iii. the past catching up to the present

1 month later

Julia and the vigilante trio had fallen into a routine. Every night, Black Ghost would go out on a mission and the trio would have no choice but to try to capture her. The same routine followed that night.

It was an intense chase. Julia had only been confronted by the woman in green, so she assumed the other two vigilantes were monitoring her from their bunker. She jumped crate after crate while dodging arrows. She turned around and looked behind her to see how far in pursuit Mia was. To her surprise, Mia had disappeared. She turned back only to see Connor standing in front of her. Before she could process what was going on there was a tranq arrow in her leg and she collapsed on the floor.

XXX

Julia woke up on the hard floor. She opened her eyes to see bars surrounding her and the trio in front of her without their masks. That's when she realized her mask was off as well. They knew her identity.

"Why am I in your stupid bunker instead of rotting in an Iron Heights Cell?"

"Because we need answers. And we can't get those with you in Iron Heights." Mia took it upon herself to shoot Julia a dirty look.

"Well you're not getting anything out of me." Julia spat back.

"Well then, I guess you'll be down here for a long time." Zoe said, speaking for the first time in a while. Just then William walked in.

"Guys you'll never believe what-" He paused when he saw Julia sitting in the cell.

"Good to see you too Clayton."

"You know my name is William, you idiot."

"I know, assface. That doesn't mean I'm going to use it."

Mia, sick of their petty bickering, cut in, "What did you find out William."

"I need to talk to her. Alone." Mia, Connor, and Zoe took the hint and left the room.

"So, I assume by your sudden change in demeanor you know."

"How the hell are you Dig's daughter?"

"Correction-abandoned daughter." Julia muttered, resting her head up against a side of the wall.

"Is that why you're like this? Why you turned to a life of crime at a young age?"

She chuckled lightly. "Not as dumb as you look."

"Appreciated." He shot her a sarcastic smile. "I won't tell them for now. But, you will eventually."

"Yeah I doubt that."

Mia came back into the room carrying a bag of big belly burger. "Food for the night."

Julia nodded in appreciation, scarfing down the food quickly.

At this point she overheard a conversation with Connor and Zoe in the other room.

"Yeah, JJ is back in town. He's going to bring my parents down here tomorrow. They want to know who Black Ghost is. Might recommend her to A.R.G.U.S for the suicide squad." Julia began to panic. She was going to see her parents for the first time in over three years.

"I need to speak to Connor. Now."

"Sorry, we don't take requests." She looked at William with a look of despair. He nodded and brought Connor into the room and took Mia into another room.

"What do you want?"

"I'm not joining the Suicide Squad. I'm not going to A.R.G.U.S."

"Yeah." Connor laughed. "It's not up to you."

"Connor." Julia called out for the vigilante. He continued to walk away, ignoring her voice. "Connor!"

XXX

Julia woke up the next morning to find a toothbrush and hairbrush next to her. She got ready and heard voices in the other room. These weren't the normal voices. She recognized the voices of her parents talking with JJ, Connor, Mia, Zoe, and William. To her, William sounded nervous.

"Hey John, Lyla, you guys can stay in the other spare room. The first one is being occupied by the Black Ghost. Would you guys like to see her now?"

"Sure." John simply replied.

The group walked in, John and Lyla's faces dropping.

Though the room was silent, though John was the first to speak up. "Julia?"

"John. Long time no see."

Mia, clearly confused, cut in, "You two know each other?"

William couldn't hold out anymore, "Tell them Julia."

"Tell us what?" Zoe responded.

"Julia, tell them now or I will." He threatened.

John and Lyla were still standing there speechless once again. Julia just remained quiet.

William finally spoke up, "The DNA tests came back yesterday. John and Lyla are Julia's parents."

Julia nodded, biting down on her bottom lip. "Yeah. They're the parents that abandoned me."