The Familiar Darkness: Part vii


By: Corbin


Disclaimer: Just borrowing the characters for now, I promise to put them back when I'm done. Don't hurt me please. ;)


It seemed that no matter how fast he traveled he felt that he'd never make it there in time. When he did finally pull up to the asylum there was no sense of relief there to greet him. He felt that his young partner was still in a great deal of danger and he couldn't help but be concerned for Robin's welfare. With grim resolve the Batman jumped from his vehicle and stalked quickly toward the asylum entrance gates.


* * * *


Robin inhaled a cautious breath. He was certain that it would bring new flashes of misery with it. To his surprise he felt . . . nothing. There was no pain. Something was different, he sensed that he had changed somehow but he wasn't sure what was different about himself. Robin felt completely worn out, his body buzzed numbly and the same fuzzy feeling rested inside his mind. He wasn't sure why the pain had just stopped all of the sudden, but he wasn't going to protest it


"Feeling better I see," the image of Batman appeared and almost moved to pat the boy encouragingly on the shoulder, he seemed to remember that he wasn't real and he put his hands down on Robin's table instead.


Robin's face twisted with displeasure, obviously he was not expecting this companion to return. "You- You're still here?" The boy's voice nearly cracked with shock. "Oh man. This can't be good."


* * * *


The entrance guard needed a little gentle coaxing due to a terrible memory, but he'd finally told Batman where Robin was being held. "The boy? Oh, yeah, he's in the infirmary. But you can't see him. He can't have any visitors. Sorry, Doctor's orders."


"I am not a visitor," Batman growled in response as he pushed passed the guard.


Batman stormed into the unlocked infirmary where Robin was being held, he immediately went toward the boy. The two orderlies in the room attempted to rush him, to prevent him from taking the boy. In a matter of seconds and two well-placed roundhouse kicks the orderlies found themselves on the floor reeling. Batman quickly released Robin from his restraints.


"Can you walk?" Robin gave a weak nod in automatic response.


Robin slipped down from the table and attempted to stand on dead legs. There was no strength left in him and he almost crumpled to the floor. Batman reached down and gently steadied his partner, he placed Robin's arm over his shoulder and they quickly left the room.


The orderlies had semi-recovered and were about to burst out the door in pursuit, when Doc appeared in the doorway blocking them from giving chase. "Easy boys, everything's going as planned. Let them leave." The orderlies exchanged bewildered looks, but stood down as they'd been told.


* * * *


In the Batmobile Robin stared out the windshield watching the road wind as Batman drove. Apparently the boy was lost in deep thought. Batman threw him a glance as he wondered what the boy had been through, he them turned his attention back to the task of driving home.


"You should be careful, I wouldn't trust him if I were you," it was the image, it spoke just outside the windshield.


"What do you mean?" Robin asked softly, Batman glanced over not sure if the boy thought he'd said something.


"You think that's really Batman?" The imaginary Batman asked as he gave Robin a devilish grin.


"Who else could it be?"


"Well, anyone. Think about it. If you can see and speak to me, then you might be seeing other things as well."


Huh? Robin hadn't thought of that, nothing like that had even occurred to him. Hadn't the image said it couldn't think for itself? Robin wondered if it had changed from the final dose of the drug as well.


"Robin," It was Batman in the flesh, "Who are you talking to?"


"Oh," Robin shrugged, "Myself I guess."


Batman made a little displeased noise and kept his eyes forward. He picked up his speed in an attempt to get the boy home as quickly as possible.


. . . TBC . . .