Chapter 11

Jason's POV

I quietly entered the Batcave as I prayed that Dick wouldn't be home. I cautiously crept towards the case displaying my old costume. Batman's biggest failure; me. I laid my hand against the glass and stared at the red and green stained with blood. My blood.

He never cared. He never avenged me. He left me to die. He never loved me. I was never his son.

I balled up my fists before launching the into the glass case. I gripped the bloodstained fabric and removed the costume from the case before sliding it into my jacket.

"Looks like you figured it out."

I froze as an unfamiliar voice behind me called out. Cautiously, I turned to find my older brother in the clutches of a skull. Dick's hands were tied behind his back and a strip of fabric was fastened tightly over his mouth as the skull held his bicep in a death grip. A gun rested against Dick's temple.

"Let. Him. Go." I growled in a deadly voice, reaching for my gun. To my surprise, I was unarmed.

Okay, keep calm. Don't panic. They're not going to kill your brother. They want him for something. If they were going to kill him, he'd already be dead.

"You don't give the orders. Now, keep your hands where I can see them or pretty boy gets a bullet in the head." The skull barked.

I laughed as I crossed my arms. "Go ahead." I replied as Dick's eyes grew wide.

"I'll kill him!" the skull threatened, pressing his gun harder against Dick's flesh.

"Go ahead. Kill him. I'm sure your master won't be pissed once he finds out you disobeyed an order. But, we both know you won't do it. You were ordered not to kill him, so you may as well let him go." I smirked, while edging closer to them. "Why are you even here?"

"A change of plans. I was ordered here to give you your next clue. But, the Gypsy and the brat got in the way."

"Where's Damian?" I demanded as he laughed.

"I wouldn't worry about the kid." He mocked. "Your next destination is your grave." He gleefully replied as I paled.

My grave. My grave? I… I thought they would have made me relive my death. And what did they do with Damian?

"And what are you going to do to him?" I asked, nodding at Dick, who looked extremely confused.

"It is not for me to decide. But, I can promise you that it will not be pleasant and that you will never see him alive again." He replies, only to have an arrow penetrate his mask and enter his forehead.

What the fuck! Where did that come from?

"Grayson!" Damian screams from behind me as he hurries towards Dick. I can see a crossbow strapped to the kid's back as he unties our brother. Who gave him a weapon?

"Jason, what's going on? Who are they? Where's Timmy?" Dick asks, fear present in his eyes.

"I can't tell you." I respond.

"This isn't funny. Damian and I were attacked. Someone knew how to get into the cave. Someone knows who we are. I want to know where Tim is. Now." He threatens.

"Something happened. I'll explain everything later. I promise. Tim's gonna be fine."

He moves to block my exit. "You are going to tell me now."

"Dick, you have to trust me. I'll explain everything later. I promise, but I have to go. They have Tim." I plead.

"Grayson, I suggest we torture the information from him." Damian adds as Dick rolls his eyes.

"I'm going with you." Dick responds as I shake my head.

"No. They'll kill Tim if I don't play their game alone. You're just going to have to trust me. I'll explain everything later. Just don't leave the cave and stay somewhere safe. I have to go alone! I'm running out of time!"

Damian shook his head as his eyes narrowed at me. "I don't trust him."

"But, I do… Jason, please be careful." Dick pleaded as he moved out of the way.

"I will." I promised before leaving.

I grimaced as I exited the cave. My grave. One of my worst memories. This is something I don't want to relive.

Dick's POV

I allowed Jason to leave. I have a bad feeling about this. I had lost my little brother once. I don't want to lose him again.

I bent down to examine the dead body on the ground. The bright red skeletal mask, combat gear, and skull tattoo.

"His name was Joseph Sandler, an inmate at Blackgate." Damian said as he handed me the man's file. "Grayson, who are they?"

"I don't know. I've never seen them in Gotham before. I've never heard of them. It's almost as if they've appeared out of nowhere."

"What do they want with Todd?"

"I don't know. It's almost like an obsession… Damian, do you notice something funny about the man's tattoo?"

"It's been added recently." He responded.

"True and it matches the one on Jason perfectly. It's the same location, size, shape, and color. The weird thing is that Jason's never been in to body ink and the tattoo is new. Yet, he acts as if it's been there for years. And someone is using the people Jason cares about against him. They know Jason's life. Something's wrong and I intend to find out what." I replied, standing up.

"Where are you going?" Damian calls before following me.

"To call Bruce."

I need or father's help. Nothing makes sense. The only thing I know for sure is that someone messed with the wrong family. Someone hurt Jason, kidnapped Timmy, and threatened Damian. This is going to stop. Now.

No one hurts my family. No one.