Chapter 2

Beifong estate

Documents were scattered at Lin's office at home. Everywhere she looked she saw pieces of paper containing the information that she has read twenty times by now. About the triple triads, agni kai, and the other gangs and how they could be connected to that one old fabric. But still, she could find no evidence regarding korra.

"I'm missing something" She said aloud to herself. Again she grabbed the documents and started searching for clues.

Finding none, she stood up frustrated and threw the documents down. She went downstairs to make herself a cup of tea. It was evening and the lights from republic city stood far away in the distance. Rain fell out of the dark sky, making a relaxing sound as it clattered on the ground. Walking in to the kitchen, she saw a letter at her counter. Neatly stacked untop of the other mail, Lin picked it up and sighed.

"This card really is the cherry on top of this shitty day" Lin thought. The enveloppe was sealed with wax formed as a flying boar. The handwriting on top was curly and Lin recognized it immediatly as her sisters handwriting. She opened the seal and took out the letter.

Dear sister,

I will be travelling to Republic city in five days. I'm invited to some business meetings regarding Zaofou. I will stay in the city for a while, it's been to long since i've seen you, last time was 7 months ago! Anyway me being your little sister i'm hoping I could stay at your house? I will see you in five days.

Lin put away the letter along with the rest of the mail. It has indeed been to long since she last saw her sister. She walked over to the kettle and poured some water in it. She looked outside and for the first time that day she could breathe and relax.

Outside Republic City

She was awoken by the sound of thunder. She flinched and stood up. It was raining and being on top of a hill it was ice cold. She shivered as drops of cold water fell on her. It felt so familiar, the feeling of water, yet so estranged. The girl was hurt badly, so badly that she refused to look to see the damage. "I have to find shelter" was her only thought as she started walking down the hill, trying not to slip on the mud. Adreline rushed trough her veins, ever since she got out of that awful building. She can't remember how she escaped, just a face. A strange, unfamiliar face.

She walked along the border of the city. Her small piece of clothing was drenched and she started to feel the cold. It was everywhere and it hurt so much. Her mind became foggy and she started feeling weaker and weaker. Out in the distance she could make out a big building with soft yellow lights. It looked warm, and warmth was all she wanted right now.

she carried on with the last energy that was still left in her. Lightning struck down on republic city at the same moment she stood in front of a gate, casting down light on the gate. She saw an animal and for a moment the girl was scared to continue walking but the warmth looked to comforting. She stepped inside the gate and with an unsteady walk she managed to get close to the front door. Her body gave up, being drained of the last bit of energy. The pain caused her vision to blurry and it was dark before she hit te ground.

Thunder caused Lin to wake up, she sighed and rolled out of bed. It was badly storming outside. She put on her robe and stood up. The moment she did, she sensed something. Something was not right. She walked out of her room and continued walking downstairs. With each step she took she used her seismic sensing to find anything. The moment her feet touched the lower ground she knew there was someone outside. She grabbed her metal cables and walked to the front door, opening it while holding one hand up to attack whoever was outside of her house. It was dark but she didn't feel any movement. Looking down, she saw a small form laying in front of her. Recognizing it, she ran towards it and kneeled next to it. It was her, the girl in the building.

Lin sensed a very slow heartbeat and the girl looked to be unconsious.

Lin hesitated to touch the girl, remembering last time she did. She decided to talk first. "I'm chief Lin Beifong, you are safe here but I need to take you inside, you are badly wounded and in need of medical assistence". The girl gave no reply so Lin picked her up carefully. Lin could already tell that she was badly malnourished, she weighed almost nothing. The girl remaind uncounsious while Lin walked inside with her. Carefull not to hurt her, she laid her down on the couch. Lin needed help so she walked over tot he nearest phone and dialed air temple island. It was in the middle of the night but Lin was sure someone would pick up.

"Tenzin speaking" she heard over the phone and let out a sigh of relief.

"Tenzin, It's Lin. I need kya it's an emergency"

"Are you okay?" he asked worried. "Yes I'm fine but Tenzin, get Kya to come here instantly!" Lin barked before putting down the phone.

Lin took a blanket hanging on the nearest chair. She walked over to the girl and took in her appearence. The girl looked so small laying on the couch. She only wore a loosly bad fitting shirt and some shorts. They were covered in dry blood. So was most of her body, it was a horrific sight. Lin carefully laid a blanket on the fragile body. She looked at her bruised face, there was a deep gash above her eyebrow and the girl had a split lip. Her hair was covered in dirt and blood. As chief of police you see a lot of horrific things, you see the dark side of humanity. But never before had Lin seen such a bad assault. This girl avatar or not, had been trough hell. She walked to the open kitchen and grabbed a water jug filling it with water, knowing Kya needed it.

Lin saw something big landing in her garden. It was Oogie, Tenzin's air bison. She quickly opened the front door and let Kya in followed by Tenzin.

"What is the emergency Lin?" Kya asked as she rested a hand on Lin's shoulder.

"It's her! But she needs your help, quickly!" Lin said while they walked into the living room. Kya ran over to the couch and immediatly bended water around her hands. Her hands started glowing and she kneeled on the ground, beginning with healing the girl.

"Can someone please explain to me who this is?" Tenzin asked while he looked shocked at the girl. "I think it's Korra." Lin said to both of them.

"You really think it's her? After all these years? How?" Tenzin asked carefully with watery eyes.

"Two days ago we raided an illegal trading house, I found her unconsious but when i tried to find her pulse she was startled awake and her eyes Tenzin! They started glowing blue. Before i could help her she ran trough the wall and dissapeard. Until an hour ago, when I found her laying on the ground outside" Lin said while looking at both of them. Tenzin slowly walked to the couch taking in the girl's apperance. "What happened to her?" He asked no one in particulair.

"I don't know but Lin, she is seriously injured. We need more water." Kya said.

"There's a bath tub upstairs." Lin answered. "Tenzin can you help, it's to dangerous to carry her." Kya said to her little brother. Tenzin bended air and carefully lifted the girl up.

Lin led them tot he bath tub and filled it with warm water. Tenzin slowly lifted the girl into the water. Kya started working again on healing the girl.

Everyone was quiet, the sight of the girl made them speechless, who would do such a thing?

"They broke her" Lin whispered. "How do you mean" Tenzin asked turning to look at her. "I interrogated the triple triads gang leader, and he told me that they broke her, until she was a mere shell of herself and how after that they rebuild her after their wishes." Lin said while watching the glowing blue water mixing with the red color of blood. "Her chakras are broken, but they can be rebuild. She will need a lot of healing." Kya said with a sad face. "how do we know it's her?" Tenzin asked.

"We have to wait till she wakes up." Kya answered.

"I'm gonna make some tea, anyone want some?" Lin said, she needed to get a breather. Kya and Tenzin nodded quietly. Lin left to go downstairs and put the kettle on yet again. Lin walked over to the huge window, seeking comfort in the mesmerizing sight of the city and the hills.

"Tomorrow I will dive into the archives and look for something, anything that we can relate to her." Tenzin's voice said behind her. Lin turned around to face him. "Do we inform the white lotus?" Lin asked as the kettle made a whistling sound. She walked over to it to make 3 cups op tea. "Not until we know for certain" Tenzin said. Lin nodded and gave him a cup of tea. They walked back to Kya who was still working on healing the girl.

"How's it going?" Lin asked.

"I'm almost done for now, but she will need round the clock care and a daily healing session" Kya replied. Lin was thinking. "Okay, how about she recovers here? And Kya you can stay too if you want. I have a lot of vacation days`and I can work from home." Kya nodded to Lin's idea.

"That's a good idea" Tenzin said. "Okay, I'm done, Tenzin can you help again?" Kya asked him while she dried her hands. Tenzin put down his now empty tea cup and walked to the bathtub slowly lifting the girl in the air with his bending again. Kya bended the water of the girl and then took her cup of tea from Lin. Tenzin and Kya followed Lin, carefully watching the girl. They walked into a huge room with a big comfy bed in the color green and gold. Tenzin laid the girl down, who looked better now that they could see her without the blood.

"Even though she's pale, she does look like someone from the water tribe." Tenzin said. "I'm going home, and in a few hours I will look into the archives. Keep me updated, and I will let you guys know when i find something" He said while turning to the two ladies. They nodded and Tenzin left to get Oogie and fly home. "Can you help me change her clothes?" Kya asked Lin. Lin nodded and they slowly went to work.

After they were done they went downstairs to the living room. Both woman wouldn't sleep this night so they decided to sit in front of the fire place. Lin made some fire and they both sat quietly for a while. Neither of them really wanting to speak while they looked at the fire. Lin's thoughts were going miles per hour. Those damn words that the gang leader said kept repeating in her head. "What is it Lin?" Kya said without looking at the woman. Kya always has had the ability to feel others emotions, and especially with Lin, did she always know how her friend felt.

"It's about what the gang leader said. It's stuck in my head."

"About how they broke her?" Kya asked straight on.

Lin nodded. "It's a criminal, Lin. He just said it to get you angry!"

"You saw it yourself Kya, she is badly hurt. It will take her a long time to heal." Lin said looking at Kya.

"Yes, she is hurt, terribly hurt. But she is also strong, i felt it in her chi, it may be blocked but it is very much present. The girl has spirit. It felt oddly familiar seeing her, did you have the same, or did I just imagine it?" Kya asked.

"No, I had the same thing." Lin said.

It was silent for a while before Lin spoke up. "I will take the first watch, if you want to sleep I will show you to your room." Lin said while standing up.

"Don't know if i'll be able to sleep but a bed does sound nice" Kya replied walking with Lin to the guest room. Lin left Kya and went upstairs to take the first watch. She grabbed a chair and sat next to the bed. She looked at the sleeping girl. Her heartbeat steadier. "I know it's you." She thought to herself