Chapter 10: Nightmares

Gotham City Center

03/28/13

16:37

The rain pattered along the roadside as people rushed to shelter before the storm begins. Garth however took his time making his way to the red phone booth to go to Mt. Justice. The rain relaxes him and after the stressful mission that him and his team went on last night he wanted some time alone. It wasn't that he wanted time away from his friends, It's just that the rain makes him feel normal. The rain makes his mind wander away from his problems and allows him to think about the small things, such as what he was going to eat that night, what he wanted to talk to people about and what mischief that he and Wally could get up to. As his mind continued to wander a man dressed in black holding a black umbrella barged past Garth sending his shoulder forward almost making him lose his balance but also making Garth see a flash of red.

"Terribly sorry there young man." The man in black apologized. "Yeah, no problem" Garth mumbled rubbing a finger and a thumb across his eyes.

"You better hurry before the storm gets you." The man advised as he began to walk faster.

Something seemed off about this man. Granted this city is called 'Gotham' but you'd think the whole '1940s English Villain' style would have went out of fashion decades ago, and the cockney English accent to boot? This just screams 'Investigate'. Garth managed to unscramble his mind and began to tail the man draped in black.

After ten minutes or so the man turned into an Alleyway. But not just any alleyway, this was "Crime Alley". The only time someone would go down this dark and dreadful place was if they had a death-wish or if some big deal was going down. Garth knew this so he reached into his now soaked rucksack and placed one of his costumes gauntlets onto his right hand and kept that hand into his coats pocket in case he needed to attack. As he turned into the Alley he saw the man stood still, Waiting for Garth about halfway through the alley.

The boy walked towards the man and began to take note of any features that stood out to him. White hair, Red eyes, Scarred lip, Black coat, white gloves. It was like this man frequently visited villain conventions.

"It's good to finally meet you, Garth." The white haired man announced sending an echo across the walls. Garth remained silent and activated the energy source in his glove, he knew he'd need it ready. "I'd turn that off, little one. You won't be needing it. This is a peaceful visit" The man said with a smile.

Garth took his right hand out of his coat and smirked at the man: "I think I'll keep it on yaknow, It's not everyday some whack-job walks into Crime Alley for a 'peaceful' conversation."

The red-eyed man chuckled to himself. "Very well then. I'll try and keep this short."

The man raised his right hand and clicked his fingers. A flash of red came across Garth's vision once more, sending the young hero to his knees. "No fighting. Just listen." he scowled.

The man in black kneeled down to Garth's level and began to speak. "You can now probably guess who I am. The flashes of red, you're speedster friend attacking you as well as those little anger bursts were all my doing." Garth's face began to scowl at the man. "Yeah, I'm 'The Doctor', not my choice of name but it's grown on me. I'll give you the quick rundown of your situation, You are now my partner..." The boy tried to interject but it seemed that The Doctor had Garth's body locked down with his mental prowess. "Didn't I say to listen? I know who sent those men to your house. I know why they attacked you and your mother. I can help you get Justice for her.", The man placed his white gloved hand onto Garth's shoulder "Don't you want that? Justice for your mother?" he said with a relatable smile.

'What does he mean he knows what happened? I thought I got away from my past, But... Justice for my mother? She could finally be at peace, those animals locked up and I could be the one to send them there' the boy thought to himself. The rain began to pour onto The Doctor and Garth, the storm had come. "Just one more thing Garth." The man now placed his other hand on the boy's opposite shoulder. "You really don't have a choice in this. If you don't help me help you then the ones you love will be relive their worst nightmare over and over and over again in their head until you come with me or until they die of fright. For example..." The white haired man raised his right hand and placed two of his fingers onto Garth's forehead knocking Garth out.

Garth's Mind: The Daniels' Family Home

08/06/2002

19:47

"Vroom... Vroom... neeeoooowwwmmm" The 6 year old boy beamed as he drove the small cars around his room, bouncing them off each piece of furniture as he pretended they were the Batmobile. The little boy heard a comforting voice coming up from the staircase: "Garth sweetie daddy will be home in about fifteen minutes and he's bringing home a takeaway". It was Garth's mother. She was a very beautiful woman, she had Dark brown hair which was never tied up but sometimes messy as well as crystal blue eyes as if nothing bad ever reached her soul, and her smile... his mothers smile could wash away any pain that Garth felt in an instant. That is how he remembered the mother that loved him. But that remembrance was cut short as a loud crash rang through the suburban house.

Two men had burst through the door shouting and screaming at the woman. These terrifying and muffled voices that Garth could hear struck fear into his heart. He knew that they were going to hurt his mother if he didn't try to help so he did what just any six year old with superpowers would do. He tried to be a hero.

As Garth went to open his bedroom door he was met with a man brandishing a knife, But all Garth could see was the creepy smile that was painted onto this monsters black mask. The monster grabbed the boy by the wrist and carried him down the staircase. "I've found the boy." he coldly said to his partner who had painted an upturned smile onto his mask. The partner now had a gun pointed towards Garth's mother as tears poured from her eyes with her voice now beginning to break.

"Not my little boy..." She pleaded with the man. "Not... my boy" she cried with a crack in her voice. The man with the smile placed the knife to Garth's throat. All he could now hear was white noise, He couldn't hear a thing and his mind went blank. All he knew was that his mother was in danger and he needed to help. The lights in the house shut off. The man with the sad smile's voice began to become louder as he pushed the gun against the mothers forehead. The smiling man who had held the knife to the boys throat was thrown across the room as Garth shocked the knife from the energy he sent from his body. The little boy now walked towards the sad man as electricity began to flow around him. His voice again began to become louder but more desperate. The little boy raised his hands towards this monster and released all of the power he had absorbed. Killing the monster.

As the smoking sad man fell to the floor Garth ran towards his mother who also collapsed to the floor. As the boy approached his mother he noticed red all over her torso which began to cover Garth due to the small boy trying to stop the bleeding.

"G-Garthy..." She murmured with blood coming from her mouth. She raised one of her hands weekly and placed it onto his cheek. His mother began to speak between each breath: "P-p-promise me... You'll be good... for your dad."

The boys tears began to wash away the red from his mothers hand. He didn't want her to go. "I promise mummy... I'll be good" he said with a forced smile, but it wasn't the smile his mother loved. "No powers... without control... Promise...again..." His mothers body was now going weak and limp. The little boys voice would work so he nodded to promise to his mother. With her last breath his mother uttered her final word:"...Smile..."

Gotham City Center

03/28/13

17:03

Garth's eyes flung open and his breathing was heavy and tears began to waterfall down his face. "WHY?!" he roared at the man, "WHY DID YOU MAKE ME RELIVE THAT?!" Garth now stood up and activated his gauntlet he wanted nothing more than to hurt the people who hurt his mother like that. "If you don't let me help you then everyone you love will repeat their worst nightmare over and over again. I told you this. So what is your answer?" The white haired man calmly asked.

The Energy surrounding Garth's arm died out as Garth clenched his fists. "I'll come with you... What do you need me to do?" He grumbled. "Since we are going to work together from now on I think we should build some mutual trust. You have two weeks to wrap up anything that you need to. Say your goodbyes and make some good memories because You are about to go down a difficult path my boy." The man in black turned around and began to walk away from Garth.

"Don't forget what I said about your loved ones, I'm sure that girl of yours has plenty of haunting memories." the man sneered. Garth snarled at the statement and challenged The Doctor: "In that case don't you forget this. If you hurt any one of them while we get justice... I will end you."

"Noted." The man said as he vanished into the darkness.

*Beep Beep* Garth reached into his pocket and grabbed his phone.

"Sender: Artemis 3

Hey babe, I know how much you love the rain so I know that you're being stupid and are still out in this weather. Get somewhere dry... or else! xx"

Garth's anger began to subside as he looked at the name on the screen in his hand, 'Artemis'. Just thinking about her calmed him down and made him feel good inside. He will not let The Doctor hurt her, No matter what.

As the rain again began to turn heavier and the wind becoming stronger Garth put his Gauntlet back into his rucksack and began to run.