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Korra's POV

I left early the next day. Mako was asleep on the couch and I quietly snuck out, not wanting to wake him up. The sun hadn't even come up yet when I made my way to the docks. I jumped into the bay and swam all the way to Air Temple Island. I had done this countless times when I was younger and was a Bender and it was a piece of cake. Even now it still was, but it had taken a lot of practice.

The rest of the day I spent in my room, looking out to the bay. I heard a light knock and told whoever it was to come in. I was surprised when I saw a very familiar Firebender.

"You didn't tell me when you left," he said.

I nodded. "I didn't want you wake you up."

"I-I talked to the Chief this morning, wanted to ask her something." I stared at him, not knowing where he was going with this. "You know, the uh-question she asked you, the one about if you had ever been inside the jail?" I gave him a blank stare as I realized what he meant. "It's were the vigilante saved me a few days ago. It's also where we went with Tenzin a few months before you disappeared."

I nodded my head again and whispered a small 'yeah'.

"When you said you had never been there, I thought maybe you were just nervous or that you had forgotten," he continued. "But then when I asked to see her notes, it said your heart beat fluttered a little. So if you lied on that one, you could have lied on the others."

"What happened to me being too selfish to be a masked crusader?" I asked.

"Korra!" he snapped. "I saw your scars!"

I got up and walked over to him until I was toe to toe with him. "Do you want to know why I don't talk about what happened in that prison?" I asked. He lowered his gaze at this. "Because if people knew…if you knew," I added my voice cracking. "You'd see me differently. And not as some vigilante…but as damaged." Now that I said it, I think that was my biggest fear really. That he would look at me with the pity I saw in everyone else's eyes. I'd rather see anger or hatred in those amber pools...but I never...ever wanted him to pity me.

"Korra," he began, his tone softer.

"I don't sleep," I continued. "I barely eat. I can barely sign my name…let alone Airbend, as you saw." He flinched at the reminder. "After last night," I added, pausing to figure out the right wording. "It's obvious we're attracted to one another, I guess. But nothing could ever happen between us."

He stood quiet for a moment and I saw something in his eyes that I couldn't quite catch. He nodded at my last statement. "I know," Mako answered before leaving.

Howl's POV

Korra had been…acting different. As she worked out, her moves were stiff and rigid. Even when she went through the Spinning Gates her moves weren't as fluid as I had seen them before. Even I could see something was clearly bothering her. Usually, her exercises were executed flawlessly, and if not she tried again till she got it right.

When she finished she headed towards me and I threw a towel at her. She wiped away her sweat before reaching down for the black bag she always kept hidden. I asked her what was wrong, and after a moment, almost hesitantly, she told me. She never ceased to surprise me.

"So you lied to him?" I said. "Or maybe you just gave him a version of the truth."

"I told him what he needed to hear, Howl," she simply replied. "He was getting too close."

"Sad thing is," I started. "I think you actually believe that. I think things didn't go exactly how you planned. You didn't count on so many people having questions, doubting you. You didn't think about what happens when you lie. Especially to the ones you love the most. When you were stuck in that prison, planning your grand plan to save the city with my father, I don't think you stopped and considered the effect it would have on the people around you. Or how it might hurt them."

She didn't say a word as I carried on, just simply stared at the mask she wore, her other self. I'd come to learn that the mask was a safety net of sorts to her, something she was actually starting to rely on. I observed as she put it on for longer periods of time each day. I feared that if she continued, at this rate, soon there wouldn't be anymore Korra left. She was craving something only the mask could provide her.

"You're wrong," Korra replied after a while. I could see the turmoil in her eyes but her face, as usual, reflected nothing. "I think about it all the time." Her voice held a solemn and sad quality to it. "And just to be clear, not being able to tell my family the truth…it doesn't hurt anyone worse, more than it hurts me," she finished before putting her gear on.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"To get Zolt," she answered. "I haven't forgotten about him."

"Korra," I said sharply, knowing where this might lead. "You can't just kill him."

"He had his chance," she replied, her voice hard as steel now. She put on the mask and I knew there was no talking her out of it. I sighed in defeat as she left the building.

Korra's POV

I was going after Zolt. He was going to pay for his crimes, unfortunately I was too late. Amon had gotten to him before I did. I knew what had happened when I arrived and saw the ex Firebender on his knees. The masked revolutionist looked up at me and for a moment our eyes locked, and a memory came to mind.

I didn't know how long I'd been tied up. My arms were extended above me, chains digging against my skin. I could feel the blood around the cuffs as I continued to struggle. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the door opened. I raised my head, expecting to see the warden but instead found a masked figure; the person that took the life of my best friend.

"Amon," I spat, distaste evident in my voice.

"I received your invitation, young Avatar," he said heading towards me. I struggled against my restrains, trying to get free so I can strangle him with my bare hands. "I heard you haven't been a very good prisoner, though frankly, I'm not surprised."

"Murderer," I simply said. My blood was boiling as I glared at the man who had caused all this. If it weren't for him, Bolin would still be alive. Maybe Aiden would be too...at least, that's what I told myself.

He chuckled at this. "I'm the murderer?" he questioned. "If memory serves, you were the one who dragged him down to my rally. You were the one who carelessly risked his life. You were the one who didn't save him. If anyone is the murderer, it's you."

I shook my head at this. "You killed Bolin," I replied. "You killed Aiden. They were innocent. You take innocent lives."

"And you extort them," Amon countered calmly. "The party animal Avatar; your previous life must be so disappointed," he tsked. "I can end it all you know. I can give you the peace of mind that you crave, that you want."

I didn't say a word.

"But I won't," the revolutionist reassured. "Instead, I'm going to teach you what happens to those who try to rebel in this prison. You're nothing, don't forget that," he finished before piercing my abdomen with a sharp blade.

I screamed as he slid the blade across my skin. He briskly pulled out before making another cut in my chest. I could feel the hot tears rolling down my cheeks and the blood soaking my shirt before dripping onto the floor. I don't even remember losing consciousness, but when I awakened I saw Howl adding pressure to my cuts. He was saying something that I could quite catch, his form was blurry and his speech was a garbled mess. I soon gave up and closed my eyes, letting the darkness take me, numb me.