The Haunting of the Afterlife

The Chamber

Pythor POV

" We're landing guys! Hold on!" Dawn activated the ship's landing thrusters to slowly descend the boat downwards onto the ground. Lloyd held the wheel, keeping it steady and controlled. Once we were  safely on land, I headed into Angel's room and grabbed her. There was no time to waste, and we had to hurry before Morro could awake her from the effects of the venom. I knew the venom we were given by Acidicus was potent enough to keep her out for a few days, but after witnessing Morro's strength while he was possessing my sister I feared he'd be strong enough to break through the comatose. The three of us exited the ship and out onto the streets in the downtown area. 

" Dawn, do you remember where the lab is?" 

" Don't worry Pythor, I remember,"  Dawn led both Lloyd and I to the sewer lid by the tea shop. We climbed inside and made our course to the Overlord's former underground base. It was darker down here than I remembered, so I was grateful Dawn and I both could see adequately well in darkness. 

" Over there!" Lloyd had spotted the large metal doors first, pressing the button on the side to open them. I took the lead this time, taking multiple turns and twists throughout the building to reach my old research center. 

" Here it is," I say opening the doors, revealing the electro-cobai lit room. " The chamber should be....Dawn....where is it exactly?"

" It should be right over here," the small cat pointed to the corner of the room. She was correct. A large glass chamber stood before us with an open door. If my memory was correct, it should still be hooked up to the computer system here, which remained active surprisingly, despite being abandoned. " Lloyd! Throw down that switch over there!"

"On it!" the boy pulled the red lever, bringing the chamber to life. Dawn was already typing away at the computer, preparing for Morro's extraction. 

" Place her inside. Then we'll start the machine," Dawn instructed. I nodded, slithering over to the glass prism to put Angel inside, but she ignited with green flames before I could. 

" Ahhhh!" she jumped out of my arms, tumbling onto the ground. I stood ready to fight, preparing for any surprise attacks Morro could pull on us, but something unexpected happened. 

A ghostly figure exited Angel's body, floating to the ceiling, " NO!" A gust of wind knocked me down with the wave of his hand. " YOU CAN"T GET RID OF ME THAT EASILY!"

" Pythor!" Lloyd rushed over to aid me in battle, but Morro had stopped him. Picking to poor boy off his feet and thrusting him against the nearest wall. 

" Lloyd!" I began to panic. We couldn't put my sister in the chamber now to stop him. He's no longer within her. Morro must've known about our plan, and therefore he escaped Angel's being before we could deal with him. I was right about his strength though. He was definitely able to combat the power of the venom. My sister still laid on the floor, however, she was no longer asleep. Just fatigued from Morro's power. Her silver eyes opening in narrow slits. 

" Beastie! Beastie are you alright?" I rush to her side, but she doesn't answer me. The only reply I receive is her gentle breathing. 

She's too weak to even murmur a single word. Her power combined with his is far too intense for her body to hold. Even with her own power by itself, it was difficult for her to harness. 

" How cute," Morro chuckled. " You really do still care for that excuse of a pet."

My blood seethed with rage at his words. Even his very breath seemed to irritate me. 

" You'd protect her from anything, yet, you can't even confront a ghost."

I roared, lunging at him. I didn't care if it was a reckless move. My emotions took over, and was evident in my fire. Thrashing my claws back and forth. Left to right. Swing my tail at him as hard as I could. But he flawlessly dodged me. Smiling while I stood out of breath. 

" You couldn't even save her from yourself." the ghoul chittered. " That scar on her eye never healed. Never forgotten. And perhaps never forgiven."

No. He's lying. He's lying! She's forgiven me! Hasn't she?

I throw my hot flames towards him, resulting in a major blast hitting the electro-cobrai tank behind him. We fought endlessly in a series of wind and fire, until both of us countered one another. Wind resisting heat. Fire struggling to push the fierce breeze. 

My arms were beginning to give way, but I held them out desperately. I couldn't give in. Not for Lloyd. Not for Dawn. Not for my little sister. I had to keep going. 

As they did for me. And it was time I paid back by debt to them all. 

" She should've gone with her first choice."

My eyes glared at him with confusion, " What do you mean?"

Morro's smirk grew wide with delight. " Angel considered leaving you at the Corridor of Elders, that the day her ancestors and yours banished Chen."

At that moment my heart stopped. Wait....he could be just trying to mess with my mind like he did to Angel! That can't be true! She would have never done that! She was willing to have me back in her life.

She was.....was she?

" Your wrong. She loved me, even when I was consumed in darkness she still wanted her brother back."

" Or did she?" Morro said, dipping his voice lower. " Did Angel really want you back? I mean, you caused her so much grief, why would she welcome any more pain and suffering from you?"

My hands were beginning to burn red, but my mind only focused on those past events. Circling around and around on that single question. Did Angel actually want me back? Or was it to prevent me from doing something foolish?

" Face it, Anacondrai. Your kind is dead, and the only people you have left are those that wear a fake smile to satisfy you. Angel feared you'd attack Ninjago again if you were let loose. So she decided to turn you around by wearing a mask to deceive you. She wanted her family safe from you, so she told you she loved you to keep your wrath at bay."

"No," my voice was brittle. " No that's not true. It's.....it's not...."

Morro's wind was getting heavy on my fire. He had distracted me so much that I barely noticed how close his power was about to overcome my own. But this made me push back even harder. 

" You are strong, however. All that hate for the humans must've done quiet the number on your gift." The ghoul leaned in closer to my snout, a disgusting grin sewn on his mouth. " I think you'll be of much more use to me than your scrawny kitten sister."

His form phased and glowed, ready to enter my body. Preparing for possession. My mouth hung open, terrorized and frozen with fear. I couldn't move. I need to move! Why can't I move!?!

" NOO!!!" Dawn leaped from the corner of my eye, fusing herself with Morro's ghost. After becoming one with him she landed roughly onto the marble floor, then picking herself up and hopping into the chamber. Before Morro could take control of her mind and process what had just happened, the young kitten took the opportunity to slam the chamber door shut. Her small paw slammed a large red button, activating the machine from the inside.  

" DAWN DON'T!!" Lloyd screamed, rushing to the chamber. But it was too late. Before any of us could get to her, the extraction had started. Illuminating the laboratory with a blinding white light. 

A high pitch ringing sound thundered in my ears. But my heart screeched at me to go save Dawn. My body was paralyzed, still in shock from the machine's activation. 

Everything became silent. My eyes were shielded from everything around me. 

All I could do now was pray that no life was taken in that small amount of time.

Sry if this chapter seemed a bit rough or messy. I really want to start writing on the next events to follow after. I hope you all are having a relaxing winter break so far and let me know about any requests you all might have for my future oneshot book. :)