Chapter 16: Dead or Alive
Robin, Batman, and the others stare at the screen in shock while Ki announces Shadow's disappearance.
"What do you guys think happen?" asks Beat Boy, trying to break the silence.
"Who knows?" Rocket wondered.
"Do you guy think she's dead?" asked Bumblebee.
"There's a possibility," Wonder Girl said sadly.
"It can't be," said Robin in disbelief.
"Impulse, do you know? Since you're from the future?" asked Blue Beetle.
"In my time period, there's no such thing as the Death Games. But in the recent events, the time period must have changed," said Impulse.
"I hope Nightwing is ok," said Kid Flash. He remembered a time Bruce went missing on a mission and Dick was a mess; Roy and Wally couldn't leave him for a second. Now that he's gone though, Wally could only imagine what Batman and Robin must feel.
Recognize Red Arrow 21
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!" yelled Red Arrow as he approach the group. He had his bow in a death grip and his veins are about to pop.
"Roy, calm down," said Green Arrow as he approached his ex-protégé.
"DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN! MY LITTLE BROTHER IS OUT THERE IN SPACE FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE AND YOU EXCEPT ME TO CALM DOWN!?"
Batman approached Red Arrow and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Roy, calm down. Getting angry isn't going bring Nightwing home. I know it's frustrating, but think of what Nightwing would do in a situation like this."
Red Arrow pondered at the Dark Knight's words and he knew he was right. Ever since Roy left, he barely saw Wally and Dick, and now he's regretting it. Every time he's seen them, they have grown up both physically and mentally.
"I'm sorry," muttered Red Arrow.
"No need, you're just concerned," said Batman.
Recognize Red Hood Guest
A man is wearing a dark clever shirt, dark pants, and a belt with sliver on it, a leg holster with a sliver gun in it, a dark brown jacket, and a red helmet. The groups of heroes stared in confusion, wondering what he was doing.
"Red Hood," said Robin with a smile on his face. He ran towards Red Hood and hugged him tightly.
"Hey Robin," said Red Hood as he wrapped one arm around Robin and the other stroked his hair.
"Excuse me, but what are you doing here?" asked Artemis.
"Here to see how my brother is doing," snapped Red Hood.
"Wait, Nightwing's your brother?" asked Miss Martian.
"Yeah, he's my older brother and this guy is my younger brother." He ruffled Robin's hair more.
"Hey watch the hair," said Robin as he broke the hug and fixed his hair.
Red Hood chuckled as he turned his attention towards Batman.
"I see you finally got my message," said Batman.
"Yeah, sorry it took me so long," said Red Hood as his voice filled with guilt.
"It's alright, you're here now and that's all that matters."
"I just wish I was there to see him leave."
"I know, and that's why he told me to call you. I'm glad I did."
"Me too, will it be ok if I go home with you and Robin?"
"You're always welcome to come home, no matter what."
"Thanks."
The heroes stare in shock at the moment that Batman and Red Hood are having. Batman notices this and sighs.
"He's my son, and I invited him to watch the Death Games with us."
"Batman can we trust him?" asked Superman, knowing how Jason Todd died and came back to life; and how he killed people.
"He's better now, and he's family."
"Alright," said Superman, also knowing that if he argued he'd lose.
"So what's the status?" asked Red Hood.
"Nightwing's still alive," said Superboy.
"Anything else?" Red Hood asked quizzically.
"Shadow's missing," said Zatanna.
"Shadow?" asked Red Hood and Red Arrow.
"She's a girl Nightwing likes, I'll explain later," said Robin.
"I'm all ears," said Red Hood as he smiled under the helmet. 'I wonder who this Shadow is. And how did she get Nightwing to like her? I wonder if it's because she's hot. If that's true, then way to go bro.'
'Dick Grayson, who is this girl you like? I hope everything will turn out alright,' thought Red Arrow.
"Take a seat Red Hood, Red Arrow, because we're going tell you everything we know," said Batman.
"I'll tell them Batman," said Aqualad.
"Guys, everything we're about to tell you is crazy and it'll go beyond our wildest dreams," said Batgirl.
In The Death Games
Nightwing, Kindle, Mac, Zals, Jen, and Scare left their camp and move on to find the others and Shadow. They couldn't believe that Shadow's dead, but she's still missing. Nightwing's still determined to find her, and he's not giving up, but he notices his new friends are tired and decided to rest. His eyes feel so heavy; Nightwing can't remember the last time he slept.
Nightwing hears music, but its circus music. He opens his eyes and discovers his uniform, utility belt, and mask have all gone missing; he's Dick Grayson and is sleeping on the ground. Dick slowly sits up, his eyes widen as he sees a giant circus tent that says "Haley's Circus". Nightwing rubs his eyes to see if he's really seeing his childhood life when his parents were alive. Than the flaps of the tent open and Dick walks in; there's nothing expect the spotlights moving crazy and a huge circle ring in the center of the tent. The spotlights stop on one side of the ring where there's a red X.
"Go ahead Dick," whispers a voice.
Dick looks around to find the source of the voice, but he's alone. He doesn't know what will happen if he steps on that X, but his legs weren't listening. His legs move towards the X, Dick tries to stop himself but his right foot touches it. Than his left foot join his right and nothing happens. Dick wants to think he's in the clear but something's not right.
The ground begins to shake rapidly like an earth quake, but two poles emerge from the ground. Dick could feel something trying to get out of the ground, he finds himself standing on a platform and it's going higher. The three poles form a pyramid; Nightwing's pole being the top. The pole stops moving and the lights go completely off.
A spotlight shines at the pole on Dick's left; it reveals his circus family hanging from their wrists. At the top; his uncle, aunt, cousin, and his parents stand on the platform.
"Mom? Dad?" whispers Dick as tears sting his eyes.
They stood there in the costumes they died in with pasty white skin. Then another spotlight forms on the pole to Nightwing's right side. On that pole are his aunts and uncles of the Justice League and his brothers and sisters of the Young Justice team. They're also hanging from their wrist. On the platform Bruce Wayne/Batman, Alfred Pennyworth, Tim Drake/Robin, and Jason Todd/Red Hood; they're in their civilization clothes.
"Bruce? Alfred? Tim? Jason?" he whispers in confusion.
Dick's about to take a step forward but an invisible force stop him. Than Dick realizes that he should be in the Death Games with Mac, Zals, Kindle, Scar, and Jen; also to look for the others and find his Shadow.
A pole emerges right across from Dick, the light shines on it. The living players of the Death Games hang by their wrists and the light slowly made its way to the platform. Dick couldn't believe his eyes, the person on the platform is Shadow. She's wearing her domino mask, a long-sleeve black unitard, a see-through black skirt, and black leather hooker boots
"Shadow?" Dick whispers with his voice full of happiness.
Everybody on the poles turns their attention to Shadow and Dick hears music.
And then Shadow lets words flow from her lips as she sings:
How can you see into my eyes… like open doors? Leading you down into my core… where I've become so numb.
Without a soul… my spirit's sleeping somewhere cold. Until you find it there and lead… it, back… home.
Dick sang with her now, joining into the chorus:
(Wake me up!)
Wake me up inside!
(I can't wake up!)
Wake me up inside!
(Save me!)
Call my name and save me from the dark…
(Wake me up!)
Bid my blood to run!
(I can't wake up!)
Before I come undone!
(Save me!)
Save me from the nothing I've become!
Again, Shadow sung her deepest emotions…
Now that I know what I'm without… you can't just leave me. Breathe into me and… make me real.
Bring me… to life…
Fire form behind Shadow and Dick rejoined her…
(Wake me up!)
Wake me up inside!
(I can't wake up!)
Wake me up inside!
(Save me!)
Call my name and save me from the dark…
(Wake me up!)
Bid my blood to run!
(I can't wake up!)
Before I come undone!
(Save me!)
Save me from the nothing I've become!
Bring me to life.
(I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside!)
Bring me to life.
Frozen… inside without your touch, without your love, darling!
Only... you are the life among the dead!
A trapeze bar appears before Shadow; she removes her skirt and grabs the bar and jumps off the platform. Dick watches as she does a flip and grabs another trapeze bar, than she hoisted herself up to sit on the trapeze bar like a swing. Fear came all over Dick's body; he's afraid that she'll fall like his parents. But Dick starts to sing again…
(All this time I can't believe I couldn't see!
Kept in the dark but you were there in front of me!)
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems!
Got to open my eyes to everything!
(Without a thought, without a voice, without a soul!)
Don't let me die here…
Richard ran his hand trough his midnight hair… There must be something more! He sang.
Bring… me… to… life!
(Wake me up!)
Wake me up inside!
(I can't wake up!)
Wake me up inside!
(Save me!)
Call my name and save me from the dark...
(Wake me up!)
Bid my blood to run!
(I can't wake up!)
Before I come undone!
(Save me!)
Save me from the nothing I've become!
Bring me to life…
(I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside!)
Bring me to life!
As Shadow finishes, holding her last note, the trapeze bar beneath her disappears. Her note turns into a shrill scream.
"NO!" yells Richard as he tries to jump after her, but the force field won't allow it.
Shadow's masked eyes widen in fear and he sees tears falling down her cheek. She's screaming at the top of her lungs, Dick's heart aches as her scream grew louder and tears fell like a waterfall.
'How can I let her fall? Why?' thought Dick.
"Nightwing?" said a voice.
"Who said that?" Dick asked as he looked around, frightened.
"Nightwing wake up!"
Nightwing's eyes flutter open and he sees the others standing above him.
"What's wrong?" asked Nightwing.
"Ki appeared again and there have been two more deaths," said Jen.
"What? Who?" asked Nightwing trying to hide the fear in his voice?
"Sky and Gil," said Scar.
"How?"
"Sky was thrown into a pit and it was filled with bugs that eats anything that moves," said Kindle as tears fall. "And the sad thing is, Sky saw that she would die like that."
Nightwing knew that Sky might have had psychic abilities, and he was right. It's terrible that you can see your own death.
"Gil was burned alive; somebody caught him and tied him to a tree. Then they set it on fire," said Zals with hurt filling her voice.
Nightwing stood and ran his hands through his hair.
"Nightwing, we do have some good news," said Mac.
"What's that?" asked Nightwing, hoping it's something about Shadow.
"We found Kale, well he found us," said Kindle with a small smile.
Than Kale appeared to Nightwing; he still has his long hair, but his yellow eyes are dull.
"Hello Nightwing," said Kale.
"Hello Kale."
"I understand you're looking for someone."
"I am."
"Also you want to put an end to the Death Games."
"Yes."
"I want to help."
"You're welcome to join us, but there are risks."
"I know, but I still want to help."
"Also, I don't care what anybody says, Shadow is out there and I'm going to find her."
"I'll be behind you all the way."
Before they could say anything else, they heard a scream.
"Guys, is it just me or was that a girl scream?" asked Mac.
"I think it's a girl and she's in trouble," said Scar.
"But Sky is dead and the remaining girls are here," pointed Jen.
"Except one," said Nightwing. "I think it's Shadow."
Quietly, Mac whispered, "You would think that."
Citation: The song within this chapter… "Wake Me Up" by 'Evanescence'. I want to thank 3DPhantom for beta reading and I give her credit for the song. I choose the song but 3DPhantom brought it to life in the chapter. Please review to find out if Shadow is dead or alive.