Chapter 37: Mercy Call

Ming walked in at some point in the night, checking my pulse to make sure I was still living. I wished I wasn't.

"Kanni? Kanni, sweetie, can you hear me?" Her gentle voice was soothing, but I kept my eyelids shut. Her hand brushed over my forehead, smoothing back my hair. I felt fresh tears slip down my cheeks. "Oh, sweetie," She spoke softly.

I sat up abruptly, ignoring the stabbing pain, and wrapped my arms around her shoulders, sobbing into the crook of her neck. She moved to sit beside me on the bed, returning the embrace. Her hands rubbed my back soothingly as she whispered gentle words that I didn't fully hear.

"Why are you so nice to me?" I whimpered to her.

"Why wouldn't I be?" She answered.

"Because-" I hiccuped, trying to finish my sentence.

"Because you're a bender?" I nodded, my face still buried into her shoulder. "Honey, that doesn't mean anything to me."

"But you're..."

"An Equalist?" She finished my sentence again, which I answered with another nod. "Sweetheart, you should know me better than that. Sure, I think a lot of benders oppress non-benders. But, you believe that too, don't you?"

I pulled back to look at her face. "Yes..."

"I've never agreed with Amon taking people's bending. Unfortunately, once you get in... it's difficult to get out. And I still believe in the foundations of the cause. But just because you're a bender," She gripped my shoulders, looking me in the eyes. "Doesn't mean that you're a bad person. I know you're not. You're kind and have a humongous heart. You're sassy and stubborn. Funny, but wise beyond your years."

I broke into tears again at her words, ducking back into her arms. Her hand stroked my knotted hair, trying to calm the sobs. "I wish I could do something for you... but I can't stop what is about to happen. I'm so sorry, Kanni. I'm so sorry," She whispered into my ear.

I heard the door creak open, but I didn't look. I knew who it was by the way Ming tensed, almost shielding me. At first she didn't speak, but when she finally worked up the courage to say something, her voice was firm.

"Get out. She doesn't need to see you right now." The figure advanced into the room slightly. "No! She has enough to deal with right now, with what you're going to do to her weighing on her already. So get. OUT."

Amon... Oh Ming, don't do anything stupid.

I dared to reach out with my bending to feel Amon's heart escalate, his body temperature rising in anger. He moved forward, a curse on his lips. Ming gasped, pulling me behind her as Amon grabbed her hair, his face inches form hers.

"What did you say to me, Doctor?" His voice was like steel. He yanked on her hair, making her yelp as he dragged her to her feet. "You will be punished. You do not order me, understand?"

Ming was whimpering, but she didn't respond. Ballsy young woman...

"NO!" I screamed as he moved to drag her out of the room. My hand flung out, fingers clenching, thus making the fluid bag next to my bed burst. I bent the water, nailing Amon in the face, making him release Ming. I dragged myself to my feet, body protesting, moving myself in between him and Ming. "Don't you dare touch her for being a kind person. She's done nothing wrong."

Amon was back on his feet and shooting daggers at me with his eyes. "You dare use your bending against me?"

"There is nothing wrong with using my bending! I was born with it! And I'll use it to fight monsters like you!"

He grabbed me by my throat, shoving me back into the wall. "I am not the monster, remember? You are! You killed your entire family! You don't know love!"

I spit in his face. He roared, dragging me out of the room, my body screaming as I felt my ribs grinding.

"No!" Ming cried from behind me.

"Ming, run!" I yelled back. "It's okay! I'll be alright! Just get out of here!" She stared at me helplessly as I was pulled down the hallway by Amon.

It was the middle of the night, so no one was up to hear my muffled shouts. Tying a cloth around my mouth, Amon lugged me over his shoulder, moving quickly through the halls. We climbed countless stairs, and I quickly lost my bearings, due to both the winding hallways and the pain blurring my vision.

Finally, Amon opened a door to a simple, but comfortable room, tossing me to the floor. He slammed the door, his back to me. I scurried backwards on all fours, seeing that I was in his private quarters. Oh shit. He's going to take my bending now isn't he?

I ripped off the cloth around my lips, gasping in air despite the pain in my chest. From my place on the ground, I watched his shoulders move with his angry breaths. He bowed his head, taking off his mask.

"You have gone too far this time, Kanni."

"Have I? You never seemed to have patience with me in the first place," I spit out. What do I have to lose anyways?

He turned, his eyes like fire. "When you were first taken, did I not treat you with kindness?"

"You locked me in a dungeon!"

"At first! But then I let you roam. Let you work."

"Let me? Let me?! You forced me! You said if I misbehaved then I would punished!"

"I let you dine with me. Even privately-"

I forced myself to stand, getting in his face. "Which I never enjoyed!" He seemed taken back by that. What the hell did he expect? That I loved our little chats? You didn't mind them Kanni. That was where your feelings began...Shut up.

"You were treated like a guest," He spoke in a flat tone.

I pressed my lips together before looking away. "But I was a captive, nonetheless."

He looked like he was going to say something, before moving away. "None of that matters now." Yes it does. "You have shown that you are nothing but a traitor. A spy."

"I never told them anything!" I cried. "Not about you. Or the mansion. Or Naomi or Ming. Or the Lieutenant's real name. I didn't tell them about-" I stopped myself. How your scar is fake...

Amon looked at me seriously. "You didn't tell them anything?"

I shrugged, looking away again. "I told them that your numbers are growing... but they know that now anyways. And I said the training was rigorous. And that..."

"What?" He spit out.

I looked back at him, my eyes gloomy. "That I wasn't... mistreated."

He stepped back, folding his hands behind him. Formal. Business. "Why wouldn't you tell them everything? They could have raided our hideout. We never would have evacuated in time. If you are a bender... on their side... why wouldn't you tell them? Why should I believe you?"

I sucked in a breath before responding. "I made friends here. Even though I'm a bender, it doesn't mean that I'm a... monster..." I glanced away, my eyes downcast. "You said that I was one... that I murdered my family... that I didn't love. For a long time, I blamed myself for what happened. But... I was nine, and lost control. That's all it was. And even though I regret it every day of my life..." I sobbed out. "...It's in the past... and I need to move on."

I looked up and met his steely gaze with determination. "So maybe I was a monster... and yes, I killed my family... But you were wrong about one thing, Amon." I moved forward, leaning up to get closer to him. "I loved them. So much. And I miss them all the time. And I still know how to love. I'm just tired of being hurt," I whispered out. "So take my bending. Break me... Destroy me... End my entire life. Just know that I am already as broken as I can be." My voice broke, tears streaming down my face.

Amon stood silently for a moment, examining me. "Very well," He spoke firmly. His hand shot out, striking my chi point to make me crumble to the floor. My knees slammed onto the carpet as he walked behind me, one hand holding the back of my neck. A sob pushed through my lips as I closed my eyes, tears streaking down my cheeks.

Fight Kanni! Fight! I'm sorry, Yue. I reached out for the final time with my bending, to feel Amon's hand raise in the air, before descending towards my forehead. I'm so sorry... His thumb stopped a mere centimeter from my skin, and I felt his heart skip a beat.

"But not today," He spoke softly. He release my neck, and I fell forward, sobbing softly into the carpet. He stepped back, swallowing thickly. "You'll sleep here tonight. I'll have Ming check on you in the morning. With that, he walked into the connecting bedroom, the door closing abruptly.

I stayed on the floor, my hands clutching around my sore torso as I pressed my face into the carpet. What am I going to do?

Author's Note

Hey everyone! Thanks for reading! I know the chapters today were a bit short, but I've been a little swamped with classes lately, and we had an overnight away game this weekend. Let's be honest, getting stuff done on my team bus is beyond tough!

So thanks for your patience, and I appreciate all readers and reviews, so feel free!

Love ya all, and hope you're enjoying my story!

Till next time,

-Pheonixash