Birds of a Feather

21

Red X pushed me through the large set of double doors with enough force that I fell to my knees. I looked up through my uncombed hair and saw the dark walls and floors of what was once a cafeteria covered in a fine layer of dust. Arkham had shut down not too long ago and no one wanted to go anywhere near the place since then. It had often been rumored that this is where the Joker and Harley hung out and it appears that those rumors were correct. In front of me was a large office chair stacked on a few tables which created a throne like structure. Atop his throne the Joker sat with a wicked grin as he stared directly at me. Harley was pacing around with what looked to be a dog of some kind and Slade was standing as he usually was in the shadows of the room.

"Raven!" I heard a voice from the right. I tilted my head and saw my friends standing in their own separate cages. It seemed as though Red X had lent his technology because each of their cages were designed specifically for each of them.

"What do you want with me?" I screamed at anyone who would listen. Unfortunately, my only response was the most wicked laugh anyone could ever hear.

"Bring her to me." Slade's voice was strong through the constant shrieking coming from my friends. Red X seemed to panic as his eyes met with the Jokers, but eventually he picked me up and pushed me until I was right under the makeshift throne.

"I finally have my apprentice." Slade whispered so quietly I was sure I was the only one who could hear it. All of the anger that I was holding back started to flow through me but with nowhere to go it just ended up giving me a headache. I watched as Slade pulled out a cape and belt that resembled what I normally wore, though these were a bright shade of orange, not blue.

"I made some modifications to the uniform, something that I'm sure my former apprentice will tell you all about." He nodded to the cage that held Terra, who was crying uncontrollably. As soon as I sensed Slade getting close to me, I pulled every bit of power I had to try and sweep his legs out from under him. I was practically useless with my hands in these handcuffs, but I couldn't let him control me like this. As soon as I got even close to him though, Slade's hands pulled the top of my arm so hard I was sure something broke. I screamed in pain as he kicked my knees out and forced me to fall.

"I wouldn't be so testy pretty bird. I wouldn't want to wish you any bad luck!" the Joker laughed. I looked up in horror and watched him swing one of my most personal possessions as if it were a yoyo. Somewhere behind me I could hear barking and screaming, but I was far too focused on my mirror than checking the noise.

"How did you get that?" I snapped. I felt Slade's gloved hands come around me as he latched a tight belt around my hips. Nothing seemed to change at first, but when he clipped the new orange cloak around my neck, I felt the power that buzzed around the gemstone. This wasn't my primary concern at the moment, but I was still aware that something powerful was near me.

"Oh Raven, Raven, Raven. Like he said, he had a job." Slade grinned as he spun me around to face Jason. His Red X mask had been torn and his face was a bloody mess. Harley whistled as her pet ran back to her. My eyes widened in horror as the realization came to me that it was no dog, but a hyena and it had just attacked Jason. That had been the noise I had just heard. His face momentarily made me feel sorry for him but then the fact that he had given over my mind to the Joker settled in. The most dangerous villain I had ever faced was now in control of my deepest darkest secrets.

"My pretty bird you have really outdone yourself. You're making my job almost too easy!" The Joker laughed as he stepped off of his makeshift chair. He stalked closer and closer to me stopping abruptly when Jason let out a strange groaning noise.

"Let's test this theory of yours Wilson. Have her kill him." The Joker said as his hand moved towards my face. I jerked away out of instinct and attempted to send the Joker to another dimension but all I was met with was an electric shock at my wrists.