Chapter 14

September 15

Hello everyone!

Narrator's sick, so it's just me today.

First, I would like to thank my 100th reviewer, who I think is Irenerb. If I'm wrong, I'm sorry.

Second, I apologize for everything. Late updates, no updates, all of it. I love every single one of my reviewers, you have no idea how much you help.

Justice Wars: My busted laptop has a nearly completed chapter on it, so that is why it hasn't had any updates in a while.

Another Way: You may or may not have heard, but Seeking Out Truth is a sequel that I am planning for it! Vote on the poll, people!

Lucky Arrow: Have started on Chapter Two already. I'm excited for this one, it won the most votes for next story :D

Silly, Crazy Oneshots: Is going to have a very special series within a series coming up. Keep your eyes open.

Valiant: ...I hate myself. I'm trying everyone. I hope to finally finish "Independence" this month.

Pray for Narrator, everyone, please. He's got influenza, poor guy :(

"And now, let us continue the story of Artemis."

September 15

1:31 ICT (A.M.)

Robin, keeping his calm, looked for any sign of struggle. Narrowing his eyes, he noticed that one clump of ferns was trampled, dark blood dripping onto the ground. Warily, he made his way towards it.

In front of the Gotham vigilante, beyond the ferns, was a yawning stretch of deep black. An underground cave.

"Kaldur!" Robin mentally shouted.

"Hold on, he's not linked." M'gann pressed her fingers to the side of her head. "Aqualad?"

"M'gann. What is it?" Kaldur responded, running silently towards his teammates. His...vision...had distracted him, something he would not allow.

"I found footprints and - something else. I need you both down here!"

"On my way."

"Be there soon!"

September 15

1:33 ICT (A.M.)

I'm hungry. You got any food, Arty?

The blonde archer was in her own delusions while Wally stupidly asked her the same question in his mind over and over again.

I'm hungry. You got any food, Arty?

Artemis was beginning to like this warm yellow - and - red life preserver. She'd always heard about the ocean being freezing cold, but the chill was almost gone, in the back of her mind. Terror wouldn't let her sleep though. It was a lingering terror, the kind that kept you restless at night.

I'm hungry. You got any food, Arty?

Artemis knew she couldn't last much longer. Her leg ached, and if it was bleeding, soon sharks would come. There was no land in sight. Only endless navy water, as far as the eye could see. She'd read about people in her situation. The 900 men of the USS Indianapolis, which had sunk in twelve minutes. Of those 900, only 317 had survived.

I'm hungry. You got any food, Arty?

They'd been together. Some of them even had lifeboats. All Artemis clung to was a measly life preserver. What were the chances of her survival?

I'm hungry. You got any food, Arty?

Artemis could feel her essence beginning to slip away. The ocean was finally claiming her, like it did everything else. She was so tired. How could this have happened? The archer strained to pull something out of her mind to try and explain this.

Arty.

Nothing came. No reason. It would be so easy to let go. To just drown quietly was a far more peaceful a way to reunite with her mother than a shark attack or dehydration or exposure. A senseless, empty death. She gripped the gold necklace around her neck, praying for mercy. Slowly she eased her grip.

Artemis.

Just let go.

Artemis, don't!

She released her hold on the preserver, letting the freezing water wash over her shoulders, her neck, and her head. She started to drown, coughing up bubbles.

Artemis!

September 15

1:33 ICT (A.M.)

Wally blinked open his eyes, trying to readjust. I-I can't believe it! I'm warm again! A half-smile grew on his face, until hunger gnawed at his belly. Anxiety and fear of the cold returning washed over him. He had to eat, otherwise his metabolism would slow down and the sickness would hit him full-on.

He snapped open one of his compartments, his tired fingers trying to find the granola bar inside. He chewed softly on the crunchy snack, praying that somehing would happen soon. He felt so helpless, and he hated it.

And he was hungry. His stomach curled in on itself, complaining about recieving nothing but a tiny bar of granola. Wally choked, coughing up nearly half of the food in his mouth. He winced, his throat feeling as though he'd eaten gravel. The speedster swallowed painfully, feverish chills racing up his spine. The bar hadn't been enough.

I'm hungry. You got any food, Arty?

His vision blurred as he yawned, disoriented and dizzy.

I'm hungry. You got any food, Arty?

Maybe she did have something, but he was too tired to do more than ask for it. It was so weird and ironic how fast he'd gone from determinated reflection to repeated idiocy.

I'm hungry. You got any food, Arty?

He felt Artemis shift in his grip around her, which shocked him. He'd forgotten that she was still in his arms. A while ago that might've bothered him, but now he was thankful to have someone else down here. He loosened his hold, noticing that he'd been squeezing her.

I'm hungry. You got any food, Arty?

She sighed, her head resting on his chest and her arms taut around him. Realizing that she held onto him, he let go of the archer and stretched his cramped arms, grasping the air.

I'm hungry. You got any food, Arty?

Her breathing was odd. It came quick and erratic, as though she was doubting her ability to inhale and exhale and wanted to get as much air as possible now.

Arty.

Food left his mind. Something was off. Her breathing...it wasn't supposed to be like that. What was it supposed to be like? He clawed at his blank mind. His own breath was shallow and shook his aching ribs. As though she'd read his mind, Artemis' arms began to unwrap themselves from around his abdomen.

Artemis.

Her breathing should be like his! Why was it different?

Artemis, don't!

The weight that he'd grown so accustomed to being with him left, and he heard a soft thud as she fell on the cave floor, gasping for air like a fish out of water. Wally recognized the sound almost instantly. He'd heard it once before, in Keystone High during P.E. swim: the sound of someone drowning.

Artemis!

September 15

1:36 ICT (A.M.)

"Wally's definitely down there, along with someone else." M'gann's eyes glowed before she blinked, shaking her head. "It's so weird. Robin, does the virus affect people differently?"

"Well, yeah. Wally's metabolism-"

"Not Wally." M'gann cut him off, staring into the mouth of the underground cave. "The other person - whoever it is - they've got that same presence on their mind that Christina had. But it's stronger, and more territorial. He or she is unconscious or delusional." Her eyes glowed again, momentarily.A huge expanse of water stretched out in front of M'gann, despair from the other person soaking in. "Delusional."

Kaldur narrowed his eyes. "What did you mean by "territorial"?"

M'gann chewed on her bottom lip nervously. "It doesn't leak to me like Christina's did. I can't explain it, it's like it's focused on the other person's mind- Augh!" she pressed her hand to her forehead, choking as air clouded on her mask. "W-we better go down there now! They're in pain!"

"Wally?" Robin's face clouded with worry. He hadn't forgotten about the blood he'd seen.

"Both of them!" she shook her head as she flew into the dark cave, her voice echoing faintly behind.

"We'd better follow her, Robin." Kaldur looked up at his young teammate, who had disappeared. "Robin?" The Atlantean sighed, realizing Robin had gone ahead without saying anything, as usual.

Next chapter: EVERYONE FINALLY MEETS!

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