DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the Teen Titans characters, or the DC Comic Characters. Nor any of the brand names found in this story!
Summary: Kori Anders, news reporter, has seen a lot in her time. With the recent killing of civilians, Kori is putting away her papers, and testing out her investigation skills. Not only worrying about becoming the next target, she is worrying about her old flame Richard Grayson who seems to be appearing a lot more often, especially when she is with billionaire and rival to Bruce Wayne, Slade Wilson. Who is killing the people and will Kori be next? Oh, and who is Nightwing?
Dedication: In honor of my twentieth chapter I want to dedicate this chapter to noradiana who happened to give me my 20th review. She has always been a great support and also a great writer!
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Twenty
"Aw, come on now, shush. Quiet down and don't struggle." His chuckle sent chills all over her body. His eerie laugh made her realize how easy a position he was in to do anything he wanted to her.
Kori moved her arms back and forth she tried to get them lose. Her head turned back and forth and she tried ducking. She was avoiding the red x that was approaching her. A scream escaped her lips which surprised them both. Kori had managed to find a voice. Maybe she could call for help?
"Help!" The sound echoed against the walls and the stranger once again laughed.
"Now don't tell me you think that would work?" Her silence told him everything and he took that moment to press the red tape firmly to her lips forbidding her to talk. She struggled again and her screams were muffled by the tape. The ropes kept her firmly in place. She eventually gave up. Her head fell down. She was going to exhaust herself if she continued. She knew better then to do that.
"Kori, cutie, I would hate to hurt a pretty little face like you."
She felt the rubber from his black glove make contact to her chin. The rubber was cold, her heart was racing, and his face was hidden behind the mask. Gently he lifted her chin to meet his face. He could see the fear in her eyes and that gave him a sense of adrenaline.
"It's a good thing you stopped struggling. I wouldn't want to have to hurt you." She wished she could hear his voice, to hear the person who hid in fear behind the mask. His voice was hidden, sounding unhuman and almost robotic.
She gave him one longing last stare. Her green eyes that once shined were now tired and defeated. She ripped her chin away from his grasp. Kori preferred to stare at the cold lifeless ground rather than the face of a possible killer, her possible executer.
"Don't fret too much, cutie. It will all be over soon." Red X disappeared in the shadows leaving Kori to wallow in her own tears.
- - - - - - -
"Gar, it's almost eleven. I haven't seen Kori or Richard all night. I'm kind of worried." Standing to the side of the party, Gar and Rachel drank together. His arm was firmly around her waist.
"I know, trust me I know. Look, we'll look for them in a little bit. If they don't show up that is." His arm left from around her hip and their hands found each other. She gripped on to his hand in support and love. He knew she was worried about their friends; he was as well, but tried to show no emotion and keep a positive atmosphere.
The Christmas music gave an illusion to the night like everything was a dream. "Rachel, do you want to dance?" Gar's goofy smile appeared.
Rachel nodded her head, a small smile playing on her lips. They set their drink down on a table full of Christmas goodies. Gar pulled Rachel out onto the dance floor. Her hands wrapped around his shoulder, his hands around her waist. They swayed to the sound of music, both in deep thought. Where were there friends and why did Rachel had a gut feeling that something was terribly wrong?
- - - - - - -
"Excuse me will you?" Slade stepped away from a fellow business associate. A grin was on his face which was quickly followed by a grimace after getting away from the annoying man.
He walked with confidence as people around him commented on how the party was. He knew the only thing they were enjoying was their free liquor and a chance to dress up and make a higher reputation for themselves. Slade couldn't care the least bit. His guests were the last thing on his mind. He didn't care for their mindless chit chat about how Kori Anders humiliated him, or even how fine his wine was. Nothing was important at that moment except the task at hand.
"Wilson." Slade stared down at a pair of black leather shoes. He trailed his vision upwards to see Bruce in a nice tailored tux. Two girls giggled behind him, a blonde and a brunette. He was still the typical playboy. A glass of wine was in his hand.
"Wayne, glad you could make it." The roll of his eyes showed his sarcasm. "Look you made friends as well. Maybe they'll be there to comfort you when Wayne Enterprise falls to the ground."
"I'm not here to talk business. It's Christmas Eve." This was a surprising statement out of the workaholic's mouth.
"Then why did you happen to approach me on my way to freshen up, Bruce?" Slade raised a waxed eyebrow. He knew that Bruce always had tricks up his sleeve.
"I just wanted to know where your lovely date is. I wanted a chance to get a dance in with that beautiful girl." Bruce rose an eyebrow as well which put Slade to rest…only a little.
"You know how young women are, you've been with enough. She just wondered off."
"Did she now?" Slade had just noticed that Bruce was drinking out of his champagne flute.
"She did indeed. In fact I was just going to find her. Move it, Wayne." Slade pushed his way past Bruce.
In the distance was the hallway Slade had previously used to successfully lure Kori away from the party. His feet took him across the room and within seconds he was at the entrance to the dim hallway. He checked behind his back every now and then to make sure no one followed or looked at the host.
He found the familiar door which didn't lead to his basement but yet the room underneath of it. He began to walk down the narrow old steps. It was time to visit his latest victim, the stunning Kori Anders.
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"Excuse me, ladies. I need to go find the bathroom." Bruce gave one of his award winning grins to Sarah and Cindy. They couldn't help but smile back as well. They were dumbfounded by his sex appeal.
"No problem, Bruce." Cindy grabbed his arm softly in a reassuring way.
"Just hurry up." Sarah winked. She grabbed a hold of his other arm.
He grinned to himself as he removed their arms and began to follow Slade. He watched as Slade went down the hallway, only turning around once to check if someone was following him. He went to the fifth door on the right side of the wall.
Reaching on top of the doorframe Slade grabbed a slender silver key. He used to key to turn the lock and once again turned around to see if he had any visitors. The sight was clear and he put the key back. Bruce could hear his footsteps as he walked down stairs.
When speaking to Slade he first talked about freshening up. By the end of the conversation he was going to find Kori? Something was definitely up. His point was proved by the way Slade sneaked around his own house. He even had a key to a door? What was so private?
"Dick would want to know this." Bruce muttered.
Walking out of the hallway, he avoided the area Cindy and Sarah were. He went to the outside balcony where he had told Richard before the news about Kori. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed Richard's number. He picked up on the first ring.
"I think I have some information on where Slade is hiding Kori."
- - - - - - -
Dancing had made Rachel feel at ease. She could remember the days where she despised dancing. After a lesson with Gar though, she fell in love with the art. That's what it was to her, art. She loved to dance and had taken a few courses in ballet which grabbed her attention the most surprisingly. They hadn't stopped dancing since they first got onto the floor.
"Gar, let's take a break."
"Oh dance with me, Rae!" He pulled her back onto the floor before she even got off.
Rachel laughed despite being called the name she hated. She was twirled more by Gar and they fell into synch with the Christmas music once again. The people around them danced slower while Gar led a goofy dance. He was a clumsy dancer while Rachel was a perfectionist.
"Gar, I mean it. Let's take a break."
"Fine," Gar faked his whine and Rachel smiled.
"It's actually a bit hot I'm going out to the balcony it's less stuffy out there." Rachel grabbed a new drink as did Gar. They stood to the side and watched the entire group of people swirl like experts.
"Want any company?" Gar raised his eyebrows up and down in a perverse way.
"Actually, I need to be alone for a minute," Rachel spoke slowly. She saw Gar's small frown and smiled rolling her eyes a bit. Grabbing his arm she spoke, "We have all the time in the world tonight."
"Well, then by all means necessary hurry up and get outside. I would prefer you to be hot later." Gar winked.
"Who knows maybe I'll be cold and bundled up in blankets all night long and just fall right asleep."
"Don't speak that way ever again." Gar sounded like he was joking, but was completely serious.
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Footsteps echoed in the room. Kori blinked her eyes a few times. She wished to rub them, try to rub away the tired she was feeling. Her back was turned to the stairs so she couldn't see who was behind her. She swallowed hoping it was someone to save her; of course she couldn't have that luck.
Ever since waking up earlier, Kori had tried to concentrate. Her memory was fuzzy. She couldn't remember how she had been brought down here, or even who took her here. The last thing she remembered was Slade twirling her on the floor while dancing…
"Red X, report." The voice was deep, commanding, and also familiar?
Kori kept her eyes to the ground as she heard footsteps approach her. The shoes of Red X walked past her and to the stairs. They talked in hushed voices. Kori's mind was still foggy from the chemicals of the cloth that was used to knock her out.
"Ms. Anders, I hope you are enjoying this evening. I'm afraid shortly we'll be moving to a new location."
There was silence except for the water that continued to drip. Kori had lost count out thirty two. Her mouth felt numb and her entire body ached to be moved. Footsteps continued down the stairs until the sound was no longer there. She heard the scuffling of feet on the dirty floor.
"Such a waste of a beautiful girl," she could almost hear the grin in his sick face. "You have been helpful though, a perfect lure to capture the hero. Ah, but you aren't just bait. Oh no, you seem to cause your own trouble as well as Nightwing. Investigating me aren't you? Trying to figure out the 'S' murderer is.
"I'll take your silence as a yes. I'm surprised you haven't figured out yet, Kori. I thought you were better than that, smarter than that. No surprise though that you do deceive a lot." He was behind her now, voice whispering in her ear. There was something about his voice, something that made her think.
"X, I think I would like to hear our guest speak. Take the tape off."
"Yes, sir." She saw the familiar outfit of black and Kori braced herself. Counting in her head she waited for the painful rip of tape. It came at two.
Her lips ached and she felt as if the skin on her lips had been ripped off. She could imagine a red x mark on her face where her mouth was. Kori licked her lips, not once, but multiple times. They were numb, she couldn't even feel her tongue outlining it.
"Now, Kori, have anything to say?"
"Help!" She managed to find her voice again and screamed as load as possible. She saw Red X standing in front of her nod back to other man and he ran over and shut her mouth with his hand.
"Ah!" Red X roared. He shook his hand out. He gave a hard stare at Kori before raising his hand. It hit her cheek with such strength the room seemed to echo with the sound of her small whimper.
"You will not touch her!" The voice of the man was stern and angry. She couldn't see his face but imagined him in a twisted form of rage.
"She bit me."
"Remember your orders!"
She heard fuming footsteps stomp and a drawer being opened. She didn't even know there were any pieces of furniture in here that had drawers. She heard shuffling and items clinking. Eventually the drawer was shut closed in haste and a moment paused before another man stepped before her eyes.
Coming up to Red X the man pushed him into the wall. The man was dressed in a familiar looking tuxedo, but she couldn't distinguish who the owner was. This man was obviously had access to the party upstairs. The suit was tailored. The man had a nice body. He was tall. His face was covered though. The black and orange mask hid the face. His body language was annoyed.
"I will never defy you again." Red X muttered as he was shoved against the wall. After being let go the new man came close to her. Something about the way he carried himself was familiar.
"Now, Kori, are you a good actress?"
Kori sat there dumbfounded. She felt wet tears drip down her cheek from the pain of the slap. She could imagine a large red mark forming on her face. She was silent to the man's request to an answer. Kori wanted to go home, she wanted to be safe, she never wanted anything like this to happen to her.
"I'll take that as a yes." The man nodded towards Red X who nodded back annoyed. Red X disappeared and she heard shuffling going on behind her. "Let's hope you aren't camera shy."
"You'll never get away with this." Kori muttered quietly. She tried to be brave, try to sound brave, at least to tell this man she wasn't afraid…and even try to convince herself she was. She sniffled once. She was calming down from the slap.
"Isn't that always what the damsel in distress says?" His laugh was haunting, echoing in her ears, burning into her memory.
Kori wasn't sure how to respond, she said the first thing that came to mind. "You don't scare me."
"Oh, but the things I have done will. You say this now, Ms. Anders, but the night is still young and I'm the one in control."
She stared at him; her eyes once again well up in tears after not blinking for awhile. Her attention was pulled away from the black and orange mask though, after hearing the sounds of something being put together. Kori focused on Red X who set up a camera in front of her. She looked around afraid of what was going to happen.
"What are you doing?" Kori looked to the man.
"Let's just say Nightwing will be getting a little video message from you," he cackled.
"It's set up." The gruff voice of Red X spoke.
"Excellent. Now I think we need to do some makeup."
The man came over to her and pulled a Swiss army knife out of his pocket. Frightened, Kori went stiff. The man bent down and brought the knife to her legs. Kori closed her eyes waiting for the blood to come. Instead she hurt ripping.
Opening her eyes, Kori found the dress she loved was being ripped mid thigh. The fabric fell to the floor soundlessly. The man stood again. He muttered something to Red X and looked back at Kori.
"I hope you can read cue cards Ms. Anders."
"What if I don't?"
"Well," the man walked behind the camera and passed the knife off to Red X. "That's why you have X there, he'll make sure you follow directions. I don't think you want any more pain from him right?"
Red X walked behind the chair. Kori shifted trying to find comfort. She heard a beep from the camera. Behind the camera, the man held up cue cards. She got a motion to start and when she didn't, she felt the knife press into her skin.
- - - - - - -
His lips were pressed in a tight line. He moved quickly like a hunter on the prowl. His mission was simple. He would go to rescue Kori. He planned to find out the killer as well and put that person under arrest.
He sped through the night on his specially designed high tech motorcycle. The night was dark, the air was freezing cold. Nightwing was warm though. His entire body heated in anger, ready to get whoever was hurting Kori.
Slade's mansion appeared in sight. He sped past it and made a quick left as the property ended. He parked his bike behind Slade's high gates. Getting off he locked the bike in place, no one could ever steal it.
Using his graveling hook, Nightwing crossed the iron gates. He landed in the back of property where the garden was. Above he saw the balcony. A figure stood on it. He held his breath as he approached.
Nightwing took his time as he maneuvered through the garden. He wanted to be unseen by the person in front of him. The party windows casted light on the gardens so he stalked the shadows. Coming closer to the balcony the figure in the window looked familiar.
Nightwing used his graveling hook once again to pull himself up on the balcony. This didn't go unnoticed by the figure up there. The panicked face of Rachel showed and Nightwing put a finger to his lips ordering her to be silent.
"Who are you?" Her voice hissed in fear. She wasn't used to dark figures creeping up on her in the night.
"I'm Nightwing."
"You…you saved Kori right?" Rachel came closer to him. She looked him over. She could see what Kori saw in him. Of course she herself had no interest in him. After all, she had the perfect guy for her already, Gar.
"I did."
"She isn't here." Rachel spoke quickly. "If she is, I don't know where. I haven't seen her all night."
"I know that." Rachel eyes widened in shock, she was about to accuse him of stalking when he spoke. "Kori happens to be in terrible danger right now. It's a life or death situation. I need you to trust me. I need you to help me, help Kori. Will you?" Nightwing held out his hand.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE
*Well this chapter was pretty long for me! I hope you enjoy it! It took awhile to post, and I once again apologize for that. This while week was exhausting, I have no idea why. I've haven't been in a writing mood much but I have been in a good relaxing mood. After listening to some music I finished the chapter and posted it.
So do you guys think I am doing too much detail? By that, I mean, do you guys think that I am dragging these scenes out to much? I'm trying not to, but I don't want to rush these chapters. Besides the story gets longer? I think there will only be one more chapter that drags out the scene. I hope at least.
I want to get two twenty-five chapters. I don't think that will happen though unless I do drag out a lot more! Or, make shorter chapters. I hope you guys liked though. Comments have been amazing and inspiring! Hopefully I will update soon! I mean I keep leaving these annoying cliffhangers right?