Welcome readers! To chapter, four! This chapter, if the others didn't, will confuse you.
Onward march!
:P
Disclaimer - nope, don't own
Warnings - possible character death, farther confusion
Chapter four - The tightening grip
A bang sounded as the ventilation shaft fell from the ceiling, gravity taking its toll, making, Joseph, cringe, that wasn't good, he tried moving as quietly as possible, already noting the obvious fact; his ability to keep himself composed in situations such as these seemed to have left him, sighing aloud. Oh well, no one was home to begin with so stealth didn't seem a priority, at least he didn't see the owner, walking down a large, dank corridor, stepping over the wires placed for intruders, knowing the price of setting even a single one off.
He quickly reached the end of the hall, taking a right, where as, after a short walk, a door, corroded by years of abuse, came into view. Despite not having been to this particular hide away in some time, he remembered the code to the lock, typing in the twelve letters with ease, going over the information before entering, counting the dots.
The door soon slid to the side, creaking aloud, making the other cringe once more, rust coated metals scrapping over one another, sparks igniting.
The smell hit him like a bucket of iced water, the memories of the past flooding his mind, making him frown, passing several busted screens littered with ripped and frayed papers, before reaching the drawers, pulling each opened to show; his hand ran through his hair, wanting to sob from the sight. Nothing, there was absolutely nothing here. He threw open the remaining handle bound boxes in frustration, hearing them hit the ground behind him.
"Your not going to find what you're looking for, Joseph." The low voice made a deep growl retreat from the darkest recesses of The fuming male's throat, turning to see the sound was coming from a speaker place in the corner between two wall, starring murder in its direction, hoping there was a camera hidden so the other would know his pure fury.
"How do you know what I'm looking for." He bit back, not having to wait long when he received a response.
"I know you're looking for him," He could tell the villain was smirking, despite not being present, gritting his teeth as he continued. "and we both know you won't find him, both know what will happen if you don't save him in time."
"You put one hand on him and I'll"
"That sounds like a challenge... I may take you up on that... Tick Tock, Joseph..." Static before he was left in silence, running a hand through his hair, kicking a filing cabinet to the side before leaving the dingy hole behind. Not like it'd been used in the last few years.
He ran the moment he made it outside. He needed to find him before it was too late, he didn't have much time.
The scream of ringing filled the moderate room, the hero's eyes shooting open, momentarily forgetting his situation, nearly pulling his arms from their sockets, shooting forth, the leg bracelets not stopping his speed, only making it more painful. Other than his shoulders, the pain from the night before spiking his head, a hiss filling the air, cursing under his breath, expecting a speaker to sound, though only silence joined him, only shrugging it off, not like it really mattered to him. His tactful gaze looked around the room, hoping to notice something he hadn't before, anything to help him escape the stiff dungeon, once again seeing a void of nothing, the room bare other than him, the walls, and the table holding him in this hell. He wished he could move his arms slightly, if only to rub his aching head, the splitting feeling growing, mostly in the back, having slammed his head the night before until he'd passed out. He was sure he'd cracked it, sure he'd bled, though not concerned with that at the moment. He gritted his teeth, continuing to look for a way out, he saw nothing, so he focused on breathing, bored out of his gore.
It was a few days later when a thought crossed his mind, not having been fed or seen any sign of life in those days. Did he leave him?! Was he going to starve here?! How hadn't lack of water killed him off by now?!The crushing pain in his stomach, accompanied with a growl made him whimper absent-minded, wriggling as best he could. He was going to starve him! Never in his life had he thought he'd starve to death in his line of work, but it seemed to be leaning in that direction, and he wasn't quite ready to die. He looked around for the millionth time, he needed something, when he saw something glimmer from the corner of his eye. That hadn't been there before, had it? He sighed in frustration. He couldn't reach it!
"Damn it." He calmed, deciding he might as well sleep, not sure the exact time, moving his head to the side, hoping that for the first time in days, he'd be able to grab some of the much-needed Z's seeming to be evading his grasp.
Meanwhile, in Titans Tower the team got ready for their fourth day of searching, not having had much luck with tracking Joseph, searching with little idea of his location. three sets of feet walked towards the elevator, Starfire not able to fly, none of them even sure whether their leader was alive.
Many tears had already been shed in their friends honor, and they knew there would be more. Every day they cried, and when they started to think they'd run out of tears, they only cried more, the memory of the bird being stabbed through the chest, pulled away from them in a sickening display, stuck in all their minds, not giving them a moment's peace.
"Let's go look around the scene of the crime again, maybe we'll find something on one of the roofs." Cyborg said, knowing whatever had struck, Robin, came from above, knowing where they needed to look.
The secret entrance under the tower lead them to the city, Cy gripping the wheel with metal fingers, the tension in the car growing, silence accompanying it.
"Where are we to go first?" Star asked in a weak tone, all joy having vanished two days before.
"We can check the buildings around Darrin Ln." They nodded, driving in said location, silence invoking them once again.
Joseph went back to the building Slade had stood when he'd activated that damned device, looking out over the city, wind blowing past his white locks. It had been about a day after the teen was kidnapped before he had contact with the mercenary, meaning he can't have gone far, though that was three days ago. He practically ransacked the room and balcony, only finding dust bunnies and saw dust, that was until seeing a beeping dot under a pile of wood. His immediate thought being a bomb, but reconsidered when it didn't seem to speed to tell of time diminishing, walking towards the unknown device.
"That bastard..." Gripping the found device he grew angry, eye narrowing. He'd been watching, no tracking the boy, for how long he didn't know, but knew he'd planned this, this was a game of chess, each move planned beforehand. He wasn't one to come unprepared, but it still infuriated the man. "He planned this!" He shoved the small metallic piece in his pocket, turning to leave the building, it was dire he find his bird.
He ran out the front, nearly slamming into Beast Boy, who jumped to the side, it taking a moment to gather himself.
"Hey! Wait!" Joseph didn't stop, to blinded by fury to even notice the Titans, that was until one of them appeared in his path. Luckily Raven had stopped him instead of Star, emerging from the ground, eyes blackened with dark magic.
"We need to know where, Robin, is." She spoke calmly, stance unwavering as the man thought about whether it best to tell her. "We only want to know if he's alive." There was a moment of tension before the white-haired male responded.
"Yes." He was tackled to the ground, Starfire pinning down his middle, grabbing his black top.
"Where is he!" She was dangerous, they all knew it, even the one under her, who stared up with a blank expression. "What did you do with him?!"
"I didn't do anything to your friend, girl." He seemed to only upset the Tamerainian more, a hand of glowing green joining her eyes.
"Where. Is. Friend. Robin." She was at the line between black and white, gripping his shirt tightly.
"Slade, took him." He stated plainly, shrugging as the girl rose, angst clear, pacing along the concrete, trying to calm herself.
"That bad man! We have to find, Robin!" She screamed, hearing a chuckle sound behind her.
"What do you think I've been trying to do?" All eyes where on him. "We do have to find, Robin. As soon as possible. Slade is highly unstable at the moment, absolutely mad. Who knows what he'll do if we don't get that boy away from him." All was silent until the orange Titan couldn't hold it back anymore, green shooting from her sockets, hitting a street lamp, melting it into two pieces.
"Then let us go! Friend, Robin, needs the help!" She grabbed the robotic lads arm, pulling him along, his feet causing sparks as he was dragged, metal sliding across concrete.
"I'm afraid it's not all that simply, girl..." He sighed. "You see I've been searching for an extended period, though I know nothing but the taker and the victim. He may be mad, but he isn't stupid, he covered his tracks almost completely..." He could hear the girl sobbing as the words left his lips. "But..."
"But?!" The girl nearly tackled him to the ground again, grabbing his collar.
"But, I did find this..." He pulled out the tracker, Star immediately releasing him from her vice grip, hope showing through.
"Whoa, dude! Could we track Robin with that?!" Bea's voice shouted in excitement, all turning his way, surprised he even knew what it was.
"No. It was most likely simply tracking his communicator..." The irritated groan rang through the group.
"Do... Do you think we could track it when it's off? Cause we've tried."
"It's still beeping, maybe we could at least figure the general direction to search in?" It was more of a question, even in the half bloods mono tone.
"Perhaps, if you know the IP address on his chip."
"It should be in the computers main frame!" The oldest teen punched his hand with a slight nod, they had a plan now, find the communicator.
It was pointless... He simply couldn't drift to the world of the unconscious, his stomach keeping him awake, sending a spike of pain through him each time his eyes where near to one another, making them shoot open. Droll slid down his cheek, making another groan fill the air. He felt unbearably weak, as if he would compress from simply breathing. His eyes lie half-shut in a tired display, dark circles forming under his masked eyes. The only sign of life being the occasional groan and breath as he tried to lie as still as possible, knowing if he moved the pain would be renewed. He'd come to the conclusion Slade had died, or left, more likely, him to die. He had no idea how long he'd been there, assuming it was nearing the one week mark, though he wasn't sure in the least bit. What concerned him over all else was the thought that even if he was released, he wouldn't be strong enough to run, especially from him. He just wanted to go home, that's all he wanted. The psychopath... Left him... His thoughts were forgotten, screaming out as his gut twisted in a pained expression of hunger, a fist gripping his insides, squeezing tight, making his face distort in an accompanied plead for it to end, screams growing as the grip tightened farther.
"Slade!" It hurt, not his hunger pains, but screaming for the captor, it hurt his pride, badly.
The door immediately slid opened, the one he'd called stepping forth, arms crossed over his chest, tilting his head to the side, a cocky grin hidden beneath his mask.
"Yes?" The sarcasm was clear, he knew exactly what was wrong.
"Oh nothing..." The spread bird with blood stained wrists bit back, not willing to accept the tone in his voice.
"Oh, I thought you called for me... Guess I was mistaken. If it's nothing then-" He turned, leaving the boy to his stomach pains. His dignity was still stopping him from asking the man for anything, even if it meant accepting the hunger, and maybe even death. He was left alone once more, gritting his teeth at the ache remained, wishing he could hug his stomach in comfort, knowing that was one wish that simply couldn't be fulfilled. At least he knew he hadn't died.
Slade chuckled in a deep nightmare inducing tone that any child, and many adults, would cower from, walking through the haunt, chuckle growing deeper, radiating from his throat like black silk.
"Soon..." He spoke to himself, moving to a dark, fabric chair, starring to the screen. "Soon you'll submit to me my little bird..."
"Did you get his IP?" The older man asked the cybernetic teen.
"Yah, thank god our computer where backed up, someone wiped all our files!" Cyborg handed the male a scrap of printer paper, seeing the other holding the sphere from before, raising a brow."What use is that? It won't track it while it's off, we tried."
"I modified it to track the IP instead of the hard drive, I'm shocked it didn't already before..." He hummed, Slade really must not want them on his tail. He sighed, entering the 32-bit number into the device, smiling suit as it clicked, the beeps changing to green, then orange, and back to red,steady and rhythmic as tears of glee surrounded them, finally they had a lead.
END
of
chapter
four
Sorry this one took so long! Testings... srry I can't use that excuse, I don't study, lol, srry I'm freakin' lazy as french toast, brosifs... but finally I finish editing, which took longer than expected, I didn't like it at all through the first reading...
Did you enjoy? ^^ Hope so! If you feel like doing so, feel free to feed the num numz!
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