Aria finally opened her eyes with a worried expression on her face.
As she began to climb the window, Zach stopped her, "Wait! What happened? Did something happen??"
Aria: "I hope it doesn't." Saying this she jumped out and flew in the direction of the forest.
Aria muttered as she flew so fast that she was barely a blur, "Please. Let it be false. I hope my bending was faulty. Please!" It was the first time Aria had ever wished for her bending to be faulty, though it never had been.
Aria flew and landed with a loud noise in the midst of the forest. The trees in this part of the forest were so dense that it was really dark and no moon or sky was visible. But Aria knew the forest and she also had wind bending, so she ran away, leaving behind cracks in the ground where she had landed.
Aria very soon reached the place she wanted to and saw that she was barely in time.
Four boys were bending over a girl who Aria knew to be Harper. She was tied to a tree and a cloth was stuffed into her mouth.
Aria took a few deep breaths to calm herself. She could not lose control over this. She had got this. Harper would be safe.
But Aria was overwhelmed with rage as she saw one of the boys rip apart Harper's dress and grab her. Barely conscious of what she was doing, Aria rushed forward, the only thought in her mind to rip these boys to shreds.
She was about to be taken over by rage when Aria caught sight of Harper's horrified face. This girl did not need one more horror to add to the worst night of her life. Her expression helped Aria pull herself back and she punched the closest one in the stomach before sending all the four flying with wind bending. She made sure they were securely tied to four different trees by earth bending before Aria walked back to Harper, who had fainted from the fright.
Aria sighed and silent tears rolled down her eyes as she removed the cords by which Harper was tied to the tree and observed the marks that the cords and the boys' hands left on her skin.
She took Harper in her arms and flew towards the castle, maintaining a slow pace so as not to overwhelm the unconscious Harper.
Just as they were reaching the North tower, Harper came to and clutched at Aria's dress with a horrified expression. "No. No!!! Please, no!!!!" She shrieked.
"Don't worry Harper. You are fine. Those boys will never get to you again." Aria said in a cracked voice as she held back tears.
"Aria?" Harper was surprised and confused before she perceived where the two really were and fainted from fright.
Aria twirled her fingers so that she could support Harper in mid-air as she opened the window of her room. She then climbed in before making the unconscious Harper float in through the window and laid her on the bed.
Just as Aria was wondering what to do, whether to take Harper to the recovery ward or not, Harper came to again. This time she seemed a little more sensible as she jumped up and said, "Aria? Where am I? How come you are here?"