Lloyd POV
I snapped back to reality, finding myself at my desk once again. The mountain of paperwork that had seemed so daunting before now felt trivial. Survival had suddenly become my top priority. I was drawn to the hourglass, its sand trickling away with ominous finality. A couple of days. That's all I had left, according to that thing. The thought sent a chill down my spine. I wasn't about to wait for my doom like some passive victim.
"Damn it," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "Couldn't that creepy bastard at least have told me how I would bite it? Would've been nice to prepare."
With trembling hands, I grabbed a piece of paper and started scribbling down everything I could remember about Laura and the past. The memories came in disjointed flashes:
Laura. The group she was part of - their name escapes me, but that hardly mattered now. Her motivation: revenge against the gangsters who'd hurt her little sister. The group's bizarre belief in a savior from the future. "Mindless cult," I scoffed, even as a chill ran down my spine. Time manipulation was a real thing, sure, but that was a problem for another day - if I even had another day.
I'd never dealt with this group in my past life, but taking them on now could kill two birds with one stone: acing the second exam and satisfying my morbid curiosity about what could drive Laura to sacrifice children.
My only lead was rotting in Kryptarium Prison, unlikely to spill a single word. Getting permission to talk to her meant going through Mister Glasses, but after the Shadowy Being's warning, he was probably too swamped to help. Even if he weren't, teachers weren't supposed to assist with exams.
"Looks like we're doing this the hard way," I muttered, a plan already forming in my mind. No way was I going back to prison - once was more than enough. I grabbed the walkie-talkie I'd barely used until now.
"Cameron," I spoke into the device, hoping I wasn't interrupting anything important. "Can you please come to my office?"
A moment of static, then: "Sure thing, boss."
I tossed the radio onto the desk, anticipation building. Time to see just how good the Chameleon was in this timeline.
The door opened, and in walked a boy with striking purple hair - a spitting image of his older sister, who I'd always considered a first-class bitch. I ran my fingers through my hair aggressively, regretting not talking to her during the Tournament of Elements when I had the chance. Water under the bridge now.
"Hello, Cameron," I said, extending my hand with what I hoped was a welcoming smile. "Looks like we haven't been properly introduced. I'm Lloyd. Lloyd Garmadon."
The boy shook my hand, his grip firm. "Cameron, sir. What can I do for you today?"
I studied him, memories of our parallel pasts flooding back. We'd never been close friends before, but I recognized the pain in his eyes - the same pain I'd carried for years. Both of us were mistreated because of our siblings. At least he hadn't been abandoned, but the feeling of inferiority... that was a wound we shared.
"I need your help with my examination," I explained, leaning back in my chair with forced casualness. "Specifically, I need your Form ability. And..." I paused for effect, "I want you to be part of a mission I've recently acquired."
Cameron's eyes widened, his posture straightening. Even he knew what it meant when the boss personally requested your help on a mission. It was an honor, a sign that your abilities were valued. I had to suppress a smirk at his barely contained-excitement.
"What kind of mission, sir?" he asked, trying and failing to keep the eagerness out of his voice.
I leaned forward, my voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "The kind that could change everything, Cameron. But first, I need to know - how good are you at impersonating a teacher?"
…
Heroes POV
Noah lay on the ground, his body a canvas of pain and confusion, staring up at the figure looming over him. The man stood with his back turned, shrouded in mystery, an enigmatic silhouette against the backdrop of chaos that surrounded them. Who was he? The question gnawed at Noah, intertwining with the fear that gripped his heart. Was this stranger a savior or another threat? Would he be ripped apart by the very hands that might save him?
The Shadowy Being, a grotesque embodiment of darkness, stood nearby, its presence suffocating. Noah could feel its anger radiating like heat from a furnace, even without seeing its face. The Being's gaze swept over the corpses of its creations, a macabre display of its destructive power. Noah's heart raced as he realized the Being was furious, and he couldn't help but wonder if it was directed at him for being infected or at the man who dared to confront it.
"What brings you here, pet?" the Being taunted, its voice laced with a mocking tone that sent shivers down Noah's spine. "Do you think you can undo what will happen in the future?"
As it approached, the Being moved with a predatory grace, almost as if it were inviting the man to strike. Noah watched, breathless, as the man stood firm, his sword glowing with an ethereal light. The contrast between their resolve was palpable.
"You were pathetic when you could do nothing as I took your world," the Being continued, circling the man like a vulture. "Do you believe that discovering time travel will change anything?"
A fire ignited in the man's eyes, and he tightened his grip on the sword. "It's funny you should say that," he replied, his voice steady and unwavering. "Because I already know who you are."
Noah's heart raced at the revelation. The Shadowy Being had once been a person? His mind spun with possibilities. If the man knew its identity, perhaps there was a chance to prevent its creation altogether. Hope flickered within Noah, a fragile ember in the encroaching darkness. But that hope was tethered to the man's survival. Would he be able to confront this formidable foe without losing his life?
The Being tilted its head, a grotesque mockery of curiosity, before doing something utterly horrific. Its face began to stretch and tear, revealing a mouth lined with sharp, sinister teeth. "What makes you think that will change anything?" it hissed, an evil grin spreading across its twisted features. "No, what makes you think I would allow you to tell my toy here anything?"
With a swift motion, its hand transformed into a blade, aiming to strike the man. But the man was quick, dodging the attack and pulling Noah out of harm's way. Noah felt the man's grip tighten around him, a protective shield against the lurking danger.
"I've seen better people who are stronger than you fail miserably," the Shadowy Being sneered, conjuring visions of realms collapsing into chaos. "The fact that you chose to protect this worthless piece of flesh and bones is hilarious."
"Maybe it is," the man shot back, his voice laced with defiance. "But I'm not going to sit idle while you destroy another realm. You're not as strong as you think you are."
The Being paused, its grin widening in a way that sent chills down Noah's spine. "You're delusional, but the thought is intriguing. I'll give you another chance to prove your worth – just so I can watch you fail again. Toodles."
With that, the Shadowy Being dissipated into the air, leaving Noah and the man standing amidst the wreckage. Noah looked up, his heart pounding as he took in the man's features for the first time. Golden eyes sparkled with determination, and blonde hair framed his face in a way that felt strangely familiar.
"Why does he look like me?" Noah thought, confusion swirling in his mind.