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 cars outside and the warm sunlight peeking through the crack in the purplish-red curtains. Barbara stretched out her arms as Kara rolled 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?" She asked with concern.
"I'm fine, Kara."
"You're sure?" she asked as she gently stroked her cheek. Barbara nodded with a genuine smile and Kara smiled back, happy to know her girlfriend was doing ok. Then Kara's smile turned a little slyer.
"What?"
"Oh, nothing. Just I got some time before I need to go to work." Kara insinuated getting on top of the redhead.
Barbara gave her an amorous smirk as she wrapped her legs around her partner under the covers. They kissed and Barbara slid her hand down Kara's back when the phone rang. They broke apart as Kara got off of Barbara and sat up on her side of the bed to answer the phone.
"Hello?" She greeted as Barbara sat up behind her. who put her head on Kara's left shoulder and wrapped her left arm around her waist.
"Hello, Kara," Clark said.
"Oh, hi, Clark." She responded as Barbara played with the blonde's hair. Kara looked at her and shook her head at her girlfriend's loving antics.
"I was wondering if Lois was with you?"
"She's not with you?"Barbara stopped what she was doing and lifted her head off her girlfriend's shoulder.
"No, she didn't come back last night. I was hoping she came over to your place to apologize."
"We haven't seen her since yesterday."
"I'm sure she's ok," Barbara tried to comfort them.
"We have to look for her, now," Clark said in a worried tone.
"We can't, we have work today," Kara said.
"We'll start during 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 assured her.
Kara gave her a brief smile. She 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 were. They got out of bed to prepare for their respective jobs.
Lois awoke to find herself tied up by her wrists and ankles on a rotten wooden chair in a dark moldy room that had a rather horrible odor. The room was empty except for a rotten wooden table that had a few metal objects on it such as crowbars and chains 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 caused the uncomfortable rope to rub against her skin. Then she heard an evil laugh that echoed in the claustrophobic room. Lois turned her head to the source and out of the darkest part of the shadows came a bleached white skin green hair, and a purple suit man.
"I see you're finally awake Ms. Lane," Joker said. Lois glared at her kidnapper. "What's the matter? Scared?" He let out his identifiable cackle which echoed in the room.
"You don't scare me, you clown bastard," Lois spat. "I already know why you're holding me hostage."
"Oh," he said pretending to be interested.
"You just need me to bring Superman to you. Whatever you have planned for him it won't work."
"Oh, I'm not after Superman."
"Then why did you kidnap me?" Lois nervously shifted in her seat.
"It's been so awfully dull since Harley left me," he said in a false sad voice. "I need a woman in my life. Maybe someone with a degree in journalism." Joker suggested running a finger down her cheek with a smile.
Lois' eyes widened in horror. She spat in his eye. "Don't even think about you sadistic freak."
He wiped the saliva out of his eye and slapped Lois hard across the face, leaving a stinging red mark on her right cheek.
"Watch your tongue, you bitch, or do I need to cut it out from your mouth?" he threatened.
Lois didn't reply, she knew that Joker was a man whose bite was far worse than his bark. When he made a threat he would follow through on it with no hesitation.
He playfully meandered around the table to grab the crowbar and walked towards Lois, whistling the tune "I've been working on the railroad." Lois didn't dare to breathe, in fear of what was about to happen.
Still whistling, Joker swung the crowbar, hitting Lois as hard as he could. She whined in pain as the rusted metal left a nasty bruise on her upper arm. He swung the bar again and landed a strike to her right leg along with one of the chair's legs. The wood snapped and Lois fell to the hard concrete ground. Joker stood over his helpless victim, showing no sympathy.
"Don't worry Lois, soon this will all be over..." he paused for effect. "...once you become my new Harley." He laughed and continued to beat her, each hit harder than the last. His psychotic laughs drowned out Lois' screams of agony.
Clark and Kara walked down the streets of Gotham in their work attire. Since moving to there, the younger Kent had gotten a job as a reporter for the Gotham Globe. As they walked she noticed that Clark was looking down at the pavement.
"Are you ok, Clark?"
"I'm fine, I'm just worried about Lois, that's all."
There was an awkward silence as the two walked, so 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."
"So, are you gonna try and spend more time catching up with Lana?"
"No, I don't have time. I have to work on my story for the Daily Planet and I have to find Lois."
"Clark, Lois will be ok, she can take care of herself." She tried to convince him.
Clark sighed and admitted. "It's more than that, we got into a fight last night."
"Let me guess, over Lana?"
Clark nodded. "I have to make it up to her."
"For the third time this month," she 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?"
"If I have 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 Lana that sounded like there was more to it. As they came closer to the building Kara worked at, Clark noticed that his cousin was also looking a bit upset.
"Is there something bothering you?"
She let out a sigh, "Mr. Gordon and I still aren't seeing eye to eye."
"He still doesn't like you and Barbara dating?" Clark asked, earning a nod. "I'm sure it's just going to take some time."
"I know but it's been seven months, I just want him to see me as part of the family."
"It takes a while, sometimes years, but people do eventually come around to change." He encouraged. "I'm sure he'll consider you as part of his family."
"Thanks."
He smiled in response and bid her goodbye as she entered the Gotham Globe.
Back at Joker's abandoned factory hideout, He was still hitting Lois with the rusty crowbar. After a few more strikes the Clown Prince of Crime stopped and picked up a large bag of salt. Lois shook her head in descent as he taunted her bleeding injuries with his new tool of torture. He mocked her as she muttered silent 'No's at his actions. As he reached her, Joker poured the salt onto her open wounds. Lois screamed 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 hid in an alleyway where she changed into her Batgirl suit. She climbed to the rooftops 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?" She whispered. She followed the figure to the museum and landed behind her. "Hold it right there Ivy," She commanded. The figure turned and revealed them-self to be Lana Lang. "Sorry I thought you were... Poison Ivy."
Lana raised an eyebrow with a neutral expression on her face and Batgirl gave her an embarrassed smile. Lana let out a small chuckle with a smile. "Well if I ever learn to control plants then you can watch out for me."
"I'll keep that in mind." Batgirl played along.
"So, how's Supergirl?" Lana asked.
"She's good, I'll be joining her soon."
"In more ways than one?" She insinuated. Batgirl blushed a little but smiled nonetheless. "By the way, nice suit, I'm guessing the black pants were Supergirl's idea."
"Um, mine actually."
The older woman chuckled, "By the way, how's Superman?"
"Not great, Lois has gone missing," she informed her in a serious tone.
"What?" Lana asked in shock.
"We don't know what's happened but she hasn't been seen all day."
"Oh my, I hope she's alright."
"Me too," she agreed. "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."
"Thank you," Batgirl said before resuming her duties.
"And tell Kara I said hi."
Barbara turned around in shock but earned a friendly smile and wink. She grappled back to the rooftops as Lana walked toward the museum.
It was midnight when Joker finally stopped betting on the Daily Planet's famous reporter. She 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 promised in a gleefully wicked voice as he untied the rope around Lois' legs. "Time for bed, Ms. Lane."
He lead Lois to another room that had a moldy old mattress. The dark grey paint on the walls was beginning to peel off and cockroaches scurried across the creaky wooden floor. The only other item in the room was a vase with a few flowers in it. Lois was pushed by Joker onto the floor.
"Night Lois," Joker said with a cruel grin. She looked up in fear and confusion. "This is the part where you say night to me," but he earned no response. "Say it bitch." Joker commanded narrowing his eyes and saying the last word through his teeth. "Do I have to bet the words out of you?" He showed the crowbar, eliciting a gasp of fear and tears.
"Now whatchya say?" Joker rhetorically asked.
"Night, Joker," Lois said as tears began to run.
"Good. I expect you to say that every night before you go to bed. Otherwise..." Joker swang the crowbar at the vase, shattering it to pieces. "Understand?"
Lois ducked her head in fear and whimpered.
"Good, see you tomorrow Lois," Joker said with a wicked grin. "Night night sleep tight hope the bedbugs bite," his wicked laugh echoed away from her.
Lois curled up into a ball on the mattress, shivering in the cold room. She had no idea that her experience was only child's play, tomorrow the real torture would begin.
