Chapter 2

Jason's POV

Present Day

Who does he think is; asking questions about my past! It's none of his damn business! I need to smoke. I reached in my pocket and pulled the cigarette box out. Damn! I'm out of cigarettes. I guess I could wait until… No I need one now.

"Hey Tim, I'm going-" I called while walking down the stairs.

There was no need to finish my sentence. He had fallen asleep on my couch while watching some science shit. Typical. He did look really tired earlier. Dick did say something about him not getting enough sleep or eating enough. Guess I'll have to talk to him about it later. I bent down and pulled the blanket more securely around him. He does get cold easily.

I picked my jacket up and slid my arms through the sleeves. I opened the door and I was immediately struck by the night air. It is kinda cold out here. I locked the door behind me and stepped out into the darkness.

********Break*********

Tim's POV

I was awakened by the sound of the door colliding with the wall. Could Jay be any quieter? I slowly raised myself and I turned to glare at him. Wait, that's not Jay. Three incredibly huge guys with guns entered the apartment. They were dressed in combat gear, but the weirdest thing was that they wore bright red skull masks, matching Jason's tattoo perfectly.

"Get the kid!" one of them yelled.

Immediately my arms were pinned behind my back and my face was pressed into the couch. I saw my attacker draw a syringe. I don't think so! I'm done playing boy hostage!

I twist myself away from his grip and the syringe enters the couch. My Vans collide with his chest sending him toppling into the lamp and the table beside the couch. Success! A hand seizes my hair and yanks me from the couch and throws me against the wall. He pins me against the wall.

"Ja-" I try screaming for my brother to help me, but I'm cut off by a rag being shoved down my throat. A layer of duck-tape is applied over my mouth to hold the gag in place.

I kick myself off of the wall, driving my attacker to the floor. However, I didn't see the third man. A blow to my temple sends me toppling onto the solid glass coffee table. I give a muffled scream of pain when a large shard of glass penetrates my side. My arms are roughly taped together, as well as my ankles. A blindfold destroys my vision. I ignore the pain in my side and try to struggle with my captors.

"Mmphh!" I scream and thrash around, until I'm pinned against what's left of the coffee table and a syringe enters my neck. I can feel myself being lifted as the darkness consumes me.

********Break*********

Jason's POV

I place a cigarette in my mouth and savor the scent, texture, and flavor as I head for my apartment. I cant help but throw a glance at that old crumbling building on Crime Alley. As I reach my apartment, I stop dead in my tracks. My door is wide open. Tim!

I draw my pistol and cautiously step through the threshold and find the couch is overturned, the lamp is crushed, the side table is broken in half, the TV lay overturned on the floor, but what catches my eye is the shattered coffee table, stained with blood. An empty needle lay beside it.

"Tim?" I call out quietly.

"He's fine. For now." A voice behind me calls out.

I spin around and find an old nightmare leaning leisurely up against my broken door.

"Hello Brother."

I rush the figure, grab his collar, slam him against the wall, and roughly press my gun into his temple.

"You're not my brother!" I growl between clenched teeth.

"That's true. You betrayed us!" he spat at me.

My eyes narrowed. "What do you want? Where's the kid?" I demanded.

I could feel his eyes burning with delight behind the mask. He knew he had the upper hand.

"You care for the boy don't you? It be a shame if something were to happen to him." he threatened.

My hand closed tightly around his neck. "Where is he?" I growled before dropping him to the floor.

He caught his breath and laughed. "The boss wants to talk to you. Midnight."

"That's impossible! He's dead!"

The masked figure answered, "So are you. Miracles happen every day don't they?" he reached into his pocket and handed me a cellphone. Tim's cellphone. "We'll be in touch. Goodbye Jason." He backed towards the door slowly and was swallowed by the darkness.

My baby brother. An old nightmare had taken my baby brother. Even worse, an old dead nightmare had taken Tim.