Isabel opened her heavy eyelids and pushed herself up from the shabby bed with worn out sheets. She tried to summon Brainiac to connect to the Internet to contact Bruce. However, she couldn t find Brainiac in her mind. Was she too tired?
The room was dark with only one faltering light bulb.
The door creaked open and she saw a blonde teenager enter. So you re awake, Isabel?
She glared at Daniel, refusing to answer. She grabbed the sheets and shifted away from the advancing Daniel. As she moved the sheets, she found that she was only wearing her underwear and a necklace with her mother s wedding ring. Both her suit and her mask were gone.
Daniel saw her look of disgust and reassured, I only removed your suit. I didn t do anything else. Also, I realized that your necklace is gone.
Isabel sneered coldly. It is already in pieces. I no longer treasure it as I feel nothing but hate towards you.
Daniel s caring smile was wiped off from his face and was replaced by a scowl. You still don t understand your situation, do you? You haven t realized how vulnerable you are now, have you?
Isabel s heart skipped a beat; Daniel wouldn t, no, he couldn t.
Isabel, even you have a weakness. Thanks to my boss, who realized your vulnerability to magic. You re now a mere human as he used magic to bind Brainiac and your Kryptonian DNA.
Isabel s mind went blank. Daniel continued, You once told me that you wanted to be normal. You ve got your wish. Without your powers, you have no obligations of saving the world. Then, you can belong to me once again.
Isabel looked into the once pure emerald green eyes of the ex-hero. Do you really think I will belong to you after you have taken my life away from me?
When you realize that I am your only support. Isabel snorted in disbelief and prayed to the gods that Terry and Bruce were fine.
Daniel went out of the room and found something to cheer Isabel up. He grabbed the newly bought guitar and gave it to Isabel.
Go away, Daniel.
Daniel urged, Isabel, I know you loved me. Why can t you love me again? Sing to me like you used to.
Isabel stared determinedly into the murderer s eyes and said, No.
Daniel was frustrated; he tried everything to please Isabel, yet she refused to love him. Out of anger, he grabbed Isabel s chin and turned her face to him.
Listen well, Isabel. My patience is wearing away. You d better do as I say before I suggest an attack on Batman to my eager boss.
Isabel knew from the sinister glint in his eyes that he wasn t bluffing and requested, I need paper and pen.
Daniel smiled victoriously. You wish to write a song for me?
Isabel bit back her tongue to say something insulting and said instead, I want to write a farewell song for someone.
Daniel left the room, feeling satisfied. Isabel was his once more. Then, he went to report to his boss.
He went past rooms stuffed with abandoned toys and wondered why his boss chose a deserted toy factory as their lair. This choice was bizarre but not uncommon for his rather peculiar boss.
Enjoying life, are you? My little green minion. Joker lay comfortably in his chair.
Daniel grunted in reply. Tut, tut, tut. Manners, little Danny. I gave you the powers you own and also let you play with your Juliet. I can easily take both away.
Daniel suppressed his anger and bowed to Joker before leaving.
Although Joker was the one who had given him meta-powers through his medicine , Daniel had been trying to find out how Joker survived after his announced death, hopefully finding his weakness to kill him. After eliminating Joker, he would go after Terry Mcginnis, Batman, Bruce Wayne and Superman. Then, Isabel would truly have no one else to turn to except him.
As Daniel returned the room, he heard Isabel singing with her guitar.
I took a chance, I took a shot And you might think I'm bulletproof but I'm not You took a swing, I took it hard And down here from the ground, I see who you are I'm sick and tired of your attitude I'm feeling like I don't know you You tell me that you love me then you cut me down And I need you like a heartbeat But you know you got a mean streak Makes me run for cover when you're around And here's to you and your temper Yes, I remember what you said last night And I know that you see what you're doing to me Tell me, why?
You could write a book on how To ruin someone's perfect day Well, I get so confused and frustrated Forget what I'm trying to say, oh I'm sick and tired of your reasons I got no one to believe in You tell me that you want me, then push me around And I need you like a heartbeat But you know you got a mean streak Makes me run for cover when you're around Here's to you and your temper Yes, I remember what you said last night And I know that you see what you're doing to me Tell me, why?
Why do you have to make me feel small So you can feel whole inside?
Why do you have to put down my dreams So you're the only thing on my mind?
I'm sick and tired of your attitude I'm feeling like I don't know you You tell me that you want me then cut me down I'm sick and tired of your reasons I've got no one to believe in You ask me for my love then you push me around Here's to you and your temper Yes, I remember what you said last night And I know that you see what you're doing to me Tell me, why? Why? Tell me, why?
I take a step back, let you go I told you I'm not bulletproof Now you know
Daniel s fist shook with rage. Was this Isabel s response to his love?
He slammed open the door, startling her. He snatched the guitar out of her hands and smashed it onto the ground. The strings snapped and the wooden splinters were spread onto the floor.
Isabel was paralyzed as she felt Daniel s fury. She didn t even notice one of the guitar strings cut her finger, causing blood to gush out.
Daniel panted heavily; why couldn t Isabel understand him? Why couldn t she forget the killings he did and just love him? He couldn t take this anymore.
He grabbed her shoulders to face him. Isabel could tell what he was going to do next.
She tried her best to push his advancing body away from hers.
However, it wasn t long before Daniel s lips were centimeters from hers.
SLAP!
He reminded her ominously, Mcginnis s arm won t be attached to his body if you continue to defy me.
He saw her arms fall limp immediately with satisfaction and a tint of jealousy. He attacked her lips mercilessly, using his tongue to entwine her limp one. He had never kissed her with tongue even when they were a couple. She had always come up with some excuse.
Daniel enjoyed it so much that he pushed her slowly onto the bed, finally breaking the kiss. He paid no attention to Isabel s teary eyes and secured his hands on her shoulders.
Isabel knew there was no escape from this; no one could save her.
She opened her lips for one last retort. How can you say that you love me? You are going to rape me. She closed her eyes tightly, waiting for the blow.
To her surprise, his grip on her shoulders loosened and he sat up. Feeling Daniel s retreat, Isabel sprang up and sprinted away from the bed.
She couldn t see his eyes behind his long golden bangs. Why can t you love me?
Isabel replied indignantly, How could you expect me to love you? You killed people! You hurt Terry! You did everything to hurt me yet you expect me to love you?! Daniel, I HATE YOU!
Don t you understand? I did everything for you! I had these powers to match yours! I killed the Project officials for you and my dad!
No, Daniel. You did it for revenge. You only use your love for me as an excuse. You don t love me.
He stormed out of the room; he was going to let his boss know that he was done with the girl. Joker, the girl s yours!
Aww lovers quarrel. Well then, I ll go in and cheer the cute pumpkin up.
Meanwhile, in the Batcave
Mcginnis, you need to rest. Bruce ordered the pacing teen with a limp arm and hand. Terry just went out of the hospital after fixing the position of his broken bones and applying gauze.
Isabel is in the hands of a perverted maniac. How do you expect me to rest?
Bruce, still typing fervently on the computer, said, I need you to be in full power when I find Bullseye s lair.
Terry groaned and slumped into a chair. Terry~ Isabel, are you hurt? Please hang on. I ll rescue you from that fucking bastard soon.
