The Project •On Hold•

✨ Chapter Fourteen ✨

Zatanna sat the magic kit on the shelf. "That's the last of it!" She called to her dad.

"Thanks, Zatanna!"

The bell rang, signaling that someone had entered the store. Zatanna hurried over to see a mom with her three young kids. "Hey, guys! How can I help you?"

"I'm looking for a magic kit," The older of the two boys said seriously.

"Then a magic kit you shall find." Zatanna leaned over to his mother. "What's the budget for this thing?" She whispered.

The mom smiled appreciatively. "$25."

(Google it, Gita. And other non US citizens.)

"Well, let me tell you, I have a top-of-the-line magic kit that I'm sure would be perfect for you!" Zatanna said, walking over to the one she had just put on the shelf. She grabbed it and walked back over to the family.

The boy's eyes widened. "That's perfect!"

Zatanna smiled and rung up the kit, and the family went on their way, the boy talking excitedly.

"Good job, sweetie," Mr. Zatara told his daughter.

"No problem, Dad." The bell rang again. Raquel, Megan, and Artemis walked in.

"Hey, Zee!" Megan greeted happily.

Artemis' arms were crossed. Things were still iffy between the two girls since the other night. Raquel looked between them. "Ok, Arty, Zee, get over yourselves. You had one argument. It's not the end of the world. Make up already."

"I'll try," Artemis muttered.

"Thank you."

"Artemis?" Megan asked.

"Yeah?"

"Why didn't you say anything about your oldest sister being, you know..."

"Dead? I tend to get way more pity than I want when I tell people. I hate pity. I don't need it; it won't help me in any way."

"Fair. Raquel, you ready for us to hit up your house tomorrow?"

"I don't see why you won't just tackle Artemis' apartment, too, since it's right across the hall."

"Because my mom'll need like a week's notice before 7 extra teenagers invade our house." Artemis said.

Megan laughed. "Fair point."

The girls settled into Zatanna's room, eating snacks.

----

The next day, the group was making their way towards Raquel's and Artemis' apartment building when suddenly someone grabbed Artemis and Megan from behind. Both girls screamed, and their friends whirled around to see them each with a knife pressed against their throats. Both looked understandably terrified.

"Let go of them!" Wally yelled.

"I don't think we will," The woman purred, trailing her knife down Artemis' throat.

All fear had left Artemis' face. Now, she just looked mad. Mad that she was stuck in a position that she couldn't do anything about.

Zatanna's heart was thumping. She'd never been this scared in her life. What was she supposed to do?! Her friends were in trouble and she was just STANDING there! Then, an idea came to her. "Let them go, please!" She begged, letting her eyes fill with tears. "What do you want? Just please, let them go!"

"Hand over your wallets."

Zatanna turned her head, giving her friends a 'follow after me' look. She pulled out her wallet- which had $20- and threw it across the street as hard as she could. It landed on the sidewalk on the opposite side of the road. Her friends followed suit.

The duo released Artemis and Megan, running across the street. The teens took off to the apartment building.

Megan was obviously panicking, and Artemis (who looked remarkably chill about the whole situation) was trying to get her to calm down. "We're fine, Megs! See? We're alright thanks to Zee's quick thinking! I know it was scary, trust me, but it's fine now."

Conner walked over to them. "Artemis, you need to go clean up that cut. I've got Megan."

Artemis raised an eyebrow but nodded, pulling her keys out of her pocket, running up the stairs. "I'll meet you guys in Rocky's apartment!"

"I can't believe what just happened," Dick said.

"Me either," Kaldur said, dumbstruck.

"I guess we should be thanking Zatanna," Raquel said.

"You all were amazing, too. Just taking my lead without questioning it. I'm pretty sure we can trust each other with our lives now."

The were multiple words of agreement from everybody.