Flames of the Past #7: Seeds of Deceit (Ninjago Fanfiction)

Chapter 14

Darkness consumed Lloyd's cell.

The green ninja's body trembled as he stood in the middle of the floor, fearing what the night would bring. Everything was quiet, but he saw a faint glow in the corner of his vision. Gasping, he whipped around and found a silver mirror behind him.

Lloyd stepped closer until he could see his reflection. Shivers swept down his spine as he stared at himself, although he wasn't exactly sure why. Nothing seemed off about his appearance.

As he stood there, staring at himself in the mirror, he saw Kai suddenly move in behind him. Fear bolted through him as the red ninja placed his hands on his shoulders. The green ninja froze, hardly breathing as he watched his brother closely.

"What's the matter?" Kai asked, tightening his grip on Lloyd's shoulders. "You wanted to see me, didn't you?"

Lloyd's throat felt too tight to reply. His body didn't seem to want to move, either. He stared at Kai's reflection, pondering the red ninja's words. He had wanted to see his brother, hadn't he? That's what he'd told Cole. Yes, he'd wanted to see Kai... so why was he suddenly so afraid of the red ninja?

"Look at that," Kai murmured, moving around the green ninja to step closer to the mirror. He placed his hand on the surface near Lloyd's chest. "Your heart is darkening. I wonder why?"

Kai took his hand away and Lloyd observed the darkness sprouting from his chest. Eyes rounding, he rubbed the spot on himself, growing concerned. Was his heart really darkening?

"I guess that's what happens to villains like you," Kai said lightly. "The number of bad deeds you did is consuming you, and soon enough, it's going to kill you."

Lloyd felt a pang. He watched as the darkness spread through his body, wrapping around him and taking him over. With a gasp, Lloyd stepped back as panic swarmed through him. The blackness completely overwhelmed his reflection, filling his eyes and leaving them dark and void. They stared soullessly back at him.

"No..." Lloyd whimpered, backing farther away. He shook his head, gasping for breath. "I—I'm not like that anymore! That—that can't happen!"

Kai grabbed him, forcing him closer to the mirror again. "This is your reflection, Lloyd," he barked. "This is your destiny, your fate!"

"No," Lloyd choked out, struggling in the red ninja's grip. His reflection reached toward him, and Lloyd flinched backward as it smashed a fist into the mirror. The glass cracked, causing his reflection to appear broken and doubling in every shard.

"You can't escape your past, Lloyd," Kai hissed in his ear.

Lloyd's breath quickened as he watched his reflection begin to waver. The darkness consuming it dripped to the ground, and Lloyd yelped in fear as he watched his skin fall off with it. He watched in horror as his reflection melted before his eyes, landing in a lifeless puddle on the floor.

"You're doomed to die," Kai spat.

Lloyd trembled, breathing shakily. He could feel his heart pounding through him as he stared stupidly at the broken mirror, where his reflection was no more. No, he thought in panic. I don't want to die like that!

"No!" he shrieked out, spinning around and slamming his fist into the red ninja's gut.

Kai flew backward, and Lloyd turned to see him fall into another mirror and get sucked inside. Gasping for breath, Lloyd ran his fingers through his hair, struggling to calm down.

"Lloyd?" Kai's voice suddenly sounded panicked and desperate. "Lloyd, help me!"

Lloyd looked at the second mirror to see the red ninja knocking on its surface, looking this way and that. His eyes were wild with panic, and Lloyd rushed over to him.