This chapter is dedicated to JadeRaven and Lunny, my dear friends who are so kind to stick with me. This is one of my two non-Zuko chapters, where I focus on people outside the Fire Nation. Not my favorite chapter, but a needed one. Thank you for all your wonderful reviews! I also put up chapter 12, the link is on my profile. Chapter 13 will be up on Friday night, and believe me, it's a doozy. At least two people die.
Chapter Four: Close Every Door to Me
Close every door to me,
Hide all the world from me
Bar all the windows
And shut out the light
Do what you want with me,
Hate me and laugh at me
Darken my daytime
And torture my night
Just give me a number
Instead of my name
Forget all about me
And let me decay
I do not matter,
I'm only one person
Destroy me completely
Then throw me away
---Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamCoat
Aang stared into the darkness of the prison cell. It was as empty as he felt. He was chained from hand to foot. There was a metal leash around his neck, which constricted his breathing. The shackles bit into his flesh with every movement; the guards had taken no chances. It was unnecessary. Aang would not run. He had nowhere to go.
Aang was all alone in the world. He had known that since the moment he had seen the destruction of the Air Temple. It had just never really sunk in. He knew he would never see Monk Gyatsu again; the man who he had though of as his father was gone. Yet he put on a brave face for the world.
Sometimes, he would be goofing around with his new friends and he would remember his old friends at temple. They had been murdered in the prime of life…too young. Images his old family flashed through his mind--tall Kazou who had been the best at Airball, chubby Kochav who would write funny poetry about the monks and little Yugi who had loved to race on flying bison, their faces were so alive and familiar in Aang's mind. He knew their laughter had been silenced forever. Their broken bodies lay forever in the only home they had known.
Aang had been adopted into the Monks when he was but a little baby. He had never felt alone before this. In the hour of their greatest need, Aang had not been there to protect them. He had failed them. He wished he had a way to pass the blame to someone else, but it was all his fault. If he had not gone to the South Pole…
He had tried to block out the thoughts of the guilt he carried. He had needed to be courageous enough to make a new life for himself. It was harder without his friends. With them, he could use humor to settle the situation. When Prince Zuko had saved his life back in Zhao's fortress, it was like having his old friend Kuzon back. Then Zuko spurned his friendship and Aang had hid the disappointment.
At first, hiding had not been so bad. His other new friends had been so kind to him, opening their hearts to him and joining him on his quest. He had taken comfort in Sokka's good humor and Katara-
Tears fell from his eyes, landing on the open sores on his neck.
Why had she betrayed him? He had always believed she cared about him.
He had never known girls at the temple. They had been kept at another dwelling. When he had seen Katara, strange new feelings had bloomed in him. He found himself wanting to look at her, wanting to hold her hand. He could not understand these feelings, but he had thought he understand his friend. Where had everything gone wrong?
A month ago, when they had learned Water bending together, Katara had gotten jealous and yelled at him. Then she immediately apologized and since then, they had never had another spat. Could she have been lying all this time, lying to him, lying to Sokka? Aang could not believe it. All the harsh words she had screamed at him ripped at his soul.
Aang should have seen that stormy look in her eyes when she returned, but he had been so proud of the bag of nuts he had purchased. "Hey Katara, want some?" he had asked her, as he shoved a few tasty treats into his mouth.
"No, I don't want any of your stupid nuts! You are so useless! All you think about is fun! The world is about more than enjoyment! Why must I constantly play nursemaid to you?" she had shrieked, shaking in her anger. People had turned in the street to stare.
Aang had backed away slightly. "I'm sorry, what did I do?" he had whispered, his lip trembling. He searched his mind, trying to remember when he had wronged his beloved friend. Nothing had happened that day that would merit such a violent reaction.
"What haven't you done? You came to our village, you attract the Fire-Nation like a fish attracts penguins, you can't shoulder a bit of responsibility and we are never going to reach the North Pole! If the world is relying on you to save the world, then we might as well give our loyalty to the Fire-Nation. The Fire-Nation is a far better alternative to you!" Katara had looked so furious. Aang was not sure how to respond. He had no idea why she was so angry?
Sokka had come running up, with Momo close behind. The Water Tribe Warrior looked so bewildered at the spat. "What is going on between you two?" he had yelled. "Now is not the time for you to have a temper tantrum!" Sokka would be able to calm her down, Katara loved her brother. She would listen to him. Soon they would laugh about this silly spat. Not quite.
"Oh shut up, Sokka! You are just as lost as Aang here. Between the two of you idiots, I am surprised we haven't been killed or captured by the Fire Nation, you giant-eared cretin!" she snapped, her hands on her hips. Every word that she said was a dagger in Aang's heart. He did not know what to do. That scared him.
"Katara, I don't know what is wrong with you, but stop it!" Sokka had warned her, looking baffled and irate.
"Katara, please don't be angry," Aang had pleaded, taking a step towards her. His eyes had filled with tears. A ball of water landed at his feet, forcing him to take a step back. Obviously, Katara was not planning to back down.
They were attracting too much attention, this had to end. A blast of air bending would defeat Katara, but Aang could not take the risk of hurting her. She was his friend, no matter what she said. There had to be an explanation for why she was acting this way. As much as problems should be solved with action, this problem required dialogue to be solved. Perhaps he should knock her out and take her somewhere private. No, then he might hurt her! Aang could not hurt Katara!
"Stay away from me. All you do is hold me back! I could have reached the North Pole twice without you two! I'll never be a Master Water-Bender at this rate!" Katara had yelled. Her blue eyes sizzled with fury as she threw, from her pouch, a rope of water which landed at Aang's feet. Another rope nearly took off his head. Aang ducked just in time to save his life. He should have fought back. Yet, what if he killed her?
"Katara, stop it! That is Aang, our friend! Have you gone insane?" Sokka yelled, trying to gain control of the salutation. Aang just did not understand. She could be angry with him, but Katara loved her brother. Even with their bickering, she adored him. This made no sense!
"Just because you are a deluded fool does not mean I have to be one as well," Katara spat back, tossing a ball of water at her brother. Katara was often sharp with Sokka but she would never attack him.
"Katara, what is going on with you?" Sokka demanded, taking out his boomerang to defend himself. This was turning violent! The siblings would never hurt each other!
"Katara, why are you doing this?" Aang had begged, so confused. No one had ever been so angry with him before, he did not know how to react. People had always liked him! Katara had always liked him. She had brought him to her home, she had tended to him. She had risked her life so many times to help others. How could she be so cruel to the people closest to her?
"Katara, is it that time of the month? If it is, you need to snap out of it!" Sokka yelled back, looking as furious as his sister. Aang did not know what Sokka was referring to. He just wanted an explanation! He felt so hollow and numb inside. He wanted to say something, but his throat was too dry. He just felt like crawling up into a hole and crying. He loved her! She was his family! Family did not turn on each other!
All that noise had attracted Fire-Benders. Aang was not surprised that they had found him. The fight sounded like a herd of flying bison. Prince Zuko just had to arrive at the moment when the fellowship was at its weakest. Well, Aang would protect them. He tried to summon the strength to bend. His hands were shaking far too badly, but he managed to bend a gulf of air to knock down three of the Firebenders. He would prove to Katara that he was worth loving!
A stream of water knocked him to the dirt, falling on his face. He looked up, crushed and humiliated. It had not been the enemy who struck him down. Katara had not run from the Fire Nation. She had helped them. He would have died for her! How could she grow to hate him? He did not even know what he had done to deserve her revulsion!
"I hate you, Aang. I wish I never met you!" Katara hissed, her hands shaking with rage as she prepared another whip of water. "Here, take him, Zuko! I'm tired of risking my life for him," she challenged. She had abandoned him to die at the merciless hands of Prince Zuko. She wanted to see him dead. WHY?
"You can't mean that!"Aang felt empty. The betrayal had paralyzed him. He felt so confused and helpless in this situation. The monks had never taught him how to respond to betrayal. They had taught him the world was a good and loving place. This did not make sense!
"Aang, read between the lines. You know what I mean!" Katara shouted back. She was his enemy, and yet she was an enemy Aang could not fight.
Aang barely felt the net capture him and knock him to the ground. He barely felt anything. He tried to fight back, but his hands would not obey his mind. He was just too shocked to struggle or try to fight back. He could not see the point in escaping. Sokka had tried to fight back but had already been pinned by two of the warriors. Through the net, Aang could see Katara stood alone. They would not bother to touch a collaborator to their cause.
"Thank you, my lady. Your service to the Fire Nation will not be forgotten," he heard Prince Zuko say smugly. The smirk on his face belied the cruel fate that would await Aang and Sokka. There would be no mercy.
"Katara, how could you?" Sokka was yelling, restrained between two burly Fire Nation soldiers. "You traitor! You aren't my sister anymore, I have no sister!" He looked so angry and betrayed. Just like Aang felt. They had both lost the girl closest to them, the girl who had been like a mother to them.
"Why, Katara?" Aang had whispered, feeling so dejected. He wanted to be irate. He wished he could summon the power of the Avatar's anger, but all he felt was a hollow and empty sea of sadness. He could barely think straight, let alone use his Bending-skills. He had to concentrate, he had to do something. Yet, his mind kept returning to Katara's blistering words. If only he could have known the problem before it had erupted like this!
Was that a hint of regret on Katara's face? Before he knew for sure, a smack on the head had ended his misery. Aang had been glad to lose consciousness. The darkness was easier to deal with.
When he had awoken, he was in a prison cell, shackled and drained. His air-bending abilities had been constricted with his breathing. Aang shivered, longing for bright sunshine. There was no window and the only light came from a kerosene lamp above his head. Aang had no way of knowing how much time passed. Aang listened closely, trying to hear if there were any footsteps around. The cell was as silent as the grave.
Aang wondered if they would feed him. He supposed they would. They could have killed him at any time.
No, they would want him alive to parade about as a trophy of war before the Fire Nation. Worse, they would probably torture him. Whatever they did, it would not hurt as much as the voice of Katara in Aang's head, telling him how much she detested him. It haunted him. Aang had failed the world and his friends twice now. He doubted he would receive a third chance.
Sokka was the best warrior in his village. He had trained every day to earn that title, vowing never to be left vulnerable again. Sokka would never forget the sight of seeing his mother killed before his eyes, while he was helpless to defend her. He had only been eleven, but he remembered the night vividly. The Fire Nation had set the tents on fire, trying to force everyone out. Mother had run into one burning tent to save one of the children still caught in the attack. She never emerged.
Sokka would never forget that night, how the sky was lit up with hungry flames. He would never forget the smell of burning flesh and the sounds of people screaming. He would never forgive the Fire Nation for stealing his mother away. He would never forget the sight of his father crying. Most of the village had been killed that night. So many children cried for lost parents, while parents cried for the children too slow to make it out of the tents.
Sokka had never allowed himself to cry over the events. Seeing Katara's sad little face, Sokka had vowed to be strong. It was his duty to protect her. After Dad had gone off to war, Sokka had taken it on as his personal responsibility to shield the defenseless. He had trained the other children of his village in battle. He had been responsible.
Even now, he should be out protecting his loved ones. He should NOT be bruised up and chained by his wrists like a freshly killed seal. His hands shook with rage when he thought about the circumstances of his capture. His own sister had been betrayed the Avatar, the only hope the world had against the Fire Nation. He angrily yanked on the chains, trying to get himself free. He knew it was useless, but he was so frustrated. His sister had gone insane and he had not noticed the symptoms.
Katara was more then just his annoying baby sister--she was the best friend Sokka ever had. As soon as he got himself free, he would find Katara and take her to the best healers possible. He would make sure she got better.
A nagging little voice in the back of Sokka's mind told him that Katara was never going to get better. She had lost her mind. He brushed it away…like one of the little fleas that were currently biting him. Sokka could not bear to lose his precious baby sister. He had to do something!
Another clanging yank at the chains revealed them as solid as they were a moment before. Sokka sighed and studied his surroundings. He had been chained in a wooden room, with hooks hanging from the ceiling. Clearly this was a holding quarters for prisoners, which meant it was most likely secure. This would make escape more difficult.
Dad always told him to use his senses to aid him in a situation. The constant rocking of the room told him he was on a ship at sea. He could smell the salt in the air and the cedar used to make the ship. He could hear the waves rocking against the boat and the seagulls screaming. By the lack of light coming through the tiny window by his head, it was nearly evening.
Sokka had been unconscious for hours. He still had the bump to show for his troubles. He was also hungry and thirsty, but he doubted ruthless Fire Nation would feed him. He had to think of a plan of escape, before someone decided to visit him. He strained his ears, trying to glean more information on his situation.
He could hear something moving nearby. He could not tell what was coming, but he knew it could not be good news for him.
"If you are here to interrogate me, you are wasting your time. I'll die before I help you," Sokka spat, struggling against his manacles. He hoped he sounded braver then he felt. Actually, he was aching to beg for mercy, but perhaps he could bluff bravery. He remembered the motto he had taught the little warriors of the tribe.
Images of them filled his mind, the way they lined up for patrol. Aiiro, his finest student who was his second in command. Yullik was the annoying one with a heart of goodnesss who always needed to use the bathroom. Yakone, who Sokka often had to punish for stealing food, his chubby grin. Then there was his cousin, Sirmiq, whowas working to master the club. What would they say to him?
"No fear!"
The sound grew closer and Sokka contemplated what kind of tortures could be inflicted on him. He could be burned, drowned, starved, beaten…or perhaps Prince Zuko would get creative. Perhaps he would be stretched on the rack or thumbscrews would be used. At that, a cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
"In fact, if you stay away, I might just forget to hurt you," he said, as the sound moved closer. His breathing grew quicker as he began to panic. In a moment, he would be staring into the eyes of his tormentors. His fate was sealed.
His eyes widened when he saw who it was. This changed everything.