Heaven or Hell

Chapter 13, Memories

Conner's POV

Six years ago

I had gone out hunting with my friend, Clayton Milstead. We were unlucky at catching anything today. Everything seemed normal at first. But I knew something was wrong as we approached the village. I could smell smoke. I could tell he smelled it too. We broke into a run. As we approached the village, we saw that several of the houses were burning to the ground, and Fire Nation soldiers were everywhere. We walked around the outskirts of the city to avoid being seen.

"Why are they here?" Clay asked.

"I don't know," I replied.

We hid in the shadows as three Fire Nation soldiers walked passed us to a house near us. We watched as they knocked on the door. When no one answered, they broke the door down. Soon enough, the soldiers walked out following the family that lived there. One of the soldiers stopped while the others continued watching. The soldier that stopped turned towards the house. He then proceeded to burn the house down with his fire bending. We looked around the corner to where they were being led. They walked up to a general who was standing in the center of the town.

"These aren't the ones I'm looking for," the general said.

"What should we do with them?" one of the soldiers asked.

"Kill them," the general said, before walking away. The soldiers looked at each other, and then followed their orders. They family was burned alive. It was a painful sight to see, but I couldn't turn away. I half realized what was going on. This was not a raid. They were looking for someone. I wondered who it was. We more or less followed the general behind the houses. I heard someone behind us. I turned around to see Beth.

"What the hell is going on?" I asked.

"I don't know. They just showed up and started pulling people out of their houses," she said. I was about to ask another question when I saw my dad be unwillingly dragged to the general.

"So you're the infamous Zun Mathews. You're not so tough," he said.

"And I am not impressed by you either, general. Now tell me, where is she?" Zun asked.

"Where's who?" my dad asked, before receiving a punch to the jaw.

"You know who I'm referring to. Now, where the fuck is she?" Zun asked.

"You'll never find her," my dad replied. Zun snarled in anger. He then proceeded to break my dad's nose in, kick him in the gut as hard as he could.
"Burn him," Zun said. Two soldiers walked up to him.
"Get out of here," I said to Clayton and Beth. They did not hesitate, for they knew what would happen next. I saw the soldiers get into stance.

"No!" I shouted running out of my hiding place. The soldiers were already in motion. I used one technique I learned, blood bending. I held them in place, before I proceeded to then pull their veins right out of their skin, along with any other water in their body. I let go of the now vein and waterless soldier's corpses. This new found derivative of blood bending was amazing. I noticed a soldier to my left funning at me with a sword. Using this new found technique, I am my hand at his head palm up, and then closed my hand. This action made the soldier's head explode.

After kicking the shit out of more soldiers, they started to retreat. Then I realized what was happening. They found who they were looking for. I had a pretty good idea who it was that they were looking for. I ran as fast as I could. I caught up to the soldiers. They were all standing around a platform. Five nooses hung on a wooden beam above the platform. A few soldiers called off names. The people stood next to a noose. Their treasons were read off a list. More soldiers walked to the people and put the noose around each of the people's necks.

A soldier stood by a lever, and when the okay was given, he pulled it. Trap doors under the citizen's feet dropped. The people fell through the hole, but the noose kept them from touching the ground. Either their necks broke on impact, killing them instantly. Or they slowly choked to death. Looking through the line, I saw my mother was next. When the previous batch was cleared away, the next ones, which included my mother, stepped up. The noose was put around their necks. They're treasons read. The okay given. The soldier pulled the lever. I could not look any longer.

End of Flashback

I looked around my wife's diner at those who were here. They seemed happy. That is a good thing I guess because they are oblivious to the war and just mistake the soldiers as rogue thugs. It is time for a change. I got up from my seat and walked to the front door. I looked back one last time and then left. I knew what I was doing was going to get me killed, but I could accept that. I gathered my bow and a short sword and headed towards the forest. I reached the edge of the village. I took a deep breath. I could hear Angela behind me. I wanted to turn around and tell her to go home and not worry about me. That everything would be alright. But in reality, I was staring Death in the face and saying fuck you. I lowered my eyes and walked out of the village into the forest. I could not go back now. I was now on my toes. I broke into a run. I just had to get as far away as I could.

I would not let Angela get dragged into this. It was far too dangerous. I had to do this alone.

Ripper's POV

Kyoshi Island

I slowly walked through the light forest of some island. I could not take my chances landing near the children I was hunting. It would be too risky on the beach. The sand may create visibility of my craft as I land. The water levels are unpredictable for me on this small, strange planet. I soldiered on as I grew closer to a settlement. It was the main one on this forsaken island. It had a twenty foot tall statue of some female that seemed familiar but unfamiliar. I stood just outside of the settlement. I jumped onto one of the roofs. I watched. I just watched.

That's all, until next time, Danke für das Lesen, remember to review and submit your OCs, the form can be found in previous chapters