Korra opened her eyes, and found herself over a sink, washing and scrubbing pots. She waved her hands in small circles, bending soapy water over the dishes, carrying away grease and grime.
She looked up, and found she was in a smokey kitchen in a dimly lit building. An earthbender missing an arm was working a stove, a short old lady was chopping vegetables. The restaurant itself was seedy, filled with drunken sailors and rowdy patrons.
"Speed it up will ya?" the cook barked, throwing a dirty plate at her. "We ain't paying you to stand around!"
"Sorry, sir," Korra called out apologetically, bending over to pick up the dish. "I'll hurry up."
The cook snorted, and returned to his dish. "Just don't break anything," he warned gruffly. "I swear, if you cost me a customer, I'll toss you out on your ear."
Before she knew it, Korra found herself behind the restaurant, standing in front of some older guy that owned the place. It was wet, humid, but cold and dark, with dim yellow lights barely illuminating the alleyway. He was counting out a few Yuans, with a sly grin plastered on his face.
"Say, how'd you like to earn a few extra Yuans?" he asked, looking her up and down.
"What do you mean?" Korra asked cautiously.
"It gets awfully cold in the restaurant, you know?" he hinted suggestively. "Why don't we warm each other up?"
Korra slowly backed into a wall. "I'm, uh, not interested," she stammered.
"Oh come on," he coaxed, taking a step closer. "I've got plenty of cash for you."
Korra gulped, feeling trapped. "Please, I just want to finish my shift," she pleaded.
The man put one hand on an arm, another on her waist. "Relax, honey," he purred. "You'll make bank tonight."
The back door slammed open. Korra felt a ping of relief, happy for any kind of interruption. It was the cook... but he barely even glanced at the scene unfolding as he dropped some trash into a bin.
"Please!" Korra cried out desperately.
"Don't be such a wuss," the cook scoffed as he headed back to the kitchen.
Korra panicked, feeling tears prickle at her eyes as the guy leaned into her neck. This wasn't happening...
"Get of me!" she yelled, shoving the owner to the side. He stumbled backwards, falling to the ground.
"You ungrateful bitch!" he screamed, wiping blood off his lip. "You're fired! Get out of here!"
Korra ran, not daring to look back. But the scenery shifted around her, and all of a sudden she was on a dirty street. It was sunny, hot, only amplifying the awful smell of the sprawling slums.
A couple of teens were lined up on one side of the street, in firebending stances.
"Oh no," Korra whispered. "Please, no."
They shot their fists forward in unison, and flames washed over a couple of kids from a rival gang. They squealed in agony, collapsing to the ground as they burned alive. Korra could smell flesh sizzling, a taste bile rising in her throat.
The face of a bald man, then a woman, quickly flashed in her vision.
"Ahhh!" Korra screamed, bolting upright. Her heart raced, sweat dripped down her forehead.
She was in her drainage tunnel, the moon still filtering in through the grate. A rat was running around, squeaking loudly.
Naga had stirred, looking concernedly at her.
"It was just a dream," Korra reassured her, hugging the beast tightly. "A nightmare."
Naga licked her cheek, trying to calm her. "I know, girl," Korra murmured, stroking the polar bear dog's fur soothingly. But she knew it wasn't just a dream. This was her life, her reality. And her future, if she didn't change it.
She looked out at the statue of Aang in the bay, fearing what her past lives think of her now.