Kinora: Blind

The Blackout

...One week earlier...

Kai is making a lot of progress, Jinora thinks happily as she walks home. She spent the afternoon at the library, after losing track of time while reading a good book. It's strangely dark outside because of a weird power outage.

The streets are dark and Jinora is a little nervous as she makes her way back to her neighborhood. She's never seen the usually brilliantly lit city this dark. It irks her in an unsettling way.

Jinora rounds a corner and suddenly the brightest light she has ever seen blares right in her face and she stumbles and falls with a shriek. It's bright. So bright. Turn it off!

Jinora's eyes burn. There's no other way to describe it, other than her eyeballs are on fire. Blinking hurts, she can't see, and she knows something's wrong.

"Oh my spirits I am so sorry!" She feels someone next to her, helping her up. "I didn't see you coming around that corner!" Jinora stumbles on her feet, unbalanced. She feels the woman who helped her up keep a hand on her shoulder. "Are you ok?"

"Wow Asami, I really am a bad luck charm. I told you I shouldn't have come!" A different, joking voice. "But seriously kid, are you ok?"

Jinora just blinks, still unable to see. Everything is white. "W-what was that?" She asks.

"That was my newest invention. I was testing it out during the blackout. It runs on solar power accumulated throughout the day, so at night it can light up a whole street. My name is Asami Sato, by the way, and this is my girlfriend Korra. What's your name? I can take you home if you want. Oh gosh I feel so bad!" Jinora rubs her eyes, still unbalanced. She looks around, and the only thing she can see is white blobs

"I-I'm Jinora. Jinora Gyatso. And yeah, I think I do need a ride home." The woman, Asami, guides her in a direction and Jinora bumps into a car. "You're kind of clumsy, huh?" Asami tries for humor, but Jinora is just worried.

It'll go away in the morning, she thinks, trying to brush off the growing panic. "I, uh, a little, I guess."

The car starts. "Ok, Jinora, where do you live?"

"3762 Air Temple street."

"Niiiiice." Korra drags, a smile clearly covering her face. "The fancy part of town." A sound of smacking. "Ow. Fine."

"Ok, I'll drop you off and explain to your parents what happened." Jinora nods at Asami's words, rubbing her eyes. They're still burning.

After a few minutes of silence, the car slows to a stop. "Ok, here we are." Jinora managed to picture their journey in her mind, so she knows where to go when she gets out of the car.

Jinora stumbles up to the front door, and fumbles with the handle. She opens the door with a little trouble and shouts, "Mom! Dad? I'm home!" She heard running feet and then she's wrapped in the arms of her mother.

"Oh Jinora!" She cries. "I was so worried! The power went out and you were still out at the library. I was about to call you and come get you myself."

"Who is this?" Jinora feels her father's hand on her shoulder and she knows she's talking about Asami and Korra.

"Uh.. this is Asami Sato and her girlfriend Korra. Asami was trying out a new invention and kind of blinded me for a moment. I'm ok, but she offered me a ride home. I'm going to bed." Jinora stumbles up the stairs, using the railing like a lifeline.

Jinora falls onto her bed, wrapping herself in the covers. I really hope this pain goes away tomorrow.

The next morning when Jinora's alarm goes off, she sleepily turns it off. But when she blinks her eyes open, she panics. Full on hyperventilating, she screams for her parents.

"Jinora!" Her door flies open and her mother's voice is heard. "What's wrong baby?" She feels the bed dip under the weight of both her parents sitting next to her.

"I can't see!" She cries. "I can't see!" 

Hey guys! Let me know what you think? Any suggestions?