"Look, she's coming to; Finally."
"They key will finally be removable."
Venus looked around slowly as she awoke. She stood in a room, her body, the key still pressed against her chest. She looked at the bit of hand she could see.
Her body had once again become a glowing yellow. Her hair was still the same, but flickered lightly; sparks lightly fell from her body.
"You can't keep me here," She pulled her head up weakly
A door opened, and a reach man appeared, his face cold and serious.
"They key,"
Venus narrowed her brows. "And what if I don't want too?" She challenged.
"Alright; Then we'll simply have Blue Beetle attack your friends again," He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.
Venus's face hardened , before a heavy exhale signaled her defeat.
"Fine."
She staggered up, walking towards what looked like a pedestal, with a strange blue light around it. She stopped, hesitating.
"Get on with it," The alien man growled. "We don't have all day."
She listened to him, then turned back to the pedestal. She carefully stretched her arms out, feeling the key float from her hands. It floated in place. As soon as she let go, she felt someone grab her neck.
Blue beetle threw her back into the cold room. She gasped and staggered to get up as she laid on the floor.
She turned around, only to see him standing over her again. With a quick fist, her head his the floor, knocking her unconscious.
"Metropolis?" She questioned. She looked around at the buildings and people who bustled by. She whipped around, only to herself standing in the middle of the crows in her super suit.
A few people stared, but many ignored her and kept on walking.
She walked into an alleyway; She didn't want to be seen in her super suit. She looked around, checking the dumpster.
She dug around moment, before finally finding a pullover sweater. It was two sizes to big, and a large, dried sauce stain on the front with a college logo.
Her pants were already black, but her boots had been lost . She fiddled with her toes, before deciding shoes were unnecessary. She pulled the hood over her head, hoping to hide herself.
She stepped back, trying to fade into the crowd. How could she get back to Bludhaven from Metropolis?
She looked to see a few people staring; She turned her head down, hiding her face; It had definitely been awhile sense she'd been out in a city like this.
She continued to walk, until a familiar scene toiled with her memory.
The apartment. Her home.
She breathed quietly, every step felt as if cement blocks had been tied down to her feet. She finally walked up to the door.
She ran her hand down the door. It wasn't red like it used to be. New, steel, the door was silver smooth, no longer a rough wood.
The outside looked pretty much the same. The bricks were the same, and the windows and mailboxes, black with faded golden numbers.
12.
Her mailbox. Memories of impatiently waiting for prizes for mail order box tops, or sending letters to Santa. She could never write them herself, so her mother would; But she always got to lick the sticky tape on the envelope, no matter how bitter.
Click.
Audrey took a step back, the door opening. A girl opened; Long dark hair in a low ponytail, a sweater, and black tights. The girl looked to be fifteen or sixteen.
"Do you need to get in?"
"Me?" Audrey questioned. "N-no, just looking," She said.
The girl raised a brow. "Looking? Alright then," She said, walking past; probably to a store or something.
"Huh," Audrey pondered. That girl's voice had a distant, yet familiar ring to it. She shrugged her shoulders, dismissing it.
She realized the door was still slowly swinging back; She placed a foot in between, stopping it from closing and locking.
She walked inside. The carpet had a weird, factory smell to it. The hallway was long and narrow, and the walls were a dingy white, and the furthest light flickered on and off.
As she walked down the hall, she noticed how the paint was whiter towards the end. She continued to walk, until the hall walls were a fresher white.
They painted over the once burnt wall. As she touched it, she could almost feel the warmth trapped under the paint.
She looked at the door, wondering which would open to her old home. Her old life.
She steadily turned the knob.
Locked
She exhaled. She knew it was more than likely that someone had moved in. Besides, maybe it was a sign; It was better to not go inside.
She felt wasn't that person anymore. The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. She didn't remembering much before the fire.
Like her mother's disappearance.
She could barley remember glimpses of her face.
She turned away from the door, a suddenly urge to walk out. She walked hastily away, almost tripping herself as she went for the door.
She pushed it open, perhaps with to much force, and walked away. Something about that place was uncomfortable.
The sky turned red as sun was beginning to set.
Audrey had no idea what time it was. She looked around, hoping to find a bus station, or something like that.
She continued to walk, until things started to look familiar.
Slummy.
She knew where she was. She pulled her hood up more, and placed her hands in her pockets; This wasn't the kind of place to get friendly.
She looked around, squinting at the sight of bright neon lights. She turned, staring at small steps that led to what looked like a bar. But she knew where she was.
She walked inside. Bright pink light flooded her vision, giving everything it touched a glowing pink hue. Loud, heavy music played as girls sensually danced on a makeshift stage, while boys and men howled.
Audrey blinked for a moment. It almost felt like a reunion. She sat down at the bar, looking down at her hands.
She sat for awhile, before a man sat beside her.
"What's a little girl like you doing here?"
Audrey ignored him. Last she remembered, that always seemed to work.
"C'mon kiddo; Don't be such a stiff,"
"Leave her alone, Thomas," A familiar voice said.
Audrey turned around, seeing a tall blonde woman standing there.
"Relax Bambi," The man laughed. "I'm not into the kiddie type,"
Audrey looked down at her hands and feet. She looked shocked, seeing her gloves and bare feet had turned to little, dirty pink sneaker and stubby childish hands.
"Come here kid," Bambi knelt down beside her, moving her short hair behind her ears.
"What did I tell you about coming down here?" She gently scolded.
Audrey mere stared; her face returned to normal as she realized it wasn't real life.
"Sorry," She said quietly.
She led herself up the stairs again, quietly returning to the abandoned room, shutting the door behind her.
The room was well lit by a tacky lamp and the same cot still in the corner.
She stared around the room, taking all the detail in. She walked towards the cot, rubbing her fingers against the fabric.
It felt loose and scratchy, like a potato sack.
"Audrey,"
She turned, listening to the soft murmur behind the door.
"Audrey,"
She stood there, wanting to reach out and open it; but her legs didn't move.
She stood and watched as the door knob slowly turned.
Click
She listened to the door opening, light streaming out.
She put hands in front of her face, trying to block the light, trying to see whatever was coming threw the light.
Venus opened her eyes to a dark grey floor. She stared as she came to, slowing rolling her head back, taking in her surroundings.
After awhile she pulled herself back up, pulling her head into her knees into the corner.
She for what felt like forever. The hunger that struck earlier had faded away.
Dark circles fell under her eyes from restless sleep, and sleepy boredom possessed her.
She buried her head back into her knees, trying to ignore the darkness that slowly crept into her imagination.
Swoosh
Her head shot up she stared at the wall of the dark room; she watched as the wall was slowly teared apart.
Light shined threw the hole in the wall, blinding her. She squinted to see the person standing in front of her, as they held their hand out.
"Glad I found you," She recognized Nightwing's voice. The light finally faded, revealing the dark cladded boy.
Venus grabbed his hand, pulling herself up. Her knees felt wobbly, but no enough to stop her from walking.
"How'd you find me?"
"We cured Blue Beetle from Reaches control," Nightwing explained. "After that, he remembered where you where and sent me the coordinates,"
Venus looked around as she walked through the hole.
"Where are they,"
Nightwing frowned.
"By the time I got here, they were gone," Nightwing said. "I'm not sure where they are now,"
Venus nodded slightly. She grabbed her upper arms, shivering. She continued to walk, until Nightwing led her to the bio-ship.
Miss Martian looked back at Venus was she sat in the corner, looking out the window.
"I'm worried," Miss Martian whispered to Nightwing.
Nightwing raised a brow.
"What if somethings wrong?" Miss Martian asked.
"We won't know," Nightwing said. "Give her time to shake it off,"
Miss Martian nodded reluctantly.
Venus stared out the window of the ship. Her head rested against the wall, fingers feeling against the glass.
She pulled the blanket around her; It felt loose and scratchy, but offered a familiar comfort. She pulled it closer to herself, wanting nothing more then to return home.