Sitting on the dirty floor, now getting immersed in fire. Through door of the auditorium a black haired 11 year old boy gaped at the horror of what had just happened. He has supposedly been looking through the window the whole time, because he didn't have a ticket in. An courageous expression wiped over his face as he darted inside and attempted to drag the burning girl outside. He placed her on the grass as he observed people fleeing every which way. Valor winced, looking around she noticed the boy sitting next to her,
"You…you…you saved me.." The boy blushed and avoided eye contact, "Heh, I suppose I did." Valor took the boys hand and was helped up, the boy gaped at her, open eyed, "You…have no burn marks!" He gasped, pointing at her now burnt dress covered in ashes. Valor frowned and turned to the boy, "You don't think I'm a freak though?" She said, ignoring his comment. She knew why she didn't have burn marks, the little 10 year old girl was more concerned with the short boy not noticing she had just killed a person with her 'powers'. "You're not a freak, you are merely different. You aren't the only one with 'powers' you could always put them to use and save the city!" He said enthusiastically. At that point Valor noticed his shirt had the 'Bat' signal on it, which stood for Batman. He was obviously a fan of the hero, but Valor didn't believe in these types of people; fakes. "I'm not interested in that sort of thing." She said in a groan, as if it was painful to say it to the boy who had just saved her. "Oh, er…ok. My names Robin, I got to go now, I hope I see you again." He said smiling slightly as he darted off and seemingly disappeared. Now what…Valor thought to herself. She looked around the barren land and suddenly a man with a two faced orange and black mask placed his hand on her shoulder. "Hello little one. I have been watching you for quite some time, and it seems you have some family issues" He said, as if he would be saying it with a smirk. Valor totally ignored the rule 'Don't talk to strangers' and spoke to him, "You a stalker or something?" She said, suspiciously.
"Oh, no. I'm just interested in you, you have great powers. Only if you could control them, then would you get the proper love you deserve."
"I don't need love. I haven't had it for 10 years, and I certainly don't need it now." She barked at him.
"Well, from what I've observed, you do need it." He placed his other large hand on her other shoulder, "I can sense it in your heart, you need a home. You need to be loved, you need power." Before she knew it, they were walking together. Its not like anyone cares what happens to me...I can go with him, he can help me... She tried to convince herself.
"What do you want, who are you?" She calmly said, looking into the stranger's one eye.
"I want you, I want to help you."
"I DON'T NEED HELPING." She pushed him away, trying to ignore the sad thoughts flowing into her mind. She had no home, she had no family. No one to care for her, she was alone.
"Its for your best interest." He said firmly, pulling her back to him by her shoulder. "You'll understand it later. I had hoped I didn't have to do this, but you aren't going easily." Suddenly an easing sort of pain hit her body, as if something had been pinched into her neck. Her ideas slipped away, and her body became limp, she fell back onto the ground, all thoughts escaping her head.
Wincing, Valor rose, she looked at her surroundings; seemingly a cave, with high-tech equipment.
"Good morning, Valor." A familiar monotone voice said. Valor wiped her eyes, What did I do to deserve this? What have I gotten myself into..? "No. Bad morning. Why did you drug me and take me here? What –exactly- do you want me to do?" She screeched slightly, all that she had been through her short life had only made her a stronger person, and a wiser one.
"You really want to know? I want you to destroy any heroic forces. And in return, you see, you get a home and loving care." He said convincingly.
"I don't want to destroy them. All they do is help Jump City from thieves and people like you. Why would you even want to do such a thing? Its evil. Plus, love? From –you-? I'd rather have a pile of dung for a father figure." She scowled at the man, slightly regretting what she had just said. She was on his turf now, and he had weapons.
"Well, You have no choice. Its either you do it, or you die." He said in an insane-like tone, pulling a gun out of his pocket and pointed it at the girl's forehead.
"Why do you want to do this, and why me? I cant control my powers yet…I'm as useless as, well, a rock." She said, looking at the ground, ignoring the gun.
"Because I can train you, under my wing. You can do what I tell you to, and in exchange your little orphan ass gets food, a home, a job, and a father figure. You can be my apprentice." He spoke.
"Apprentice? You wish. I'd never hurt someone intentionally. I'm not doing it." The man raised his gun, reloaded it, and fired a shot at her, it skid by her ear, making a slight cut that started bleeding. Out of fright she screamed slightly and fell back to the ground.
"Consider that a warning shot. I will kill you, if you fail or don't do it. Don't think because you are a mere child that I will take it easy." He walked over, and snatched her arm, her face full of shock. His hand was like a piercing feeling in Valor's arm as if she lost circulation. This man had muscles, not only in his hands, but on his body covered in armor. He dragged her to a room with a suit for her to put on, "This will be your training suit. I assume you say yes, because your other choice, isn't really an option. I will come back in when I assume you are done getting dressed, I don't need to see a child change." He tossed her in, and pressed a button making two large metal doors collide into each other. She grasped her now red-pulsing arm and put her back to the door. Tears began streaming out of her blue eyes. "Oh god...oh god oh god" She kept whimpering repeatedly to herself, as if to get God's attention. She attempted to stand up, but fell down. She was being held hostage by a muscle-armed man with weapons, being forced to kill someone or die. "Its wrong, I wont do it, I wont do it…" She slipped down onto the floor, face first but caught herself. She tried to stand back up, but her legs were too weak from crying, so she fell back onto the floor. She began rapidly pinching herself, hoping it was just a horrid dream she could wake up from, but it wasn't. She crawled over like a helpless newborn animal, learning to walk, to the area where her outfit was laying. She collapsed onto the floor, this was overwhelming, her whole body's nerves were on edge. What if he came back to see if she was done? She forced herself into the outfit, constantly falling over from exhaustion and loss of body fluid and scared-ness. The outfit was two basic areas, a black top with an orange middle area, black shorts, and metal link chains on her arm, neck, and covering her whole body. Her shoes were large black boots, and the outfit looked freakishly uncomfortable. She linked on the last link chain as the man walked in, she didn't even know his name. "The name is Slade. The training arena is awaiting us." Wiping away her lost tears and the wetness in her face, she put on a strict face. "I am ready, master Slade."
