Return to The City Of Scars

Is It To Late To Apologize?

Both of them fell. Ethan caught his sister before she hit the tile floor, her breathing was labored, crimson colored blood pooled from underneath her. Brianna's crew watched in shock, unable to do anything without the order of their leader. Ethan held his sister, his emerald eyes saucers as they overflowed with tears. No. Not again. Brianna choked, forcing herself to try to sit. Her mother was beside her an instant later, "Don't move!" She warned, trying to keep the heiress as still as possible. Brianna choked out a laugh, "I definitely *cough* didn't expect that!" Jack moaned across from her, Ashley and Tiana holding him as he glanced over, "Didn't account for you to have the same idea!" Brianna giggled, coughing in between. Blood dribbled down her jawline as she giggled weakly. Joker and DeSanta were yelling angrily at each other, blaming each other for what had happened. Harley got up to join the screaming match as the medics put the two on stretchers. Ethan didn't leave his sister's side, she suddenly grabbed him by the arm, her eyes serious but weak. "Upon my death, I name my brother Ethan as my successor- only if he is assisted by Jasen Frost." Ethan felt his blood run cold. She was making a will. Ethan shook his head, "No- no! Brianna please your not-" Brianna hissed in pain, shaking her head. "No..." She forced herself to continue, "If I die you must promise me you won't lose yourself again. Please. If not for me, for Cinder. And Ecco." Ethan shook his head, "Don't-don't talk like that! Your gonna be fine! You will!" Brianna smiled weakly, squeezing her brother's hand before letting go as they arrived at the infirmary.

Brianna opened her eyes. And when she did, she screamed. She was in the purgatory.

Cinder came out of the infirmary, shaking her head. She didn't need to utter a word to tell them. The Joker left the hall outside where they were all waiting, taking Ecco by the hand and leading his youngest daughter away. Harley let out an ear piercing wail. Ethan stood there, unable to say or do anything. But then, he entered the infirmary, he knew something was wrong, grabbing a defibrillator he dropped onto a bed, turning the machine on and preparing to end his life to save his sister. His mother suddenly ripped the machine from him, screaming in his face while tears ran down her cheeks. Ethan shook his head, ready to explain before Cinder injected him with a sedative.

Brianna walked through the purgatory. "Enchantress!" She yelled, "Why am I here?!" The witch materialized before her, smoky wisps trailing from the witch's transparent figure. "Rest easy," She said her voice an echo of sorts. "Your body is merely recovering. You'll be healed shortly." Brianna growled in annoyance, sitting on the ground. The Enchantress wisped around her, "Don't worry, my host." She said, "While your here- I can teach you how to use and control your powers." Brianna looked up, "Fine. Whats the catch?" The Enchantress purred, "Nothing. Just listen to my requests my princess, you shan't need to carry out my requests, just merely listen to them." Brianna was tense. The knowledge and power this witch offered her would be very valuable. And the price to pay would be only to listen to advice. Brianna nodded, "Very well. You have a deal."

Jack awoke in the medical ward, his eyes opening to look upon the prince of Gotham. Ethan's emerald eyes were cold, and it chilled the Trinity heir to the bone. It frightened him how much Ethan looked like his sister. Ethan was toying with a butterfly knife, his eyes were on Jack's, the young man looked as though he'd been through hell. Jack had no doubts Ethan had been watching over him for some time now. Ethan was half sitting half leaning against the wall nearby. Ethan pushed himself off the structure when he saw Jack's eyes flutter open. Jack groaned, slowly sitting up to lean against the small pile of pillows. "What happened?" He murmured. Ethan slammed the blade of the butterfly into the bed, inches away from Jack's foot. Jack narrowed his eyes, annoyed with a look that said, what the fuck was that for?  Ethan hissed, "Your going to pay for your crimes, Jack Carsen. I'm going to see to it." Jack opened his mouth to ask why, but then he saw the med bay beside him. Brianna laid in the bed, looking pale. It was then Jack realized she wasn't hooked up to anything. And there was a sheet at the base of the bed. She was dead. Jack should have been thrilled he'd killed her, thus getting his revenge for Rachel, but he felt nothing. Ethan put the butterfly knife to Jack's throat, trying to decide how the man before him should die. Jack tensed, closing his eyes and preparing for his imminent death, when a choked gasp from beside them made them both turn. Brianna was alive. Ethan pocketed the knife, rushing over, "Brianna?!" He said worriedly, Jack's eyes widened as he saw her hand grasp Ethan's wrist. Ethan yelled then, "Cinder! Cinder! She's alive!" Jack watched weakly as Cinder hurried over with medical supplies, almost dropping it in shock. "But how?!" Cinder exclaimed as she set to work, patching the wound and ensuring all bits of the bullet were gone. Ethan was pondering it for a moment before his eyes flashed a bright green. "It was the witch." He murmured. "The witch brought her back again." 

A couple hours passed, after her family had left, Brianna turned her gaze to her former partner. His hazel eyes locked onto her emerald. Silence. Jack suddenly rolled over, facing away from her. Brianna sighed, "Jack..." Jack hissed, "What?! What do you want from me, princess?!" Brianna recoiled as though she'd been stung by a bee. "Nothing." Jack rolled back over, "You want to gloat? Don't you? Well go on then! Gloat!" Brianna stared at him, "Jack- I have nothing to-" Jack yelled, "You didn't kill her- did you?! Did you?!" Brianna saw the tears in his eyes and shook her head, "No. No I didn't kill her. I don't know who did, but whoever it was didn't have my scar." Jack choked a sob and laughter, "I knew it. I fucking knew it. The moment I knew you were dead I felt no different." Brianna looked at him sympathetically. He was a lost boy looking for vengeance. Brianna watched him, he was broken. Jack turned back to her, "I wanted revenge for the one who killed her! I almost killed you when you didn't do it!" Brianna couldn't stand watching her ex partner lose his mind. Weakly, she slipped out of her bed and started limping over to his bed. Jack's eyes widened, "W-what are you doing?!" He exclaimed, "You need to rest!" Brianna hissed in pain, sitting on the edge of his bed. "I can't watch you blame yourself, its pitiful." Jack chuckled, leaning back against the pillows. "I'm a fucking mess." Brianna nodded, "That you are." Jack looked at her, a dark red still shown on her bandaged chest and he looked away. "I tried to tell you..." He murmured. "I tried." Brianna frowned, "What do you mean?" Jack sighed, "Does it even  matter anymore?" Brianna nodded. Jack leaned back, "I didn't love her." He muttered, "I mean I did- at a point. But once we actually had a relationship..." He sighed, "It changed things. Complicated things. My stepfather had this elaborate plan- to have us end up together and then he'd have power over Gotham. At first, I went along with it. I had been with Rachel at the time, the entire time actually. As far as my step father knew. But it was after you disappeared did I realized my feelings had changed. It wasn't- it wasn't some elaborate power hungry plan anymore, it was different. But when I found out what happened...." he trailed off, squeezing his eyes shut in pain, remembering the day he'd heard the news. "I- I- Rachel was there and she helped me through the pain. She knew I didn't love her, and she was pissed initially, but when she saw how much your death hurt me, she pulled me back. When I saw you again, and I knew it was you-" Brianna cut him off, "You fell in love all over." Jack nodded slowly. "Exactly." Brianna looked at him, "If you loved me, why would you kill me?" Jack shook his head, "But I didn't." Brianna looked at him, "You did." She whispered, her eyes pooled with tears, remembering her time in purgatory, time passed differently in there. It felt like it'd been years, when in reality it'd only been a few hours. Jack looked at her, his face paling. "What do you mean?" Brianna shook her head, not wanting to explain nor discuss the issue with the Enchantress. "Forget it." She carefully went back to her own bed, Jack watching her worriedly. He relaxed when she made it safely. They sat in silence again. Jack looked at her as she settled in to sleep, how could he make it up to her? After what he'd done- he wasn't sure he would even be able to.