Chapter 10: SACRAFICE
Miss Martian couldn't take it any longer.
"We have to except the Joker's offer," she said, her tone sounding uncharacteristically dark.
"No," Aqualad said again, "We don't know the risks, the Joker wants to trick us. By accepting his offer we are just playing into his hands faster. Besides, we already have one teammate down, and another suffering from some possibly serious burns; we can't risk anyone else,"
"But now what do we have to loose!" yelled M'gann, starting to raise her voice in frustration, "We're already the Joker's prisoners, and I can't just sit here anymore and watch Kid Flash either bleed to death or drive himself insane!"
Earlier that day, or what M'gann thought must have been during the day; the Joker had approached them with an offer.
In return for the antidote for the Scarecrow's new fear gas, they must accept his "challenge", which still remained unknown.
Though M'gan had kept him unconscious throughout most of the night, whenever Wally awoke, even if it was only for a few brief minuets, he was still almost unbearable to watch.
He would look around at them for a second with large, green, fearful eyes, then scream or burst into heart- wrenching sobs. She could only imagine what Wally must be seeing; his friends and mentors dying before his very eyes, his worst nightmares coming to life. He was slowly killing himself from the inside out.
She was not the only one though who seemed to be affected by their teammate's obvious pain, Artemis had simply sat with her back against the wall, staring into space with a tortured look, not speaking to even offer her input in their current debate.
When Wally had first awoken, a few hours after M'gann had put him asleep the first time, Robin had tried his best at comfort, but it was to no avail; all the shaking speedster could comprehend was the horrors that his own mind revealed to him. Eventually, M'gann had had to knock him out a second time.
"I agree with M'gann," said Robin, willing to do almost anything to help his best friend.
"So do I," said Superboy.
"And I," added Artemis, finally breaking from her trance.
"Then its decided majority vote," concluded M'gann, "We will accept the Joker's challenge to help Kid Flash,"
"How fabulous!"
When the Joker's twisted, high-pitched voice sounded suddenly from behind her, M'gann almost jumped out of her skin.
Superboy reached over to touch her arm comfortingly.
"What do you want us to do Joker, " asked Robin, his voice like stone.
"Ah, Ah, Ah! First I need two volunteers to help me with my little, um, project!"
"I'll do it, " said Robin immediately.
"No, your already injured Robin, and we can't risk your burns progressing to an even more serious condition then they already are," said Aqualad, "I will be excepting the Joker's challenge,"
"Your always sacrificing yourself Aqualad!" exclaimed Artemis jumping to her feet, "You don't always have to be so freak' in noble! Let me go!"
"Stop fighting everyone! We're getting nowhere with this!" M'gann's voice echoed loudly through all of their heads, "Artemis, you need to stay here with Wally, I will go."
"And so will I, " sounded the gruff voice of Superboy.
The couple shared a glance for a moment, some unheard conversation passing between them just through their eyes, before Miss M said, "Alright, we're ready,"
"Oh goody goody!" cried the Joker excitedly, "It's the whole alien family Brady Bunch!"
He led the two outside of the cell, and locked the door. Robin wished to the two good luck under his breath as they walked by.
After ascending the stairs, they first passed Kid Flash's supposed "torture" room; the pile of chains had still not been moved inside. Further down the hallway, to their left, they also saw the steep flights of metal stairs through which they had tried to escape. They came to a huge set of double metal doors, and from inside, one could almost hear a hectic buzzing.
"I have just a few friends over for tea and crumpets, and maybe, let me just say, some possible future clients, and as much as it hurts me to say, they've become a little bored with all of my jokes. So, I promised them some real entertainment! Now, off you go!"
They were shoved through the doors, into what looked like a large arena.
Though M'gann had never seen the outside of it, she knew that this whole building must be pretty big to fit all of this.
She closed her eyes and scanned the area for familiar minds, but could find none besides Conner, Scarecrow and the Joker, the rest were just dark, unknown shadows. There was a click of a light switch being flipped, and as if they were about to perform a circus act, Superboy and Miss Martian were illuminated with a blinding white stage light.
"What do you want us to do for the antidote!" yelled Superboy angrily.
"It's simple really," said the Joker, staring at his fingernails up in the high stands, "I want you to fight each other,"