37 》Cells

                                    

                                          
Let's pick up from right where we left off.
                          
《<>》
                          
Hazel
                          
I screamed and flailed as I tumbled into darkness. Why did I think this was a good idea again?
                          
Oh...right - there weren't any other options. 
                          
I quietened my scream but my limbs still flapped wildly like I might catch a gust of wind and fly upwards. I reached out with my senses for earth and found it within reach, but I couldn't focus enough to alter it. 
                          
Come on Hazel, I told myself. Focus or end up as human splat.
                          
Eventually, I calmed myself down enough to control my movements. I desperately thrust out my arm to call the rock to me. Then suddenly I had a grasp and my fall was immediately stopped. That was when I realised my mistake.
                          
My body continued with downward momentum until it was tugged to a halt by my arm. The sudden weight hit my arm hard and it was yanked out of the socket. I screamed in pain but did not let go. "SHIST!" I screeched, my voice echoing through the tunnel.
                          
"Hazel?" I heard a familiar voice call out.
                          
"P-Percy?" I wondered, my eyes tearing as I held in cries of pain.
                          
"Are you okay?" His voice sounded from very close.
                          
"No," I grunted.
                          
"I'll find a way up to you," Percy promised.
                          
"Y-yeah...okay," I sighed.
                          
Fully knowing that Percy couldn't fly or scale perfectly smooth walls, I used my good arm, to craft a set of steps from the wall.
                          
Just as I was about to pass out from pain and exhaustion, I felt a hand on mine.
                          
"Percy?" I guessed.
                          
"Yeah...yeah I'm here," he assured. "Let's help you up." He then grabbed my forearm and lifted it gently, but even that small tug resulted in excruciating pain. I screeched and Percy let go immediately. "What happened?"
                          
"Pulled arm...out of socket," I managed, my eyelids heavy and voice sluggish.
                          
"Okay then, no pulling you up by the arm," Percy suggested.
                          
I heard Percy get down and then felt hands on my waist. Slowly, the weight on my bad arm was lifted. Grunting from the exertion, Percy pulled me onto the stairs then slumped down beside me, panting. 
                          
"Thanks," I breathed, before leaning my head on his shoulder and allowing myself to finally pass out.
                          
《<>》
                          
Aqualad
                          
"Come on," I urged. "Percy's cell should be just up ahead." If the Captain told us the truth, I silently added.
                          
I lead a stumbling Superboy and wheezing Kid Flash down the dimly lit corridor - neither fully recovered from what had transpired in the cell.
                          
The corridor was empty and blank apart from equally spaced and identical doors - each marked with a number and with a rectangular flap reminiscent of a letterbox which I assumed was for sliding in food trays.