The Life of Livana Garmadon

September 9th, 2023

"There's one small flaw to your plan." Morro said to me, "We don't exactly know when your brother is being brought in."

"Ha. Let's see if they can bring him in first." I said, but felt my confidence falter. I didn't want to see my brother in here. Not after what I've endured. This place slowly chipped away at me. If my brother suffered the same fate and turned out as broken as me, I would never forgive myself.

"Ahem." Fang cleared his throat.

"Got something important to say?" I asked him.

"No, sorry. That was just my 'deep in thought' cough."

"What the hell?" Morro's face twisted in confusion slightly.

"Don't judge." Fang shot Morro an incredulous look.

"Heh, too bad, because I'm judging." I smirked at Fang, who mockingly pouted at me before looking back down at his nails. I frowned, deep in thought, and then tapped my foot against the ground, still thinking.

"Hm?" Morro looked up at me.

"I didn't say anything."

"You didn't have to." Morro leaned his head back against the wall, "I can tell that something's up. Especially with the way your foot is bouncing. You're threatening to bring this place down on our heads." Morro gestured at my foot, which was, indeed, bouncing furiously.

I halted my foot and then sighed, "I dunno. Probably just overthinking again."

"It's always good to think of every corner." Fang leaned forward, "What's on your big brain today, Livvy?"

"What's the weapon that Harumi is making?" I turned to Morro. "Surely you must know something about it."

"I do." Morro dipped his head in a nod.

"How much do you know?" Fang questioned, scratching the back of his heel with his other foot. "Any information would help, because we don't know anything to be honest."

"Harumi is planning to make some kind of magical, overpowered dragon." Morro said, and I flinched back. That's why she needed the blood. Oh God, I think I'm gonna be sick. I thought as my stomach churned.

"What the-" Fang started to say.

"That's why she needed Fang and I." I took a step back so I could lean against a wall to steady myself. "She's trying to make some kind of darkness dragon? Is that what she's doing?"

"Yes. Some kind of overpowered beast." Morro sighed and raked his hair back. "I knew that she was a witch and meddled with dark magic, but this is on a whole other level."

"And I'm assuming that Harumi is going after my brother because one, she's a flirtatious she-devil and wants to torment my brother further. Two, she's going to drain his powers too to add into her overpowered beast that will rain hell on our heads if we don't get out of here within 48 hours." I raised an eyebrow. "I don't like those odds."

"Wait, so what exactly was our game here?" Fang lifted up a hand, stopping us before we could move on from the conversation. "Rattlesnake gets in here and then what?"

"I knock him unconscious when night falls. I haven't been in here long enough to lose track of what time it is." Morro's mouth turned into a wicked half grin. "I know ways of meddling with ghosts that humans don't."

"Please keep them to yourself." I commented with a half grimace that matched Fang's before I said, "Then, we take the keys, lock him in here, and then run. Morro knows this place and he won't lead us astray." I glared at Morro lightheartedly.

Morro simply stared back, both a silent challenge and analysis.

"But are Harumi and Rattlesnake really that stupid? What if there's a place that Morro can't get through anymore?" Fang cleared his throat, "I mean, I know that if I kidnapped someone and one of my comrades betrayed me-Morro stop looking at me like that, I know it sounds unhinged-I wouldn't exactly leave the betraying comrade with all his old things that he's able to access, you know?"

"Fair." I looked over at Morro, "Any special things that would require special access?"

"There might be a door." Morro sighed, "Harumi liked keeping locks on things, and I always had to ask her for access through this one door. It led to the exit." Morro barked out a laugh, and then flinched, "I guess I was held prisoner in a way, too."

"Psychotic she-devil." I grumbled underneath my breath, earning a snort from Fang.

"Okay, now that we've reviewed the plan," Morro crossed his arms, "all we need is to find out what to do about your brother. The last time his... taking was mentioned, they said they were going to take him tomorrow. From today."

"Crap." I ground my teeth so hard my jaw hurt. "... And what are the chances of success that they'll be able to take him?"

"High." That was all Morro said.

"There's got to be some chance for my brother." I whispered, pacing around the room. If there isn't, then I've failed him. I can't even do anything to help. I could physically feel myself spiraling down into a negative chain of thoughts.

I can't do anything, I can't do anything, I can't...

"Hey." Suddenly, Morro was right in front of me, and he had his hands on my shoulders. "I need you to do something for me, okay? I need you to take a deep breath, settle down, and then continue that cycle for me. Can you please do that?"

"My brother's going to be caught and it's all my fault. I can't help him from here." My breaths became heavier, more quick. "Tell me, what's the use of me? I can't save anybody."

"People out there still love you." Morro insisted, "There is a use to you. You have a purpose."

I laughed, tears filling up my eyes, "Funny."

"I'm not joking." Morro's grip tightened on my shoulders, just a bit.

"She's having an anxiety attack, I think." Fang's voice sounded disembodied. "Usually, she doesn't take in anything I say. I'm sorry, that's not helpful, is it?" His sentence ended off in a wince.

I mean, Fang wasn't wrong. My anxiety was threatening to spill over the edge, pushing at my throat and stinging my eyes uncomfortably. I felt the ground spin beneath me and I put one hand up to grasp Morro's hand on my shoulder.

"Kinda." Morro responded before he looked over at me again. His green eyes were starting to look so much like Lloyd's. I bit my lip, chanting to myself in my head to not cry.

"No one needs me. I'm just a burden to them." I clapped my hands over my ears and shook as voices around my head grew stronger, whispering negative thoughts. One even went as far as whispering, Die.

"Livana!" Morro's voice drew me back to the present and his hands were so tight on my shoulders I thought they would break. "Listen to me. You are not a burden. And people need you. Your family, your friends, your brother."

"Me." Fang whispered.

"Exactly. They need you." Morro whispered and then swallowed, "And to be honest, I need you, too."

... What?

I lifted up my head and then looked at Morro, "You? Need me? Why?"

Morro's cheeks turned a darker shade of green and he mumbled, "You're really going to make me do this, huh?"

I blinked, still confused. "That doesn't answer my question, ghost boy."

Morro heaved in a sigh and then looked me straight in the eyes. "Harumi and Rattlesnake didn't lie about one thing...

They didn't lie about the fact that I like you."