The Only Hope

Book 1: Chapter 18

Chill bumps. They covered my body, and I was grateful for my jacket and pants. I looked around the roaring crowd and then to the stage in front of me. As Amon came up through the stage, I fell back a step and into someone.

“Watch it!”

“Sorry.”

I didn’t glance back as around me people cheered and clapped and whistled. I fixed my hat, hoping none of my styled hair had fallen out. I had twisted it in a way where it rested against my neck and it looked as if it was cut at my shoulders and not my lower back. I kept my eyes on the stage, along with everyone else, my palms feeling a bit clammy. I took a deep breath, the sound shadowed by the roaring crowd.

Get a hold of yourself Zabri! You need to focus, there’s no time to be scared. Heart be brave, spirit be strong… Oh grandmother, oh mother, I wish I had you here right now.

“Thank you all for joining me in this historic occasion. When I was a boy a fire bender struck down my family and left me scared. That tragic event left me to begin my journey to equalize the world.”

“That’s a lie Amon!”

Everyone looked up to the balcony. I didn’t bother, instead I begun to move out of the stunned crowd. Korra removed her mask, looking down.

“Or should I call you Noatak?”

I got through the crowd, reaching the edge under Korra. I searched through the dim lights till I spotted the door. I rushed off to it, slipping through, as the crowd begun to go crazy.

“Everyone calm down…”

I entered a hall, the doors cutting off Amon’s voice.

Okay, which way was I supposed to go again?... Oh I don’t know! Why didn’t I just find some Equalists to take down and steal their outfit?

Choosing a direction, I sprinted off, hoping I could find Mako and Korra soon. The halls were quite, my feet echoing through out. I kept my ears open, my senses alert, but somehow I had missed it. They hadn’t been moving, or talking. Just standing there. I froze mid step as I was met with five Equalists. They pulled out their electro-sticks, each step they took towards me I took two back. Even with my air bending, the odds were not in my favor.

~~~

“Wouldn’t leave yet, Avatar. You’d miss the main event.”

Korra froze at Amon’s voice, and turned back to the stage. Rising up, bounded and gaged, were Tenzin, Jinora, Ikki, and Meelo. She stared down shocked. They were supposed to have gotten away. They were supposed to be safe right now.

“No, they got away. We saw them get away.”

“… And it seems like we have one more to add. Thank you ever so much for joining us, Air bender.”

Being drugged up the stairs by two struggling Equalists was… Zabri. Her hands were cuffed behind her back, and her mouth was gagged worse than Tenzin and the children. Half her hair hung around her face, wild, as she struggled against the now four Equalists holding her. Her teeth bared against her gag, muffling her grunts. Plain furry burned in her eyes, just enough to mask the utter fear in them.

~~~

“Tonight I rid the world of Air Bending. Forever! Starting, with the girl, who seems ready.”

The four Equalists fought to move me forward, while I use every ounce I had in me to stay back. No way I was going anywhere near that crazy water bending psychopath.