Broken Trust: Renewed Vow
By
AJ
Part 2: Madness and Mayhem
No Deal.
Show me Dick Grayson.
Alive.
"Wayne thinks he can dictate terms," Malone stated. "I'll show him Grayson. Do we still have the kid's backpack?"
"Yes," Prudence replied.
"Good." Malone went into the basement of the house they were occupying for the moment and stood over the prone figure of Dick Grayson. He removed the teenager's shoes and socks and then his tattered shirt, leaving the boy in his tank top t-shirt. Malone was surprised to see how well muscled Dick looked under his clothing.
'Still keeping up with your circus work boy? Or are you doing something more than just that?'
Malone kept his thoughts to himself then gave Dick a swift kick to his rib cage. "Just a reminder Dickie boy. You can't escape so give it up. Bruce wants to see you in the flesh. He'll see you all right, but under my terms."
Dick was barely aware of Malone's words. He had been thrown down in the basement after trying to escape. Prudence Malone had fed him three times since his kidnapping and on the third time, Dick had managed to free his hands from the ropes that bound him. Though he didn't want to strike a woman, the nightmare images that influenced his mind helped to give him added strength to push her out of his way and to scramble from the room he found himself in. His weakened and drugged state did not let him get very far. He barely remembered fighting with Malone then getting struck from behind. The next thing he remembered was waking up on an old lumpy mattress in a cold dank basement with only one way out. This time there were chains around his wrists and ankles and another set of needle marks on his arms. Despair filled him as he realized that escaping was near impossible. With the drug in his system, playing havoc with his mind; he was lucky that he had not fallen into madness. This was worse than any foe he had ever faced. Tears streamed down, unashamed at the fear that threatened to engulf him. Then a bright light was being shown in his face.
"Say something Dickie boy," Malone said.
When Dick didn't respond, Malone raised his hand then, 'SLAP!'
"I said say something! Your public awaits."
"B-B-Bruce, please . . . help me."
"Good boy. Now tell him what will happen if he doesn't comply."
"He he'll kill . . . kill me," Dick said, his voice shaking.
"Oh I'll do more than just kill you, Dickie boy. I think it's time you met a couple of friends of mine. They like young boys."
Malone's words sunk in and Dick's face paled.
"That's right. When they get through with you, you'll be a whole new person. Of course, it won't happen if Bruce Wayne signs the agreement that I sent him. By the time he gets this tape, he'll have 8 hours left. Not a whole lot of time. In the mean time, here's another cocktail to get you started."
"No . . ." Dick feebly tried to crawl away from Malone's grasp. And once again, a needle was being plunged into his arm. Soon he was sinking back down, spiraling into the madness and the mayhem of the nightmares that awaited him.
#
Bruce remembered another old friend, this time not hesitating to see him. He drove through Gotham City's residential streets seeing the happy faces of children as they left school to return safely home and a deep aching in his chest welled up. Dick would not be coming home, at least not yet, but that did not make it any easier. Tears blurred his eyes and he was barely aware that he was stopping in front of John Wilkins' home. Before he could approach the door, he looked up to see the bat signal.
'No,' he thought, 'What a time to have to choose.' He had not choice in the matter. He had to respond to Commissioner Gordon's summons. He hoped at that moment another was watching as well.
#
Dick spied the bat signal outside the small window of his basement prison. So close and yet so far. The same thoughts ran through his mind and a few others from 'Robin.'
'It's now or never,' Robin said. 'You've got to break free.'
Dick looked around then spied a small object on the floor that might aid in his escape. It was just out of reach of his hands. Since Malone had removed his shoes and socks, Dick used his feet, specifically his toes to try to grasp the object. He maneuvered the object until it was firmly in his toes and he slowly brought it to his hands. Hope soared as he held the object between his fingers. For the first time in what seemed like days, Dick had a chance. Then he heard a clambering on the stairs and he shoved the object into his pocket.
"Time to move, kid."
As Matthew Malone unshackled Grayson's legs and arms, Dick kicked out catching his abductor across the jaw. The kick was just enough to loosen the man's grasp and throw him off balance.
'That's it,' Robin encouraged. 'One more strike and you're almost home free.'
Dick suddenly threw a haymaker catching Matthew Malone across his face and dropping him like a stone. His arms and legs were trembling afterward, but he couldn't allow his body to collapse, not now. He had to get out of the basement, but before he could Dick did on thing; he searched Matthew's body and found the key to the shackles that kept him a prisoner. He opened them then put them on Malone. He then threw the key across the room. As silently as he could, Dick moved up the stairs and into the ramshackle living space of the abandoned house they were using. This wasn't the same homey house where Prudence Malone had been living. He could hear her puttering in the kitchen, probably packing items for their next move or making something to eat. Dick spied his backpack and the videotape that Matthew had made. He picked both up and fled out the front door.
Continues with Part 3: The Chase