The six of them stepped inside the Tower, but unlike what happened a few years ago, they were not met with a projection of Kent Nelson. Kent Nelson was dead. They weren't met with a projection of Zatara either, it seemed like that little gimmick was exclusive to Kent.
"Alright, we know how tricky this place can be, and we wouldn't cover enough ground in time if we stick together. We'll split into two teams and head in different directions. KF, take M'Gann and Tula, I'll go with Zee and Artemis." Said Robin, grinning at Zatanna, making her shift a little uneasily.
Wally, M'Gann, and Tula nodded and walked in one direction, leaving the other one open for Robin, Zatanna, and Artemis. This was going to be an uncomfortable mission for all three of them.
After about five minutes of traveling aimlessly through the tower, Artemis said "Okay, look. Zatanna told me you two kissed, so stop acting so awkward just because I'm here and talk it out already. I'll take point." She shuffled past the two of them, taking charge of the search, leaving them a few feet behind her.
She really didn't want to do that, but the awkward silence was killing her, and she was just hoping that they'd come to the conclusion that they actually didn't want to be together.
"Um, well-" started Robin, but he was interrupted by a scream of pain that sounded all too much like Doctor Fate. "Uh, later. Let's go!" he shouted as he ran past Artemis. Artemis and Zatanna ran after him and Zatanna caught up with Artemis.
"Thanks for that, Dr. Phil, that wasn't the most awkward thing ever or anything." Said an annoyed Zatanna.
Artemis decided just to grin rather than say anything, and soon enough, they had reached a dead end, but they could still hear the screaming from the other side. There was a door but none of them could open it, so they were left with nothing to do but bang and pound on the wall shouting at it.
"Okay, stand back." said Zatanna, and the two of them cleared a path for her.
"nepO eht rooD!" shouted Zatanna, blasting lightning at the door, but they only blasted back onto her.
"Zatanna!" shouted Artemis and Robin in unison as both of them ran over to her. As they were making sure she was okay, the door creaked open.
"I think it worked." Said an injured Zatanna, earning a chuckle from both of her companions.
"You go ahead, I'll help her up." Said Artemis. Robin nodded and headed to the door. He opened it further, but shouted as he saw that it was a long drop into a pit of fire, and he was having trouble maintaining his balance.
"Robin?!" shouted Artemis, but it was too late. A gust of wind had knocked him in, causing Artemis to run up to the door to see what she could do. But she could only hear Robin screaming as he fell.
"Nooo!" shouted Artemis just before he collided with the fire. However, that never happened. The fire opened a large circle in the center and closed right after Robin had fallen through it. The door then closed, knocking Artemis backward. It then opened once again, revealing a much different room, with Dr. Fate's iconic symbol floating in the middle of the room. Artemis quickly ran back and helped Zatanna up, who was still in shock, and she walked her into the new room. The door closed after them immediately after they entered the room and it disappeared.
"Robin…" said Zatanna.
"Hey, Zee, it's okay, he'll be fine! He's not dead! We'll get him back, but right now we just need to focus on finding Dr. Fate, okay?" urged Artemis.
It took Zatanna a little bit to register the words she was saying, but she nodded. Before they could think of something else to do, they heard another scream come from within the symbol.
"It must be a portal." Said Zatanna as she walked closer to it.
"Be careful, Zee."
But Zatanna ignored her warnings. She placed her hand on the portal and it felt warm, almost welcoming. It spoke her name and welcomed her inside. Zatanna then jumped inside of the portal, which led Artemis to believe she could do the same, but it closed before Artemis could even get close enough to touch it.
"Zatanna?!" shouted Artemis, unsure of what to do next.
Elsewhere, Zatanna exited the portal and entered into a circular room where she saw something she'd never seen before torturing, not Dr. Fate, but Zatara.