Warning: This chapter involves torture.

Chapter 9

Bruised and a little bloodied, Robin finds himself exactly where he didn't want to be. When the thugs had tried to move him toward the chains, Robin had fought and fought hard. But with the whip tangling his legs, Robin wasn't able to break away from all of the men. Though the thugs had to work for it, Robin, in the end, found himself bound by the chains.

Now he hangs from the ceiling, with all of his weight supported by his shoulder, while his ankles are bound in chains to the floor. He can feels his muscles tightening up in his shoulder and he knows that unless he gets a chance to relax them, he's going to have some major muscle spasms soon.

Listening to the men talking behind him, Robin has long gotten over his shock of meeting the child killer. The dark haired killer had a calming air about him that truly worried Robin. The Boy Wonder would feel much better if the killer was ranting and raving. Instead, Holdsworth calmly spoke to his men while occasionally cracking his whip in the air.

Attempting some of the breathing exercises that Batman had taught him, Robin tries to calm himself down and think through his situation. Just as he's almost focused and calm, Robin hears a loud crack and pain ripples down his back. Crying out, Robin jerks in the chains that hold him.

"I see that you are still with us," says Holdsworth calmly, as he steps from behind Robin and walks around to face him.

"What the hell do you want?" demands Robin.

"Your death," replies the killer, cocking his head.

"Why?" demands Robin, hoping to buy himself time by keeping Holdsworth talking.

"Why not?" asks Holdsworth in return, before continuing on his walk around Robin.

Stopping directly behind Robin, Holdsworth raises the whip and lashes Robin's back again.

Prepared this time, Robin doesn't cry out as he feels the whip slash at his flesh. Biting the inside of his lip, Robin quickly draws blood. Lash after lash rains down on Robin's back. Closing his eyes against the pain, Robin tries to fall into himself. Seconds become minutes and minutes hours as the whip continues to work its damage on the Boy Wonder.

Finally, the whipping stops. Raising his head from where it had fallen, Robin breathes deeply as he feels something warm and wet run down his back. Opening his eyes, Robin stares down on the face of his tormentor.

"Why?" whispers Robin, not find the strength to speak louder.

Smiling, Holdsworth says nothing.