Ninjago: The Purple Ninja - Book 2

Sons of Garmadon: Chapter 6 - Game of Masks

Harumi was just a little happy little girl, content living with her mama and papa in their apartment. It wasn't much, but to her, it was home. 

But they destroyed it when the Great Devourer attacked. 

"A snake of rather unusual size is attacking Ninjago. If you are watching this now, please leave the city at once!"

Her parents ran out of their apartment as soon as the building started shaking. They tried to get to the elevator, but the elevator wouldn't open. So they decided to go for the emergency stair exit. 

When her father flung open the door, they realized the stairs weren't there anymore. And below them was a large fire, waiting to swallow them whole. 

"Where are the stairs?!" Harumi cried out. 

Her father took her mother and daughter away from the emergency and went to try the elevator again. The elevator was open and full of people. They tried to get in but the people inside wouldn't let them.

"There's no room. Take the next one." One of the people inside tried to close it, but Harumi's father stopped it with his foot. The elevators opened once again. He picks her up and hands her to the people inside. 

"Please, take her."

She realized immediately what they were trying to do. She wouldn't let them, she can't. "No! I want to stay with you!" Her parents gave each other a sorrowful look and nodded. They knew they wouldn't be able to make it. They hand her off to the people inside. "Please! I want to stay! Mama!"

She reaches her hand out for her parents. Her mother takes her hand and smiles assuringly, tears in her eyes. "We'll see you when we get down. I promise!"

Her parents let go of her. The elevator door closes. They closed their eyes tightly as the top of the building caves in on them. 

Moments later, Harumi was downstairs and shoved out of the elevator due to the people running. She falls on the floor harshly, and cries out in pain. She held her right arm, which was screaming in pain. She waited patiently for her parents for what seemed like forever. Tears streamed down her face the longer she waited. 

She would've died inside that building if it weren't for a girl in her early twenties, dressed in black and purple. Her bare arms were lightly scraped, and her ponytail and bangs were messy from the chaos. The girl runs up to her and takes Harumi's hand. 

"Hello, what's your name?" The girl in her early twenties asks her. 

"Harumi." She croaks out. 

"Nice to meet you, Harumi. I'm Katarina." Katarina looks around the falling building. It looked like it was about to collapse at any given moment. "We need to get you out of here. Where are your parents?"

Harumi points her hand up to the ceiling. She watchs Katarina's face fall and twist in horror. She wondered why. 

"Oh Harumi..."

Harumi tugs on Katarina's arm, more tears welling up in her eyes and threatening to spill. "We can't leave without my mama and papa! They promised they were going to see me down here!" She pleads desperately. 

Katarina furrows her eyebrows sadly. "I'm sorry, Harumi, but we can't stay here. This building could fall apart on us at any moment."

"But-!" Before Harumi knew it, Katarina picked the little girl and placed her behind her back. As soon as they were out of the building, they both turn their head to see the Devourer was distracted by the Ninja. 

"Where do we do?" Harumi asks in a frightened voice.

Katarina scans the area. On the other side, hundreds of feet across from them, were a small group of people in a store, signaling to them. Katarina sprinted to the group. Once they were safely inside, she inspected Harumi for any major injuries. The little girl wouldn't stop crying.