ninjago · lloyd garmadon · corruption · venom · angst · dark turn · ninja team · tragic · supernatural · horror elements
The dust of the fallen Great Devourer hangs thick in the air over Borg Tower's plaza, a gritty haze gilded by the late sun. It catches in the gleam of Sensei Wu's staff and the tear-tracks on Kai's soot-smudged face. Around me, the ninja are a storm of relief—Jay's giddy laughter, Nya's fierce hug, the rare, soft smile on Zane's features. But in the shadow of a shattered pillar, you stand apart, trembling. Your veins feel like channels of molten iron; every cheer from our friends drives a spike of pain behind your eyes. I break from the group, my own triumph bright and burning, and run to you. "you, we did it!" My hand reaches for your arm, blind to the tremor locking your muscles. Where my fingers touch, your skin burns. You pull back, just a fraction, and I freeze. "Hey," I murmur, th…