Chapter 21: Wednesday 21st February

My heart rate quickened, and the vines around my feet started moving, circling the team as if they were alive. An evil smirk found its way onto Thorn's face. "So, how did find out where we were hiding?" She asked.

"A fault in your 'master' plan." Wally answered.

Thorn didn't reply, but shook her head mockingly. Of course she did actually know how we got here. I let out a breath, reassuring myself that she hadn't double crossed me. But then I took another gasp of air, realising that I would have to fight her in order to keep her secret.

I honestly didn't know why I was helping Thorn so much. Perhaps it was because she aided me in a desperate time of need. A time where I couldn't help myself.

So I decided to play along with her charade.

Stepping out of the wall, I reached into my jacket and pulled out my staff. I flicked my wrist as the weapon extended, holding it behind me so that it was horizontal; parallel to the ground. The perfect position for attack.

"Where the hell is Zoella?" I growled at her,

Thorn laughed evilly. "You can't help her." She said, standing up from her cross legged position and putting her hands on her hips. "And you can't help yourselves either."

The vines around starting twisting their thick bodies bodies around us, trapping first our feet then climbing up our legs, squeezing our walking limbs as they did so.

I heard Connor yell. After half a second of thought I concluded that he wasn't saying anything in particular, but just getting angry at the vines as he ripped them apart.

I hurriedly shoved my staff in its picket and replaced it with the knife out of my boot, then starting to hack away at the greenery; which was thinner, weaker, and slower than the others that were attacking my friends. I guess Thorn wanted me to succeed.

Once all the foliage was cut down and off my body, I slipped the blade into its sheath and looked around at my teammates.

Zatanna quickly yelled something backwards, and I saw Artemis trying to stab the massive plant that had wound up her middle with an arrow. The only ones who were having some luck were me, Connor, and Robin; who was either cutting them with his birdarangs or blowing them up with the explosives installed inside.

The fight was getting more intense, and the plants were becoming deadlier.

I had to run across the room and strike a blow to a plant that was about to hit the oblivious Wally in the back if the head. He nodded a thanks once he realised, and ran off to help Artemis.

Turning, I realised no one had stepped up and taken on Thorn head to head. And as the vines recoiled in my presence, I realised that was exactly what she wanted me to do.

Leaping across the room, I tried to avoid landing on the little vines; to me they seemed no stronger than a newborn puppy, and I wouldn't purposely harm one of those. But then a massive stem flew out of nowhere and tried to wrap itself around me. I spun just in time, avoiding the plant that I could now see made a lousy attack attempt.

I guess Thorn had to make it at least look like we were on opposite sides of this battle. Glancing at her, I confirmed my thoughts. Her eyes held an urging, a calling to come to her.

Regaining the balance that the last attack had taken, I started forward again.

I rolled forward under an oncoming branch of green, dodging right from another once I upwards. Jumping onto one of the vines and using it as a ledge, I rebounded of the plant. Using my magic to push myself upwards through the air, I spontaneously front flipped; a move that allowed me to soar above the next vine coming my way.

I landed the flip in a crouch, taking a moment to steady myself. I guess those extreme training sessions with Canary that used to replace school a few weeks ago were really paying off now.

I shot up, standing straight, now right in front of Thorn. For a few seconds I just stared at her as she stared back at me. The I looked back at my team mates, as half of them were already free. I could tell Thorn was getting tired. I'd read her powers weren't as strong as her mother's, and she could be weakened after using them for too long. The other two had obviously made her overwork.

There was no doubt Riddlerette was watching us through her hidden cameras, Wildcard by her side. If either side suspected something, drastic acts would be performed; by who I wasn't sure.

What I was sure of, was that Thorn and I couldn't play this out for much longer.

So I mouthed a 'sorry' to the red headed girl, then ran forward and punched her in the side of the face. She didn't recover instantly, so I threw another punch, hoping I could work out some way to get in close and talk with her.

But it turned out Thorn was faking, because she caught my hand on my second punch. I let her grab my other hand and push me over, pinning me to the ground.

Thorn restrained my hands above my head, placing a knee on my stomach and leaning down next to my head.

"I need you to listen to closely and carefully." She ordered, surprisingly quite breathless. "If you go up the staircase through the that arched doorway in the wall I'm about to pin you and your friends to, you'll find Zoella in the second room to the right.

"Riddlerette, and Wildcard are in the room next to that, so you'll have to be quick. I saw you bend the air when you did that flip, I loosen your restraints so you can do that against and knock me off my feet. Good luck." She whispered, concern washing over her face for a fraction of a second, then disappearing as soon as it came.

I let the leafy stems snatch me around the wrist and drag me to the wall. I hung by my hands next to my team mates as they as they struggled and wrestled against the tightening vines that bound them. I copied their movements.

"Ready to lose now?" Thorn asked in a mocking tone. I bit my lip, reminding myself that it was all an act.

The restraints on my wrists loosened, just as Thorn said they would. I got ready to release the wave of air and run upstairs, when a shrill, high pitched laugh echoed throughout the halls.

I stopped my plans immediately, knowing who it was. My head snapped to Thorn, her mimicking my actions. Her eyes were glazed over with worry and fear, and I imagined that mine looked the same.

Wildcard stepped into the room, her clown-like white face paint smeared on her snarky face. "Well isn't this a sight." She giggled annoyingly. "Little birdie and his team all tied up with no where to run."

Thorn stayed silent, her hands by her side, twitching with anxiety. Ready to attack if need be, I assumed. We all stayed silent as Wildcard paced in front of us. Until Robin decided to speak.

"What makes you think you'll get away with this?" He gritted out.

Wildcard giggled again. "As they say, we already have." Her gaze drifted to me. "Zoella's tied up just like you."

"Is this the part where you tell me you've killed her?" I asked, my eyes brimming with angry tears.

"No." She sighed. "Some of Daddy's friends are breaking him out now. He wants to do the deed himself." He eyes narrowed. "After all, it was the woman he loved that was killed."

My heart had a sudden moment of sadness for this girl. This girl whose mother had brought her into a world of psychotic criminals, then to die in her daughter's early years; a girl whose only family was now an insane clown, hell bent on killing Batman, and Zoella.

Then I remembered what she did to Zoella, and that pity vanished.

"But," Wildcard continued, "he didn't say anything about keeping you alive."

She grinned evilly and pulled out a switch. Thorn's eyes became panicky, and her hands fidgeted at her front. The team looked at each other in worry, not sure what the switch did.

Wildcard's finger activated the trigger, and we all flew backwards, onto the floor. A fake wall, I thought. And I knew when I saw the stems that once held me trailing along on the 'floor'.

The stems. They weren't holding me anymore.

I think I realised at the same time everyone else did. And I also made a dash for the opening at the same time as everyone else. At the same time all of that was going on, metal bars; much like the ones in a cell block, came crashing down in front of us where the wall used to be.

Wildcard stepped up to the bars, tracing lines along them with her black-gloved fingers. "Such a shame." She said sarcastically, her eyes focused on the bars. "That you all got locked in here."

Thorn walked up beside Wildcard, her own hands; which I know noticed were a pale shade of green, gripped the bars. Her face made no attempt at hiding her remorse, and even showed a little hint of anger.

"It's also a shame." Wildcard continued. "That you're going to have another join you."

It took my brain a few moments to register what she meant. Thorn turned, tried to make an attempt to run, to get away from here; I vouched for her as well. At least one of us would be safe. But she didn't move fast enough.

Wildcard grabbed her wild red hair and yanked it back. Thorn tried to pry the clown's hands away form her locks, but failed miserably. Wildcard unlocked a section of the bars and threw the squirming Thorn inside. She landed on the concrete ground with thud as Wildcard slammed the bars shut behind her.

"Did you really think you could fool us?" Wildcard screeched at Thorn.

I ran hunched over girl, leaning down to make sure she was okay. It was then that I realised she was crying.

"Did you think you could betray me and get away with it?" Wildcard screamed. "Now you share the same fate as the heroes you decided to choose over us!"

Wildcard kicked the metal bars and walked away as the clang echoed throughout the room.

I pulled the weeping Thorn close, holding her in my arms. Zatanna and Rocket came and sat down beside us. Artemis and the boys hovered back, not really knowing what to do, though I suspected Robin was already planning a way to get us out of here.

I was secretly glad he had the mindset to think practically in a situation like this, and not worry over emotional states. Though my mind drifted back to when Wildcard had first attacked us, and Robin held me in his arms after I had been sprayed with Joker Venom. I suddenly realised he wouldn't do that in normal situation.

Thorn lifted her head and snapped me out of my thoughts. Her swollen eyes met my tear threatened ones. "I'm sorry." She cried. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I should've done better."

I looked at her in concern as she continued to sob. Earlier on the rooftop she had seemed so... strong. And now here she was, crying it my arms. It worried me, and confused me, how she so suddenly broke down like this.

"It's okay." I soothed, running my fingers through her hair. "You didn't do anything wrong."

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Hello Everyone!

First off, I would like announce that I have dedicated this chapter to BronzegothLuv , as it is her birthday today!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!! Go over to her profile and wish her all the best. Just to clarify though, I live in Australia and it is Friday here, so I don't know what day all of you others are currently experiencing...

And it's true, they were wrong. You can fall for a fictional character. I fall for all the ones in the books I read.

And I'm sorry that this chapter was really sucky. I hope, the next one will be better.

Thank you for reading as always, and please continue to follow Ebony on her quest for her friend. Leave your thoughts in the comments and don't forget to vote if you liked it!!

Over and out