HOME | DD

DeceptiveTRUTH — Let Go: Chapter One
Published: 2010-08-14 02:52:04 +0000 UTC; Views: 431; Favourites: 3; Downloads: 2
Redirect to original
Description This is an ATLA fan-fiction, written from Sokka's perspective. More chapters are soon to come; until then, feel free to leave constructive criticism and enjoy!



A distant voice sounded from somewhere far away, somewhere untouchable, without time to measure its boundaries. The song vibrated the air with its articulate serenity. The words were incomprehensible, as they were nothing more than the whisper of an echo, but each note rang clearly and harmoniously throughout the atmosphere. Blackness surrounded my consciousness, yet somehow I knew I was dreaming. This dream was different; a dream like no other.

I could feel oxygen easing into my lungs, the gentle whisper of wind as it slid beneath the fur blanket that rested atop my body. It was as though I had reached another world where it didn't matter if I could see, and I could simply rely my remaining senses to guide me. The warmth of my surroundings suddenly felt distant as the sound of the woman's singing voice grew louder. Now able to hear her words more clearly, I realized that they were in a language I couldn't understand. Straining, I listened carefully.

Wait… it couldn't be. Was the voice an animal's? As each chord eased into silence, realization began to dawn on me. It was the song of a wolf, but with an aura that suggested otherwise. Seconds ticking by, I began to understand.

Let go… let go.

Breath caught in my throat, I could only wait as unease settled in the pit of my stomach. The silence seemed to last for hours, until I was ripped with a violent jerk from my slumber. I found myself sitting upright in bed, breathing heavily as I fought off a sickening churn of confusion. The song's words seemed to linger in the air like a thick fog.

The room was illuminated by a bright ray of moonlight streaming in through the open window, its luminescence bringing several dust motes into perspective. The small, insignificant particles drifted daintily through the air in a manner that struck me as mocking. Giving a heavy sigh, I ran a hand down my face and repressed a groan. I could have easily passed off the dream as the result of too much watermelon juice, but I seemed to have become enveloped by it. The ominous song filled my head, numbing my other senses as I slid out of bed.

I'd fallen asleep completely dressed that night, having wasted the day at the beach with the others. We'd all exhausted ourselves with pointless horseplay, and later in the night before retreating to our own rooms to rest, we'd sat around a blazing fire and reminisced. Things were considerably calmer now that we'd all decided to visit Ember Island, and it was only our first night of vacation.

Knowing that I wouldn't be able to sleep again anytime soon, I made my way surreptitiously through the building in hopes that I wouldn't wake any of the others. Part of me wished that one of them was conscious, soon to get out of their warm beds and greet me casually. Of course, the hopes were empty; I knew such thoughts were in vain.

Once I'd managed to sneak out of the house without being detected – much to my disappointment – I meandered sluggishly along the shoreline, the pungent scent of low tide hanging in the air. Each second I spent walking just beyond the ocean's foaming reach, I grew more positive that I could hear the same soft song from my dream weaving its way around my surroundings.

That stupid dream was driving me to insanity! It meant nothing to me, but at the same time, it meant everything to me. I stopped walking and clenched my fists furiously, kicking a barnacle-covered rock with unnecessary force before quickly withdrawing my now throbbing foot. Grinding my teeth, I passed the unmoved boulder and limped on, muttering maliciously to myself as I attempted to block out the voice that had enslaved my thoughts.

Minutes passed, and the pain in my foot eventually lessened to the point that I could walk normally again. My head eased back as I continued to make my way across the beach, noticing a sudden chill in the air. Feeling a bead of water drop onto my forehead, I flinched in surprise and wiped away the small raindrop. Great. It was raining in the middle of summer. Just my luck.

I hurried over to a small cove which had hollowed out in the side of the cliff that hung over the shore like a natural canopy. Retreating into the makeshift shelter, I pressed myself against the dry dirt wall and sat down, glaring out at the rain which fell heavily beyond the confines of my sanctuary.

Look, touch, feel. Heed my parting words, and you will heal…

Instinctively, my hand shot towards the empty sword sheath resting at my hip. The voice sounded as though it had come from thin air. How was that possible? What was happening? Panic forced its hands around my heart as I waited, breathing shallow with fear. My eyes were drawn to the ground, where a glint of azure caught my attention.

There, nestled amongst the thousands of grains of sand, was a water-drenched bracelet. It looked as though it was comprised entirely out of sapphires. Even in the darkness, it seemed fluorescent. On the bracelet's side were words of another language, one I was unfamiliar with. They were etched into the sapphire's hard surface, revealing a silver inner plate that caused the words to stand out starkly in contrast.

With both curiosity and hesitance, I reached forward to touch the bracelet. The moment my fingers met its cool surface, my eyes were forced shut against my will as an unbearable agony seared through my veins and caused my body to grow rigid. I jerked involuntarily and fell forward, my muscles throbbing and burning with every movement. My thoughts were obscured by pain as a powerful spasm tore its way through my back and caused my whole body to arch upward. Throat tightening to the point that I could hardly breathe, I tried to resist every convulsion that racked my body and set my bones ablaze. Another outburst of heat erupted in my chest, and this time the pain was so great that I nearly screamed.

Every sear of flame that tore its way through me was excruciatingly intense, and within a matter of seconds, the pain increased tenfold. It felt as though the bracelet, once cold against my skin, had fused with my fingertips. Every fresh, oncoming wave seemed to flow from that point of contact.  It was impossible to remain motionless. My agonized writhing continued, but not a sound left my throat. Eyes suddenly reopening in response to a particularly sharp pang, I stared at the sky, entranced by the inhuman upheaval which the pain forced upon me. The edges of my vision were growing red, bordering the now blurred world I gazed out at through constricted pupils. I would have given anything for it to stop, anything in the world.

Unable to inhale due to the intensity of the pain, I was growing light-headed and felt myself slipping from consciousness. My body gave one last paroxysm before I went limp.
Related content
Comments: 3

DrHQuinzel [2010-08-14 15:53:28 +0000 UTC]

I love it so far! Sokka's definitely one of my favorite characters. Keep writing! I'm dying to find out what happens next!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

DeceptiveTRUTH In reply to DrHQuinzel [2010-08-14 18:33:03 +0000 UTC]

I'm glad you like it! I'll be submitting the next chapter soon, although I don't quite have an estimate yet. Thanks!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

DrHQuinzel In reply to DeceptiveTRUTH [2010-08-14 18:39:56 +0000 UTC]

Your welcome!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0