The Familiar Darkness: part iv

By: Corbin

Disclaimer: Still don't own nothing, dang.

Someone was speaking. It came as complete nonsense to him at first. The tone of the voice was familiar. He knew that hollow, cold voice from somewhere but it was so difficult to focus and tune out the pounding in his skull. Another voice now, not as familiar, but he did recognize it. The voice was angry, it protested in a low tone. A door creaked opened then shut again, someone had left the room. Robin wasn't sure why, but he had a feeling things were not about to improve for him.

He swallowed as he tried to soothe the raw dryness tormenting his throat. No matter how much spit he swallowed it didn't seem to help at all. Robin wasn't really awake and he wasn't really asleep, he floated between the two realms, not really wanting to reenter either one. Finally his body made the choice for him.

Clarity one again partially claimed him. Robin glanced around the room allowing his thoughts a little more time to become focused. Robin attempted to sit up and found that he could only rise a few inches from the table.

"Hey, he's coming around, Doc," Daniel stated as he watched Robin trying to wriggle out of the thick leather restraints that held him firmly to the table.

Doc approached with a vial of liquid in his left hand and a syringe in his right. "I must say, young man, you have very poor timing," Doc remarked as he filled the hypo with amazing smoothness.

Robin said nothing in reply. If they were going to try and get information from him by giving him truth serum they would find it easier said then done. Robin tensed involuntarily as Doc gently swabbed his bare forearm with rubbing alcohol.

"I'm not going to lie to you, young man. This is not going to be pleasant at all. I am giving you three different doses of this drug in the next three-hour period. Each successive dose will be more intense then the last. When I finish with you Steven and Daniel will take you back to your room."

"I'm not telling you anything," Robin growled in a low defiant tone.

"Luckily for you my young friend, I won't be asking you any questions."

Robin winced as he felt the burn of the injection. Seconds later Robin felt intense heat burn through his entire being, like fire in his veins. He heaved against the restraints and clenched his fists into tight balls. 'Okay,' He thought, 'No big deal. I can get through this. Just concentrate on letting the pain go.'

It had taken nearly all of his willpower, but he could finally feel his body beginning to settle down, the pain was at last receding. Sweat covered his body and he shivered in the cool room, but he was nearly free from the pain that burned inside of him. Then he realized that it was time for the second dose, 'only two more hours, it's not really that long.' He wondered how long he would really last.

The second dose was far worse than the first had been, just as the doctor had promised him. Robin breathed heavily through gritted teeth. The young man squeezed his eyes shut and saw him. "Are you ready to give in already? Is that all it takes? A little pain and you're ready to crawl and beg on your hands and knees? Pathetic," Batman spoke in a mocking tone, a cruel smile creased his lips.

"No!" Robin cried out loud. 'It's not real,' He thought to himself. 'Man. I must be losing it.'

If there was a time when he wished that Batman would burst in and save him, it was now, before he was due for the next dose of torture.

. . . TBC . . .