Soundtrack for this chapter:

Running Up That Hill (epic orchestral version - stranger things)

If I only could

Make a Deal with God

And get him to swap our places

Be running up that road

Be running up that hill

With no problems

Chapter 3:

Lightning cracked above in the dark gray sky. Becky could feel the cold rain pounding the outside of her black hoodie. She stepped over a puddle, continuing to keep her head down. There weren't many people out on the street, thankfully, just a handful of a few people making their way home from the 9pm shift.

Becky swallowed nervously. She didn't want to do this, but she couldn't just stand around and do nothing. Her father's life depended on it. And with that, she took in a deep but confident breath before turning the corner and spotting her target.

The fence that surrounded the entire Factory property ran parallel to Becky's walk. Becky had debated over and over whether or not to just fly in as Wordgirl, but that would only raise many unwanted questions. Or if she changed back into Becky, the cameras would still catch her. Wordgirl's identity being discovered at this point would just add more unnecessary stress to Becky's life that she did not need. So using stealth to hop over the fence, powerless, was the way to go.

As Becky passed the front gate she couldn't help but stare. The lavish mansion stood a few yards behind the gate, but the creepy colossal Factory loomed behind that. A feeling of disgust quickly crawled up Becky's throat. That whoever ran this place had all of this wealth and power. And yet seemingly no regard for the families they pull apart, and the lives this place ruins. Becky glanced back up at the elaborate mansion, the ominous building almost taunting her. Daring her to try something. Becky knew if she was going to do this, she had to be all in.

A loud clap of thunder shook Becky where she stood. The rain began to pour harder, feeling almost like pellets on her cold shoulders. A shiver went up her body like a wave. She knew she shouldn't have been out in a storm, but there were more important things she had to take care of before worrying about the storm. After a good 5-minute walk, Becky turned around the corner of the fence. There looming above her was a tall pine tree.

Perfect.

Becky looked around for cameras. There was one in the tree but facing the other direction.

Even more perfect.

Becky had heard rumors that the fence was electric to keep people from escaping, but she couldn't hear any electric hum coming from the fence. Likely it was turned off for the night. Becky took a few small jumps attempting to build up courage to climb the fence. She narrowed her eyes at the wires in front of her, like it was the enemy and she was going to conquer it.

Becky climbed up the fence as quick as she could, something that should have caused pain and burns for a normal human, but fortunately, she was not human. The wire was slippery with rain water but she made quick work of the fence nonetheless. Once at the top, she eyed a large tree to her right, close enough to be able to jump onto a low hanging branch. Becky took in a breath prior to pushing off the fence, forcing herself to jump onto the branch. She might have cheated a bit using her superpowers to make her go farther and not break the branch beneath her, but not enough to arouse any suspicion if she's seen.

As quickly as she could without her powers, Becky climbed down the tree. She grabbed the branch beneath her and swung down. The back of the mansion was only a few yards away now, as was the factory in the opposite direction. Sprinting across the open field towards the mansion, Becky ran for not only her life but for her father's. She HAD to get inside to talk to the owner before security caught up with her. This was her only shot before her dad was going to be collected the following day.

Becky dashed to the side of the mansion and began scanning for a window. That was plan A. Break in through a window. Unfortunately for her, there was no window within reach. Plan B. Becky slid against the wall to hide herself as best she could. No one was outside the Factory or the mansion so she was still in the clear. There was a small back door to her left. Becky knew one of the cameras had to have seen her by then so she was losing time.

Using her super strength, she rammed her body into the door to get it open. Once Becky had regained her balance and had a chance to really see where she was, she realized she was in a kitchen. A very large kitchen. A very large exquisite kitchen. And Chuck the Evil Sandwich Making Guy was standing only a few feet away from her staring wide eyed at her. He was cooking some kind of chicken on the stove while wearing a "Best Chef Ever" apron.

"How did you get in here?" He stuttered, pointing at Becky's dripping wet figure.

Becky wasted no more time. Dashing around Chuck as he yelled for security, Becky fled the kitchen in search for the owner. Not like she would be able to find him in the gigantic mansion. But even if she had to check every room, she would find who she was looking for. Becky sprinted into what looked like the lobby, a massive open room right in front of the entrance of the mansion. The tall marble ceiling was brightly lit, and the maroon carpets matched the red leather couches placed across the room. Becky slipped in her wet shoes on the marble floor and stumbled to her knees. She cursed under her breath at the small stab of pain and at her clumsiness.

"Who are you and how did you get in here?" A voice asked from behind her.

Becky spun around on the floor in surprise and found the speaker.

A slim older man stood on the other side of the room. He was well-dressed; he wore a white dress shirt, a black suit jacket, and black dress pants. He held a gray serving tray in his right hand. A stereotypical butler.

"Are you the owner?" was Becky's response to his question. It was her first and only thought in her one track mind.

"I am not at liberty to discuss personal confidential matters with thieving teenagers, young lady," The butler answered in a calm, but slightly sassy tone of voice, "Now, how did you get in here, may I ask?"

She narrowed her eyes, slightly insulted by his tone of voice and attitude with her, forgetting the fact she had just broken into someone's mansion.

Becky pushed off the ground and stood up before answering, "First of all, I am NOT a teenager, I'm 21 thank you very much. And second of all, my name is Becky Botsford and I need to talk to the owner."

At that moment, Becky could hear the sounds of multiple people running down the hallways towards where she was; the footsteps getting louder and louder until 8 security guards entered the lobby. Becky took one small step back out of instinct, but tried to hold her place as best she could.

"Guards, I can handle this. She seems innocent enough," The butler looked behind him and waved to the security officers before turning back to Becky, "Now, I'm afraid the owner does not speak to the public. Young lady, I will need to escort you off the premises…"

"Wait, please, this is an urgent matter…" Becky begged as the butler and the guards started to move towards her as if to push her out of the door behind her. Her confidence slowly draining away with every step she takes towards the door. Her heart begins to drop into her stomach as her hope for saving her father's life begins to dwindle.

"I'm sorry ma'am," the butler said, sounding actually sincere that time as he began to push Becky out. Becky tried to push back without being too aggressive to no avail.

"Guards, butler," A new, familiar voice ordered from where the group had once been standing. The security officers and the butler stopped instantly and turned around.

"I'll hear her out."

Becky couldn't see the figure due to the officers and butler standing in her way. But she could recognize that voice anywhere. She stopped breathing.

"But sir, this girl is an intruder," One of the guards tried to reason before the voice said, "I will hear her out, gentleman. Good day."

"As you wish sir," The butler bowed and headed out of the lobby with the officers following right behind. Once they were out of the way, Becky got a clear view of the speaker.

She stared at the familiar face she hadn't seen for many years. The little gangly boy that she had once known was no more. Tobey wasn't much taller than her, but his arms had gained some muscle, his cheekbones more prominent and his hair a dirty blonde. He still retained his old glasses, but his blue eyes were darkened with coldness. Becky was having a difficult time connecting the stranger in front of her to his old classmate and rival.

"Tobey?"

"Botsford," Tobey said unemotionally. At least that remained unchanged. The British accent was still there, but it was a man's voice now. Grown up and serious.

"Tobey, you own this place?"

"Is there a particular reason you've broken into my home? Or do you just get your kicks off on committing crimes now?"

"What? No. I had to come talk to you. I...I can't let you take my dad. He…he's not…"

"I'm sorry. Your father now works for me and that's final," Tobey interrupted, expressing neither sympathy nor care. Confusion was the first emotion she felt. Confusion over why he was acting so cold towards her. But Becky could feel desperation growing inside her like chills spreading over her body.

"Tobey, my dad cannot work for you! He's sick! He has cancer! He's in no shape to…"

"It doesn't matter. You know the law as well as I."

Becky was panicking on the inside. She couldn't let her father or the rest of her family down; she had to save him. She yelled with frustration, "He's dying! He can't work in a factory! Are you KIDDING me?! Have you no compassion? Tobey, please, I'm begging you, don't make him do this! Please…"

"Botsford, you were always the do-gooder of our class, so it surprises me that you are being so cavalier with the laws and rules set before you. Your family owes a debt. To pay off that debt, your father will work for me. There are no exceptions."

That familiar sensation of water filling her tears caused Becky to turn away from him. She refused to let him see her cry. He was so unknown to her. He looked and sounded similar to the boy she once knew, but there was a lack of caring and feeling to him now. Even though he was a troublemaker in their youth, he ALWAYS had emotions. Anger, rivalry, narcissism, smugness, but even compassion and sweetness sometimes. He had liked Wordgirl when they were younger and he genuinely had been fun to talk to on occasion. But now he was someone she almost didn't know. It was too jarring for her.

She stared off at the other end of the gigantic room and tried to control the irresistible urge to flee the mansion right then and there. Tobey clearly wasn't going to listen to her; his mind was already made up. But she couldn't give up. She needed to do something. Her father's life rested on her shoulders. Becky Botsford needed to be… a hero.

"Wait," Becky measly choked out, swallowing her fear. She turned around to face the boy she once knew. He remained still as a statue. She knew what she had to do now; something she had known deep down she might have to do since she heard her father's diagnosis.

After closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, Becky met Tobey's eyes and said, "Let me work for you."

Tobey raised an eyebrow in the most unimpressed manner, but Becky thought she could read a hint of interest in his expression.

"Let me take my dad's place. The deal is just somebody needs to pay off the debt, right?" Becky asked, holding onto her bravery. She made logical sense; there was no reason for Tobey to refuse her. It was just the fear of what she was giving up that loomed over her.

"Correct. You understand what that would entitle, Botsford?" Tobey asked, cocking his head to the side.

Becky didn't break eye contact; she had to be brave which in all honesty shouldn't have been that difficult. For heaven's sake she was a superhero; she had done many heroic things in her life. But this felt different. This time she was not rushing around defeating villains with little to no consequences and taking in all the attention that came with being her. This time Becky had to sacrifice her own freedom in order to protect her family. This time, Becky, not Wordgirl, had to be the hero.

"Yes. If this saves my dad's life, I'll do it."

"You do realize your family's debt will take 30 years in my service to pay off, yes? If you perform to standard that is."

30 years. Becky would be 50 years old by then; the prime of her life working for the factory. She would lose not only her family, but Scoops, Violet, and Bob. Everyone and everything she cared about, gone. All for the sake of saving her father.

"Yes."

Tobey's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, allowing confusion to cloud his features. It was almost a relief for Becky to see some kind of familiar expression on his face. One he had given her many times as children. She furrowed her brow, giving him the most desperate face she could give him. She could feel she had thrown him off, and she needed to take advantage of that.

"Tobey, please."

He opened his mouth as if to ask something, but closed it almost instantly. Tobey closed his eyes and shook his head quickly. He took a breath, opened his eyes to make eye contact with her once more and told her, "Done. You have 24 hours to collect your things and say goodbye to whoever you need to."

Becky swallowed her sadness after hearing Tobey actually say those words to her. Say goodbye. Goodbye. Becky couldn't even comprehend the concept. She lowered her eyes from his gaze, blinking in an attempt to hold back tears that were threatening to pour out of her.

"Yes, sir," Becky sighed to herself, turning once again towards the exit. She pushed the door open, leaving Tobey standing in the same spot.

The rain was still pouring once Becky stepped outside. Lightning flashed once again above her head. Not caring about the fact she was soaking wet instantly, she looked up at the dark sky and stopped walking. All the feelings; the panic, desperation, anger, and most of all depression all erupted from inside her. Becky's knees gave out from under her and she fell to the ground with a short cry. Tears slowly fell from her eyes, but they could hardly be distinguished between the rain dripping down her face. Becky looked back up at the clouds looming ominously above her and watched as lightning flashed and the rain seemingly washed away all her happiness.

24 hours. She had 24 hours to let go of the life she knows. 24 hours to make peace with the new life she would have.

They would be the hardest 24 hours of her life.