Chapter 26

The storm

The latch of the door clicking shut echoed in her ears. Her blurry sight refocused on her hands, untouched and in the process of swelling. Korra twisted her right hand to observe it at different angles. Dried blood had concealed the bruising. She flipped it back over and stared at her palms. She couldn't control the distorted look of her fingers, which were stuck in a claw-like position.

The silence and lack of activity overwhelmed her. Though she had been embracing the darkness and emptiness surrounding her, being alone had only pulled her away from the depths of her desolation. Fear clutched onto her and sucked her back into reality. She didn't want to be alone. She wanted to be with Asami.

But she couldn't.

Not after what I've done… She gazed at her hands. They trembled to the return of her emotions and thoughts. Tears fell from her face and dripped onto her palms. She clenched her left to consume the liquid, but her right twitched with pain at the attempt.

A faint and muffled sob crawled from under Asami's door and filled her ears.

This is my fault. She got hurt because of me. I dragged her into this. I'm the one who pissed Sentai off. I'm the one they threatened. Me. Me. She doesn't deserve this. She doesn't deserve to get hurt.

Korra pulled herself to her feet with her left hand. Her wrist stung from the strain, but there was no way she could use her right for anything. She tried to take a step and plummeted to the ground, face first. She braced her fall with her less-injured arm and worsened the internal tear of the already-damaged tendon.

Fuck! Spirits!

The Southerner curled into herself and bit her lip to fight off the tears. She examined her ankle, which was swollen and shifted into an odd position, and tried to move it. Searing pain shot up her leg. She dug her nails into her shirt, forgetting about the tension in her wrist, and covered her mouth with her bloody hand to muffle her scream. Korra sprawled out onto her back and panted. A clash of thunder startled her. She jumped to an upright position and groaned. She clutched her abdomen and fell on her side.

Make it stop. Make the pain go away.

She sobbed, trying to wish back the darkness. It at least made her numb enough to escape this physical torture. The Water Tribe girl shut her eyes, hoping to will the world away. Flashbacks of the attack ran rampant. The sound and sight of Kuru backhanding Asami was too much for her. Korra's lids flew open.

I can't… I can't…

She forced herself to sit up. Her back hit the wall with a thud. Fresh blood had spilled onto the floor from her crash. The blanket was far from her reach. She scanned the room while she tried to steady her breath. Her blue irises met the brown of the engineer's bedroom door. She yearned to be beside her, comforting her after what they had endured, falling asleep with her and feeling safe. Her chest ached. Korra used her stronger arm and leg to push her body. She stood on shaky feet. Her steps were cautious and light to prevent further injury to her ankle. She somehow managed to get down the hallway without dropping to the floor. She pushed the door open, just a crack.

Asami was in a deep slumber. The beginnings of a storm raged outside. Rain smacked the glass and wind howled. The Southerner could see the bruise on her pale cheek from where she was standing.

"You see what I did there? Huh? You see what I did to that snow savage thing over there? I'm going to do the same fucking thing to you." Kuru's voice rang in her ears.

She clutched her chest. A new stream of tears traversed her face.

I'm sorry, Asami. You don't deserve this. I don't want you to get hurt anymore.

Korra scanned the room one last time. She noticed the creased Equalist flyer on the nightstand from their trip to the City. Her eyes moved back to the sleeping girl and her injuries. Her heart sunk. The Water Tribe girl turned away from the bed and closed the door. She stumbled through the apartment. With a final heave, she fled into the storm.

(-)

She had no idea where she was. The wind had knocked her over more times than she could count. The rain pelted her skin and soaked through her clothes. This combination chilled her to the bone.

Her mind flashed back to the South Pole, when she ran away. She shook her head to clear it.

Visibility was terrible; she could just see a few feet in front of her. The swelling and throbbing around her eyes didn't help the matter. Her body shook from fatigue and cold. The onset of frostbite overwhelmed her already tapped-out nerves. She felt like she was on fire.

Fire…. A flash of the blaze shooting from her fist filled her mind. She pushed the memory out.

Korra trudged on, moving a small amount every few minutes. The physical aspect of her being was shutting down. Her memories flashed back to her body diving into the cold arctic water, shocking from the cold. She pushed it away. Just as she pulled herself up onto a lamppost, a gust swept her onto her back. Her skull slammed against the pavement. Her vision spun in circles.

What's the point? This is what they wanted, right? They wanted me to die. Well, here I am. I'm not going to make it home. You might as well just end it. Take me. Take what you wanted. You wanted me, right? So just do it. You've never held back before.

The gales whipped her hair around. The downpour intensified.

Take me, and leave Asami alone.

Korra, get up.

She heard a familiar voice and opened her eyes. Everything was dark. The sounds of the storm filled her ears.

I've heard you before. Where have I heard you before?

The Southerner rubbed her head. Everything hurt too much to think.

You need to get out of the storm.

Why?

Because you will die if you don't.

So? There was no hesitation in her response.

You are too important to lose to a storm. You have a purpose in this world.

Korra remained silent. She tried to connect the references, but her mind just wouldn't work. What purpose could I possibly serve?

A round of thunder rattled her body. She opened her eyes just as a flash of lightning struck a nearby structure a few feet from her. She gasped and backed away, the now-burning building too close for comfort. Her own mortality became apparent in that moment. Something inside of her clicked.

I have to get out of here!

Hurry, Korra, before it's too late.

The Water Tribe girl struggled to her feet. The wind shoved her back down. She tumbled against the pavement until she hit another post. Korra pulled herself along the concrete on her elbows and pushed with her knees. She crawled through the storm. Her body protested. The cold was too much. The pain was unbearable. Darkness consumed her once more. Her head flashed back to her digging, half-gone with her bare fingers through the snow, and the onset of blackness that followed. She snapped back to the present. The rain stung her eyes.

Don't give in, Korra.

Her limbs convulsed. She collapsed against the wet ground.

I can't…

You can.

She shut her lids as another gust blew over her.

"She'll be dead by the time we're through with her." Kuru's voice infiltrated.

They're right. I'm going to die.

She felt herself slip out of reality and into herself.

Korra, you have to stay awake.

Her mind swirled.

I can't…

"Korra, you are stronger than you give yourself credit for." The same voice was a memory this time. A faint feeling crept along her spine. She couldn't place it, nor could she control it. The urge to fight grew in her, for reasons she couldn't explain.

But her body, her body could not be won over. Half of a will to survive was not enough to overcome the damage it had endured. It was all too much.

She slipped further into unconsciousness. Black was all she could see. Even the storm had grown quiet in her ears.

This is it….

The sensation of falling enveloped her. A white light the size of a pin appeared when she smacked into the metaphorical ground. She couldn't tell if she was far away from it or if it was meant to be this small. Something told her to grab it. To go towards it. To follow it. Whether it was her survival instinct or her own desire to die or something else was a mystery to her. But she listened. Korra lifted her hand, reached out into the blackness that filled her sight.

The dot intensified into a beam so bright that Korra felt blinded. A surge rippled through her, shook her being, and left. Her vision returned to darkness. Without any will to rebel, she let the shadows devour her.