Chapter 7: The Ambush and Abductions

Skylor collected dirty dishes and napkins from the tables in Mister Chen’s Noodle House, the clatter of dishes and her footsteps the only sound in the empty restaurant. She glanced at the clock in the kitchen and noted that it was about nine o’clock. Kai should be here soon.
   With a damp cloth she wiped at the greasy tables, then heard the front door open. Turning around, she saw a woman step inside, blinking at the harsh light.
   “Sorry ma’am, we’re closed for the night.” Skylor gestured to the ‘CLOSED’ sign hanging at one of the windows. “We open at nine tomorrow morning.”
   “I’m not here for noodles.” The stranger murmured.
   Skylor cocked an eyebrow and inspected the woman. She was dressed oddly; crudely-sewn animal furs acted as a cloak, shirt, and a long, ragged skirt. She was barefoot, her skin was pale, and her cold eyes were like amber. Her long, scraggly, tawny-colored hair was bound into a messy braid hanging down her back. Skylor was slightly disgusted to realize that the woman was wearing the actual skins of what looked like rabbits, weasels, mink, and probably more. Though she was sure she had never met this character before, she thought there was something familiar about her.
   Warily, Skylor put her hands on her hips and asked. “What are you here for, then?”
   The woman tilted her head haughtily.
   Skylor narrowed her eyes. “Who are you? Do I know you?”
   The stranger gave a deep, menacing chuckle. “No. . .” Her gaze locked with Skylor’s. “. . . But I know you.”
   She grinned, showing inhuman spiky teeth, and sprang.

   * * *

Kai’s elemental dragon evaporated as he swooped over the bustling streets of Ninjago City and fell gracefully onto the street. Though he walked down the sidewalk with a confidant swagger, inside his pulse was racing at the thought of meeting Skylor, all to himself. Be cool, be cool, He told himself.
   “Skylor?” Kai called with a little knock on the front door, stepped into the deserted restaurant hesitantly. “You there?” He paused when he saw that a couple of tables had flipped over and a few chairs had been knocked to the floor.
   What happened here? He wondered.
   Skylor suddenly popped out from behind the cash register, making him jump. “Hey, there.”
   “Oh! Hi! Wow, you look good.” He surveyed her slim-fitting, yellow-and-red gi, trying to ignore his racing heart. For some reason, whenever he was around her, he got weak in the knees and his pulse picked up.
   Skylor nodded, a smile growing on her lips. “Thanks. You don’t look so bad yourself.”
   Kai glanced at the toppled furniture. “What happened here?” He gestured to the mess. “It looks like there was a fight.”
   Skylor shrugged casually. “Oh, that? Yeah, some creepy person was in here a few moments ago, trying to harass me. I took care of it, though.”
   Kai gave her an admiring look. “Wow. Does that happen often in here?”
   “Not very, but I’m always up for a bit of action.” With a smile she opened the door. “Shall we be off?”
   The couple walked down the bustling streets of the city, chatting and enjoying one another’s company. There was no particular destination, they only wandered where they pleased. Cars roared by, people brushed past them, music, beeps, signals, and just plain noise blared from all directions, but Kai and Skylor were lost in their own little world. Eventually they strolled to the outskirts of the city and onto a bridge overlooking a wide, dark river. It was quieter here; they could hear the trees’ leaves rustling from where they lined the river, and the calm, gurgling water reflected the light of the moon.
   Skylor ambled over to one side of the bridge and leaned on the stone rail, gazing at the water. “It’s so peaceful here,” She murmured. “We should come here more often.”
   “Yeah.” Kai moved beside her, arms on the rail, and looked over the river. A comfortable silence settled between them.
   “This was fun.” Skylor said. “I’ve enjoyed it.”
   “Me, too.” Kai turned and gazed at her, then raised his eyebrows. He licked his thumb and wiped it at her lips.
   “Kai, what are you doing??” Skylor exclaimed laughingly, shying away.
   “You’ve got something on your mouth.” He explained.
   “What, like lipstick?”
   “No. . .” He frowned, trying to get a better look. “Sticky stuff or something, like ketchup.”
   Some peculiar emotion flickered in her eyes, and she wiped uneasily at her mouth. “Oh. Ah. . .” She rubbed her lips with her sleeve. “Must have been from french fries or something.”
   Kai stared at the red stain on her sleeve. “But. . . You don’t serve french fries in your restaurant.”
   She froze, then forced a laugh. “Sriracha sauce, then. Does it matter?”
   “That’s not Sriracha, either.” Concern crept into his voice. “That’s—blood! Did you cut yourself?? Was it from that fight?”
   She waved him off. “Forget about it, Kai. It’s no big deal, I’m fine.” She took his hand and looked into his eyes. “Really. Let’s just enjoy the night together.”
   His heart began to race. For a second Skylor leaned forward, then her gaze shifted behind him. Something flickered in her eyes, and she turned to the river. “Ooh, what’s that?”
   “What’s what?” Kai looked down into the river.
   “Lights out, Son of Fire.”
   Someone grabbed Kai by the shoulders and slammed him to the ground.

* * *

Is that really Skylor, or is that creepy lady somehow have some type of form element?  Who slammed him into the ground?  I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS!!!