Willow shook her head and ignored the shouts coming down from the hall.

"What's gotten under his skin?" Steel scoffed.

"Probably you." Willow muttered and Steel chuckled.

"Hmm. Pretty and clever. Interesting."

Willow blushed. Steel was nice to her but she didn't wish to be flirted with. She had a crush on... someone.

"Shut up." She almost whispered. Steel stops and laughs. So much, he had to grab his stomach.

"You're pathetic." He said, smiling and standing strait. He continued walking."Nobody tells this ninja to--"

This time Willow scoffed."You're not a ninja. You're just a jerk with a difficult past who thinks working for the dark side will heal those mistakes." Steel stops in his tracks and looks at Willow. She couldn't read his expression. Anger? Shock?

Pain?

"H-how would you know that?" He spat. Willow kept walking."You don't know anything about me, Willow! I-I... Master promised me if I help, I'll see my family again! And I just... I-I..." He stops.

Defiently pain.

Willow sighed and walked back to him. He was looking at his feet. Her hand found his shoulder.

"Steel. You don't know how much I understand; how many mistakes I have made in my past... But you're going about this all wrong. You need to learn to forgive yourself. You need to find the good things in your life and embrace them and then..." She hugged him with a smile."Someone will embrace you. You're friends shape you and make you who you are."

"But... I-I... Don't--"

"Shut up. You do now." He smiled too and she backed up. He gave her the keys and sighed.

"I'll tell master you escaped. Sure, I might get in trouble but... It's worth it. I've got to help my friend."

"You'll find someone who'll help you forget all your past mistakes. Like I did."

"You mean Lloyd changed you?"

"Yeah." Willow said."I guess he did. Bye."She rushed past him.

"Willow!" Steel called and Willow looked over her shoulder."Be careful." She nodded and  continued down the hall."Hurry! You'll be caught if you don't!" Willow reached the cell Lloyd and her were trapped inside.

"Lloyd." She whispered loudly."Come on." She jabbed the keys in the lock and turned it.

"Willow?" He said. He stood and walked out of the cell once she opened the door. He smiled and hugged her, maing her turn red."I knew you wouldn't leave me in the dark." And she hugged him back.

"Never." They released each other and ran down the hall. Willow stopped in her tracks and whizzed around."My picture!" She lurched towards the hall but Lloyd grabbed her arm.

"Willow, there's no time. We have to go. Now."

"But--" She wanted to argue. She had to get the picture. She had two choices: sacrifice herself, Lloyd and Steel just for a picture or leave it and Steel behind and escape with Lloyd. She groaned loudly through her teeth with frustration although she was screaming inside her head. She yanked her arm out of Lloyd's grasp.

"Fine." She spat although it choked out of her throat."Let's go." They ran down the hall. How do they even get out of there? Willow and Lloyd passed a Blue, Black and red blur behind bars. Lloyd skidded to a halt and ran to the cell they just passed.

"Guys!" He cried.

"Willow!" Someone yelled. Steel rushed up to her. He gave her a key."Here. This'll get them out." Willow unlocked the door and released Kai, Cole and Jay. Lloyd only stared at Steel with confusion.

"Are you coming?" Willow asked Steel.

"I can't." He grins."I'm pretty sure master has a tracking device on me or something. I'd only be a danger."

"Alright."

"The exits down the hall and then the second door on the right."

"Got it." Lloyd spat."Thanks. Let's go." They sped down the asile. Willow's mind went blank worrying about Steel. Would he be caught? Her mind came to Lloyd. Why is she always thinking about him?! She pushed both of the boys out of her head. They reached daylight and Willow saw they had been in a structure just below Borg Industries.

"What..." Jay said.

"The..." Cole breathed.

"Heck." Kai exclaimed."We've been under Borg Industries the whole time?!"

"Apparently." Willow muttered.

"Okay." Jay said."It's official. No more staying at the academy. It's clearly not safe."

"Alright." Cole admitted."But where will we stay."

"Hmm..." Lloyd thought.

*   *   *

"Greetings my elemental buddies!" Darreth blurted. Willow had a disturbing pain in her stomach.

"Really?" Kai and Jay said to Lloyd.

*   *   *

Steel walked nervously to the master.

"Uh... Mast--"

"Silence!" He demanded. Steel felt small and like he was shrinking."How dare you disobey my command, Steel."

"I-I'm sorry--"

"Do not intterupt!" Master growled."The treehorn girl. She escaped?"

"Yes. And the ninja."

"Hmm... Excellent."

"Sir?"

"Everything is going according to plan."

Steel stared in horror as the big screen appeared again and he heard Willow shout out with agony.

"Sir, I have to disagree with this." And Willow stops screaming.

"I knew it." Master said."You're a traitor. And I'll have to take care of you before you ruin my plan."

"But--" Steel was cut off by a throb in his head. He grasped it and let a strangled cry rise from his throat. He fell to his side as he clutched his eyes shut. He wanted to escape this... this pain, this sadness, this anger, this...

Everything.

He starts losing it. He writhed around, crying.

"Please... Stop this..." He choked out. The room starts spinning and starts the dark colors start blurring together like being washed out by water. And...

He

Can't...

Think.