Chapter 69

Jinx PoV

I awoke coughing. Blinking the sleep out of my eyes, I immediately surveyed the area. Immediately noticing that the area I was in was different than the one I usually woke up in.

Which wasn’t too strange. H.I.V.E. likes to keep us on our toes like that from time to time. Testing us in different ways. I tried to wring my hands, only to realize there was some sort of strange light pink layer over them. It was like a latex glove, but distinctly different.

No matter how I struggled with it, it didn’t seem willing to come off. Neither attempting to rip it or take it off naturally worked. Even trying to funnel my power through it didn’t seem to do anything.

That was…odd.

I’ve heard of H.I.V.E. training with power dampeners but they’ve never done that with me before. I thought it was because they just didn’t have an a way to do so. But it would seem…

No. No wait.

The Titans…my team…

Wait, then that means this place was…

I looked around frantically, confirming my suspicions. It was a good bit different from the previous cell I had been kept in. It was larger, and the way they had contained me was different. Not to mention there was all this strange smelling mist in the air.

But there were similarities. The steel grey walls. A large window viewing into my cell. With a part that seemed like it could allow a person through. There was nothing else in this cell, besides a small bed and a rather lackluster place to use the bathroom.

Sheesh, somehow despite being bigger, it still was pretty lousy.

I also couldn’t help but notice two strange looking metal contraptions on either side of the room. Orb like metal things that seemed to be the source of all the smoke in the room.

It was behind a clear glass case with several holes in it. Making sure that I couldn’t interfere with it for some reason. Not that I really cared to, the smell wasn’t that bad to be honest.

It kind of reminded me of one of those air freshener things that are put in new cars.

“Ah, you’re awake.”

I jumped with a start. Immediately looking over towards the window, only to notice that someone was now standing outside the window. A rather familiar face, and one I very much didn’t want to see again.

At least, not like this.

“You.”

I spat out, only making him grin slightly. Likely taking some sort of enjoyment in my disgust.

“Me.”

He noted, confirming my thoughts. It was hard to hide that vibrant red hair of his, or those piercing eyes. Instead of continuing though, he seemed to be mostly interested in observing me for some reason.

Occasionally I’d notice his lips moving, as if he was talking, but no words were coming out. Or if they were, he was whispering them to himself.

It wasn’t an uncommon practice. Many other students in H.I.V.E. do the same thing when they’re preparing for class, or are studying by themselves. Focusing so intently that they forget certain things. Or perhaps it was because it just helped them think?

I have no clue.

But for some reason, the way he did that, and the way he moved…

It sparked a certain foreboding feeling in me. One that sent shivers down my spine.

“Well, that should be enough for now. Tell me, Jinx, how many lights do you see in the room?”

Huh? What the heck? Lights?

I looked about the room, and noted the four pretty damn dull lights around the back. They pretty much lit up fuck all, because it was still pretty dark in here. I tapped my mouth in thought before responding.

“Hmm…I think there’s more than enough for you to go fuck yourself with.”

Perhaps it wasn’t the smartest thing to do, but I already had a general grasp on Law. That being he was a massive asshole. Especially after what he did to me last time.

Honestly, what kind of hero drugs someone? Just having that power should make him a pretty obvious villain. It was up there with mind control.

“Ah, I see.”

He noted before…stepping into the room.

A fact that had alarms going off in my head. I hadn’t seen him open the door or anything. He was just on the other side of the window, and was now on this side. Near to where he had been standing.

Despite my fear, I slowly started to go over to him. If I could get the drop on-

“I must warn you, attacking me is not a very good idea. One that some of your allies have discovered.”

That made me pause. My eyes narrowed onto the bastard as he seemed to watch me with a small frown. For some reason, him watching me without any emotion was much creepier than him taking amusement in my suffering.

“What did you do to them?”

He raised an eyebrow.

“I defended myself, of course. Before restraining his arms to the walls. If you’ve proven that this much freedom is too much for you, then it’s only right for me to take it away.”

I sneered at him. It was like he thought he was doing us a favor or something. What kind of psychopath thinks locking people up is fine?

After blinking a bit, I realized I had spaced out. Mostly because Law had already moved to a different spot in the room. Was he…inspecting the bed?

…What a creep.

“Who sent you? Rather, who are the ones that pull your strings?”

I quirked an eyebrow up at his question. He was starting to sound like Robin now. Oh, that’s right, they didn’t have him anymore, did they? There was some sort of falling out and he was back in Gotham.

This must be his sad way of attempting to fill in Robin’s shoes.

“I’m the only one who pulls my strings, and I’m pretty sure you can’t just keep us here.”

He hummed at that. Seeming barely interested in my response.

“Ah, I see. You want to go back to prison. Preferably the same one that allowed you and your allies to break out without so much as an alarm.”

I couldn’t help but smile at that. He was starting to realize that H.I.V.E. had a lot more control over the city than he had anticipated. Oh, he could fight with me and the others all he wanted, but in the end, it wouldn’t do anything.

H.I.V.E. was bigger than that.

“Yeah, actually.”

He nodded.

“And normally I would actually be willing to do as such. I mean, sure, it’s a little frustrating to deal with criminals that keep escaping due to a broken system, but what the hell am I going to do about it? I’m just one person. A cog in the machine.”

…Uh, at least he was self-aware? I guess?

His eyes darted back to me and for a moment they took on a sinister light before quickly dissipating. For just an instant, I saw what he really thought of me.

A look of utter contempt.

“…Robberies, kidnappings, murder, drug trafficking…these are all things I can’t possibly hope to contend with or stop. Not in a million years. Honestly, the heroes that think they can are quite naïve.”

“More like stupid.”

I commented, but he didn’t seem to acknowledge it.

“However, there is one thing that I won’t allow, and that’s actively targeting me and the Titans. Of that, you are guilty.”

My eyes threatened to fall out of my head by how hard I was rolling them.

“Uh huh. Sure, tough guy.”

“Despite being in this business, I’m not actually that violent of a person. That is to say, I don’t really care for hitting and hurting people.”

Alright, I had no idea where this guy was going anymore. Sheesh, it was like he was talking to himself more than he was talking to me. Not that he was actually going to get anything out of me, but still.

He continued. This time suddenly appearing on the other side of me. As if he had teleported like Kid Wykkyd could. But I quickly schooled my surprise.

It didn’t matter if he had some new superpower or gadget.

“Which is why I’m not going to make you talk through violence.”

“You’re not going to make me talk, period.”

He smirked at that.

“Hmm. Well, we’ll see, won’t we?”

I found myself slumping forward before quickly righting myself. My head…it didn’t hurt or anything but I just felt like there was a headache. Or there was suppose to be one, but I didn’t feel a thing.

Pain…were the other members of my team experiencing anything like this as well? Or were they having a better time of things?

Damn it, this was my team too. Which meant it was my failure. H.I.V.E. wouldn’t just allow this failure. I’ll be punished for sure.

It-

“AHHH!”

A rather painful sounding scream greeted my ears. Causing me to look to the other side of the room with wide eyes. Law continued to watch me before tracing where I was looking and darted his eyes towards the wall as well.

It was gut wrenching, and for a long moment I didn’t even recognize it. Not until I heard the familiar choked sound of Gizmo coming through as well.

Holy shit. What the hell were they doing to him over there!?

“What the fuck is that!?”

I angrily turned towards Law, who’s eyes continued to linger on that section of the wall before turning back to me. Not a trace of any emotion on his blank face as he observed me.

“…What?”

“The screams you sick fuck! What are you doing to him!?”

He blinked before answering.

“What exactly were you expecting? A five-star resort? A maid to dress you? Perhaps a butler to wipe your own ass?”

“You can’t just-“

His eyes narrowed, cutting me off with just a look.

“You’re criminals with an actual body count. Did you really think you’d never face punishment for your actions?”

I attempted to stand up to face him. I hadn’t realized I was sitting down until I tried to move. Which sounds rather silly considering how tall Law seemed.

Yeah, that’s the only reason I bitched out and flinched. If I had been standing, I wouldn’t have given two shits.

“And do you think you’re not going to face a punishment for this!?”

He gave me an amused expression. One that showed that he didn’t seem effected by the screams in the slightest. Despite them ramping up in intensity.

“Haven’t you been paying attention to the news lately? I’m a superhero. We make the rules.”

I was about to retort, when I was cut off by a particularly grueling scream. This time coming from the other wall. A scream that sounded faintly like…Mammoth? Wasn’t he on some sort of long-term assignment? What was he even doing here?

From the sounds of it, they were doing something excruciatingly brutal to him. Which meant a lot, because he had a pretty big tolerance for pain. I couldn’t even imagine what they were doing to cause him to scream out like that.

“Just…stop hurting them you psycho!”

He paused at that before tilting his head.

“Hmm. Does that mean you’re willing to tell me everything you know?”

I grit my teeth. Obviously, he was using them to get to me. He must have already figured out I’m the leader. Or maybe one of the others already told him as much.

And if they’ve accidently spilled that, then what else might they spill?

…Even still, the amount of pain I’d go through if I talked was enough to still my tongue on instinct. No matter what he did, it still didn’t compare to what the H.I.V.E. would put snitches through.

Even better, he wasn’t physically hurting me. It sucked that it was happening to the others, but I wasn’t going to swap places with them or anything. We were all in this for ourselves.

And that was just the hard truth.

“No.”

He nodded at that. Not seeming to be surprised in the least before standing up and…teleporting to the other side of the cell. Over where the window was. Once again, I didn’t see him open any sort of door. He just…did it.

I wiped a long string of drool from my mouth before looking over in his direction.

“You can’t keep us here forever! We will get out eventually, we always do.”

He paused for a moment, before turning and looking at me with a smirk.

“Not this time.”

For a moment there was just silence as he turned around. Seemingly about to make his exit before suddenly pausing and turning back. A slightly raised in thought.

“Oh, and I wouldn’t recommend calling out to the others. The walls here are soundproof.”

What? Was that some sort of joke?

Or perhaps it had a different meaning. Maybe I could hear them, but they wouldn’t be able to hear me? I wasn’t sure why he would do something like that. Some sort of interrogation method maybe?

With that, he finally made his exit. Leaving me alone in the dark yet again.

With the only thing accompanying me being the screams of the other H.I.V.E. students.