Chapter Ten: He who Lurks and He who Chops Heads

It had been two weeks since his most recent fight with Stalker and his meeting with Faux. He hadn't seen his old foe since but he had ran into her five times, and each time she was running off with something valuable. Liam would give chase but some distraction of a sorts would show-up and cause him to stop going after her and attend to other matters, like people getting mugged.

At the moment it was about noon and Liam had to run a normal errand. So he left his hide-out in normal clothes and came out a block from his old place. He put his hands in his pockets and began his walk to his destination.

In approximately twenty minutes he reached a home for people that were in financial trouble that he'd been volunteering at for the past five years. He went in the back entrance and said, "Hello" to all of his friends. Pulling on a thin jacket that showed he was a volunteer he went over to his manager and asked what he was needed for.

"Ah, Liam! Perfect timing! I want you to help Serra with the kids today." Harold, the head manager, told him.

Liam looked at him funny and asked, "Who's Serra?"

"Oh yes, you haven't been able to come in for the past few months. She's a new person here and she's really sweet. She's also good with kids, like you, so I want you and her to work together. Now go-on, she's in the play room." Harold told him rather excitedly.

Liam said, "Okay" and went over to the door. He turned the nob and walked into the kid's playroom. When he came in all of the kids shouted happily and ran over to him, tackling him to the ground. They were giving him hugs and asking where he had been for the past few months.

"I wasn't feeling good and had to stay home. But I'm better now so don't worry." He told them with a smile.

"It seems that they really like you." A voice said nicely.

Liam looked up from the kids and saw the new girl Serra. She was about his height, only a few inches shorter, with maroon hair and gold eyes. This girl, Serra, offered him a hand up to his feet which he took.

When he was up on his feet with all the kids standing around his legs, he thanked her. She said it wasn't a problem and looked at him, just a hint of curiosity in her eyes. He held out his hand, which she shook, and introduced himself.

"So, you're Liam? All the kids have been buzzing about you and wondering when you were coming back." She said with a laugh.

"Well, here I am so they can stop worrying. I was sick for a few months with something bad but it's all gone now." He told her, feeling like he knew her for some reason.

"That's good to hear. If you were gone any longer these little ones would've lost it and go hunting for you."

Liam was laughing when one of the kids pulled on his jacket sleeve. He looked down and saw it was Annabelle, a small little girl with super pale skin, black hair and bright green eyes.

"Can we play hide-and-seek?" She asked him.

"Sure. I'll be it and count to fifty, okay?" He answered her.

"Yeah! I'm gonna go hide!" She said, running away happily.

Liam smiled and told Serra to go hide to, which she gave a smile to. Then he covered his eyes and began to count. Once he got to fifty he started to search for the kids and Serra.

Later that night Liam was on patrol, searching for any disturbance. So far there was none but he doubted that was the way the night would be. He kept looking until he landed on a roof for a break from swinging about above the city.

"Looking for Stalker?" A voice asked, surprising him.

Liam turned around and found it was Faux. She smiled at him and walked over to the edge of the flat roof. Looking down at the city below she waited for his answer.

"Yeah, he hasn't shown up in two weeks which is concerning. He's probably up to something." Liam said, looking across at the other buildings.

"Well, you're right about that. I saw him the night before. He was talking to another person, probably some-one he works with. After that I went looking for you and couldn't find you." She told him, taking her attention off the streets below.

"Where did you see this?" He asked her calmly.

"By a home for people in troubled times. I think that his hiding place might be near there, or at least an entrance to it." Faux said.

Liam nodded and asked her to show him where exactly. She sighed but did, jumping off the building they were on and throwing out her hook. He followed her and they reached the spot in a few minutes.

When they landed Liam froze for a mere second, a small pang of fear going through him. It was the home he volunteered at with all the kids he took care of. He brought himself out of the shock before Faux could notice, however, and walked over to where she pointed out.

"They were here? Did you hear anything?" He asked, not looking back at her.

"No; It was all unintelligible gibberish. They were talking in whispers. I did see one of them go into that man-hole though. Part of me wanted to follow them but I decided to tell you first." She answered.

"Good choice. I-" Liam began, getting cut off by his communicator that he fixed.

He took it out and flipped it open, seeing Robins face appear on the screen.

"Knight, we have a big problem. Stalker just broke into the tower and kidnapped Raven! He said that he would only let you rescue her and that if any of us tried to he'd kill her!" Robin shouted urgently and franticly.

"Alright, just calm down. Did he leave where he would be or tell you?" Liam asked in a non-urgent tone even though he was freaking out on the inside.

"He said that he would be in the power plant at the edge of the city. You're not going are you? It's a clear trap." Robin told him, his concern clear.

"I actually am going to go. I knew he'd pull this and besides, I can beat him. I did in Gotham." Liam told him.

Robin just looked at him through the screen worriedly and sighed. He said, "Fine, but contact me the moment you and her are out of there. Robin out."

The screen went dark and Liam closed his communicator. Then he turned to Faux who was just looking at him, her expression grim. He paused and then decided to ask her a favor.

"Can you stay here and keep watch for anyone? If Stalker has a partner they might try and hit this place while I'm not here." He explained to her.

"Sure, I do owe you anyway. Now go and get your friend before crazy does something to her." Faux said, sending him on his way.

Liam thanked her and ran off, shooting his grappling gun. Faux watched as he went and disappeared into the night. Then she got into a comfy spot and watched the area.

Raven groaned and opened her eyes to find herself in a dark place. She was hanging upside down and completely tied-up in strong ropes. After trying to get free and failing she looked around at the place she was in.

It was only a moment later that she heard laughter that sent a shiver down her spine. She knew it was from the guy that had attacked Liam only two weeks ago and wrecked his arm. That creepy person who'd chased the down and scared her; Stalker.

She tried to look behind her only to get a giant blade shoved close to her face. Instantly she stopped moving and looked at it, noting that it was a blade from a Guillotine. Holding it was another pale laughing figure, dressed in and executioner's hood.

"Don't fret dear, your boy will be here soon enough. Until then just stay still, unless you want to lose your head?" He told her with a grin.