Chapter 5: Break into Two
Barbara's fingers scrabbled against the slick substance, her nails digging into the cold stone floor as she struggled to gain purchase. Her heart pounded in her chest, a frantic drumbeat that echoed through her veins, urging her to fight, to escape this horrible trap. She could feel the adhesive tightening around her legs, her arms, her torso, the fabric of her costume stretching taut against her skin as she fought to break free. Her breath came in shallow gasps, the scent of the glue filling her nostrils, a cloying, sickly sweet smell that made her gag.
Desperation clawed at the edges of her mind, her thoughts racing as she tried to come up with a plan. She couldn't leave Kara and Catwoman to whatever was happening, but she couldn't help them if she was stuck here, helpless.
Her hands scrabbled against the floor, her fingers brushing against something cool and metallic. She felt a jolt of hope as she recognized the familiar shape, the distinct click of a latch. It was a small, compact case, a gift from Batman, an anti-Catwoman pack he'd given her, just in case. Why hadn't she thought of it before?
She fumbled with the latch, her fingers trembling as she worked to open the case. Inside, she found a laser pointer, a small, compact device with a red beam that cut through the darkness like a knife. There was also a small pouch, filled with what looked like dried leaves. Catnip, she realized, a weapon against Catwoman's feline side.
Her heart pounded in her chest, a mix of hope and fear warring within her.
She had to help Kara, but she also had to free herself first. She quickly scanned the pouch, her fingers brushing against the dried leaves, before she grabbed one and threw it towards Kara and Catwoman. The dried leaf fluttered through the air, spinning in the dim light cast by the neon signs, before landing in front of Catwoman. Barbara hoped the catnip would be enough to distract Catwoman, to give her a chance to help Kara.
Kara's body shuddered with pleasure as Catwoman's fangs sank deeper into her neck, the sensation sending waves of heat coursing through her veins. She could feel the blood draining from her body, but instead of fear, she felt a strange euphoria, a primal urge that made her want more.
Catwoman's hands moved lower, pressing against the zipper of her suit, and Kara's body responded, her hips arching to meet the touch. Barbara, however, had other plans. Desperate to break free, she had managed to pull out a small device from her utility belt—a laser pointer. She fumbled with the button, her fingers slipping on the smooth metal as she tried to turn it on. She had to help Kara, had to stop whatever was happening between her and Catwoman, but she couldn't do anything if she was stuck like this.
The laser pointer activated with a soft click, the red beam cutting through the darkness like a knife. Barbara aimed it at the nearest mirror, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for something, anything, to happen. The beam bounced off the mirror, casting a dancing pattern of light across the walls as it ricocheted around the room.
Catwoman's eyes instantly darted to the array of lasers leaping at them desperately. Her fangs retracted, the euphoria she had been experiencing from Kara's blood instantly broken. She hissed, her body tensing as she pulled away from Kara, her whip snapping out instinctively to defend against the new threat.
Kara's eyes widened in confusion, her body still humming with the aftereffects of Catwoman's bite. She turned her head, following Catwoman's gaze to the lasers, her mind struggling to process what was happening. She could feel the heat of Catwoman's breath on her neck, the sudden tension in her body as the thief prepared to defend herself.
"What the-" Kara started, but Catwoman cut her off with a harsh hiss.
The thief's eyes narrowed, her nostrils flaring as she caught the scent of the catnip. The herb was potent, a bombardment on her heightened senses, and it sent her reeling. Her body convulsed, a violent reaction to the powerful stimulant, and she stumbled back, her whip slipping from her grasp. She pawed at her nose, her eyes watering as she tried to shake off the sudden onslaught of sensation.
Barbara watched in horror, her heart pounding in her chest as she realized the full extent of what she had done. The catnip had taken effect almost instantly, overwhelming Catwoman's system and turning her into a writhing, spasming mess.
As she stumbled backwards, her whip lashing out in a wild, uncontrolled arc, it struck a nearby mirror with a resounding crack. The mirror shattered, sending a shower of glass shards raining down onto the floor. Kara ducked, her reflexes kicking in just in time to avoid being hit. She looked up in time to see Catwoman's whip snapping back, the end of it wrapping around the thief's own wrist, tangling her in her own weapon.
"Whoa!" Kara exclaimed, her eyes widening as she took in the sight of Catwoman thrashing about, ensnared in her own whip. She reached out, trying to grab hold of the whip and untangle Catwoman, but the thief was a writhing, hissing mass of chaos, and Kara had trouble getting a good grip.
Suddenly, Catwoman's convulsions sent her tumbling backwards, and with a sickening crunch, she landed in her own contraption—a slimy, sticky net designed to trap her foes. Kara's eyes widened as she watched Catwoman struggle, her body thrashing against the twisted metal and ropes, her whip still tangled around her wrist. Just as suddenly as it had struck, the effects of the catnip wore off, leaving Catwoman panting and snarling, her eyes wild with anger.
Barbara, still stuck to the floor, let out a sigh of relief, her heart pounding in her chest. "Thank God. I didn't mean to go that hard," she panted, her breath coming in short gasps. She watched as Catwoman thrashed in her own trap, her body straining against the sticky net.
The whip's effects were taking hold, Catwoman's movements growing more erratic, her breathing shallower. Her eyes darted around the room, wild and panicked.
She tried to speak, but only a low growl emerged from her throat. Kara's heart went out to her, despite everything. She didn't want to see anyone suffer like this.
Barbara, still struggling against the glue, watched Catwoman's futile attempts to break free. "Kara," she called out, her voice weak, "You need to help her. The whip... it's making her worse."
Kara nodded, her resolve firm. She stepped forward, her hands reaching out to carefully untangle Catwoman from her whip. The thief hissed at her touch, her body convulsing, but Kara refused to back down. She had to help her, no matter what.