CH.4, Hallucinations

14 Days After

Everything is okay. I'm okay.

Prince Zuko slapped Katara on her cheek, and she fell to the floor cringing and crawling towards him again. He felt the hotness from her cheek as her tears dropped down her face.

"You can't do this!" Katara yelled angrily, her long braid became untangled as she kneeled on the floor. "Please, I want to see Aang." She cried and knelt before him her cheek rubbing against his shoes. "Please."

"I'll do what I please." He pushed her off his foot, and walked to the door taking a last glance at her.

He couldn't help but feel pity for her; she looked like a small defenseless creature. She sat in the farthest corner in the room and rested her head on her knees. He could tell she was crying.

He sighed, prone to his weakness, "Fine, I'll let you see the Avatar."

She raised her head; her face was wet with tears. He couldn't tell if she smiling or not, "When?"

"Later on, I'll send guards."

He left before she could thank him. She knew he was ruthless or at least bad-mannered or vulgar but not heartless. The truth was, as a prisoner on his ship she wasn't treated badly at all. She looked forward to her daily baths, three square meals a day and new clothes. The only damage she had to suffer was in his hands, but she tried to forget about it with things that seemed more pleasant. She was looking forward to seeing Aang.

His sweet innocent face always cheered her up in even the stickiest situations. And he always saved her too, but this time there was no way. They were caught for good.

She heard loud bangs by the door; she opened it and left with the two guards. Walking down the dim illuminated pathway, the two guards walked by her side. They descended a flight of stairs, turned right to another passageway with rooms, then down a flight of stairs until they reached the dungeon. They motioned her into the room, and she froze as they opened the door.

Aang stayed unconscious, his hands tied to the chains didn't give him much room to lay down and his head was bent down, with puddles of blood that surrounded him; the wall was stained with his blood. And the stench of blood provoked her.

The two impatient guards pushed her in and she fell to the floor before him. The door slammed in after her. She trembled as she moved her hand to his bloody cheek; it was cold, like a living corpse's. His clothes were ripped and his chest was bloody with whip marks.

She brought both her hands to his cheeks and rubbed them for warmth. She began to weep. "It's all my fault, none of this would have happened to you if it weren't for me."

"Katara…it's okay, it's going to be okay." Aang stammered, opening his eyes, they looked tired and hurt. He smiled a little, "You see, I'm okay."

"No, it's not, you're hurt. And I can't do anything to help you." She cried into his shoulder, her clothes was stained from his blood.

"Katara…Katara, did he hurt you? Did he touch you?"

"No, I'm fine." She lied, rubbing his cheek. She was more worried about herself these last couple of days because of what happened between her and Prince Zuko, but this was bigger than that, while Katara was getting the best treatment Aang was suffering for her. She had selfishly thought of only herself. "Oh, Aang I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She repeated over and over again.

"Katara, it isn't your fault. Please don't cry, I hate to see you like this." He wanted to touch her and hug her and tell her everything was going to be okay, but the cuffs tugged at his wrist as he did, it was burning his flesh. The metal cuffs had already cut through his skin, and a burning sensation overcame him. He gave a cry of pain as he pushed his back against the wall.

"Aang!" She shrieked, the two guards barged in and took Katara by her arms, "Let go of me! Aang!"

"Be brave, Katara." He said, before they closed the heavy door, which kept him from her.

As they reached Prince Zuko's room, they locked her in, and stood by the door.

Why am I so selfish? I'm so useless, he told me to be brave and nothing has even happened to me. I'm so useless and weak. Aang doesn't deserve to be treated that way. She felt a tear drop down her cheek as she took a dagger that lay on Prince Zuko's desk. I deserve to die… She cut deep into her arm and droplets of blood came down her arm. She smiled, satisfied, cutting her arm again even deeper. When she felt the pain she smiled again falling to the floor, her vision became blurry, and she saw someone's face as she became unconscious.

A/N: Sorry about this, I had to make Katara a cutter at the end, but it's because of the shock she had to go through and Aang. She feels guilty thinking about her hardships and not Aang's.