Chapter 7: Triple trouble
Two weeks. It had been two weeks since Tim had been captured been by Slade Wilson AKA Deathstroke. These two weeks had been the worst of his life. He was being brutally tortured by Slade since then. That man had employed horrendous torture techniques. Everyday he had been subjected to torture and at the end of the day, Tim would be close to death
It was just another torturous day for Tim.
"Welcome Mr. Drake, welcome to another day of Torture Festival", Slade Wilson said theatrically and waving his arms which was unlike him. He was a man of action, a man of business and he didn't give a damn about theatrics.
"You must be wondering why I announced this so theatrically", Slade said, back to his usual manner.
"No I wasn't", Tim said.
"Well, I did this in order to honor our guest who has a knack for theatrics. He calls himself-"
"SERIAL KILLER!" A voice cut in between and the owner of this voice moved out of the shadows. He was wearing a black overcoat, black pant and had a cane with him. He was wearing sunglasses on his covered face.
"I like theatrics and have killed people in very theatric so that's why I call myself Serial Killer cause I like TV serials and I have killed a lot of TV stars that have starred in famous serials", He said in an annoyingly loud manner.
"So what? Have you finally decided to kill me?", Tim said. He was somewhat glad to finally be killed even if it was in a warehouse and being chained on a wooden chair.
"Oh no, as my name suggests, I am not just a killer but I also stimulate pain through physical and artificial means", Serial Killer said offhandedly as if he was just introducing himself to a neighbor.
"So you are another man who Deathstroke called to torture me?" Tim was tired of this bullshit.
"Oh torture is a cruel word", Serial Killer said, "But I am not Deathstroke's ally. I am an enforcer of his clients".
"Just get on with it", Tim said, carelessly.
Serial Killer nodded and took out a stick and pressed a button on the top of it and suddenly its top came out and several spikes appeared in its place.
"I call it SPIKEY!" Serial Killer said jovially and proceeded to beat Tim with it. Tim was in agonizing pain but he didn't scream, he couldn't give that monster the satisfaction he desired.
"You aren't screaming! Why are you not screaming?", Serial Killer whined.
Tim couldn't believe that what a deranged man this person was. How could anyone take satisfaction in someone else's pain but then he remembered that he used to know a certain crazy clown that would torture anyone before breakfast.
"Looks like I have to take out another tool", Serial Killer said and searched something else in the bag. He took out another tool. He took out something that looked like a razor.
"I call this Deadly Razor. The razor is so sharp that it would even cut deep into skin and you won't even have to shave for a year or more", S.E said like he was introducing a toy and he was crackling madly.
"Don't you even come near me!" Tim yelled. He couldn't take this anymore. He tried kicking Serial Killer in his balls but he was shot by Deathstroke in the leg.
"AAAHH!" Tim screamed. Slade had shot him here a day ago, this wound hadn't even begun healing. The blood started flowing.
Where was Bruce?
Batcave,
Bruce was in his Batsuit except his mask was on his chair. He had been searching for Tim for two weeks. He hadn't rested and had searched the whole city. He had called in favors with GCPD, JLA and even hired some detectives but not one of these provided any lead on Tim Drake's whereabouts but he had a few suspects but all of them would have a grudge with Red Robin not Tim Drake because none of them knew his secret identity except Ra's Al Ghul but he wasn't a man who would do something like this. He tortured many people for information but he had a truce with the Batman that he wouldn't harm Tim or anyone in Bruce's family until and unless they were directly involved in their business but even he wasn't above his suspicion.
"Computer, access the old Wayne Enterprise satellites and search for Tim Drake and don't stop until you find him", Batman screamed at the his A.I system.
"Sir, I have searched for Timothy Drake through all the satellites, hacked every existing database and have scanned every person through facial recognition but he hasn't turned up anywhere", The computer responded.
"DAMN IT!" Bruce smashed the keyboard in anger. This was frustrating and unnerving. The world's greatest detective and he couldn't find his own son!
Abandoned warehouse
"You want some chewing gum?" Serial Killer mocked Tim and took out a gun and pasted it on Tim's face and suddenly electricity flowed out of the gum and on Tim's face. He screamed horribly. He couldn't tolerate the pain anymore
"STOP! STOP! Please just stop", Tim was crying now because he just couldn't hold them. For two weeks, he was holding his own and only waiting for Bruce to come and rescue him but he didn't come. He was starting to wonder, did Bruce even cared for him? Was he taking some kind of revenge from Tim for not saving Dick? What was he thinking? Bruce was many things but a traitor. He wouldn't do this.
"Timmy! We are going for lunch so do you want something for lunch? There is a mobile in here so if you want something, do call on Slade's phone and we will get you something", Serial Killer said and it sounded genuine and Tim would've thought so but being a vigilante for so long, it gave Bruce the ability to tell when someone was lying or not. Serial Killer and Deathstroke slammed the door when they went out snapping Tim out of his thoughts.
Tim was in distress. He was worried about his wife and children. How would they be feeling? His wife, who was thinking that his husband was dead. She would have to raise the kids alone if Tim died. Damn it! He thought. Why did he have to don the mask again? Then he remembered, there was Serial Killer's phone on the table just a few feet away from him. Tim moved the chair along with him, it was a slow process but he was getting close to it. Just a little bit more. He then tried to move and came to the table but there was a second problem. How would he take the mobile? He tried to get out of the chains and as if fortune was with him, the chains suddenly became loose and quickly got out of the chains and sent Bruce a video message.
Batcave,
Batman was trying to locate Tim through the GPS tracker in his phone, praying that Tim's phone was with him but there seemed to be no luck.
"Damn it! Where are you Tim?" Bruce screamed into the air. He was slowly losing hope. Bruce felt as if somehow, he was responsible for what was happening to Tim. If Bruce hadn't donned the cowl once again, then Tim wouldn't have donned his old costume and become Nightwing.
Bruce sighed, feeling guilty and while he was wallowing in guilt, a video message appeared on the screens of Batcomputer. It was from a private number. When he clicked the video icon. It was from Tim:
"Bruce its me. I am being kept in a warehouse but I don't know where I am being kept. All I can say is that I was being kept by Slade Wilson and his lackey. They have been torturing me through different methods. I don't know how do I tell you where I am so that is why I am sending you this message. Please help me."
Bruce watched the whole message. Tim's face was badly bruised. There was a black on the left side of his face and his lips were bleeding and there was a scar running on his left cheek.
He tried hacking the phone number but he couldn't get a fixed location. He was getting so frustrated and suddenly an idea struck him.
He watched the video again just in order to confirm his theory. He was sure that he would finally be able to find Tim.
"Computer! Prepare the suit and make one final check on the modifications I programmed," Bruce barked his orders. He was finally going to rescue him.
Abandoned Warehouse,
Tim had sent the video message to Bruce hours ago and since had been waiting for him to come and rescue him.
"Hello Timmy! We're home and we brought you nothing," Serial Killer entered the warehouse, waving his arms hysterically with Deathstroke following behind him and closing the door. Serial Killer came to pick up his phone which was on the table near Tim. He grabbed the phone and checked the phone. Eyeing the screen, he nodded to Deathstroke and said, "Its time," Slade then also nodded and went inside a room that Tim never knew was there.
"What do you mean its time? Where is Slade? What the hell is happening?" Tim questioned the Serial Killer who was tightening his chains. "What are you doing? Answer me you psychopath," Tim was bombarding the Serial Killer with questions because his earlier statement was worrying Tim and Serial Killer's change of attitude was unnerving. He was the loudmouth villain who would spit out his plan just to get people's attention but now that man was replaced by a serious man. Tim opened his mouth to ask another question but was met with a punch on his face by Serial Killer. Blood started to come out of his face.
Tim was about to say something but stopped himself when Deathstroke came out of his room. He was still wearing his orange-black costume. There was a large briefcase in his left hand but the contents of this bag was unknown to Tim.
"Well where are your weapons?" Deathstroke asked. Serial Killer said nothing and from the head of his cane, took out a stick and electricity started to crack when he pressed a button and he came near Tim as if with the intention to shock him with it but suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
"Deathstroke, go and kill whoever is knocking here!" Serial Killer yelled with an annoyed expression on his face. Slade nodded and went to check but when he opened the small window on the door, there was no one. There was another knock so Slade opened the door but still no one was there on the door. He looked far and for a while he looked and then he saw a Batarang on the wall! It had a pre-recorded voice message of the knocking of the door.
Slade was alarmed and he went inside the warehouse.
"He is here. Ready the weapons!" Slade shouted and suddenly there was an explosion that threw the door away and a Batarang came through the door and it hit Deathstroke in his left hand.
"AAH! You die now, Batman!" Slade cried in agony. He took out a gun and shot Batman but he managed to dodge it and sprinted towards Deathstroke and kicked him in the face and his mask fell off.
His face was badly mutilated. The right side of his face was burnt and his left eye was missing.
"How did your face turn into a pizza?" Batman mocked.
"All the times I fought you, I never thought you as the mocking type," Slade said as he unsheathed his sword from his sheath. He struck Batman but he caught the sword in mid-air and kicked Deathstroke in the chest. Deathstroke fell on the boxes. Batman approached him.
"Don't even –" Batman was cut off when someone shot a bullet in his left leg. Batman collapsed to the ground. Blood started to flow from his leg and it wasn't stopping.
"You jumped right at Wilson but gave me no attention," Serial Killer said in mock sadness.
Batman was growling at the madman. "Don't give me those looks, I am blushing," Serial Killer was still mocking.
Batman tried to stand but suddenly out of nowhere Serial Killer took out a hammer and hit Batman with it.
Batman was on the floor and he was panting. Deathstroke came up on top of Batman and started punching him.
"You have become weak in your golden age Batsy," Serial Killer laughed while Batman was getting pummeled and suddenly he caught Slade's punch and punched him back causing Slade to jump off him and he attacked Slade continuously but Slade was blocking and dodging and suddenly out of nowhere Serial Killer started attacking him. It was getting difficult for Batman to handle both of them simultaneously.
Both of them were pushing Batman to the wall so Batman took out a smoke bomb and shot it to the ground. Smoke covered the whole scene creating a diversion for Batman to rescue Tim. He came near Tim. He looked unconscious. He called his name many times but he wasn't responding so he took of his chains and flew with him.
Both the assassins tried to follow them but they heard a voice from the shadows, "No need to follow him. Our task is done," It was Ra's Al Ghul's voice. Both the assassins started grinning
Batcave,
Tim woke up on the table in the Batcave. Bruce wasn't there but there was a note:
"You have suffered a lot of damage because of my crusade so I will not permit this partnership to continue further then it already has. In short words, you will no longer be Nightwing.
I hope you know you way out.
Bruce."
Tim read the note and needless to say he was shocked. How could Bruce do this to him? Then Tim made a decision. He didn't need Batman to help anyone nor did he need him for investigating those scientists. From now onwards, there would be no more Nightwing. He didn't know who he was going to be but he will find out. Tim took out his domino mask and threw it away.
Nightwing was dead. Something else was born.