Avatar Rose: Dusk

Chapter 77: Rose

"I'm not going to die," I retort simply.

"You don't know that," Gwen replies.

"Well, I honestly don't care. It doesn't matter where I'm buried, I'm just as dead as before, aren't I?"

Everyone turns to Rowan, and he looks back awkwardly. I guess none of his loved ones are dead yet. He doesn't need a specific place to be buried.

"Wherever you bury me, just make sure I'm wearing this," he says, pulling out a locket. My eyes flash in recognition, knowing that there's a picture of us as kids in it. I gave it to him before I left for Ganshan years ago. I look away uncomfortably.

Evan clears his throat. "We ready to make a plan?"

I nod. "Yeah, I actually have a good idea."

"Rose, I'm usually the one to make the plans," Nathan snaps.

I smirk. "I don't want to be awkward or anything, but I'm the Avatar. So technically I make the plans."

Gwen shrugs. "She's got a point."

Nathan grits his teeth angrily, glaring at me with his icy gaze. I stare back, locking mine with his. Let the games begin.

Evan spreads out the Earth base map. I explain the plan, barely able to keep in my sly smile because of Nathan's expression.

"Rose, I think you should be the distraction. You know, since they're trying to hunt you down," Liesel offers.

I guess she's right, they wouldn't chase after some random kids. But that means I'm running, not fighting.

After everyone's positions are settled, we hide our camp supplies where they can't be stolen. We don't take them with us because it'll just weigh us down. As I do my share, I study Xander's metal finger in wonder.

"Does it hurt?" I ask.

"Like hell. Geez, how'd you deal with the first few days with your whole leg and arm like this?" He replies.

"It's the screws in your skin. Sometimes I still get sore."

It takes about an hour to reach the base. Luna trots behind us with Stewart riding on her back. I don't know about Stewart, but Luna can definitely put up a good fight.

"So we hide, you lure them out, then we attack?" Rowan confirms. I nod. I tighten the laces to my knee high boots before going out in plain sight. I'm going to have to run fast.

"Rose!" Evan calls.

"Yeah?"

"Don't screw up."

I smile a little, nodding at him. I guess that's the best kind of encouragement Evan can give.

The base is surrounded by high security gates with barbed wire on the top. Guards patrol on top of it, and I see security cameras zoom in and focus on me as I walk into their sight.

I stand there awkwardly for a few moments, then the gate opens. They recognize me. Of course they do. I've been all they've been thinking about since I arrived in the Water Tribe.

I do a goofy salute with a grin. "Uhh... Avatar Rose here!"

I hear yells from the inside. Chaos and confusion is breaking loose. It's time to run.

I barely dodge a net flying towards me, deflecting it with air bending. To confirm my identity, I burn it to ashes with fire.

"Go!" I hiss to my teammates as the gates open and troops storm out. Luna comes to my defense and pushes me on to her back. I grin wildly as we begin the chase.

But they're not running on foot anymore. Ostrich horses are gaining up on us. Who knew two legs could ever beat four?

The shot of a gun is heard. They're trying to take down Luna. She can't dodge from behind. I slide off Luna and start running, even though I know I'm not going to make it. There's another gunshot, grazing my left arm. The adrenaline pumping in my veins numbs the pain exceptionally.

"Idiot! Don't kill the girl!" I hear someone say. Luna goes in the opposite direction, understanding my motives.

I'm screwed, I think as I take a really tight corner as we enter the buildings of Ganshan.

"Corner her!" Another yells.

I open a hole in the earth and plunge down, closing the entrance as I make a tunnel. My chest tightens at the dark, tight space. There's bound to be earth benders there and they'll catch up to me in no time. I start sprinting, bending rocks behind me to cover my trail every once in a while. The air is getting thin, and I eventually have to come up to breathe. I'm in an alley, and it appears to be empty. I sigh with relief.

"Caught you," someone says, I don't have time to react as his hand clamps across my mouth. I stop struggling when the barrel of a gun is pressed to my head.

"Just because we're taking you alive doesn't mean we won't kill you if we have to," he hisses in my ear. I raise my hands above my head in surrender, even though I'm far from giving up. They'll take me back, and little do they know that they're under attack as well. The soldiers, which surprisingly all seem like teenage recruits, cheer as the boy enters with me "captured."

I'm taken back to the base on an ostrich horse. They look suspicious of how willing I am to go. Of course, they realize why when we enter the place.

Gwen looks like some scary water queen, destroying things and taking down soldiers by the second. Liesel and Evan fight back to back, with Rowan and Xander doing the same thing. Nathan fights alone, but seems to be doing just fine.

I'm shoved off and they try to rush me into a secluded place. I stop, refusing to move with my feet.

"S- sorry... I- I think I'm going to..." I stutter.

"What? What's wrong with you!?" A soldier snaps frantically.

"I- I think I'm going to... Sn- snee- HA... ACHOO!"

Fire flies out of my mouth and nose, making the girl soldier yelp and jump back in surprise.

I easily loosen the rope tied around my wrists. They should really work on their knots.

I spot Evan, who's bloodbending all the enemies that he can. He looks like he's going to pass out from the effort. I decide to cover him, since everyone else seems to be doing just fine.

"Doesn't seem like you could distract them for long, aye princess?" He says, practically gasping from the effort.

"You try outrunning ostrich horses!" I snap back.

Evan is gathering attention. A Bloodbender doesn't exactly give their opponent a fair chance of winning. Guns start pointing to him, snipers on the roofs begin shooting.

"Evan, drop your grip," I murmur nervously.

"No way! The rest are distracted, I just need to knock these guys out," he answers.

"No, Evan--"

"Stop distracting me!"

"Evan--"

He somehow is able to put me into a grip. Soldiers cry out in alarm, thinking he's about to hurt me. Frantic gun shots send painful ringing in my ears and I suddenly feel dizzy.

"EVAN!" I scream. Oh, there's blood. So much blood. It's not his... Please don't be his blood...

His body crashed on to the ground with a sickening thud.

I shake him frantically. "Don't die! Please, please don't die!"

I try to stop the bleeding in his gut with my hands, which are quickly soaked in the horrible red liquid.

"Rose..." He chokes, coughing up blood. He's a goner.

"I told you not to die! STOP IT!" I shout at him.

"Nathan... Wh- where is he.."

His eyes look wildly back and forth, searching for his beloved brother. But they suddenly go blank, staring up at the sky as the light fades from his pupils.

That's when I lose control.