A/N: This chapter has to be my favorite of what I've wrote so far. I just had so much fun writing it. But enough about me talking about how much of a joy it was. Enjoy it yourself! R&R!

Disclaimer: Me don't own.

Chapter 5

Journal 2: Part 1

Well you guys, I have good and bad news. I've always liked the good news first, so here it is. I escaped! Yay for me! I barely made it out alive, though. I'm safely on a bus heading towards Jump City, the home of the Teen Titans. The bad news, though, is that I'm afraid what Slade said is true. I sent that last journal and this one to you using my new obtained powers.

I actually have powers! Can you believe it? It is scary yet thoroughly exciting at the same time. I'm pretty basic with them, though. I know how to transport these papers to you guys, and I also know how to make these black shields. But I'm getting way ahead of myself now. I'm just so wound up with these new abilities. I'm going to go back and tell you about my escape.

First I had to send my last journal to you. I remember Slade telling me that I had teleportation powers. I was thinking of making some kind of portal. I put my journal beside me on the ground in my cell. I put my hands on the dirty surface and thought of a portal, wondering what I would have to do to trigger this power.

Nothing happened.

I sighed with frustration. I guess this emotion sparked something in me. I tiny pencil tip hole appeared on the ground then shrunk into itself where my finger was. I watched it disappear with amazement. I had done…something. I closed my eyes and focused more emotion onto the floor. It took me a few tries to finally get a big enough hole for the papers to fit in. This whole time I was focusing on you two's location. Don't ask me how I was doing that. I could just sense where you two were.

Once the hole was big enough, I quickly shoved the papers in. By this time, sweat was dripping off my forehead. This thing took so much concentration and it was wearing me out. I sat back with a satisfied smile. But that smile didn't last when I saw the video camera staring at me. Someone would be coming to visit me sometime soon.

As predicted, the door to my cell above opened. A minute hadn't even passed since my bold stunt with my new powers. I scrambled for one of the books I had found in the backpack. I pretended to have been reading. But that hope of fooling a robot was cracked when I saw that it was Slade himself who had entered the room.

Slade pressed a button on the wall, and the bars way above me opened. I jumped back with a sharp cry of surprise as handle bars came out of the wall behind me. I watched silently as Slade made his way down into my cell. I was scared that he would find the bugs under that cup in the bathroom. If he did, my escape would be pointless. My heart started to pound faster.

Finally Slade was standing in front of me. I eyed the rings behind him with interest. I was planning on climbing my way out for when I escaped. Using a ladder like that would be ten times easier than scaling the walls around me.

"What did you send and to whom?" Slade asked me while folding his arms in front of him.

"Let me get a shower, and I might think about telling you," I said. I smiled confidently, trying to hide the real fear crawling inside of me. I was walking on egg shells with this dude. Any second I could be found out.

"Tell me," Slade said sternly. He took out the controller and I froze. If he pressed any of those buttons, he would find out that I didn't have those bugs inside of me. I was going to have to obey him right now, which didn't make me any happier.

"I…" I started, trying to desperately find a good lie. "I was just testing out my powers. I don't know where my help signal went. I didn't even believe that I had powers till now." I'm such a bad liar! It was obvious that some of that was crap. I couldn't even make eye contact with him!

Slade stepped toward me so that we were only two inches from each other. My heart slammed against my chest. I bit my lower lip to keep myself from saying anything else. I didn't like him being this close to me. He was doing it to make me uneasy, and it was working.

The man lifted my chin up with a finger. The touch sent shivers down my spine. I somehow was brave enough to look the guy in the eye now. "Like it or not, Slade," I said quietly, "But that is the truth."

Suddenly the man's hand was around my neck. My whole body was slammed against the dirt wall with extreme force. My head exploded with pain. I suddenly couldn't touch the floor with my feet. It was an extremely scary feeling. I clutched Slade's hand on my throat as I stared into his face. I was scared speechless! I thought he was going to kill me!

"Just the reaction I was hoping for," Slade said emotionlessly. "You had never seen how much power I had over you till right now. I own you, boy. Get that into your head. Now…tell me what were on those papers and who you sent them to."

"I sent them to my friends," I said after a long pause. I was still scared, but the fear had died down a little in me. It was nice to know that he wasn't going to kill. "The papers were just saying help. I'm telling the truth this time! Let me go!" I struggled in his grip, but the man was like a boulder! I was just grateful he wasn't cutting off my airway. I didn't feel like getting strangled today.

"Names," Slade demanded.

"What!" I yelled. "There is no way I'm letting you hurt them! They are not in this mess! Leave them alone!" I tugged more while screaming, "Let me freaking go!"

"Not until you give me their names," Slade said.

I tried shaking my head. I didn't want you two being targeted by this madman! Slade could try scaring me all he wanted to, but this subject was one that I wouldn't give into. You two were all had. You guys knew my story. Knowing that someone else in this crazy world knew my position had kept me from going insane for those few days I had been stuck in that hole.

"You will tell me these names, boy, or I will force it out of you," Slade said to me, his voice dark. He took out the controller and held it high enough so I could see it. Now, this was a pretty big predicament. My escape was on the line, here. But of course your lives were there too. Which was more important? Of course it was you guys, but escape was pretty high on that list too. I was going to strive for both.

"No, please!" I screamed. I tried to kick him away, but every time I lifted a foot, Slade cut off my airway and I couldn't breathe. "No, please, Slade!" I pleaded. I hated to plead with this man, but it was the only thing I could think of.

Suddenly Slade let me go. I fell to the floor and landed on my hands and knees. I was surprised that he actually let me go. With confusion, I looked up at Slade. And it was in that split second that I saw it in his eye. There was compassion in it. Once again I was confused with his character. He could be so heartless with me, but then again, there was this quick glance of an emotion.

He knelled down to my height and I saw that the speck of emotion was long gone. I sighed and hung my head, wishing with all my heart that I wasn't there. I thought about crying to maybe spark some more emotion from this man, but I realized that would only make me seem too worthless. He seemed to like me more when I was strong. Weird, no?

"Because you won't get me those names, I'll just have to find these friends of yours," Slade said to me. I looked up at him and anger flashed through me. It was like back at the library when I should have ran and instead I attacked him. "And when I find them and anyone else who knows about you, I'm going to come back to take care of you, boy. You need to take responsibility for your actions. Let this be a lesson for you."

"I didn't know I was still in school," I growled back at him. I knew my sarcasm always got to him. I was trying to make this man angry like I was anyway I could. It was a stupid mindset, but it made me feel better.

Slade narrowed his eye with annoyance at me. He brushed off my comment and stood up straight. Without a word, he walked back to the ladder. With a battle yell, I suddenly picked myself up and came at Slade from behind, a book in my hand. I was aiming on smashing his head in with my makeshift weapon. Too bad it never went according to my plan.

The man was just too quick for me. He turned around sharply and grabbed the wrist with the hand holding the book in it. He forced me into a wall then, just as quickly, flung me across the room. I collided with a painful yell into my bed. I rolled off it with a moan, collapsing onto the ground with a defeated sigh. The anger was gone suddenly. I was back to my normal, seemingly pathetic self.

"Ouch!" I muttered. I watched silently as Slade climbed up the ladder. I stayed on my back in the middle of my prison as Slade activated the bars again. He stared down at me for a second before leaving. The second the door closed behind him, I was on my feet smiling at my good fortune. I was worried about you guys, but I couldn't send you another note. It would take up too much of my energy and time.

This was the best time to escape, though! Slade wouldn't expect it of me at the moment. My smile widened as I grabbed my book again and threw it up at the camera looking at me. I missed the first time I threw it, but the second try I was dead on. Sparks flew up from the machine as the lens broke, sprinkling glass onto the floor. I guess that I only had five to ten minutes till anyone came back to my cell.

I stuffed everything I needed into my backpack in a hurry and put it on. My whole seventh grade summer camp experience came rushing back as I examined the rocky walls surrounding me. Remember, Zach, when we strayed off the main track at camp that one day and spent the whole afternoon climbing rocks on the mountain? They had to send out a whole climbing crew to find us. This would be easy!

I quickly scaled the walls of my prison. It was very tiring because I had to keep a fast pace. My fingers were bloody from clinging onto tiny handholds. My arms were shaking from the strain as I lifted my body higher and higher. I tried not to sweat because that would make me slip, but by the time I was at the top, my body was ready to quit.

With a small cry, I latched onto a metal bar above me. I then lifted the rest of my body up and let myself rest for a few seconds. I realized my job was made easier than I had predicted. I had been planning on throwing some books at the buttons on the wall to open the bars, but whoever made them didn't plan for a kid my size to be there. I could slip right through the bars!

After a few seconds of wiggling and twisting, I managed to barely get through. I had to stop to catch my breath again. I should have done some kind of workout in my cell for those three days, because I felt out of shape. I stood up and headed for the door to my cell. I stopped and turned back around as a thought hit me. I pressed the blue button on the far wall and quickly grabbed my folder and shoved it into my backpack. Now I was ready to leave.

The door opened for me as I got near, like the ones at the grocery store. It was pretty sweet. I remember wanting swishing doors at the time. The thought didn't last long as I quietly snuck into the dark hallway. There were only two options. Should I go left or right? I swore quietly to myself as I realized that I had never planned this. Actually, I never thought I would make it past the bars in time. Everything from this moment would have to be improvised.

I heard that most people choose to go right when they have to pick between the two directions. Well, I choose to be different and turned left. I started to jog down the dimly lit hallway, hoping that none of Slade's evil robots came across my path. I turned a few corners, passing many doors, and left the metal hallway and got into a dirt pathway. I was definitely underground.

I suddenly gasped loudly as a loud buzzing sound blasted rudely into my ears. My hallway was suddenly bathed in a red light. It dawned on me that this call was for me! It was time to kick my escape into high gear. I took off in a sprint down the hallway.

With another gasp, I skidded to a stop when I turned another corner. Four robots were stationed at some stairs heading to someplace I couldn't see. I guessed that stairway lead to my freedom and that was why they were guarding it now. But they had already seen me and I couldn't just run back the way I had came. I would have to fight my way through.

Two of the robots advanced toward me. I ducked a punch from one and kicked him in his midsection. It backed into its friend and slammed into the wall. Just a little more force was all that I needed to take these guys down. With this new information, I actually enjoyed myself as I kicked the machines' butts.

I used my rugby tackling skills as I rammed one of the robots into the wall with my shoulder. As soon as the armor was dented, I jammed my hand through the crack and pulled out a wad of colorful wires. The thing slummed to the ground while sparking in that area.

A few well placed and hard roundhouse kicks brought another robot to sparking bits like its friend. I yanked off the thing's arm and advanced toward the other two robots with a battle yell. I was having a blast at the moment! I never knew kicking these guys' butts could be so much fun!

I swiftly avoided a punch and a kick from the robots by duck rolling forward. I stood up and swung my body around at the same time. I used the robot hand as a bat and managed to whack a robot right in the face. I finished it off with a hard kick to its chest.

I was now open to the other robot and wasn't fast enough to block his attack. The thing grabbed my shoulders and rammed me into a wall. I winced as stars danced across my vision as my head slammed against the wall. I forgot how strong these things could be. At least they weren't Slade, I was grateful for that. I would get my butt whipped if I ever had to really go against him.

"Get off me!" I muttered at the robot who had pinned me against the wall. With a frustrated grunt, I lifted my feet up and rested them against the robot's shoulders. I smiled as I pushed off its shoulders and sent it into the other wall. I then rammed my shoulder into its face.

With a worn out sigh, I watched the robot fall down to join its friends on the floor before me. My spiked adrenaline was slowly starting to wear off, and my body was telling me that I desperately needed a break. I quickly looked myself over. I only had a few scratches. Big bruises were starting to form on my shoulder from ramming the robots so roughly into the wall.

I was just heading up the stairs when I heard someone running from behind me. I turned slightly to see if it was another robot. "Oh…crap!" I said as my worst fear stood there. My adrenaline was slammed back up as I took the steps two at a time. Slade followed right behind me.

At the top of the steps was an elevator. It was the kind you saw on construction sites. I ran into the thing and spun around, quickly grabbing the metal doors and slamming them shut. Slade smashed into the chain like door, and to my horror, started to slowly open the locked doors.

"No!" I cried, desperate for my freedom. I punched the up button on the side franticly. I came back and tried to keep the doors closed by pressing the slide doors together with all my strength. I didn't know what I would do if Slade somehow got in. I think I would actually cry. I was that desperate for independence from this man.

"Why isn't this cursed thing moving!" I screamed at myself. Sweat pored down my forehead and I could see it drop onto the floor of the elevator. My arms burned from using all my strength to keep the doors shut. I stared at Slade through the chains. He only stared silently back at me emotionlessly.

This ignited more emotion in me. I had come so far! I couldn't loose now! I most likely wouldn't get this kind of chance of escape for months if I was captured now. It got worse as Slade started to open the door. I panicked at the sight of this.

"No!" I cried again as Slade lunged for me with an outstretched hand. Suddenly a small round black kind of force field formed in front of me. Slade's hand smashed full force into it. He gave a sharp cry of pain and retracted his hand. The automatic doors closed quickly, and I dived for the up button again.

I hadn't been forceful enough with the button the first time. This time I punched it good and hard. The old elevator lurched upward. I fell to the floor of the elevator as the thing suddenly took off at a quick speed. I watched with relief as Slade was replaced by rock wall. It didn't take long for me to get to the surface.

The doors opened for me once the machine stopped. I didn't want to stick around this place, so I ran out of the elevator and saw that I was in an abandoned construction site. I paused to look around for a second. I was in some kind of city. It would be easy for me to find a phone and call the police for help.

I ran into the city, on the brink of passing out from exhaustion. I was covered with dirt from living in a hole in the ground for three days and also from being smashed into the dirt walls a few times. I hadn't showered in forever it seemed. I stunk of vomit and sweat. I got quite a lot of stares from the city folk. I didn't blame them. I would have stared too.

After a few minutes of walking around, I went into a coffee shop. A bell jingled above my head as I pushed the glass door open. Some people looked up and had to do a double take when they saw me. I tried to smile, but I was too worn out.

"I need a phone," I told the cash register lady. "It's really urgent!"

She looked at me with a bored expression on her face. "There are pay phones outside a few blocks away," she finally told me. "Who do you need to call, kid?" she asked with a crude smile, "Your mom?"

Sometimes people make me so mad! I wanted to do to her what I did to Slade's robots just a few minutes ago. I had told her the call was urgent and she had totally blown me off! I couldn't believe what was going on. I didn't even have a quarter to work the machine anyways.

"No," I answered with patience running low at this point. "I need the police."

She stared at me for a second. "Fine," she finally said. "Make it quick, kid." She handed me her cell phone and asked evilly, "You do know the number for 911, right?"

"Funny," I told her with a snarl. I rolled my eyes at her stupid actions. I punched in the number and waited for someone to pick up. At last I got some kind people to talk to. I quickly explained my situation to the police. They told me to stay at the coffee shop while they checked the site out. They said they would be there soon to pick me up and ask me questions.

After my conversation with the police, I gave the phone back to the rude lady and sat down at a booth. I had gone through enough excitement that day for me to handle. I was too afraid to sleep, though. I was still on the edge of my nerves even though things seemed okay.

To occupy myself, I took out my Mockingbird folder I had stolen from Slade. I looked it over with mild interest. I noted that the two Titans I had been cloned after were called Robin and Raven. Both their pictures were there. I looked like a child from them, with combined features of both superheroes. I felt it disturbing somehow. I also saw that the Titans lived in Jump City, which is in New York. I knew where I was heading.

I started to read further, my interest rising. My muscles started to finally relax. My body was able to unwind. It felt good to just sit down and read. The stuff I was reading was all about my past and how I progressed in my younger years as a clone. It was very interesting for me, but boring as heck for you guys.

"Enjoying yourself, boy?" a voice suddenly said to me. I froze in fear and shock. The speaker sat across from me in the booth. I looked up and my face paled. It was Slade!

To Be Continued…

A/N: I love cliffhangers!