Cole was sitting in the corner of the guest room, the blanket from the bed wrapped tightly around him as he shivered. His stomach felt dreadful, and he'd refused to even attempt to drink the tea Wu had given him. His head was pounding with a headache, and he felt all around miserable. And the voice wasn't leaving him alone.

A knock on the door sent waves of pain slicing through his skull, and he blearily called, "What?"

The door opened and the concerned face of Zane popped into view. "How are you feeling?"

"Horrible," he grumbled. "What do you want?"

Zane sighed softly. "Destiny and Lloyd left a little while ago for Hiroshi's Labyrinth. I wanted to let you know. Did you drink any of that tea?"

"No, the last thing I ate I threw back up immediately." Cole answered. "Why are they going there?"

"To get the other part of the antidote. You should drink some tea. Wu said it would help."

Cole groaned and rubbed his temple in an attempt to soothe his headache. "Not if I can't keep it down. Can you leave me in peace? Just talking hurts."

Zane nodded and closed the door gently behind him. After a minute, Cole heaved himself to his feet and collapsed back onto the bed.

He wasn't sure how much time had passed, but suddenly the voice in his head stopped, and his headache eased up a bit.

"Hello, Cole."

The Master of Earth jumped and opened his eyes, startled out of whatever "peace" he'd managed to reach. There was a boy standing in his room. Not just any boy, Cole realized deliriously. The boy that was in the museum.

"How are you feeling?" He asked with deceptive kindness.

Cole felt confusion split his skull as he recognized the voice in his head. "Wha-"

"Yes, it can be quite painful in the final moments of the process. The completion itself is likely going to be worse than this. Plus, you made it worse for yourself by drinking the Venomari antivenom."

Cole managed, feeling weak, "Who are you?"

"Right now, I'm no one. But soon, I'll be you." He said, a superior note in his voice. "And I'll have everything you do. Including Destiny."

Worry spread through Cole's body, succeeding only in making him more exhausted. "What did you do to her?"

"Nothing," he answered. "You're the one who blinded her. And unlike you, I'll take good care of her."

"Don't you touch her!" Cole screeched out angrily.

"Oops." The boy started giggling hysterically. "I'd like to think she enjoyed the kiss I gave her."

Cole screamed, more angry than he could ever remember being. "No one touches her! Stay away from her!"

The boy simply kept laughing, and suddenly Cole could feel weight pressing down on his shoulders. He struggled, unsure of what was happening.

"Cole, calm down," he heard, and Kai's face focused into his view.

"Don't tell me to calm down! Something happened to Destiny!"

"If you don't calm down we'll have to knock you out." Warned a different voice, but Cole was too upset and frantic to identify the speaker. Why weren't they listening to him?

"Listen!" He pleaded. "He did something to her! He's gloating about it!"

A moment later, hands were holding the sides of his head and a liquid was entering his mouth. He swallowed frantically, then tried to fight the pressure on his chest.

"Just let him fight," he heard. "It'll tire him out faster."

Cole's muscles trembled, and he felt a numb sensation slowly making its way through his body. When it had consumed all of him, he felt detached and exhausted. The darkness behind his eyes was both welcoming and tempting, but his worry over Destiny kept him from slipping off, and he hung in the detachment for what felt like hours.

After a little while, he again saw movement at his bedside, and once again liquid was poured into his mouth. He swallowed it quickly, and then sank back down into semi-consciousness.

Then, he heard a distant "Cole?"

He twitched and tried to swim to the surface, recognizing the voice. Then, he felt something touch his forehead, and he opened his eyes to see a blurry Destiny peering at him.

"You're okay.." he wheezed out weakly.

He made out her smiling. "It's okay, I'm here, I'm not going to leave you."

He took a breath and groaned slightly. Each breath felt like an effort. "Why did you go..?" He asked, unable to finish his sentence.

"I had to get you the rest of the antidote."

"Oh. Where is it?"

She looked up, then said, "They said they have been giving it to you. Lloyd brought it back.."

Cole felt confusion spread in him, but he nodded. "Okay.."

She brushed his forehead with a kiss. "I'll be right back."

Cole gave a weak smile and closed his eyes. After a little bit he felt her take his hand, and he let the darkness overwhelm him.