Murderer. Murderer. Murderer.

Erica shot up in a cold sweat, knocking off her Ravenclaw comforter in her haste and falling after it. That word was still ringing through her mind as her heart race, her head pounded, and her breathing became uneven. She laid on the ground, staring at her ceiling as she tried to focus on anything other than her nightmare.

Someone knocked on her door, causing her ring to activate as her eyes widened and her mind feared the worst, forgetting where she was. The person knocked again, "Erica, are you okay, honey?"

Relaxing and letting her Green Lantern uniform disappear as she recognized her aunt's voice and her setting registered in her mind, "Y-yeah, just fell off my bed."

"Alright, then," her aunt didn't sound very convinced. "Well come down soon, okay? Breakfast is ready for you, after all, today's a very big day."

It was? Erica turned to the calendar she had by her desk and checked the date: May 4th. She didn't think her aunt and uncle celebrated Star War's day, her parents had however.

Shrugging her shoulders, she ran a hand through her tangled red hair as she pushed away the remnants of her dream and went over to the bathroom across the hall. Shutting the door and turning on the light she blinked in surprise at her reflection in the mirror. Her skin was flushed and sweat coated her skin. She let out a shaky breath and turned on the cold water, cupping some in her hands before splashing herself in the face. The bitter cold was refreshing against her warm face and she let it drip off of her into the sink while she counted silently in her head.

After a few moments she straightened and grabbed a towel to dry herself before leaving to go downstairs, not bothering to change out of her pajamas since it was Saturday. She moved wearily toward the kitchen; her green eyes not holding their usual gleam as if she had the entire world on her shoulders, even her back was slouched over as if it was a real and tangible burden.

Entering her destination, she frowned in confusion at the sight. On the wooden table was an array of her favorite foods: pancakes, bacon, hash browns, and some breakfast burritos with the various toppings ready and waiting. Despite all that what really caught her sight was the presents sitting on the counter top. She didn't think her aunt and uncle celebrated Star Wars day nor, for that matter, exchange gifts on such a day.

"Oh, there you are," her aunt entered the room through another door holding another present in her hands. "I was worried you would lock yourself in your room all day."

"Why would I," Erica asked, straightening up. "And what is all…this?"

Her uncle entered, "Well, you're seventeen now. Why wouldn't we celebrate?" Her eyes widened in realization. "You forgot didn't you?"

"Uh, maybe," Erica shifted on her feet in embarrassment. She had never really cared when her birthday came around, but this was the first time she'd actually forgotten that it was today.

"Now, come on, eat some breakfast and then go meet up with your cousin at your little clubhouse," her aunt called. Erica felt her heart clench with worry, hopefully Wally had forgotten too and hadn't told the others. Not likely, but she could hope.

With a silent sigh, she sat down to eat, dreading the day ahead.

Everything was silent in the base when she walked in. The lights were off and she could barely make out the figures of her team and some other people. She sighed, "Please tell me that this isn't going to be like-"

"Surprise!"

The lights flicked on revealing the small party that her team had set up. There were some balloons, a cake, a tray of brownies, and some ice cream. An entire table was covered in presents that were brought by all those who had attended: her teammates, Hal, the Flash, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Red Arrow, Red Tornado, and (oddly enough) Batman. While it was hilarious to see the Dark Knight with a small party hat on him, most likely put there by Flash, the entire thing made her cringe.

"Seriously, Wally," she glared at him. "You just had to tell everyone."

"What it's your seventeenth birthday, Em," he replied grabbing a plate and putting a brownie and some ice cream on it. "Enjoy it."

She sighed again, "Why couldn't you have been like me and just thought today was meant to celebrate Star Wars?" Everyone gave her a look as if to ask if she was serious. "By the way, may the fourth be with you guys."

"Come on," Hal smiled, "even Razer and Kilowog sent you something." She looked at him, a silent question in her eyes. "She's not up and running yet."

"Poor Aya," she shook her head. "Fine, let's just get this over with." Wally handed her the plate and put a party hat on her. "I'm not wearing that."

"Either that or a tiara."

"…Fine, I'll wear it."

Robin smiled, "Great, now it's time to watch some home videos."

"Wait. What now?"

After about an hour of watching some embarrassing videos of Erica while she was growing up (potty training, her first try at giving her parents a concert, etc.) it was time for presents. Unfortunately for everyone else Erica had a habit of putting things off when it came to her birthday and in this case that meant she'd unwrap a present, wad up the paper, and throw it at an unsuspecting victim before running off screaming, "You'll never take me alive, copper!" This resulted in them promptly running after her to try and get her to finish unwrapping presents.

Flash sat her down after her most recent escape, "Now, for the last time, just sit and open presents."

"Well maybe you guys shouldn't have gotten me so many," she stuck her tongue out at her uncle. "Seriously, I would've been content without any presents."

"Why do you hate your birthday so much," Superboy asked.

"It's just another day," she replied though she and Hal shared a look, knowing the real reason. The horrible memory that this day always brought back up. She turned back to the present at hand, noticing a small white box. Lifting the lid, she stared down at the card that said "Read me, first" and a small device. "Oh, look, a holovideo."

"Really," Hal asked. "Probably from Razer or Kilowog then."

Erica nodded and picked up the card, unfolding it to read what was inside she froze. Her ring activated, but instead of the usual green she was dressed in a swirling mix of yellow, red, and black. Wally called her name as she reread the single word over and over again. Her body began to shake as she stood, red finally winning over the other colors, before she shouted, "Who the **** sent this?!"

Everyone stared at her in shock as she ripped the paper in half, flame-like red energy pouring out of her eyes as she stared down at the box. No one had ever heard her cuss before or seen her this angry. Hal looked at it, "Erica, what's wrong?"

"Who sent this ****ed thing," she asked in return, each half of the paper crumpling as she curled her hands into fists.

"I don't know, Erica," he replied calmly. "But you need to calm down, how about we go watch some more videos, okay?"

She let the paper fall to the ground and grabbed the holovideo, "I need some air."

Everyone watched her fly out of the room, red streaks following her. Robin was the first to speak, "What just happened?"

"I don't know," Flash replied. "I've never seen her like that."

Hal bent down and picked up the paper, putting them together to read the word, "'Murderer.' That's what the card says."

"Why would someone send Emerald a card that says that," Miss Martian asked. "She hasn't killed anyone?"

Hal didn't reply earning a concerned glance from Flash while Batman spoke, "Hal?"

"It," he stopped as all of the Justice League members' comms beeped. "Mission, we'll continue this conversation later." He turned to the team, "Just give Emerald some time to cool off, okay? She'll tell you when she's ready."

The team looked at each other, something definitely wasn't right. The League members went over to the zeta tubes and left. Wally was the first to speak, "What the crap is going on?"

"I don't know," Robin replied, "but we need to find out."

"What's the plan then," Red Arrow, who had resigned from the League, asked.

"We should talk to Emerald," Aqualad replied. "She's the only one we'll get answers from."

Superboy looked around, "What's that beeping sound?"

Everyone paused, but before they could say anything, the box (that the holovideo had come in) exploded.

Emerald had climbed up a tree and was sitting on one of the branches. Her suit was no longer red and had instead become black as she watched the video again and again. She hated herself while watching it because it confirmed what that note had said of her. She was a murderer.

A buzzing noise reached her ears and she turned to see another box being flown to her using a small toy helicopter. She reached out and took hold of the box, a stoic façade on her face to hide all of her pain from the memory. When she had the box, the helicopter fell to the ground as if someone had cut off its power source. Glancing at it wearily, she unwrapped the "gift" and looked at the holovideo. What would this one show her?

With a sigh, she turned it on and activated the holographic screen. At first there was nothing but black before a voice spoke, "Hello, Emerald Lantern." She tensed at the voice that obviously using a filter. "You are a murderer that needs to be brought to justice and I know exactly how to do so. If you wish to let your friends live you will do exactly as I say. Further instructions will be sent to you at a later time."

The holovideo ended and worry filled her. Dropping both devices, she jumped off of her branch and flew back to base. No one was there when she entered and there was a single note on the ground.

Your turn.

"I don't know what to do," Erica paced her bedroom, running her hands through her hair while Justin sat on her bed and watched her. "I can't let them die, but I don't want to do anything illegal if that's what this person asks."

"Why do they insist that you're a murderer," Justin asked. She froze. "Erica, you can tell me."

She sighed and sat down beside him, "It was when I first found out about how my ring could go between the Lantern Corps. My mentor and I were investigating a sector of space that had recently lost its Green Lantern as there were a lot of stories about Sech pirates in the area. The Sech were a species that lived on a planet that had no atmosphere so they were able to move through space with no life support."

"They sound dangerous."

"They were."

"Were?"

"Whenever the Sech show up many species liked to annihilate the group before the Green Lantern Corps could show up so at the time there was only one group left and they had turned to piracy. We were hoping to get them to a safe haven before someone wiped them out, but the Sechs didn't like that. They started to fight us and we were trying to merely knock them out and then…Hal got hit." Emerald gripped the fabric of her pants tightly. "I thought he was dead and I was so…angry that I couldn't see straight. Next thing I know Hal was shaking my shoulders and all the Sechs were dead. I couldn't remember what had happened until later: I had turned into a Red Lantern and lost control resulting in a massacre that I was responsible for.

"I'm a murderer," she whispered, refusing to look him in the eye.

Justin grabbed her hand, "Hey, it's not your fault, you had no idea what your ring could do and you thought that your mentor was dead."

"That doesn't make it right or take away the blood from my hands," she replied. Justin was about to speak when they heard a whirring noise and looked as a toy helicopter came in through the open window holding another box. Erica sighed, "Whoever he is knows about it and likes to use holovideos."

"Let's see what he wants," Justin said.

Erica nodded and took the package, ignoring the toy that fell to the floor as she opened it and started to play the video. A picture of the team popped up all of them constrained in various ways. Aqualad and Miss Martian were surrounded by fire with a jet of water occasionally spraying them; Robin, Red Arrow, and Artemis were dangling over a tank that had an alien species of fauna that looked like a literal tiger shark swimming around in it; Kid and Rocket were encased in stone; Zatanna was being held in a cell made from a black rock that probably negated her magic; and Superboy was in a cage that was laced with glowing Kryptonite.

"This is my proof to you that your beloved teammates are alive, for now. At 6:30 in Earth time, come to the address on the card. Any sooner and I will kill them. At the address will be a card with their location and further instructions."

Emerald sighed as the video ended, "Guess I'll have to wait. He apparently knows who I am."

"Let me help you," Justin offered. Erica gave him an incredulous look. "Look, he'll be expecting you to come alone and if I'm there, you can deal with him and I can free your teammates."

She stopped, "Wait, was he speaking English?"

"Yeah, why," Justin asked.

"Not very many people on Earth know about the Sechs, so that means whoever is doing this is either an alien or has connections to an alien. If it is an alien then that means that they have a universal translator or their own ring," she stood. "In any case that allows me to make a few plans."

"Great, what's the plan," Justin asked.

She looked at him, "You're staying here and I'm going to play along with what they want."

"What," he asked. "You still think that you can handle this alone."

"I've fought evil alternate versions of me, I'm pretty sure I can handle him by myself," she replied. "Besides, you have no training and no powers, this isn't going to be like football."

Justin sank down, "Perhaps you're right."

She sighed, "Thank you for the offer, but I don't need another friend in danger because of this. This is my problem and I need to fix it."

"Fine, I guess I'll go home if you don't need me," he stood and before Emerald could say anything he was out the door.

She sighed and sat down, watching her clock to will time to move faster. Meanwhile, Justin exited her house and looked up at the window. She'd probably hate him later, but he wouldn't just sit by idly while others could be danger, whether they had powers or not. He pulled out an item of Wally's, who he had figured out was actually Kid Flash, and then touched the ground.

Several images flashed through his mind: a road sign in Central City, a warehouse, stairs leading downstairs, and series of doors with the third one on the left open. Standing back up he began walking to his destination. He was coming.