(A/N) as some of you realized, the first chapter was short . . . . which it was supposed to be. The rest of it not so much. The story is supposed to be like the next season of Korra . . . . so expect it to be kind of long.

She crouched perfectly still, her senses pricked for every sound. The air was still and cold, yet she felt only the warmth of her own skin and the beads of sweat that dripped down the side of her face. Each drop felt like blood. She waited. Every moment lasting a thousand years and more.

Metal scraped loudly against metal as the door opened on poorly crafted hinges. It took a moment for the echoing of the sound to die down. The hand that rested on her raised knee tightened in anticipation. The intruder walked into the room, drawing closer to her hiding place. She saw his feet from just under the cloth that hung from the table she was under. She held her breath, not wanting to stir the cloth. She followed only with her eyes, not wanting him to hear her movement. He probably could have heard her heart anyway since it continued to pound and pound with every passing second.

He reached just past her hiding place and stopped. Every nerve in her body tightened. Had he heard her? Had he seen something? She kept thinking he would turn around at any moment and lift the tablecloth. She bit her lip hard to keep from making a sound. She was surprised to find she did not draw blood. Her lungs screamed silently for air, she could not hold herself in for much longer.

Then, he continued on. Relived she saw his feet walk farther away than she could see. He hadn't found her and she was safe. She let loose the painful breath and allowed herself to calm. A mistake she should have ever made.

Pain tore through her as she felt her body move without her will. She cried out as it dragged her from her hiding place and out in the open. She tried to fight, tried to run, but nothing on her would move. Her blood slowed in her veins, her heart struggled to beat. He lifted her higher, contorting her body as he did, straining her muscles.

Behind him Mako sprung from his hiding place, releasing fire at the enemy. Burned by a firebender as a child or not, hopefully he would have another scar tonight. Four times he threw great balls of fire. But he, ready for the attack, simply stood aside using his own bending to protect him and reached out towards Mako. The young firebender groaned as his body was bent to Amon's will as well. Amon lifted him high into the air.

Together they both were thrown to the ground. The stone floor of the gym she had once enjoyed training in with her friends caused her body to burn when she hit. Before she could hope to move again his bloodbending held her firm. She was forced to her knees as Amon walked around her. She felt his hand on her neck, then on her head. She heard Mako's voice, but could not understand him.

Within her the world fell away completely.

Weak unlike she had ever felt before she collapsed. He released her from his grip of bloodbending, though Mako he still held tight. She tried to stand and fight, focused like she had a thousand times and more in the past. But when she did nothing happened. No fire, no water, no earth. Nothing. And she fell back to the ground.

While she tried to stand again she heard voices. Someone else was there, talking, angry. She couldn't see them. She wasn't trying to listen. Inside her body still reached for the familiar touch of the other elements inside her. Every time she felt nothing. Something crashed and Amon stepped past her. He didn't even look at her, as if now she was nothing. She was nothing.

Her senses slowly returned, but still she had no strength within her. She felt heat behind her, heard static split the air as lightning struck. Amon flew past her, still hot from lightning. She felt warm hands on her shoulders and leaned into them. She could trust him, and he was all she had for now.

He carried her and fled. She tried to talk to him, to somehow make him understand how she felt. How empty and baron she was now. But her words would not do what she wanted. He tried to tell her she would be alright, but she could not believe him. Even he did not sound like he believed himself.

And when his frantic flight suddenly stopped and he dropped her, she knew they were caught. Amon lifted the boy and she fought to stand.

"No one has ever gotten the better of me like that before." Amon said darkly after toying with him, throwing him against the walls. Amon forced him to his knees and gripped him tightly. He touched his head and the boy cried out.

"NO!" She tried again to reach to the elements, any one of them, but felt nothing. Mako fell uselessly to the ground. Amon laughed and turned away. He just left them there, not caring what happened afterward.

She went to him, tears finally finding place as she held him. He didn't look up at her, his eyes were blank, emotionless. She shook him, calling his name. But he did not move, he did not speak. He was just there.

It took long moments before she noticed the world around her again. The hall was no longer empty, but filled with people. They looked at her angry and furious. They shouted things at her, most were lost in the sound of it all. Only Amon's voice could be heard above the rest.

"Look," He said. Korra searched for him and held Mako tighter, but she could not see his masked face, "this is your avatar. Weak. Helpless. Pathetic. And to think, she thought she was going to be the one to save us. She can't even save herself, much less her friend." The roars and insults of the gathered equalists grew louder. Now she could pick a few of them from the crowds.

"She never did anything to help us" one shouted. "So much for being our avatar too." Another said, "If you were so strong then why bother lieing about Amon."

"No," She looked at the man who said the last comment, "I didn't lie. I know what he is."

"More lies!" She narrowed her eyes at the protestor she had seen in the park, "All she ever does is lie and oppress!"

"the avatar is an enemy!" Many started to say, "The avatar needs to be destoried!"

And with nowhere to run she curled herself as close to a ball as she could get. The people swarmed her, grabbing and pulling whatever they could. Mako was wrenched from her grip. She tried to reach him again, but he disappeared in the crowd. She tried to fight, but there were too many. If she was lucky enough to bring one down three would step forward to take her place. At first they were weak, tearing at her skin with nails and pulling at her clothes and hair. But at some point weapons were brought and she felt the metal of a sword tear through her shoulder.

She screamed and thrashed until her throat was dry. Hands gripped her wrists and held her tight. Someone called her again and again. The voice became more panicked each time it called. She couldn't answer. Couldn't speak. Couldn't escape. Blood dripped on the floor. Her wounds burned like fire.

Light flooded her vision.

Amon was gone. The equalists were gone. Her injuries were gone. Beside her she felt breath hot against her shoulder and Naga ran her tongue across her arm. Her sheets and blankets tangled around her body. Her hands were pinned to the bed she lay on. Mako held her still, his amber eyes watching her with fear and concern. After a moment he let her sit up. She leaned against him and let herself cry until the visions of the dream disappeared.