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Book 1 Air
Chapter 2 The Face in the Centipede
They slept on Necie's hut and parted the next day. Just as every other avatar, Necie was forced to leave every possession, not that she had many of them. She complained at first, since she didn't believe to be the avatar but agreed to it after Nashida showed her a map with their route. The nearest air temple, where they'll be safe to train, was very far from them.
–It may sound crazy but I'm going to miss this island. Carbon Island is my home- said Necie – I've never been in another place.
–Well, I believe before Khaos, the world was prettier, but it still holds some beauty.
They took Nashida's boat to get to Diamond City, the ruins of one the prettiest cities ever constructed. Before going mad, the ruler of the earth nation, Sun Sao used his earthbending, an earthbending that made him a legend across the nation, to turn all the rock around into pure diamond. Even if it was next to Carbon Island, the most insecure place in the whole globe, even if it was in ruins, Diamond City was the safest, cleanest and richest city that ever existed… probably because it was abandoned.
–Are you sure you want to go there? – asked Necie
–I'ts the shortest distance, why?
–I've heard some stories, creepy stories. People say a spirit took over that city.
–Khaos?
–No. Khaos is powerful but it's invisible to human eyes. They say this spirit looks like a giant centipede with a face. I don't know if I believe in it but there's a reason why a city of pure diamond is intact even being next to the island with the worst kind of criminals.
–Well, if I believed every story told to me, I wouldn't have met you, witch girl– said Nashida while laughing.
Necie smiled shyly.
They arrived hours later. It was impressive. The palace at the center, the houses, the fountains, everything was made of diamond. The colors of the rainbow danced in different spots, occasionally disappearing due to clouds.
The wind blew around Necie's feathers, she felt a chill around her body, and it felt as something she felt before ¿fear?
Nashida took her map out and then pointed in a direction. They started walking but Necie was uneasy, when the wind stopped she could swear she heard many steps, like heels walking around in glass. She let out a small cry. Nashida laughed.
–Are you really scared of this city?
–I heard something! Steps.
–Outside you are so scary and fierce – said Nashida while they entered what looked like a market – who would think that you were so easily scared. Oh!
–What? What?! – Cried Necie looking behind her back, over her shoulder, around…
–Look– said Nashida picking up something around her feet. There were four masks; they apparently came from a broken kiosk. There was a blue one, seemed like a spirit. A happy lion one, a mask of an old man and another one that looked like a white kitten. She put around her face the lion one, gave Necie the mask with the kitten and the other two back to the abandoned kiosk.
–I wonder if there's also food around.
–Could we just hurry up and get out of here?
–Not until you wear the mask
–Ugh! OK!
Necie put on the mask and Nashida started laughing
–Now, let's go
–Sure, just…
A shadow passed behind them quickly, they both felt it, they both screamed.
–WHAT WAS THAT?!
–I TOLD YOU SOMETHING WAS WRONG!
The light of day was being replaced by darkness. Necie and Nashida hold each other tightly while screaming.
–This doesn't feel like our world anymore!
–It's the spirit! Do your avatar thing and communicate with it!
–I've told you I'm not the avatar!
–Do you think It's really a worm?! I hate worms!
–It's a Centipede and shut up!
She heard it again, the steps were quick, it was approaching and then they saw it, a huge black centipede ran through the diamond floors and surrounded them. They screamed loudly, the centipede had the face of a woman all covered in paint like a noh mask and was smiling but then the smile was erased.
–Oh… what an inconvenient– it said while changing its face – Fake faces, those I can't keep.
–It's talking! – Screamed Nashida
–Shut up! – Said Necie while pinching her. Her whole body was trembling, she knew that new face on the centipede, and she saw it long ago, one of the many criminals of her island. – What do you want?
The centipede looked confused.
–What do I want? I thought you were visiting me, and that always has a motive behind, isn't it?
– Uh… – said Necie, and looked and Nashida who just shrugged. – Yeah... sure… so you won't be eating us?
–Eating you? Are you mocking me? –The centipede change faces again, now the face of a child.
–She is the Avatar! Let us go – said Nashida.
The Centipede looked at her and changed its face again, now it was a beautiful woman.
–She is not the avatar. She just a fraction – it smiled– She is a just a cat – It said while touching the mask. The dark became lighter until they were again in the city.
–Well, you don't know that, Mr. Centipede!– said Nashida
–Don't be rude – said Necie awkwardly and then whispered – it could change its mind about eating us, shut up. I'm sure Mr… what's your name um… sir? Madame?
–Koh.
–Mr. Koh… it's been a pleasure… however we have to go.
–Until we meet again.
Necie and Nashida found a little gap between the face and the tail of Koh and walked away.
–That will be… lovely
They ran until they could not see the city, and then they rested near a big tree. Nashida exhaled while hugging the tree when suddenly she started looking for something in her clothes. She removed the mask from her face and kept looking.
–I lost the map!
–At least you didn't lose your face.
–What?
Necie removed her mask; there was nothing but hair. Nashida screamed her lungs out and Necie laughed, as she turned around, her face intact.