"I want you to suffer. I am going to break you, Garmadon, just like you broke me."
The words haunted him. He shut his eyes, taking a breath. The cell was cold, arid. He sat curled up by the wall, head bowed.
I can't believe I did that to him. I…I can't—
He choked on another sob, taking a shuddering breath, a hand to his mouth. He'd almost killed him. He's my son—!
He took another breath. His chest seemed constricted; everything seemed hazy. He couldn't believe it. He couldn't. I wouldn't do that—
Would I?
He probably hates me.
I would, too.
Was he even okay? He found he didn't know. Maybe physically…he'd seen him before he was kidnapped. But mentally? He'd seen the look in his eyes…
"I have no son."
That look. He'd broken his heart. He could tell.
I broke him—
ME—
He was supposed to protect him. Help him. Teach him.
And he'd failed. Failed so badly.
Last time Lloyd had forgiven him. But…this time…no. There was no way. He didn't deserve Lloyd as a son—the first time he'd forgiven him so easily. But this time was different.
I disowned him. I hurt him. I almost killed him—
He sucked in another breath.
Ichor claimed he would break him. But he was already broken.
It can't get much worse than this.
Being kidnapped today certainly wasn't on his agenda. He remembered his thoughts, then. He'd been going on a simple walk. Mostly to get away from the ninja—especially the pesky red ninja. And Wu.
He'd needed to be alone for a while. Gather his thoughts about the whole situation.
He hadn't expected to be kidnapped. After all, who would be foolish enough to try and kidnap Emperor Garmadon? Though Ichor was no fool. He never had been. He'd had Wu strung in his mind game, had him fooled, pulled the wool over his eyes. He hadn't been able to see Ichor's treachery.
Though, of course he hadn't. His little brother was always the naive one—too trusting, too open, too…innocent. Of course he hadn't seen through Ichor.
He sighed quietly, wiping his sleeve across his face again. The tears kept coming, and he was ashamed of breaking down like this around Ichor. But…he found he didn't care as much as he would have in the past.
He'd hurt Lloyd. After everything he'd done, this was the least he deserved in his miserable life.
He'd hurt everyone, really.
I can't believe I did that.
He was…he'd been a monster… He barely even remembered the resurrection. He knew he'd heard a voice…but everything had gotten fuzzy. Muted. Something had…shifted. Then there had been a searing pain through him, like the slicing of fire, and it'd felt like something was chucked into him and he'd been sewn back up.
And then…everything had gone black. And he'd woken up in that…rock. Altar? He wasn't sure, he'd never been into that kind of stuff. He'd been more the "take over the world and conquer" instead of the dark magic Clouse was drawn to.
He glanced up, finally taking a look at his surroundings. It was fairly dark. There were florescent lights in the hall that sometimes flickered. The bars on his cell were metal. Other cells were along the hall, bars separating each.
The wall he was leaning against was concrete. But he felt that almost everything was lined in Vengestone. Ichor had been planning to capture him—that's why there was so much Vengestone. Because he had elemental power.
Though he didn't plan on using it. Never again. All it had ever caused was pain.
And now that he'd hurt Lloyd—
No. Never again.
He did need to get out of here, though.
Garmadon sighed again. He stared at the ground, the tears dripping off his chin and onto the floor.
How could he have done that? To his own son?
What had he become?
How have I become such a monster?
He shut his eyes again, taking another shuddering breath. Grief was peculiar—he'd never thought he'd be grieving over what he'd done. Over what he'd lost—at least not in this way.
I'm so sorry, Lloyd—
Garmadon sucked in a breath.
He was a monster. Ichor was right.
I've given up.
Ochre was gone.
He stared for a few minutes at the ceiling above him. The day had gone by uneventfully, for the most part. Wu had forced him to eat all three meals today. After yesterday…apparently, Wu thought it was necessary to force him. He didn't know why. He didn't care, so why should he?
He sighed quietly.
Ochre is gone.
He's gone. And it's all my fault.
I failed him just like I did Lloyd.
Why am I so good at failing?
Garmadon's jaw clenched, and he sucked in another breath.
I can't believe I failed again.
I failed Ochre.
I needed him.
I let them take him away, after I said I'd never give up on him again! I said I wouldn't fail him like I did everyone else! That I wouldn't abandon him!
I'll never see him again—
He paused, blinking. Unless…
The idea had come to him the day before, when Wu was pestering him to eat.
I can't abandon Ochre. I said I wouldn't.
Garmadon abruptly sat up, glancing around. No one was in sight.
This is wrong.
But…he needed Ochre…and who knew what they were doing to him. Maybe they were torturing him.
He sucked in a shuddering breath. NO. He wouldn't let Ochre be taken. He would not lose him again.
Garmadon stood, stumbling a little. No one would know, anyway. He would be back in the morning. And…he could hide him in the dragon stalls, maybe. Like the ninja had.
I need to get him back.
Garmadon turned, walking around the couch and to the sliding door. He silently opened it, slipping out into the hall, and then headed for the courtyard.
He was going to get Ochre back. Even if that meant he had to add one more crime to his list—theft.
Of course, he'd already stolen before, but…somehow, this felt different. Something was telling him this was wrong.
It hadn't done that before.
Before, he wouldn't have batted an eye, wouldn't have thought twice. He'd have taken without consideration. Nothing would have told him to stop.
But now that alarm was going off.
Garmadon's jaw clenched even more, causing his head to hurt.
He was getting Ochre back, anyway. Even if it was wrong.
Let him have one more crime added—he didn't care.
He was going to rescue Ochre and bring him home.
I will not fail again.