Ten Minutes Before
Aang wasn't sure what to expect once he walked through that door. What if the timer was lying and there was nothing, or worse, the bloated remains of a waterlogged corpse? He didn't want to imagine Toph dead because of him, but if he didn't go inside there was a huge chance that she would be. So, steeling his nerves by inhaling a huge breath, he forced his shaking hand to the handle, turned it, and entered the room.
First thing that came to mind was how empty the room looked, the exact same as he had seen in the video. The second thing were the pipes jutting out of the wall, dry for the time being, ready to drown all who were trapped. The third thing was Toph, sitting tied to a chair, bound by thick ropes with a gag in her mouth. Her head jerked up, one blind eye, one a normal green, peering at him.
The relief at seeing his friend alive nearly made Aang stumble, but he pushed the weak sense from his body, focused on only getting her out of there. He ran to her, removed the gag, and sighed.
"I'm so glad you're alright."
"Yeah, so glad I have bruises going on," she said sarcastically.
Aang winced, though he knew that she was trying to lighten the mood, albeit strangely. "I'm so sorry, Toph. I didn't mean for any of this to happen."
She sighed, lowering her head. "Yeah, I know, Twinkle Toes. Just get me untied so we can get out of here. This mistress of yours is one real bitch." The sourness in her voice nearly made him laugh, but he knew she was right.
"She's not my mistress, Toph," he muttered, going around her and taking a look at the ropes. He grimaced. "I brought my knife, but those ropes are pretty thick and intertwined." Seriously, it looked as if the ropes had been woven into a pattern. It would be near impossible to find where the design began. Taking a deep breath, he brought out the knife and flicked it open, to begin sawing at the bindings. "Better get started," he muttered, choosing a random strand.
Toph grunted, but said nothing else, as Aang began the tedious task of freeing her. He didn't know how long he worked on it, cutting through one strand before moving on to the next. The feel of cold sweat ad water mixed on his skin, closed drying in the most uncomfortable way possible, but his mind remained fully on the task at hand. He could check the timer, knowing that every second could mean life or death for them.
Aang knew the woman was watching, and yet, she hadn't activated the pipes. There were only a few possible reasons as to why. She was waiting for him to free Toph, before locking them in and drowning the two for her amusement. Another was she was simply waiting to end him herself, for the trouble he had caused. Yet another reason was one he desperately didn't want to be true.
It was then the pipes sounded. He paused, whirled around, and felt his face pale when he saw the trickle that hadn't been there before. Time was closing fast, like a coffin being nailed shut on a still living person. Heart thundering that it drowned out his panicked thoughts, he twisted back around, sawing as fast as possible without cutting his fingers. If the water came out much faster...
It was then the door burst open, revealing a trio of teens he had called family for months. This was what he had been dreading: Azula must have seen them, and since they were in her way, they had to be punished, just for trying to help him. They were his weakness, the one thing that could either made him strong or break him in an instant.
Still, seeing them brought a grin to his face, knowing that at least they had his back, no matter the danger.
"Guys!" he called out, wishing he could run to them, especially to Katara, who was as beautiful and protective as ever. But when the pipes shook harder, the grin melted from his face as fear clutched his heart. "We have to get out! Azula-"
The water he never wanted to come appeared, gushing out of the pipes. Luckily the room was fairly big, and it would take a bit of time to fill, but he knew it that, unless they found the escape, it wouldn't matter. For all he knew, Azula had been lying about it. But he had to at least believe that she would rather end him in person, since she had a personally vendetta.
Almost instantly, the trio came over to them, sloshing in the water as it slowly raised up. Suki took the knife from him, kneeling down to continue his work. Before he could protest, Katara's arms were locked around his neck, nearly knocking him down. Sokka knelt with his girlfriend, taking out a similar blade from his pocket. It would make sense, since Sokka was the one who got him his own knife and taught self defense with it.
But he was only aware of this happening in a dim sort of way. With his own girlfriend so close, it was almost easy to slip away from the dangers occurring. All that mattered then was him not being alone anymore despite knowing that this could mean the end of them. He was warm, her skin wet, but the comforting feel and smell of her eased his weariness.
"I was so afraid, Aang," she murmured in his ear.
"I'm so sorry, sweetie," he murmured back through the lump in his throat, tightening his hold on her. "I wanted to tell you what was happening, but I didn't have much time."
She leaned back to grasp his cheek, smiling softly. "It's alright, now. You found her, and we found you. We're going to get out of here, I promise."
Unfortunately, that was when the door they entered from slammed shut, an audible click sounding despite the water. The couple faced it and Aang knew she felt the same dread he was feeling. This was it, they were all going to die, all because of him. He turned to the older teens, grasping Katara's hand. "Uh guys, we have a problem."
Suki spoke not looking up from her task. "We heard the door lock. You and Katara need to find a way out for us."
"Yeah," Sokka added, also not looking at them. "Azula knew we were coming and most probably planned for every move." It was here he met Aang's gaze. "She wanted you to figure out the puzzle. She could easily have flooded this place in seconds yet she's taking her time. You know why that it is, Aang."
The thing was, Sokka was right. Despite being the meat and sarcasm guy his friend was smarter than some people believed. Aang knew Azula would never give up her need for revenge. Perhaps they were meant to find a way out. But at the same time, he knew the woman was on the edge of insanity. Who knew what she was really planning at this point?
Taking a deep breath, he looked around, and it was then he spotted a small but swift current in the ever-rising water. As Sokka and Suki managed the last bits of rope, he tugged on Katara's hand, following it. Katara must have seen it, too, because she followed without complaint. The ripples led them to a metal filing cabinet nearly flushed to the wall, its drawers rusty from water and disuse.
They glanced at each other nodded once, before they released hands to grip the sides. It was heavier than it looked, but thanks to their combined efforts, they managed to move the cabinet away to see a smaller tunnel leading...somewhere. It was dark, too dark to see without a light. As they were observing the opening, Sokka, Suki, and the now free Toph came over to see. The group was quiet for a moment, the water flooding slower now that an area had been located.
Aang took a deep breath. "You guys thinking what I'm thinking?"
Katara took his hand again, squeezing it. "We're near the end."
"This is it, then," Sokka added.
Suki grasped his shoulder, eyes narrowed on the entrance. "This madness will stop, even if it kills us."
Toph blew her bangs, but then said, "Let' give that bitch what-for."
Furrowing his brows in determination, he nodded. "Let's go."
With Aang leading them, phone once again out and flashlight on, he led his friends to the confrontation that would either save them and many innocents...or trap them forever.
Suki didn't know how long they traveled in the darkness. All she knew for certain was that Azula was waiting for them, possibly on her own. But that didn't mean she was stupid. The woman was, no doubt, intelligent, crazy, and bloodthirsty. All of that combined meant she was a danger, once that had to be eradicated in some way, before someone else suffered at her hands.
Glancing up where Aang phone-light bounced off the narrow walls, she felt her chest tighten. Her brother had been through so much, yet he was willing to take the lead to face the greatest fear he had ever known. He was so brave, loyal, and strong, willing to lay himself on the line if it meant they would live to fight another day.
After finding out that his old friend's sister was the who had kidnapped him, Suki wasn't sure what to make of that. What kind of parent would force their child to hide, to fake their own death, and be forced to become someone so vile? It boggled her mind that such a thing was even real. But she knew it was; before her parents died, they used to work on cases with the Californian police force, though her dad had been a private investigator at the time. Charles fronds took every crime seriously. Anna Fronds, her mother, had been a children's defendant for years until her death.
Suki had no doubt that the fire, which took her parents' lives, was intentional. They had made lots of enemies, she was positive, but her aunt Kyoshi only wanted to get away from the state, too heartbroken after the deaths of her blood brother and sister-in-law. After the funeral, they flew to New York, to start a better life, one in which they would be safe. It was there she met Aang, a bookworm and wise child, a boy who never forgot things he saw.
They became fast friends and, after a while, the Windstorms took her in as if she were their daughter. She missed her parents, that was true, and no one could really replace them, but she was also at ease, knowing that despite lack of a blood bond, they were still family. And now, near the end of their painful journey, it was time end the trauma that haunted them.
After a while, they made it out of the tunnel, which expanded into a large room with a domed ceiling. The smooth black stone was definitely man-made, but weathered. It felt more like a bunker of some sort rather than an operations hideout. But looks can be deceiving, she knew, feeling a shiver down her spine.
Aang turned to the group, fear and fire glinting in his steely eyes. "We have to be careful," he said with a low voice. "Azula could be hiding anywhere."
With that statement, a low laugh sounded on the far side of the room. "Well, you made it out," a feminine voice said, a tall woman stepping out of the shadows, wearing black and red combat fatigues, though they were stylized in which dragons made up the camouflage. Her dark hair was in a bun, nowhere neatly, and she looked like she hadn't slept properly in weeks. The bags under her eyes made her seem demented.
"You!" Suki snarled, taking a steep forward, but Aang stopped her, blocking her path with his arm. She looked at him in confusion.
He shook his head. "Don't, Suks."
Azula chuckled derisively. "Yes, Suks, wouldn't want to have that head of yours explode."
Sokka stepped closer to Suki, taking her hand, those his face was stony as he stared at the woman who had cause such pain. "You kidnapped our friends and tormented them for your game. You should just give up right now."
Azula pursed her lips, tapping them in faux contemplation. Then she smirked at them, making Suki feel her blood chill. "I don't think I will, Sokka. It's so much fun to play this game." She tilted her hand the low lights glinting in menacing gold eyes as she looked at Aang. "I didn't think you would be so brave as to swim, considering what happened inside the Water Chamber."
Aang growled. "Stop this nonsense, Azula. You're outnumbered and outmatched. Turn yourself in quietly and we won't have any more problems."
Water Chamber? What did she mean by that? Was it that place that made Aang fear water? But before she could demand to know, Azula shook her head. "I'm afraid I can't do that, my sweet prize. In fact, I seem to remember only sending you the video, which meant you were supposed to come here alone." She gestured to his friends. "And yet, your comrades come together to end my reign." That slight manic chuckle grated on Suki's eardrums. "Well, I can't have that, now can I?"
She walked confidently to a wall, in which houses a lever. Suki tensed, waiting to be annihilated when Azula pulled it down. The sound of metal from above caught her sensitive ears and she looked up. A gate was falling down, one she was standing directly under. Sokka saw it too because he grabbed her and yanked them both back near the entrance to the tunnel.
"Get back!" Aang yelled to Toph and Katara, pushing them back just before the gate thudded onto the ground. The two girls landed just on the other side...leaving Aang alone with the madwoman.
"No!" Katara cried out, leaping to her feet and grasping the bars. "Aang!"
Aang's face was anguished, grasping her hands. "It'll be okay, Kat. I promise."
Azula tsked, shaking her head and coming closer, causing Aang to whirl around. "My, my, you certainly are persistent in protecting those you love. Too bad none of you will make it out of here."
Suki was staring at her brother, fearful for his life, knowing that if Azula won, everyone would die. But more than that, now he was forced to fight the one who had scarred him, even after escaping. The solid bars kept her from fighting at her brother's side, though she desperately wished to do so. But they were stuck, leaving a boy who didn't forget to fight his greatest enemy.
Aang turned and snarled at her, fists clenched. "I won't let you hurt them anymore, Azula. Even if it kills me, I'll take you down, too."
Azula pulled out a knife from the sheathe at her hip, the silver dragon handle gleaming with ruby red eyes. It turned Suki's blood to ice, freezing her solid. This was it: The final battle.
The madwoman's final line was, "Let the end begin." Almost instantly, she lunged, and Suki could do nothing but watch as the two nemesis' fought for survival.
Okay, I was supposed to upload this sooner, but something went wrong with my OpenOffice Writer, in which the document ended up having a bunch of # instead of words, so I had rewrite it from scratch. Hopefully it turned out alright, though. The story is almost over, just a few chapters left. Thank you all for supporting my story and I will endeavor to reply to any review left in a chapter's wake. See you all next time!