Silence

Chapter 36

..-. . .- .-.

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I wake up.

Where am I?

I'm being carried. I open my eyes and find M'gann and Nightwing holding me up. I look up and see a dense, dark forest surrounding us. Confusion blurs my thoughts. We're running from something, or someone. Dark laughter echoes, and I remember the distant memory of a man with a blood-red smile.

Did they save me? How did they find me?

My breath quickens as I fail to recall how I got here. I stir and grow restless. I try to stop, but my friends lead me forward.

"I'm here, Willow," M'gann says, her voice calm and reassuring. "It's just me."

A voice cries in the distance, and M'gann follows it, leaving Nightwing and I alone in the forest.

"It's okay, Willow," Nightwing says. He turns me towards him and looks at me with eyes brighter than the sky. The light in his eyes reflects mine, and I forget whatever it was we're running from. "You're safe, Willow."

"How are you sure?"

"Because you're with me. I'll always keep you safe, Willow."

I smile at my name on his lips. I take several deep breaths as we wait in silence. I could stand here with him forever. I feel myself step forward, and see him do the same. I feel his breath on my cheek. I reach out my hand to feel his soft, raven hair.

My hand passes right through it. I gasp and try to touch his hand. I only feel the ghost of a touch as our hands pass through each other. I try again and again until I realize it's futile. A sob breaks from me. Why can't I touch him?

Before I can say anything, a deafening blast cracks the earth. Flames erupt and the evergreens are ablaze. I turn to find the source of the fire. I hear footsteps running this way.

I turn back, but Nightwing is nowhere to be found. I search all around me, but I can't see him. In fact, the entire Team seems to have vanished.

"They left."

The voice makes my skin crawl. The voice that still haunts me. Almost against my will, I turn to face the cruel man with dark hair and a white coat.

"They don't want you."

I shake my head fiercely. They didn't leave me.

"Then where are they?" Dr. Milo answers. I don't question how he knew my thoughts. "How ungrateful. I give you gifts beyond your comprehension, and you waste it on childish games of pretend? You're no hero. You're a work of science, and we're going to finish what we started."

My shaking body erupts and I jump. I reach for the safety of the stars above, but I plummet as quickly as I flew.

When I land, the forest is gone. I'm strapped to a table. My flames are gone. I'm as powerless as I was the night I was abducted. The murmur of scientists is drowned our by laughter that fills the choking air. Above me approaches a man with green hair and a purple suit.

"Don't worry," the Joker chuckles. He leans in so only I can hear. "This is going to hurt you a lot more than it hurts me."

His cackle is the last thing I hear before everything fades to black.

___

Dick's POV

"Any word on the Joker?" M'gann asked. Dick knew what she really wanted to know, but the answer was the same either way.