A mix of Wally's screams and Joker's laughs bounced off the walls of the small room as the clown prince of crime continued to literally rip the young speedster's back apart. Blood was pooling on the ground and splattered on the walls amongst other gore. How KF was still alive went beyond all understanding of the Boy Wonder. It seemed like there couldn't be an ounce of the crimson fluid left in his friend's body.
Finally, after an eternity of the harsh, brutal beating, Joker ceased and put his hands on his knees to catch his breath. But his sick, wicked grin remained plastered on his white, snake like face. His dark, beady eyes staring at his crimson and purple masterpiece.
Robin hadn't been able to watch the last part. He had his head down, eyes shut, and jaw clenched. His mind had gone blank. All he could hear were his friend's agonized cries, the sickening rip of his flesh being torn from his body, and the booming cackles of the barbaric clown. He could still hear it all echoing in his mind, his heart feeling every lash.
Kid Flash hung from the barbwire cutting through his wrists, digging into the tendons. His eyes were hardly open, his chest barely moving, swinging limply from his restraints. His whole body was numb and useless. No words could describe the pain he felt in his back and sides. The fiery, stinging, throbbing sensation that coursed through him. Though Joker had stopped, he still felt the whip tearing him apart like the claws of a beast tearing away at its prey. He just wanted it to be over, though had a feeling he was already on the downward slope.
"Boy oh boy, that was fun!" Joker exclaimed with one of his heart stopping laughs. "As much as I would love to know who the Bat is, I'm almost glad you stayed quiet, bird boy."
Robin kept his eyes down. He had no words for the barbaric monster. To think that anybody, even Joker, could enjoy doing that to somebody else was far beyond his comprehension. How he wished it had been him. It should've been him. Wally didn't deserve this. Batman was his mentor, not KF's. He should've been the one to take the beating.
"Being quiet, I see," Joker said. "Oh well." He pulled out a pair of wire clippers and cut the barbwire just above Wally's hands, and let the young speedster drop to the ground with a groan. He then proceeded to drop the crimson stained whip back in the duffle bag before walking back over to the bloodied and bruised hero. He crouched down next to him, grabbed his sweat coated mop of red hair, and yanked his head up. "Oh speedy baby." He lightly slapped Wally's cheek a few times.
Wally's head just hung limply, his eyes closed, clearly unconscious.
"Hmm. I know what will do the trick!" Joker jumped up and disappeared out the door, but only for a moment before he returned. He was carrying a good-sized bucket, water splashing around in it. "Here we go." He grinned that evil grin and spilled the water over his poor victim.
Robin watched closely, only able to hope it was normal water. But he knew better than that.
Wally's eyes shot open with a muffled scream. He began writhing on the ground as his body seemed to be set on fire.
"Ah yes. Nothing more refreshing than some nice salt water to clean out the wounds," Joker said as he happily watched the young hero.
Robin's heart sunk even more as he heard Wally's tortured groans. He watched his friend writhe on the ground as the salt sunk deep into his shredded body. The water mixed with his blood, creating a stomach churning combination to coat and stain the ground.
Wally's mind was overtaken by the absolute pain assaulting his body. He was on fire. He was sure of it. He could feel every little particle of salt sizzling deep inside his lacerations and gashes as the water soaked through him. He couldn't stop his torn body from writhing around as the groans and screams escaped his mouth against his will.
Robin fought against his chains, desperately wanting to help his friend. He needed medical attention now or else he'd bleed out. He was already too pale, and his enhanced healing wouldn't be fast enough. Especially with the state he was in and not having eaten for a while. He had to find a way out of here. He had to. There was no option.
Wally finally calmed down and laid there, gasping for air. He was exhausted, numb, burning, sore, stinging. His whole body just hurt in every way imaginable, but he was too tired to do anything but lie there in his agony, anxiously awaiting Joker's next move.
"Well, its getting late," the crazed clown finally said. He grabbed KF by the arm and dragged him over to the wall just a few feet away from Robin. Joker chained one of Wally's wrists to the wall before walking back to his duffle bag. "You two don't stay up much longer," he said in a mock fatherly voice. "We have another big day tomorrow. Lot's of fun games." With one last big laugh, Joker disappeared out the door.
The light turned off, drenching the room in darkness and silence. Only Wally's labored gasps and could be heard, and a slight groan as he attempted to shift occasionally.
"Kid, I…" Robin started.
"Don't," Wally interrupted, his voice strained. "It's ok."
"No, it's not. He's my mentor. It should've been me."
Wally looked up at Dick's silhouette. "Hey, it's an honor to get beat up for the Bat…I think. Besides, it's probably more torturous for you to see this hot figure getting screwed up," he joked, pushing out a small laugh that hurt his ribs.
While Dick was glad to hear his friend try to joke around, he just couldn't laugh. "I'm serious."
"Me too."
"Kid."
"Robin."
Dick was going to say something, but just sighed and remained quiet.
"Look, I'm glad it was me. You're tough and all and can take a lot, but you'd be a dead, bloody heap right now. My fast healing is what's kept me alive. Even though its quite a bit slower right now. I'm ok, dude. This one is for the better."
Robin sighed again and started trying to fiddle with the chains. "KF, can you phase out of these?"
"Any other day, yeah. But I can hardly move." Wally tried anyway, though, but couldn't get to a superspeed at all.
"Its ok. You should probably get some rest."
"Like that's gonna happen."
Dick sighed and continued working the chains, though it was hard with not being able to see real great.
"Where do you think the League is?" Wally asked. "Or the Team?"
Dick stopped and looked down at the shadowy heap of his speedster friend. "I don't know," he replied honestly. "I'm sure they're looking for us. But Joker undoubtedly destroyed our trackers. Or had his goons plant them somewhere else."
"Yeah, that's probably more likely."
Dick slightly nodded and looked up at the darkened ceiling. Where were they? Where was the Justice League? Or the Team? Why weren't they here yet? There was no way Wally would be able to survive another day if this was how it was going to go. Another beating like that would be his last.
The night flew by in restlessness. It dragged on forever, yet ended too soon. The Boy Wonder and speedster didn't say much, causing an eerie quietness to fall over the room, broken only by an occasional grunt by Wally attempting to shift.
Both pairs of the young, tired eyes snapped up to the door as a click echoed through the room and the squeak of the door.
