The next day came and dragged on. Wally had finally cleaned himself up and changed into some new clothes, but once again he opted for dark clothing. Around mid afternoon he left the comfort of his quarters and sought the comfort of his new friends.
It didn't take long to find Shanner and Carlm. The sibling duo sat at one of the benches and were deep in conversation. Shanner had healed quickly and was ready for her next match today.
"Hi." Wally sat down. Shanner took a hissed breath in and reached out a scaled hand to Wally's head.
"Damn bitch took a good swipe." She said, examining the wound on the side of Wally's face. "Get Gabriel to look at it when she comes back."
"Comes back?" Wally asked. "I thought her match was after mine yesterday."
"Yes." Shanner nodded.
"But being near the end of her matches now, Cobalt is speeding up the numbers in the week." Wally frowns, making Carlm explain. "She has to fight everyday."
"Oh!" Wally nodded.
"Last one's tomorrow." Shanner added.
"My third, her last." Wally said miserably. Shanner and Carlm exchanged glances before they moved, placing themselves on either side of Wally and sharing a hug. He smiled.
"Good to see you up." Marcus said, stepping over to them.
"Where have you been?" Wally asked.
"Weights." He nodded over to the corner as he sat opposite.
"Doors open!" One of the slaves shouted, causing all of them to stand to see Gabriel.
"I'm fine, I'm fine." She scolded everyone as she limped into the main hall. A cheer erupted at the sight of her.
She limped over to the bench and sat next to Marcus. "That was close." She murmured, removing a piece of torn cloth from her arm to revile a deep gash.
"How's the leg?" Marcus asked, shifting down so she could swing it up on the bench.
"Sore." She said, turning her attention to it. The leg looked worse with muscle and tendons showing. "Looks nasty." She said, pointing to Wally's face suddenly.
"It's nothing." He said, placing a hand over the side of his face. Gabriel narrowed her eyes at him, but gasped as Marcus poured some alcohol over the wound on her leg. "Damn." She hissed, watching his bind it up.
"One left." Carlm said, extending an arm.
"Yeah." She agreed, shaking it and then using it to pull herself closer to the table. "And get help." She whispered so the others had to lean in to hear.
"The League." Wally breathed.
"I can contact them when I get out. Give them a round about area."
"Do you even know where we are?" Shanner asked.
"No, but transporters are outside, I might get a clue." She concluded, receiving a true grin from Wally and a gleam of hope from his eyes.
"What's with all the pictures?" Supergirl asked Superman.
"The position of all the satellites when…" he swallowed.
"The fight happened." She whispered.
"We're having to wait till his next fight before we find a pattern." Superman sighed.
"Think he'll hang in that long?"
"He has to."
Wally awoke the next morning feeling ready. 'One more!' he kept whispering in his head. 'And I'll be out.'
He met the gang in the main hall and sat opposite Gabriel.
"Feeling better?" he asked.
"Enough to get by." She said, giving him a warm smile. She saw him as a younger brother and to see him glowing with happiness gave her a smile.
"Gabriel!" One of the guards barked from the door. "You've got three minutes."
Gabriel stood up, a calm face clear to all. Many stepped forward to wish her luck and others to say goodbye. With one minute left she turned to her core friends inside.
"Shanner." She turned to her best girlfriend and hugged her. "Keep moving." She whispered.
"Carlm." He hugged her next. "Watch them three. You're the healer now."
"Marcus." She turned to her other friend. "Lead them." She said, taking his hands. "And dream of your family, eventually, you'll be with them again." The hugged the longest.
"Good luck." Marcus said in return, stepping back.
Gabriel then knelt down next to Wally who stayed sat on the bench. She ruffled his hair and moved her hand gently to the side of his face so they were staring eye to eye.
"I'll bring them to find you." She promised, kissing him lightly on the forehead. "You just hold in there." He touched her hand at his face.
"Take care of yourself." He returned, watching her stand up. She slowly removed her black leather duster and dropped it on Wally's knees.
"For luck." She whispered. "The guy who took me in when I was here gave it to me. I'm giving it to you." She said, halting Wally's protest.
"Thanks, see you soon." He said watching as she made her way to the door, for the last time as a Slave fighter.
A few minutes passed in absolute silence in the main hall, each waiting for news on the fight. Finally a guard came in and barked out a name.
"Wally!" He stood up uncertainly.
"Your match is now."
"What about Gabriel?" He asked, moving forward with her jacket held tightly in his hand.
"She did well." He muttered causing a cheer to erupt in the hall again.
"Go for it Wally!" Marcus shouted, watching Wally walk out to the arena.
Heroes were sent out to space to record the movement of satellites again while the rest gathered in the main screen room. Hundreds where packed in, waiting and hoping for a chance to save the Flash.
"I see that more have gathered." Came a smooth voice. Superman clenched his fists at his side.
"I have such a surprise for my dear nephew." Malcom laughed.
"Don't start messing with him." Shayera ground out.
"I've been doing that for years." Malcom cackled. "Never mind, my surprise begins now. Watch for his reaction, I just can't wait."
The camera swung round to show the doors to the arena opening and Wally stepping out, a long black coat held in one hand.
"Wally. I anticipated that if Gabriel survived she would fetch the Justice League and they would come, crash my party and save you." Wally's head snapped up to look at Malcom.
"What have you done with her?" he shouted.
"Nothing yet." His smiled widened as he leaned forward, getting a better look at Wally. "If she wins, her sibling are fed for the rest of their lives and I never make her come back. It's all in writing." He stood up and walked to the edge of his balcony, setting his hands on the edge and looked upon his nephew. "If you win, then those the league member love, shall not be harmed. If each of you refused, then those loved ones would die." He pointed to a set of screens to the right of him. "If you refuse to fight this contender, they will die." On the screens showed a number of people, which caused some league members to cry out in surprise. Those that they loved, family and friends, where shown on screen.
"They will die instantly, whether you refuse to fight, or if you loose." He paused. "If she refuses to fight or looses, then I stop feeding her siblings!"
The door beneath him slid open and Wally's face fell, the coat in his hand floated to the floor as Gabriel stepped into the light, her face hard and cold. "I'm sorry Wally." She shouted above the talking in the crowd. "But its either I kill you, or they die. The League doesn't matter to me any more. Only my family." She said. "I'm sorry." And then she sprung forward and hit Wally across the cheek, sending him staggering back "But it has to be done."
Review, review and please tell me that this makes sense.
