Chapter 2
The next morning, I woke up terrified. I had no idea where I was. I was in a dark room. My wheelchair was pushed up against the wall and my hands were chained to the wall. I wasn't alone though. Skyler was standing next to me, her hands chained to the wall like mine, her glider strapped to her back.
"Skyler?" I said. "What's... Where are we?"
"I don't know! But look at the wall!"
I looked at the wall across from us. A Fire Nation symbol. My eyes widened. "But... The war is over! We won! How... Why..."
She shook her head. "It's my fault! I should've told you!"
"Told me WHAT?"
"I'm an airbender!"
If my hands were free, I would've slapped myself. It was so obvious. She flew differently, she could do tricks with that glider I couldn't, and she didn't bother listening to Aang's little airbending lesson because she didn't NEED it.
"Wait," Skyler said. "We must be on a ship. I can feel it moving."
I nodded. Just then, some Fire Nation dude came in.
Skyler looked up. "What do you want?" She said it loudly and sternly. I was surprised. Skyler usually spoke quietly.
"My name is Huo," he said. "Do you know why you're here?"
Skyler looked away. "I'm an airbender."
This didn't make sense to me. "She's an airbender. So what?"
Huo laughed a little. "You just don't get it, do you? The Fire Nation lost the war. We failed. But the one thing the Fire Nation accomplished was wiping out the airbenders. I'm not going to let you take that away. I've been watching you two for quite some time, Skyler and Teo."
He moved in front of Skyler. And she kicked him. Hard.
"OW!"
Skyler smiled. "Problem?"
Huo was furious. "I'm getting some ice. I'll be back in ten minutes."
He stormed out of the room.
I looked at Skyler. "You're an AIRBENDER?"
She nodded. "Yes. I found out by accident... I was mad, I moved my arm, and airbended my friend right into a fountain. That's why you're my only friend. People got scared. And I've never told anyone I could airbend, so please keep it a secret."
I nodded. "But I'm not an airbender. Why do you think Huo wants me?"
She looked surprised. "You haven't figured it out yet? Teo, you might not be an airbender, but you have the spirit of one."
I was about to respond when Huo came back in. Muttering to himself, he took out a key. He unlocked our chains, probably about to take us into one of the other rooms. He held each of our wrists tightly. I knew this would be our only chance to escape, but I wasn't sure how. Skyler however, seemed to have it all planned out. She immediately took her staff out and used it to airbend him out the window and into the ocean. Glass flew everywhere, and I put my hands out to protect myself. When I looked at them, they were fine. Thank you, open-fingered gloves.
"Ow!" Skyler cried.
I pushed my wheelchair a little closer to her.
"Are you okay?"
"Ouch... Yes... Yep."
"There's glass in your hand. You're bleeding."
She looked at it. "Oh... Yes... I'm bleeding..." She closed her eyes tight. "I hate blood..."
I went a little closer.
"This might hurt," I warned.
Carefully, I took the piece of glass out of her hand. "Ok, all set," I told her.
Skyler opened her eyes. "Thank you... You didn't have to do that, you know."
"I just... I wanted to. It looked painful."
"Thank you."
"Any time."
And then there was an awkward silence. I didn't know if I should move or wait for her to say something or just... I don't know... Something else.
"We're... A little close..." Skyler said, backing up a bit and blushing like crazy.
"Oh, my bad."
She looked around. "And now to get off this ship."
TO BE CONTINUED...