LOVE + FEAR | Damirae

STARRING ROLE

— H A L L    O F    D O O M —

"Welcome to the Legion of Doom, where evil comes to life! How may I help you?"

The receptionist behind the desk towered over Raven even from his chair. Translucent cords with scarlet liquid curled around his massive form.

Raven glanced around the lobby. It was ordinary enough; velvet, scarlet-tinted furniture. Glass walls exposed a drooping marsh — and massive golden statues of criminals, of course. The ceiling towered as high as the Hall of Justice, every surface bathed in warmth from the glimmering sculptures. There were also portraits. Bombs were mounted on the wall, and Raven wasn't sure if they were displays or tools in use.

Raven controlled the urge to shudder as she faced Bane behind the receptionist's desk. "I'm a visitor."

"Is this your first time?" Bane asked in his deep, unsettling voice.

Raven nodded mutely. Bane grinned beneath the mask. "This is exciting. May I ask which evildoer recommended us?" Bane's thick, gloved fingers stabbed the keyboard incessantly as he typed.

Raven had no idea how Bane of all people was put on receptionist duty — however, his personality wasn't nearly as intimidating as his stature.

Raven said the name of the first evil entity that came to mind. "Um...Trigon?"

You do think of me, daughter! You admit it!

I don't see how thrilling it is to be the first menace that comes to my mind, but...sure. Props to you.

"You have connections! Good for you," said Bane.

Raven's eyes widened. She didn't expect her father's name to open doors.

"You are checked in," said Bane. "We hope you enjoy your stay with us."

Raven forced herself to nod and drifted away from the welcome desk. She wandered past the line of statues whose lifeless eyes followed her. All of the statues were of men. Her jaw clenched — it was one thing to pursue villainy in order to fulfill one's objectives, but she didn't expect the extensive masochism.

Holding a map in front of her face (Bane was surprisingly helpful), she set out for Lex Luthor's office.

Hallways swarmed with people who wanted her friends dead. The elevator ride was the most unsettling. Two-Face had boarded at the last minute. She was trapped with him in a metal box propelled upwards. Every now and then, her gaze lingered to the sickly burned half of his skin that faced her — until his lidless eye caught her, and she held the map higher, shielding her face. His gaze remained transfixed on her the entire time.

Raven's skin was riddled with goosebumps by the time the double doors groaned open. She plunged forward. Her hopes dwindled as she faced another corridor full of numerous doors, criminals walking back and forth.

"You misogynistic assholes built this place on a swamp? Are you fucking kidding me? Do you know how much plant life you're screwing over by endangering the species in this ecosystem?"

Raven stilled when she heard the environmental-based rant. Only one person would care so deeply about plant life.

"Miss Isley —" someone interrupted.

"Doctor."

"I'm a doctor, too!" someone else piped in. Raven recognized the high-soprano. Harley was here, too.

"I went to Wharton."

"I went to Harvard."

"I went to MIT. And yet we're all here, full of bloodlust and mental health issues." Nanaue was there, too.