Just an Illusion (A Ninjago Reader Insert)

Past Pain: Part 1

TW: Mentions of suicide, self-harm, brief mentions of blood.

The dark sack was ripped from off Y/n's head. Groggily, she glanced around the surrounding area. It was dark and dingy cave, with stalactites jutting out from ceiling. A damp scent filled the air, and as her vision cleared, she could make out the shapes of several guards surrounding her. Her throat felt dry and raw, and she feel the tight bounds of rope digging into her ankles and wrists. A guard was clasping onto her neck, keeping her from moving her head. He needn't have bother though- whatever they had given her to reduce her to this state exhausted her to the point of deep drowsiness. Her head lolled downwards, defeated.

The small crowd was dispersed as two looming figures stepped forward. Y/n didn't need to look up to name them; Chen's childlike cries of annoyance and Clouse's sneering voice were dead give-aways.

"And what makes you so sure it will work Clouse? What could we possibly dig up that will get me her full power?!"

"Patience Master. Her true potential more vital than ever for the spell to work. Besides, if we can figure out what's stopping it, we will force her power outwards! I am certain!"

He rolled his eyes and huffed. "Ugh, why can't we just ask her?"

"And you'll think she'll tell us? Of course not! Besides, she may not even know. We cannot go on without it!" Clouse snapped, growing tired of his master's ignorance.

Y/n glanced upwards from her lost state. "If you're planning on interrogating me or something, forget it. I'm not saying a word."

"Oh, will be doing much more than interrogating Y/n," Clouse smirked. He raised her chin to look her in the eyes. She glared back, not bothering to fight it, but in no way enjoying it. "You are just like your father you know. So brave, so determined. Such a shame we must do this. You could have been...valuable."

Y/n glared daggers. Her suspicions had basically been confirmed. He had been there that day. Clouse smirked again. "I had the pleasure of meeting him once. Pity our encounter was...cut short." He dropped her head, then turned his attention to the guards holding her. "Get her into position."

Y/n was dragged across the cave to a metal table, fitted with metal cuffs for her hands and feet. She kicked hopelessly against them, the cool metal sending chills down her spine. Once she was secured, a stand was placed besides the table, a withered spell book laying across it. An ointment of sorts was dapped across her forehead, and a small dagger was trailed across her wrist, drawing blood. She winced as she watched on, unable to resist them. Clouse started muttering from his book, while her blood dripped from the blade into a small bowl. The bowl was passed to Clouse, who traced dark magic over it.

Y/n's skin began to burn, and her head pounded. It was as though she was being stabbed all over. Beads of sweat dripped from her forehead, and she began writhing in pain. Clouse was chanting something, but she could no longer here over the sound of her own blood-curdling screams. In a moment, a burst of indigo shot out of the bowl. The dark magic crawled its way towards her, focusing on her head. She struggled against the thick bonds, but to no avail. The last thing she heard was the sounds of her own screams, and a beat of Clouse's cold, cruel laughter.

********

Her eyes opened to see a blinding light. She was falling, gasping for air, but not knowing why. She couldn't breathe, but she didn't need to either. She felt weak, but strong at the same time. It was like she fell into some wacky paradox.

Eventually, her feet hit the ground, and she was in a room filled with boxes. The walls were bare, like the wallpaper had been stripped away. There were to people frozen in time by the door. One of them was Rob of all people. She felt the guilt of shutting him out wash over her again. The other person looked oddly familiar.