The Life of Livana Garmadon

August 1st, 2023

I'm pretty sure most kids usually don't spend their summer like this. At least I hope so. You know what I mean. They don't get kidnapped, tased, held hostage by a psychopath villain that deserves to drown in the deepest parts of asylum hell, and now... her life is on the line by one ultimate decision of one random ninja.

"Stay awake." The Mechanic growled, prodding me with his mechanical finger when I was on the brim of slumber, "I want you to be awake for this."

"Can you blame me for falling asleep?" I hissed, "I've been beaten, injured, and just exhausted because of you. Now you expect me to stay up and for what? You might even just kill me anyways. What's the point?" I spat out, shaking from tiredness and pain.

"I want you to see whoever is going to pick you up's reaction." The Mechanic smirked, "And I want to see yours, where you're all desperate-like."

"Well, sorry to disappoint, but desperate isn't really me." I gritted out, but then stopped talking once I heard hurried footfalls echoing along the silent bridges of the dock. I wanted to scream for whoever was coming, but I couldn't. I wasn't going to live if I did.

"Shhh." The Mechanic hissed anyways, leaping by my side and shielding me, lowering his head so that no one could see his face clearly. I fought the urge to roll my eyes and peeked out from behind his leg. My heart stopped beating for a good 3 seconds.

It was Lloyd.

My brother's fists were clenched at his side, and there were no weapons visible on him. He looked so different in that gi, but without weapons. I wanted to run, to run until he was next to me, and I had my powers back. The closer Lloyd walked, the more I wanted to scream, "Please don't come closer". I knew that the vengestone was going to cancel out Lloyd's powers once he got close enough.

"The green ninja." The Mechanic spread his arms, "Welcome to my humble abode."

"Cut the crap and give me my sister." Lloyd gritted out, "I've already told everybody to get out of the harbor. The police have signed a document, making you not a criminal anymore. I have come alone. Now let Liv go."

"How do I know that all of this is true?" The Mechanic smirked, "How do I know you're alone? How do I know that you've given me what I wanted?"

"Liv." Lloyd turned to me instead, "Are you okay? Did this idiot hurt you any further?"

"I'm fine. Please just don't come any-" I started to say, but the Mechanic slapped his hand over my mouth, cutting me off with a muffled yelp.

"Ah, ah, ah. No more talking for you." The Mechanic removed his hand and I glared at him, but I stayed silent when he pointed a gun at my head, smirking at Lloyd. I wanted to kick him into the water and drown him until he couldn't even find peace in the afterlife.

Lloyd's eyes widened just a millimeter, but his voice was calm as he said, "You want proof? Fine. Here." He walked forward and gave the Mechanic a piece of paper. The unmistakable police seal was on it, shining in the dim, flickering light of a street lamp.

"Ah, perfect." The Mechanic smiled, "And the fact that you're alone?"

Lloyd lifted his hands, "I'm not pressing anything right now."

The Mechanic circled around Lloyd and he patted his pockets before looking at his ear, where his earpiece used to be. It wasn't there. I panicked. What if the Mechanic hurt us both and then took both of us? Lloyd wouldn't have any back up and I'm... I'm completely helpless. Lloyd looked over at me and then his gaze slid all the way down to his shoe, where a small gadget was peeking out. I looked up at Lloyd, whose eyebrow raised ever so slightly.

Ah. I nodded and then reared upwards, leaping for the gadget on Lloyd's shoe. The Mechanic let out a surprised grunt and then reached downwards, trying to grab me and put me back where I was before. Lloyd grabbed the Mechanic by his coat and yanked his face down, bringing his knee up and bashing the Mechanic in the face. The Mechanic roared in pain and I took the gadget, slamming it on the Mechanic's chest.

"Just like you did to Zane." I snarled before the gadget started spreading out electricity, making the Mechanic shudder violently before he slumped, completely unconscious. Lloyd looked over at me, panting, and then he swallowed.

"Liv?" Lloyd whispered, "Are you..."

"I'm okay." I managed to say, "I'm okay. Can you just please..." I gestured at the chains on my wrist and Lloyd nodded, grabbing the keys from the Mechanic's bag. He unlocked the chains and then untied the ropes. I stood up shakily and Lloyd hugged me, his hand accidentally pressed over my burn. I let out a yelp and Lloyd jumped back, realizing what he did.

"I'm so sorry!" He winced, "Can I see it?"

I lifted up my shirt slightly and then twisted my head around to look at it. I couldn't see it fully, but it looked raw and like it was about to scar at the same time. I put my shirt down and rubbed my eyes, "I'm going to have scars, aren't I?"

"Probably." Lloyd said, "But it's going to be okay. Scars show how strong you are and what you've been through. This scar shows how you persevered through the Mechanic's tortures. It shows what you've survived."

"What if it's not something I'm proud of?" I murmured, hugging myself, careful not to touch the burn on my back.

"What do you mean? Aren't you proud that you survived?" Lloyd asked as he cuffed the Mechanic with the vengestone cuffs he put on me and coming back over to me.

"No. I mean before that." I looked up at Lloyd's emerald colored eyes, "I'm not proud of me getting kidnapped. If I didn't get captured, then I never would've had this stupid scar. You never would've even had to come and get me from the Mechanic."

"Hey, hey, hey." Lloyd put his hands on my shoulders and leaned down to meet my eye level, "You shouldn't blame yourself for getting captured. We ninja get captured sometimes and it's not our fault. It's just the way it is. And we'll get each other back, no matter how many times we have to rescue them."

"I'm a hero." I clenched my fists, "I'm not supposed to be the one needing help."

"Even heroes need help, Livvy." Lloyd took one of my hands and gently pried my fingers apart, taking my hand, "It's okay."

I looked over at the Mechanic and then at Lloyd, "I..." Tears welled up in my eyes and they started to fall as more gathered, taking the fallen one's place. I couldn't speak. All I could do was cry. I sobbed, not moving, only able to stare into my brother's kind, non-judgmental face.

Lloyd pulled me into a hug, "I'm glad you're safe. The others will be, too."

I sobbed and wrapped my arms around him, burying my face in his shoulder. Lloyd just let me cry onto his shoulder, patting my head as I cried. Soon, my sobs and sniffles diminished to hiccups and small coughs. Lloyd smoothed my hair down and whispered, "Are you still crying?"

"N-no." I murmured, closing my eyes.

"I'm proud of how brave you are." Lloyd said softly, soothingly as he pulled back and looked into my eyes, "Cole's right. Sometimes, it is easy to forget that you're only 13 years old."

"Aw, isn't this sweet?" The Mechanic drawled and we spun around to face him. I shivered and ducked behind Lloyd, squeezing my eyes shut.

The Mechanic's metallic palm, swiping me across the face.

The pain that I felt every single hour, both physical and mental.

"Shut up, Mechanic." Lloyd snarled, "Or I'll make you."

"Don't worry. We'll take him." The Ninja leapt down from the building and more tears piled up in my eyes. Damn it. I thought shakily, More crying. But I wasn't mad about it.

"Hey." Kai came over and grabbed the paper, burning it to a crisp when he clenched his fist. "Livvy." He wrapped me in a hug and then Cole, Jay, and Zane came over. They all wrapped me in a hug too and I choked on a sob.

"I'm so glad you're okay." Nya hugged me tightly, careful not to touch my burn, "I am so, so, so glad."

"I'm sorry I got captured." I whispered hoarsely.

"Don't be sorry." Nya murmured and she handed me a bottle of water, "It's okay. Happens to the best of us, you know?" Nya offered a smile, which I returned.

I was just glad to be embraced by everyone again. I was just glad that I was back with my family, despite what I went through to get back to them.