Happy Wednesday. I did a thing where I stayed up late-ish. Oops. It's okay. Silverblade1999 kept me company and stuff. *whispers* Hail HYDRA...

This is the...uh...the timeline where the world is perfect and stuff. I forgot what I called it...

Chapter Eight: Psychosis

Closing her eyes and letting out a shaky breath, Laurie was able to calm her frazzled nerves. "Thank you, Lucas," she smiled lightly, finally able to release most of the anxiety that had been building up within her for the past few weeks. "I wouldn't have come to you if I could have helped myself. It's dangerous for both of us, being in the same location." Opening her eyes slowly, the teenager noticed a bright light seemingly reflecting off of the ground. This did not look like the grass in the Misty Forest. Raising her head and looking around, Laurie became aware of everything around her.

"And is this 'Lucas' still here with you or is he gone now?"

Kicking her legs against the empty air, Laurie noticed she was sitting in a metal chair. She flinched, feeling her back hit the vertical slats behind her. Her breathing quickened and her heart rate increased. Where was she? The room was well lit, yet small, and the soft aroma of lavender filled the air. Craning her neck to look around her environment, she rested her gaze upon a man that was sitting in the corner of the room. Laurie jumped out of the chair, widening her stance and feeling her fists clench. "Where am I?" she growled, narrowing her eyes. The man raised an eyebrow and clicked the top of the pen in his hand, scribbling something hastily on a clipboard. "Where's my cousin?"

A small smile now adorned the aging man's face as he stood up and closed the space between himself and Laurie fairly quickly. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, holding his clipboard in his other hand, far away from her prying eyes. "You're fine. Why don't you just take your seat so we can talk some more?" She scrutinized him as he guided her back to the chair near a large window. "See, now you asked where your cousin was. Were you just speaking with him?"

Laurie took a good look at the man standing before her. He was dressed sharply, deep red collared shirt looking pressed and professional. His khaki pants reminded her of the uniform she wore to the museum every day and she let out a tired groan, slumping down slightly in her chair. She was supposed to be at the museum today, but now she was slowly beginning to remember what was happening. Her mother had decided that she needed to see a doctor, though not any old run-of-the-mill practitioner. No, that would be far too easy. This was the small office of a psychologist. "No, I wasn't talking to anyone," Laurie grumbled, switching her focus down towards her lap now. It had felt so real, being outside in the forest. She could have sworn she was actually there; there with Lucas. Inhaling sharply, the girl felt a heaviness steadily weigh down upon her heart. She really was crazy.

"It sure seemed like you were talking with someone," the man continued, his smile very kind. His patient had been very open and honest with him since her mother had brought her in. Talking about her unhappiness with a peaceful world and how sometimes she just felt lost. Then she had just kind of slipped into a one sided conversation, like he was not even there in the room with her anymore. "Do you want to talk about what you and your cousin were saying to each other? If you need to talk about it go right ahead. I'm here to listen to you."

In all honesty, Laurie really did not remember what she had been talking about, or thinking about, rather. "I don't know," she sighed, leaning her head back and staring up at the ceiling. The alabaster tiles above her were dotted with specks of grey and black and she wondered if she would be able to count all of the minuscule imperfections in the time it would take to finish the session she was currently in. "Can't really recall what we were 'talking about'. It doesn't really matter though, does it?" Laurie frowned, running her hands tiredly through her hair. "He's not actually here now, is he?"

A loud clap startled her and she jumped in her seat, immediately returning her attention to the man in front of her. "That's what I'm talking about," he grinned, once more writing down something on his clipboard. Laurie wondered if she would get in trouble for kicking the stupid thing out of his hands. "That's the first step to recovery: realizing that what you're hearing or seeing isn't actually happening." She continued to stare at him as he babbled on about something she really could not have cared less about. There was something about the guy that Laurie really did not like. She just could not place what it was. "If you can just take a step back sometimes and really think about what's going on around you, you should slowly be able to discern what's real and what isn't."

She internally scoffed, not believing how enthusiastic this man was about her tired statement. Glancing over at the clock that sat above a cluttered, wooden desk she realized it was getting pretty late now. A couple of hours had passed since she had first arrived and maybe the sudden 'breakthrough' she had just had would be enough to convince this weirdo that she could leave for the day. Plastering on a small smile, Laurie nodded. "Yeah, actually, when I really think about it, it does seem pretty easy to realize what's actually happening. I mean, my cousin was in his elemental robes and we haven't fought anything in almost a year now." Resisting every impulse within her that told her to keep her mouth closed, she continued on. "You're right, uh, Doctor…."

"Voler," the man finished, clicking his pen once more and shifting his clipboard to his left arm and extending his right outwards. Warily, Laurie shook the man's hand before leaning back in her chair. "Always happy to help someone that truly needs it and, from what your mom was telling me when she first brought you in today, it sounded like you really needed some help." Awkwardly, Dr. Voler stuck the thin pen behind his ear and Laurie watched it almost blend in with his deep-black hair. "So, you've been here a while and probably wanna head on out, but is there anything you want to talk about quickly before you go? It could be anything that's on your mind."

How about the fact that I keep seeing things that aren't there, Laurie thought sarcastically. Shrugging her shoulders innocently, she gave the man a quick shake of the head for an answer. Smiling in response, he gestured towards the door and Laurie quickly stood, rushing towards the exit. Her heart was beating extremely fast and she really did not understand why. It was just a talk with a doctor, right? Why did she feel so nervous about it? "I'll see you in a week or so then, Miss Garmadon?" he called out while she continued towards the room's exit, not looking back. "If you ever need to talk about your fears or insecurities, I can always pencil you in for a session." The cold metal of the spherical doorknob was reassuring in her hand and when she turned it, throwing the door open, someone was standing on the other side.

"The receptionist told me time was about up and I was just coming to get you," Misako smiled, noticing her daughter's paled face and anxious expression. "Did something happen? Are you okay, Laurie?" The girl's ice blue eyes widened and she glanced behind herself before focusing back on her mother. Misako could tell what that look meant. Let's talk later. Stepping into the room briefly, the woman allowed Laurie to pass and watched as she hastened her pace down the hallway and towards the reception area, not once taking a look back. It all seemed a little odd. "How was she, doctor?" the woman sighed, approaching the man who stood looking out of the single, large window in his office. "She didn't give you any trouble, did she?"

He gave a small smirk and chuckled. "No need for any formalities," Dr. Voler stated, crossing his arms over his chest. "You can call me, Rod. Laurie did very well today. She told me all about what's been bugging her. She thinks everything is a little too peaceful in Ninjago City." He paused for a brief moment, turning to face his client's guardian. "Do you agree with that, Mrs. Garmadon? Do you think peace is boring?"

Keeping herself close enough to eavesdrop, but far enough away to not draw suspicion from the receptionist shooting her odd glances, was very difficult. Laurie strained to hear what the psychologist was telling her mother. If she was being honest with herself, she could not even remember most of the session. It just was not there, gone from her memories. If she just took the time to really concentrate and think, maybe she could actually recall what had happened over the past few hours.

"It just doesn't sound like a good idea to me," Laurie answered honestly, leaning back against a wall. The others were quietly chatting around her, seeming to enjoy themselves. "I know it's cool and everyone else wants to go, but we need to think this through for just a second. Everyone does know where it is, right? Where exactly it's located?" Kai held his head in his hands as the red head continued on. "Don't act like that. It's weird, okay? I just don't like it…"

He watched as the red ninja gave a heavy sigh. "If you really don't want to come, then don't. No one is forcing you to do anything. It's perfectly fine and we'll all be there." She just shook her head in response and glanced at him as he threw his hands up in defeat. "You really have no good reason why you don't want to go, do you?" The question hung in the air for a few minutes and Laurie fidgeted uncomfortably. "That's what I thought. Look, I love you, but sometimes you worry too much over the littlest things. It'll just be a quick visit, I promise."

Feeling a small frown adorn her face, Laurie looked up at the Ninja of Fire as he planted a quick kiss on her forehead. "Nothing to worry about, remember?"

"Yeah, nothing to worry about."

"Honey, are you okay?"

Laurie gasped for air and blinked rapidly, noticing the three concerned faces in front of her. Misako had a firm grip on both of her daughter's arms and helped her up off of the ground and back on her feet. When had she fallen? What was going on? Dr. Voler eyed her warily and turned to his receptionist for a brief moment. She nodded and headed back over to her desk, writing something hastily. "Laurie, please say something," her mother pleaded, spectacled eyes full of concern.

Feeling very shaky, the red head nodded. "I'm fine, mother. Just lost my balance was all. I-I can be really clumsy, huh?" She gave a small laugh, brushing herself off and glancing at the psychologist out of the corner of her eye. Each sweep of his dark irises made her feel uncomfortable, like she was strapped down and being examined. "I'm fine though, really. Just a little dizzy, nothing to worry about. L-Let's go home so I can sleep." Still, she continued to feel Dr. Voler's gaze boring into her.

"Of course," Misako breathed, conceding defeat and gently leading her daughter away from the wall and towards the building's exit. "Thank you again, uh, Rod," she called back behind her as the heavy wooden door opened and closed. As the cool, outside air hit Laurie's skin she breathed a sigh of relief. It felt like she had been cooped up inside that office with that man forever. "We'll get you home as soon as possible so you can rest, honey. I promise." Laurie honestly did not care if they went back to the monastery or if they went to the stupid museum. Anywhere was better than this office.

We have to go help them.

A voice floated on the wind and Laurie looked up towards the sky and closed her eyes. It was obvious to her that her mother had not heard it. If she had, she would have recognized it. If she recognized it, she would have stopped. They both kept walking, down the small, paved road that led away from the office of a person that Laurie decided she did not like. Laurie strained her ears, trying to listen for the voice of her cousin in the wind once more, but she did not hear it.

It was just not real.

Yay. I'm still typing this at, like, late-ish o'clock and pretending it's Wednesday morning. Thanks for reading and...just, reading I guess. I'm tired...

Hooray for Ninjago tonight. I'm going to take a nice nap after my exams. No new update next week because I have to study for finals. New chapter on April 30th. Bye.