We have been talking about psychological disorders and several serial killers in my AP psych class. I don't know why, but I wrote this chapter after having to write a physiological analysis about Andrea Yates. For those of you who don't know who she is, she basically murdered her five young children (ages 6 months-seven years), by drowning them… (Apparently, she was diagnosed with several disorders and wasn't on her medication.) I just cannot even imagine how anyone could kill their own children… It's very sad and very tragic. My paper kinda put me in a depressed mood and whatever mood I'm in, reflects on whatever I write.
Chapter 66: Going Under
Tim's POV
Dick's dancing with Barbara. Jason's smoking discreetly out on the balcony, while hiding from Colin's sister. Bruce is the center of attention as always. Damian is with Colin playing in the chocolate fountain. Great. I have no one to talk to.
I stood in the corner of the room by the door. I really don't like going to the parties that Bruce gets invited to or hosts. All of the kids are snobby except for Stephanie. No one ever talks to me except for Stephanie. Then again, I really don't talk to anyone except for Stephanie. I'm still kinda shy. But, she isn't here. She's sick, unfortunately.
I started to yawn, only to have a hand cover my mouth and drag me out of the door. I tried to scream and started to struggle, but stopped when my attacker brought me over to a familiar woman.
Mother? I glanced up at my attacker. Father? It couldn't be real. Could it? My parents were dead. Jack and Janet Drake died in a plane crash four years ago. Didn't they? But yet, they were here in front of me.
She looks older. Her blonde hair, held streaks of gray. Wrinkles and crow's feet adorned her once beautiful face. Her baby blue eyes looked tired. She looked like she has aged twenty years instead of by just four years. A cheap dress is draped across her thin and skeleton like body. He looks older too. His coal black hair is now completely gray. His deep blue eyes hold a hidden darkness. Wrinkles adorn his face. A cheap and stained suit is what clothed him.
"Quiet Timothy! You are not to scream. Understand?" the cold and harsh voice of my mother ordered as I nodded. My father soon withdrew his hand from my mouth.
"I… I thought-" I began before my parents' harsh stares bore right through me, silencing me.
"Have you forgotten that you will not speak unless spoken to? Or should we remind you of the consequences of disobeying an order?" My father growled before turning to my mother.
I shook my head as fear suddenly entered my body. I didn't want to be punished; I didn't want to be hit. Children are to be seen and not heard. Ever. Because, children are bad. Children are a terrible burden. I am a burden. I am bad. I am unwanted. Bad children are always unwanted and unloved. I… No. No! I am not bad. Dick said that I had a voice and to use it. Jason says that I am not a burden. Alfred says I'm good. And Bruce wants me. He adopted me. Damian… is my brother. And they love me.
Twisting from my father's grip, I backed away from them. "I want to know what happened… Or else I'll scream." I threatened, while keeping a safe distance from them.
They swapped glances before she bent down to my level. "Timothy… darling, we will explain everything. I promise. But we need to go. Right now." The cold and heartless voice ordered in what was assumed to be a gentler tone.
"Why?" I questioned.
They both looked taken back by my question. Never question them. They are always right. Always… No! Bruce says questions are permitted.
"Timothy, come here. We are leaving now." My father demanded harshly.
I obeyed his command and stepped forward. Do as you are told. No matter what. Only bad children disobey. And bad children are meant to be punished.
********Break********
Damian's POV
Grayson's arms draped over my shoulders. His hands clenched at my arms, almost as if I was to be taken away next. Todd stood beside us, biting his lip and constantly opening and closing his palms. Father spoke with the Commissioner about Drake. They are upset, nervous, and afraid of losing Drake. I share their fear on the inside.
I shivered as Grayson released his death grip and stride over to Father. Todd took a step closer to me. I then felt, my phone vibrate. Pulling my phone out, I noticed I had received an emergency alert. I soon felt Todd's eyes staring at my phone.
"What's that?" he whispered.
"It's an emergency alert that allows me to monitor all of my future inheritances and properties. There's been a break-in at-"
"Where?" he interrupted.
"Drake Manor." I replied.
I could see the gears in his mind rotating faster. That is never a good sign. Todd is thinking again.
"I'll be right back, cover for me." He replied.
*******Break*******
Tim's POV
I followed my parents to the door of their mansion. I've always hated the place. It's filled with painful and sad memories. I don't want to be here. No one has set foot in this house in four years. Father cut the lock from the doors and we stepped inside.
Meekly, I demanded, "I want to know what happened."
Their unforgiving and cruel eyes glared at me for speaking out of term. I felt about two inches tall. I am bad. I am unwanted.
My father suddenly reached out and seized my arm. He then proceeded to drag me up the staircase, until we reached my old room. I was now shaking with fear. I am going to be punished.
********Break********
Jason's POV
I approached Drake Manor cautiously. While heading towards the entrance, I heard a sniffle come from a window above me. Slipping my jacket and tie off, I started to scale the side of the manor. Peering into the window, I could see Tim curled up on a bare mattress, silently crying his eyes out. He had changed clothes; now he wore jeans, high tops, and a wrinkled T-shirt. Wrinkles were something he couldn't stand. Silently pulling the window open, I stepped inside the room.
"Tim?" I called out softly, while approaching my OCD little brother. I laid my hand on his shoulder. He flinched at my touch and pulled himself into a smaller ball, while trembling in fear. I then noticed a tiny part of his back from where the T-shirt wasn't covering. His skin was blue and purple. "What did they do to you?" I mumbled, taking a seat beside him on the bed.
"Babybird, it's me, Jay." I whispered and slowly lifted his shirt as he whimpered. Anger flooded my emotions when I noticed the bruises covering his back, side, and parts of his stomach. I am going to kill whoever hurt him. Slowly and painfully. "Don't cry, Babybird. It's gonna be okay. I'm gonna take you home." I whispered, before the sound of a pistol's safety being taken off was heard.
After slipping a tracker into Tim's back pocket, I leapt up and turned to find Jack Drake and Janet Drake behind me as the door opened. The bitch had a gun pointed directly at me.
But, I thought they died. Didn't they? The bitch motioned with the gun towards the wall; giving me my cue to move.
"Timothy! Come here, now!" the bastard ordered.
I watched helplessly from the wall as Tim slowly uncurled his frame and slid from the bed. He trembled as he moved towards them.
I am going to kill them.
********Break*******
Damian's POV
I glanced at my watch. It's been a little over an hour. Todd isn't back yet. The fool's probably gotten himself into trouble again. I slowly approached Father, Grayson, and the commissioner.
Grayson quickly drew me to his side. "Where's Jason, he's supposed to be watching you?" he asked.
"Well… he left. I think he's in peril." I replied, quietly.
"Where did he go?" Father asked, his voice rising in anger.
********Break********
Jason's POV
I pulled futilely at the restraints binding my wrists to my ankles. How in the freaking hell did freaking Jack Drake learn to freaking hogtie people? I gave a frustrated sigh into the cloth covering my mouth. This is my fault. I left Tim alone at the party. I let them take him. I let him get hurt.
Footsteps outside of the door froze my thoughts. I watched at the door handle turned slowly and a light was shined into my face as the door was forced open. I relaxed slightly when I recognized the man holding the flashlight.
"Are you alright, son?" Commissioner Gordon asked, while slicing through my restraints.
"Yeah. I'm okay… Thanks." I replied as he helped me into a sitting position on the mattress and ordered me to take it easy before an officer entered the room.
"Sir, the place is empty." The officer reported.
"I thought so. Bring Wayne up here." Gordon ordered before turning to me. "Can you tell me what happened? Can you tell me who did this to you? Did you see Timothy?"
"Jason!"
Before I could answer, Bruce entered the room looking extremely pissed and relieved at me as he moved towards me. "Are you hurt?" he asked, examining me for injuries.
"No." I replied.
"What happened?" Bruce questioned.
"Jack and Janet Drake… They hurt Tim." I growled.
"That can't be right. The Drakes are dead." The commissioner replied.
"Well, apparently nobody told them!" I snapped.
********Break********
Tim's POV
I sat quietly and didn't move, while Mother and Father bent over some documents and spoke quietly. I have to be perfectly still. Good children don't move and don't cause trouble. I barely breathed as I stared at the floor from my corner in the tiny rundown motel room.
It is rude to stare. And I have already been bad today. I deserved the beating. I should not have spoken out of term. I am a bad boy... And I cried. Crying is a disturbance. And then I allowed Jason to-
Jason. My brother. He was going to take me home... Home. Home is where he, Alfred, Bruce, Dick, and Damian are. But, what if they had hurt Jason? I want to go home. I want my real family.
Allowing my eyes to leave the floor, I gazed at my parents. "Why did you take me?" I whispered.
Harsh eyes met mine. But, I didn't look away. "Why did you take me from my family?" I repeated a little louder.
"Timothy, how dare you continue to dishonor us! Thou shalt obey thy parents! You will do as you are told and obey your family!" my mother roared.
"You are not my family." I coldly replied.
********Break********
Bruce's POV
"Bruce, you'll have to wait here." Jim ordered as his men lined up around the motel.
"Jim, my baby is in there!"
"It's a safety precaution, I'm sorry."
Damn it! Damn the police! This is why I don't get them involved! I could have already brought him home, if it weren't for these people!
"No! Don't! Please! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Tim's voice screamed from inside of the room.
My baby! Screw the police! I'm not waiting on anyone!
Shoving "Gotham's finest" out of my way, I burst through the door of the ragged motel. My heart practically stopped. Jack and Janet Drake held my struggling baby's head under the water. They were trying to drown my child… their own son in the bathtub of a cheap motel?
"Take your hands off my baby!"
********Break*******
Tim sat still and didn't move as the medics examined him. A towel hung loosely around his shoulders as I stood beside them. He had not uttered a single word. He refused to make eye contact with me or with anyone.
I was pulled aside by the medical examiner after he finished. "He has some nasty bruises on him, but they'll heal. Physically the boy is fine, but mentally… not so much. He appears to be in shock-"
No shit! He was almost murdered by his own parents!
"I suppose it would be alright if you took him home now. He wasn't kept under the water for very long. He should be back to normal in a few days." The dumbass finished.
"Thank you." I replied before moving back over to Tim. "Tim, you ready to go home?"
He didn't even look up. He gave no sign of a response. He flinched as my hand came into contact with his shoulder. He sat perfectly still, keeping his head bowed as I carried him to the car.
********Break*******
Dick's POV
"Hey Timmy. What are you doing?" I asked as he sat perfectly still in a corner of his room.
Nothing. It's been four days and not one word has been said.
"Timmy?" I spoke softly as I took a seat on the carpet directly in front of him.
He recoiled as I reached for him. Oh Timmy, what did they do to you?
********Break*******
Jason's POV
"Babybird, I bought you a Lego set… You know, you used to like building stuff." I said, while setting the box down in front of his unmoving body.
"Tim?"
No response. Nothing.
"Babybird, please. Say something. We need you back, Tim. Please." I pleaded, reaching out to him as he recoiled from me.
********Break*******
Bruce's POV
"Alfred, I don't know what to do. Tim, he…" I trailed off.
"Time. I believe the lad needs time. He has been through a terrible ordeal. He needs his family now more than ever." Alfred replied as he laid his hand down on my shoulder.
"I suppose you're-" I began before Vicky Vale grabbed my attention.
"Jack and Janet Drake were found dead this morning in Blackgate Prison. The two faked their deaths in a plane crash almost four years ago. The two are believed to be responsible in the deadly crash hat claimed the lives of every passenger on the flight. The two had been suspected of transporting allegedly stolen artifacts-"
Dead? Who killed them? It couldn't have been Jason. He was patrolling with me last night at the time of death. Then who could have enough power to order an attack inside two isolated prison cells?
********Break*******
Damian's POV
I flung Drake's door open and locked it behind me. I turned to find him sniveling in the corner. I have had enough. I want the old Drake back.
I latched onto his shirt and dragged his deadweight over to the TV in his room and turned the wretched news on and forced him to watch the annoying woman.
"They're dead! They can't hurt you anymore! I need you! You have to snap out of it!" I screamed as he refused to meet my eyes.
Out of anger and fear, I slapped him before gripping his shoulders and forcing our eyes to meet.
"Please! I need you! You can't let them control you anymore! They are not your family! We are! They never loved you! We love you! They hurt you! We'd never hurt you!" I yelled as his empty eyes met mine.
Tears rolled down my face as I tightened my arms around him.
"Please. We need you… I need you! I want my big brother back." I sobbed.
I nearly choked on my tears as I felt his arms wrap themselves around me.
"I love you too, Damian." He whispered.
********Break*********
Tim's POV
"Tim, are you sure you want to do this?" Bruce asked as I nodded.
"I am."
Together, we walked to the graves of Jack and Janet Drake. Together, we looked down at their graves. They're gone. They can't hurt me anymore.
"You okay?" Bruce asked as I looked up at him and nodded.
"Daddy?"
"Hmm?"
I took a deep breath before launching myself into his arms. "Thank you for loving me."
To ObviousRebel, ann b-010, DD , Guess Who, and S.I, I'll see what I can do for your requests.
To GhostintheSystem, someone finally understands the Ben Affleck reference! Yay!
To ObviousRebel, on the cruise ship, you get a card that contains all of your information that you have to scan before you buy or do anything. That's how they knew Jason's age. My younger sister and I actually went ziplining, but she's sixteen and she needed an adult's signature, so I just pretended that I was her mother and it actually worked for us.
Thanks for all the reviews and comments!