Bruce

My hand skims lightly over Diana's cheek, making the goddess open her eyes. I gave her small smile and she replied with a sleepy one. I brush away the stray hairs away from her face.

"I'm sorry, did I wake you?" I asked softly. She shook her head, well, barely.

"How long have you been up?" She asked, nuzzling her way into my arms.

"Only a few hours." I answered, looking out at the midnight sky. She looked up at me with squinted eyes.

"You haven't gotten any sleep yet? After that expierence, I'm drained." She said with a smile. I smirked. She pulled up the blanket more to cover herself, though I saw no point to it. She had already let me see her last night.

"It was your first time, you usually get tired." I explained. She smiled again.

I took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of dried paint and smoke. A loud stomp pounded in my ears. It sounded faint, but my senses were heightened, so it became louder. At first I thought it was my own heart hammering in my chest until the sound of metal being hit together followed the stomp. I squinted at the midnight sky once more, watching as an orange glow gleamed over the ledge of Diana's balcony. I sat up.

"What?" Diana asked. She sat up as well, looking in the direction I was as well.

Without telling me, she reached for her dress that lay discarded and wrinkled on the floor. I reached for the bottom half of my suit, putting it on along with my utility belt. She runs over to the balcony and looks over the ledge, a loud gasp escaping her lips. I stand up. I'm about to ask her what's happening when a group of guards come up the stairs.

They tackle me to the ground and pin Diana against the wall. They lift me up to my knees, holding my arms behind my back with their hands. I struggle against them, but they don't budge, not even a struggle. The metal of their gauntlets dig into my wrists.

The boots sound heavy and the wood creaks in pain as Artemis walks toward us calmly, dressed in full armor, a sword in her hand. She glanced at me before facing Diana. She lifts up her sword, the hilt hitting Diana's head, making her unconscious. Her body slumps to the floor. I try to get to her, but the guards restrain me and one of them grabs a handful of my hair and pulls my head back.

"Bring him. He can burn outside with the rest of them." Artemis said. She stopped and then turned back around with a wry smile. "No, he'll be the example."

I see the two guards that had pinned Diana to the wall bring out the chains that hung loose on the side of their hips. The guards holding me push me against my will to follow Artemis. We get outside, and right in front of the bell tower is a giant mound of wood and hay, with a giant wooden pole sticking abruptly out of the center. I walk towards it, my eye catching Lola and another tall red head that looked like a younger version of herself in a cage along with the small crowd of people that had witnessed the murder of the woman.

They tie my hands around the large pole. They step off the large mound and Artemis looks up at me from where she stands. She holds up the torch in her hand, and then turns to the rest of the island people, who look tired and confused at what was going on. I look up and catch a glimpse of Diana, who is chained up against one of the large columns on the rooftop of the bell tower.

"Sisters, I know why you are so confused." Artemis started. I looked back at her. She pointed at me with the torch. "This man as of this night, attempted to murder two women by burning them in their home, and then proceeded to slit open the throat of one of our guards. Those who are in cages are one of our own, and they have betrayed us by helping him. They have made up lies, saying that I am a murderer."

She looked down for a split second, a smile making its way to her lips. She looked back at the now endless sea of angry faces. She glanced at me, but I refused to let her get a reaction out of me. I held my head high, glaring at her.

"In the name of the gods, these people shall pay for their crimes by treason. And this man shall be the first to go." The crowd cheered, wanting noting more than justice for the woman that had fallen. I looked at Lola, who mouthed an apology to me. I nodded, telling her that it was okay.

Artemis turned to me, making her way up the large mound. She leaned in with a sick smile. "You know, I could stop this now. But only if you agree to live out the rest of your young days as my slave."

I smirked. "I'll see you in hell." Her smile transforms into sneer and she huffed. She walked back down, dropping the torch behind her back.

The mound lights up in flames, the orange color spreading around me. It's close enough to make me sweat, and I start to inhale the smoke. I feel like I'm in a sudden haze, and I look away from the flames after my vision starts to blur. I know the smoke is getting to my head when I become dizzy. I can't feel my strength anymore and my entire world goes suddenly back and all I can hear is the cackling sound of the fire and the angry cheers of the crowd.

I swear I hear Dick's voice in my head, calling out to me over the noise. But soon it is dead silent.