Trigger warning: This chapter contains scenes of graphic violence and torture. If these make you uncomfortable then please skip this chapter.

Chapter 5

The Beginning of the End

It was six o'clock in the morning as Barbara and Kara began to wake up to the sound of car noises outside and the warm sunlight peeking through the crack in the purplish-red curtains. Barbara stretched out her arms as Kara leaned on her side.

"Morning honey." Kara said to the woman in the black and purple nightwear.

"Morning." Barbara said turning over to look at her girlfriend in the blue nightgown.

"How are you feeling?" Kara asked in concern .

"I'm fine Kara." Barbara said.

"Your sure?" Kara asked as she gently stroked the redhead's cheek. Barbara nodded with a genuine smile. Kara smiled back, happy knowing her girlfriend was doing ok. Then Kara's smile turned a little slyer.

"What?" Barbara asked.

"Oh, nothing. Just I got some time before I need to go to work." Kara said getting on top of the redhead.

Barbara gave a loving smirk as she wrapped her legs around Kara under the covers. The two began to kiss, with Barbara moving her hand down Kara's back when the phone rang. They stopped kissing as Kara got off of Barbara and sat up on her side of the bed as she answered the phone.

"Hello?" Kara said as Barbara sat up behind her. The redhead put her head on Kara's left shoulder and her left arm around Kara's waist.

"Hello, Kara." Clark said.

"Oh, hi Clark." Kara said as Barbara played with the blonde's hair. Kara looked at Barbara and playfully shook her head at her girlfriend's loving antics.

"I was wondering if Lois was with you?" Clark asked.

"She not with you?" Kara asked. Barbara stopped what she was doing and lifted her head off her girlfriend's shoulder.

"No. She didn't come back last night." Clark said in a worried tone.

"I was hoping she came over to your place to apologies."

"We haven't seen her since yesterday." Kara said.

"I'm sure she's ok." Barbara said.

"We have to look for her, now." Clark said in a worried tone.

"We can't do that now, we have work today." Kara said.

"We'll begin looking for her on the night watch." Barbara said.

"Alright, just tell me if you see her." Clark said.

"We will." Kara said before putting the phone. Barbara noticed that Kara looked worried.

"He'll be ok." Barbara said.

Kara gave a small but brief smile. The blonde was worried about her cousin, especially after what happened yesterday and now with his girlfriend missing it might make things harder for him than they already. Barbara and Kara got off the bed to prepare for their respective jobs.

Meanwhile, Clark put his hotel room phone down then he got up to get changed for the day ahead.

Lois awoke to find herself tied up by her wrists and ankles on a rotten wooden chair in a dark room with the only light source being a dim light that barely lit up the dark mouldy room that had a rather horrible odour in the air. The room was empty except for a rotten wooden table that had a few metal objects on it such as crowbars and chain bars along with a large bag.

Her purple jacket had been removed revealing her black sleeveless top that showed off her cleavage.

Lois tried to free herself to no avail, with every pull causing the uncomfortable rope to rub against her skin. Then she heard an evil laugh that echoed around the room. Lois turned her head to the source of where the noise was coming from. Out of the darkest part of the shadows came a blenched white man with green hair and a purple suit.

"I see you're finally awake Ms. Lane." Joker said.

Lois glared at her kidnapper.

"What's the matter? Scared?" Joker asked.

"You don't scare me, you clown bastard." Lois said. "I already know why you're holding me hostage."

"Oh." Joker said pretending to be interested.

"You just need me to bring Superman to you. Whatever you have planned for him it won't work." Lois said smugly.

"Oh, I'm not after Superman." Joker said.

"Then why did you kidnap me?" Lois asked feeling a little nervous and scared.

"It's been so awfully dull since Harley left me." Joker said in a false sorrowful voice. "I need a woman in my life. Maybe someone with a degree in journalism." Joker said running a finger down her cheek and giving a smile.

Lois' eyes widened in horror. She spat in his eye. "Don't even think about you sadistic freak." Lois said with venom in her voice between her teeth.

The man in purple wiped the saliva out of his eye. Then Joker slapped Lois hard across the face, leaving a red mark on her right cheek.

"Watch your tongue you bitch. Or do I need to cut it out from your mouth?" Joker threatened.

Lois don't reply, she knew that Joker was a man whose bite was far worse than his bark. When he made a threat he would go through on it with no hesitation.

He turned around and walked to the table. Joker grabbed a crowbar and walked towards Lois, whistling the tune "I've been working on the railroad." as he did so.

Lois didn't dare to breathe, feared by what was about to happen.

Still whistling, Joker swung the crowbar hitting Lois as hard as he could. Lois whined in pain as the rusted metal left a nasty bruise on her upper arm. Joker swung the bar again, hitting her right leg along with one of the chair's legs. The wooden chair leg broke causing Lois to fall to the hard concrete ground. Joker stood over his helpless victim, showing no sympathy for her.

"Don't worry Lois. Soon this will all be over..." he paused for effect. "...once you become my new Harley." He laughed as he continued to beat her, each hit harder than the last. His psychopathic laughs drowned out Lois' screams of pain.

Meanwhile, Clark, who was wearing his usual blue suit and trousers, was with Kara who was in a white shirt and black trousers were walking down the street. Since moving to Gotham Kara had gotten a job as a reporter for the Gotham Globe. As they walked Kara noticed that Clark was looking down at the pavement.

"Are you ok Clark?" Kara asked.

"I'm fine. I'm just worried about Lois, that all." Clark said.

There was an awkward silence as the two walked. Kara decided to change the subject.

"So what did you and Lana talk about yesterday? Other than the dresses of course." Kara asked.

"We only chatted for a minute. She's a busy woman at the moment." Clark said.

"So are you gonna try and spend more time catching up with Lana?" Kara asked.

"Why not?" Kara said.

"I don't have time. I have to work on my story for the Daily Planet and I have to find Lois." the man in blue said.

"Clark, Lois be ok, she can take care of herself." Kara said.

Clark sighed. "It's more than that. We got into a fight last night." Clark said.

"Let me guess, over Lana?" Kara said. Clark nodded. "I have to make it up to her."

"For the third time this month." Kara muttered under her breath.

"I heard that." Clark said sternly.

"Ha, I'm kidding." Kara said, although she wasn't wrong, this was the third time Clark had to make amends with Lois over a disagreement. "But will you at least consider catching up with Lana?" the blonde asked.

"If I had time I will." Clark said.

Kara couldn't quite put her finger on it but there was something in the way Clark had talked about spending some time with Lana that sounded like there was more to it than that. As they came closer to the building where Kara worked, Clark noticed that his cousin was also looking a bit upset.

"Is there something bothering you?" Clark asked.

The young woman let out a sign. "Me and Mr Gordon still aren't seeing eye to eye." Kara said.

"He still doesn't like you and Barbara dating?" Clark asked. Kara nodded. "I'm sure it just going to take some time." he said.

"I know but it's been seven months, I just want him to see me as part of the family." Kara said.

"It takes a while, sometimes years but people do eventually come round to change." Clark said. "I'm sure he'll consider you as part of his family."

"Thanks Clark." Kara said.

Clark smiled. He waved goodbye as his cousin entered the building to begin her job.

Back at Joker's hideout, which this time was an abandoned factory, Joker was still hitting Lois with the rusty crowbar. After a few more hits the mad clown of a man stopped and picked up a large bag of salt. Lois, who had a few open wounds on her, shook her head in horror as her eyes widen in pure fear as she muttered the word no, which unfortunately fell on deaf ears. As he reached her Joker stood above her and poured the salt onto her open wounds. Lois scream in agony from the unbearable pain before Joker returned to using the crowbar.

As the working hours came to an end Barbara left her job and went into an alleyway. She went behind some creates to change into her Batgirl suit. Once she was done she made her to the tops of the builds to begin her night portal and to help search for Lois Lane.

As Batgirl walked across the rooftops, she saw a green figure with red hair.

"What are you up to now Ivy?" Batgirl whispered.

The redhead in purple followed the figure to the museum. Batgirl jumped down and landed behind her.

"Hold it right there Ivy." Batgirl said. The figure turned to revile themselves to be Lana Lang.

"Sorry I thought you were... Poison Ivy." Batgirl said.

Lana raised an eyebrow with a neutral expression on her face. Batgirl gave an embarrassed smile.

Lana let out a small chuckle with smile. "Well if I ever learn to control plants then you can see me as someone to watch out for."

"I'll keep that in mind." Batgirl joked.

"So how's Supergirl?" Lana asked.

"She's good." Batgirl said. "I'll be joining her soon."

"In more ways then one?" Lana said with a teasing expression and a raised eyebrow. Batgirl blushed a little but smiled nonetheless.

"By the way nice suit, I'm guessing the black pants where Supergirl's idea." Lana said.

"Um, mine actually." Batgirl said.

The older woman chucked. "By the way, how's Superman?" Lana asked.

"Not great. Lois has gone missing." Batgirl said in a serious tone.

"What?" Lana asked in shock.

"We don't know what's happened but she hasn't been seen all day." Batgirl said.

"Oh my. I hope she's alright." Lana said.

"Me too." Batgirl said. "I hate to leave in a rush but I have to get back to search."

"I'll keep an eye out for her and tell you if I see anything." Lana said.

"Thank you." Batgirl said before she turned back to resume her duties.

"And tell Kara I said hi." Lana said.

Barbara turned around in shock.

Lana smiled in a friendly and winked.

Barbara smiled. Then grabbing her grappling hook, she made her way back to the rooftops as Lana walked toward the museum.

It was midnight when Joker finally stopped betting the Daily Planet's famous reporter. Lois breathed slowly and deeply. Her skin was covered in large bruises and deep cuts.

"That was a wonderful day. I can't wait for tomorrow or the day after that and the day after that." Joker said in a gleefully wicked voice as he untied the rope around Lois' legs.

"Time for bed Ms. Lane." Joker said as he lead Lois to another room. This room had no actual bed instead Lois was to sleep on a damp, old, mouldy mattress. The dark grey paint on the walls was beginning to pell off and cockroaches scurried across the creaky wooden floor. The only other item in the room was a flower vessel with a few flowers in it.

Lois was pushed by Joker onto the floor.

"Night Lois." Joker said with a cruel grin.

Lois looked up in fear and confusion.

"This is the part where you say night to me." Joker said. Lois couldn't speak.

"Say it bitch." Joker said narrowing his eyes and saying the last word through his teeth.

"Do I have to bet the words out of you?" Joker said as he showed the crowbar. Lois gasped in fear and began to cry.

"Now what you say?" Joker asked rhetorically.

"Night Joker." Lois said as tears began to run which stung as the saltwater fell into small opened cuts under her eyes.

"Good." Joker said. "I expect you to say that every night before you go to bed. Otherwise..." Joker swang the crowbar at a flower vessel, smashing it to pieces. "Understand?"

Lois nodded her head in fear with a whimper.

"Good. See you tomorrow Lois." Joker said with a wicked grin. "Night night sleep tight hope the bedbugs bite." Joker left the room chuckling cruelly.

Lois curled up into a ball on the mattress, shivering in the cold room. Lois had no idea that what she had just experienced was only child's play, tomorrow the real torture would begin.