Chapter 13: Missing Hood
Jason's POV
I walk down the hall heading towards the training room. Autumn's bedroom door opens and Autumn walks out with a book in hand. She seems really occupied with the book.
"What do you want for lunch?" I ask
"Anything." She mumbles, not taking her eyes off of the book.
"Okay, you cook lunch then." I say
"Okay." She responds, still not looking away from her book.
I roll my eyes, she passes by me still holding onto her book. Then I grab the book in one hand and I hold it up high. She tries to jump up and reach my hand where the book is hanging.
"Jason! Give it back!"
I chuckle glancing at the book "Oliver Twist?" I chuckle "Where'd you get this book?"
"I said give it back!"
"Make me." I say and I run down the hall, to the training room, chuckling.
I open the door as I hold up the book.
Suddenly, Autumn jumps over me and grabs the book out of my hand through the doorway and landing on her two feet on the blue mats of the training hall.
She holds onto the book and kicks my face as she frowns.
She keeps the book. I hit my face on the floor, and she holds me down and holds my hands behind my back.
"I'll make lunch, maybe it could be as good as Alfred's food."
"No one can top Alfred!" I mumble, trying to face my head up, but she pinned my head to the floor.
"Never said I would be able to, I only said it could be almost as good as his food."
"Cool." I say almost kissing the shiny, clean cement.
"IF! If you clean up your damn room, big bro!" She lets go of my hands and stands up as I jump up.
She brushes her shirt and her black shorts.
"Oh, by the way, I hung the clothes. Thanks for finally listening to your little sister and you did your own laundry!"
I grin. "Well, you're welcome. I don't let anyone do my laundry!"
"Sure." She says sarcastically. "Why not do some of the other chores? I've been stuck doing the chores all week!" She complains.
"Yeah, cause I am older, remember?"
"Only by like, seven years!"
"I'm still older, you do all the chores, while I chill out and play Call of Duty."
"No fair! I wanted to play Call of Duty!"
"Life's not fair."
"Fine. That's a good point…" She starts walking backwards, grinning. "But... I'm not washing the dishes today!" She starts running towards her room.
"Woah, woah who said so?!" I start running after her.
"I DID! HAHA!" She waves her hands as she runs like a maniac.
****Break****
Autumn's POV
Jason and I stand back to back shooting every head of any terrorist heading our way. I kick the man about to tackle my brother and I shoot the terrorist's head out. I elbow a man in the gut, and kick another's chest as I shoot three more people with my two uzi guns. Hood and I switch positions, I slide my foot on the floor to make another man fall, I shoot his leg and I stand up. I side kick the man by my side and I shoot his neck.
I stand up straight as my two guns start to smoke, I tuck them in my two holsters as I take a good look at the dark parking lot, with dead and bloody bodies of terrorists scattered everywhere. One man starts to get up and starts running for it, but I grab my knife and shoot it right through the man's head. He's pinned to wall, his body hangs limply as it just hangs there soaked in blood.
"GCPD's gonna be here any second." Hood keeps his guns as he stands right behind me.
I nod. "Let's go." I start walking towards my untouched motorcycle parked right beside Jason's.
"Don't think you've gotten out of trouble for disobeying my orders, hermana." I can see his smirk even under his helmet as he starts his bike, and I only smile lightly as I start driving out of the parking lot.
****Break****
"Autumn." Jason says firmly and I only look at him with a straight face.
"Why the hell would you take down that drug ring on your own without my permission?" He furrows his eyebrows.
Instead of feeling furious inside because Jason's chewing me off for taking down seven people during their meeting all on my own...I mean shouldn't he be proud?
Well, I'm not furious...in fact I feel the exact opposite. I feel happy because I know that someone out there actually cares for me, for my safety.
"You wanna be on monitor duty instead?"
I look at him "No." I mutter.
I look down as he waits for me to yell at him or to say something disrespectful back at him, or run to my room like the pre-teen I am. But...that's not me.
I've never disrespected anyone I cared about, not my dad, mom, Nico, anyone…
If I did something wrong, then I did something wrong and I have to accept the consequences of my actions like a good little grown up, and apologize.
Even if I didn't do anything wrong and they're still blaming me, it's okay, I'll just keep quiet and accept the punishment I don't deserve or just say sorry even if it's not my fault.
Because there's really no point in fighting back or running to my room like a kid.
I look up at him.
"Sorry Jase, my fault." I say loud enough for him to hear, not mumbling at all.
I can tell I caught him by surprise by me apologizing.
"I shouldn't have gone out without your permission...I shouldn't have disobeyed your orders I just needed to...let out some steam." I look back at him.
I really mean my apology, I understand that he gets worried for his little sister the same way I get worried for my big brother...but I was, confused and angry last night.
"Why? I don't remember getting mad at you or anything."
"You didn't. I was just angry."
"Why sis?" He asks and I look down.
"It doesn't matter." I look away.
"If it doesn't matter, then why do you still seem angry?"
"...It's a different reason." I avoid eye contact with him.
"What's the reason now?" He asks, but I still don't look at him.
"I...I had an encounter with Nightingale, when I was taking down the drug ring last night..."
"And...?" I look up at him with sad eyes.
"I told her something I shouldn't have."
"What's that?"
"I told her that...that you aren't my brother!" I almost yell. "But...but you are my brother...right!?" I ask as my eyes became teary.
I feel like a little girl.
He pulls me into a hug. "Of course Autumn. You're my sister and I am your brother." I hug him tightly.
"THEN...WHY DIDN'T I JUST TELL HER THAT YOU ARE MY BROTHER!?" I should have just said that Jason is my brother.
This is simply bothering me because, I was so happy to finally have a brother and here I go telling people that he's not my brother! What is wrong with me!?
"Hey, sis," he crouches down a little, "maybe...it's because you're still not used to it."
"But...I said that you're not my brother, you're just a friend...you're something like a brother. BUT YOU ARE MY BROTHER!"
"Of course I am, but I'm not Phoenix's brother. I'm Autumn's brother. You and I both know that Phoenix and Autumn are different. The same way how Jason and Hood are different, but still the same person. Okay?"
I nod in response. "I guess, I guess that makes sense..."
My eyes widen and I realize something scary. "But...doesn't that mean that Phoenix is taking over Autumn?!"
"That's the thing, you have two different sides, but still the same, it's up to you if you wanna keep them separated."
"I don't think...I want Phoenix to take over."
"But...doesn't that mean that...Phoenix is taking over Autumn?"
"That's the thing. Phoenix and Autumn are two different people, but still the same in a way. It's up to you, if you wanna keep them separate."
I look down "I don't want Phoenix to take over Autumn, Jason."
I say and he hugs me tightly. "Me neither."
I was just so overwhelmed on having a brother, how can I suddenly say that he isn't my brother?
Sometimes brothers give horrible advice, sometimes they give good advice. I like having a big brother. Jason's the best big brother ever! Well, he is my only brother.
"Neither do I." He mumbles.
He lets go and smiles at me, and I smile back like a little kid. I feel like that two year old again, who seemed to always wear pigtails, and who always seemed to smile a lot. I wonder what happened to that girl.
All these years I thought she had died...but here she is right now, talking to her big brother.
Sometimes even I forget that I am just a kid.
****Break****
Tim's POV
It's silent...here in Bruce's study, which is weird because the second Chris entered the study, I thought there would be at least some shouting, but no...there's only a few murmurs coming from Bruce. For the past few days, Chris has been coming out of her room and walking toward the study, but when she reaches the door, she just stands there...looking inside the room. I know she's not allowed to go out yet, but this is different than just waiting...it's like she's thinking about something...something troubling her, and she's not sure whether or not to tell someone. Then, she just goes back upstairs to her room and locks everyone out. One time, I decided to go after her.
"Hey, you okay?" I asked her and she nodded.
"Yeah, I'm perfectly fine," she said and then she walked into her room and shut the door. When she answered me, she had a distant look in her eyes...what did Phoenix do to her?
Chris has already recovered from her injuries. I'm glad Phoenix didn't kill my sister...if that insane girl did kill my sister...then I don't know what I'd do, what any of us would do.
If Chris died... Why would Chris even go after Phoenix on her own!? I still need to talk to her about it, but she's been acting weird lately.
Not weird like the way she usually is, but I mean weird like...being so silent lately. Ever since her encounter with Phoenix, she's been so deep in thought.
She's been trying to avoid talking to anyone...
When Chris finally entered the study, everyone just stopped what they were doing.
We are all just about to head down into the cave and get ready for patrol. Well actually, Dick, Damian, and I are going out on patrol while Bruce tracks down Red Hood and Phoenix...again. Chris, however...
"What are you doing here? You know you're not allowed to go out on patrol. You're still grounded." Bruce says to her in a stern tone.
"I just wanna help out in the cave...like Oracle kinda." At least she's talking a little more than usual...but she still seems kinda distant.
Bruce doesn't answer her immediately. He just keeps staring at her...I'm not sure if he's pondering, wondering, something...I don't know! Well you never really know what Bruce is thinking unless he really shows it...
"Fine, but if we need help, call Alfred and the Justice League, got it?"
"Ok..." Chris mutters. She also hasn't been arguing a lot lately either...
I open the grandfather clock door and everyone heads down into the Batcave.
****Break****
Autumn's POV
It's dark, it burns, it hurts...
Someone, please help me.
I know no one's gonna help me. Who can? I can hardly move in this tight space. Controls are burned, oxygen slowly fading, and it's too...dark. I wanna get out of here, but I can't.
I'll burn.
I can't move...I'm scared...
I can't see anything but I know that I'm in the escape pod...it's so dark and I feel like there's an earthquake. I'm crashing to earth in a hot ball of fire. My clothes may be fireproof, but not even I can handle this kind of heat. I may be able to burn people but I'm not fire proof myself.
Dad, mom, help me please.
I'm...scared. I'm crawled up in a ball, holding onto myself and closing my eyes as I cough for oxygen and as I try not to think of the pain in these burns, wounds, and bruises all over my body. The dark and metal escape pod violently rattles me as everything around me starts to burn.
Somebody...help…?
I'm not scared of Death, I've faced it before...I'm just scared...of...of something in this crashing escape pod...I just don't know what.
No one can save me, even if they wanted to…I'll have to save myself.
I have to face this alone, just like I've faced everything else in my life.
I'm used to it. I'm used to being alone.
'BOOM!'
I open my eyes and blink twice. I stare up at the ceiling for a while, thinking about that traumatizing moment. I still have the scars to trigger the memories.
I never liked sleeping...ever.
With my dad, we always trained...no time to sleep. When there was time to sleep, I couldn't. I was worried about the day when the GCPD would find us, or when one day I'll burn everyone I care about with my own hands.
With my mom, I stayed up all night looking for food, or wondering when my mom would choke on her own saliva, or when she would cry herself to death...or when her dealers would come and sell to her.
Even on my own I was never really asleep, I had to keep an eye out for any sick rapists or dealers.
I rub my eyes and check my phone. 8:52 am. That's late. It's been two weeks since my little outburst, and I've been locking myself up in my room since then.
I walk to the washroom and wash my face. I turn off the faucet and stare at the scars on my wrists. I sigh and I look at the mirror right in front of me.
Instead of my own reflection appearing...my dad's face appears.
His eyes are toxic green and glowing and his face is pale, his black and spiky hair is slightly hazy and his mouth is hanging open, as if he's trying to say something.
I know my dad's ghost has been following me because I've felt it, not because I've seen it myself.
My eyes lower, and I close my mouth as I stare at the mirror.
"You really think you can surprise me?" I ask casually, like I'm talking to any normal-not-dead human being.
He seems to be trying to say something but can't. I guess in death no one has a voice.
"What the hell do you want?" I ask him harshly, but he just floats there.
My dad's frown gets bigger as he tries to talk.
I ball my hands into fists and I scowl. After all these years, I wondered where he was...I had so much to say to him, and I thought that maybe he has some things to say to me too. But all he's doing now is floating there?
Where was he then? Why did he only appear now?!
I sigh and I look down, scowling at the floor. I look back at the mirror and all I see is my face now.
I missed my dad, but I hate him now…
I thought I still missed him, but really, all I missed were all the few memories.
He's the reason why I was angry two weeks ago, why I went to take down that drug ring and Nightingale on my own. I was angry at my dad. For making me what I am today.
If he really was able to see the future...then why didn't he tell me that all this was gonna happen? Why didn't he prevent his own death if he knew it was gonna happen? Why did he let this happen? Why did he leave me to walk alone? Why did he let me suffer alone?
I move out of the bathroom.
I can't move on to the future without getting rid of the ghost of the past.
Maybe I can ask the other dead guy living in this house if he knows anything about ghosts.
He left last night, he told me to stay here, and I didn't plan on disobeying his orders again.
He was holding a gun in one hand and a pack of cigarettes in the other.
He should be back by now.
****Break****
Chris' POV
This is a total deja vu moment... I'm sitting in front of the BatComputer, alone in the Batcave, playing that game on the computer. I already beat the high score multiple times and now I'm bored. Although my injures have almost healed, I don't think I can climb the t-rex. Might as well monitor where everyone is. I change the screen and the map of Gotham pops up. The tiny dot representing Batman is back in that warehouse he found me in two weeks ago, probably looking to see if Phoenix left anything behind. Nightwing and Robin are over on the North side of Gotham, standing on top of a roof. Red Robin, on the other hand, is over on the West side by the docks, constantly moving around. I wonder what's up. Maybe he's fighting some thugs...or he could be pacing back and forth studying for a test he has tomorrow. Ha, yea that's totally like him.
I decide to call him over the com link to see what's going on.
"Hey Red, what's going on with you?"
Tim's voice comes in, "Gale, I'm kinda busy here."
"Don't call me Gale! And yea, I can see that." Suddenly I hear a deep voice in the background and the sound of bones breaking fills the com. "Hey! You actually are beating up some thugs and not just being a total nerd!"
"At least you're a little more cheery than you've been these last two weeks. But anyway, there were some thugs bringing in a shipment of guns and bombs. I'm tying them up now. Could you notify the police?"
"Say please."
"Just do it!"
"I'm not doing anything until you say please." Ah, my favorite pastime. Annoying Tim. I can see why Alfred enjoys telling us to be polite. I am in better spirits...I guess I just needed to get back in the field...well I'm still in the cave but close enough!
"Ugh...fine. Nightingale, could you please notify the police while I go and help Batman over in the East side of Gotham?"
"See, that wasn't so hard now was it?"
"Shut up and leave me alone already."
"You're rude." I'm about to break the connection when I realize something. "Wait, you should head over to the South side. No one's covering that area."
"It's fine. Nightwing already told me that they were gonna check that area out. He told me to check out the East side."
"Oh ok, Nightingale out."
After I call Commissioner Gordon to notify him of the criminals waiting for him at the docks, I call Dick on the com.
"Nightwing, anything to report?"
"Nothing yet. Hey could you ask Red Robin to cover the South side, I don't think anyone's over there."
"What? I told Tim to go over there, but he said that you told him to help out Batman." This is weird.
"I didn't tell him that. I haven't even talked to him over the com the entire night. I was just about to ask him to check out the South. Robin, did you do something?"
Suddenly, Damian's com turns on. "Stop accusing me, Grayson. I did no such thing! Why don't you accuse your sister! She's capable of this too!"
"I know she isn't messing with us. She wouldn't do that out on the field."
"Yea Damian! I can't believe you don't trust me." Actually, I get his point.
"That's not too hard to believe..."
"Something weird is going on...Robin, continue to patrol here. I'm gonna head over to the South."
I remind him, "Batman's gonna kill you if you leave Damian on patrol alone. You know how overprotective he is."
I hear Damian mutter something, but Dick's voice takes over. "Fine. Notify Batman. I just spotted some suspicious figures down below. Robin, lets go."
I end the conversation and turn on my connection to Batman's com link. It's not too bad working here in the cave. But I'd choose going out there over this any day.
"Nightingale, what is it?"
Hey, I'm supposed to be the one to talk first! "Well first, Tim's on his way over there to help you. Two-"
Batman cuts me off. "I'll tell him to go down to the South side. I've got everything I need. I'm gonna patrol here now."
"Umm as I was saying...apparently Tim got a call from Dick telling him to go help you, but when I called Dick, he said he didn't call Tim."
"Hm...alright, I'm going to head down to the South side. I'll tell Red Robin to patrol here instead."
"Can I come with you?"
"No." Aww, it was worth a try. "Search the BatComputer for any evidence of hacking. Then continue doing research on...her."
"Okay." He knows that I'm just going to find another dead end if I research Phoenix. He just wants to keep me occupied. I noticed that everyone stopped mentioning Phoenix around me. I'm kinda over it now. It's not like I'm gonna have a mental breakdown.
"Batman out."
I sigh as I begin to scan the computer for hacking.
****Break****
Bruce's POV
Someone's messing with us. I just need to find out who, and this area seems to have something to do with it. Maybe someone's trying to keep us away from here, but that won't work. I'm going to find out what's going on here. Nightingale's voice comes over the com link.
"Alright, so whoever hacked into the computer really knows their stuff. They were almost completely able to cover their tracks, but yea, someone did hack it."
"Any idea who?" Mental note: improve security system for the BatComputer.
"No, but there's something else."
"What?"
"Turns out the computer was hacked before."
I stop walking and crouch down. Then, I lower my voice.
"Was it four years ago?"
"Yea. They went through all of our files. They looked at everything. This person knows our identities. How did you know it was four years ago?"
"I found out soon after the person hacked into the system."
"Oh ok...so who do you think did it?"
"Are you talking to that brat of yours?" A cold hard voice comes from behind me. I swiftly stand up and turn around to see Phoenix standing right behind me. I try to punch her in the face, but she does a backflip and puts distance between us.
"Woah, hold up Wayne, I'm not here for another fight. One blood battle with a Bat is enough for now." She says while putting her hands up.
I stare at her, still in my fighting stance, prepared for anything.
"Batman, what's going on?" Chris asks over the com.
"I think I know who hacked the computer. It explains why she knows who we are."
"It took you four years to figure it out, huh. You're getting rusty." Phoenix mocks.
Chris' voice comes in again, "Four years ago...I was 8 back then...she said...she figured out our identities when she was 8... We're about the same age."
Some kid huh?
"..."
"I learned how to hack into systems like the League's when I was five. It was easy to hack into your system when I turned eight. Looks like you need to upgrade your system."
Noted.
"Wait, are you with Phoenix?" Chris asks.
If I say yes, then she'll probably come out of the cave and meet me here. "No. I'm fine. Just a street thug trying to steal some lady's purse."
She seems to believe me, although she sounds suspicious. "Okay...anyway I'll just be here...checking out whatever everyone else is doing...waiting to see if any alarms are triggered..." She turns off the com connection.
"Lying to your little girl...really Batman? I wonder how many times you lied to your sons, especially Jason." She shakes her head.
"What do you want?" I growl at her. She's not supposed to be on the South side of Gotham. Her territory is the East side along with Red Hood.
"I see my little plan to get you over here worked."
"You're the one who contacted Red Robin?"
"Yup." She says, looking proud. "I used a voice modulator to imitate Grayson's voice."
"Obviously...what do you want?" I repeat.
"I need your help."
"Hardly..."
"I mean it! It's...it's Hood."
What now? What did Jason do that could possibly make Phoenix come to me for help?
"What about him?"
"He's...missing..." She looks down to the ground as she says this.
"Why should I believe you? I don't know if I can trust you. You almost killed my family."
"Because I have no reason to lie to you. The only reason we ever beat you up is if you get in our way. I wouldn't be coming to you if it weren't for a good reason. And trust me, I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't have to."
Should I trust her? I'm not sure...but she almost killed us. She could've, but she didn't...why?
"Please...just help me find him and things will go back to us being at each other's throats." She keeps avoiding eye contact. Did she just beg?
I might regret this later on, but if Jason really is in trouble, it's worth checking it out.
"Fine. Let me notify everyone else."
"NO. Tell anyone and I shoot you in the leg and I'll come after your family and kill them, then I'll kill you after you take a good look at their corpses." I almost shudder at the thought, but I'm in Batman mode right now.
I nod in response... I'd better make up an excuse then...
"And one more thing, Batman. Joker escaped." My eyes widen.
****Break****
Damian's POV
Well this was a boring night. There were only a few burglaries and drug cartels...nothing interesting. No breakouts, no explosions, nothing... Grayson and I enter the cave and find Carter sitting in front of the BatComputer with Drake standing behind her, watching what she's doing.
"How was your night, because ours was boring." Grayson says.
"Well, I was cooped up in here for 4 hours. I had nothing else to do but talk to you guys over the com and play this game on the computer." Carter says.
I look at what she's playing, and it looks like a really old version of Mario and Donkey Kong. Mario keeps jumping over barrels that Donkey Kong is throwing. Peach is at the top next to Donkey Kong, inside a barrel for some reason. That looks stupid.
But for some reason, Nightwing backs away from the computer at the sight of the game.
"It was a slow night for me too. All I got to do was take down an illegal shipment." Drake says.
"I wonder where Father is." I say.
"Let's see..." Carter replies.
She pauses her game and flips to the map of Gotham. Four dots are all in the Batcave, but one dot is moving across the South side in the direction of the East side.
"He's moving faster than usual, and he's not on the road so he can't be in the Batmobile," Grayson comments.
"I think something's up..." Carter states.
"What makes you say that?" I ask her.
"Well...when I was talking to Bruce...all of a sudden it sounded like he started fighting someone. When I asked him who, he said it was some guy trying to steal a lady's purse..."
"Isn't that your excuse whenever something happens out in the field?" Drake asks her.
"Yeah. That's why I got suspicious. We were talking about who could've hacked into the BatComputer and then-"
Grayson interrupts her, "Wait, SOMEONE HACKED INTO THE BATCOMPUTER?!"
"Stop yelling you're hurting my ears! Anyway, yeah someone hacked the computer. The person contacted Tim, telling him to head over to where Batman is. What did you think, Dick? How else would someone have talked to Tim over the com link? Jeez...you need to improve your detective skills... But the computer was also hacked 4 years ago...Dick did you know that?"
"Yes. Bruce told me. He said that the person who did it didn't cover their tracks very well, but Bruce couldn't figure out which computer was used to hack into ours or who did it." Grayson replies.
"Well over the com, Batman said that he thinks he knows who hacked the computer. He didn't say who, but all he said was, 'It explains why she would know our identities,' and my first thought was Phoenix."
Everyone was silent. For the past two weeks, we all avoided saying that name around her. One time I was talking to Father about Phoenix and Carter walked into the room. When she heard me say her name...she cringed and ran back to her room. She locked herself in and didn't come out for dinner. She didn't unlock her room until the next morning. At least now we know she's recovered from her "trauma."
Carter continues. "And there's no way he would mention Phoenix, even if he did it indirectly, in front of some random thug."
"So you think he encountered Phoenix?" I ask.
"Sounds likely." Drake says.
"No one asked you Drake! I was talking to Carter." I'll say it bluntly: I don't like Drake.
"Shut up you two. We need to figure out what's going on here." Carter scolds.
"We should go after Batman and see what's going on." Grayson says as he heads for his Night Cycle. Drake and I follow him and hop onto our cycles when Carter calls after us.
"Can I come? It's so boring here."
"Sorry. If we brought you, who knows what will happen to you. Bruce would ground you again and kill all three of us, especially me." Grayson replies.
Carter grunts in response and turns back to the computer, continuing to play that stupid Donkey Kong game as the three of us exit the Batcave.
****Break****
Autumn's POV
I really don't wanna do this, but what choice do I have? I don't have anyone else to turn to for help, and I'm really worried about Jason. Batman's the only one who can help me now...
We are heading back to the East side to search for Jason. Last I heard from him, he just left without a word but "Why don't you get some rest?" He left looking all angry and serious, but he did a marvelous job at hiding it. He should know by now that it's useless to lie to me. He's been gone for hours.
"Give me details." Batman orders in his deep voice.
"He's been gonna for hours, he simply left without another word...but I have a hunch." I say jumping to the next building.
"First things first. No guns, no killing."
I smile. "No worries, Batman." I growl his name.
"Continue." He orders. What am I, HIS sidekick?!
But I continue, I look at my holographic wrist computer as we both stand on top of a building. "Joker's escaped Arkham." I glance at him, "AGAIN," I spit.
He narrows his eyes. I smile mockingly. "It's a good thing all your children are at home, right?" I give a small grin.
He moves to the other end of the building and I follow right behind him. "I'll follow by those two rules, but let's get one thing straight. I AM NOT YOUR PARTNER." I say as I take out my grapple gun and shoot towards the next building. First, to Arkham.
****Break****
Puddles of blood lay everywhere around The Joker's therapy room.
On the wall of the white room are words all in blood.
JOKER WAS HERE
Batman and I examine the cell. He looks at the table, and I take one good look at the door, the table in the middle of the bright room, and the chair flipped over. Under the table is a corpse, probably one of a doctor.
I think I know what happened. "The doctor was coming in." I crouch down to look at the large hole in the doctor's stomach. Then I move to the small knife lying on the floor. "Joker, had this knife, and as the doctor came in, he stabbed the doctor in the back. Joker cut a hole through the doctor's stomach to get...a key."
I look at the wound, and at the bloody key hole on the door knob. "The knife was planted under the table, but the locks on this door were only able to be opened by the key, which the doctor had in HIS stomach."
Batman narrows his eyes. "Someone broke him out. Who would want this mad man out?"
I shake my head. "No, he broke himself out. He has his own men, and Harley's still out there. It only makes sense that he got himself out with the help of Harley and A LOT of his men."
I take a look at the blood, it's obviously the doctor's blood.
Sick.
I squint and I find something carved on the wall. "Batman, take a look at this." I say without any emotion. He comes over to my side and narrows his eyes.
I open up my holographic computer and I take a picture. I zoom in.
LaffCo.
I get it. Batman takes a look at the picture and starts to analyze it with his own eyes.
He stands up straight. "Let's go." He says, walking out of the therapy room, and I walk right behind him.
Whatever that madman is planning, and whatever it has to do with Jason...it can't be good.
But the only way to play this mad game against a madman is to be just as mad as my enemy is.
****Break****
Chris' POV
I lean my head on my palm. I've been playing this game for hours...ugh. How does Oracle live like this?
I suddenly get an alert, so I click the alert. My eyes widen. I turn on the com connecting to everyone's but Batman's (cause he turned off his com).
"Guys…" I say, staring at the picture.
"Gale, what is it?" Tim asks. Ugh...I wish he'd stop calling me that.
"The clown escaped."
Silence.
"Nightwing…" I break the silence.
"Yeah?"
"Have you found Batman?"
"Not yet, but I get it now...why he was just at Arkham a few minutes ago."
"I think...he really is with Phoenix."
A short silence. "Why do you think so?" Damian's voice echoes.
"Because...Joker's got Jason."
I stare at the picture of The Joker grinning, holding up The Red Hood's helmet.
One eye of the helmet is cracked, and there's a huge smile on the helmet, in a different shade of red. The Joker holds the helmet with one hand and a bloodied metal crowbar in the other hand.
NOT GOOD.
****Break****
Bruce's POV
I'll have to admit, I'm impressed...with her detective skills, of course.
But I can't believe this. Phoenix, the girl that tried to kill my family, is sitting right next to me in the BatMobile.
She's on her holographic computer, typing rapidly.
"Dammit…" She whispers. "Batman, I'm now sure...that The Joker's got Hood." She shows me the picture. "This picture showed up on every single screen connected to cyberspace. Everyone's seeing this right now."
Not good...that means that they have figured it out by now...great.
I stop the car right in front of the abandoned toy factory. Why would Joker give us a location? It's obviously a trap...but it's the only lead we've got.
We enter the dark and empty factory. I can hear our own footsteps echo in the dark. But I am the dark.
We stop, once we see the large box in the middle of the factory,. It seems so out of place.
It looks like a jack in the box, with a crane on the side and all. Phoenix frowns and narrows her eyes. Suddenly, the box starts playing music and the crane starts moving.
It slowly starts playing "Pop Goes the Weasel." I don't like this.
The song finishes and there's a short silence before the face of a clown pops out of the box. The clown has its mouth open with a large smile reaching from ear to ear. Laughter echoes the empty factory as light from the moon seeps in from the skyline. The face of the clown is still connected the box.
The clown widens it's mouth and suddenly a screen is shown in the inside of the mouth. A video starts. The screen separates into two.
Around Gotham, TWO Jokers run around laughing their heads off.
One is laughing, standing on top of a children's hospital holding onto a trigger side by side with a lot of Joker thugs. The other Joker is driving a van laughing his head off, singing a happy tune.
The video stops, and the screen turns black. I suddenly hear a loud ticking coming from the jack in the box.
"Get down!" I yell at Phoenix, but she stays in place, not moving a muscle. "Come on!" I urge.
"No...it won't blow."
WHAT?
The box lets out hundreds of tiny pieces of paper coming from the clown's mouth. When all the pieces of paper are out, the box stops and starts to smoke.
Cards fall from up in the air and down onto us. I take one card. On one side is a jack, on the other side is a note.
North, south?
That's all it says on the card, nothing else. The box starts to smoke rapidly, and Phoenix and I start running out the door.
Now it's gonna blow.
The building explodes right behind us, and we only make it in time to get a few feet away. Phoenix flips, avoiding another blow of explosion.
We run.
We stand by the BatMobile, looking at the fiery building.
"That was fun, a really fun mystery." She says sarcastically.
"How did you know that it wasn't gonna blow?" I ask without emotion.
"I spent a lot of time with explosions and bombs." She explains casually.
"We split up." I say and she nods.
"I'll go north, you go south," she says as she pulls out a baton. I walk to the door of the driver's seat.
When I turn to look at her, she's sitting on a bike that came out of nowhere and already driving north.
I get in my car, trying to hide a smirk.
How does Jason put up with this kid? How does this kid put up with Jason?
Of course...that is, if Jason is even still alive.
****Break****
Jason's POV
No, no, no...no!
"Hahahaha!" That sick laughter echoes through this damn warehouse. The bloody crowbar strikes again, and I grunt. "I bet you're wondering why this is happening all over again ey Bird-boy?"
"Don't," I breathe and he only laughs. The crowbar connects with my thigh, and I hear a loud crack.
"You see…" he continues, "I killed you...it was the greatest punchline ever! I don't know how you came back, but I KILLED YOU! You messed up my greatest punchline ever! Now, I'm going to reenact it! HAHAHA!" He laughs.
No...no, no, no...this isn't happening, not again.
My nightmares, the ones that I've dreamt about night after night, are becoming real.
That distant memory...has come back to me at full force.
The crowbar strikes again and I grunt, listening to another one of my bones cracking.
It's been hours...I think, or has it been days? It's hard to tell, when I'm being beaten to a pulp and being forced to relive my...death.
I remember being sad, for not being able to say "goodbye" or "thank you" or "I'm sorry." The first time this happened.
Another strike.
Although this time...I'm not trying to save Sheila, because she's already dead.
But even before, I knew no one was going to save me, not Bruce, not Batman. I knew that no one was going to make it in time. I never hoped for anyone to come and save me...and I'm not starting now that I'm gonna die soon.
My face connects with the cold hard ground. The crowbar slams my back, and all I can do is grunt.
Like before, I'm not gonna scream, I'm not gonna cry...not ever.
All I can hear is laughing as black spots dance around my vision.
I don't even remember how I got here, or where I am...but I'm pretty sure that this is Gotham.
The crowbar strikes my head.
I struggle to get out of these ropes. My hands are tied behind my back with metal cuffs...I can't move my legs because every move I make hurts like hell.
"Isn't it fun to relive some memories?" The Joker taunts, striking again with the bloody crowbar.
No...I hate remembering.
I try to get out of the tight cuffs, and as I move my wrists I can feel cold wetness drip down my arms.
My weapons were taken, my gloves and boots are gone, and so is my helmet. All I've got are my pants with empty pockets, my tattered and bloody gray spandex top that was armored until the crowbar shattered my armor, and my red mask that has a large cut due to The Joker trying to painfully rip it off.
I wasn't supposed to relive this moment...but...when I found out that The Joker had escaped Arkham, I had to take my chance...it was supposed to be the other way around...but The Joker planned this. He had everything all set...Joker thugs, and Harley Quinn to overwhelm me.
I'm sure that I set up a fight with them...but in the end...I was captured. I fell into another damned trap because of vengeance…
I wonder if Bruce knows...do Dick, Tim, Chris, and Damian know that I was captured?
Maybe, they don't know. Tomorrow they'll all wake up and find out that I'm dead.
I grunt as I listen to my ribs crack. I cough out blood, gasping for air.
I doubt that they don't know...Joker took a picture of himself with my helmet and the crowbar and sent it somewhere just before I blacked out the second time.
Will they even care if I died again? Or will they just be relieved that they're wish would finally come true...they don't say it, but I know that they wished that I just stayed dead.
I grunt and I move over, The Joker laughs as he hits me with the crowbar on the face again. He says some things but all I hear now is blood ringing in my ears.
I feel like I'm fifteen again…
I wonder how Bruce would move on. I'm sure he'll be just fine...he didn't seem bothered the last time. I doubt anyone would be bothered if I finally left and didn't come back.
The crowbar connects with my eye, and it triggers memories.
The bad ones...and the good ones.
I remember beating The Replacement to a pulp. I remember calling the Demon Spawn "The Replacement of The Replacement." I remember being almost defeated by Dick...before.
Looks like it turns out those training sessions with my little sister has also helped me to take on Dick. Too bad training with The All Caste, Talia, Batman, and Autumn didn't get me out of this one.
That's right...Autumn…my little sister.
I remember just two weeks ago when I stole her book and she kicked me in the face...when we sparred and I defeated her...when she was so pissed at me just for holding onto a box of cigarettes that she didn't talk to me for the rest of the day...or that one time when she caught me drinking and she shoved her ice cream up my nose and her ice cream cone in my beer bottle.
I would chuckle at the memories, but my chest hurts too much.
If I go...I know that she would care.
The crowbar hits again. "Gah." I choke on my own blood, the crowbar strikes again. "Ah." I gasp for air.
Autumn would care, she might be out there looking for me right now...she's probably worried out of her mind…
I breathe heavily as The Joker cackles. His face suddenly becomes darker as he grips the crowbar. "YOU RUINED MY GREATEST PUNCHLINE!" He strikes over and over, until I feel numb.
I only give him a sadistic bloody grin like I did before.
He crouches down and grabs my hair. "It's too bad nobody's gonna miss you Hoodie." He says with fake pity.
He's wrong. My little sister would miss me. She's lost her parents...she'll be all alone, on her own if I left...would I really do that to my little sister? Would I really leave her all alone?
"No one will need you...nobody cares for you!" Joker strikes again.
"Ah." I grunt.
Maybe...Bruce would take care of her? Or maybe he'll just throw her in Arkham… What would happen to her if I left? What if she rots in Arkham? What is she continues Phoenix after I'm gone and she gets herself killed?
I can't leave her all alone...she's just a kid...a kid that's lost almost everything...all she's got now is her big brother, and that's ME.
I can't leave my little sister alone...not when there's no one else out there to care for her.
"Gah." The world starts to spin and the back spots in my eyes start to get bigger. I can feel the blood dripping down my nose, mouth, and ears. I can feel the cold wetness running down my neck, soaking my hair and half my face...I can hardly see anything...but I hear Joker's sick cackling. Then the laughing stops, and I hear a loud clanging of metal hitting cement.
The bloody crowbar's laying on the floor right in front of my eyes.
I know this part...I hate this part…
"Well...I've gotta go...it's been fun though right? Hmm…" He bursts out laughing. "Let Uncle J give you a little piece of advice...this time...STAY IN BED, okay?" The cackling ends with the metal door slamming.
I really, REALLY don't like this part…this is always the part where my nightmares usually end, the only difference is...this time, I won't be waking up.
I listen to the soft ticking of a bomb as I lay here in a puddle of my own blood.
My eyes are wide as I stare at the bloody crowbar, my saliva dripping down my mouth...with all the pain in my body, I can't even bring myself to swallow, or breathe.
"See you in hell, Joker." I know, this time, Phoenix would avenge me…but no one will save me.
I close my eyes and listen to the bomb ticking down.
****Break****
Dick'sPOV
I remember when I was walking down the dark street in Gotham, with nothing but lamp posts to light the way, and the sound of the crickets chirping.
Suddenly I bumped into some kid holding onto a gold trophy.
"Sorry!" He blushed as I picked up the trophy. "I'm so clumsy!"
"It's okay, Tim." I said handing him the trophy. "What's this for?"
He looked down. "I won first place for the science fair, and I was just heading home to tell my dad."
"Wow, congratulations! You should tell Bruce!"
"I was going to...but he's not answering his calls."
"Hmm...well, I'm proud of you, and I'm sure you're dad will be too."
He looks up at me with his sky blue eyes. "Have you seen Jason around? I haven't seen him around lately...he hasn't been going to school either." I found it weird how the kid was concerned about Jason.
"No, I haven't seen that brat around." I said.
Tim nodded. "I thought, you guys lived in the same house?"
"Yeah, but I don't keep tabs on that street rat."
"Oh...Okay, I was just wondering." He said. "Just tell him I said hi. I gotta go, my dad's waiting!" Tim walked away and I waved goodbye.
"It was nice seeing you again."
I continued walking to the manor with my hands in my pockets. That was when I got the call.
My cellphone started ringing and two distraught words from Alfred sent me running. "Master Dick…"
I opened the doors to the manor with my keys, and I ran into the BatCave. I had that feeling that something was wrong.
I walked into the cave where Bruce was quietly talking to Alfred.
"Bruce?" I asked and they both turned to look at me. Bruce had dark circles around his eyes...I realized that something was definitely wrong. "What happened?" I asked again.
Bruce walked up to me. "Dick…"
"What happened?" I repeated before looking around the cave, "and not that I care or anything, but where's Jason?"
Bruce sighed, and I was absolutely sure that something was really off because Bruce was fighting back tears.
Bruce sighed and didn't say anything. Instead, he pointed to a large bag on a grungy.
I walked to the grungy, and slowly...I zipped open the bag. There was that stench...the disgusting stench of death and blood.
I held my breath as I looked at the face...my eyes were wide as I held the opened the bag even more.
"No...it can't be…" I stared at his face.
"No...no, it...it can't…" Tears started to stream down my eyes. I felt Bruce stand behind me.
"I...couldn't save him...I didn't come in time."
"NO! NO! HE CAN'T BE DEAD!" I said trying to shake the body. "JASON...Wake up! Wake up!" I cried as I shook the unmoving body. "Wake up and tell me Dad's lying!" I let the hot tears fall as my knees gave in and I kneeled beside the grungy. "WAKE UP! NO, NO!" I choked in my own sobs. "Wake up! Please! Tell me Dad's lying! I'm sorry okay? Now, PLEASE WAKE UP!" I yelled and my cries echoed the cave.
"I'm SORRY! I'll...be...I'll...be...a better brother! Just please...wake up! LITTLE WING PLEASE!" I thought that maybe calling him by the nickname that he hated would make him wake up.
I cried for what felt like hours, shaking him and begging the soulless body to wake up.
I just kneeled there, crying and waiting for him to just sit up and laugh in my face and tell me it was all just a stupid prank to get me to cry over him...but it never happened...Jason's body just lied there and his face stayed peaceful with a little frown on his face.
Bruce just stood there, staring at me...but I didn't care. Suddenly I got up and punched Bruce in the face.
"YOU LET HIM DIE! YOU LET MY LITTLE WING DIE!" I yelled as Bruce held his jaw. "You let him die!" I cried. "He died because of you!"
Bruce faced me. "You're right, it is my fault. But don't think that it wasn't your fault either!" He screamed. "You had a chance to be his big brother!" He let the tears flow, "BUT WHAT DID YOU DO?!"
I cried and fell back to the floor, punching the ground. "Little wing…" I kept muttering. "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry…" I don't know if I was saying sorry to Bruce or to Jason. But I was sorry.
That's why I'm not going to let him die again, not again. But first, we need to find The Joker, and I know that it will start there.
Gotham News reports that the clown stands on top of a children's hospital surrounded by dozens of Joker thugs and standing side by side with Harley Quinn.
We head towards the building surrounded by the GCPD.
"Commissioner Gordon." I say and the man turns around.
"Nightwing. Joker's up there."
I glance at Tim. "Nightingale says that Batman's up there."
I nod. "Then what are you guys waiting for? Let's go." I say, sounding serious.
Tim's POV
I went to his first funeral...I'm not going to his second one, because it's not going to happen, because we're not going to let him die.
I get to the rooftop of the building in no time, where I see Batman fighting the thugs and Harley Quinn at the same time.
We all join the fight. Damian and Dick head for the thugs, Batman fights Harley Quinn, and Joker silently starts to head for the elevator. I run after the madman as the elevator door opens.
Before he enters, I tackle him to the ground and pin him down, holding his hands behind his back. He starts to struggle in my grasp but he doesn't laugh. "What's the matter Joker? Bird got your tongue?" I say holding him down.
The fighting behind me dies down, and I know that they've just taken down the thugs and Batman's got Harley Quinn. But she just laughs.
"That ain't Mista J!"
"What do you-" I struggle, trying to keep Joker down. I grab his face and hold it down, and the white on his face smudges, revealing normal skin. "Make up!" I yell and punch his face in anger. I stand up and turn to Batman.
"TELL ME WHERE HE IS!"
We all gather around him.
"What are you doing here?" It sounds more like a statement than a question.
"Same as you, looking for Hood." Nightwing says back.
Batman narrows his eyes at Nightwing but Dick shoots back a glare.
"Fine." Batman growls.
"I thought you were with Phoenix?" I ask.
"We split up." Oh so Chris was right...
"Where's The Joker!" Dick growls. "If we find The Joker, then we find Jason!"
"He sent me here, it was a distraction." Batman states angrily.
Bruce's POV
Stupid! I should have went north! I was heading south... I found out that The Joker was on top of the children's building that he showed me in that jack in the box hours ago.
"I found him." Phoenix says over my com. I hate how she hacked into the systems. "I'm going in."
"You'll die." I say over the com.
"Like I care." The com turns off.
Autumn's POV
I crush the com under my feet but I don't take out the tracker that Batman planted on me because I know I'll need his help.
I watch the warehouse from a few feet away.
It looks old and abandoned...a white and purple van is parked right in front of the dark building.
A man with green hair and a purple blazer stepping out of the warehouse makes me tense.
He wipes his purple gloves that's coated in red blood on his jacket. I narrow my eyes and jump in.
****Break****
Bruce's POV
No, no, no, no, no. I won't let this happen, not again.
I won't let him die.
I step on the accelerator and push the BatMobile to its limit as my other sons ride on their motorcycles, not far behind me.
Jason's all the way on the north side, while I'm here at the south.
HOW COULD I HAVE BEEN SO STUPID AND CARELESS!?
I should have went north! How could I have been distracted!?
I won't fail him. I can't fail him. Not again.
I already failed him once, as a mentor and as a father.
I just can't loose my son again...I'm not going to bury him again.
I won't be able to afford to lose him again...he's my son, and I have to save him.
As we approach the warehouse, I start to mentally beg.
Please Jason, please be alive...I can't...you can't die. Not again. I'll save you, just wait...please be alive.
I jump out of the BatMobile and start running towards the warehouse.
I can see a melted truck parked by the warehouse.
My other three sons aren't far behind me.
Suddenly, there's an explosion. Everything is full of red and I am engulfed in fire. 'BOOM!'
I turn and shield my other sons as Nightwing yells, "JASON!"
Then there's another explosion. 'BOOM!' I hold onto my sons.
'BOOM!' A third explosion.
NO, NO, NO! I CAN'T BE TOO LATE!
I let go of my sons and I start running towards what's left of the warehouse.
No, no, no, no!
I search through the ashes.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Joker cackles under a pile of debris with blood dripping down his mouth and palms. "HAHAHAHA! THAT WAS FUN! LET'S DO IT AGAIN!" That sick clown is still alive after three explosions and probably a beating from Phoenix...how? I don't know.
I leave him to bleed out under that pile of rubble.
I search the entire place with one question in mind. WHERE IS HE?
We all look for him. I agitatedly dig through the ashes with my own hands.
I hear wood collapse on the ground from a distance.
"Father!" Robin calls from the west side of the rubble, and we all turn to him and start running towards the twelve year old.
He seems to be shocked at whatever he's seeing. His eyes are wide under his mask and he looks frozen in place.
We all run towards him in the dying fire and my boots dig into the ashes of the warehouse.
Just by the edge of what's left of the warehouse, two bodies lay.
"Oh my God." Tim gasps at the sight of the bodies.
Jason lays in the ashes with his face flat on the ground. Phoenix lays right beside him with her face flat on the ground as well and her arm around Jason's nape. It looks like she was trying to help him out of the building. It seems to me that they ALMOST made it out, but they weren't able to get far enough when the explosions took place.
I crouch down and turn Jason's body over, and I move Phoenix's arm from his nape. I feel my mind break when I see his face.
It's covered in black and purple bruises. There are large cuts on his forehead, across his mask, down his cheeks, and one across his lips. I put my arm around his back and slightly lift him up as I kneel beside him.
PLEASE, PLEASE, BE ALIVE...JASON PLEASE.
I try to swallow that large lump in my throat as I try to fight back the tears.
I put my finger on his wrist to feel his pulse…I feel comfort wash over me when I feel slow and soft heart beats.
"He's alive!" I nearly yell and I start to lift him in my arms like I did once before...when he died the first time. But it's okay, this time's different...he's not dead...not yet.
"So is she." Nightwing says as he picks up Phoenix as gently as possible.
We bring them both to the BatMobile.
Tim's POV
Batman gets in the vehicle and Nightwing hops on his motorcycle and The Demon and I watch as they drive away.
I turn to The Joker and start removing the debris covering the clown. Robin ties him up as tightly as possible.
"I've contacted the GCPD." Robin says and I nod without a single word.
In a matter of seconds the GCPD is surrounding the warehouse and Commissioner Gordon talks to the two of us.
"Didn't The Joker kidnap The Red Hood?" Commissioner Gordon scratches his head, "and what the heck happened here?" He asks with a puzzled look on his face.
"Red Hood got away. Batman and Nightwing's looking for him. You should know by now Commissioner...wherever The Joker goes, carnage isn't far behind." I answer, trying to hide my shaky voice.
"Hmm…" Commissioner Gordon seems suspicious but then he just shakes it off.
We spent hours collecting evidence and clearing things up for data.
But now, the Demon and I drive away back to the cave where Chris and Dick meet us.
"Fill us in." I say.
"We brought in Phoenix and Jason. Jason was rushed to the hospital in his civvies about an hour ago. Bruce and Alfred went but they didn't allow any of us to come. They told me to stay here, all of us." Dick says.
"Yea...his injuries seem to be pretty bad." Chris says looking down sadly.
"Phoenix tried to save him, but they both ended up getting caught in the blast...they have pretty bad injuries, both of them. Phoenix is in the med bay." Dick continues. "I don't know how any of them survived, but they both did. Looking at Phoenix's injuries...it looks like she tried to shield Jason but she was only able to take part of the blast for Jason, due to their size difference."
"So...Phoenix tried to save Jason?" I ask and Dick nods.
I take a glance at the glass case holding his old uniform that stands by the computer to remind Bruce of his greatest failure everyday even after he found out that Jason...came back.
"Wait, you'd keep HER here? She is the enemy! Why not just leave her to die?" Damian protests.
Dick's face becomes a bit darker as he looks at Damian. "You know that's not how things work around here. We can't bring her to the hospital because...well, one we can't bring a wanted criminal to a hospital...two, we don't even know who she is...and three, we can't move her out of the med bay because we won't get to the hospital in time if we move her. She'll die."
"It was...easier to rush Jason to the hospital because he already has an identity and we can move him without him dying on the way to the hospital since Alfred already half patched him up. They were so focused on Jason that Phoenix nearly flat lined. Luckily, Dick knew how the defibrillator works." Chris says.
"Yeah, now she and I are even." Dick adds.
"Fine, but don't say that I didn't warn you fools. She'll kill us all!" Damian crosses his arms.
"She can't do much with the injuries. I doubt even she can take us down with all her burns from the blasts. It turns out she isn't all that fire proof after all." Chris says.
"And, we took away all her weapons." Dick says, sounding a bit proud of himself.
Damian's face becomes darker "Do not underestimate the girl, Grayson. Up until now, even I am not entirely sure what she is capable of." Damian says looking away.
I smirk "aw, is the little demon afraid of a girl?" I mock and he avoids eye contact as he scowls.
"Damian's right, Tim. Phoenix is dangerous. She's obviously been trained and trained well." Chris says seriously.
"Did you guys unmask her yet?" I ask and they all turn to look at me.
"No. But we did get a little DNA sample." I nod, you gonna find out who she is then?
"Yeah, we already inputted the data on the computer, it's still analyzing." Chris says.
We move to the med bay at the same time.
Phoenix is laying on one of the beds. She's under a bright artificial light, and this time, I can see her much clearer up close.
Her jacket, boots, gloves and belts are missing.
She's connected to a bunch of wires and there are scars and burn marks on her cheeks. A tube is up her nose because of her very shallow breathing, and her wrists are cuffed to the bed.
"Is that really necessary?" I ask Chris. "She looks so...calm." I say.
"Don't be fooled Drake." Damian answers and I turn my attention back to the peaceful girl.
Dick pushes me forward towards the girl. "You go unmask her, cause I'm not doing it." Dick says.
I stand right next to her bed and Damian stands on the other side with his arms crossed.
I move closer to her as I feel the heavy silence in the air.
Up close, she looks kinda...cute.
She looks about only a year younger than me.
She has pinkish small lips and snow white skin. Her face looks flawless aside from the bruises and burns of course, and her hair is flowing at the side of her shoulder, looking silky, soft, and a bit wavy. Her bangs surround her head, and after all that's happened, her hair doesn't look tangled at all although it's still a bit messy.
She looks kind of like a pretty anime from a manga I saw in Fully Booked or something.
Her shallow, soft breathing makes me sway slightly as I move a bit closer to her, and I slowly and silently lift my hand and reach for her red domino mask.
Damian's POV
I can see Drake making a fool out of himself as he slowly reaches for the mask. It is already obvious that he is slightly blushing even under his mask.
He looks like a fool, as always.
Although I would never make a fool out of myself like he is doing right now, I wouldn't blame him.
Up close, with the light emphasizing her soft looking face, with her peaceful slight movements and without all that anger or rage radiating around her; making her look a touch terrifying.
She looks slightly, attractive...even with the mask on.
She looks about a month or so younger than me. She is probably my age...although I would never admit it, I can feel a soft warmness crawl up my cheeks.
As Drake reaches for the domino mask, we all watch intensely with the silence hanging in the air.
I wouldn't be surprised to see bright shining blue eyes much like Carter's opening and looking right at me once the mask is off her face.
I imagine a soft smile on Phoenix's face aiming right at me.
But I break out of my little fantasy when I hear a sudden hissing.
The white lenses on Phoenix's domino mask widens as all the tubes break and she swiftly grabs Drake's arm.
****Break****
Bruce's POV
"Leslie." I say standing up.
Alfred and I have been waiting for hours in the waiting hall when Jason was being operated on.
Alfred stands a few paces behind me, keeping his usual straight face.
"What are his injuries?" I ask her and she sighs taking out her glasses and rubbing the lenses. She puts the glasses back on and gives me a sad look.
"He has second degree burns, a fractured skull, four broken ribs, a twisted right arm, a left dislocated shoulder, a fractured wrist and ankle, his knee caps are slightly cracked, and a punctured lung...but you're lucky Bruce. If you weren't able to save him from the blast that you told me about then he would have died."
I have to thank Phoenix for that later.
"We cannot allow visitors in yet...he's going to need a lot of rest Bruce."
"How long will he be staying?" I ask
"I'm not sure yet. But he's not going to wake up anytime soon."
I nod. "Thank you."
She nods and gives me a sad tired smile. "Anything, I remember him...when he was still a boy. How could things go from bad to worse, Bruce?" She asks.
"That's a question lingering in my mind as well Leslie." I say.
She sighs heavily and leaves just like that.
I close my eyes for a second. Then my phone rings and I pick it up.
"She got away." Dick's voice says from over the phone.
"Is everyone alright?"
"Yeah, but now I've got a large bump on my head from hitting the ground too hard." Dick says.
"Surprisingly, she left without a fight. Somehow, she was able to get Tim in a lock and, well, that's all I remember. She just drove away."
"You shouldn't have underestimated her." I say
"Yeah, well, we got a DNA sample. The computer's still analyzing it, and it's almost done."
"Okay, that's good." I say. We'll figure out her identity later on.
"Is Jason-"
I cut him off. "I don't know Dick…but stay with your siblings, okay? We'll figure this out later on."