Eternal Flame Chapter 3 by Marcie Gore Christina has disappeared just before her wedding. Where did she go? How will Dick .her family And friends cope? A 2003 candy apple red Dodge viper gts/r speeds down a dark twisting rural highway just outside of Gotham around 5;00 A.M. The driver is a tall man with blonde hair and blue eyes with an athletic build. The woman beside him is a beautiful with tan skin, green eyes and long black hair. The man swerves as if to avoid an animal in the road. The car runs in a guardrail and tumbles in the ravine below. The woman doesn't have the usual panicked reaction to the situation. Instead of screaming as the car goes over the rail she sits in stony silence The car continues to roll several more times before it hits a large pine tree gas and oil start to leak from the totaled vehicle, the car catches fire just as one of the doors falls open. The male driver tumbles free from the car. 9;00AM the morning of February 14, wedding day A line of women enters the Brides Chambers playing various musical insterments. Lian and Autumn are playing kazoo. Elaine is playing the triangle. Barbara is crashing cymbals. Donna is banging on bongo drums Kory is making low voltage star bolts. Jessie is playing, "Here Comes the Bride," on Harmonica. Her Mom is screaming," time to get up!" Then her alarm goes off. This worries the little band. She's still not up! They pull the covers off the bed together. Christina's not there instead they find Cody. He's curled up sucking his thumb and holding a tattered security blanket. "Cody, what are you doing in here? Where's Chrissie? We wanta help her get ready to marry Dick. She in The bathroom?" Barbara asks.
"No, she's not, I think. I've knocked several times and there's no sound of water running, or a blow dryer running. Christina's mom says. Barbara and I can see what we can get out of the little man, while the rest of you search the house," her mom says "Have you seen Chris, this morning? What's got you so upset sweetie?" Barbara asks him.
Cody shakes his head no as tears travel the well-worn path down his raw checks. They're still trying to find out what's prompted Cody's regression when the others return. The look even more frustrated than when they left 20 minutes ago.
"We looked all over. I checked the grounds, and garage three times already. The only place I haven't checked is "The cave." "Then again I'm not even sure where it is," Jessie says. Something doesn't feel right. She seemed so excited about marrying Dick last night. Maybe we should check, "The Cave." She might've gone there to work off some last minute jitters. Anyway I think it's time to get the guys, especially Bruce and Dick, Barbara says. The men get to the bedroom and go to work right a way. Bruce finds a leaf and pedals from the mysterious plant on the floor. He doesn't say anything just puts them in a plastic bag to study later. All the while Cody is trying to get someone, anyone's attention. He is waving around a note. He finally gives up trying to get the adults to notice him. He decides to hand Lian the note. " I can't get any of the grownups tenton,"he whispers to no one in particle. " Why do you want me to see the note? OH, yea, you're Uncle Batman's little boy. Your brother Dick works with My Dad. How long have you known that you're new daddy's a hero? Cody doesn't say anything. He just hands Lian the note. He's still shaking and crying intermittently. He points at Roy. Lian seems to get the message and goes to hand her dad the note.
Finally Lian manages to get her dad to take the note. "My daughter just handed me this note. She thinks it's a clue. It's addressed to you Dick. I think you should read it," Roy says.
Dick Hesitantly opens the note. It's on pink stationary. The envelope has a Pegasus on it. "My Beloved, I couldn't sleep so I went out for a drive, maybe a flight around the city. I have so much excess energy to work off, and I must confess premarital jitters. I love you. If I'm not home before you wake up, I'll see you at the alter," Christina. Dick says, "She'll probably be here soon, so I'M going to just finish getting dressed. I'm supposed to be getting married in 2 hours. I think we all should be getting ready." As Dick is struggling with his tie Bruce comes in with an upscale catalogue. He lays it on the bed in Dick's old Bedroom. Then He helps Dick straighten his tie and even reties his shoes. Brruce I could have done that. I haven't had to have anyone help me with my shoes since I was 5. Why couldn't I get the tie right? I've been wearing these monkey suits since I was ten, Dick says exasperated. "I know son, you're just nervous. It'll be just fine. I know you love Christina and she loves you. She'll be here soon. I think we overreacted to her not being able to find her earlier. She probably went for a drive like the note said," Bruce tells his son. "Maybe she went to pickup something special at her apartment or her mother's house. She might even be back. You know unless we're in certain parts of the house we can't see what's going on in other parts of manor. We certainly couldn't hear anything. She might've even decided to get dressed at the church," Bruce continues. It's hard for even Dick to tell if Bruce really believes what he's saying or is just trying to comfort his son. Then Bruce opens the catalogue and shows Dick a four-poster cherry wood bed with white lace privacy curtains. "Do you like it son?" From what I can tell it appears to be just the right height from the floor for Christina to transfer from her chair unassisted. He appears to be reading the measurements on the page. There's a complete bedroom suit.
"Yes, I love it! It's the same set She and I were looking at Fredrick's last month. They said they were about to be discontinued when went to place an order for it. They weren't even taking new orders for delivery. We figured we'd have to settle for something similar "I know son, I was the one who told them to say that. I wanted to get them for you myself. I'm also having the whole place redone for both of your comfort, convenience and of course romance. Everything will be waiting for you two in your new apartment when you return from Hawaii. Don't worry about the tickets. I was the one who told them to tell you, all the flights were booked for awhile. You're going by private jet. That is if you want to. I think I'll call Alfred and see if you're your Bride to be has returned"
Just as Bruce is about call Alfred, he comes in the room and says Commissioner Gordon needs to see them all in the living room right away. Even With His usual Alfred poker face Dick seems to know something is wrong. Cody seems to feel it too; He hangs on to "Daddy Bruce's" Leg and won't let go until he lifts the boy in to his arms. Then the child puts his head on His dad's shoulder and cries more. "Debbie. Bruce, Dick I may have bad news Gordon swallows hard. A couple of members of The Highway Patrol found a car that looks like Christina's in a canyon on old Gotham road, it was badly burned. He again forces himself to continue and keep his emotions in check. The only person we found appeared to be a female, but the body seems to burn badly, he pauses again, beyond visual identification. It doesn't necessarily have to be Chris you know, the car could've been stolen." "I WANT TO SEE HER! Dick shouts! Where is she? Is she at the morgue or is she still at the scene? I know I could tell if it's really her!" He runs out the door before anyone can stop him. Bruce and Jim follow as best they can. They hope they can save Dick from himself. Dick follows them to the crash site. His motorcycle screeches to a halt in front of the crash site. He methodically makes his way though the trees to the area locals call, "Madman's Canyon." It's not much of a canyon really, but a 50ft drop off. Bruce is desperately trying to stop his son from entering the flames. Even Bruce with his great strength has a hard time holding the emotional young man back. "Let the firefighters handle it son! There's nothing you can do. Tests will show if it IS Christina or not. There's nothing any of us can do until then." He holds a distraught Dick as tears fall and he shakes in his arms. A few minutes later a fire fighter makes his way up the ravine. He tells Bruce We found a guy blonde hair blue eyes covered in snow and disoriented but other wise ok not far from the wreak. He has a French accent. He told me is name was Jean Paul Valley and that he wanted me to contact you, Mr. Wayne AND Mr. Grayson. This seems to spark a new look of interest in Dick's eyes. Then his blue eyes seem to glow with fire and ice, a look that could kill. He rushes down the ravine wall, this time Bruce doesn't try to stop him. He merely follows his son down. Jean Paul looks relieved to see them for a moment. He says, " Please help me I don't know how I got here!" I'm so cold! What am I doing here at the scene of a car accident? What are you doing here? How did I get these burns? On my hands and, arms even some on my chest "He also has some on his face that he can't see. " Liar you know what you're doing here! You somehow caused my wife's car to crash! Were you kidnapping her?! You wanted her for yourself. You said so last night, or were you just going to kill her!? If you can't have her, no one can! Is that how it is my friend?" Bruce tries to hold Dick back Even he's not sure what Dick will do in his current emotional state. Dick hits his dad throwing him to the floor and dazing him. On the other side of the world a woman wakes up in a strange bed in a strange room. She opens her eyes and one with white lace curtains. The bedposts are carved elaborately. The floors seem to be made of the finest marble. There is the lingering smell of incense. It reminds her of the Catholic Church she attended as a child. It would be calming if she didn't have a nagging feeling something was wrong. Finally she looks down at the way looks around as well as her blurry vision will allow. The room looks like a palace from 1001 Arabian nights. It's full of rich tapestries, china vases with exotic flowers. The curtains seem to be made of the finest silk. The bed sheets are the same material. She can feel the silkiness under her head on the pillowcase. Her arms feel too heavy to move.
The bed is a beautiful mahogany she's dressed, in Arabian Garb and says, " Did I miss my own wedding and go straight to the honeymoon or is this some kind Bachorette prank of yours, Barbara, Elaine? What's happening? I think I must have drunk something really strong that I don't remember? If this is a prank please let me go now! I've got to get ready!" A voice just outside the door says, "I assure you this is no prank. You'll never have to see those people again and you won't be marrying the Gypsy Boy, Christina"