Lloyd POV
Mister Glasses finally returned, taking his seat across from me once again. His ability to discern my lies unnerved me- did he possess a lie detector ability, or was it something else entirely? He placed a file in front of me, and I hesitantly opened it. Inside was a photo of my nine-year-old self, a strange reminder of a painful memory. In the picture, I looked utterly dejected.
The memory flooded back: it was a day vividly in my mind. While others were dressed in new clothes their parents had brought for them, I stood out with my worn-out sweater adorned with a crudely spray-painted white skeleton torso. I was subjected to ridicule, and when it came time for the photo, I couldn't muster the strength to smile. That day was etched in my memory as one of deep resentment and humiliation.
With a heavy heart, I closed the file and pushed it back towards him, wanting to bury the memories associated with that day.
I shot him a glare, my frustration boiling over. "And you're going to keep dancing around the issue rather than getting to the point?" I retorted, my tone sharp with impatience. "I've been struck in this room for God knows how long, and all you're doing is speaking in riddles."
He picked up the file, his gaze fixed on the photo of my younger self. "Indeed, you've grown far from the despondent boy in this picture," he remarked, his tone contemplative. With a deliberate motion, he closed the file, his eyes locking onto mine with intensity. "You know perfectly well why you're here. So, are you finally ready to answer my questions truthfully?"
I crossed my arms and leaned forward, carefully considering my response. I knew I had to navigate this conversation with caution, revealing just enough to satisfy Mister Glasses without incriminating myself further.
"I learned about being the Chosen One when I took the Golden Weapons to deliver them to my father," I admitted, my voice steady. "And yes, I indeed knew Noah and his friends were planning to go to Dark Island to confront my father, so I snuck aboard their vessel."
Mister Glasses nodded in response, a faint smile playing on his lips. "See? That wasn't so difficult, was it?" he remarked, seeming satisfied with my partial admission.
I let out an exasperated sigh, my patience wearing thin with each passing moment. How many more questions would this man hurl my way before allowing me to leave this suffocating room? Glancing at the one-sided window, I couldn't fathom why my father bothered to come here. He couldn't possibly sway these people's decisions.
Annoyance pricked at my skin, fueling my growing frustration. I was done with these individuals and their incessant interrogations. It was clear to me that their interest in me stemmed solely from my status as the Chosen One. If and when I finally escaped this room, I vowed to sever all ties with them. Returning to the Outcasts, I would ensure that they thrived and grew stronger than ever, independent of these manipulative forces.
The sharp snap of Mister Glasses' fingers jolted me back to the present, tearing me away from my drifting thoughts. With a frustrated groan, I rested my head heavily on the desk, feeling the weight of exhaustion setting over me. It seemed as though I would be trapped in this suffocating room for eternity at the rate this interrogation was progressing.
Mister Glasses let out a chuckle at my expense, his amusement evident in the glint of his eyes. "Don't fret, we're almost done. Just a few more questions, and then you'll be free to go."
I lifted my head from the desk, leveling my tired gaze at him. "Please, hurry it along. I've had my fill of this place, and I'm eager to leave."
"Fine, why did you allow Noah to take all the credit for saving Ninjago?" Mister Glasses inquired, his tone probing.
"Because I never wanted to be the Chosen One, and I didn't want people to approach me with gratitude for something I never asked for," I replied bluntly, "Don't judge me for it."
"Okay then, may I ask why you changed your life so drastically?" He continued, his gaze fixed on me.
I regarded him with confusion, "Huh?"
"You were once a lonely, stubborn, and troublesome kid who flaunted your father's title," He elaborated. "That suddenly, you dropped out of school, became a villain, destroyed a local prison, ended up at Kryptarium Prison, escaped from there, got kidnapped by the government and experimented on, escaped again, joined my school, dropped out, and then saved Ninjago? That's not the typical behavior of a nine-year-old."
"Mister Glasses is very sharp; you were the only one who questioned me about that," I reflected. "I learned that if you want change, you must work for it, not wait for it."
It was a lesson I learned the hard way, particularly after the defeat of the Great Devourer in my past life. Noah and his friends were hailed as heroes, while I was cast aside, and branded as a spoiled brat responsible for the loss of many lives due to a petty reason. I didn't feel remorse for those who perished, but rather anger towards how everyone scapegoated me for something that could have been prevented. If only Noah's group stopped Pythor before he released the Great Devourer, perhaps all those people would still be alive. However, dwelling on the past was futile; it wouldn't change anything in this life. Those people were dead here too.
Mister Glasses stood up before uncuffing me, and I felt relief flood through me as I was no longer chained to the desk. He proceeded to remove the Vengestone cuff as well, and I rubbed my bruised wrist, which was dark purple.
"I kept my promise," he said, "Even though I still have many questions, you answered some of them, so I'm satisfied."
I wasn't even listening to what he was saying; there was one thing on my mind. "How is Koko?" I asked, concern etched in my voice.
"Why don't you find out yourself?" he suggested. "Let's head to the infirmary so we can heal those bruises."
He opened the door, and there stood Ms. Lily and Adrien, who didn't seem too pleased to see me. Their disapproval was palpable, but I shot them a defiant glare to convey my mutual sentiment. As we exited the interrogation room, I couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that lingered in the air. The room was situated beneath the school, and the cells lining up the corridor were filled with who knew what. Eerie noises echoed from within, urging me to quicken my pace and escape the unsettling atmosphere.
Finally, we reached the infirmary. Victor and Melony were there, the latter sitting in a chair with a bright smile on her face. She practically leaped up to hug me as I approached, and I reciprocated with a gentle squeeze. My attention then shifted to Koko, who lay unconscious on one of the beds. Glancing at the clock, I realized I had been locked up in that interrogation room for a staggering ten hours.
"Ten hours?" I exclaimed, shooting Mister Glasses an annoying glare. "I was locked up for ten hours?"
Mister Glasses simply shrugged in response. "You were sleeping for a long time, you know?"
Avoiding eye contact with him, I reached up to touch my hair, which felt completely out of control. Walking over to a nearby mirror, I braced myself for the sight that awaited me. As I expected, I looked like a complete mess. My eyes were puffy from crying earlier, and my hair was disheveled, a far cry from its usual styled appearance. I appeared as though I had just risen from the dead.
Running my hand over my face to shake off the lingering tiredness, I turned to face Victor, ready to inquire about Koko's condition.
"What's wrong with Koko?" I inquired urgently. "She was like this for some time now."
Victor shook his head somberly before explaining. "She's in a coma. It seemed she was healed when she was on the brink of death, so now she's stuck in this state."
Although not surprised by the news, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. Nodding solemnly, I acknowledged his words. It was painful to see Koko in this condition, but at least she was in good hands now. Making my way over to her bedside, I gently squeezed her hand, overwhelmed by a sense of remorse. If only I had acted sooner and whisked her away from danger, perhaps she wouldn't be suffering like this. Despite the scolding I would have undoubtedly received, it would have been worth it to spare her from this ordeal.
"We're taking care of your adopted mother. So don't think of running away," Mister Glasses asserted, approaching me with a sense of authority.
I let out a sniffle, feeling a mixture of frustration and sadness. "Shut up," I muttered under my breath, my emotion raw and unfiltered.
Acknowledging my response, Mister Glasses nodded solemnly, recognizing that his timing may not been the best. Turning my attention back to Koko, I couldn't help but feel a sense
of tenderness wash over me as I gazed at her peaceful, slumbering face. It was hard to predict when, or even if, she would awaken from her coma, leaving me to wonder about the uncertainty of her future.
"Hey, it's snowing outside!" Melony's voice rang out with excitement.
I initially ignored her, but Mister Glasses chimed in, skepticism lacing his tone. "It's the middle of July; it can't be snowing."
Melony persisted, pointing eagerly out of the window. "But it is snowing, look!"
Curiosity piqued, I tore my gaze away from Koko and joined Melony at the window. To my surprise, she was right,-it was indeed snowing. A sense of bewilderment washed over us all as we tried to comprehend the anomaly. How could it be snowing in the middle of summer? It was a phenomenon that defied explanation.
…
"I never thought Zane would sacrifice himself to defeat the Overlord," I muttered under my breath, a twinge of annoyance surfacing at the realization that I wasn't the one who got to ruin him. However, I quickly reminded myself that I couldn't change the past.
Amidst Kai's speech, which I paid little attention to, my eyes remained fixed on Noah. His expression mirrored that of someone who had just witnessed their entire family being murdered before their eyes. It amused me to see such a reaction from Noah, but the memorial concluded before long.
"Hey Noah," I called out softly as I caught up to him, sensing the weight of his grief. "I heard about what happened."
Noah's expression grew more somber, his attempt to hold back tears evident in his eyes. The loss of one of his best friends weighed down heavily on him. He seemed lost, grappling with the feeling that if only he had been stronger, if only he hadn't been so weak, perhaps Zane would still be alive and with them.
"Come on, Noah," I urged, my tone more biting than intended. "Don't be such a crybaby. At least Ninjago is safe."
Noah's eyes widened in disbelief, his grief turning swiftly to anger. My words hit him like a slap in the face, adding insult to the injury of his friend's death. His entire body trembled with rage as he struggled to contain his emotions.
"This is all your fault," he muttered through clenched teeth his voice barely above a whisper but filled with a seething intensity. "This could have been prevented if it weren't for you."
"Why do you make it sound like I killed him?" I retorted, irritation seeping into my voice. "And how is this my fault?"
"If you had just accepted your dad's help, we could have defeated the Overlord, and Zane would still be alive!" Noah shouted, his anger boiling over. "But you said no, just because you didn't like him!"
"You're such an idiot, Noah," I snapped back, my patience wearing thin. "Blaming me isn't going to bring your friend back."
Noah was too consumed by rage to think clearly. He lunged at me, but I swiftly pushed him away, causing him to tumble onto the ground. As he sat there, stunned, I crouched down to his eye level, determined to make him see reason.
"Everyone dies, Noah," I said with a coldness that cut through the air. "One way or another." Straightening up, I prepared to leave. "Destiny and fate took your friend away from you, not me."
Leaving my brother behind, tears streaming down his face, I felt no sympathy for him. He deserved to suffer, just as I had, after what happened to me and my friends.