Of Ashes and Embers

Interrogations and Withdrawal

Authors Note: Be Advised this chapter contains descriptions of suicidal thoughts and actions. 

Lights and shadows dance behind my eyelids. Muffled sounds surround me. Arguing. That's no good. And a beeping? Loud and annoying. Steady. Why am I on my back? It's uncomfortable, I do not like it. I try and roll over, to my stomach. I'm stopped with the sound of metal on metal. There's slight pain around my wrists. The arguing stopped. What the fuck is happening. My eyelids feel heavy, so does my body. I just want to sleep. I force my eyes open anyways. The lights blinding me makes me regret that choice. I repress a groan.

"Ban co the lam mo den duoc khong" I ask. There's silence for a second, minus the beeping, which I'm guessing is a heart monitor or something. Ok.... No Vietnamese then, which is odd, my handler speaks that too. Where is he?

"Can you dim the lights please," I ask again, hopefully they know English. Nothing. I slowly open my eyes blinking rapidly to get used to the light. I'm met with the sight of a white ceiling. That's weird, none of the medical bays have had white before. What happened anyways? I turn my head and blink. Oh. That's what happened. That's very not good. Oh, fuck I am in so much trouble. Vaguely I hear the beeping pick up, but my focus doesn't leave the man in a black cowl. He's going to kill me, and if he doesn't, I'll want to before Sportsmaster gets a hold of me. A woman steps between Batman and I, her hands are up, palms face out in a "I mean no harm" way. Don't believe it.

"Hey, it's ok, you're safe," the woman, Black Canary tries to soothe. That's absolute bull. I try and sit up, only getting so far before the same metallic sound as before rings through the room. I glance at my wrists. Handcuffs. Wonderful.

"You mean no harm huh," I growl out, voice scratchy and throat feeling raw. How long have I been out? Where am I? I tug on the handcuffs angrily. I know it won't do anything, but I am pissed off and handcuffed to a bed in a way that is so not fun.

"You're a known criminal that has resisted us before, precautions had to be taken," she tells me. I glare at her. "We don't want to have to keep you like this, but we do need you to answer some questions." I say nothing. I will say nothing. Ain't getting myself in no more trouble than I already am thank you. "You've got a lot of marks on the inside of your elbow Demon, what kind of drug are you taking?"

"I'm not," I say. Batman shifts behind her and I glare in his direction. He's probably already running tests on my blood. He might already know more about what they were injecting me with than I do.

"A drug test tells us otherwise," he says. Knew it. "Heroin, Cocaine, Adderall, and trace amounts of Venom." I keep my face blank and focus on my breathing. I suspected the first three, but Venom? I had no idea about that one. Just stay calm, tell them as little as possible, escape at the first possible opportunity. Get back to Sportsmaster, keep the punishment as light as you can. Returning willing would make it easier. Possibly.

"How old are you Demon," Canary asks. "I'm guessing around twelve." I'm thirteen, I think. Somewhere around there for sure.

"Why are you working for Sportsmaster," Batman demands. The good cop-bad cop routine. Original.

"Can you tell us your name," comes Canary's gentle voice. Demon, Asset, Weapon, Kid, Girl, Bitch. Take your pick. My head hurts. Shut down. I drown out their voices, they keep asking questions. I want them to stop. My body hurts. It's cold. Wait. If it's cold, why am I sweating.

"How long have I been here," I ask quietly, silencing Canary who was about to ask something else.

"You were pulled out of the lake about ten hours ago," she informs me. I let my head hit the pillow. Fuck. This is going to suck.