Always you

Ghosts Don't Send Messages

Song ~ Alien Blues by Vundabar

I slowly blink my eyes open, my lashes sticking together like I've been asleep for years. My body feels heavy. I feel for my bag, fingers patting empty sheets for where my journal should be. "What day is it?" My voice comes out rough.

I stretch further, but my bag's gone. Probably left it somewhere stupid. I squeeze my eyes shut again. Every muscle screams when I move. What the hell happened to me?

Then it hits me. The canal. The way the icy water swallowed me whole, how my lungs burned as I sank deeper. I bolt upright so fast my vision swims. My hair's loose, not in its usual braid, and when I push it back, my fingers catch on a bandage wrapped around my head. I must've hit my head on the way down.

I'm too busy trying to regain all my thoughts to notice where I am at first. Then I see the metal walls, red bedsheets. That horrible Fire Nation symbol hanging up. My breath stutters.

No fucking way. This can't be happening. I scramble out of bed, but my legs fold like wet paper and I crash into the desk, sending some pencils to the floor.

I steady myself, looking around. I rush to the huge metal door and try to pry it but it won't budge. I'm locked in. My heart quickens. But I won't let myself get worked up right now; I won't allow myself to be in this situation because I couldn't control my mind. I keep scanning the room when the window catches my eye.

I'm moving before my brain catches up. The desk screeches as I shove it under the window, my back pressed against the wood, feet braced on the bed frame.

A glass lamp smashes on the floor but I don't stop. I probably don't have much time. I drag myself onto the wobbling desk and grab the window latch. I quickly squeeze half my body out the window, and all I see below are waves. I'm so screwed.

I get startled by banging and shouting at my door. My father must be pissed. I hang there for a few more seconds, this might be the stupidest decision I could make. I don't even think my body's strong enough to swim.

I close my eyes and prepare myself before I hear the door swing open. "Dee, stop!" I look back to see who it could be, and my blood runs cold. Anger takes over my body. I would rather drown than have to speak to him ever again. I rapidly try to fall through the window, but he's already caught my leg and is dragging me back in. I try to inch away, but it's no use. He puts me over his shoulder and throws me on the bed.

"You've got to be kidding me." My laugh sounds unhinged even to me. I let out a bitter laugh, my eyes narrowing. He looks confused, almost hurt, but I don't care. "I always knew you were a horrible person, but this? This is a new low, even for you." My laughter fades, replaced by a cold, hard stare. "How much did he pay you? Or was kidnapping me your twisted idea of a grand romantic gesture?"

Silence. Typical. The guy could win gold in a Not-Talking contest. "What? You don't find me funny? Why so silent, huh?" I don't want to deal with him anymore

"Dee, I promise that's not what's happening."

"You know, let's just get him now, shall we? Father! Father!" I yell, standing up and storming closer to the door. I don't know where this confidence came from, but it's here. There isn't anything I could do or say to my father to not make him more upset than he probably already is.

Zen pushes me back slightly. "Look, please just let me explain. I—" He huffs.

"No! I want to see my father." I will not let him boss me around. I don't owe him anything.

"Dee!" He shouts. He quickly turns his tone down. "Dee, I—he's not here," He says.

"Great. He did all this and doesn't even have the decency to meet me face to face," I whisper under my breath. Classic him, I guess.

"No, uh, he's not involved in any of this." I'm taken aback. "This was me and Zuko's doing, okay?" This is even worse than I thought. It would have at least meant my father cared for me just a little.

"So... you were the crazy person who hired a guy to kidnap me?" I bark.

"Well actually, ah, it's a funny story. I am that guy," He says, almost smiling. I don't say anything. "That is the guy who kidnapped you." He can't be serious. I want to swing my fist into his face so bad right now.

"You? You." I mutter under my breath. He nodded, I just shook my head. I'd laugh again if I weren't furious. "You are pathetic." I spat my hands trembling at my sides. Zen just stands there, his expression a mix of guilt and something else, Regret? It doesn't matter. All I see is betrayal.

"You," I repeat, my voice low "You're the reason I'm here, trapped on this... this ship?" My voice rises. "Do you have any idea what you and Zuko have done? What you've both put me through?"

Zen shifts uncomfortably, his eyes darting to the floor before meeting mine again. "Dee, I know how this looks, but you have to understand—I didn't have a choice. I... I needed you. There's something bigger going on, something you don't know about yet."

"Oh, spare me with the cryptic bullshit," I snap, cutting him off. "You don't get to play the greater good card after kidnapping me. I could've died." My voice cracks on the last word.

Zen's face softens, and he takes a cautious step forward. "Dee, I swear, I never meant for you to get hurt. I just had to get to you somehow."

"And that's supposed to make all of this better? You're delusional, Zen. You always have been." He flinches at that, and for a moment, I felt satisfaction. But it didn't last long I pushed myself off the bed sighing. I turn away from him, pacing the room as I try to make sense of this mess. My mind races, replaying the events leading up to this moment. "Why?" I finally ask, my voice barely above a whisper. I stop pacing and face him, my eyes searching his for answers. "Why me? What could possibly be so important that you'd do this?"

Zen hesitates, his jaw tightening as if he's weighing his words. "It's... complicated," He says finally. "But you're the key to something, Dee. We need your help."

"My help?" I scoff, crossing my arms over my chest. "You have a funny way of asking for it. Kidnapping isn't exactly a great impression."

"I know," He admits, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "There wasn't time to explain. If I'd waited, if I'd tried to approach you normally, you would've shut me out and we can't afford that."

"You don't know that," I shoot back, though a small part of me knows he's right. He gives me a look which tells me he doesn't believe me. "Just tell me why I'm here." I ask defeated.

Zen takes a breath, I see droplets of sweat rolling down his forehead. "I don't know the full story yet but someone told me to get you-"

"Who?!" I'm growing impatient. "Zen you're avoiding this conversation, for once in your life can you speak to me and-"

"Your sister."

The world stops. I feel the blood drain from my face and my hands start to tremble. "No! Ama- she is de-," I start.

"Dead?" Zen steps closer. "Amaro's alive and she sent me to find you."