Osore (Complete)

Dread

There were too many people.

There were too many people that needed to be saved and not enough officers to get to them in time. The building was collapsing in on itself and there were still too many people inside. A new police car arrived and Lin shouted for one of the earthbenders to take her place. She could help if she could just get inside the building.

As soon as she felt him take her place she sprinted for the building. She found Mako inside, directing people out and hurrying them along. A piece of stone came down and nearly hit the young detective causing Lin's heartrate to start beating out of her chest. She retracted her boot and stomped her foot to the ground. Aside from the few people still working their way down the stairs there were only 2 other people still in the building.

"Mako, follow this group outside. There's still two upstairs. I'll get them."

"I'll come with you."

"No. You're not an earthbender and I need you out there."

He didn't argue further as the building gave an ominous groan. She felt a small bit of relief in her chest as she watched him get out safely. Sprinting up the stairs, she flung open the door to the small apartment. It took her a moment but she soon found a young mother clutching onto her small child for dear life, huddled in a corner.

"Ma'am, we need to get you out. This whole building is going to come down."

She reached for the young woman but she just cried out and slapped Lin's hand away. The whole floor shuddered and Lin braced herself. The woman's face was terrified and Lin felt her own fear increase as she tried to figure out how to get them all out safely. She took in a deep breath and knelt down in front of her.

"I know you're afraid but we need to get out."

"No, please. No, I can't. My baby! They're going to kill my baby!"

"No one is going to hurt your baby. Please, let me help you."

The woman opened her eyes, seemingly seeing the severity of her current situation for the first time. She finally took Lin's hand and they got to their feet. Lin led them to the door but as soon as she took a step out the whole hallway collapsed. The woman screamed and the child started crying.

"It's okay. It's okay. I'll get you out of here, I promise."

Lin said the words but didn't quite believe them. The building was too unstable to bend their way out and she was uncertain she could anchor her cables anywhere outside the window to get them out that way. The scenarios raced through her head keeping in time with her pounding heart.

There was another violent tremor and she watched as the woman and child fell through a hole that appeared in the floor. She tried to grab for them but missed, closing her eyes as she heard their screams end in a deafening silence.

"Kya, I'm home."

Lin walked in the apartment she shared with Kya, her face filthy and tear stained. Her whole body ached and her soul was wracked with guilt. If she had just reacted half a second sooner she could have saved them. But she hadn't. She had failed them.

The apartment was still. But something wasn't right. Her senses prickled at how unnatural the stillness was. Kya should be home. She would have undoubtedly heard about the building collapse and be waiting to hear all about it from her. Lin's brain worked quickly, jumping to the worst possible conclusions.

What if she heard about what happened and doesn't want to see me?

What if she left?

What if?

Lin shook her head as she tried to get her spiraling thoughts under control. Kya wouldn't leave her. They had both promised to work through their own personal issues and stick by each other no matter what. And yet...

Kya should have been home by now.

Lin decided to take a quick shower to try and calm herself before trying to track down her girlfriend. She froze with a hand on the bathroom door handle as something on the floor near their bedroom caught her eye. The door was open just a crack and on the ground was a small, but unmistakable, puddle of blood.