Redamancy ☆ DC Stargirl • Yolanda Montez (III)

Sixteen

A/N: happy new year!!

Freya's POV:

I stagger forward through the shadow portal but manage to grab onto the railing near the machinery, keeping my balance steady as The Shade landed next to me with a wobble in his step.

"Are you suddenly at that age to not being able to use a cellphone to give a heads up?" I harshly remark, blinking a few times to readjust my vision until I look around in confusion at the dozen of engine-like machines around us. "You can't drag me out of there like that!"

"With two of our abilities out of commission, Ms. Courtney Whitmore not having her staff, and Stripesy being one more fight away from breaking a hip," He ranted, guiding me past the machines at a quick pace. "I needed someone who I know can fight on their own so be grateful I used the last bit of my power to bring you here."

I furrow my brows in confusion. "What's wrong with your—wait a second, why are Courtney and Pat here?"

"My abilities are...well, to be frank, they're coming apart like an old suit. And, unfortunately, the one seamstress in all the world who could stitch them back together again is the most frustrating, immature, defiant, emotional, unreasonable, utterly vexing creature I've ever--" He rambled but he noticed my unamused look which caused him to shake his head. "The point is, she's the key to fixing it. You already have the misfortune of knowing her, too."

Once we turn the corner, my eyes land on Courtney and Pat standing beside each other with Jennie leaning against the medium-sized ladder.

"Jennie?"

My voice causes them to look up with their eyes widened but Jennie is the first to quickly stand up.

"Freya!" She runs to me and embraces me into a hug with a light chuckle as I awkwardly pat her back. "Still not much of a hugger, huh?"

"Getting there." My eyes flicker to Courtney and Pat who innocently wave. "I'm gonna assume he dragged you two here as well?" I ask.

The Shade nodded his head to Pat with a scoff. "He invited himself."

Jennie pulled away from the embrace and rolled her eyes. "I told The Shade that I should call you first to explain everything, but he never listens to anything I say."

"Oh, I don't listen to you?" The Shade asked in disbelief. "I daresay I felt quite neglected when you almost burned down that tea house."

Jennie crossed her arms with a glare. "You called me stubborn."

"Um, guilty."

"As stubborn as my father, who I told you to never talk about since you helped murder him."

"Okay, hey, just... let's all take a breather here." Pat clapped his hands together, quickly walking over to step in between them to guide The Shade to move away. "Just relax. It's okay. Just, hey, take it easy, okay?"

I slowly turn away from the two men and look at Courtney with a brow raised. "Mind filling me in?"

"I finally found my brother. And he needs our help." Jennie answered worriedly, causing my eyes to widen.

"You found Todd? Where is he?"

Courtney pointed above us. "Upstairs. We're at the Helix Institute."

"The one for the troubled youth? I thought the nurse said he left?"

"She lied. Whatever this place is, he's been their prisoner this entire time." Jennie emphasized before she shook her head. "I'm going to get him out of here, even if I have to burn this place to the ground."