On the outskirts of Coast City, beneath blue skies and white clouds, green hills rolled away toward the azure line where sea met sky.
This was the place where Russell and Batman had agreed to exchange hostages. He held four core Justice League members, including Wonder Woman, and demanded that Batman trade Ultraman and the others' heads for them.
In plain terms, Batman was to come bearing heads.
Crackle!
The bonfire burned fiercely, firewood popping sharply.
The view closed in on the coastal cliff. A makeshift grill had been set up, and Wonder Woman and the other three had their hands and feet tied behind their backs. Steel pipes ran through the knots, one grill per person—fair enough to make even the most argumentative critics nod in approval.
The four refused to sit still and wait for death. They had struggled desperately, but their powers gave no response. Take The Flash, for example: the rope was completely ordinary, no different from a mass-market product, yet he simply could not break free.
The unluckiest one was Martian Manhunter. He... was afraid of fire.
Joker Jackie and Harley were in charge of fanning the flames. Who knew what switch had been flipped in them? Their teeth had been smoked black, yet their smiles remained delighted.
Then again, there was a kind of smile called being unable to help oneself. Perhaps they had been forced.
Bruce: "..."
He had imagined many things, but never this scene.
Russell grabbed a handful of cumin and sprinkled it over Wonder Woman. Lowering his head, he saw the grief and fury in her eyes and gave her a thumbs-up. "Don't worry. I calculated the timing. By the time Superman, Batman, and the others get here, it'll be exactly mealtime."
"..."
Wonder Woman said nothing. She had already