Lloyd POV
The amount of security was overwhelming compared to the last time I had been here. It was clear they had upgraded their defenses since I broke Pythor out of prison, not before killing two guards in the process. My eyes wandered to Cameron, who looked uncannily like Mister Glasses, yet his aura differed. He seemed extremely nervous, and I couldn't blame him. Impersonating someone was a crime, and getting caught would be disastrous. But that didn't matter now; I needed him to get me through.
The metal box that served as the entry point to the prison looked worse for wear, its condition deteriorated from years of exposure to the harsh desert elements. Cameron approached it and clicked a button on the side.
"What's your business here?" a voice crackled through the speaker.
Cameron cleared his throat before answering in a voice miming Mister Glasses perfectly. "I'm here to visit a criminal my people placed here recently."
He glanced at me, eyes wide with uncertainty, seeking reassurance. I gave a slight nod, a silent affirmation that he was doing fine. A small camera emerged from the box, scanning Cameron before emitting a soft beep.
"What was that?" Cameron asked, his voice tinged with concern. "Why did it just scan me?"
"They do that to ensure you've visited the prison before and aren't here to murder someone," I explained. "But don't worry, Mister Glasses has visited this place with me before."
After what felt like an eternity, the large gate groaned open, granting us access. Now, all we had to do was talk to Laura, then we could start dealing with the group. I had five days to do some hero work, and I was determined to dismantle that awful organization. We made our way toward the prison entrance, where we were greeted by the head guard. I scanned him from head to toe; he looked distinctly unhappy.
"How are you doing, officer?" Cameron greeted him with a slight bow. "You look like… you've had better days."
I couldn't help but think back to the chaos I had caused. I had killed the former head guard to help Master Chen, and now, the prison was a fortress, swarming with guards. My eyes wandered over the sea of uniforms, each guard a testament to the heightened security measures that had been put in place since my last visit.
The officer's irritation was palpable. "Well, considering we had two breakouts and two dead guards recently, yeah, I've had better days." His voice was edged with frustration. "Now we're on 24/7 patrol to make sure nothing like this ever happens again."
"Of course, sir. We apologize for the inconvenience," I interrupted, trying to smooth things over. "Everyone in Ninjago is grateful for your hard work. Without you, Ninjago wouldn't be what it is today."
Cameron, sensing the tension, added, "You guys do the heavy lifting, containing all the criminals. We respect what you're doing."
The guard stared at us, taking in our words. It was true; they had a dangerous job. They were ordinary people tasked with containing the most dangerous criminals in Ninjago. The fear of not knowing if they'd make it home each day was a constant shadow over their lives. Yet, they rarely received the recognition they deserved. Heroes got the glory, but it was the guards who faced the daily grind and risk.
The guard's expression softened slightly, but his professionalism remained. "You're not here for chitchat. Follow me," he said, cutting the conversation short.
Cameron and I exchanged glances before following the head guard through the labyrinthine corridors of the prison. Familiar faces peered out from behind bars, ghosts of my past. It had been a while since I'd seen them, and it seemed none had managed to escape. My thoughts drifted to Knucka and Nuckal. I wondered how they were faring, knowing I had indirectly dismantled the Skulkin group. But that was all in the past.
We finally arrived at the visitor's room. The head guard opened the door and gestured for us to enter. We took our seats, the reality of the situation settling over us like a heavy fog.
"I'll go get her," the head guard informed us. "Just wait here and be careful. She's not quite mentally stable these days."
"Thanks for the heads-up," I replied, having the last word.
The head guard nodded and left, leaving Cameron and me alone. I sighed and leaned back in my seat. I wasn't surprised that Laura had lost her mind. She had seemed unhinged the last time I saw her, so I had come prepared to extract answers.
After a few minutes, the head guard returned with two other guards, dragging a cuffed Laura between them. She was a mess. Her once-tamed, wavy hair was now a wild, tangled mane that obscured her face. The guards forced her into a seat and cuffed her to the white table. She was a sorry sight, but I couldn't muster any sympathy for her.
Cameron signaled that we were good to go, and the guards left, leaving the three of us in the room. Cameron shifted uncomfortably in his seat; the sight of Laura would have made anyone uneasy.
I leaned forward, brushing the hair from her face so she could see. "Laura, I'm getting straight to the point. Tell me about the cult you were part of," I said directly. "I'm planning on taking them down, whether you want me to or not."
She stared at me with dead eyes before bursting into hysterical laughter. "You want to ruin everything in your path, don't you?"
"Well, it depends on if they're worth keeping by my side," I retorted. "And your group isn't one of them. Sorry."
Laura looked between me and Cameron, as if trying to piece something together. I glanced at the clock, not wanting to waste time on a second visit for answers.
"Laura…" I began, but she cut me off.
She tilted her head, eyes narrowing. "I still don't understand how you know my name. It seems like you know me, but I don't know you."
Her comment caught me off guard. I had been too familiar, speaking as if we were old acquaintances. It was enough for anyone to deduce that I was from the future. Only three people knew my secret, and one of them was a dragon named Eclipse. The fact that Mister Glasses had figured it out on his own was worrying.
"I know you because I know the story of your dead little sister," I answered calmly. "It was a tragedy to others, but to me, it's the story of a neglectful older sister."
The room fell into a heavy silence. Laura's face went pale as if she had seen a ghost. Cameron looked at me in horror and shock, and I couldn't blame him. Even I had been shocked when I first heard her story.
"Your sister wouldn't have been raped and killed if you had agreed to go with her to the convenience store downstairs. Instead, you were so caught up with your friends that now your sister is gone. The funniest part is, your parents asked you to take care of her while they were gone." I didn't bother to sugarcoat it. She had been an awful sister.
Laura stood up with such force that for a moment, I thought she might break her cuffs. "How do you know that?! I never told anyone that!"
I shrugged. I wanted to say she had told me in my past life, but I needed to keep that hidden. "I did a little research about you. I find it disgusting how you joined a cult, nearly killed dozens of kids, and claim you're doing it for your dead sister."
"I am doing it for her!" she shouted as if trying to convince herself. "I'm going to avenge her."
I violently grabbed her hair and pulled her close until we were face to face. "Stop using your dead sister as an excuse for your wrongdoing."
Cameron looked terrified by what he had witnessed. I almost forgot he was there. I released Laura's hair, allowing her to sit back down. I had let my emotions get the better of me, and I needed to regain control.
"Let's make a deal," I suggested, my tone firm but measured. "I will kill the gangsters who took your sister's life, and in exchange, you tell me everything about this cult of yours. Do we have a deal?"
Laura's eyes searched mine, the weight of my words sinking in. The room was thick with tension, the air heavy with the gravity of the moment. This was a crossroads, a chance to change the course of events, and I was determined to seize it.
…
I glanced at the note Cameron had scribbled down, the information scrawled across it enough to set our plan in motion. With a quick wave to the head guard who escorted us out, I noticed his demeanor had softened, his earlier anger dissipating as he returned the gesture. Turning away, Cameron and I began our trek to the car Eugene had crafted for us, the weight of our mission hanging heavy in the air.
As we walked, I could feel Cameron's eyes boring into me, his gaze a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. "What do you want to say?" I asked, meeting his eyes directly. "You keep staring at me."
Cameron looked away, a flicker of fear crossing his features. I sighed, understanding his youth but knowing the harsh reality of our situation. We needed to be tougher, and stronger if we were to change our fate - especially mine.
"Cameron, I have a small question," I said, watching as he shifted back to his normal form. "Why did you join the Outcasts in the first place?"
The question caught him off guard, his eyes widening slightly. I already knew the answer, but I wanted to hear it from him, to understand the raw emotion behind his decision.
"Everyone had a reason when they joined the Outcasts," I pressed, "but I want to hear yours."
Cameron took a deep breath, his words tumbling out in a rush. "I joined because I wanted to prove I was better than my sister Camilla - you met her in the Tournament of Elements. I was in a rebellious state, wanting to disobey my parents. When I got the invitation, I never expected to meet someone like you."
His eyes met mine, filled with an intensity that made me take a step back. "At first, I thought you were just some random weirdo who wanted to do whatever he wanted. But it was the opposite. You were someone who just wanted to get your voice heard, to change society. Not only that, but you wanted everyone's voice to be heard. That's one of the many things I respect about you."
His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I wanted to shut him down, to tell him how wrong he was. That person he described - that was the old me. I had created this group to show society that villains aren't born, but made by their own hands. But now, I was too corrupted, too blinded by my desire for revenge. I wasn't a good person at all, but rather a very evil one, too lost to ever be found. There was no redemption arc for me; I'd rather die in shame than accept my worthless destiny.
But looking at Cameron's earnest face, I couldn't bring myself to crush his idealism. Instead, I gripped his shoulder, my voice softer than I intended. "That's not a dumb reason, and I do think you're better than your sister."
He nodded, a small smile playing on his lips as we both got into the car. I slid into the driver's seat, despite being underage. I knew how to drive, unlike Cameron, who was a year younger.
As we pulled away from the prison, its imposing silhouette fading in the rearview mirror, Cameron's curiosity got the better of him. "What's the plan?" he asked. "How are you going to take down an entire cult?"
I stared at the road ahead, my mind racing with possibilities. "Usually, I'd try to gain the leader's trust before betraying and killing everyone," I admitted, my voice low and steady. "But I don't have time for that now. I'm going to try a different approach." I paused, the weight of my next words heavy on my tongue. "Something I haven't done in a long time."