The Reign of the Oni

Chapter Five - In Which Lloyd Has a Father-Son Talk

Lloyd's POV:

I jumped to my feet, wincing from the pain. The fall wasn't too high, but I had most likely cracked a few ribs. I shoved past the people while they were still too stunned to realize what was happening. I pushed one of the doors open and ran out of the wearhouse. By now, a large crowd had started to chase me. I ran back the way Ultra Violet had come from. I raced down the alley and jumped over the fence. My feet fell out from under me when I landed. I wrapped my arms around my waist, trying to shove down the pain. I bit my lip and got back on my feet. Once I made it back to the neighborhood, it seemed like I was going to get away. Most of the goons were still trying to make their way over the fence.

That's when I heard an engine firing up.

I turned and saw Ultra Violet at the other end of the street. The light from her bike lit up her face as she smiled psychotically. "Well if it isn't the Green Ninja," she said. "I heard you've been busy since sending all my comrades to jail. You didn't seriously think you were rid of us, did you?" She laughed and revved up the engine.

I turned and started to run. No matter how much every bone in my body ached, I pushed myself faster and faster. I could hear Ultra Violet cackling as she inched closer and closer on her bike. I was really starting to regret not bringing anything with me. Not a weapon, not a communication device, nothing. If I died, the other Ninja would probably never figure out what happened to me. The Sons of Garmadon would drag my body away, celebrating their victory.

I looked up at the sky to see the sun just barely starting to rise. Master Wu would be waking up soon. Maybe he would notice that I was gone.

Ultra Violet's bike grew louder and louder as it started to catch up to me. I continued to run, but I knew it was only a matter of time before she gained on me. I could try to hide in someone's house. But then I would be putting them in danger as well. My panic grew as I turned and saw her only a few feet away. It was hopeless. I couldn't think of a way out.

A hand clasped around my mouth. I was being pulled into an alley, the faint lights of the town fading away. Finally, the person released their grip and I spun around. My captor was tall. They wore a metal hat and their face was covered in a long, brown beard.

"Karlof?" I hadn't seen him sense Garmadon was thrown in jail.

He puffed his chest out in pride. "I was surprised when I saw Ninja in this part of city," he said in his thick, Metalonian accent.

"I had no idea you lived here."

Karlof shrugged. "To help the people, you must be the people, I always say."

I nodded, pretending like I had any idea what that meant. "Listen, is there any way to get back to the center of Ninjago City by using the backroads?"

"You are hiding from crazy lady? I thought you were fighting her."

I sighed. "I didn't exactly come prepared to fight."

Karlof raised his eyebrows questioningly. "You mean you not come because of my letter?"

"What letter?" I asked, looking behind to make sure Ultra Violet hadn't found us.

Karlof shook his head. "Never mind. I will tell you while we go home."

***

Cole and I followed the guard through the hall with all the jail cells. Garmadon was still being kept in the city jail opposed to the prison where we kept most of the larger scale criminals. The Commissioner was scared he would team up with the inmates and cause a riot. And with good reason. I had been meaning to help them up their security for ages. If it was so easy for us to break out, how much more so for my dad?

The other Ninja weren't too pleased when Karlof brought me back to the Monastery last night. Well, early this morning. Luckily, my ribs weren't cracked, just bruised. Pixal found bandages and an ice pack, which was supposed to help with swelling. They made me answer a bunch of questions about how I was feeling before they let me go to the jail. That was why I had to refrain from wincing as we walked down the hall.

After that, Cole insisted on going with me to speak with my dad. I agreed, mostly because I knew there was no use arguing.

"Here we are," the guard said, gesturing to one of the cells.

I strained to see inside the low-lighted cell. There was a figure slumped on the bed, their hair rumpled and the four arms tangled up in a thin blanket. His whole body sagged. I thought back to the way my dad had been before the Sons of Garmadon had brought him back with the Oni Masks. Back to the person who was happy and content. Who only wanted to spend the rest of his days with his wife and son. Harumi had ripped that away from him. Away from me. The person sitting in the cell was not my dad. I refused to remember him this way.

"You have some visitors," the guard said, baning against the bars. He turned to Cole and I and tipped his hat before walking away.

Garmadon turned his head, peering over his shoulder at the two of us. "Ah, if it isn't my estranged son." He turned and stared at the wall. "I am currently mourning my daughter, so if you could come back another time, I would appreciate it."

My hands tightened into fists at my sides. "I don't have a sister."

"I never said you did."

I took a step forward, but Cole put a hand on my shoulder. He shook his head solemnly. I sighed and regathered myself before continuing. "Take a look around you, Lord Garmadon. Your empire is gone. Your loyal subjects have all been imprisoned, just like you. So you can drop the regal act."

Cole and I shared a tentative look. How he responded decided our next course of action.

He was quiet for a long time. The seconds ticked by as we stared at his back, wishing we could see his expression. That would certainly make this a lot easier.

Finally, he looked up at the ceiling. "So what? You've come to rub it in?" He looked over his shoulder at me, his red eyes piercing mine. "That's not very Ninja like of you."

I looked at Cole. He really didn't know. I sighed, not able to tell if that was a good or bad thing. On the bright side, he wasn't somehow still in communication with the Sons of Garmadon. But he had also been our strongest lead. And now we were right back to square one.