Baird Engineer of Delta Squad: How big is the Arkham Knight's army. Because Annis' army numbers to practically the whole city.
The Crossover Guardian: You have no idea.
Korrasami 88: That is a good idea.
Js: It definitely won't be the last one. And I'm surprised Annis came off as more disturbing. I thought the inclusions of her emotions would seem comical.
InsideLove: Wow, I'm getting showered with all of these ideas...
Al Drin Hoshizora: I intentionally made Annis' Joy seem more evil than the other emotions. Joy doesn't mean good, after all.
JasonRyder: I pictured it as very dark and gloomy when I wrote about it.
The 379th Hero: I think you did.
I am a burglar: For what?
Thyuis: Run where?
"You lived in this apartment?" Riley asked as Caroline led her up the stairs. The place smelled somewhat dirty, and Riley could see a few cobwebs, but at the moment, she tried not to let it bother her. It was better than being with Annis.
"My entire life," Caroline said. She quickly scurried to one door down the hallway and pushed it open. "This is where me and my family used to live."
Riley followed Caroline into the room. It definitely looked like nobody had been living there for months. There were cobwebs and dust everywhere, but Caroline didn't seem to notice. She seemed rather happy to be in her old home for the first time in months.
She crawled up the stairs to her room, with Riley following after her. Riley was somewhat reminded of when she'd first moved into her new home a year ago.
The two arrived in Caroline's former room. Riley immediately noticed that the room had a bunk bed.
Caroline grabbed a small family portrait off the dresser, and showed it to Riley. "This is my mother, and my father, and my sister," She said, pointing to each of them. She held it out for Riley to take.
Riley held the portrait, and as she stared at Caroline's sister in the portrait, she couldn't held but feel as if she recognized her. Then, she felt she new the answer.
"Was your sister's name Shew?" She asked, lowering the portrait. Caroline's face fell, and her smile faded.
Riley looked down, and pulled Shew out from her yellow sweater pocket. She held it in her hand, then gave it to Caroline. She flash-backed to three months ago, when she had torn Shew apart, and remembered how Caroline had reacted. She suddenly knew now why Caroline had reacted that way.
"She'd just turned thirteen when it happened," Caroline whispered sorrowfully. "Our parents told us they were leaving, and that they'd come back. After that, I was alone for two months. Then I met you."
She lowered Caroline. Riley noticed fresh tears in her eyes, and she felt she couldn't keep hiding the truth from her.
Kneeling down so she was at Caroline's eye level, Riley rested her hands on her shoulders. "Caroline, I have something to tell you," She said. "You're parents are... gone. And they won't be coming back."
Riley expected Caroline to go into denial. Instead, she nodded slowly.
"I know," Caroline whispered, her voice cracking. "I knew the whole time. I just..."
Riley pulled her into a hug. "They're dead," She confessed to her. Tears started brimming in her own eyes. "They're dead and they're not coming back. I wish to Heaven that they would, but they're not."
Caroline sobbed into Riley's shoulder. Riley held her tight. This time, she wouldn't let her go.
Harold and Jake weren't going to find Riley; not yet. First, they were making a quick stop back at the hotel to get someone.
"Come on, Brooke, we have to get out of here, quickly!" Harold said as he opened Madison's door, grabbed Brooke, and carried her out of the room with Jake following behind her.
"Um, Harold, why are we taking her?" Jake asked as the three hurried down the stairway quickly. "Annis told us to look for Riley alone."
"Yeah, that's the thing," Harold said over his shoulder. "We are GOING. To wherever Riley is, but we're not staying with Annis."
"Wait, we're hiding?" Jake asked, trying to catch up with Harold by sliding down the railing. "We're hiding from Annis?"
"Does that mean we're fugitives?" Brooke asked innocently.
"No, it means we have common sense!" Harold shouted as the three of them went through an emergency fire exit and took off out off the building. "There is no way I'm staying with that psycho! And I'm not going to torture you two by leaving you with her!"
"Aw, that's sweet," Brooke said.
"Don't mention it... ever," Harold warned. The three then stopped at the same motorcycle Harold and Jake had ridden months ago.
Jake gulped. "Oh, please no, not again," He begged.
"Too late for that, kid," Harold said as he grabbed Jake, shoved him up onto the bike before climbing onto it himself. He reached down and grabbed Brooke, slinging her up in between the two boys.
"Hold on, it's going to be a tough ride," Harold said, revving up the engines. Brooke smiled excitedly and held onto Harold's waist. Jake squeaked in terror and wrapped his arm around both of them.
"Ready, set, GO!" Harold shouted as the motorcycle roared to life and instantly sped down the streets.
The roar of the engine was drowned out by Jake's high-pitched screaming. He buried his face in Harold's back, shouting, 'We're gonna die! We're gonna die!"
Brooke's teeth chattered, her hair blowing in the wind. Harold shouted out in determination, speeding through the city. He made a sharp turn, the motorcycle nearly slamming into a building. Jake screamed even louder then before.
They sped towards a hill. The motorcycle soared off the hill, flying through the air.
"Augh, this seems so unnecessarily dangerous!" Jake shouted before the motorcycle landed on the ground, bouncing once. Then, it continued to speed down the street.
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