The House of Cards

After her audience with the Ace, one of the Fives brought Noelle back to the cell she'd been kept in for the last week or so. She shook off his hands on her arms as he ushered her in, and stood ramrod straight until the door clicked shut behind him, locking her in alone. Then she collapsed in a heap on the floor, wrapping her arms around her legs, resting her head on her knees, her eyes squeezed tightly shut. There was a rescue attempt coming, there had to be. She just had to be patient, and wait. She rocked gently as she tried to convince herself.

She assumed the other Five was escorting Star back to – wherever he was staying. Most likely wasn't in a cell – no, the Ace had called him the Jack of Hearts, hadn't she? So he probably had lush quarters, with a deep, soft carpets on the floors, a big, comfortable bed, and a window to look out at... wherever they were. Noelle sniffled, trying not to feel sorry for herself. After all, maybe he was as much a prisoner here as she was, trapped into this by Spade and that woman... but no, he said he'd KILLED someone! One of his friends!

Noelle's heart raced as she thought of who that could be, worried who had died – been killed – because of her. Because she'd been stupid enough to get kidnapped. Some superhero she turned out to be. She didn't want to imagine going on without any one of her friends, didn't want to imagine a world where someone she loved wasn't in it.

As she cried, she didn't hear the door reopen. Star stood there, looking silently at her shaking shoulders, then called out softly, just over her sobs, "Noelle."

She whirled around, and in a single movement leapt at him, pounding on his chest with her fists. "Who!? Who did you kill!? You bastard!! How could you?!?" Her words choked her, and she continued beating on him, her blows causing no damage to the one Spade termed "The Invulnerable One."

Under the noise of her crying, Star whispered softly,

"I'm sorry."