Afterward Adventures (ATLA Zuko X OC)

Chapter Twenty-Six - Death and Despair Pt. 4

The guard escorted General Mak in the Capital Prison. They walked together through the silent halls of the prison and they stopped in front of a cell. The guard took out a massive number of keys. He chose one of them and he opened the door of the cell. They walked in.

The first thing to step on was a puddle of blood within the floor's cracks between the plaques. General Mak created a small flame in his hand lightening his way in the dark cell. The guard took a torch. It was at the earliest hours of the morning but still, darkness fell everywhere in the cell. The Fire Lord had ordered interrogation and General Mak was assigned to do it.

But when the General took a better look behind the bars and brought the flame closer, his eyes widely opened. It wasn't just surprise, what he felt, but anger. The man was dead. His blood colored the floor and he had a wide cut on his throat, probably from a dagger.

General Mak took a deep breath trying to calm his nerves and he turned to the guard who stood behind him. He was surprised and confused as well.

"How did this happen?!" General Mak demanded.

"I-I don't know..." the guard said confusedly. The General sighed disappointedly "...I swear, I was keeping guard outside all night!"

"Then how did he die?!" General Mak shouted pointing at the dead body.

The guard didn't answer staring blankly at the General. He was being sincere, Mak could see that, and that was all that made him more worried and confused.

"I don't know, sir. No one got in, no one got out. The cell's been secured all night,"

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"I know you're in there, brother, you can't hide beneath that mask of this human..."

Iris could never forget what happened last night. She tried to figure out what he meant. What was really going on, why they wanted her dead. The man said it wasn't about revenge. She had explained all those things to the others.

Team Avatar had gathered at the Throne Room. Sokka was skeptically suggesting ideas; while Katara healed Iris's wound on her neck. Toph and Aang were skeptically staring at the floor and Zuko was pacing around. He couldn't stop the worry. He couldn't stop the fears of losing her.

"Would you stop tossing around?!" Sokka said irritatingly.

"How can you all be so calm?!" Zuko nearly shouted turning at him.

Katara bent the water back in her pouch and she walked towards Zuko placing a hand on his shoulder. "Zuko, calm down, take a deep breath," she said.

"How can I calm! A guy nearly killed my girlfriend!" Zuko exclaimed.

"That's exactly the reason you need to calm, buddy, we can't figure anything out if we're not calm," Aang said.

"What I can't understand is 'how'? How did he enter the Fire Nation Palace?" Toph asked.

"That's what I was thinking. This building is possibly the safest one in the entire Nation. He couldn't have just jumped into the Fire Lord's balcony without anyone noticing!" Sokka said crossing his arms.

"Maybe there are spirits involved," Aang suggested.

"Aang, there are not always spirits behind every situation we can't figure out!" Zuko said remembering the Kemuricage incident a few months ago.

"Maybe, Aang's right," Iris spoke for the first time in a long moment.

Everyone turned and looked at her in confusion waiting to give a further explanation on the matter. She woke up and she walked towards her brother.