Here is the second part, introducing a character who will play an important part. Can you guess who it is?
So let´s continue.
FISRST PART: THE THIEFDick Grayson felt a sun ray on his face and lazily opened his eyes. However, something wasn´t right. He was lying on a hard matress in a room he couldn't recognize. The walls were painted gray and the only window was covered with metallic bars. There were two doors.
Suddenly, Dick remembered everything that had happened and jumped from the bed. Where was he, now? At that scary guy´s house, obviously. The boy carefully tried one of the doors, which opened to a small bathroom, then the second one, which was locked. He went back to the bed (there was nothing else in the room), sat down and tried to figure his situation.
Some time later the door opened and the guy from yesterday walked in. He said only:
"Follow me."
Dick didn´t dare arguing so he got up and left the room. The man was already outside. The second the boy caught up with him, he spoke.
"Unless I give you permission you won´t leave this room."
The man was walking very quickly and Dick could barely keep up. They were passing through a dark corridor. All the windows were covered by curtains, by the wall stood unusual (and rather frightning) suits of armor. On the walls hung different weapons and things that looked like torture instruments. It all looked very intimidating.
The man had turned round some corners a few times. "This place is huge…" – occurred to Dick. He also realized that he was lost now and probably wouldn´t be able to find his way back. Not that he really wanted to, anyway…
Suddenly, they were going down large stairs and finally arrived at a small kitchen. On the table there were a plate with some food and a glass of water. "Eat" – ordered the man. Dick wasn´t hungry and besides the food didn´t look edible at all. "I really don´t…" The stranger grabbed his arm and pushed him strongly towards the table. "Eat. Now" Unsurely, the boy sat down and began eating. The food tasted as bad as it looked and he couldn´t figure what it was. If the man hadn´t been standing, watching him while he ate… The kitchen door led straight outside.
Once he finished they left the kitchen. Again the boy was led through corridors with disturbing decoration until they arrived at a gym. The man stepped on one of the mats and told him to come.
"Why?" – Dick was truly puzzled.
"I want to see what you can do. Now come, I don´t like repeating things twice."
Dick stepped upon the mat… About a half an hour later he passed out. Bruce Wayne smirked. The boy had talent, although he didn't know anything about martial arts. It would take a long time to teach him everything he knew, but Wayne was sure that eventually Dick Grayson could become his partner and then take Batman´s place. Then he picked the boy up and carried him back to his room.
A few days later, at night, a shadow carefully landed in front of Wayne manor. It avoided the security cameras, the movement detectors and finally climbed up to the second floor looking for an open window. All the windows, however, were barred, so the shadow chose the closest one and began cutting the metal.
Once inside the shadow stopped, surprised. A boy was sleeping on a small bed. Wayne didn´t have any kids, so who was that? The shadow slided closer, stepped into the light and looked at the child´s face. What drawed attention were the large bruise and the cuts that were dangerously close to the left eye. The woman frowned – all her suspicions have just been confirmed, Wayne was even worst than she thought. Suddenly the boy moaned in his sleep and called for his mother. The woman jumped and looked at the window in hesitation. The boy screamed. The woman started moving, but there was no reaction to the scream. She breathed in relief, but then realized that the boy had woken up and was staring at her with wide open eyes. The thief cursed to herself.
The Batman landed on the rooftop of Gotham police station. It was easy for him to enter – there were very few officers, thanks to him actually. Finally Gotham´s greatest criminal entered the commisioner´s office. Gordon didn´t notice.
"Hello, commisioner" – Gordon turned around in a second, attempting to reach for his gun. Batman could have easily cut his hand with the batarang but simply knocked the gun. Gordon backed off a little and hissed:
"What do you want?"
"I need for you to quit."
"What makes you think I will?"
Batman passed him a black folder. Gordon took it carefully, opened it and froze. A photograph of his wife cooking. Another one of his daughter at school. A few sheets of paper with their rutines hour by hour, minute by minute. There were so many pictures as well…
"I think I will give you some time to think this through. Forty-eight hours to be exact. If you don´t agree your lovely daughter might find herself unable to do gymnastics again. Actually she might find herself unable to do much…"
"You touch Barbara and I´ll kill you!"
"Forty-eight hours. And let´s keep this a secret. I´ll know if you don´t, trust me. Have a good night, mister Gordon."
Batman seemed to vanish into thin air. James Gordon went to sit down, still holding the file with his family´s lives in it.
I will be expecting your opinion on this…