City of Secrets (The Lost Waterbender sequel)

Demolition

I ran like I'd never run before. Raiko was alive, but if that building fell on him, then that wouldn't be the case.

The building was on the other side of the city. I had no idea of I'd make it on time.

"Mara!"

I glanced to the side, and there was Aang, flying with his glider alongside me. "Grab on!"

I ran off the edge of the roof and jumped. I landed on top of his glider and grabbed the edges. For horrifying moment, I thought I was going to topple off. But Aang righted me and we flew towards the edge of the city.

Before Republic City was built, there was an extremely small town with a few buildings, the biggest of which was the town hall. Over the past ten years they'd been demolished to make room for new houses and buildings. Today was the day one was scheduled to be destroyed.

And Raiko was inside.

Every second took a million years. I didn't know what time the demolition was. I could just stroll in there, grab Raiko, and wave to the Earthbenders who were going to pull it down.

Or I'd be too late.

As we got closer to the building, I heard a deep rumbling. My heart sank as it came into few. Earthbenders were surrounding it on all sides, performing intricate moves to pull it down.

"No!" I yelled. I jumped off Aang's glider and straight on to the roof.

CRACK!

The brittle ceiling broke beneath my weight and I crashed into the floor below.

I groaned and sat up, my body aching. "Raiko..." I called weakly.

The building was rumbling all around me. I ducked as a large chunk of brick smacked right beside me.

"Raiko!"

I struggled to my feet and limped through the room I had fallen in and to the outside. I came out into what looked like a court room. The walls were cracking and there were huge booms on every side. Another chunk of ceiling fell right on me.

Raiko was nowhere to be seen, in the upstairs. I struggled to the lower floor, bleeding in several places and my head pounding.

I clambered down the stairs. Many broke underneath my weight, but I kept going. The rumbling all around me was getting louder and louder. Every few seconds a chunk of something fell and the boom echoed through the entire building.

On the downstairs level was a wide, empty room with a desk and several chairs.

"Raiko!" I coughed. Dust filled the air, caking to my tears and blocking my vision.

I heard a low grown through the noise. I stumbled towards it, hacking through the dust.

"Raiko!"

I found my best friend tied up beneath a wooden plank that had fallen on him. His hands and feet were bound, and dust and blood covered his face and hair. I dragged him out from under the wooden plank and hoisted him over my shoulder. He was barely conscious.

I turned in circles and swore. I had no water to bend, and I had no idea which way was out. The dust was blocking everything.

I heaved my friend in a direction, hoping that I was going the right way.

My foot snagged on a loose plank of wood and I went down. My chin smacked the hard floor. Blood filled my mouth.

Raiko moaned again. I grabbed his hand. "I'm...getting us....out."

But I had sprained my ankle, and that would make walking so much harder. I hoisted myself to my feet, but I was imbalanced. I hurt everywhere. I still didn't know where the exit was. The rumbling was getting louder and louder and I wanted to scream.

Suddenly, the roof above us gave out entirely. I yelled and lunged to shield Raiko's body with my own and braced for death.

"Mara!"

The roof didn't hit. I looked up and found Aang next to us, earthbending the entire roof above his head. He was broken out in swear droplets and his muscles bulged with effort.

"Go!" He commanded. He blew a blast of air that created a hole in the dust to the exit. I grabbed Raiko's hands and with every bit of effort I had left heaved him out of the dust.

We broke out the side of the building. Seconds after, Aang landed next to us and the structure came down entirely, throwing dust and debris everywhere. I once again shielded Raiko, wincing as I was hit with smaller pieces of the stuff.

Only when the dust and rubble cleared did I sit up. I realized Raiko had wrapped his arms around my torso, and I hugged him back tightly.

"You...have a lot....of explaining," he panted. I squeezed him tighter.

"It's a long story."