A/N: Hey ya'll! I have been feeling the creative juices flowing so I decide to give a update as soon as possible. I am sorry to report that I will be moving to Virginia so I might not update very soon, sorry but here we go! I think I did pretty good in the chapter, not a lot of action but some huge character development. NEW REVIEWS=NEW CHAPTERS!

Chapter Fourteen

Painful Memories

I got back to my room, exhausted mentally and physically. I wanted nothing more than to curl up and sleep, but I had one last job of the night. The only reason I came back to Air Temple Island was to grab some food, fighting all night gives a growing girl an appetite, but on the way to the kitchen I ran into someone, quite literally.

"OW!"

"HEY!"

I land on my back, but instinct kicks in and I use the momentum to roll back onto my feet. However sprawled on the floor was Bolin. That klutz.

"Bolin! What are you doing?" I say offering him my hand. He smiles sheepishly before hoisting himself up.

"I could ask you the same thing." He replied.

"I was hungry. Midnight snack." I say, holding up the loaf of green tinged bread. Green from seaweed, not from terrible cooking, do not worry. "What about you, it is awfully late."

"I couldn't sleep… from… you know…. What Korra said and all." He trails off, and I try hard not to panic. Ugh, I hate fear. It is so weakening, plus worrying about death is pointless, it is going to happen to you eventually. But your death is going to happen, and it is going to happen soon. A little voice whispered the words I feared. I tried hard not to think of death. But ever since what I had learned, I was always looking over my shoulders, always ready to fight, I can't relax; though I act like my impending doom doesn't bother me. It bothers me, a lot. More than I care to admit.

"Oh." I say, how do you reply to something like that?

"But where have you been all day, we were worried about you." I try to hide my surprise. Then panic, I can't tell them about meeting Jia, so I do something I am very good at, telling half-truths. Half-truths are different from the complete truth, because you only say part of a story. Less guilt I guess.

"Oh, I was knocking some heads together." I say with a dismissive wave of my hand.

"Knocking whose heads together?" Bolin asked with alarm.

"No one important, it was all self-defense." I say, regretting the words as soon as they left my mouth. No need to have them worry about me more. "Don't worry, I was egging them on. I just needed to clear my head."

"Thank goodness, for a moment I pictured a parading psychopath."

"Very funny." Allowing a half grin, I munch on my bread.

"Kida, if you want to fight, just ask one of us to spar with you, I mean we all are pro-bending champs." His chest puffed up proudly at the word champs and I hide a grin. Boys and their pride.

"Thanks Bolin." I say already heading off back towards the city.

"And Kida, we're all here for you. You know that right." Bolin calls out.

"I know." I say, while guilt churns in my stomach. It's one thing to lie because you have too, another because it is easier. But I push that thought out of my head, realizing I am pushing away a lot of thoughts. Never a good sign. Like pushing away what Jia wants me to do? But I don't have much of a choice, or I'll really lose what I have going for me here. I don't know how she expects me to be able steal all the money she wants, I guess I better figure out how soon. I quietly pad around the corner and hear the quite hum of whispering voices. Korra and Mako. Feeling guilty I step closer to the door.

"-But she didn't just die, I saw her killed." Korra's words echoed in my head. I was killed? I am going to be killed?

"Korra, what… What do you mean?" Mako's hushed voice spilled through the door.

"I saw a knife and blood…. So much blood." My heart drops and ice floods my veins.

"Who? Did you see anyone?" Mako asked agitated. While I lean closer to the door crouched down, my eyes wide and hand against the wall.

"A girl, long white hair-"I jerk back like I have been shocked. I fall to the ground while a familiar face flashes through my head. Jia. Jia kills me. I stumble away from the door while my mind whirls. I bitterly blame myself for falling for her lies so easily. Jia and bloodshed? Will always be in the same sentence. How could I be so stupid? Of course she would kill me, no loose ends. Jia will also kill that Onyx guy. I should tell him. I need to tell someone.

"What am I going to do?" I moan. If I tell anyone about blood bending, I would be arrested. Again. I would have betrayed their trust. But if I don't then Jia would continue to blackmail me and then kill me. And this is Jia, I cannot kill her. She is the best fighter I know besides Korra. Jia gave me my worst scars. I carefully pull the hem of my jacket up and trace the four huge knotted horizontal scars across my stomach.

As wide as my fingers and just as long, their slivery color is stark against my skin, I have a brief flash of pain as I remember the knife glinting in the sun as it sliced through my abdomen; again and again, the hot blood soaking my shirt. I hold back a sob as I start from my recollections. That was not real.

Just a memory; a painful memory, but just a memory. Still I felt… helpless. I haven't felt like this since I was ten. It was not a feeling I want to ever experience. To be helpless is to be weak. All my life I have always know what I should I do, clear and precise decisions. But now, I was lost. I felt tears well up, but I refuse to let them fall. No more weakness. I take deep calming breaths and fail to hear the pad of footsteps.

"Kida, are you alright?" Tenzin ask worriedly, kneeling down next to me.

I draw my knees to my chest and bury my head in my arms as I weigh the impossible decisions. I lift my head seeing my eyes blur from tears and my throat ache from holding them back.

"I need your help."