Chapter 12

                                    

                                          
Lena's eyes blink slowly. She feels so groggy, and she can't quite remember why. She lets out a groan as the ache in her head intensifies. It takes her several minutes to become aware of her surroundings. It starts slow. She's laying down but not on a bed. It's much too hard and cold. She tries to bring a hand up to prod the aching area of her head, but something is holding it in place. Her tongue feels thick, and she realizes that she's parched. Lena tries to open her eyes, but the light blinds her, aggravating her headache even more. Her one thought is focused on where Kara is.
"Well, well... look who's finally awake."
Lena feels like ice water was just dumped over her. Her body stiffens, and she breaks out in chills at that voice.
"You'll have to accept my apologizes. I told them not to rough you up too much, but I suppose they got a little overzealous in making sure they were successful."
Lena's breath quickens as the voice comes closer and closer. She flinches away, as if it will transport her out of this nightmare.
"Now, is that any way to react to your big brother?"
Lena can hear Lex's smugness in his voice. She would normally have a quip at the ready, but she whimpers from the pain and the realization that her family once again caused her more pain.
"Come now. You can't ignore me forever. The sooner you cooperate, the sooner I will let you go." Lex sees the confusion written plainly on her face. "That's right, dear sister. I have no intention on killing you. As much as it pains me to say, I need your help on a project of mine."
Lena's voice is thick and gruff from her thirst and grogginess. "If you needed my help, you could've just asked."
"Like you would have agreed," Lex states sarcastically.
"Undoubtedly, but didn't mother teach you any manners?"
Lex smirks at his sister's feistiness. "Ah, alas, I did not have time for proper etiquette. It would've given you too much time to prepare."
Lena rolls her head over to shot Lex a dirty look. "Let's get on with it then. What, pray tell, do you think I'm going to help you with?"
"Just a little pet project of mine."
"I'm going to need a little bit more information than that, Lex."
"All in due time. First, I want to cover what will happen if you don't cooperate with me."
"Ah, the threats. Yes, please. Do tell." Lena goes back to looking at the ceiling. She lets her body relax. She takes note of everything she can hear and smell. She thinks she near the bay with the smell of rotting fish and water.
"I understand that your little girlfriend is having some issues with her powers."
Lena's eyes shoot open. Her body stiffens again.
"I'll take that as confirmation. Yes, yes. I know your little plaything is Supergirl. Really, Lena? Sleeping with the enemy?"
Lena's fiery gaze lands on her brother. "You leave her out of this."
"You know I can't. She's a Kryptonian. Do you really think that you two are equals? You are just a pest to her-"
"What do you want, Lex?" Lena cuts him off before he can continue on his insane soapbox.
Lex lets out a huff. "Talk about manners. Didn't mother teach you it's rude to interrupt?"
"I didn't want to be showered in your spit. Now. What. Do. You. Want."
Lex lets out a humorless chuckle. "If you do not cooperate, it would be incredibly easy to take your little girlfriend out. I have a couple men following Kara Danvers around."