He Vanished From Earth

The day had been fairly quiet, and Katara had spent her time in the dark cell, listening to the numerous guards talk about how they were going back to see their families, for the first time since the gang's revolt fell. Katara guessed it had been months, but she wasn't entirely sure anymore. Time seemed to dwindle on, not stopping for anyone or anything. And as she sat curled up against the corner of the room, she wondered if she was just going insane. Maybe Aysen was lying to her, and was going to turn her over to the Warden for plotting against him. Or worse, she would be turned over to Fire lord Azula; crowned head of the Fire Nation the day she fell in the courtyard. She knew one thing; she would go out fighting for her friends and family, the world, if she was turned over to Azula.

The hours passed, and the lights in the narrowed hallway started to flicker out one by one. Heavy footsteps clanked against the metal floor, and the slit was pushed open in the door. Katara looked up to meet dark copper eyes, and she knew it was time to run for it. He pulled open the door, and she got up from her dusty spot on the floor before running out of the room, much too eager to be freed from the tiny prison. Katara looked up, seeing Rina standing behind Aysen, looking as nervous and unsure as ever.

"Rina!" Katara said, running to engulf her friend in her arms. Rina hugged her back, smile growing as she realized now was the time. They were going to be free; she was going to look out and finally see something other than bars in her face. They let go of each other, Katara turning back to Aysen as he slammed the door shut, locking it back in place to make it appear as if the prisoner was still locked away.

"Come on," he said, gesturing for them to follow him silently. They walked down the dark hallway, Katara peering at the other cells that held people. She frowned, looking to Rina who held just as much pity for them in her electric blue eyes.

"We'll get them out, we will," Rina said, and Katara nodded, looking ahead. Her courage started building back up from where it had been stomped on, buried over a million times. A few minutes passed, and Aysen turned around abruptly, almost slamming into Katara.

"We need to be quiet, there are guards still out," he said, and they nodded in agreement. "Just, let me do the talking. If they ask anything, I'll answer. Just, put that face back on," he explained, and Katara found herself frowning again, hands in front of her, as Rina did the same. They walked in a single file line, stepping softly and slowly down the hall as they crossed the corner. Two guards came into view, and Katara felt her heart speed up, threatening to beat out of her chest at any moment.

"Heads down," Aysen whispered, and Katara and Rina looked to the floor, hair falling and swaying as they stepped in their raggedy shoes. One of the guards spoke up, crossing his arms when he saw the trio walk into view.

"Where are you taking them?" he asked in a deep voice, and Katara's eyes darted every which way, trying her best not to start breathing erratically.

"Warden's orders, I'm taking them to his quarters," Aysen said smoothly, not stuttering once. It was like he had rehearsed this a thousand times, and it wouldn't surprise Katara if he had. The guard fell back, letting the three of them pass.

"Enjoy your stay," one of them laughed, and before Katara knew it one of the guards had her face in his hand, holding her chin, laughing with the other guard. She squirmed, and Aysen turned back, eyes looking wild as he told them to back off. The guard dropped her face, and she fell back in line ahead of Rina. Her heart had definitely picked up its pace now, and she wondered if Aysen or Rina could hear it too. They hurried their trail down the hall, Aysen praying to the spirits that they wouldn't find anything about his excuse unclear. Before long, they turned another corner and he slung the door open hastily, ready to leave the metal walls to the outside. Katara and Rina ran out with him, and Katara breathed out heavily for the first time, not realizing she had been holding her breath. Aysen brought her head up; checking to make sure the guard hadn't hurt her.

"I'm fine," Katara said, and he dropped his hand, moving back to lock the door from the outside. Aysen nodded, laughing to himself for a moment as Rina crossed her arms, tapping her foot.

"What's so funny? They could have killed us," Rina said, and Aysen shook his head, helmet sloshing around.

"Nothing, it's just that the Warden isn't even here," he said, and Katara knew now just what a huge risk they were taking, without any thought on the matter. "He left earlier this morning."

"And how long until they figure out you're lying?!" Katara yelled, furrowing her eyebrows. The little group erupted into a fight, and Aysen clamped a hand over Katara's mouth when the door he had locked began to rustle.

"Right about now," he answered Katara, turning back to see the handle being pulled on relentlessly. "Let's go!" he yelled, running as they followed him. They were outside by now, running over the hard rocky earth to the outside of the prison walls. He took off his helmet, throwing it to the ground, grabbing their hands as they ran.

"Where are we going?! They'll never let us out of the gates!" Rina yelled, hearing sirens start to blare from the prison walls.

"We're not going out of the gates," Aysen said, and they stumbled around, as the noise grew louder. Katara's ear's pulsed, and she had no idea how crazy Aysen was as he neared a wall, a drain way covered with bars. "It's been loose for months," he said, pulling on its sides until the metal bars fell into the puddle of water. He gestured for Rina to go, and she looked at him as if he was completely insane.

"Move," Katara said, falling to her knees as she scurried through the drainpipe. Rina and Aysen followed, and she looked back. "Where does this go?" Katara asked, hearing her voice carry down the metal tube as her hands splashed into the mucky water.

"To the water," Aysen said, smirking. This was his plan; two water benders would be able to fight against the whole prison. Especially two fighters. Rina scoffed, and before they knew it Katara dropped into a larger portion of water. The sirens from the prison were much more distant now, and Aysen stepped out after her friend. Katara moved, trudging through the water as her ratty clothes weighed her down, to the hard land just a few feet away. This was a drainpipe, leading to the outside and his plan was so perfect, so well put together. Katara didn't know whether to trust him or believe he was making this up as he went, but it was working.

"Come on," Katara said, holding her arm out to help her friend make it out of the water. Next was Aysen, whose armor was weighing him down the most. The two girls pulled him out, and Katara set on bending the water from her clothes, then Aysen's. Rina circled her hand around, failing to get her grip on the element to stick. Katara knew her friend wasn't a master, but she a healer. Katara spun her wrist, snapping it up as the water was drained from Rina's clothes.

"Where to now? We're outside, but what next? How are we going to get out of here?" Rina asked, and Aysen marched ahead of them as they stepped over the rocks.

"That," he answered, pointing in front of him at a small ship docked near the water's edge. Katara looked to Rina, who shared her worried expression. Aysen was completely mad, but his plan was working. They were going to find her friends, her family. And for the first time in months Katara felt a twinge of hope, because they had a shot at finding Aang.

Woah, alright. So there's chapter 4, and I'm sorry that I've taken ages to update! I've had a lot of work at school, and I've been really caught up with TWD because it's returning tonight. (I am so excited I might cry). Anyway, tell me your thoughts? It'd help, because i'd like to know what you think of Aysen? Or Rina. I'll try and update soon, and my other avatar story should be updated soon too! Bye guys, and thanks for reading! You're all awesome