The Life of Livana Garmadon

September 8th, 2023

Everything was blurry. My breath came out in uneven gasps, and the deeper the breath became, the harder it became to breathe. It was like holding your breath but then trying to take in more breath than you bargained for.

"Livvy?" Fang looked over at me as I pressed myself against the wall, trying to swallow down the nausea forcing its way up my throat. "Livvy, are you okay?"

"N-no." My voice shook, "Everything's closing in too fast... I can't breathe..."

"Crap. Is it because you're sick or what's going on?" Fang gripped my shoulders gently but firmly as I curled into myself, trying my best to fight off the shadows at the corners of my vision.

"Sick with anxiety." I managed to gasp out. "It's... a panic attack..."

Another curse slipped past Fang's lips as he gently took my hands and then asked, "How can I best support you in this moment?"

"I don't know." I put one hand against my chest as it started to tighten. "I've... never... had this happen to me before."

"Deep breaths?" Fang suggested with a wince.

"Can't." I flinched.

"Is there anything you can remember that will help calm you down? Anything that can help you breathe?" Fang was making a motion with his free hand, trying to get me to steady my breathing. Every once and a while, my breath was getting closer and closer to being steady, but then my breath would quicken and so began the pattern of uneven breathing once more.

"If I remember, then I'm going to cry and break down even more." I said and then bit down a wince when I saw Fang's hurt expression. "I'm sorry. I know that you want to help, I really do, but..."

"No, don't worry about me. I'm not mad or sad." Fang assured me, "... Should I try and get someone?"

My mind immediately flashed to Morro, and I found myself wondering why.

Maybe it's because he's a better option that Rattlesnake.

Or... I shut that betraying part of my brain down before I could even complete the thought. No, no, no. I am not falling for the villain. He possessed my brother and nearly destroyed Ninjago. I'm supposed to hate him.

And yet...

"Livvy?" Fang looked at me, "Should I try and get someone? It won't do anyone any good if you pass out or worse."

"P-please." I managed to gasp out and Fang nodded.

"I got you." He assured me before he went over to the door and then started banging on it, yelling, "Hey! I need help here! Morro, get your butt over here now!!"

"Oh God." I rocked back and forth, fighting the bile that rose from my throat.

Suddenly, a cool breeze tingled the back of my neck and I stiffened. Something in my gut told me that I should be rising to my feet. Now.

I got up, my knees shaking and threatening to make me collapse again, but I steeled them and then faced the door.

When the door opened, Morro was standing there, but there was something different about him. His eyes were glazed and empty, like he was truly dead. He stumbled forward and his eyes wouldn't lift up from the ground. But when they finally did, they pierced right into my soul.

"Morro?" I took a step forward and the ground threatened to fall away from under me. I took another step back and then reached one hand up to touch my temples. Stop spinning. I commanded myself.

"What?" His voice was guttural and didn't sound like him at all. In fact, it kind of had a lay to it that I couldn't really explain.

"You don't look too good, man. Are you okay?" Fang asked.