I don't think I've ever run so fast in my life.
I didn't even stop to make sure Dinah was keeping up, it didn't matter to me. Right now, someone had invaded my father's home...my home. Normally I don't refer to it as my home, but as I've gotten older I've come to understand things better.
When I arrived at the manor I didn't see Barbara's Hummer anywhere around. I guess I really did run as fast as I could.
I went around to the back and made my way inside through a secret door only Alfred and I knew about. At least he claims that we're the only ones that know, besides my father that is.
I could hear sounds coming from the east end of the house and quickly went in the direction of the noise.
Inside the study, a man was shoving lamps and anything of value into a black duffel bag.
"Excuse you!" I said as I entered the room and charged at him. I jumped up onto the desk and kicked out at his face, knocking him out cold. That was too easy.
I walked down the hall and heard noises in the den. Another man was also filling his bag up with anything he could grab. Valuable or not, he didn't seem to care.
"Uh, uh, uh. That's not yours for the taking, better put it back."
This guy was a little more brazen and at least tried to put up a fight.
He ran at me and swung out his right fist. I ducked and launched a punch of my own, hitting him in the ribs. It stunned him for a moment, long enough for me to grab the back of his head and slam it onto the corner of the table, knocking him out.
This was way too easy.
My next stop was the gallery on the second floor where I knew my father kept some rather pricey paintings.
I dashed up the steps and got to the top only to be greeted with a kick to the chest, knocking me back down.
It stunned me for a moment because I got the wind knocked out of me, but I recovered in time to fight off the man that now held me by the front of my shirt.
I sucked in a breath and head-butted him.
He let go of me and doubled over so I grabbed him by the waistband of his pants and threw him up and over the railing, watching him land on the hardwood floor below - unmoving.
I ran to the gallery and found her standing in the middle of the room, her back to me, admiring all of the pieces on the wall in front of her.
The room was huge. I hadn't been here in so long I'd forgotten how big it was.
"You must be Helena," she said without turning around. "I was wondering if you'd show up."
"No one invited you here so you'd be smart to leave or else..."
"Or else what," she asked as she turned around to look at me.
"Or else I'm gonna have to kick your bottle-blonde ass."
The bitch had the nerve to laugh in my face. Bad move.
"You're kidding, right?"
"Oh, I don't joke about ass kickin's."
"Yeah, well, neither do I," she said as she quickly moved her hand out towards me.
I saw the thing come flying towards me so I leaped out of the way and slid across the bare, hardwood floor, covering my head with my arms.
The bomb went off and I felt a few twinges of pain. Looking down at my thigh, I saw two little needles.
Reaching down, I ripped them out and tossed them to the floor as I stood up.
"Good job," she said as she clapped.
Just then, Barbara appeared in the doorway.
"Well, well, well. Look who's joined the party," Bombshell commented sarcastically.
"Helena, go. Let me take care of this."
"Are you crazy? I'm not leaving you with this bimbo."
"I said GO!"
Barbara tried her best to pull me towards the door, but I wasn't having it.
"I don't have time for a domestic dispute." Bombshell tossed another bomb, this time towards Barbara. I turned just in time to see it fly through the air.
Kicking out, I pushed her chair with my foot to get her out of the way.
The bomb landed a few feet in front of me and exploded.
Instinctively, I threw myself to the ground and then I waited for the pain to attack my body.
Oddly enough, I felt nothing.
Looking up, I saw hundreds of needles suspended in the air only a few inches from my body.
I scooted out of the way and the needles continued their flight out through the doorway where Dinah had been standing only a few seconds before.
"And who is this?" Bombshell asked as Dinah reappeared.
"Someone else who's gonna kick your ass," Dinah responded.
Bombshell chuckled as she reached into her pocket, but before she could pull her hand out Barbara tossed a Batarang at her, slicing her arm and causing her to falter backwards.
I moved in and swept her legs out from under her, then pinned her to the ground by wrapping my hand around her neck. "This all ends here." I said as I squeezed.
"Helena!" Barbara yelled from behind me.
I really didn't want to hear the rule book recited to me on how we don't kill people.
I was about to reach into her pocket to see what she was looking for earlier, but I heard a click noise near my waist and stopped.
Bombshell laughed and I launched myself away from her just as another bomb exploded.
This one was more powerful, as it sent me skidding across the floor.
It took me a moment to get my bearings, but when I did I realized Barbara and Dinah were on the floor. Both appeared to be in pain and bleeding.
My own pain was masked by the worry for my friends, and I didn't even notice that I too had been injured. At least ten needles had embedded themselves throughout my body, but I ignored them for now.
"You bitch," I seethed as I set my sight on Bombshell who was standing up again and ready for a fight.
"Bring it on!" she said as she winked at me.
"Oh I'm gonna bring it all over your face."
I ran towards her and kicked out towards her head, but she was quick and grabbed my ankle, knocking me off balance.
When I hit the floor I swept my leg at her feet but she jumped over it.
I saw her reach inside her jacket and I immediately got to my feet in the ready position.
She held out her hand and showed me this small black disk lying on her palm. "Isn't it cute?" she asked with an annoying squeal in her voice.
Letting it fly, she tossed it towards me.
The little disk was so quick I never had a chance to see it change or make a move. A cold, steel dagger embedded itself deep in my shoulder.
"Cute and deadly, just the way I like it," she taunted as she reached for another disk.
This time, when she threw it in my direction I was able to avoid it by lunging to my left. I hit the ground hard and not without intense pain.
I looked up as she had just let go of another bomb, but I was surprised to see it reverse directions and land back at her feet. It exploded and I turned away. I heard her body slump to the ground.
Dinah was on her knees and with every ounce of strength she had she had sent the bomb backwards.
"Thanks, kid."
I grunted in pain as I stood up and limped over to where Bombshell was lying, blood pooling all around her.
She was gasping for air probably due to the numerous punctures in her lungs made by the needles. She looked like a bloody pincushion.
Blood dripped out of her mouth with each gasp but she still wore that ridiculous smile.
"That one's for Derek," I whispered to her as I watched her gasp for her last breath.
I turned back around and saw Dinah helping Barbara into her chair.
"You two okay?" I asked, even though it was obvious that they weren't.
"My goodness," Alfred exclaimed as he rushed into the room.
"Where've you been?" I asked as I pulled the needles out of my body.
"A little tied up in the basement. No pun intended." He grabbed my hand in order to stop me from injuring myself further. "Don't touch them and certainly don't touch the one in your shoulder."
"Okay, okay."
Alfred tended to Barbara who had a good amount of needles jammed into her body. Unfortunately, most of them had hit her upper body so she was able to feel them all.
Dinah got a few of her own. The nastiest of which was one that was stuck in the side of her neck, just missing her Carotid Artery.
We all ended up staying at the manor for a few days while we recovered. It was a little weird being here, but got easier as the days passed.
Barbara wheeled into my room just as I had turned off the TV.
"You look alot better. The blood and the red hair really don't go very well."
"Funny," she said flatly. "I just wanted to say thank you for covering our butts."
Wow. Could this be the first time in history that she didn't lecture me on my aggressiveness?
"You don't have to thank me. You know I'd always be there for you and Dinah."
"Are you okay being here? I know it must be hard for you."
"Nah. It's okay. I've gotten kinda used to it."
"Oh really. Should I tell Alfred that you'll be moving in?"
"Yeah, no."
"I didn't think so."
Our banter lightened things up only for a short time before the awkward silence set in.
"Helena, I know this goes against everything I've ever said or thought before, but...I'm glad she's dead."
I didn't see that one coming.
"Years ago when they told me she was dead and I believed them I didn't feel that way, even though she'd killed Derek. But this time it's different. It's like I was betrayed again and it...it changed the way I feel about her death." Barbara laughed softly. "I'm sorry, that probably sounds stupid."
"No it doesn't. You're entitled to feel angry now and then, Barbara. You don't always have to push vengeance aside."
Barbara nodded. "I know. Let's just keep this between you and me for now. Okay?"
"Okay. How does Dinah feel about the whole thing?"
"She seems to be doing okay. We talked about it for a while this morning and aired some things out. But I think she's going to be fine. We have to do what we have to do."
"I agree."
"Well, get some rest. I'll see you in the morning."
"Good night."
What Barbara had said to me replayed in my head all night. I guess it was because I had never heard that from her before so my brain wanted to hear it again and again in order to believe it.
~ FIN