So this is a very short chapter. I've had this written for a couple of weeks now, and I had planned for it to just be the first part of the new chapter. But I haven't had much free time to write lately, so I figured I'd just put this out there for y'all before it gets stale.
Please don't give up on me or this story, because I won't give up on this story! We're in the home stretch now, and we can see the finish line! I know I keep taking longer and longer breaks from this story, but fear not: I'm just starting to get into the swing of school again, which means more procrastination (which means more writing)! My next update will be some time before the end of September, I promise!
Anyway, enjoy! Please review!
**TWO DAYS LATER**
The dark, dank room seemed darker and danker than usual. Jinx could actually start to see her own breath every time she exhaled. She shivered as goosebumps appeared on her arms and legs.
Her recent thirty-minute-long screaming session with a side of wriggling had completely drained Jinx of her remaining energy. She allowed herself to hang from the wall in her shackled state, with her head drooping downward.
She stared at the floor, where she could vaguely see the outline of the food tray that had been left for her. Despite her lack of energy and her now ravenous hunger, she refused to eat anything that Slade offered her. She assumed the food was poisoned, and even if it wasn't, she didn't want to give Slade the satisfaction of depending on him to feed her.
She picked her head up and gazed at the table in the center of the room. Raven still lay on the platform, which had long since returned to its normal horizontal position. The bright light continued to shine on the table, and Jinx could see Raven's chest slowly bob up and down as the sorceress breathed.
Raven had remained unconscious since they were captured, and Jinx had begun to get worried. Slade had explained to Jinx the day before that he had put Raven into a deep sleep, almost like a coma, and would only reawaken her when it was time for the twins to be born. Even still, Jinx began to grow more and more nervous.
Jinx heard the faint sound of footsteps approaching. Her muscles tensed up a little as the footsteps drew closer. She saw a faint outline of a man approach Raven's table, and Jinx was about to shout angrily at him.
As he stepped into the light, his features became visible. He was an older man, and he was bald with gray hair on the sides. He wore a white suit with a black button-up shirt and a white neck tie. Jinx recognized him as Slade's butler, who had been entering the room every few hours to check Raven's vitals and tamper with the medical equipment that was being set up for the birth.
"So just who are you, anyway?" Jinx asked the old man as he stared at the screen of the heart monitor.
The old man said nothing, ignoring Jinx completely. She frowned as he continued to go about his task.
"Who are you?" Jinx repeated, a little more firmly this time.
"His name is Wintergreen, and he is my confidant," Jinx heard Slade's voice declare.
Jinx knew that Slade's voice sounded creepy, but the voice was infinitely creepier when she couldn't see where it was coming from.
"Show yourself, you coward," Jinx challenged, unsuccessfully trying to feign the fear welling up inside her as she scanned the room for a sign of Slade's presence.
The only sound she heard after she stopped speaking was a low, unnerving evil chuckle that bounced around the room.
"LET ME GO!" Jinx screamed, not even bothering to hide her terror anymore.
"In good time, my dear," Slade hissed from the shadows.
Wintergreen finished tinkering with the medical equipment and departed from the light.
After a minute, Jinx heard another sinister chuckle, and she feared what she was about to hear.
"Would you look at that," Slade announced. "Raven will be ready to give birth tonight."
Jinx gasped before she could stop herself from doing so.
"How fun, Jinx," Slade continued. "You get to witness the birth of the two greatest assassins this world will ever see."
"Bullshit!" Jinx responded angrily. "The Titans will stop you, and we'll put an end to you once and for all!"
"You see, that's the problem with you Titans," Slade replied. "You never make good on your threats. So in the end, what good are your threats?"
"YOU'RE A FUCKING LUNATIC!" Jinx howled wildly at her psychotic captor as she struggled in her chains.
"I appreciate the compliment, Jinx," the madman replied coolly, walking into the light to face her. "But you really should watch your language."
Jinx could do nothing but growl at him as they stared at each other with menacing eyes.
"Well, it's been fun, Jinx," he went on. "But if you'll excuse me, I have to get ready for the birth of my… 'adopted' children."
As he walked away, Jinx let loose a bloodcurdling scream that actually made him stop and bring his hands to his head where his ears were (underneath his mask). He regained his cool and slowly approached the chained hextress, his footsteps echoing eerily throughout the cavernous space.
"Not so loud, my dear," Slade commanded calmly. "You'll wake Raven."
"FUCK YOU!" Jinx retorted fiercely.
Slade now stood two feet in front of Jinx. He leaned in close, and their faces were mere inches apart. Jinx saw the orange half of his mask shimmer, and the ominous eye underneath it narrowed.
"You know, you're not a very good house guest," Slade quipped.
"Well you're not exactly the best host, either," the pink-haired Titan spat.
"Oh, but I've been more than hospitable," the villain replied. "I've offered you food, water, everything within my power to make you as -" he paused and punched Jinx in the ribs – "comfortable as possible."
Jinx groaned in pain as she coughed.
"Now," Slade continued deliberately, "stay…quiet."
Jinx spat blood at the one-eyed psycho, splattering it across his mask.
He hesitated for a moment, then spun around and planted a ferocious roundhouse kick to her defenseless face. She coughed up more blood, and spat a dislodged tooth at the ground.
"Had enough?" Slade challenged.
"Yes…" Jinx answered after gasping for breath. "I've had enough." She gave in, despite her inward protests. She just couldn't endure another attack.
"That's better," the maniac whispered.
And with that he walked away, into and out of the light, and eventually out of the room as the door slammed shut behind him.
...