With no clock in the room or any windows, there was no way to tell time. More than half of the notepad was gone, especially since there was no way to erase your mistakes with a pen-I had resorted to poetry and lyrics after my 4th attempt of sketching a decent person got smudged with no help from the tubes in my arm. Thirst crept into my throat while lines formed on the small paper but I had no intention of calling any of the bat family. I mean they fight 50 men at once and are smart enough to surpass an Oxford student so why would they stoop down to bringing me food and entertaining me with a game or something? How could I make them? My life is in their hands, whether I was in a hospital bed or not.
The sound of the door sliding open made me jump as I whipped my head towards it. There in only pants and his mask was Nightwing rushing through the door as well as a kid in joggers with a muscle shirt putting on his mask. They froze once their eyes landed on me, they were panting and sweating. Were they training or just ran a long way? It was then that I realized that the constant beeping had turn to a flatline since the detector was slipping off my finger. The kid made an annoyed sound as Nightwing walked over to me and grabbed my hand. He took the detector off as he chuckled, ¨You can go now Robin, I´ll take over from here. Our session was ending anyways.¨ I watched as Robin left and Nightwing pressed random buttons on the monitors and computers.
¨You scared us, you know.¨ he didn't look up. I shrugged and continued writing, ¨My bad, I didn't notice my heart stopped. Do you have another note pad?¨ The small note pad now had only a few pieces of papers left and I had no idea when I was able to leave. ¨I've noticed that you might need a new one. You've probably been bored for the past two hours.¨
¨Two hours?¨
¨Yes. I should probably get you a clock.¨ he finally turned to me. His hands reached for my arms and I pulled it away as he touched the needles submerged in my skin. ¨I won't hurt you.¨ he tried again for the same reaction. He apologized and firmly took hold of my arm. With no way of escape, I grimaced and shut my eyes as he slowly pulled out the objects. I could feel the tubes and needles move beneath my skin, this is why I never liked them. ¨I'm sorry but you don't need these anymore and I rather not have you be uncomfortable.¨ I opened my eyes when I felt him clean the areas with a cotton ball. ¨There, now you're free to go. Well move around the room. Sadly you're not allowed out.¨
¨Why?¨ I caressed my arm as he cleaned the area and tools. ¨Just stay in here for now. I know it must be boring but it'll have to do.¨ he threw the trash away and went to the door once more, then stood sideways to be able to see me. ¨You're probably hungry so let me go changed and get you some food,¨ he turned his head as he punched in a pattern into a keypad next to the door. I recorded the pattern as he explained how he would be back in 10 minutes and left. I got up and went to the bathroom, washed my face, and looked in the mirror. My chocolate eyes, they turned hazel. Never with my eyes had this happened. I shook my head and ran to the door. I gave him enough time to be far away. I pressed the pattern from the notepad onto the pad on the wall and the door slid open. Like crossing the street, I glanced both ways to see the coast was clear. Was I insane? Was I really going to sneak around one of the Batman's facilities?
With a deep breath, my bare foot stepped in front of the door. Deciding to go right, a quickly walked to find a way out and not be caught. This place was huge, there was so many turns! It might have been dumb but I continued on straight. Soon the halls opened to a huge cave with different levels. The Batmobile was visible, computers were everywhere, and there was multiple elevators. In front the biggest computer was a kid, Robin. He was playing games on the screens when the eldest Wayne son popped onto the screen. I gasped as it showed him running down the hall, ¨Robin, Nichole escaped the room; stop playing games and help me find her!¨ Did this mean the man I had danced with was Nightwing? Glancing around the hall I was in, I made sure I was out of site of any cameras. Why was I getting anxious? Why did I have this sudden need to escape? My mind couldn't explain the answers to these questions plus my body was moving impulsively so it wouldn't even matter anyways. I sneaked another look at the computer from behind the hall wall, Robin was gone.
My legs ran towards the nearest elevator only to stop when the path was cut short. The level before continued all the way around so my hand gripped the railing. Taking a deep breath, my body had the great idea to jump to the next level. It wasn't far down, but it wasn't a jump any person would sanely make unless they were parkour experts. My bare feet touched the metal floor and push me forward into a roll. How was I doing this? The elevator was close and my feet dashed toward it. As I stepped in the metal tube, my brain racked for the most logical floor to go to. My index finger followed my eyes to a button that looked more worn out than the others. The heartbeat in my chest resonated through my ears, my anxiety did not leave as I paced in the elevator.
The doors opened and I slowly tip toed out. Cautiously, I took in my surroundings-I was in a hotel bedroom. My brain was gaining more control as I realised as I would get nowhere without suspicion if I go out in a nightgown. Raiding the closet I found men's clothes that were obviously too big for me. I put on black joggers and tightly knotted the strings which still didn't help with the slight sagging. I then put on one of the t shirts which was almost another dress on me. Knotting the excess shirt behind me, I sneaked into the main room. I quickly made my way to the front door after I was reassured that I was alone. Quietly, I turned the handle and pulled. Sticking my head out to make sure the coast was clear, my eyes landed on none other than the one and only Nightwing. Or should I say Richard? Actually, was there only one Nightwing? He was down the hall looking at his phone when he looked up. Both of us froze, my heart skipped a beat. ¨H-Hey!¨ he stuttered as he hurried towards me, I gasped and slam the door. I leaned against it, my heart racing again. It felt like it was going to jump out of my chest. A yelp came out of my mouth as I jumped when the door handle jiggled.
My eyes frantically looked to and fro and my legs were already sprinting to the back sliding doors. A beep entered my ears and the door opened, the closer I got the the glass door the more I could see a pool and the rest of the hotel. Suddenly I felt my body start to fall as the masked man tackled me. Grunts escaped both our mouths, ¨Calm down!" My mind wanted to listen but my body was acting on instinct and a racing heart. I pushed him off and sprinted back to the front door. He jumped over the couch and caught me as I tried to go around but my body continued to struggle to escape as he tried to restrain me. Eventually we fell backwards on the couch, another yelp escaping my mouth. He pinned me down and my mind was finally winning the battle for control as I laid there in shock, panting. As I stopped struggling, Nightwing's face went from serious to confused. ¨We're not here to hurt you. We want to make sure you're ok. Are you fine now?¨ I laid there silently as we stared into each other's eyes, my mind rebooting my body and it's functions, ¨I'll...take that as a yes.¨ A sigh escaped his lips as he helped me up and guided me by the arm back to the secret elevator.
¨You've probably seen everything but I'm still going to need to blindfold you, if that's ok?¨ he was already grabbing a bandana to cover my eyes with. He turned back to me, ¨Like I've told you before, you´re not a niño. You ask for permission too much, even though you're going to do it anyways.¨ His blue eyes widen and his mouth gaped before his expression went back to serious. My eyes closed before the bandana blinded me, my heart starting to jump again. His fingers were gentle, making sure not to pull my hair but still tying to knot to where it would not fall off. After he finish, he grabbed my hand instead of my arm and lightly tugged me to follow. My senses heighten-the room smelled of the ocean, the wind softly hit the windows, the beeps and sliding of metal was evident. He told me to watch my step as he pulled me forward. Cold tile became even colder metal. I wiggled my toes and I heard the door slide again. I grabbed onto the arm that connected to the hand holding mine as the elevator jolted before smoothly continuing down, I never noticed it did that. He placed his other hand on top of the one holding onto his arm, ¨Sorry, but don't worry. You'll be fine.¨ His grip tightened around my hands as the elevator jolted again before the sound of sliding metal resounded once more.
He guided me down halls back to my room, he must of got off at the right floor or avoided the stairs. Once back in my room, he untied the blindfold. My eyes open as the cover fell and adjusted to the light before turning to the door as the rest of the Wayne family came in with their hero suits. ¨Nightwing, what happened?¨ Batman's deep voice was intimidating. All three of the heros went to the side and whispered to each other with occasional glances to me. Batman and Nightwing had their back to me as Robin faced me. Their conversation seemed to die as the youngest began to just stare at me. His face turned to slight confusion before he spoke at the end of the conversation, ¨Are those your clothes?¨ Both of the older men turn to me. The Dark Knight and Boy Wonder stared at Nightwing as his surprised face was dusted with pink. When he looked away I glanced down at my outfit-nothing fit, it basically looked like I just finished having a one night stand and didn't want to put on my own clothes the next morning.
¨Sit down, we have some things we have to talk about,¨ Batman´s deep voice was extremely intimidating. I decided to sit cross legged on the bed as Batman took a few steps to stand in front of me, ¨How much did you see?¨ He was obviously referencing to when I ran away from my room. ¨I didn't see a lot,¨ his face seemed to become more serious even with his mask on, ¨I swear...I saw the cave and computers. Then I saw the elevator and hotel room, I'm pretty sure I know where I am in the city but not what hotel.¨ Now it was the youngest to become more serious as Batman began press buttons on his forearm, hopefully he believed me. I stayed calm and made sure not to give anything away in my face so they won't be suspicious. A holographic screen popped up, ¨Do you know what this is?¨
I glanced between the picture glowing in front of me and the Bat´s mask. ¨It's a double helix. It looks like it has a plasmid or something that is changing the genome,¨ I had a ping of pride as the Bat family showed expressions of surprise and impressed. I was thankful that the school I attended had advanced science classes that I was taking. ¨Close. This is your DNA,¨ my pride disappeared as it felt like my heart fell into a pit, ¨the changes you see in the genome is the effects of the Joker's serum. It seems to be mutating your DNA to be similar to an animal. Why? We have no idea but we're going to try and find out as well as find a cure.¨ My eyes never left the DNA holograph. I heard them call my name but my brain was blank. Suddenly Nightwing jerked me to look at him with a stern face which turn to fear. I couldn't blink as I stared into his paranoid blue irises. His lips moved but I couldn't hear his words anymore. My DNA was being mutated as we spoke. It was changing me into an animal. The slight change in color of my iris, being able to jump down a floor, the growling-it started to make sense now. I was going to become an animal and it already started.
