Korra fidgeted beside Bolin and Mako, her Ferret uniform abnormally tight and uncomfortable. Bolin gave her a quick jab in the ribs with his elbow.

"Quit that," he hissed out of the side of his mouth. From atop his shoulders, Pabu squeaked at her with annoyance. Korra glared at the little fire ferret.

"She should be here by now," she hissed back.

"Shh," Mako snapped from the other side of Bolin. Korra shot him a scowl too, but returned her attention to where Butakaha strode down the center of the pro-bending rink, arms high as he announced the ceremonial opening of the arena. Beside him, Shiro the announcer held his arms high as he laughed and chatted with the handful of die-hard fans that had paid their way to the forefront of the grand opening of Republic City's arena. They giggled and squealed with excitement as they skittered down the lines of teams, greeting and shaking hands with all their favorite stars. The stands were packed with fans, waving the colors of their beloved teams, cheering and chanting in a mad din.

All the pro-bending teams were lined up along the edges of the pro-bending rink, some Korra had fought before, others she'd only seen in the gym during joint training sessions. The Red Sands Rabaroos, the Makapu Moose Lions, the Golden Temple Tigerdillos, the Bau Ling Buzzard Wasps, the Ba Sing Se Badgermoles… Korra felt a strange twinge somewhere in her chest when she noticed the absence of the White Falls Wolfbats. Even though they'd been the utmost of jerks, no one deserved a fate like theirs. That old anger and fear stirred in her towards Amon, but she beat it back down. He'd changed, she reminded herself. He was no longer the terrifying monster of her nightmares.

"This day stands as a testament," Butakaha proclaimed, lifting his hands high. "To the ingenuity, to the progress, to the grit and determination of this city. The re-opening of this arena marks our resolve to move forward, no matter what obstacles we may face. We may be knocked down, but we will rise with more ferocity than any adversary can take. This city stands united! Benders and nonbenders. Together!"

The teams lifted their fists in the air and cheered. The crowd screamed with frenzied passion. Korra raised her fist in salute, yelling along with the rest of them. She had to admit, Butakaha knew how to rile up a crowd. Bolin hollered along next to her, pumping his fist in the air. But out of the corner of his mouth, he muttered to her over the racket,

"I don't see her."

"She's got to be here," Korra growled. "She's the bloody sponsor. How could she not show?"

But the afternoon wore on, and there was no sign of Sakura. Butakaha paraded the Fire Ferrets around with the rest of the teams, before finally dismissing them to the changing rooms. Then he summoned two of the teams: the Red Sands Rabaroos and the Mutaka Moose Lions up for a spontaneous battle to delight the crowd. Korra made her way down to the locker rooms with Mako and Bolin, a scowl deepening across her face.

"Why didn't she come?" she demanded of her friends, stomping down the stairs. "She was supposed to be here!"

"Calm down, Korra," Mako muttered, shrugging off his scarlet vest. Korra avoided looking at the taut muscles of his chest, instead moving to pull off her boots before heading to the girls' section of the changing stalls.

"Yeah," Bolin said. "Maybe she got held up. Satomobile jam or something?"

Korra growled low in her throat. But she said nothing else as she turned and tromped back to the changing rooms. Shrugging out of her already sweaty uniform, she slipped on her cool Water Tribe clothes and sealskin boots. Then she pushed her way past the brothers and stumbled back up the stairs, far too blinded by fury to bother speaking again. She made her way up through the lobby, passing the doorway to the arena. The crowd still hummed and screamed with glee as the two teams brawled out on the rink. But Korra didn't move to join in the celebration. Instead, she let her feet carry her toward Butakaha's office. She didn't know why. She pushed open the unlocked door and stumbled over to the big chestnut desk, collapsing in the high-backed leather chair. She didn't know what led her here. But for some reason, she felt, deep in her core, that this was the place for her to be, right at this moment.

For the longest moment, she stayed slumped in that chair, her eyes tracing the cracks in the ceiling. Then her blood froze in her veins at the smooth voice behind her.

"I knew I'd find you moping around here somewhere."

Korra jumped out of her skin, launching out of the chair to land in a bending stance, her fists clenched and ready to send fireballs at her attacker. Sakura stood in the doorway, a soft smile twisting her full red lips, those cold violet eyes sending chills right through her. Korra swallowed, planting her feet and ready to fight. Her heart stuttered in her chest.

"You didn't show up today," she snarled, striving for calm. "You're the benefactor. You were supposed to be here."

Sakura sauntered forward, moving with lithe grace. Korra fought the urge to take a step back. No. She wouldn't show fear in front of this girl. She couldn't.

"Ah," Amon's sister purred. "I'm afraid I've let Butakaha know I've liked to remain anonymous. Surely there's no harm in that? An anonymous philanthropist, willing to give of herself for the greater good of Republic City. Surely you understand the necessity for anonymity, don't you, Korra? Wearing masks?"

Korra felt her stomach twist at the sound of her name on the woman's lips. Then the full impact of her words sunk in. She stared at Sakura, her mouth falling open. "No," she whispered. "You're not here for me. You're here for him."

Sakura's mouth curved into a fuller smile. "That's my Avatar. Always too clever for her own good. You understand half of it."

She advanced on her, coming closer with every smooth, gliding step. Korra really did take a step back this time, closer to the wall. She hated herself for her fear, but she couldn't stand being any closer to the woman than she had to.

"Half?" she echoed, her voice a frightened whimper.

Sakura chuckled. "Oh, Korra, you really are quite oblivious."

She was so close now Korra could feel the frightening coolness of her breath on her face. She pressed herself back against the wall, a terrifying feeling curling in her stomach. For some awful reason, she couldn't bring herself to lift her fists and shoot a devastating ball of fire into Sakura's face. Her arms were petrified at her sides, frozen like the ice fisting its way around her heart.

"You see," Sakura breathed, coming impossibly closer. "If I were simply to kill Noatak, he wouldn't receive his justice. In death he will feel nothing. Just cold, empty darkness. Now while that course of action is so tempting, I am going to ravage him in a far deeper way. I'm going to take what's his, and twist it until it breaks, then bury the pieces so deeply inside him he'll never escape the pain. I'm going to make him burn, the way I once did. I'll make him bleed."

Her hands moved then, sliding down Korra's forearms and down over her thighs. Korra felt a burst of nausea explode in the pit of her stomach, and resisted the sudden urge to gag. Sakura leaned forward, her breath hot and smoldering against her ear.

"You see, my dear," she whispered. "You've provided me with such a beautiful opportunity. If I take you from him, I can shatter him to his very core. I will destroy you, but not in the way you might expect." She smiled against Korra's cheek, and Korra stiffened. "It will come from his hand. I will make him kill you, slowly, so very slowly, and then I will set the two of you free just long enough for you to breathe your last words. Words that will haunt him forever. Do you want to know what those last words will be?"

Korra was shaking. She couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. Sakura tilted her head so that her lips were pressed against her ear.

"I hate you," she exhaled. Korra felt her insides turn to water. She opened her mouth, trying to say something—anything—scream at this monster to get away from her, to leave them alone, to go die in a hole. But all that came out was a squeaking, shuddering gasp.

Sakura chuckled, drawing back from her. Korra felt the ice in her veins simmer and melt, and realized with horror that the waterbender had been bloodbending her, holding her there against the wall like a helpless victim. Korra took a step forward, ready to send this madwoman flying backwards into the wall, but Sakura only laughed, the sound like a soft tinkling of bells in the office.

And then she was gone.

Korra barely had time to blink. The office was completely empty. A cold shiver swept its way up her spine, lodging in her throat. Her eyes swept the room and she spun on her heels, straining to see where her enemy had gone.

But Sakura Natsuki had disappeared. One minute she was there, the next she was not. Korra felt a fear like she had never known take up residence in her soul, slowly sucking the breath from her. This could not be happening. It was impossible. The Avatar had never been rattled by so small an adversary.

"Korra?"

She almost cried at the voice. Turning, she saw Amon standing in the doorway, his golden eyes wide and worried behind the porcelain mask. Forgetting everything else, Korra stumbled across the room and collapsed into his chest, sobs ribbing from her throat. His arms caught her, startled, but he held her as she sobbed, burying her face in the collar of his robes. His hands found her back, one rubbing soothing circles over her shoulder blades, the other cupping the back of her head.

"What happened?" he demanded, his voice rough with concern.

Korra felt her tears dampening the fabric of his robes, but she didn't care. She clung to him for all she was worth, struggling to speak through her racking sobs.

"She—she was here. I—I saw her."

"Did she hurt you?"

"N-no." Korra took a shuddering gasp. "Sh—she…"

She couldn't continue. Just clutched him tighter, weeping into his chest. She could feel his tension, the stiffness of his muscles as he struggled to comprehend what had rattled her so badly. Finally, she felt his chin drop to the top of her head as he drew her closer to himself.

"Shhh," he murmured. "It's all right. She is gone. Everything is all right."

But no. Everything wasn't all right. It was the furthest from all right as it could get. Korra shuddered against him, a strange and inexplicable urge filling her to pull away, to run. Sakura's words still rang in her ears, cold and mocking.

"I will destroy you… at his hand. I will make him kill you, slowly, so very slowly, and then I will set the two of you free just long enough for you to breathe your last words. Words that will haunt him forever."

Korra squeezed her eyes shut. Spirits, she cried. Aang. Please. Help me.

But Sakura's words would not fade.

"I hate you…"