Chapter 32: The Locked Woman

Normal POV

"Okay, we're almost in Songpan. Where is the house?" Zaheer asked, standing with his crutches next to Femke, who looked on the paper Lord Zuko had given to her with an address they had to check out. It was rumored that someone was living there but no one had ever seen them outside, the windows were barricaded and the garden was dilapidated.

"There it is." Femke answered while she helped P'li get off the dragon they rode towards the village. Zaheer nodded and crossed the street while Ming Hua and Ghazan walked in front of them to the house, soon followed by the rest.

"Nice house. Little paint, some repairs and it should be comfy." Ghazan commented, causing Ming Hua to glare at him.

"Looks deserted." Zaheer commented as he studied the tall building before him. Femke nodded and studied the house as well. It looked rather old, but it was surrounded by new houses. It looked scary, Femke shivered at the idea that something terrible might be inside.

"Looks can deceive. " Allerys commented as she looked at the house, shivering a little at the sight of it. "I mean, why wouldn't they just break the house down and build something new like they did with the other houses if nothing's inside?"

"Good point." Tarrlok said.

"The owner probably didn't have the money. Not to mention it's in the middle of two perfectly good houses that could be damaged by removing it now." Noatak said.

"Money doesn't seem to be the problem. Look at the rest of the housing. This is a thriving village." Xai Bau noted.

"So there's probably someone living there who doesn't want it to change." Tziza said.

"Looks empty to me. No one would live in a house like that." Tarrlok said as he put his coat around the shoulders of Allerys, who was trembling.

"You're probably right, lets get…" Femke started, but stopped when she saw two piercing red eyes look at her from inside the house but when she waved, the eyes disappeared.

"Someone's in there. We gotta ring the doorbell; see who opens." She said, her mind made up. Zaheer looked at her, shocked, when she said this out of nowhere. But he knew she had the correct first instinct, so he rang the doorbell and waited for an answer.

"No reply." Xai Bau noted after a moment of silence.

"Now what?" Ghazan asked after they had rang the bell a few more times and no one had answered it. People were starting to stare at the large group.

"Zuko asked us for this investigation, so we're going in to see what's in there. Besides, I won't be able to sleep peacefully for weeks if I don't go and see what's inside." Femke admitted with a sheepish smile as she took a pin out of her hair, ready to pick the lock.

"Immediately going for breaking and entering? Weren't you our moral center?" Ghazan asked rather dryly.

"Since when do you know how to pick a lock?" Tarrlok asked in surprise.

"Well, this is my first try since I was sixteen." Femke smirked as she started picking at the lock. Soon, a soft 'click' was heard. "And we're in." She declared with a smile on her face.

"That's a useful skill to have." Zaheer smiled at her proudly as she opened the door, only to slam it shut again when she saw two bright red eyes shine in the hallway.

"What was that?!" Zaheer gasped in shock as he looked at Ghazan and Ming Hua who looked at each other.

"It didn't looked too friendly." Xai Bau said, looking quite shocked as well.

"Only one way to find that out." Femke said as she looked at her friends sadly before she re-opened the door, which made the red eyes immediately re-appear. This time Femke wasn't frightened and took a step towards them.

"Uhm, hi. Who are you?" Femke asked hesitantly. The shadow was close enough to see that it had the form of a person.

"Who are YOU? What do youwant?" The shadow asked with a threatening sound in her voice which made Femke back away. They still couldn't see who they were dealing with and the dangerous tone in her voice didn't help.

"My name is Femke and these are my friends: Ming Hua, Ghazan, Noatak, Tarrlok, Allerys, Xai Bau, Tziza, P'li and my boyfriend Zaheer."

Femke smiled as she introduced her friends who looked at her with widened eyes as Femke was smiling warmly. She stared at P'li.

"You like her? But she is a Combustion Bender." The stranger stammered as she looked at them with shock, unable to understand how it could be that this woman was so kind towards a Combustion Bender. When Femke heard her ask this she looked up with surprise.

"Well, yes. P'li has been my best friend ever since I joined the Red Lotus." Femke said with a smile on her face as she rubbed P'li over her hair in a teasing way. The stranger could clearly see what happened next. P'li stuck out her tongue at Femke, which made that Femke gave her a little prod.

"How old are you two? Five?" Allerys smiled, chuckling a little at their antics.

Stranger's POV

I was shocked to found out these people broke into my house but what shocked me even more was not just that a Combustion Bender was among them, but how she was treated. Like an equal. With love and care. I never knew people could care about Combustion Benders like this.

"Why are you here?" I asked angrily. I never received visitors. Or at least not ones that meant well.

"Could you first turn on a light please? It's so dark here. We can't see a thing and we would all like to see your face." This Femke asked as she scanned the area with her soft yellow glowing eyes.

"No! No light! This house has to stay dark at all costs!" I answered, scared. If any lights were turned on, I could be attacked.

"Why not?" Femke asked as she looked at her boyfriend, who shook his head.

"If any lights are turned on here they will come in and..." I stopped before I could say 'kill me', not wanting to tell them this but it seemed there was no need for me to finish my line. Their eyes grew big when I said this before they all exchanged a look of pity.

"That's terrible." Allerys replied with a look of horror on her face.

"And just plain wrong. Whatever you did, no one deserves to live like this." Tarrlok added as he held Allerys. This felt strange but comforting. They all seemed to care I existed.

"If you never get outside the house and have to stay here in the dark, how do you get food?" Ghazan asked. They felt bad for me. It was the first time that happened in such a long time that it almost felt like a dream to me butt it was real. There were really people here with me. Talking to me and caring me.

"Ghazan has a good point. How do you keep yourself alive?" Xai Bau commented as he looked around for a sign of any form of food. He wouldn't find anything.

Femke's POV

"If you never get outside the house and have to stay here in the dark, how do you get food?" Ghazan asked the strange woman. I kind of wondered that too.

"Ghazan has a good point. How do you keep yourself alive?" Xai Bau commented as he looked around for a sign of any form of food, which he didn't find, and neither did I. They either didn't eat at all ore she ate already and threw out whatever was left.

She probably doesn't get that much

I thought as i watched her scurry around a little in her corner, not comfortable with our questions.

"Once a day someone from the grocery store brings me a bag of food and other things I need. I'm allowed to collect them after sunset, when nobody can see me."

The woman replied as she walked towards a small living room, having given up on trying to get us away. We followed and I noticed that it had a claustrophobic atmosphere. It was dark in here as well but from between two branches that blocked the window came some beams of light. When the woman turned around to face us, I could see her face fully for the first time.

She looks beautiful but also like she's been through a lot

I thought as I studied her face. she was a middle aged woman with a kind face and gleaming eyes. She was wearing an old ragged brown dress and she wore a bandana that almost covered her whole forehead but when she scratched her forehead, the bandana loosened up a bit, revealing the outlines off a third eye tattoo on her forehead. I knew that symbol.

"You're a Combustion Bender." I said excitedly as I took a step closer towards her but the look in her eyes that she gave me made me step back again as the woman put her bandana back in place.

"That's nothing to be excited about. It's the main reason I'm stuck here. The towns people locked me in here because they're afraid of me." The woman replied as she looked at the bars in front of the window sadly.

"Why would they do that?" Xai Bau asked as he took a step towards the woman who backed away as she stared at him with her red eyes.

"They think I'm a monster. It has been like that for as long as I can remember. " She answered, tears in her eyes as she looked outside.

"That's horrible." I said with as I looked through the bars, trying to imagine what it had to be like to be stuck here.

"Whatever did you do to make them treat you like this?" Noatak asked.

"All you need to know is that I can't get out of here. Ever." The last part she said with a sad look.

"The Firelord was informed of your existence." Xai Bau said with a gentle voice.

"That's why we're here." Tziza smiled warmly at her as she took a step closer to the woman, who flinched away.

"The sun has almost set. I can almost go get my stuff." The woman said as she noticed the setting sun.

She must be so used to it by now she just… knows

Feria commented in my head. I agreed.

"It must be horrible for you."

I repeated with a sad look on my face.

"I'm used to it." The woman calmly replied as she turned to face me, her red eyes turning to a soft yellow.

"When was the last time you went outside?" Tarrlok asked as he moved to the side so that the woman could pass us without getting touched.

"When I was around the five years old. Just before my parents… " She started, but stopped as words failed her. She just rushed to the door and I watched the woman open it, look from left to right and then quickly grabbing her bag, pulling it inside and locking the door again. I noticed she wore a worn out dress and was rail thin.

There can't be much good in that bag

I thought as I carefully peeked over the woman's shoulder and into the bag. It was quite a lot of groceries, but it looked day-old leftovers. She got the things out of the bag and started to put them into her cupboards.

It wouldn't surprise me if she didn't know any better

I taught as I rummaged in my pockets, trying to find something eatable before I got out a chocolate bar which I handed to the woman with a smile on my face.

"Here. It's not much but it's better then the food you have at the moment." I said as I handed the chocolate bar to her. I saw the poor woman look at it for a moment, before she gobbled it up.

"It's delicious." She smiled at us, after which I looked at Zaheer sadly. I saw he was looking at her with pity in his eyes as well while P'li was holding on to him. I had to agree with them. Poor thing.

"Having to be hungry each day must be terrible." Xai Bau said with a sad look.

"I'm used to it." The woman replied sadly.

"That's no good." Ilena spoke up.

"What happens when you need medical attention?" Ilena asked. I didn't even think of that.

"A few soldiers come to check every day. If they see I need medical attention, they inform the Mayor and a doctor will come." The woman said. "If they feel like it."

"And no one ever questioned this?" Tarrlok asked.

"Why would they? It would just get them in trouble." The woman replied sadly. "I don't think they even know."

"Someone did. Which is why we're here." Xai Bau smiled and we all nodded.

"Do you have any idea if they're still alive?" The woman asked.

"Probably." P'li smiled at her warmly as the woman sighed in relief.

"Leeina." The woman smiled.

"Wonder how much she cares if all she did was send a letter." Ghazan said. This sparked something in the woman. She got upset. Angry even.

"How… how can you say that?!" She yelled. "How can you talk like that about the only person who ever helped me?!"

"Well, you have to admit that…" Ghazan tried, but it was too late as the woman's eyes started glowing red.

"GET OUT!"She roared. "Get out! All of you! You're not here to help! You wouldn't say that if you truly cared!"

"But we do. We really do." I tried, but one look of the woman silenced me. "We'll go…" I softly said, guiding everyone, who were shooting Ghazan dirty looks, outside.

Once outside, I looked back into the house, to the place I knew the woman was standing and watching us.

"We will help you. You're not fighting on your own. Ever again."

I whispered before I closed the door behind me and looked at my friends who were all still looking at Ghazan, who just looked down guilty. I just looked at the sunset. Whatever it was gonna take we were going to do whatever we could to free that poor woman of her prison.

Unknown POV

"Here. It's not much but it's better then the food you have at the moment."

The young woman named Femke said as she offered me something I hadn't seen since I was a child. A chocolate bar. I quickly ate it, which earned me some glances from Femke and her friends.

They come to help me. They really come to help me.

I thought as I looked at them with a small smile. I started to trust them. Even if it was just a little.

"It's delicious." I smiled at them as I watched the other Combustion bender look at me sadly while the others all looked at me with pity in their eye. It started to annoy me. I wasn't some caged animal.

"Having to feel hungry each day must be terrible." Xai Bau noted with a sad look.

"I'm used to it." I replied, once more a bit annoyed.

"That's no good." Ilena spoke up. "What happens if you need medical attention?"

"A few soldiers come to check every day. If they see I need medical attention, they inform the Mayor and a doctor will come." I said. "If they feel like it."

"And no one ever questioned this?" Tarrlok asked.

"Why would they? It would just get them in trouble." I replied sadly. "I don't think they even know."

"Someone did. Which is why we're here." Xai Bau smiled as they all nodded.

"Do you have any idea if they're still alive?" I asked.

"Probably." P'li smiled at me warmly as I sighed in relief.

"Leeina." I smiled, remembering one of the few people who cared.

"Hello there." A young woman smiled as she waved at the me as I had opened the door to get my food. I wanted to scurry back inside but she simply approached me.

"Wait. I won't hurt you." The woman smiled as she approached me. I just looked at her with widened eyes. "Poor girl… Hold on, I have something." She said, handing over a chocolate bar that I immediately ate. It was delicious.

"Tastes good, doesn't it?" She smiled.

"Yes." I softly said. not fully understanding how she was so nice to me. I was a monster… She should fear me.

"My name is Leena." The woman smiled as she patted me on the head.

"Leena." I repeated with a smile.

"And what's your name?" Leena asked nicely.

"The monster of the locked house." I replied sadly, knowing that using my real name was a waste of time. No one ever wanted to know that.

"What did your parents name you?" the woman asked, smiling, which made me look up at her with shock. No one had ever asked me that.

"They called me Atteritta." I replied softly.

"That's a very pretty name." The woman said. "A pretty name for a pretty girl."

"Uhm… Thank you." I stammered, taken aback by this kindness.

"You're welcome, dear." The woman smiled as she softly rubbed me over my cheek. "You don't have to be afraid of me. Just like people don't need to be afraid of you."

"They don't? Not even the major?" I had asked with a shocked voice. He was the one that ordered me to stay inside. Why would he do that if there wasn't a reason to be afraid of me?

"Not even the mayor. He's just going off the stories his father told him." The woman smiled. "Maybe someday he will stop being afraid."

"How?" I asked, but at that point the Mayor passed the house, looking from the woman to me with a shocked look. The woman immediately stood up.

"I have to go now. But don't forget: you deserve kindness." She said before walking away.

"And no one ever questioned this?" Tarrlok asked as he looked at me sadly, snapping me out of my memory.

"Why would they? It would just get them in trouble." I replied sadly. "I don't think they even know."

"Someone did. Which is why we're here." Xai Bau smiled and they all nodded. Could it be…?

"Do you have any idea if they're still alive?" I asked.

"Probably." P'li smiled at me warmly as I sighed in relief.

"Leena." I smiled. It had to be her.

"Wonder how much she cares if all she did was send a letter." Ghazan said. What? Why would he say that?! He didn't know!

"How… how can you say that?!" I yelled. "How can you talk like that about the only person who ever helped me?!"

"Well, you have to admit that…" Ghazan tried. I wouldn't have any of it. I could feel my eyes heating up as they started to glow in rage.

"Get out!"I roared. "Get out! All of you! You're not here to help! You wouldn't say that if you truly cared!"

"But we do. We really do." One of them said, but stopped when I looked at her. "We'll go…" She softly said, guiding everyone outside. I just glared at them the entire time.

Once they were gone I looked out of the house at them, cursing at myself to have let my hopes up.

They couldn't help me.

Nobody could.

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And with that I end the chapter! I hope everyone enjoyed it!

Thanks for reading and don't forget to thank paranoidgirl for doing such a great job as beta reader and advisor.

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