The History of Renko: Book 1 Emotions (Avatar, boyxboy)

Chapter 6: Chaos

As if they were ghost appearing from the shadows, four Secret Services members swarmed Renko and Sune. They each took a stand on the north, south, east and west sides of the two. Black smoke began to fill the sky and people were still screaming.

"Stay close to us sir," One of the men in black ordered.

Sune looked at Renko. His eyes saying that he wanted, needed, to help. He joined the military for this and he needed to protect his people. His eyes also pleaded with his friend to come with him, to help, but Renko paused. He was scared.

He didn't know what to do. Growing up in times of peace had made him comfortable. It made the world comfortable. He didn't know what to do when a disaster of this scale happened. So many thoughts ran through his head. Where are the police? Where was the explosion? Why did this happen?

Sune stood up straight. "I am Sune Rudeka, First Lieutenant of the 4th Regiment of The Earth States Army. Allow me to do my duty and protect the citizens of the State."

The service men didn't pay him any attention. Instead, they let him slip out their circle. Sune turned and gave Renko one final look before rushing off into the forming mob of people trying to flee. The mob grew so large that people were pushing and shoving the service men.

"The fire is spreading!"

"Someone help us!"

"Where's my daughter? Zhu Sun where are you?!"

Shouting and cries of agony and fear tore through the sky. The atmosphere turned burnt orange as the flames spread out and blossomed like an angry flower. Sirens from the police and Water Brigade rang alongside the cacophony of noise.

The crowd heaved against Renko and the secret service men, separating them. Renko was pushed along with the current until he was out on the city square, and he knew. He saw what was burning. A once proud statue of a man in old robes stood on a jutted rock; wound around him like a vine was a long spirit with wispy tendrils coming from its pointed head. It was now a pillar of smoke. The details barely recognizable.

He had walked passed it dozens of times but never really looked at it. Even though it was covered in flames, the spirit looked familiar. He didn't know why. All he knew was that inside, a resolve, and determination set in. He knew what he had to do. Against his better judgment, he ran towards the fire.

Kuzo had the same idea. He ran towards the fire picking up and helping people along the way. The shops and stores along the way were empty and he could see the stalls closest to the statue going up along with it.

Ahead of him and to his right, he heard a few faint screams. He ran towards it and found a candle shop with a heavy sign blocking the front door. It was a thin, three-story building with what was assumed an apartment on the top two floors. The next store over across the alleyway separating them was burning. He knew that any second this shop would catch fire as well.

"Help!" he thought he could hear from inside.

"Hello? Is anyone there?"

Bangs and knocks on the other side of the sign was his answer. He shouted back, "Stand back from the door!"

He closed his eyes and breathed. He spread his legs and pointed his fingers. He made an arch with his left hand, then an arch with his right. When he finished his arch he brought his hands together and as he thrust out with his right, lightning bolted from his fingers.

It struck the sign shattering it to splinters. He stepped through the rubble and found two children huddled away from the door. He rushed to them.

"Are you guys okay?"

They just nodded, too scared to speak.

"Where are your parents?"

The littlest one, a girl, pointed up the stairs that lead to the second floor. Without hesitation to ran up them. He checked the first door, then the second. Whenever he opened the third door he saw a woman knocked out on the floor. The house was close enough to the blast that it knocked down the metal ceiling fan on top of her.

He strained to lift it off and dragged her to the stairs. He picked her up and as he took his first step, the fire had spread to the house. It damaged the foundations and it began to collapse. Debris fell onto the stairs making it impossible to pass and from atop the third story flight, he felt the heat of the fire.

Renko, realizing that he ran into a dangerous situation without a plan, stopped himself. He caught his breath as he gauged the situation. The fire had spread to most of the square and there wasn't anything he could do about that. He scanned the area for anyone who needed help.

Someone ran frantically into him. Her makeup was smudged and covered in soot.

"YOU!" she shouted. "From the party. You're President Ridhya's son. You're the Avatar!"

She grabbed him by the shoulders. "Please. Stop this."

She ran off joining the throng of people trying to escape. The police and Water Brigade had a hard time getting through. Some tried to organize the mob while others tried to break through.

Renko saw a flash of lightning. That couldn't be right. It wasn't storming. It must have been a fire bender he thought. Maybe he could answer for this.

He ran off into the direction.

Kuzo was trapped. He bended the fire around him to keep it at bay but he was getting tired. He made sweeping motions with his arms in a sculpting fashion to keep the flames from him and his unconscious companion. He thought about generating lightning to try and blast through the debris but he knew better. It was all a pile of stone and metal.

Renko arrived at the scene to find the store on fire and two children huddled together in front.

"Sir," the older one said. "Our mommy and someone is trapped in there. The roof fell."

"Don't worry I'll get them," he said.

The ceiling had fallen. As he stepped inside he stripped off his shirt and held his breath. He could see the blockage and called out; "Is anyone there?"

"Yeah!" a voice called out. "Are you bender?"

"I am, I can bend this rubble out of the way."

"Great!" the voice replied. "I have an unconscious woman with me and I'm keeping the flames back."

Renko squatted as he strained to bend the rubble away. He stood in a crane fashion and bended the metal into a pillar to hold up the already collapsed roof. He then returned to his squatted stance and brought his arms to his sides and pulled the remaining rock and rubble out of the pile.

In the flames, a tall pale teen stood surrounded by the creeping fire. The teen turned and the light danced in his blue eyes.

"Take her," was all he said, nodding towards the woman on the floor.

Renko hopped up the remaining stairs and slung her over his shoulder. He brought her down and out of the building. Turning back he saw Kuzo leap through the fire and land in front of him. He was slightly taller than Renko and had a much more defined figure.

"We need to make sure she gets help."

"We'll take care of her now. The police are coming," the little girl said. "When you were inside we saw bad people running towards the fountain."

"What did they look like?" Kuzo asked.

"There were two of them, and they carried this big metal thingy."

Kuzo looked at Renko.

"It's another bomb," he said. "Where is a fountain?"

"It's another block over," Renko replied.

With that, the two turned away and ran off.

Author's note: Hey guys sorry for the late update. I recently moved back home and only just now sat down and finished this chapter. I cut in half though and I'll be finishing the next chapter by next week. Let me know what you guys think and thanks for reading!