Taking Control. (a Ninjago fanfic)

Chapter 37- Breathless

L L O Y D

The horrible smell of smoke filled my lungs as we approached the building, the air thick with dust and chaos.

The screams were louder now— raw, terrified cries that clawed at my ears. I hated that sound. The sound of people with no hope, who thought no one was coming.

"We need to move fast." I said, my voice sharper than I intended. I glanced back at Zane, Pixal and Nya, each of them looking as worried as I felt. Everyone was tense, picking up the same horrifying details I was.

The building loomed ahead of us, its structure creaking scarily under the strain of gravity and fire. Windows were shattered; jagged edges scattered on the ground. Debris littered the street, and the ground was uneven beneath our feet, the pavement cracked and destroyed.

I gritted my teeth angrily. How could the Overlord cause this much destruction. Take this many lives. So easily.

Nine people. Nine lives trapped in that building. I couldn't let them down.

"Zane, take the left side," I ordered, trying to keep my voice steady. "Nya, you're with him. Pixal and I will handle the right. Find a way in, but don't take unnecessary risks. We can't help them if we get crushed too."

Nya nodded, her jaw set with determination. "Got it."

Zane gave a curt nod, his eyes scanning the structure with precision.

"Just— be careful," He said, wringing his hands nervously.

As I turned back toward the building, the reality of the situation hit me like a punch to the gut.

These people didn't have much time.

The creaks were becoming groans, the sound of the building's imminent collapse ticking closer and closer.

I forced a deep breath and pushed the fear aside. There wasn't room for it—not right now.

"Let's move!" I barked, my voice cutting through the chaos. I didn't wait to see if they followed—I couldn't. Every second counted.

The heat was oppressive, clawing at my lungs like a living animal. Flames licked closer to where we stood, casting eerie shadows across the crumbling walls. Every groan of the building was like a countdown- a ticking timebomb, echoing in my head.

"Pixal, over here!" I called, pointing to a partially collapsed doorway. It might lead to one of the lower floors. Might be the way to them. Or it might be a death trap. We didn't have the luxury of choice.

"How long do you think we have?" I asked, my voice cracking despite myself.

Pixal didn't answer right away. Her scanners whirred softly, her eyes darting over the structure.

"The truth?" she said, glancing at me. "Not long."

"Enough time to get them out, though," she added after a beat, her voice firm but tinged with urgency. It was all I needed to hear.

We ducked under a fallen beam, and as we moved, I caught it—the faint sound of crying, distant and muffled, but unmistakable. My pulse quickened. They were close.

"Pixal," I said, pointing toward a half-buried staircase. The steps were cracked, debris scattered everywhere, but it looked passable. Barely. "I think they're down there."

She nodded, and we made our way down. Each step was a gamble, the floor trembling beneath us. Dust rained from above, filling the air, making it hard to see, harder to breathe.

The cries grew louder.

"We're almost there!" I shouted, my voice hoarse. "Hold on!"

At the bottom of the stairs, the hallway opened up into a small, dim space. Smoke hung thick in the air, choking the light from the few flames creeping along the walls. And there they were—nine people, huddled in the far corner. Their eyes locked on us, hope flickering in their faces like the flames threatening to consume them.