The journey to Gotham was unmemorable. Only the flash of a signposts registered in my mind, the ones telling me how many kilometres I had to run.
They felt more like watching a time bomb's clock counting down to Sadira's death.
I wouldn't allow myself to think that though as I pushed forward once more. I could feel the drain of retaining super speed setting into my body but I tried to ignore it. If I got us both out of this alive I'll eat five Big Macs… maybe even twelve.
Finally, after what felt like forever but couldn't have been more than a half hour I flew past the signpost welcoming me to Gotham City. After that it was merely a matter of dodging traffic. I'd specifically chosen an apartment in the suburbs to avoid unwanted attention and easy getaway if needed. I only stopped to used my key card to get into the building before I was up the six flights of stairs and ramming my fists against the front door.
"Sadira? Sadira! It's me, open the door, It's Fraya!" I thought about doing what I did to the ropes back in the base but I doubted I could get through a think door. Plus, I thought that would only scare her more seeing as she'd already triple locked it from the inside.
"Shut up!" Screamed a voice from inside. I allowed myself a brief respite from fear. She hadn't been hauled off yet. "I know it's not you! You can stop imitating her… I won't fall for it, I won't!"
"I know you wouldn't Sparks but you gotta open the door. They could be right behind me."
I heard brisk footsteps come closer to the door. I took a small step back so she could see me through the peep hole.
"Fraya?" She sounded like she was about to open the door before her confidence faltered. "H – How do I know it's really you?"
If I wasn't in such a rush I would have applauded her for not trusting me straight away. I could easily have been a shape changer. Instead I tapped my feet impatiently.
"Ask me a question, Sadira. Something only I would know."
There was a pause; I drummed my fingers against my thigh, nearly sure I heard the sound of cars squealing to a halt outside.
"Got one!" Her voice was back. "Who did you steal your first powers off?"
"Security guard, male. Probably a rapist who used to check on us in –"
The door swung open and I was suddenly in an iron grip of a hug.
"Oh my god, where have you been?" I've been so worried since yesterday, you do realise you were gone all night and I get that guy was hot and all but –"
"Sadira, we have to go now."
"What?"
"I promise I'll explain everything once we're a safe distance away but right now all I need you to do is –"
We both jumped as a crash exclaimed from down stairs. The bastards must have blown through the door leading into the building. That left us with enough time to climb six flights of stairs. I spun back to a terrified expression on a young girls face. I ran across the room, unlocked the window there and slid it open.
"Out onto the fire escape," I said clearly, placing my hands on her shoulders. "And onto the roof just like I showed you. I'll meet you there in less than a minute."
"What are you going to do?"
"Slow them down a bit. Go Sadira, if I'm not up there in two minutes you know what to do and where to go."
I could see the tears glistening in her eyes but she nodded and did as I asked. Once she'd disappeared from sight I began super speeding around the tiny apartment, placing everything and anything I could find in front of the door, then when I was happy it would buy us some time I started to follow Sadira out of the building. I was three quarters of the way out the window when my luck took a turn for the worst.
The assholes decided to just blow a hole through my wall.
The objects which seconds before I'd thought were going to be a form of protection suddenly came flying towards me as I red flash blasted them with my what I thought was a heavy door. They flew at me with such force, I'd barely had enough time to swing my other leg over the window frame before they hit.
And of course went through that wall as well.
Broken debris, a mixture of brick, wood and upholstery hit me square in the chest. I flew out from the building for about a metre, stalled in the air for what felt like eternity before hurtling towards the ground at very likely bone-crushing speed.
Luckily, in my descent I was able to get hold of the fire escapes ladders, as my hand gripped the rusting metal my arm took the full impact of my dead weight against gravity. There was a sickening crack, a blinding pain and I was falling again, yet this time from a more manageable height.
It still hurt though when I finally did hit the ground. The tarmac bit into every inch of skin and I felt broken glass graze my face as I rolled onto the un level road. That's what I get for living in this neighbourhood. I was too out of breath to even moan at my injuries as I lay flat on my back.
That's when Sadira rushed over to me.
"Oh my god!" She gasped, her small hands fluttering needing to help but not wanting to cause any more damage to an already bludgeoned body. "I saw the explosion, watched you fall so I came to help…"
She trailed off, I didn't even want to know how she got off the roof but it didn't matter as I then heard the sound of many footsteps approaching. Sadira helped me to my feet; once I was sure I was steady I pushed her in the opposite direction with my good arm. I'd definitely dislocated my right shoulder in the fall – probably worse but I still had another hand to use. I'll definitely need it if this was who I thought it was.
"Go," I spoke quietly, loud enough for only her to hear.
"I can't just leave you!"
"It's me they want. They don't need you; don't worry I'll heal and escape just like before and I'll meet you in one of our hide outs ok? I promise."
She nodded glumly and had started to make a steady retreat away from the scene when a familiar voice spoke up.
"Don't take another step deary," a British accent floated in the air between us. At least twenty goons flanked him, looking at us with grins on each of their ugly faces. "Unless you want your friend to hurt worse than she already is."
"He's bluffing Sadira," I called glaring at Bolt. I'd really seen far too much of him in the past few days. "They need me alive and are under strict orders not to –"
"Hurt you?" Bolts eye brows rose to meet his already receding hairline. "Gracious Fraya have you not realised that we already have? Well, I can't take the credit for all the blowing up, that was our new recruit Arsenal here." He placed a hand on the shoulder of a boy standing next to him, I could only make out that he had auburn hair. My vision was beginning to blur. Not good. "The ad said alive not uninjured. I'm very good at keeping people on the brink of death, you know that better than anyone and I still owe you for that kick yesterday…"
"No!" Sadira screamed and rushed to stand in front of me. I tried to shove her behind me but she stood her ground. "Take me instead!"
Bolt zeroed in on her, his gaze moving slowly up and down her slim frame. The hunger in his eyes made me want to spit at him. "You know what deary, I think I will. Though I think I prefer the words as well rather that instead."
"Leave her out of this," I growled, finally able to pull her aside. "You don't need her. I have her powers already."
"A very useful power it is though," he reached up and started stroking his long chin. "I'm sure the Boss wouldn't mind another machine wielder…"
"Touch her and I swear to you Bolt you'll be living from that moment on without one of your testicles…" I took an unsteady step forward but held his gaze. I was out of options; my final back-up was crude threats.
They didn't seem to have their usual effect though as Bolt just cackled in my face. The goons were closing in. We were going to have to fight our way out, if I could only speed Sadira out of reach –
"Even if you had fifty abilities up your sleeve you still couldn't take me and Arsenal down in your state." Bolt sneered down from his height. I could barely see him anymore as my blurred vision worsened. "I doubt you'd even be able to knock out my human friends here alone."
"Who said she was alone?" A new voice spoke up making us all turn directly to our right.
Standing less than ten feet from us was a group of people who in any other situation I would have been irritated to see.
Right then and I will never, ever admit to saying this I wanted to cry out in relief.
Batman stood in front, Vixen and Steelon either side with Nightwing and Kid flash completing the V formation.
After that, it was just a clean-up job.
Maybe it was the concussion but all I saw was a blur of bodies, a flurry of smacks followed by a series of groans as each goon fell. Even Bolt and Arsenal were put down easily. Knocked out and tied ready for the police whom I guessed were on their way. It was only then that I realised I was staring and watching them like an idiot. I was becoming more and more sure of my concussion by the more frequent acts of stupidity. I watched warily as Vixen strolled up to me. Her expression open and kind as she took me in.
If she tried to hug me I would probably throw myself out the window again.
"How are you feeling?" She asked scanning my form up and down.
"I'm fine," I muttered not wanting to meet her gaze, I hated being fussed over. Sadira decided to show up then, probably to introduce herself to the famous heroine but I grabbed her arm and dragged her out of ear shot from the others.
"What. In God's name. Was that?" I hissed, my temper barely contained.
"I don't understand," she answered frowning.
"That stunt you pulled, trying to play the hero? Three times. Three times I told you to run!"
"I couldn't just leave you!"
"Yes you could! And if that situation ever occurs again, which I hope it won't, you will do as I say and leave me."
"I don't know why your so pissed!" Her temper rose too. "I was only trying to look out for you!"
"No, that's my job Sadira. I look out for both of us! I always have and I always will, you can't just be throwing yourself in the cross fire like that!"
"You do it!"
"I told you it's my job to do it!"
"Stop treating me like a child Fraya!"
"Protecting you does not mean you're a child. Your actions tonight however just proves to me that you still are just as vulnerable and stupid as you were eight years ago!" I instantly regretted the words the moment I said them, but it was too late to take I it back, I bit my lip. "Look, you just don't get it –"
"No, you don't get it," her tone had dropped, yet it held twice the fury. "You, Fraya are not my mother. So stop acting like one!"
We stood glaring at each other for a good minute. The fight had left us once the hateful and regretted words were out. My chest stung as if she'd punched me, or maybe that was just the another injury I'd obtained when I fell.
Finally, she let out a gust of breath and stepped back. "I'm going to go and see if there's anything to salvage from the apartment to pack. I'm leaving with these guys and I really hope you won't be stubborn and join me. They're trying to help us Fraya and although you'll never admit it you know we need them." With that, she turned her back on me and strode back towards our apartment building, her head bowed and hands deep in her pockets.
How had she aged so much in two days?
Trying to swallow down the lump of emotion I decided to focus on something else. Testing my bad shoulder, I stripped of my hoody and really didn't like what I saw.
"Here," Vixen said. Great, super smotherer was back. "It's definitely dislocated, if you let me – "
"No." I side-stepped her again. But with Sadira's words fresh in my mind I added, "thanks. I – I got it."
Bracing myself I gripped my shoulder with the opposite hand, raised it accordingly and shoved downwards with all my might, the crack of it popping back in place would have been satisfying were it not for the blinding pain. I hissed, shutting my eyes tightly. Once it had subsided a little I opened them. I stared up at what had been a good home for us for the last six years. Reduced to Swiss cheese and debris in a matter of seconds. My home was destroyed, my shoulder ached, I was fighting off the drowsiness of a concussion and I was pretty sure there was either a bruise or a scrape on every inch of my body. Nothing compared to the emotional pain Sadira had just inflicted.
Above all though, I was tired of fighting with everyone, friend, foe, family. I let out a deep sigh and turned back to Vixen who appeared to be waiting for me to speak. The words were difficult to conjure and felt strange in my voice but I spoke anyway. As much as I hated to admit it, we needed help if we were going to figure out why someone wants me so badly.
"Vixen," the sincerity was there, as well as the conviction. "I would be really grateful to you all if you helped us figure this mess out."
"Of course," she spoke without hesitation. There were no 'I told you sos' or no smug looks for which I was grateful. "Go scrape some belongings together and I'll see you on the jet."
Jet? Seriously?
Shaking my head slightly I turned to follow Sadira knowing only one thing for certain in my suddenly very messed up life.
This was going to be hard to get used to.