" Where are you? Why don't you show yourself and fight me!"

As he flies through the air in the direction of the last place he had encountered Stalker on that fateful day just a few months prior these are the words running through the mind of Terry Mcginnis. A statement that he was unsure of why. Why did Stalker take Matt? Why did he take his little brother instead of going after him instead? What was the whole point of doing this?

Questions that in the back of his mind he knew the answers to. He just didn't want to believe it. Believe to why this was happening. And the answer was simple. Stalker wanted to face him like this. He wanted him to not have a cool head. He wanted him to be reckless. He wanted to face a more dangerous opponent. An opponent that would do whatever it took to take him down.

An situation that he knew deep inside that Stalker craves. A moment to face him at his best. To face him knowing that he would be given everything that he had. Especially because of the situation he had put him in. The situation of having to protect another. The situation of having to put on the cowl once again.

Have to be The Batman once again for one more time. Something he didn't even know if Stalker knew. Especially if Melanie was right. Right about the hunter stalking them for weeks. Stalking them trying to find anything he could to use against him.

But then that would bring up another question. The question of why take Matt? Why take his little brother again. Was it because he thought that was the best course of action? Did he not think that he would be able to get his hands on Melanie? A question that he slowly puts into the back of his mind with countless others as he realizes exactly where he is now hovering over.

One of the many hotels inside of Gotham City. but unlike the others inside of the city this one was different for Terry. Not just because of it's appearance. Not just because it housed an unique walkway in it's lower levels that would lead to a hot spring. No it was different because of the memories it brought back. The memory of his first encounter with Stalker.

The memory of tracking Stalker to this location. A location that looked so perfect for the hunter. A location filled with so many ambush spots. A location that overlooked the city. Any hunter's paradise. And he soon found out that to be the case. The case when he had set off a few of the hunter's traps. Traps that if it wasn't for his suit would have truly lead to his demise.

But not on that given day. The suit along with his countless hours of training proved to be too much for the traps. So much so that the hunter would soon reveal himself to him. A man that he knew he could take. Especially after encountering him inside of the Casemore Tribal Arts Gallery building. A fight that was on sided before he had been blinded briefly allowing the hunter to escape.

Snapping out of his thoughts as he glances all around his surroundings to see nobody in sight slowly as he descends down towards the platform below Terry can't help but turn his head to look over his shoulder when he hears the familiar sound of a train going by. A train that flies by on the same set of tracks that he had last seen Stalker before he reappeared back in his life just a few days ago.

A track for so long thought was the hunter's final resting place. But it was not meant to be. Instead his worst nightmare had come to life. Stalker was alive. Alive and well sporting some new enhancements all across his body. Enhancements that he was unsure were capable of. Not yet anyways. But he would find out soon. He would find out that these enhancements were installed to help the hunter achieve his greatest goal. The goal of becoming the man that would end The Batman. But not if he had a say about it.

Within moments as he feels his feet hitting the ground with his head constantly turning to look around his surroundings slowly Terry makes his way through the platform and towards the familiar sight of where he had sent Stalker flying into the train tracks from their last encounter before suddenly he comes to a complete stop when he notices a small object hanging from one of the trees. An object that he had given to Matt the day he had gone through his father's things. An object that even he didn't know his father owned.

A small golden locket. A locket with the very same picture he has inside of his wallet. A picture of all of them together. The Mcginnis family posing for a family picture. A picture that took a few times before his mother had deemed the picture perfect. A picture that showed the better times in his life.

With his eyes as wide as saucers with shaky legs slowly Terry makes his way over towards the locket before as he reaches the locket reaching up Terry gently takes the locket into his hand as a memory comes flooding back into his mind.

The memory of finding the locket. The memory of Matt sneaking into his bedroom as he stared down at the locket. The memory of putting the locket around Matt's neck with a simple explanation. An explanation that as long as he had this locket his father would be with him.

Snapping out of his thoughts as he stares down at the locket suddenly Terry's hand forms into a fist around the locket before slowly as he takes a deep breathe reaching down Terry gently places the locket down into his utility belt. Snapping his utility belt shut with a thud as he turns to burst back into the air and away from the hotel tapping into his suit's systems slowly Terry dials in a familiar number into his headset.

" Where are you?"

As the glides through the air on her board with her head constantly glancing around her surroundings to see if she can find any trace of Terry anywhere unaware to Melanie's knowledge slowly a call is being delivered to her cellphone inside of her pocket. Turning her attention down below as she scouts the area to find no traces of a fight taking place anywhere near her letting out a sigh slowly Melanie lowers her board's speed before in a matter of moments she slowly lowers the board down towards a local building.

With her eyes constantly moving as she brings the board to a complete stop directly above the Casemore Tribal Arts Gallery building suddenly Melanie's eyes widen when she feels her cell phone going off from the inside of her suit's pocket. In a sudden move as she retrieves her cellphone to see an unknown number across the cellphone's caller id slowly Melanie flips open the phone before she puts it up to her ear.

" Mel? It's me."

" Terry! Terry where are you?"

" He's….he's got him Mel."

" I know Terry. I know. I saw it being televised on the news. Where are you? We can come up with a plan together to find that bastard but i need to know where you are."

" It's all my fault. I should have been smarter. I should have…."

" Terry listen to me. It wasn't your fault. There was no way that we could have known he was going to go after Matt. Where are you? Tell me where you are so i can help you."

" He's….he's taunting me."

" Terry?"

" He wants me to suffer. He's punishing Matt to punish me."

" Terry? Terry what are you talking about? Has he hurt Matthew?"

" …."

" Terry? Terry has he hurt Matthew?"

" I'm….i'm gonna kill him for what he has done."

" Terry? Terry, I need for you to calm down. We'll find him. I promise but i need for you to tell me where you are."

" …."

" Terry?"

" I'm….i'm sorry Mel but i can't. I can't let him get away with this. Not after everything he has done."

" Terry!?"

Suddenly as she hears the line going dead Melanie's eyes widen before just moments later as she shuts her cellphone with a thud slowly Melanie lets out a sigh.

" Terry?"