Chapter Ten

Two Years Ago

The night was clear, the crescent moon trying to shine a little glow upon the island of Manhattan, New York. But with so many streetlamps providing their own sources, it was near impossible to see it. The stars were nonexistent, but that didn't bother anyone who called the island home.

Fifteen year old Aang had been playing at Suki's longer than his parents had wanted him to, but they had decided to let it go because it was a Friday. He had made it a point to finish his homework before they really played, because then he didn't have to worry about getting it done later.

Other people were walking along the streets, talking on phones, chatting with friends, or going about their business. As much as he missed Detroit, he liked it here. At least it wasn't hard to find your way around the place. Everything was connected in some way, so if a person went down the wrong street, it would be a cinch to go in a circle and return where you started.

Aang was listening the chatter all around him, his orange backpack hanging on his shoulders. Though it was a little past ten, the city was alive. There was a reason it was called the City That Never Sleeps. Even at the latest of hours to the early morning, sounds of cars, people, and phones could be heard. Clubs were something that played in the cacophony, as well, though they had to close at some point.

The city was beautiful, skyscrapers dotting the horizon, the most prominent being the Empire State Building. It was a landmark that was taller than most of the other buildings on the island, and from time to time, Aang would gaze out his window to stare at the masterpiece. There had been a couple of times where he got to go inside, once on a field trip and another time during Summer break with his parents.

His phone vibrated in his pocket, taking him out of his thoughts. Taking it out, Aang saw Kuzon's name flashing on the screen. Grinning, he answered. "Hey, man, what's up?"

Kuzon's voice, when he spoke, sounded like he was pouting. "Nothing but the fact that you didn't text before hanging out with your girlfriend, Aang."

Aang snorted, amused. "Suki is not my girlfriend, Kuzon. She's like a sister, you know that."

His friend groaned. "I've seen the pictures you've sent, bro. Can you honestly tell me that you don't have a crush on her?"

Shaking his head, he answered, "Yes. If we FaceTimed right now, I could tell you. But I'm heading home right, so I can't." He adjusted the pack as he added, "Besides, I thought you liked On Ji."

On Ji as a pretty girl back in Detroit. At first she had seemed to like Aang more, though he never felt anything more than friendship with her. But when she and Kuzon began to hang out, it became obvious that she liked him instead. In a way, it was good because Aang had been about to leave that year. Last time he saw them, they had been holding hands while watching him and his family leave for their new life.

He could imagine the blush on his friend's face as he said, "I do! In fact, that was what I wanted to tell you." He took a deep breath. "I-I kissed her tonight, man."

Aang almost stopped in his tracks. "No freaking way, Zon," he muttered, a grin starting to take his face. "That's what you wanted to tell me? How was it?"

Kuzon chuckled, the grin in his voice when he spoke. "It was incredible, Aang. It was like...like...like the world had stopped, and my heart was fluttering, my stomach in knots, with my nerves tingling with adrenaline."

"Sounds like paradise," Aang chuckled.

"It was," he said dreamily, as if he still couldn't believe it had happened. "It all happened at that playground we used to go to."

Aang smiled, though his heart was slightly saddened. He had yet to have his first kiss, but a boy a year younger than him already had his. He wondered if there was a girl out there just for him, someone he could connect with on a personal level like On Ji and Kuzon seemed to be doing. He hoped so, because sometimes, he was lonely.

Aang said, "I'm happy for you guys."

"Thanks, Aang."

He looked up and spotted the apartment his family lived in. Though they could have easily afforded a house, they figured an apartment would be a nice change. It was clean, well lived in, and beautiful. He smiled, feeling tiredness creep into him as he neared the building.

But before he did, he decided to tease his friend a bit more. "You'll have to let me know when the wedding is, man. I want in."

Kuzon sputtered indignantly, "Hey, not cool! Give me at least ten years!"

Aang laughed, shaking his head. "I'm just saying, Zon, that I hear wedding bells in one of those years."

He harrumphed. "We'll see how you like being teased when you get a girlfriend." He paused as if thinking, then added, "Unless you're gay, Aang."

He rolled his eyes, but decided to play along for another minute. "Oh, sure, I've already had one boyfriend," he said sarcastically.

"Really?" Kuzon asked, surprised, and not seeming to get the sarcasm.

Smirking, he goaded, "Well, there was Zuko..."

"Ewwww!" he exclaimed. "That's my cousin, dude!"

Aang cracked up at that, earning some strange looks. But he didn't mind. He was bantering with his best friend back home, having a good time, and after hanging out with Suki, his night had been amazing. "I'm kidding," he said laughingly. "No boyfriends for this guy. I'm straight as a pole, I promise."

Kuzon huffed. "Man, for a moment there, I thought you were a serious."

"Nope," he said. "I want a girlfriend at some point. I just haven't found that one special lady yet."

"Well, let me know when you do, Aang. I want the details."

Aang smiled. "You got it, man." He approached the building and added, "I'm heading in now. Tell On Ji I said hi and that she has good taste."

Kuzon laughed a little. "Sure! Talk to you later, bro!"

"'Night," he said, then ended the call.

There was an alley in between his building and the one he passed. Pausing for a moment, Aang leaned against the brickwork, thinking. It was nice knowing his friend was in a relationship now, but it made him wonder. Looking out at the people, he thought about a mysterious girl out there, someone who could become a significant other for him.

There had been girls who had shown interest, but none of them touched his heart in any meaningful way. He knew he liked girls, but he began to wonder if something was wrong with him. He'd had a few crushes throughout the years, but nothing stuck. Maybe the girl he wanted wasn't there. Or maybe he was being picky.

Maybe he should just...dive in. Maybe Melanie, a girl he had crushed on last year, would be a good start. But he didn't want to lead her on, especially if he didn't feel anything for her now.

He sighed and was about to leave the alley when a rough hand grabbed his upper arm, pulling him into the shadows as a forearm pressed against his throat. Fear spiked in his being as air was cut off from him. Aang thrashed against his assailant, and managed to stomp on his foot. The guy grunted, loosening his grip, but before Aang could call out for help, the guy's beefy hand clamped on his mouth to silence him.

Aang was pulled deeper int the alley, despair colliding with panic. Why the hell had he stopped to think about his love life? He struggled to get away, knowing that something terrible would happen to him, but the man had wrapped his other arm around his body, pinning his arms and lifting Aang off the ground.

Aang grunted, but hopelessness covered his heart as he was taken away. When they were far enough away, the man said, "I've got him. Help me out!"

Suddenly another pair of hands wrestled him to the ground, relieving the hand over his mouth, but it was almost immediately replaced with a cloth gag. The asphalt scraped against his cheek as his hands and legs were tied with rough rope. Luckily his long sleeved shirt and jeans protected his skin, but the tightness was painful. By the time they finished, he felt like a trussed up boar.

Panting, the two men stood up, looking down at him. The taller of the two, who had help wrestle him down, winced. "The mistress is not going to like the scrape on his cheek."

The shorter, bull like man snorted. "It'll mend, Lee. She knew he might try to fight, so this is minor."

"Still, Chan, he's just a kid. What use could she have with him?"

The man, Chan, frowned at him. "It's best not to question her. Let's get him in the van."

Aang felt them lifting him up. Together they carried him to the back of dark Sedan and tossed him into the open trunk. He landed with a thud, grunting.

Chan stared at him, gold eyes glowing. "Yeah, the mistress will be happy to see you, kid." He slammed the door shut, and a few moments later, Aang could feel the rumble of the engine starting. Tears leaked out his eyes, wetting the cloth, as he he felt a piece of his being shattering.

Kidnapped, he couldn't believe it, but it was happening. And in the dark confines of the van, he felt hope drain from him. He remembered feeling a hand reach into his jeans, taking his phone. There was no way he could contact help.

Aang was scared and confused. Who was this 'mistress' they spoke of? To repeat Lee's question, why did she want him?

Shuddering, he lay down, curled on himself as the van moved away from his home.

That day was the last time he saw his parents.

(***)

Aang felt the tears trace his cheeks, but he felt hollow. He had to stop there, to order his thoughts and continue. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes, then said, "I didn't know how long we drove. All I knew was that it had taken a long time. The only times they allowed me out was for camping. It was about a week later we came to this small town. We weren't in New York anymore.

"It was like a little farm town, only advanced, and there were people. I wanted to get their attention, but the windows were tinted, and with the gag in m mouth, I couldn't speak. We drove to this small house, where the men drove around back. I had thought they were going to park there, but then a piece of the yard opened up and we entered an underground tunnel."

He looked down and whispered, "It was the last time I saw moonlight for a while."

The other three were enraptured. Katara was holding his hand in comfort, her face anguished. Sokka looked mad, like he wanted to punch someone. Suki was breathing deeply, like she was calming herself from doing something she might regret.

Finally Katara spoke. "I can't even..." She paused, taking a breath and squeezing his hand. "To think of not seeing anything outside..." Her eyes met his streaming ones. "How in the world did you survive?"

Using his free hand, Aang wiped away the tears, his heart aching. "I honestly don't know." He sighed, shoulders drooping. "I didn't think I'd last a week, let alone two years."

Sokka looked at him. "How did you get away? And why didn't you go to the police when you escaped?"

Aang was ready for this question, but it didn't make him feel any better. "I wanted to, but..." He lowered his head in shame. "I was scared. If she found out where I was, I was dead."

"Do you know who she is?" Suki asked.

"Not her name," Aang replied, shaking his head. "She was always referred to as 'Her Highness' or 'Mistress'."

It was silent for a few moments. The nerves in his body were going haywire, and he feared the next question. He had an idea about what they were going to ask. A part of him doesn't want to answer. The memory was still too fresh in his mind. The torments and taunts, the invasions of his body, the burns and scars, as well as the bruising. He didn't want anyone to see those.

But eventually, it was Katara who asked the dreaded question. "What did this mistress do to you, Aang?"

Heart pounding as anxiety and pain clamored in his head, he released an unsteady breath. He gripped Katara's hand so tightly, he must be hurting her, but she didn't even wince. Instead she used her free hand to rub at his shoulder. It helped to melt some of his anxiety away, and he loosened his grip a little.

Swallowing, he clenched his eyes tightly closed and haltingly said, "She...she did so much...she hurt me." He bit his lip, almost drawing blood as the images flashed in his mind. "There was so much pain. Beatings, burns, and-and the touching. I hated it; I hated all of it!"

Shaking began to overtake him, breaths coming in gasps. "I-I can't take it!" He released Katara's hand as if it burned his own, gripping his head. His friends faded from his sight, leaving only the imprints of his torment as the only things he saw. He could hear screaming, but he didn't know if they were in his mind or actually happening. "Make it stop!" he yelled in agony.

"AANG!" Katara's voice screamed, but it seemed muted in the raging of his mind. The darkness had seeped into every crevice, leeching most of the light. Hands touched him, and the disgust roiling in his stomach made him heave. "Aang, it's okay! It's not real!"

Not real? But it felt like it; this was his reality. Aang was nothing but a slave, doomed to be nothing more than a toy. The mistress had said so, and no matter how much he wanted to deny her claims, a part of him believed her.

The images, however, started to fade, and Katara's voice began to soothe the hurt and pain that was inflicted upon his damaged soul. "You're not there anymore. You have a family, us, me, Sokka, and Suki. We can heal you, but you have to start accepting what had happened. It's the only way to begin healing."

Finally, Aang slowly stopped trembling, his breathing started to even out, and the images faded back into the recesses of his brain. Suki's voice came through next. "We've got you, little bro. The bitch can't get you."

Aang had to chuckle a little at that. He opened his eyes, vision blurred. After blinking a few times, the room and his friends came into focus. The rest of the images withdrew completely. His friends were staring at him in concern. Releasing a breath, he slumped down on his stool, resting his head on his arms. He looked at Katara, though he was speaking to everyone there. "I'm sorry, guys."

Suki rubbed his back as she said, "Don't apologize for something you have no control over, Aang. Panic attacks are common for those with PTSD."

Sokka took over. "Yeah, don't worry about it. We've all had our share."

Knowing they did, it helped ease his mind a bit more, though he knew they would never truly understand everything he had gone through the last two years. Aang took a deep breath. "Thanks," he murmured, "but I don't...I don't think I can talk about it anymore. Not now." He hated feeling like a coward, but right then, he didn't to talk anymore. How was he going to get better if he couldn't face what had happened to him?

Katara smiled gently at him, eyes sad but understanding. "Okay, Aang. We can take a break from it."

Aang sighed in relief, though he felt weak after the panic attack. That had been a bad one, the worst yet. "I'm tired," he whispered.

Sokka and Katara looked at each other and nodded before he said to Suki, "Do you think Aang could rest here?"

Suki squeezed his shoulder as they all stood up, closing ranks. "I have a spare room he could use." She looked at him in reassurance. "Is that alright with you?"

Sighing, he nodded, and she helped him stand. Aang's knees felt jittery, and wave of vertigo hit his head; he almost collapsed to the hard tile, but Sokka was there next to him, catching his body. "I've got you, bro," he said, bringing Aang's arm around his shoulders.

Aang protested, "I'm okay, Sokka. Panic attacks drain me, not render me immobile." He disliked being treated as an invalid, though he was afraid of falling down, but he didn't want the others to carry him around as if he couldn't walk.

Sokka snorted, helping to get his balance back before walking him down the hall behind Suki. "Yeah, Aang, because you are a perfect picture of health." The sarcasm was heavy in his voice.

Katara, who trudged along beside them, frowned at him before looking at Aang. "Don't worry, Aang," she said softly. "We'll help you get your strength back."

Aang sighed but decided he was too tired to continue the conversation. A part of him actually liked being taken cared of, but he didn't want to burden his friends any more than he already had.

Suki opened the door to another room, which décor was similar to the style of the living room. A twin sized bed was covered with a diamond-patterned, green and brown comforter. Sokka helped him settle down on it. Aang groaned, head falling into his hands. "I hate feeling weak," he mumbled, headache pounding at his temples.

Sokka sat beside him. "Hey," he said, nudging him playfully, "buck up! Like Katara mentioned, we'll help you get stronger."

"You better believe it," Suki said with a smile. "We'll make a warrior out of you yet."

Aang smiled at her a little shakily, though he felt like jello right then. He wasn't even sure he could support his own weight, now that he thought about it. Panic attacks, combined with how frail his body was, it was kind of a miracle that he could stand at all.

Katara brushed his sweaty hair from his forehead to kiss it. That same burn came again, but this time, it brought comfort as well as the familiar zing he was slowly getting used to. Katara lowered him to the bed, and Sokka moved out of the way to make room. She removed his shoes, pulled back the comforter, and tucked him in. Feeling drained from his earlier ordeal, he didn't even complain about her mothering him.

In a way, it was sweet.

He sighed, closing his eyes. "I'm tired," he mumbled.

"Then get some rest, Aang," Katara said, voice soft. "We'll be around when you wake up."

Comforted by the thought that he wouldn't wake up alone, Aang felt peace encompass his entire being. 'At least now', he thought as sleep started to claim him, 'I have friends who care.'

And for a moment, that was all that mattered in the world.