Chapter 3
#49
Bolin's hands felt extremely sore as he sat down on the dirt floor and rested for the nth time. He looked up at Oda, who had only taken a break once since he had shown him how to dig, and wondered if the man's stamina was from the multitude of years of digging in these mines. His gaze then moved over the Earthbenders moving the carts back and forth and wondered if he could switch places with them. Bolin sighed, he would probably have to work on their techniques too. He used his Earthbending almost always for Pro-Bending, hardly for self-defense and rarely for anything else. This sudden change of routine was really jarring.
Sitting, rubbing his hands and catching his breath, Bolin gratefully accepted a laddle of water from a man who came by with a pail. He was savoring the few gulps of water when, even in the gloom, a shadow cast over him. Looking up, he gulped as a guard stood in front of him.
Bolin had not heard the guard coming cause of the noise of other workers around him and even Oda looked suprised when the masked man had approached them. The man held a metal baton that resembled the electric sticks of the Equalists, which convinced Bolin more and more that these guys were part of some sort of Equalist faction.
"What're you doing sitting around? Get back to work!" The guard yelled as he tapped the end of the baton into the palm of his other hand. It made a hollow sound everytime it smacked the glove.
"I'm resting, geez. I'll have you know this is difficult to do!" Bolin looked up at the guard, a frown on his face.
Oda looked away, even more focused on his work.
The guard poked the baton in Bolin's face, taking a glance at the number on etched on the back of the metal collar. "Watch your mouth... 49. Now get back to work before something really bad happens."
Bolin's eyes narrowed to the baton in front of his nose and smirked, "Alright, alright, I'm getting back to work." Bolin began to get back on his feet.
"Not fast enough!" The guard pushed a button in the handle of the baton. Bolin had expected the stick to electrify, but instead he suddenly felt a sharp pain in the back of his neck and in his wrists and ankles. Within seconds he was writhing and jerking uncontrolably, he felt as though all of his skin was on fire and burning him alive. The guard's expression was hidden by his mask but from the chuckles that eminated from underneath the mask; he was enjoying torturing the young man.
"AAAHHH!" His agonizing scream echoed through the underground cavern. The man pushed the button again and the pain stopped but Bolin's body continued to twitch as he fell in a crumpled heap on the ground, unconcious.
"You there! Take this piece of dirt to one of those ratholes you call homes." The cruel guard pointed to Oda, who had worked busily at the wall all through Bolin's torture.
Oda did as he was told, his face expressionless as smooth stone, picking up Bolin's body and slung him over his broad shoulders. The man proceeded to bring him out of the cavern just as a whistle blew and the other workers started to do the same.
...~
Mako and Korra took to the streets early, before the crack of dawn, that next morning; each armed with a recent photo of the trio at their last Pro-Bending match. They split up and asked anyone who would listen or even stop to talk with them.
Korra walked up to a fruit stand owner, holding out the news clipping and pointed to Bolin in the picture, "Excuse me sir, have you seen him? He usually wears a green jacket..."
"Yeah, I've seen him." The stand owner replied, lifting his visor to get a better look.
Korra leaned in excitedly. "Where?"
"At last weeks match of course! Those Ferrets are a favorite this year." The shop owner chuckled. Korra stormed away as it was all she could do to not flip the guy's cart over.
The next person she asked was an old lady on the sidewalk, "Have you seen him ma'am? I mean recently, like today at someplace? He's normally wearing a green jacket and... he's an Earthbender..." she hoped she was not talking to an Equalist supporter.
the old lady slowly shook her head "Hm... sorry young lady, I haven't seen this young man around here today. But you know... my grandughter's fiancee has gone missing, he's an Earthbender too. I must be going, my pets worry when my walks take too long. I hope you find your friend well..." The old lady bowed and slowly went on her way.
"Take care..." Korra bowed as well. She sighed and continued to ask passerbys about her friend, but not many people knew anything though the Equalists came up in mention a few times.
Mako did not fare any better in getting any leads.
Standing in the square, holding out the clipping, most passerbys would not give him the time of day. He was either waved off or ignored and was even handed a Yuan or two, being mistaken for a beggar. He asked everyone he could, desperate for information.
"Excuse me have you seen him?"
"No, sorry."
"Hey, have you seen my brother anywhere?"
"Nope, sorry Mako."
Mako pleaded, "Please look at this photo, have you seen him?"
Over and over the answers were.
"No."
"No, sorry."
"Nope, haven't seen him."
"Sorry."
It made Mako furious that no one knew anything.
By lunch, Mako met up with Korra back at the park, slumped over on the rim of the park fountain with her head in her hands she looked like she had just as much luck as he did. But Mako still looked to her with hope, "Korra?"
She shook her head, "Nothing, no one knows a god damn thing."
Mako clenched his fist, "Damnit..." he cursed as he sat down on the fountain next to her.
Korra breathed in, much like Tenzin was always trying to teach her, and noticed something strange. It was midday and yet the park was silent. Shouldn't there be an annoying guy with a megaphone somewhere about? Korra's eyes widened, they had met up at the park to question the Equalist that took up his screeching stage at the park. But he was no where to be seen, she frowned. "Mako, that Equalist guy isn't here..."
"What?" Mako looked around quickly and growled under his breath. "Grrr... what do we do now?"
Korra had sort of counted on the loud ape looking man to be blabbing about some sort of plans the group had here. She did not like how things were turning out so far. Mako noticed a park officer approach them and nudged Korra. She tensed up a bit at first but relaxed when she realized that for once they were not doing anything that would seriously get them in trouble.
"Excuse me, you are not allowed to sit on the fountain." The officer warned them when he stopped in front of the two.
Korra and Mako both stood up immediately, "Sorry!"
"Thank you." and the officer began to walk away.
Korra started after the officer, "Uh, Wait! Excuse me officer.. but you wouldn't happen to know what happened to the activist thats usually here in the park?"
The officer turned around to face her and adjusted his cap. "Their permits expired. Cannot occupy the park, or anywhere for that matter, without a permit. If they follow all the correct procedures then they will have their permits renewed in two weeks."
"Do you know where they would go in the mean time?"
"No ma'am."
"Oh..." Korra bit her her bottom lip to keep her emotions in check. "...Thank you sir."
"G'day ma'am." The officer tipped his hat and continued his patrol.
Korra turned back to Mako who sat right back on the rim of the fountain; his hands holding the back of his head and his face staring at the ground.
She sighed then looked to him, "We can try the street gangs, see if they know anything...?" That and it was a good way to let off some steam.
Mako was silent. They were no where near finding Bolin and wasting time that his brother might not even have coming up with stupid ideas. Suddenly he felt his chest tighten even more and his breathing begin to quicken. It was an overwhelming feeling of anxiety he could not describe and he held his chest almost afraid that his heart would beat right out of his chest.
"Mako?" Korra looked at him with concern.
"I... I'm fine..." He inhaled quickly.
"You don't look okay."
"I'm fine." Mako stood up as he calmed down. He brushed it off as though it were nothing but he had a bad feeling deep down something was wrong.
Korra growled inwardly at him not believing, but the guy was so stubborn sometimes that there were those times that she had to let it go. Crossing her arms across her chest, "You have a plan, team captain?"
Mako remained silent for a while, brooding on what would it take to find Bolin. Korra sighed, "Alright... lets go over what we know so far..."
"What? Bolin's in trouble, nothing more to it than that!" Mako's frustration on not being able to find the solution this time showed through.
Korra's eyes lit up brightly, "Not really, Mako. Bolin wasn't the only one taken, remember all those people at the station? And a few people I talked to also had friends and family missing. They're all Earthbenders..." Her lips formed a wicked grin as an idea popped into her head.
"So?" Mako looked at her, wishing she would just come out and say it.
"So... I know how we are going to find Bolin, c'mon!" She grabbed Mako by the arm and pulled him as she ran.
"Wait! Where are we going? !" Mako's eyes were wide as Korra pulled him along so easily like a ragdoll.
Korra winked at him. "Back to your place, we're going to need disguises...I'll explain on the way!"
End chapter 3
Tell me what you think and tips are always appreciated as I am always trying to improve.
Next chapter may take a week longer to put up. Sorry folks.