Once Zuko and Azula were on the road, they plugged in the address of the place where Aang was being held into the GPS. Since Azula still had a connection with Mai, she had told her what she had done with Aang. Mai was still completely unaware that Azula had changed her ways.

...

In the meantime, Aang was being exposed to the most horrifying experience of his life. When all was quiet and the three adults were upstairs, Aang tried to talk to the other kids. It didn't really work, though. All but one of them were so heavily drugged that they could no longer speak and they could no longer focus on anything. They just sat there with blank expressions. They were pale and almost looked dead. The only one who Aang noticed that could still interact with people was the boy who appeared to have no missing limbs.

"What is this place?" Aang asked the boy.

"Its a bad place. A business where they'll cut your arms and legs off and sell them," replied the boy.

"That's horrible! I can't believe someone would actually do this to people. We're not merchandise!" Aang said, expressing his concern.

"I know. For some reason, the drugs haven't affected me. I pretend that they have, but as you can see, I am still able to communicate, unlike the others here," the boy said. "It was real sad watching them all deteriorate. I can remember when all of them could still talk and interact with each other. Now, they're more or less, lifeless."

"Oh my gosh! That must have been like living through a nightmare," exclaimed Aang.

"I know," said the boy. " I remember when all of them had their hands and feet still attached as well. The worst part was watching them take one of us away, and then seeing him or her come back with a piece missing," he added.

"I was wondering... You aren't missing anything, are you?" Asked Aang.

"I'm not missing anything on the outside," the boy confirmed.

"Oh no! What did they take out of you?"

"They take my blood. On a normal basis, one isn't supposed to give blood more than once every few months, I think," said the boy. "But they take a few bags each week from me. I'm pretty sure I won't be around for much longer. Every time they extract more blood, I get weaker and weaker."

"You poor thing!" Aang cried. "What do they do with your blood?"

"Just like they do with everyone's belongings here; they sell it. They make lots of money. I snooped around on their website while no one was looking just to see," explained the boy.

"That isn't right of them at all," Aang declared.

"Of course its not, but what can we do? The rest of us aren't even capable of communicating any longer, and they lock the doors. Besides, we're in the basement and there aren't any windows that we could simply break out of. Even a bender couldn't break through these walls. I hate to sound so negative, but there's really nothing we can do. We're trapped."

It was true. Aang had tried with all his might to pierce through with his various bending techniques, but the barricades were made of something impenetrable.

"We'll find a way out! I know it. Someone very special to me is out there and he'll come and save me! I know it! And once he does, I'll help free you and the others," Aang said still in denial that he was going to be kept here for much longer.

"Its nice to imagine that, but think of it this way: Does your friend know where you are right now? Even if he does, who knows what condition you'll be in by the time he gets here?!" The boy was defeating all the hope that Aang still held onto.

"You're right. Zuko couldn't possibly know where I am. We were both separated. To tell you the truth, I don't even know where he is. I love him, and thats all that matters. If I die here, I can at least say that I had a good life," Aang sighed. "I guess it would take a miracle to get us out of this place."

"There, there, I know its horrible here, but at least you're thinking realistically now," said the boy trying to make light of the situation.

"Its not funny!" Aang yelled angrily.

"I'm sorry," said the boy.

"What is your name, anyway?" Asked Aang.

"Ivor, and yours?" he asked.

"Aang."

"Hmm, I've never heard that name before. Its interesting," said Ivor.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you," said Aang. "Thats probably the last thing you needed."

"Its okay, I'm just sorry you're here, and I'm sorry for crushing your hopes," Ivor said.

"No, I needed that. Otherwise, I would still be thinking that help is coming our way," Aang replied.

"I really hope I don't have to see you suffer the same fate as everyone else has here, Aang. I don't know if I could bear watching another human deteriorate being be ripped apart by these awful people," he added as his face began to get pale.

"Ivor! Snap out of it! Stay focused!" Aang was trying to help Ivor to the best of his ability. The sickly boy was fading fast.

"Aang... I'm okay. I get really weak like this every once in a while, but I've been getting worse and worse. Just don't let me turn into a zombie. Please." Ivor's voice was nearly a whisper, but he seemed to be alright. For now.

Little did Aang know, Help was on the way, but time was running out.

All of a sudden, the door at the top of the stairs opened and the woman came down. She began preparing the operating tools and she had some diagrams set out on her table.

"You're next, kiddo," she said to Aang with an evil grin.

R&R :)