shut, and he fell into a deep sleep.

***

"Get up."

Jay groaned groggily and rolled over onto his back, looking up into the scowling face of the Time Master. He blinked.

"It... it was you? This was you?"

"Of course it was," the Time Master replied. "You are dreaming, and I have brought you to this dream in order to give you your instructions."

"Instructions?" he asked, but rose and followed the Time Master down the dark corridor.

"Yes, instructions. It has been a week since you joined me, and we have work to do."

"What kind of work?" He drew up alongside the Time Master.

They approached a large dark pool which stretched onward into the tunnel with no visible end. A strange, ominous blackness filled the pool, and there was no visible bottom. It seemed like one could sink forever, never touching the bottom, simply slipping deeper and deeper into the dark waters until all light vanished and there was nothing left...

Jay shuddered involuntarily at the thought, but the Time Master appeared not to notice.

"There is an informant in Ninjago City," the man went on. "You will take the other and find him. I cannot give you specifics on how to slip away from the others, but I trust you will find some way."

Jay nodded. "You can count on that," he said.

The Time Master smiled slowly. "Yes," he hissed. "I knew I chose well when I came to you. But you must return, before you are missed. Not all of your friends have joined our cause, but with your help they shall soon come to see things from our perspective. But now, awaken. Return to your world."

Jay felt the world spiraling away into a blur of darkness as he slipped from the world of dreams into wakefulness. But one image from that encounter would remain with him long after the immediate memory of the dream faded.

As he had first begun to leave the dream world, he had glanced down at the dark pool. His reflection had been there, staring back at him.

And its eyes were red.