The hallway of Detention Block J was fairly unnerving. It stretched forward for quite some distance before it faded into darkness. The walls were a dark rust color and made from some of the strongest materials known to man. Hanging above his head were large racks of electrified barbed wire that were supposed to drop on escaping prisoners in case of a riot. The Knight tried not to think about what that stuff would do to him if it fell now. All of the cell doors on the block appeared securely shut, which was one of the few bright spots of the situation. The worst part was how quiet it was. Up top the chaos created by the escapees was deafening, but down here there was no sound at all. It felt almost like a crypt.
As the Arach-Knight took a few more steps forward, his danger sense kicked into high gear. A cell door to his left swung wildly open and the Knight only just jumped in time to avoid a blast of electric energy from the prisoner within. As he landed he dropped into a roll to avoid a second, weaker blast, and that somersault took him directly into the cell 23A. The incarcerated hack interred within 23A was a gaunt, older man who had long since lost most of his grey hair. His skin was stretched tight against his skull, giving him an almost skeletal appearance. The spider had never seen this guy, and had no clue what he was capable of.
“I took those little blasts from the grid out in the hallway. Not much there, but don’t worry dear,” he said in a croaking voice that seemed unused to working. “I’ll just be drawing some more energy from you. Won’t that be a sight? Me using your power against you!” And with a grand, practiced gesture, the villain held out his hands and wiggled his fingers. The Arach-Knight dropped like a sack of dirt to the cell floor and started writhing in pain. This seemed to encourage and delight the villain who redoubled his finger waggling. As his body convulsed, Andrew crawled weakly towards the villain holding a hand out for mercy. Then the prisoner made one last, overly dramatic flourish with his hands and the Knight couldn’t take it anymore and started laughing. All of the delight present in the villain’s face drained away.
“Why are you laughing?”
“You look like an idiot, waving your arms around like that,” the spider responded. “I just couldn’t keep up the act. It was too priceless.” Getting up onto his knees, he mimicked the villain’s movements and started roaring with laughter.
“You should be powerless! No one can stand against me,” the villain whined.
“You’re an energy siphon, aren’t you?” the Arach-Knight asked as he caught his breath.
“Yes, and you should have fed my power reserves, Cell Phone…Girl.” As he said the word Girl, he paused and looked down at the Knight. “You’re not her.”
“Nope,” the spider responded as he took his adversary down with a wicked uppercut that sent the man flying back onto his cot. It was short work from there to web the moron to his bed and as he finished up, a faint green light started to spill into the cell from the hallway. The Arach-Knight turned towards the light, as it grew brighter. Clenching his fists, he prepared himself for another fight, but then quickly dropped them again as a billowing green cloak floated into the room. Cocking his head, the Knight took in the new arrival.
“Emerald Lantern?” he asked. “When did you join the party? Not that it matters, I’m just happy I’m not down here alone.” Andrew started to walk out of the cell, past the Lantern. “Nice cloak by the way, I don’t suppose you have a map in there.” The green eyes followed him as he walked out into the hall. “Listen, this appears to be some elaborate sort of trap. That guy in there was meant for Cell Phone Girl. I’m guessing there’s one for each of us somewhere. You want to go spring them?” he asked with a grin that the Lantern couldn’t see.
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