((Thank you for the reviews! I love you all, you guys are so understanding. Well here is a new chapter which is dedicated to all of you loyal readers. So I hope you enjoy this new sense of action and fear!))

Chapter 21: Crossing Enemy Lines

Everything was a blur. The sky, trees, ground, and even time it's self. Many thoughts raced into Ciara's mind: What am I doing here? Why am I running? Where is everyone?

Her muscles in her legs screamed for rest, threatening to fall apart right underneath her. But she needed to keep on running, for if she didn't she knew a cruel and dark fate would capture her.

Ambushed. God dammit, we were ambushed. How low have I sunk to do this role of the coward? Pretty low. Anger and guilt swelled inside of her, churning and splashing inside her frustrated mind. Every nerve and muscle in her body pounded her skull and begged for her to stop this shameful and painful act. She obeyed with slight hesitation; her legs stopped moving and her muscles stopped screaming with pain.

Fast-moving footsteps filled the quite air, making her wince at how loud it sounded to her ears. She waited quietly; the only noise she made was her heavy and ragged breathing, "I'm waiting…" The footsteps came closer and closer as each second passed by. The bushes rustled before her in a taunting manner; her focus was drawn by this, making her take a step forward.

A rough hand went over her mouth followed by a cold blade touching her exposed neck. "So much for waiting, eh?" her capturer smirked in her ear. Ciara glanced back at the bush to see two men in deep green clothing come out of it. They gave each other victorious grins before walking toward Ciara.

The two others who came out from the bush spoke quietly to each other, debating what to do next. From her point of view, the taller one seemed to know what was going on and what to do. "Don't argue with me. Now shut up and help me after I finish this." he snarled quietly; slowly turning his gaze on Ciara, he advanced toward her.

He motioned for Ciara's capturer to release his hand that rested on her mouth. Satisfied, the man walked closer to her until they were face to face. He lifted his hand and moved it to the back of her neck; Ciara shivered by this act, fearing for the worst and whished she was still running. The man's hand now only had his index and thumb on the back of neck, before Ciara could wonder what he was doing a wave of pain rushed into her body as his two fingers pressed against her neck.

Another wave of pain rushed through her body, making her vision grow darker and darker. The man leaned his head near her ear, releasing slightly the pressure on her neck. "Pleasant dreams." he whispered, his lips brushed against the side of her neck before watching her pass out from the pain she had just endured.

Murmurs filled her ears as her body finally awoke from the state she was in not to long ago. The murmurs were silenced as they watched Ciara stir, "Finally…shall I call for him to come?" A feminine voice answered, "Yes. I'll start without him."

Ciara's eyes flashed to life as she lifted her head; she was in a small chamber of a prison. For she found her self on her knees with shackles on her wrists and ankles, also an odd metal device was on both of her hands. She tried to move her fingers, but the device didn't leave any room for this act.

"Isn't it great? It is a device that is meant to prevent any bending. So if you don't believe me, just try. Only that in the end your hands might be burned off…but then again why would I care? It's not me who is facing the pain of knowing your hands are gone." answered the feminine voice.

Ciara turned her attention to the young girl in a blue robe attire; her mind clicked in an instant, she knew this girl. "Katara, right?" Ciara asked in a dry voice, finally realizing the need for water. The girl nodded and smiled slightly, "You remember…how wonderful. I thought you would have forgotten after your dear prince killed the Avatar."

Ciara sighed and replied in a matter-of-fact tone, "Actually he is no longer a prince…but a lord. Where have you been?" Katara glared at Ciara and motioned for the guard by the door to come to her, "Even when you are on your knees, you still act like the arrogant person you are. But we will see who is so high and mighty after you go through this."

The guard walked toward Ciara, he bore the armor of an earth bender, and then again that wasn't a surprise. She was in the Earth Kingdom, so it wouldn't be odd to see this muscular man walking around. The man unceremoniously used his rock hard fist to thump the young firebender on top of her head.

"Now let's start from the beginning…why are you here?" Katara paced across the room like a hungry wolf. Ciara tried to rid the white dots that filled her vision my shaking her head slightly, but it only increased the pain that surged through her skull.

"I was sent to kill you bastards who call yourselves 'freedom fighter.' Must I get into detail?" she snapped back, her pale green eyes following Katara. Katara made a gesture with her hand, and the guard once again thumped her skull with his fist.

"Yes, I want to know every single detail. For so far I know, I only have a quarter of my men left alive." Katara finally replied in a calm voice. Ciara grinded her teeth in pain, already she tasted the metallic taste of the blood in her mouth.

Come on Ciara…are you going to let that moron get to you?

Ciara snarled angrily, "Detail? I'll be glad to give it to you. I was sent to aid the other men in their mission. This, as you must already know, is to destroy all rebel leaders and let the brainless scums to die on their own. Obviously, if you are wondering, you are one of the brainless scums. Satisfied?" Katara felt her face go red at the answer she received, once again she made the same gesture with her hand.

The guard whacked her on the skull once more, but this time he aimed at the sore spot that formed. Ciara hissed with pain, her gaze now falling on the moist ground. "Keep that tongue up, and you might become a brainless scum soon." Katara snapped back. Ciara glared at the ground, her worst fear has finally become a reality.

((Before you comment, let me fill you in on something. When you press your index and thumb on a certain nerve on your neck, you can send waves of intense pains to the victim. So Ciara's been running her but off for a long time and now with more pain from this rebel, she passes out. So just to tell you...thank you for reading this! Much love to all!

Sunburst231

P.S. I own the Muffin Man. He's mine!))