City of Secrets (The Lost Waterbender sequel)

Interrupted Celebration

"Mara, talk to me."

Zuko stood outside my cell, trying to start a conversation. My siblings had come by earlier, but I was unresponsive. I felt numb and tired.

Raiko hadn't come to see me, and after two days, I knew he was dead. I knew him, and he would've come to visit me in prison had he been free himself. That knowledge left me unresponsive.

"Mara, what happened? What drove you to this?"

I said nothing, just stared at a wall.

"Please. Badger."

I flinched at that. These days, Raiko was the only one who called me that. It felt like a brand new knife in my heart hearing that.

Zuko picked up on this. Most people new Raiko was the only one who called me by my childhood nickname.

"Raiko has been missing for three days. Do you know anything about it?"

"He's...he's...." my voice cracked and silent sobs shook my body. I could sense Zuko's confusion, but he didn't stop pressing.

"Mara. Look at me."

With difficulty, I turned to face the Fire Lord. His race wasn't full of anger and fury, as I expected it to be. He had every reason not to speak to me. Not only had I denounced his nation, but I had denounced the city that he had been a key part in creating and considered part of his redemption.

"What happened? I don't believe that you committed those murders alone. I know there's more to the story."

I turned around and looked him in the eye. "I admitted that I did it. Why would I take responsibility if it wasn't me?"

"What about Raiko? What about me? We're both Fire Nation, and you've said you consider us family. Do you denounce is for our heritage?"

I choked out, "yes." That single word was more painful than anything I'd been through.

Zuko sighed and stood up. "Okay." He paused for a second. "When you're ready to tell us the truth, let me know. We both know there's more to what's happened than you're telling us."

"If that's what you want to believe."

Zuko bid me goodbye and left. I sat in my cell silently. I couldn't break out. I couldn't tell them I was innocent, because if Raiko was still alive, me telling what happened could jeopardize his life if Kaito found out. I couldn't take that risk.

Two guards walked by my cell. I listened to their conversation to see if they were planning to do anything with me.

"...we don't have anyone free—this damn festival has booked up the entire force."

"I've been working a double because there are so many keeping watch in the square. Wish I could've been assigned there—I want to hear Avatar Aang speak."

I shot to my feet. In the madness of what was happening, I'd forgotten about Kaito's final plan to take out Aang.

I slammed my fist against the bars. "Hey! Hey! You have to let me out! Aang's in danger!"

I jumped back from the door as a metal cord struck against it. "Quiet in there!"

"No no no no," I insisted. "She's going to hurt Aang!"

"Who? You? You're all locked up, crazy. You're the only threat out there."

I tried bargaining with them, but they wouldn't hear it. I frantically looked for a way out of my cell, but it was hopeless.