The Return of A Nightmare
The room looked like a scene out of Law & Order. A steel desk, cameras in the corners, two chairs, and one lone lamp to spotlight the guilty. I stared at the light with dull annoyance as my heart hummed in my chest. I sighed before leaning on the table, about to go to sleep. I was slightly surprised at how relaxed I was, considering what situation I am in.
Then again, it's not my first time in an interrogation room.
My eyes snapped to the door when I heard it being unlocked. I sat up as the detective stepped into the room with a folder under his arm. He had a tired look to him, his skin to pale. His hair was slightly curly, but otherwise he was very well put together and very familiar. He looked at me and chuckled bitter sweetly.
"And here I thought you would learn your lesson way back in L.A." He said as he took off his jacket, rolling up the sleeves. I scrutinized the motion and I finally looked at him. He was older but the same calculating look and "here we go again" smirk. I stared at him in disbelief. And here I once thought I would never see him again.
"Detective Cambridge," I greeted in slight awe.
"That would be me." He said, placing his jacket on the chair across from me before sliding his hands in his pocket. "Nice to see you again. Or not so nice in this case."
"I'll say," I told him dryly. He sighed before opening the folder in his hands.
"How bout we just get this over with because I really don't want to be here." He said in a tired tone before beginning. "Where were you April 4th, 2011 at 10:43 AM?"
"In California," I answered easily. "But you already knew that."
"I need specifics, Raven." He told me with a mocking smile. "A girl with your credentials should be able to handle that."
"My credentials aren't why I'm here." I said with a sardonic grin. "But I'm sure your credentials knew that." He sighed before straightening himself up a bit. He looked me dead in the eye, his gaze cold.
"Look, Raven, we've known each other long enough to know that I get sick of the run around very quickly. I've been dealing with it for years with you but unlike last time or the time before that, this is a little more serious. We're trying to get down to the bottom of a murder and the attempt on your life. If that's not enough reason to take this seriously, I don't know what is." He said in a exhausted voice. I struggled to stay defiant, despite the logic in his words.
"Let's try this again," He said in a calmer tone. "Where were you April 4th, 2011 at 10:43 AM?" I took a deep breath as I tried to remember.
"I was hanging out with some friends that lived California. We went out for breakfast then hung out by the coast. By the time I came back to the house, my friends said something about needing to head back home. I didn't get the full story until I got back to Gotham." I told him unwavering, crossing my arms keeping my guard even though it wasn't necessary. Detective Cambridge could do all the test and ask all the question he wanted. But it didn't change that, for once, I was telling the truth.
At least for the most part.
Detective Cambridge nodded and jotted down a couple notes. I had a feeling that he wasn't really listening to my explanation. He was only listening for a key word that give a foothold into the true story. Smart man.
Too bad he was looking the wrong way.
"And by whole story you mean…" He trailed off. I sighed, leaning back into my seat as I recalled the painful story.
"Vic was walking with a friend through some neighborhood-"
"And by friend you mean Richard Grayson, right?" He said. I blinked as I heard his name so bluntly. I felt it hit my chest, almost burning it. I ignored the twist in my chest as I answered.
"Yes," I said, trying to sound unaffected but I heard it waver slightly. "Vic and…Richard were walking through a bad neighborhood and I guess they ran into the wrong people at the wrong time because somehow they got into a fight with them. Vic won and was walking away when one of the people shot him in the back. He died on a sidewalk." I said, my voice getting rough at the thought of Vic bleeding on the concrete, dying without a second thought.
"And the killer?" I shrugged as I tried to regain enough control to speak. "I know this is hard for you to comprehend right now, Raven, but I need you to talk. What do you think happened to the killer?"
"Dead, as far as I'm concerned." I said roughly, giving him a sharp glare. He looked unaffected. "Or that's what I heard, at least."
"Cut the bull." He said casually. I was taken aback by these words. "We both know that the details are not as vague as you want to pretend they are."
"What are you trying to say?" I said defensively.
"I'm trying to say that the police is not as clueless as you think we are." He said, sliding a set of pictures across the table. I scrutinized it briefly before a cold chill went down my spin. There was one of me in the park with Jinx, a couple of us hanging around the school. There were some of Kori hanging with us. Then there was some of the gym. And almost all starred Vic and me. I flipped through them, making sure my face was composed as my heart started to beat erratically at the pictures.
Vic and I practicing together.
Vic and I boxing.
Vic and I just hanging out during a break.
Vic getting into my car for a ride.
Then there some of us separately but those didn't matter.
What did matter was the grainy picture of me and someone else in a car, speeding away. My heart beat as I saw the date in the corner.
"Not to mention this wonderful video we found." He said, sliding over a phone. It felt familiar as I picked it up. I tapped the screen and it lit up. I clicked play and it almost felt like déjà vu as I watched the same video Jinx tossed at me only a couple months before. I forced myself to watch it again.
You could barely see anything but you could make out a guy and a girl, guns pointed at the other. I watched as the guy lowered his gun first and I could just make out him saying "I love you." I couldn't help but close my eyes as I heard the words that I've secretly craved since leaving…Robin's side.
"I love you." He said simply, his voice heavy with emotion and his eyes showing me the truth to his words. The statement hit me like a bullet, breaking down my wall until I felt myself split in two.
Pull the trigger,I thought,he's lying. But my hand was still. I felt frozen. Cold. I bit my lip at the pain that filled me at the thought of killing him. Tears burned in my throat as I fought them back. But it hurt. And I didn't know why. I didn't understand. I moved back but he continued, catching my arm. He pulled me to him. I felt his heat seep into my skin, taking me from numb to feverish. There was desire in his eyes but now I noticed how they mixed with the love he felt for me.
He loves me. The thought filled my mind as here moved my shades, truly revealing my eyes to him. A small smile was on his face briefly but I barely noticed as he pressed his lips to mine.
I forced my eyes open as the video ended. Detective Cambridge stood across from me calmly. He picked up the phone and held it eye level as he played the video again.
"Bring back any memories?" He asked. I sighed as I clicked the video to stop.
"None that I want to remember," I told him wearily.
"Well, it doesn't matter weather or not you want to remember. What matters is that we have an unsolved murder on our hands that lead to a bigger picture in which your memories hold the key to." I didn't look at him as he leaned across the table, placing his hand on mine. I stared at it, almost surprised by the comforting gesture. I finally looked at him, his eyes softer than before. A face of a man who has seen someone in this position too many times and still hopes he or she will change. Always hoping that one day it will happen. "What happened that night in Gotham?"
I looked him in the eye; my heart beat steadying while it grew cold in the room. Flashes of that night went though my head. I shook my head, clearing it Detective Cambridge's gained a look of disappointment, as the silence grew longer and tense. His hope was gone for the day.
"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." I said. "We were blinded."
"They have some nerve showing up at my door, trying to barge in like they own the place. I'll tell you what, as soon as they pay me 25 million dollars and maintenance for that house, I don't want those cops within twenty feet of my gate!" My mom exclaimed over the phone to my lawyer. "They handcuffed my daughter with no charges. Do you honestly expect to me to take that? That is not only a disrespect to me but to my family and my house!"
I tuned out of my mother's ranting and laid my head on the window. I closed my eyes as I thought back to what I told Detective Cambridge. We were blinded and the worst part is that I didn't realize that until I said the words out loud. I heard her sigh as she hung up the phone.
"Sorry about all that," She apologized softly. "I just hate that they took you away like that."
"I know." I said.
"Not to mention that the person they should be arresting is about to knock at the front door." She said with a glare. I looked out the window as my heart stuttered in fear. I closed my eyes, trying to relax. Think of something calming, I said to myself. Think…think…a pair of playful brown eyes filled my mind and my heart slowed.
"When is he coming?" I asked timidly. My mom sighed again.
"Tonight." My heart skipped a beat and I found it hard to breath. I looked outside, desperate to know where I was. We were just outside Los Angeles.
"Stop the car." I told my mom. She slowed down with a puzzled look. I jumped out quickly and started running through the woods.
"Raven!" my mom yelled. "Raven!"
I didn't slow down or turn back to look as I ran faster away from her. Soon I was on another street, in another neighborhood. I sat on an abandoned stoop and pulled out my phone. My fingers were shaky as I dialed. I held the phone to my ear, hoping desperately that they'll pick up.
"Hello?" Roy answered. "Hello? Raven, are you there?" I tried to speak but the words wouldn't come out, only a shaky sigh. "Rae, what's going on?" I took a few more unsteady breaths. I tried to calm my heart but it refused. I could feel my heart beating in my throat as I spoke.
"He's back." I said, sounding like someone else. Someone terrified. "He's back…"
"He WHAT?" Roy yelled half an hour later. He took me to the garage and I told him about X. He ran his fingers through his hair in disbelief. "Okay, I know your dad was an ass but I never thought he would sink this low!" I shrugged helplessly, feeling numbness cover any fear I had.
"That's how he is." I said emotionless. "He gets what he wants, no matter who gets hurt." Roy grabbed my arm and pulled me up. He looked me sharply in the eye.
"Don't do that." He said. "Don't shut me out. I know you, Rae. Don't block me out to protect yourself. I'm going to protect you." He let go of me and walked through his room. I let my arm swing uselessly at my side as I felt guilt hit me. I was shutting Roy out and, whether he wants to admit it or not, it was hurting him. I was hurting him.
Again.
"What are you doing?" I asked, trying to force some kind of emotion into my voice as he started to clean up and checked his money.
"Helping you move in." He said. "I'm not going to have you staying there with him unprotected. I'm going home with you tonight. We're going to get your stuff and you are moving out. That's that."
"No!" I said, not forcing the alarm in my voice. I crossed the room, stopping Roy from moving. "You can't!"
"Your dad's powerful but you'll be legal soon. Even he can't beat that law."
"No!" He paused at the shrillness in my voice. I took a deep breath. "You can't because while my dad may not be able to defy federal law, he can threaten everything I care about."
"What are you talking about? Your dad doesn't know about me or this place." He said. I wiped my face in frustration.
"He knew everything from the beginning." I said. Roy froze.
"What?" He said confused.
"He knows about you, this place, the cars, he knew about…everything! He knows everything and he's using it against me to get me to marry X!" I explained to him. I watched as his face fall as he stepped closer to me with a solemn expression.
"What was the threat?" He asked. I looked down, my fear taking over me once again. I took a shaky breath as Roy placed his hands on my shoulders, massaging them gently so I could calm down. I looked at him. His face was calm. "What was the threat?" He asked again.
"He threatened to frame Vic's death on you." I said, my voice thick with tears. "He's trying to put you on death row." Roy grimaced as he slowly sat down on his bed.
"I've lived a pretty good life." He said gravely.
"No!" I exclaimed. "You are not going to jail or death row." He looked at me with despair and I looked away. "I just have to make through long enough until I can think of a way to fix this."
"I don't want to risk you." He told me intensely. I refused to meet his eyes.
"It doesn't matter." I said. "Until I find a way to break that contract…that's just the way it's going to be. I refuse to risk you or Karen or the twins or…"
"Robin," he finished for me. I nodded with tears. They weren't out of sadness exactly. They were brought by the stress and frustration from the last two days. I leaned on his shoulder, trying to share the weight of it all. Roy gladly took it as he wrapped his arm around me, kissing my temple tenderly. He sighed. "I never thought we'd end up like this."
"Why do you deal with me?" I mumbled against his shoulder.
"Because I love you." He answered simply. I looked up surprised by how easily he told me that. He shrugged. "It may not be the same way Robin does but it's just as strong. Just as strong…" He said. I tucked my head back into his shoulder once again, content and understanding of what he was saying. I leaned back on the bed, tired from the events of the last couple of days. He tucked me in and cut the lights off. He sat at the foot of my bed, almost as a lookout. A feeling of security fell over me.
While many may not understand me and Roy's relationship, we do. And that's all either of us really need right now, to know that somewhere out there in this crazy, cruel world there was someone that's willing to love you as a friend.
Roy drove me back home, dropping me off at the gate. His shades were on but I could still see the tension in his face. He looked out the window towards the mansion as I unbuckled my seat belt and opened the door. I touched his arm gently. He looked down at my hand before looking up at me.
"I'll be fine." I tried to reassure him. He relaxed a bit but I could tell he was still worried. It comforted me a little to see that he cared. For a moment, it made me forget my initial fear of coming back home.
"You don't know how hard it is for me to do this." He said with strain in his voice. I looked at the mansion but my mind brought me back to a hospital. My heart felt heavy as I remembered my last few moments in the Gotham hospital as I convinced myself to leave one of the strongest loves I ever had behind. It was one of the hardest moments of my life, forcing myself to let him go.
"Maybe I do," I said softly as I came back to reality. "I'll call you when it's over." I told him. He nodded. I exited the car and he backed out the driveway slowly. I watched as the lights of the car faded into the distance, inch by inch taking my security and comfort away. I bit my lips as I punched in the code. The gate opened smooth and quiet. I walked up the expansive driveway and up the steps to a door I barely used.
It's funny how I have to use the front door to enter my nightmare.
I felt my mouth lift up slightly. I wasn't sure whether it was a grimace or a smirk but either way, it fell as I opened the door.
My mom stood tense in the foyer beside my dad. Her eyes were in a steely glare, not even daring to smile as my dad chatted politely with our…guest. My dad had his standard "Meet, greet, and get the deal" persona on. He was charming, persuasive, and in control, trying to show the person in front of him that he has everything handled correctly.
But even he couldn't hide his pained expression when my mom pulled away from him. She didn't look at him. She refuses, I thought, even now she refuses to see what he has become. She looked up as she heard the door open and she froze. My dad stopped talking and looked at me. His face was grim but I couldn't understand nor did I pay attention as he turned around to look.
My heart screamed as I took in his dark, brooding eyes. He smiled slowly at me and tried to ignore that flashes of memories as my mind remembered the last time I saw him. I struggled to keep my eyes open as he walked towards me. I forced myself not to run as he got closer. I thought back to my final night in Los Angeles when Robin saved me from Malchior.
He's coming back for you! I heard him yelling it over and over in my mind. The same cold fear gripped me, freezing me to the floor. Only this time Robin wasn't here to sooth me. He wasn't here to save me. He couldn't drown out Malchior's words.
He's coming back for you. He's coming back for you. He's coming back for you…
I flinched as he touched my face. I tried to breath normally but it came out shaky. He smirked at me.
"Raven," X said smoothly as his hand moved over my skin. "Nice to see you again. Still as beautiful as I remember."
"X…" I breathed. His smirk widened into a smile.
"I came back for you."
X is what many would call handsome. Some would say sexy. Others would call him beautiful. At one point and time, I thought they were right. I thought he was handsome and sexy. I thought he was beautiful…
But times have changed. Drastically.
However, my mother said it the best.
"You look like a modern Edmund." She said. My father chocked on his drink a bit. I couldn't help the quick smirk that came to my face. X just looked lost by the insult. He didn't know that one of my mother's favorite plays was King Lear.He also didn't know that she hated the character Edmund because of the type of person he stood for.
Beautiful on the outside, rotten on the inside.
"So how are your business endeavors coming about?" My dad asked him. X smiled a bit, back on familiar footing as he answered.
"They've welcomed me with open arms. I've been doing a lot of make up work these past couple of years and I've guessed they've learned while I was gone-" he stared at me with a smirk- "once a good thing is gone, it's hard to get back."
"Well that's a very arrogant statement." My mom said, bring his attention back to her, for which i would be eternally grateful. My dad cleared his throat but my mom ignored him, her stare burning through X, daring him to step out of line.
"Well, when you've experienced the feeling yourself, it's a very boastful thing when others feel the same about you." My mom frowned as she took a sip of her drink. He returned his gaze back to me. I gazed down at my plate. "By the way, thank you for letting me stay here."
"Trust me, it wasn't willingly." She said.
"Why not?" X said, "Twenty five million is a good amount."
"Excuse me?" My mom said bemused.
"The agreement for Raven," X said. "It's been a while since the any payments have been made but it should still be sufficient for you and your husband. It was all in the renewal clause."
Everything froze at that one moment as I heard a glass shatter. Everyone looked at my mom shocked while she looked at my father, livid.
"He paid to marry Raven?" She said.
"Arella-"
"You let him buy our daughter?" She screamed. I flinched at the shrillness of her voice. She had her fist balled up, looking like it was taking all of her will not to hurt my dad. Or kill him, I thought as I saw how so beyond anger she was as she stared down at him. She turned back to X.
"I strongly suggest you find another place to stay. You are not welcomed here. And besides it's bad to live with the bride before the wedding, you know sex before marriage. It's a sin." She told him sharply.
"Mrs. Roth-"
"Look you walked through that door tonight unscathed. I strongly suggest you take this opportunity to remain that way. Get out!" She commanded, the threat ringing true in every word she said. X looked at her in disbelief and I couldn't help but stare at her in shock. I've never seen my mom like this.
Neither did X, which is why he took the smart approach and left. My mother continued to stare at my father as she told me, "Raven, go to your room."
I stood up silently and left the tense dining room, wondering what was going to happen next. My mom's threat if fresh now but I knew it would keep X away for long. I had to do something. But what?
As I got closer to my room, I saw my dad's office ajar. An idea quickly formed into my head as I walked in. I searched the desk quickly before picking up the contract. I pulled out my phone.
"Roy," I said, "You know people who can find loopholes, right?"
Arella looked at her husband as he opened his mouth a couple of times but no sound came out. Trent looked at her, pleading her to understand in vain. He sighed finally.
"I seemed like the best-"
"You seemed to think a lot of things have been 'best' lately." Arella said with a glare as she sat down next her husband. My awful, deceptive monster of a husband, She thought. "You thought it was best to send her to Gotham. You thought it was best to bring her back after the gang fiasco. You thought it would be best to being X back. You thought it was best to hide everything she's been doing from me. And then have the nerve to turn around on me and yell that I don't know her! You know what, you're right. I don't know her and whose fault is it?"
Trent stayed silent as she ranted, his eyes sad. She knew that look. It was even worst then the "I'm sorry, I'll do better" look. It was a look she had seen too many times, in too many situations. She placed her elbow on the table, holding her head for a moment. She's tried to avoid this moment so many times but his wrong has finally out weighted his rights and his love. They have been for years.
She was just too blind to see it.
"I am…tired, Trent." She said finally. Trent stood up quickly as he saw the resolve in his wife's eyes.
"Arella, please, don't do this." She turned to towards him, finally seeing who he's become.
"You sold our daughter." She said sharply. "The same person you said eighteen years ago you would love and protect. But, hey, why break just one promise? Why not break every vow we made twenty years ago? How come I have to find out that our daughter has been doing grand thief auto and doing drag races when you black-mailing her?"
"I just…" Trent trailed off uselessly. Arella nodded her head somberly. She chuckled bitterly but it turned into a tiny sob towards the end.
"I'm done, Trent." She said. She took the last sip of her wine before setting the glass down and standing up.
"Arella-" He stepped towards her.
"No." She said, holding her hand out to stop him from coming any closer. "I've forgiven you for a lot of things but I can't forgive you for this. You don't have my trust or my love anymore." She declared as she promptly removed the wedding band from her finger. "I'll stay until the wedding, if I can't find a way to break this engagement, but I will be staying in one of the guest rooms. I'll call a lawyer in the morning. I just…" She waved the end of the statement away. She tried to ignore the pain of what was happening as she dropped her ring on the table. Trent's face fell as he tried to find something to say to salvage his marriage. Out of all the mistakes in his life, his marriage to Arella was the only thing he got right. If he lost her…
He watched helplessly as he watched her leave the table. She was walking up the stairs when he rushed towards her. He grabbed her hand. He didn't care about the tears stinging his eyes as he gaze at his wife. Arella stood there with tears already trailing down her face with a blank expression.
"Please," He begged, growing desperate as he knelt to her. "Let me fix or find a way or something." She shook her head at him and he felt his heart drop.
"You should've thought of that earlier." She said impassively. "I told you last time that was it. I meant what I said. It's too late, Trent." She pulled her heart out of his grip. "You've lost me."
Trent felt his heart break as he watched Arella turn away from him and climb the stairs. He fell to his knees, over taken by the pain he felt as he repeated her words in his mind. He sat on the stairs, staring blankly at the ordinate and empty corridor. As he felt tears fall from his eyes. He finally lost her. After so many close calls and setback, triumphs and downfalls, it finally happened.
A part of Trent always knew this would happen, but the pain was worst than he thought. He felt as though his heart was ripped out and he was left bleeding and numbing, left to repeat the same thought.
She's gone,he repeated, she's gone.
Alfred entered the small house with his arms full of luggage. He looked around the area quickly with a frown.
"Good lord, this house is a dirty." He said, dropping the luggage to the floor as he followed Robin inside. "Are you sure you shouldn't clean up a bit?"
"A bit of dust never hurt anybody." Robin said easily as he went to the nearest window. Alfred frowned at his nonchalant attitude.
"Yes, it has." he responded. "Especially someone in your condition." He watched as Robin tried to open the window, grunting as he put more effort into it. Alfred sighed as he pulled up his sleeves and walked over to help push open the stubborn window. Robin grimaced at the sudden gust of wind that blew against his face as it lifted. He could've sworn that window was easier to open.
"Master Richard," Alfred called. He looked over at him. "While you have been having a very productive recovery, you are still fragile. Are you sure you are ready to live on your own?" Robin rolled his eyes at the question. If he he had to hear that question one more time, he was going to loose it! He restrained himself from banging his head on the wall out of pure frustration as he addressed the butler.
"Alfred, please," Robin said wearily. "I've done everything I've had to do. I've done well in physical therapy. I've checked with my doctor. Bruce said it was okay…I've been doing everything everyone said should. All I want to do now is be somewhere where I can frown or mope without hurting anyone's feelings. By myself." Robin turned away from Alfred as he stared out the big window. Alfred frowned at Robin's aloof attitude.
"So you're telling me you don't want anyone here with you," Alfred said. Robin rested his face against the window's frame for a moment. He took a deep breath as he thought back to her and sighed.
Raven has haunted Robin's thought for the past three months. She was in his dreams, in his thoughts whenever there was a lull in conversation, he couldn't even close his eyes for too long before picturing her. He thought about how she looked when he would chase her, when she was mad, when she was scared, or worst, when she was happy. He opened his eyes as her smile crossed his thoughts.
"What do you want me to say?" Robin said, finally turning to him. Alfred was silent at the pained expression on Robin's face. "Yes, I miss her. I've been missing her. And the worst part is that I don't know where she is or what she's doing or if she's even okay. It's like she dropped off the face of the world and I'm stuck going crazy because of it."
"Well, you are you're father's child." Alfred said. "When you love, truly love, you love hard. I only wished that you wouldn't suffer the same pain he did." Robin looked back out the window.
"Me too." He said quietly. He didn't watch as Alfred arranged his luggage before walking to the door.
"Goodbye, Master Richard." He said before leaving. Richard let out a breath of relieve as he finally allowed himself to feel his misery. He closed his eyes, leaning his head on the window again. He let his thoughts roam. Raven invaded every one as he repeated the last time he saw her.
He thought over the tears in her eyes, the desperation in her kiss, and the way she didn't look back when she left. He didn't want her to. It would've been too painful to handle, to see the regret in her eyes. His thoughts eventually shifted to more torturous thoughts as he thought back to spring break and the whole week he had her to himself.
He remembered the way he made love to her. The way her hands felt on his skin, how surprisingly shy she was during the first time. Most of all, he remembered the peaceful look on her face the next morning. He remembered it all and he could almost whispering I love you against his skin once again. His eyes shot open, hoping for a moment that he would see her lovely face.
But instead, he only saw the sunset.
He bit back a small sob at the pain that ripped his through his chest. He closed his eyes again, listening to the waves crash around him and the smell of the ocean filled his nose as he thought of her once again.
