Avatar: shackled earth

Pain was the first thing Tomo registered when consciousness clawed its way back to him. His body felt like it had been run through a meat grinder, and his mind was a haze of throbbing agony and half-formed nightmares. The air was thick with the scent of blood-his own and Ariya's-and something sharper,something metallic that clung to the back of his throat like rusted iron.

He was bound, arms wrenched behind him at an unnatural angle, his wrists cinched together with rough rope that bit into his flesh. His ankles were similarly restrained,tied so tightly he could barely feel them anymore. Every shift sent fire lancing through his limbs, and he could already tell his circulation was being cut off.

A faint groan escaped his lips, and that's when he heard it. The soft, rhythmic sound of dripping. Water? No. Too thick.Too slow. Blood.

His stomach twisted.

Memory returned in sharp, disjointed flashes-the ambush, the refugees' bodies still warm when Kael and Sho found them, Ariya lunging at them like a wild animal before they were overpowered. He didn't even remember what happened after that.

Tomo cracked his eyes open, and the dim glow of a torch illuminated the room -a cellar,maybe? The walls were damp stone, the floor stained with something darker than dirt. Shackles hung from the ceiling, and a heavy wooden table stood in the center, its surface scored with deep grooves. He could smell old suffering here, the remnants of past victims soaked into the very walls.

And then there was Ariya.

She was slumped against the far wall,her arms pulled taut above her head by chains that clanked softly with every shallow breath she took. Blood dripped from her split lip, her left eye was already swelling shut, and angry red burns marred the bare skin of her arms.

But she was awake.

Her gaze locked onto his, steady despite the pain carved into every inch of her body. She didn't speak. Didn't need to.The look in her eyes was enough.

They weren't getting out of this easily.

Footsteps.

Tomo tensed as the heavy wooden door creaked open, and Kael stepped inside,followed by Sho,who leaned lazily against the doorway like this was all some mild inconvenience.

Tomo shuddered.

Tomo's fingers twitched. If he had even an ounce of freedom, he would have ripped out Kael's throat with his bare hands.

"Good. You're awake," Kael said, voice smooth, measured, as if discussing the weather. His hands were wrapped in black leather gloves, pristine despite the bloodstained room. The man strode inside with the smugness of a king, every movement deliberate, his posture exuding the kind of arrogance that came with knowing he had total control.

Kael stopped in the center of the room,looking down at them like they were insects crushed beneath his heel. He exhaled through his nose, his lips curling into a sneer.

"You vermin," he muttered, shaking his head. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused me?"

His voice was smooth, condescending, but there was an edge of irritation beneath it-anger, wounded pride.

"Do you know what it's like to stand before that bastard of a captain and explain why a pair of worthless rats like you managed to humiliate me?" He let out a short, bitter laugh. "Me?"

He began pacing, each step slow, measured.

"I should've just taken you back to the captain. Let the higher-ups deal with you.But no. No, you insulted me. You made me look like a fool. You-" He turned sharply, his eyes glinting with malice."-you filth actually thought you could resist me?"

Tomo's breathing was ragged, his chest heaving, but he said nothing. His silence wasn't submission. It was the quiet before the storm.

Kael smirked. "Oh, don't go silent on me now. Where's all that fight from before?"

He took a step closer and kicked Tomo in the ribs.

A sharp, sickening crack echoed in the room.

Tomo lurched forward, but the pain barely registered. His vision blurred at the edges, his body trembling-not from weakness, but from the sheer rage coursing through his veins.

Kael crouched beside him,grabbing his chin roughly,forcing him to look up.

"That fool of a captain thinks you're special." He let the word roll off his tongue like an insult. "A precious little airbender."

His grip tightened.

"Tell me, Tomo-what's so special about you?"

Tomo's lips curled back in a snarl.

Kael laughed. "That's what I thought. Nothing. You're nothing. Airbending?" He scoffed, shoving Tomo's face away. "The weakest of all bending. You think some little gust of wind is going to save you?Is that what you were telling yourself when you watched all those refugees die?"

Tomo lunged, but the restraints held him back.

Kael's grin widened. "Ahh, there it is.That fire. That hatred." He leaned in close, his breath warm against Tomo's ear. "You should savor it. Because by the time I'm done with you, you won't have anything left."

Tomo's entire body was shaking. His fingers clenched into fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, drawing blood.

He wanted to kill him.

To butcher him.

Kael stood and moved toward the table,selecting a long, thin knife. "I'll be honest-I don't think I can break her." He nodded toward Ariya. "But you? You're already broken. I just need to finish the job."

Sho sighed loudly from the doorway."Kael, this is pointless. We should just take them back."

Kael didn't even look at him. "Do you ever shut up?" He ran his thumb along the blade's edge, testing its sharpness. "Go stand outside if you can't stomach it."

Sho's jaw clenched, but he didn't argue.He just looked away, his fingers twitching like he wanted to punch something.

Kael turned back to Tomo.

"Now," he said, his voice low,patient.

"Let's start small."

The knife plunged into Tomo's thigh.

White-hot pain exploded up his leg, but he didn't scream. He refused. His breath came in sharp, shuddering gasps, his vision flashing red.

Kael twisted the blade

Tomo gritted his teeth so hard he thought they might crack. His nails dug deeper into his palms. The pain was unbearable, but it was fuel.

Kael pulled the knife out with a slow,sickening schlick and wiped the blood off on Tomo's shirt like it was nothing.

"You're stubborn," he mused. "I like stubborn."

Ariya's voice,hoarse but unwavering,cut through the air.

"You talk too much."

Kael chuckled, turning to her. "Oh? Does it bother you, watching him suffer? I thought you were the strong one."

He walked toward her, dragging the tip of the knife along the stone floor. "Let's see if that strength holds up".

Tomo saw it before Kael even moved-the shift in weight, the gleam of sadistic pleasure in his eyes.

And then the knife buried itself in Ariya's shoulder.

This time, she did scream.

Tomo roared.

His entire body surged forward with a force that should've been impossible.The ropes cut deeper, but he didn't care.

Kael watched him, fascinated.

"That rage," he murmured. "It's beautiful."

Tomo couldn't hear him. Couldn't see anything but red. His entire body was shaking,his breath ragged,his heart pounding like war drums.

The air in the room shifted.

Kael frowned.

A breeze-light,barely noticeable-stirred the dust on the floor.

Tomo didn't even realize what was happening.

His rage was spilling over, bleeding into the air around him, warping it, twisting it.

The torchlight flickered. The chains rattled. The very walls seemed to groan.

Kael stepped back, his expression darkening.

"Interesting," he murmured. "Maybe you do have some fight left after all."

Tomo's breathing was erratic, his chest heaving. He wanted to break free.He needed to.

Kael smiled.

"Good," he said. "Then let's keep going."

And he raised the knife again.