Return to The City Of Scars

Burn

When Jack and Brianna came down for breakfast, Ginger, Josh and Cierra were already there, playing on the Xbox. The pair walked into the kitchen as Brianna gave Jack orders, "Make sure he doesn't see you if you do follow him-" She warned, "Because one wrong move and he will know." Jack scoffed, "Princess- if I could catch you sneaking around in Mexico- I'm sure I can catch your brother." Harley frowned from her place at the kitchen island. "What are you two planning?" She said carefully. Brianna sighed, "Do you know anything about Ethan sneaking out last night? When I got out of the gym this morning he came back wearing the special heist gear." Harley frowned and shook her head. "No. I don't. You say he snuck out?" She asked. Brianna nodded, "it would seem so." Harley sighed, "I'll mention it to your father, I'm sure he'll deal with it." Brianna nodded, grabbing one of the plates of pancakes on the island.  It was then Ecco gave an excited squeal, running over to the kitchen doorway into the arms of a girl with dark red hair. Harley smiled, "Good morning, Cinder. Did you sleep well?" She asked, handing the young woman a plate of pancakes. Cinder yawned and nodded, walking over with Ecco. Brianna watched her like a hawk, "Cinder." She greeted. Cinder looked up, "Brianna? Your back- good thing to, being heir freaks Ethan out. Poor guy doesn't sleep anymore." Brianna frowned, "Doesn't sleep anymore?" She repeated, "What do you mean?" Cinder sighed, "exactly as it sounds. By the time I fall asleep he's always going out for work. He doesn't even come to bed until the early morning." Brianna narrowed her eyes, "He's done this a lot?" She asked. Cinder yawned and nodded, "Every night I'm afraid." Brianna looked at Jack, "When you go tonight take Delgado or Cierra with you. They know how to stay in the shadows." Jack nodded, "Of course. I'll let them now." Brianna watched him leave before she finished her food. "I'm going back to the gym. I need to work on my cardio." Brianna turned to leave but was grabbed by her mother, "I don't think so- your father and Lex want us to start your evaluation today." Brianna groaned, reluctantly following her mother into the penthouse library where they sat at a table with a recording device on it. Harley turned it on before assuming her Doctor Harleen Quinzel voice. "Brianna, you understand what we are doing?" She clarified, grabbing a pen and notebook. Brianna nodded, "Of course. I wouldn't agree to it if I had any doubts." Harley began, "Tell me what happened, starting from the night you fell into the acid. Everything you know." Brianna was silent, blood beginning to drip from her nose as the memory plagued her.

TWO YEARS AGO,  ACE CHEMICALS

Griggs looked at Joker, "We need to leave." he urged, glancing at Ethan who was being held back by Jonny and Jasen Frost as he screamed, his loud sobs echoing throughout the chemical plant. Joker nodded, "I want you to stay here Griggs. I'll leave you with ten guys to guard the place. If anything happens- anything, I want to know about it." Griggs nodded, "Understood." He watched as The Joker left, dragging his son along behind him. Once they were all gone, Griggs nodded to the ten men left, "Guard the front. We don't want anyone finding us here." The men obeyed him without a thought. A sadistic grin spread across Griggs's face. He turned towards the acid vat, walking over and proceeding to drain it. Silently praying the girl was alive, or Amanda Waller would have his head, he saw her body at the bottom. Her clothing was burned and some of the acid had burned it off. He noticed her once tan skin had become porcelain and her long black hair was a curtain around her, when he saw the blood matted on the back of her skull he cursed. He climbed into the vat and hissed in pain when he accidentally touched a stray bit of the acid. Griggs put two fingers against her throat. Nothing. He growled in annoyance. Dead. She was dead. She was no use to them now. Pulling out his phone, he prepared to call Amanda. Behind him, Ace Quinn's eyes opened for the first time. Her once dark emerald eyes had an acidic hue to them. Her gaze fell upon Griggs, his back was to her. Slowly standing, she pulled a knife and lunged at the man. Griggs cried out as he felt the blade hit his shoulder blade. He slammed into the wall of the acid vat, yelling in pain as the stray acid burned his back through his own clothing. The ten men had come running, but were killed with knives to the eyes. Ace Quinn backed away from them, laughing madly, her hands pulling through her hair. Griggs gripped his wounded shoulder, preapring for his end- when suddenly the girl's eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed onto the floor with a moan of pain. Griggs looked up to see Amanda Waller's daughter, Kara. Kara Waller held a syringe in one hand, the one that had just been used to subdue Ace. "Hello Griggs." She said, "Long time no see."

"Brianna?" Harley asked worriedly. Brianna breathed shakily, "I-I had him. I- I almost killed him. I killed ten of our guys..." Her mind raced, "I- Everything was hazy, I saw him clearly and went at him. The others... They were hazy." Harley nodded, writing something down. "Do you remember anything else?" Brianna fell victim to her damaged mind once more, blood falling from her nose.

2 YEARS AGO, BELLE REVE

They threw her into a cell, leaving her alone in isolation for a week. It was then her memory began to spark. Her first meeting with Kara Waller was ultimately her last, "You have no choice, princess." Kara said in a monotone voice, her eyes cold as she glared daggers at Brianna. The former Princess of Gotham snarled, slamming herself against the cage bars. "You won't get away with this." Kara laughed, "I already have." Brianna hissed, "That is what you think. But you are wrong, so very very wrong. And when I get out of here I will come after you. The last thing you'll see will be the blade I use to end your life." Kara frowned, "So be it. Before end my life however, I will make your life a living hell, and I will break you. You will be my own little puppet." Brianna hissed, "Try- try to find a chain that I won't break. A price I wouldn't pay for what I want." I promise you, Kara- I will break every rule, every barrier, every bone I have to to get out of here. The price for my escape will be a high one. I warn you of that." Kara sighed, and waved her hand summoning the guards to remove her from the cell. Once they had Brianna in chains, Kara stood face to face with the princess of Gotham. "You are going to regret what comes next, Brianna. I wish you'd joined me. If you had, I wouldn't need to do this." She led them to a white sterile hospital like room, a gurney sat in the middle of it. The second she entered the room, Brianna felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand in fear. Kara pointed to the gurney, "Strap her down." She ordered. The guards obeyed while Brianna fought, thrashing, "Get offa me!" She snarled, emerald eyes glowing. The guards backed away in fear after strapping her down. Kara walked over, "Don't worry, princess- this won't hurt. Well- it will, but you won't remember. I promise." Brianna's eyes widened in fear as Kara flipped the switch. The shock nodes on Brianna's head began to buzz, and Brianna snarled one last threat, "You will never stop me from going home, with one word- I'll can make sure you and your prison burn." Kara chuckled, watching as the girl convulsed on the gurney, "I know. That's why we're doing this."