Darkness from Within #1: Twisted Paths (A Ninjago Fanfiction)

Chapter 2

Now that he had enough strength to walk again, he had started to inspect the cell, looking for some way out. It wasn't as dark as he had first thought, since now he could drag himself out of the corner and into the light. The walls and ceiling were solid rock, so it would be almost impossible to try and shift his way out. The only other thing was the cell door which, of course, as he had often observed, was always guarded. The Overlord sure knows how to keep his prisoners from escaping, Lloyd thought dryly.

As his senses began to come back along with his energy, Lloyd noticed what a ruckus it was outside his cell. Footsteps were constantly pounding back and forth, and voices were shouting loudly and not all that nicely. Oftentimes when he was bored, Lloyd would listen to the passing conversations, but would soon grow disgusted at how rude the Baddies talked to each other. I don't know how they do it, he thought. I know I'd never be able to live here.

Now, it just so happened that Lloyd was listening to the voices. He peeked out the window on the cell door only slightly, making sure no one spotted him. He saw the man guarding his cell, and in front of him two other men standing with a sneer on their faces.

"Stuck on guard duty again?" the first one snickered at the guard.

The guard only glared back at him.

"You know the Overlord is only giving you something to do to get you out of the way," the second one added. "It's not like you'd ever get to do anything useful."

The guard furrowed his eyebrows. "Guarding the prisoners is useful," he protested.

"Maybe," the first man chortled. "But certainly not that one! That ninja's so weak I bet he can't lift a pin!"

Lloyd suppressed a sigh. He had heard enough. Is that all they do? he wondered. Criticize each other?

As he began to head away from the door, his ears picked up the voice of the guard again.

"He won't be weak forever!" he retorted. "One day, he'll get his strength back—you'll see!"

Lloyd stiffened. Why did it sound like the guard was defending him?

"Then he might try and get out," the guard went on.

The first man chuckled. "Then that would be on you, wouldn't it?"

The guard straightened in anger as the second man laughed with the first. Then the two fist-bumped before trotting down the hall away from the cell.

Lloyd tilted his head and walked back over to the window. This time he didn't care if someone saw him as he stopped in front of the bars and turned his head toward the guard. With a jolt, he realized the guard was much younger than he had first thought. The guard was probably no older than himself—with his small, round face and smooth brown hair. He wasn't as muscular as most people Lloyd saw walking past were, and with his bright blue eyes and glasses, he certainly didn't look as mean as the others.

"Hey," Lloyd began, trying to get his attention.

The guard didn't turn around. "Sorry, I'm not allowed to talk to the prisoners," he scowled.

Lloyd frowned. "At least tell me what your name is," he tried again.

The guard didn't respond.

Heaving a sigh, Lloyd drew back from the door. Maybe he's not as nice as I thought. The room went silent and Lloyd began to head toward the other end of the cell, trying to pace out his boredom.

Then the guard's voice came again.

"Phil," he murmured. "My name is Phil."

Lloyd turned back to the door and stood shocked for a moment before a smile crossed his face. He walked over to the window again. "Well then, it's nice to meet you, Phil."