Chapter 3

                                    

                                          
Kezia and Lee shared a quick glance as the pirates said their goodbyes to their former guests. They had finally arrived in Ba Sing Se, with their entire escape plan carefully thought out. But little did they know, they were going to have a big problem.
                          
"Now, before you go, a little bird told me that you would be escaping tonight, Kezia."
                          
Kezia froze, panic taking over her body. She tried to move, but felt frozen in place. She watched as Asia grabbed Mushi and moved to block the exit, and felt Rumi grab her and Lee with their hands behind their backs. Jay was standing guiltily with a confused looking Yin at his side. 
                          
"It was you, you little-" Kezia began, watching as Jay looked away.
                          
"Hush, Kezia. The only traitor I see here... is you." Rumi growled.
                          
 "She's no traitor. You are all just cruel, keeping her under your control by the terms of some made-up oath she was forced to take at a young and impressionable age." Lee yelled, only earning a low chuckle from Asia.
                          
"I don't think the terms will be on your mind when you're drowning in the depths of the ocean!" Asia hissed, her cold eyes glaring into Lee's.
                          
Lee narrowed his eyes at that, and with a quick move he managed to escape Rumi's grip and knock him to the ground, freeing Kezia in the process.
                          
"Bold of you to assume you'll manage to drown us." Kezia hollered, getting Rumi into a chokehold and watching as Lee grabbed his swords and began to fight with Asia. 
                          
Kezia turned her attention from Lee to Jay, who was frozen in place. He looked so small and terrified, that for a moment, Kezia almost felt pity for him. But that feeling was quickly diminished, and replaced by a much stronger feeling of hatred.
                          
The hatred continued surging through her, pumping in her veins and putting a veil over her eyes, shielding her from common sense and putting her into a mode to harm. Beneath her, she could feel Rumi struggling to get up. She may have had a strong hold, but she knew it wasn't going to last much longer. So, Kezia swiftly elbowed Rumi in the head, making him go limp for a moment. That gave Kezia enough time to get on Rumi's stomach and push her arm onto his throat. When he came to seconds later, he began to sputter, running out of breath. 
                          
"W-wait... I-i..."
                          
"You what?" Kezia hissed.
                          
"I'm s-s-sorry..." Rumi managed.
                          
But Kezia wasn't having it. She applied more pressure on his throat, blinded by rage. Rumi quickly went limp, passing out from lack of air. Kezia quickly got off of his body, the rage disappearing and showing her what her anger made her capable of doing. Kezia's mouth opened slightly at the sight, and she could practically feel Jay's horrified stare boring into her. 
                          
Kezia averted her eyes from him, and rather turned her gaze to Lee and Asia. She tried to distract herself as she watched Lee easily overpower the woman. 
                          
"Fighting a girl? My, you've stooped low, Lee." Asia spat.
                          
"A villain is still a villain, no matter their gender." Lee spat back. With that, he knocked her to the ground, his sword coming down mere millimeters from Asia's head. "Now you will let us leave, or next time, this sword will be landing a few inches to the right."
                          
Asia nodded, all the cockiness from moments before dissipating and being replaced by fear. Lee stood up, glaring down at the helpless pirate captain once more before walking over to Kezia.  
                          
They shared a small smile. Really, their lips just turned up slightly more than usual, but the feeling was still there. The feeling of triumph. The feeling of freedom. 
                          
They quickly left the ship, greeting Mushi who had already disembarked the ship.
                          
"My, what incredible fighting!" Mushi exclaimed, clapping at the two teenager's success. "I would have joined to help, but you seemed to have had it all under control!"
                          
Kezia let out a soft laugh as she followed the two males into the crowd, the feeling of freedom enveloping her like a hug from a long lost friend.