Everything was dark.
He was cold and wet, and he felt constricted, like invisible walls were crushing him slowly. He wanted to take bigger breaths, but he had to keep them shallow. It was still there. Watching and waiting, listening eagerly to find its prey once more.
Tim shivered in the complete darkness, overwhelmed with worry. He didn't know what was after him but he could still feel its presence. And he didn't like it. He was sure being alone wouldn't have made him feel safer, but it would be preferred at the moment.
He stumbled along the settings he couldn't see, teeth chattering and body shaking harsher. There was no way he was still quiet enough to avoid detection. But there was no way he'd simply give up because of that. Until that monster had grabbed him with it's claws, Tim was sure he still had a chance.
Certain shapes had darker outlines than the initial darkness itself. Unfortunately that wasn't really helpful, it just messed with Tim's vision further. Dots of colour and strange shapes appeared whenever he moved his vision around. Some of the shapes his eyes made were not helping with staying alive and keeping away a heart attack.
He honestly felt like he was getting nowhere. He was just stuck in a painful, neverending loop. The only noises he ever heard were his own stuttered breaths and chattering teeth or slow footsteps.
He couldn't feel the prescence anymore. But honestly, that didn't relieve him in the slightest. In fact, that made his anxiety worse. That thing, whatever the hell it was, had been here from the beginning and it had never given up following him.
So why would it suddenly be gone now?
The idea of another monster, worse than the one he already had to deal with, made his stomach knot.
The silence was unbearable. But any sounds he himself made didn't ease it. If there was some sign of life outside of his own, well he couldn't say he'd feel safer, but he'd definitely feel better. If there were other things alive here, Tim would take that as a chance he'd survive to.
Not that he was sure how much longer he could. But here, time had no meaning. All there was to do was survive.
It was just like playing a game really. Find out the objective and see it through. But how do you win at surviving forever?
The wind picked up, cold streams of air whipping at his face and threatening to topple him over. It scared him, how fragile he was in this landscape. Whatever landscape that was.
So far his body was only reacting to the harsh enviroment, and he wasn't concerned with simple needs like food and water. He knew he could last without it for some time. Well, it wouldn't be long until water would be necessary, but food could be left on hold along with sleep.
Somehow Tim would find a way out. He was far too determined not to.
The silence was broken by a whiny howl. The sudden sound sent waves of cold fear up Tim's spine. The monster sounded a hell of a lot closer than it had at any other point since Tim got here. He must've been getting slower.
He started picking up his pace, fighting against the wind and forcing himself not to panic. But for the first time, he didn't just feel the prescence of the stalking creature, he could certainly say that it was a lot closer than that now. Because now, he was sure he felt it.
Strangely enough, he actually felt like just laying back into it. The creature had warm, soft fur, a steady and calm breathing pattern. It felt like safety.
But Tim didn't trust it. He didn't trust another he couldn't see. Least of all anything that had been stalking him for hours on end. He broke into a run, feeling the beast's breath against his back and desperately willing himself to move faster.
Unseen objects tripped him up and hurt him as he tried to get away. He didn't even know if he was making any kind of progress in his escape attempt. He knew he was still being watched by it, still heard it growling and running along behind him, but he couldn't actually place how far it was from him.
It could easily grab him at any time. He didn't want that. He had to go faster. But his muscles hadn't been too keen to cooperate at the beginning of this, and they were really putting up a protest now. Adrenaline was losing its power and pain was beginning to rise.
He couldnt hear the beast anymore, couldn't see any particularly darker shapes behind him, and near silence had settled itself around once more. Even as he registered this, his stop wasn't an intentional one. His legs couldn't support him any more and they buckled beneath him, causing him to hit the ground with a painful thud and groan.
He wanted to push himself up and keep going. But he simply couldn't. Not one damn bone or muscle moved for him. He was exhausted and pain was crashing down his walls of strength even further. His breaths were more like small gasps and he was shivering at an intolerable pace and severity. His body begged for rest, his brain telling him he needed to stay awake and survive. There was no debate though, he simply couldn't do anything.
The silence was once again broken by an annoyed snarl, but Tim honestly didn't have the energy to register it. Another unbearable wave of pain started from the right side of his back/torso, his left leg flaring up at the same time.
But it only lasted a second before his consciousness lost out and he faded away from his world.
Tim wasn't aware that he was screaming. He wasn't aware that there were people around the room. He didn't even know he was in a room. He was too far gone in his horror movie experience.
But Jason was still in the real world. Jason could hear the screaming. And he wished to every god that he couldn't. It was far too painful. So was the unnecessarily tight grip around his waist.
Jason struggle against the grip, but it was clear he was going nowhere. The screams leaving Tim were agonizing but Jason knew Bane didn't care and that Scarecrow was loving the hell out of this. The 'Master Of Fear' still hadn't showed his face though. But Jason knew he was somewhere, could feel his gaze. He was probably somewhere up by the railings, sticking to the shadows the moonlight cast through the glass skylight above.
Jason felt like his heart had been crushed by a sledgehammer. All he wanted to do was run over and pull Tim into his arms, tell him that he would be fine. Make sure that he would be fine. And as soon as Tim came back to him, he would go and beat the hell out of Scarecrow.
But he couldn't do anything. Just stand, helpless and held to Bane like a beloved pet being held by a child.
"Doesn't it just warm your heart? Hearing those screams. Watching those tears of torment wash down his face. I've always found it rather, soothing" Scarecrow's voice came from behind and Jason whipped his head around to try and see the bastard, but Bane was too bloody large.
"You sick bastard! What did you do to him!?" Jason shouted, Scarecrow stepping in front of him, eyes gleaming excitedly.
"I've no idea! And that makes this even more fun" Scarecrow answered darkly.
Jason growled "As soon as I get out of here-!"
"Well, that threat is already useless. You see, you won't be getting out of here. Not alive, in any case"
Jason growled again, and tried once more to tear away from the brute, desperately wanting to bash Scarecrow's head in. Bane chuckled at the vain attempt from the vigilante.
"You would be wise to stop struggling. Save some strength for when you actually have a chance" Bane advised, mostly in sarcasm.
"If you think I'll let you get away with this, both of you,-"
Bane practically crushed Red Hood to cut him off "Both of us, what?" He mocked.
When his grip lessened, Jason just tried to get his breathing under control "Ah. Ob-noxious little.. circus freak" He forced out.
Bane pulled tighter, taking all of Jason's preciously collected air back "What was that?" He practically growled.
He released his grip, but Jason didn't say anything. The vigilante's silence was taken as an answer and Bane smirked. Scarecrow said nothing. Right now, he had no care for the Red Hood. Only the young man who's screams had died into whimpers. They weren't nearly as entertaining, but Crane took what he got. He barely noticed himself walking toward the little hero in slow, trance like steps.
He bent down and traced a few of the tears. Tim still flinched, despite not exactly being 'linked' to the real world anymore.
"Hey! You leave him alone!" Jason shouted out.
Scarecrow smiled to himself and traced his hand down Tim's face, one of his nails lightly breaking the skin "Such a good little patient" He mused, just trying to get a reaction from the slightly older hero.
"Get the hell away from him!"
Instead, Scarecrow cupped Red Robin's pained face and turned it up a little, relishing how it made the little vigilante whimper a bit more.
"Fucking bastard" Jason muttered in a growl "I told you to get away from him!" He repeated.
"I know" Scarecrow's hand dropped from Tim's face and he turned around "I just don't care" His eyes scanned over Jason "Take him down. Make sure the restraints are secure"
Bane nodded and easily walked away, Jason's struggling only annoying him. Scarecrow's curiosity over took him and he barely even thought before ripping Red Robin's mask off. He couldn't place who the kid was, but he wasn't really trying to. He was too entranced by the clouded over, terrified eyes the mask had been concealing.
He chuckled darkly "I'm going to have to make more of that toxin"
Bane threw Jason carelessly into the little room. He grabbed the vigilante's arm with almost enough strength to break it, enjoying the cry that it got from the stubborn 'hero'. Jason was positive it would bruise. Almost as surely, he believed that his wrist was now fractured. The cold handcuffs didn't really help and the chain that went around his waist keeping him to the wall was a major annoyance.
"You're going to regret this" Jason snarled, but Bane just laughed.
"Oh really? And how do you plan on making me regret this?"
"If I don't do something. Batman will"
Bane smiled, he was way too confident and that worried Jason "He'll never find this place. And I doubt he would bother looking for you"
"Are you forgetting about the other bird you caught?" Jason didn't bother denying that Batman hated him. Even if Bruce tried to deny it himself. He wasn't exactly sure who had leaked his daddy issues to the criminal public, but he just rolled with it at this point.
"As I said. He'll never find this place" Bane smirked and made his way out.
Jason sighed and leant back against the wall. Bruce not finding them was a very real possibilty. One he saw come true a few years ago. And then the realization hit him.
Tim was alone now.
And he was at the mercy of a psycho.
Jason felt himself pale. It couldn't happen again. He couldnt let it.
He set to try and remove the handcuffs, but each movement made them tighten slighty. And they had already been tight enough for his liking at the beginning.
You can't die on me Jason's brain whispered.
Well there's chapter two done.
I think I had something to say but I forgot soooo... BYE
Also, review. Pretty please? I've got some nonexistent cookies...?
