DC: Don't Utter A Word

Chapter 150:

Chapter 150:

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[David Lance POV]

I can't escape this hell.

No matter how many times I tried.

My grief had sealed me in a prison of rage, a labyrinth without escape. I knew that; I knew that the ring was empowering my darkest emotions and numbing everything else to the point of non-existence.

And while I had tried to fight this cage of crimson, I had willingly accepted, at least since I was defeated by Superman, my attempts had been in vain because, on a fundamental level, I wanted this, this power, the rage I felt, the hatred, was addicting beyond comprehension.

The funny thing was that I didn't feel good.

Addictions are supposed to feel good. That's how they hook you, but this? This didn't feel good, not even a single bit.

I mourned Dinah in a perpetual state of rage and hatred; I had no positive thoughts or calming ones, just rage, pure rage. That was all I had, alongside a bit of logic that I had somehow managed to retain through this evolution of sorts.

Suffering, hate, and rage were the only emotions I could feel. And somehow, I was addicted to them.

Pain without love.

Rage, I couldn't get enough.

I was becoming a monster.

Little by little, I could feel it.

I had almost killed the ones that had saved my life just because I could. I remember seeing their faces, their dread, and I remember enjoying it; I had only stopped because the doctor had managed to somehow reach me.

The worst part was that, beyond regret, I felt annoyed he had interrupted me. Follow current novels at novelhall.com)

"Are you ready to start your training, recruit?" Atrocitus' voice suddenly boomed around me, shattering any and all thoughts I had been entertaining before his interruption.

I glared at him, clenching my fists so hard that my knuckles turned white. I knew his game, he thought me a fool, but I knew he was planning to use me for his own benefits, to complete his vengeance.

I refused to be used.

However, I could see the benefit of learning whatever he has to teach, so while eradicating him from the face of the universe would've been my first choice, I had begrudgingly decided to learn under him.

"Remember our deal, Atrocitus," I replied, using my ring to speak.

But at the same time, in a way, things remained the same for me.

My sister, my Dinah, was still alive.

Raven was still alive.

Oliver was still alive.

Hopefully, they were still alive.

....

"So I was right," Atrocitus said as he stared into me.

Meanwhile, I remained frozen in place, trying to make sense of the new feeling that had invaded me for a brief moment, hope.

I had felt hope for the briefest of moments.

"Disgusting," Atrocitus said as he walked toward me. "Within you, there should be no room for hope, only rage!"

Having had enough of Atrocitus, I darted forward and grabbed him by the throat before slamming into the ground with enough power to force some blood out of him in a cough. "Go on, keep wasting my time, and we'll see how it ends."

Atrocitus grinned in rage and something else I couldn't quite read. "That's it! That's all you should feel, RAGE! HATE! NOTHING MORE! Hope is long forgotten for us!"

I tightened my grip on his throat, momentarily severing his ability to talk. He struggled, using both hands to grab mine, but no matter how much he tried and how much power he used, my hand wouldn't budge. "Let me remind you of our agreement. You teach me what you know about the ring and how to use it, and I let you live," I said through the Ring as I loomed over him before releasing him of my grip.

Touching his throat gingerly, Atrocitus glared at me in a mix of rage and amusement as he coughed a few times. "Very well, let's get started then."

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[B'dg - POV - Elpis Planet]

In a sea of rage and despair, I felt one ray of hope shine bright for the briefest of moments. Not enough to be a bringer of hope, but enough to receive salvation and release.

"You felt that?" Bro'dee Walker said calmly yet with a hint of excitement as he stared at me from his meditative position.

I nodded, still trying to comprehend what I had just experienced. "Yeah, for a second there, I felt something more than crimson red within the heart of a Red Lantern."

"No matter the situation, hope never dies. It remains strong through all adversity," Bro'dee mused as he leaned back, a sad expression dawning on his face. "I can't help but feel sad about that poor soul, to be trapped in a state of perpetual torment. I can't imagine a worse fate."

I agreed with him. "But now that we know of him, we must help him."

Bro'dee nodded sagely. "Yes, we must. The question is, how?"

I sighed. Unlike the other corps, our numbers were not as plentiful, which made taking tasks a difficult decision as, more than not, we didn't have the numbers to assist those who needed it. "I know our numbers are tight, as per usual, but I can't in good conscience let this be. I will take on this mission alone if that's what it takes."

"You won't be alone in this, dear friend; I will accompany you. Elpis can survive a few days without us, though to be sure, I will call back one of our friends to fill in for us," Bro'dee said with confidence as he stood up. "For now, though, we must rest. We have a long journey ahead of us, and we need to be prepared."

I nodded.