Return to The City Of Scars

Saving Grayson Part 2/ Wicked Always Wins

Jack and Brianna were standing atop the  old GCPD building nearby the Joker's club. Brianna glared out over the city skyline. This was taking too long. By the time they finally got back with a cure Grayson would be dead. Jack leaned against a pipe on the roof, reaching into his pocket to pull out a cigarette and lighter. Brianna watched out of the corner of her eye as he lit the cigarette, the ember glow slowly sparking to life before dying as quickly as it came as he took a long drag. Brianna sighed turning to him, "It's a dirty habit Jack." She scolded. Jack shrugged, "Takes the edge off." He suddenly broke into a fit of coughs, spitting on the ground. Brianna narrowed her eyes, "It's going to kill you one day Jack. You know that right?" Jack nodded, the cigarette hanging limply from his lips, "Course I do. But odds are I'll die by a gunshot or something before the smoking takes full effect." Brianna frowned, turning away to lean on the stone edge of the roof. He was right. In their profession- no their life, death was always a risk. Death was always just around the corner. And that was something even Brianna couldn't stop, even with the Enchantress.

Brianna looked at her phone. They were late. She let out a low growl. "They're late." Jack glanced up from his cigarette, "I'm sure they'll be here momentarily, Princess. They're only thirty seconds late." Brianna opened her mouth to rebuttal, but the whooshing sound of a cape and the shadow behind her made her turn to see Nightwing and Batman. Brianna's eyes flashed briefly with surprise before she mentally rolled her eyes, of course Batman would show up. Especially since Barbara- or Oracle, had informed him there was a military personnel needing the antidote. Brianna glared coldly at the two heroes, "Do you have it?" She asked, Nightwing looked at Batman who held up a vial. "This will be enough for the Joker Toxin. There's enough for three doses minimum." Brianna nodded, holding out her hand, "Good. Give it here." Batman didn't move. Jack growled, putting out his cigarette on the asphalt of the roof before moving to stand beside Brianna. Batman spoke, his voice cold and monotone. "No. I want to know who it is you've got there. Who the cure is for. I was informed it was for a military personnel." Brianna scoffed, "Its for a visiting friend who was very stupid and bought strychnine thinking it was a pain killer. He took too much and is living off a ventilator and having to get his heart started constantly. Our doctor can't give him anything more without permanent damage. We need the antidote before it's too late." Batman said nothing. "You didn't answer my question." Jack hissed, suddenly whipping the gun out of the holster on Brianna's thigh and aiming it weapon at the heroes. "Enough," he snarled, "We don't have time for your games, Bats! Just give us the damn antidote!" Batman was silent for a moment before handing the vial to Brianna who put it in her jacket pocket. Brianna nodded at Jack and they started to leave. "Wait." Brianna turned to see Batman's eyes on her. "Does you father know your out?" Brianna tensed and hissed, "We're done here, Bat."

The drive back to the mansion was brief. Jack gunned it down every side street he could find. When they were two blocks away from the mansion, they ditched the vehicle and crept through the hedges. Brianna bit back a yelp as she poked her finger on a thorn. Jack was crawling behind her, and he hadn't failed to notice the difference in her movements. Brianna suddenly stopped, causing Jack stop nearly face first mere inches before her ass. Brianna hissed suddenly, "The shift changed. Turn around, we need to go back and take the hedges by the pool house." Jack hissed, "Does it look like I can turn around, princess?! I can barely move as it is!" Brianna smirked, "Need to drop a few pounds huh, Jacky?" Jack growled, "Do not call me Jacky. Ever." Brianna giggled softly before she crept out of the hedges, before slamming back into them with a guard who's face was covered by the princess's hands. Brianna held the guard, one arm around his neck tightly and the other over his nose and mouth. When he went limp she dropped the man and turned to Jack, emerald eyes slight in the light from the mansion. "Let's go!" Jack followed her quickly to the back, Brianna was surprised there weren't many guards. She suddenly tackled Jack to the ground, rolling into a hedge on the edge of the yard as a trio of guards walked by. "Heard the boss is sick," one said. Another chuckled, "If that's the case I call dibs on Harley when he's gone!" The last one spoke, "I heard him and Harley talking last night. He seems like he's getting better. It was Harley's terrible cooking that got him sick in the first place." The other two groaned, stopping. Brianna growled softly. Great. We're stuck here. She looked at Jack who shifted, moving an arm around her and gently pushing her sideways. "Scoot down sideways," He muttered. "When we get another fifteen feet we'll make a run for the pool house. Camp out there until dawn." Brianna nodded, moving sideways as he'd suggested. The thorns and briars of the hedges poked and prodded the pair of teenagers, causing them both bite back the gasps of pain that threatened to escape them. They'd managed to make it a good ten or so feet from the pool house. Looking both ways, they took a deep breath and ran. Brianna quickly unlocked the door to the pool house and hurried inside, pulling jack behind her and shutting the door immediately. They fell to the floor, both of them out of breath and exhausted. The pool house was basically a lounge, with a small kitchenette and of course at the poolside entrance, a closet that held every single floatie and pool pimp galore item Brianna's family owned. Jack hissed in pain, limping to the u shaped sectional. Brianna joined him, after stripping herself of her jacket (but being sure to move the antidote to the kitchenette. Jack turned to Brianna. "Got a medical kit in here?" He asked. Brianna shook her head. "No. We don't usually use this place." Jack hummed and limped over to the poolside door, if they timed it right they could get in easily. Jack flicked his hand for Brianna to come. Briana walked over. "What is it?" Jack hummed, "If we time it right we can get back inside. You got your key right?" Brianna nodded, a small limp in her step as she grabbed the vial of antidote and her jacket. "I'm ready when you are." Jack nodded a grin on his face. He slowly opened the door and slipped out, Brianna directly behind him. They stood against the wall of the pool house when Jack suddenly grabbed her by the hand and pulled her over to the door. Brianna set to work instantly, fumbling with her house keys to find the back door key. Jack tensed hearing the footsteps of henchmen nearing. "Hurry up!" He hissed. Brianna hissed back, "Calm your ass!" She suddenly plunged a key into the lock and turned, opening the door and slipping inside with Jack on her heels. When they were inside, they didn't hesitate rushing to the medical ward where Brianna shoved the antidote at Jack before taking off to Cinder's room. Throwing open the door she hurried to shake her awake. "Cinder. Cinder!" Cinder stirred, "Brianna? What's going on?" She murmured. Brianna was out of breaths tugging the young doctor to her feet. "Come on! Jack and I got the antidote- you need to give it to Grayson!" Cinder woke up more and walked down the hall with Brianna to the first floor where the infirmary was. Cinder pulled on her white doctors coat, taking the antidote and pouring a bit of it into a syringe before injecting the liquid into Grayson Flagg's arm. Grayson groaned, but fell back into sleep. Cinder yawned and did a quick check on his vitals and such. "I'll stay awake with him for an hour, but he should be fine. You two get some sleep. You deserve it." Jack and Brianna nodded, it was now Cinder fully woke up and noticed their wounds. "Help yourself to any medical supplies. You two look like you got a few scrapes." Jack and Brianna turned around, having started towards the door before Cinder made the suggestion. Jack grabbed the first aid kit and sat on a bed, Brianna sat across from him  and they passed the first aid back and forth, using only what they needed from its contents. Jack hissed in pain attempting to pull a thorn that embedded deeply in his arm. Brianna leaned over, grabbing his arm, "Hold still, Jack!" She hissed, grabbing the tweezers from the first aid kit and clamping them around the thorn in his arm. Jack groaned in pain as she twisted and pulled the thorn out of his skin. Cinder yawned, walking over to help, sitting beside Jack, wrapping and cleaning his wound while Brianna removed the thorns from her own body. "Did your mother not tell you that we are under lock down?" Jack and Brianna looked up to see the Joker, wearing a white t shirt and gray sweatpants, still pale as a vampire and even more so considering he was still sick with food poisoning. Brianna's eyes met her father's. "We had no choice," She argued, "Grayson would have-" Joker snarled, "I don't care. What I do care about is the safety of my daughter and heiress! What would we do if something happned? If you were taken again?" Brianna hissed, "I would never be so foolish to get caught! Besides- we already risked it by going to the club to get the antidote!" Joker snapped back, "You did what?" Brianna glared, "You heard me. We went and got the antidote." Joker growled, "Brianna- you have crossed a line. You deliberately disobeyed me." Brianna hissed, "What're you gonna do? Shoot me? Do it! I can take it! Just like I took the electro shock in Belle Reve!" Joker snarled, "Enough! You know what, Princess? You are going back to school. Full time. No heists, no nothing. For now- you are not the heiress."

Ethan grinned, standing behind the door having heard everything. Brianna was not the heiress, for now at least. Ethan walked down the hall chuckling to himself. The voice in his head laughed with him, murmuring praises and plans. Ethan hummed,

Finally the moment I was hoping would come
The moment he would realize he chose the wrong one

Ethan stood on the balcony singing softly, his emerald eyes aglow, revealing the demon behind them that sought refuge in the young man's soul.

There isn't any curse I could cast to match this feeling

Ethan remembered the many years he'd spent as a child, pining for his father's attention and praise.

The pain I knew when Dad turned his back on my heart
At last will be Brianna's when her life falls apart

Ethan pulled himself from his reverie,
"Suddenly the future's looking more appealing
Once I was filled with rage
Now I enjoy the ride
It's so electrifying
Watching all her dreams denied."

Ethan turned on his heel, walking down the hall, a grin on his face.

"Oh I will fly into tomorrow
My sister full of sorrow finally paying for her sins"

Ethan flicked his hand, a vision of what could be the future in the form of a small orb. He cast the orb onto a nearby painting, watching with a gleeful grin as he saw his beloved twin in despair when she had lost everything.

"I'll smile all the while she is crying
Inside she's slowly dying
Learning wicked always wins
Oh evil may be powerful
But wicked always wins"

Ethan walked into the library where a family portrait hung on the wall. His eyes aglow and now he wasn't fully in control of Incubus. The demon was now beginning to corrupt the prince further than he had. Ethan's face slowly began to corrupt, the blue black purplish colored vine like veins creeping across the lower right side of his face, and beginning to morph him into Incubus. Ethan pushes back at the last minute, shoving the demon back- but only temporarily.

"If dad could see me now he would ache with regret
'Cause he'd witness all the glory wickedness gets
He went and made Brianna queen and my blood boil."
Ethan has a look of pain and anger in his face at the last verse, but the grin returned (as did the corruption on his face) when he continued, dancing across the room happy as can be.

But that's all history
Time they all understood
What they call green with envy
I just call looking good
Oh I will fly into tomorrow
My sister full of sorrow finally paying for her sins
The strife her life was so enchanted
She took it all for granted
Now she'll dream what could've been
Oh evil may be powerful
But wicked always-

Ethan stopped suddenly, an idea coming to him from the demon corrupting him.
"Wait, why just revel in her demise
When I can use it to my advantage?" A wicked grin spread across his face.
"I'll give her a magic gift to bring her rivals down. When Brianna stands victorious I'll swoop right into town. When he learns the plan was mine. Oh Dad he will see he should've chosen me!"

Ethan left the library, walking back to his room.
"So I will fly into tomorrow
Delighting in her sorrow as a better day begins
This time nobody's gonna stop me
No evil's gonna taunt me
Oh wicked always wins
Her happy ending will be mine
'Cause wicked always wins."

A/N- Video for Wicked Always Wins coming soon.