Austin woke up and looked at his surroundings. He was in some sort of warehouse. It was odd. He looked up and saw two sofas. Between them was a coffee table. Something caught his eye the most. There was a beat up cell phone laying on the coffee table. It was Payton's. Austin closed his eyes. He blinked them open and closed for about two minutes. Where the hell was he?
A door slammed shut from the back hallway. He quickly sat up straight. Out of the hallway stepped Logan. Logan walked to the area in front of Austin and took a seat on one of the sofas. " Where did you tell Payton to go?" Logan asked.
" What?" Austin asked, confused. " I didn't tell her to go anywhere."
" You helped her get away!" Logan yelled. " Did you tell her to go get help?"
" I told her to go home." Austin answered.
Logan smirked at him. " you are in so much trouble, Austin. And I told you. I was coming after you first."
" You're just mad that Payton will never love you!" Austin screamed. He took in a deep breath. Logan stood up and put himself inches away from Austin's face. " Hate to break it to you, but she'll never love you either." Logan whispered.
Austin sighed. He knew it was true. " That's because of Galen." He replied.
Logan looked at the floor. " She still with that guy?"
Austin nodded. " Two years now."
Another door in the hallway slammed open. Austin felt chills run down his spine when the Joker appeared at the end of the hallway. He was looking straight at Austin. He flicked open one of his blades and knelt down to eye level with him. " What do you... want?" Austin asked, shivering.
" I want you.... to tell me everything you know about our good little friend, Payton."
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The thought struck me just as I turned onto the road that Wayne Manor was on. What was I actually accomplishing by running away? Surely I would pay for it later, right? Or would he just blow me off. Oh well she's gone, move on to someone else. Would the Joker actually do that? Or would he keep coming after her? My bet was the second one.
I pulled up in the long driveway. I threw open the car door and ran up the cement steps as fast as I could. There were two lights on, so someone had to still be awake. I clenched my hands into fists and banged on the door. I didn't even check to see if it was locked. It usually was. Uncle Bruce was always afraid someone would try and hurt us.
The door opened slowly and threw my arms around the first person I saw. Alfred. I squeezed my eyes shut and felt him hugging me back. I opened my eyes to se a nervous Bruce running into the front doorway. " Payton!" He smiled slightly, but still looked worried.
I pulled away from Alfred and ran to Bruce. He wrapped his arms around me tightly and I could feel the warm tears tickling my cheeks. " Oh my gosh, Uncle Bruce. I am so sorry." I couldn't help, but pour my soul out here.
" No Payton. You didn't do anything wrong." He whispered softly. I wasn't trying to make him feel bad. I just didn't know what to say. " I should've been more careful." I whispered back.
" This is all my fault. I don't want you blaming yourself." Bruce replied. He pulled away and gripped either side of my arms. He looked down at me and smiled. Then he gave me a confused look. " How did you get here?"
I shrugged. " Well... I ran away. Joker was really pissed, so yeah. But i kinda just... took off. I made a run for it and actually got away. I ran into Austin and he gave me his car."
Bruce eyed me suspicously. " Where is Austin?"
" He said that he'd take a cab. No big deal." I slid from his gentle grip and walked past him. I headed for the staircase. " Is Mel home?" I asked before stepping up on the first step.
" Yeah." He answered, while scratching his head.
His answer made me run up the stairs, skipping as many as I could. " Melanie!" It felt so weird saying her name. I was so used to saying it and I go one day without her and everything seems... weird. The last door on the left was shut. She was probably sleeping. " Melanie!" A huge smile was spread across my face. I couldn't wait to see her. I turned the cold brass knob and pushed open the door.
My smile faded instantly when a Joker card was laying on her bed.