Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own Young Justice. Never have, never will.
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Mist: Hi everyone!
Whistle: Or low, if that's how you're feeling. But if the end of this chapter doesn't depress you, then there's something wrong with you.
Mist: spoilers!
Whistle: Ok, whose bright idea was it to tell Mist to watch the new YJ episode? She keeps doing that.
Mist: Lol :)
Whistle: Just get the chapter started…
Mist: In a sec. I just quickly wanted to tell everyone that the first ch of 'Make Believe' is up if anyone's interested.
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Chapter 21: Bad decisions
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(Wally/Kid Flash's POV)
I wept silently into my uncle's arm for about an hour before my team finally decided to make me leave the room. Looking at them now, I can feel my heart hurt in my chest. After all the horrible things I said to them, the crimes I committed, the way I betrayed them. They never hated me. They never gave up on me.
I don't deserve such wonderful friends…
I wish I could live the lie that they've come up with. That I had left the house in a fit of anger and had been kidnapped, against my will, by the Rogues.
But I know what really happened. So how am I supposed to tell the others? How can I explain to them that I had originally betrayed them of my own free will, or that I was barely being brainwashed when I told them my secret identity.
How can I face them with this guilt?
I cant.
I have to find a way to redeem myself. I have to find a way to prove to myself that I really am one of the good guys.
Hmm… didn't the others say something about James also being brainwashed?
That's it!
I'll go back to the Rogues hideout, grab James, and bring him back! I'll save my friend, and redeem myself all at the same time!
Now all I need to do is distract the others so I can sneak off. If I tell them my plan, they'll want to go with me. I can't let them risk themselves for my sake any longer. I will do this mission alone.
Ok, first things first, I'll pretend to fall asleep so they'll leave.
"Uncle Barry…" I whined sleepily, rubbing my eyes to make the illusion more real.
My uncle turned to look at me and smiled softly. "Tired?" He guessed.
I nodded in response.
"That mind correction must have taken more out of you then I thought," Uncle Barry laughed lightly.
"He's mentally exhausted," M'gann agreed. "We should let him sleep for a few hours."
Suckers.
"Sounds like a plan," my uncle said as he led me to the couch and sat me down on it. "You rest as long as you need to. We'll head home when you're ready."
"Did Aunt Iris miss me?" I asked, momentarily dropping my act in favor of curiosity.
"Like crazy," Uncle Barry told me, "She's been freaking out worse than any of us. I thought she was going to bite the head off the cop who told her that you've been missing to long to be found."
Oh, that's right. It wasn't just my superhero identity that went missing; 'Wally West' also disappeared without a trace.
"Don't worry to much though," Uncle Barry advised me. "We called her while you were having you're mind corrected to tell her that you're safe. We're also trying to work out an excuse for your disappearance."
I grinned at him. "What's wrong with 'got kidnapped and went crazy'?" I asked him jokingly.
My uncle laughed at me. "Because that involves giving out your hero identity," He said.
I winced at that, remembering that I no longer HAD a secret identity.
Uncle Barry noticed my flinch. "What's wrong?" He asked me, looking confused.
I looked up at him with a pained expression.
My uncle's features turned to grim realization. "That was not your fault," He told me, "They brainwashed you. They made you tell them your name. Nothing you ever did was your fault."
'Yes, it was,' I thought bitterly to myself as I curled up on the couch.
My uncle sighed at my reaction. "Try to get some sleep," he advised me. "We can talk more when you're feeling better."
I nodded at him and shut my eyes, pretending to fall asleep.
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I waited several minutes after my uncle left to make my grand escape. My talk with him before taking my 'nap' had only strengthened my resolve for what I was about to do.
I don't care how stupid of a plan this might seem. I know I can do this! I just have to avoid getting caught, and I can get out of there with James before they even realize I was there.
Then everything will be right again…
With expertise taught to me by my kidnappers, I swiftly made my way to the zeta tube and reactivated the sound before setting it to take me to Central City. Hopefully no one will notice the change until after I return.
After arriving in Central City I quickly zoomed through the city and into the forest. The idea was to use the thick trees as coverage to get into the Rogue headquarters without getting noticed by them. After that I will silently make my way to James' room and attempt to convince him to leave with me.
And if that doesn't work, I'll knock him unconscious and carry him out.
With that thought in mind I stealthily, or as least as close as I could get to stealthy in my civvies, (which to my annoyance were the same clothes Hartley had given me weeks before) made my way through the halls. It felt so… surreal to be here now. This place I had been manipulated into calling home now looked more like the scene of a horror movie. With every little creak of the squeaky floorboards that James and I used to jump on made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end; driving fear into my very soul that I may be discovered at any moment.
Suddenly, I heard voices.
Someone was coming down the hall; and they're heading in my direction!
I panicked. Stupid, yes, but what else could I do? If I got found, I may never be able to get out. Even if I use my super speed to escape, they'll hear me and alert the others.
So, without thinking, I opened the door to the room I was standing in front of and raced in. Shutting the door behind me.
I let out a sigh of relief after whoever they were walked past the door.
That's when I noticed which room I was in.
My room.
I looked around with a mixture of fascination, and horror. I still remember how I thought about the room on the first night. How it was empty, and unlike a bedroom. I also remember how much I felt at home in it after I had finished decorating it with Hartley…
I shuddered as I continued to look at the painfully familiar walls. Hating myself for even thinking of this prison cell as my room.
Yet out of morbid curiosity I found myself walking further into the room, Looking around at the familiar place and thinking about the nights I had spent in it.
So many memories…
I sat down on my bed to rest for a minute, and to plan what I should do next. James' room was only a little ways down, but any number of things could go wrong.
"Damn it," I cursed under my breath. "Why the hell does this have to be so hard…"
I slumped down on my bed.
My eyelids felt heavy…
Maybe I really was tired… M'gann certainly expected me to be tired…
I looked around my room. There were no hidden security cameras, so no one knew I was here…. But how safe is it to fall asleep in a villain's headquarters?
Well… I can't very well do a rescue mission when I'm minutes away from passing out. Besides, this mission will be easier at night. Still, I really should lock the door, just in case someone wants to come in here for whatever reason. Last thing I need is to be found fast asleep, I wont be able to protect myself.
With that thought I pulled myself out of bed and locked the door before laying down for my nap…
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Mist: Sorry, sorry, sorry!
Whistle: Another cliffhanger? Seriously?
Mist: I just wanted to get something up…
Whistle: Also, this chapter… it's deviating from your original plot. Again.
Mist: Ya, I've noticed.
Whistle: And why's that?
Mist: The story. It's changing on its own again. You know I can't always control what happens. Don't you remember what happened to 'Dollz'?
Whistle: How could I forget? The plot got so messed up you had to switch main characters to a new character.
Mist: So, now. I'm not entirely sure that may happen next. You can all guess at it if you want to
Whistle: Also, do you like the cover? Mist made it herself.
Both: Please review!