"Casey?" The smile slipped off Casey's face at the sound of her mother's terrified voice.
"Mom, what's wrong?" Casey asked, alarmed.
"It's your Father. He's outside the house."
-x-
Those words froze Casey for a few seconds before she snapped to action. "Lock the door," she said immediately. "And call the police. I'm on my way." She shut her phone off and shoved it into her pocket.
"Casey?" Bruce stood from his chair, a quizzical but concerned expression on his face. "What's wrong?"
"It's my mother," was all Casey could get out before she grabbed her hat and coat and ran out the door. Behind her, she heard Bruce following.
"Casey, wait up!" Bruce called from behind. He caught up as she slung her coat on and buttoned it up. "At least let me drive you."
If this were any other circumstance, Casey would have paused to think about it. But right now it was an emergency; her mother was in danger. "Okay," she said. "I'll give you directions. And drive fast."
She barely waited for him to get his coat on before she took his hand and practically dragged him out of the building. "Where are you parked?" She demanded.
"Over there." Bruce pointed at a black Lamborghini parked across the street.
Casey ran for it, forcing Bruce to jog in order to keep up with her. "Come one, let's go," she urged him as he unlocked the doors. Casey slid in and buckled her seat belt while Bruce started the car.
He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something but didn't. He pulled out of his parking spot and into the street. "Turn left on Vine," she said curtly. "She's in the suburbs outside Gotham. Oakland Drive."
Casey said nothing else the entire ride except to give Bruce directions. She dug her finger nails into the seat and chewed her lip. How did her father find her mother? He hadn't been privy to any information regarding Casey and Virginia when the divorce was finalized. And as far as Casey knew (and she did a regular check on him every year) he was still living near D.C.
She broke out of her reverie when Bruce said her name. He pointed at a house near the cul-de-sac that had a police car out front. "Is that it?" He asked.
Her mouth went dry but she managed a quiet, "yes."
He pulled up and to Casey's relief, she saw the curtains were drawn shut. But she spotted an officer milling about in the driving chatting amiably to… You've got to be shitting me.
Casey had not seen Richard Wilson since the divorce hearing when she was eighteen, but he still looked the same as he always did: Clean-shaven, his brown hair nearly combed down, wearing a suit and a pair of horn-rimmed glasses. But Richard Wilson wasn't even handcuffed or in the police car. Instead, he was speaking and laughing with the officer while standing in her mother's driveway.
Rage boiled through Casey and before Bruce parked the car she had unbuckled herself and shoved the door open. She heard Bruce call her name but by then she was already out the car. "What the hell are you doing?" She yelled as she stormed over to the two.
Richard did a double take as she neared. "Casey?" He asked uncertainly and then his lips twitched into a half-smile. "You've grown since I last saw you."
"Don't. Even." Casey snarled. Behind her she heard Bruce's footsteps coming closer.
She directed her attention the officer and her anger grew when she recognized him as one Burke's friends, the officer who accused her of sleeping with Roman Sionis. "Why is he not under arrest?" She demanded.
"Whoa, slow down Wilson," the officer said. "I just got here and was assessing the situation."
"I'm sure you were," Casey snapped. She pointed a finger at Richard. "He is violating a restraining order, two restraining orders now that I'm here!"
Richard slowly held his hands up. "Now let's calm down, Casey. There's no need to act rashly" he said in a tone Casey recognized all too well. It was the voice he used on her mother when he thought she was being 'unreasonable.'
"Don't you dare," Casey said, trembling with fury. "Don't you dare use that tone on me." She felt tears beginning to form and she blinked them away, gritting her teeth. She would not start crying. Not when her mother was hiding in her own home scared out of her wits.
"Excuse me," Bruce interrupted in a firm voice. He came to stand next to Casey. "What is going on?" He peered at the first officer's badge. "Officer Boles, is it?"
Boles merely grinned, bearing his teeth at him, and resting a hand on his gun. But since Bruce stood taller than him and stared at Boles with a cold look, it wasn't intimidating as Boles probably wanted. Suddenly, Casey was grateful that Bruce came with her. "Just a routine call," Boles replied. "I was talking to this gentleman about the situation."
Casey exploded. "Situation?" He's trespassing and in violation of a fucking restraining order! Do I have to keep repeating myself? Run his goddamn name and it'll come up!" She glared up at Boles.
Boles held up his hands. "Alright, I'll run it." He turned to head towards his cruiser.
"Casey," Richard tried again, softly this time. "This isn't what it looks like."
"Isn't what it looks like?" Casey hissed. "Mom and I made it very clear we didn't want you in our lives or anywhere near us. And the judge made it fucking clear too when she approved the restraining orders. I don't give a damn about why you wanted to come out here but you stay the hell away from her. You already did enough damage to her." She didn't realize it but as she spoke, she grabbed Bruce's hand and squeezed tightly as if he could keep her grounded.
"Casey," Richard said, pleading this time and it threw Casey for a loop. He never pleaded. Not once. Growing up, he was the authority. He never asked, he told and when he told you, you got it done. Any misstep and he would deliver an onslaught of harsh words that cut deep and made you feel worthless oh so worthless. Life with him had been walking on eggshells but Casey was no longer a seventeen year old girl running away from home. This time, she was twenty-five years old and the bubble she kept clamped shut all those years was ready to burst.
"Don't," she said so forcefully, her entire body vibrated. "I don't want to hear it." She took a breath but she was shaking too hard. "Come near us again and I swear to God I will call up the Batman and have him beat your ass." She drew up to her full height, her rage in full swing. "And trust me, I've seen what he can do and it's not pretty."
Richard staggered back, a horrified look on his face. His mouth moved noiselessly and he opened and closed it several times. But by then, Boles came back out of his cruiser. "As it does turn out, there are two restraining orders against you," Boles grunted. "One from a Virginia Wilson, the resident and owner of this house. And the other from Casey Wilson." He sighed. "I'm going to have to take you in."
Boles cuffed Richard as he read him his rights and walked him over to the cruiser. Casey watched in tremendous satisfaction as Richard was placed in the car and taken away. And then she remembered. "Mom!"
She bolted for the front door and knocked. "Mom! It's Casey. It's safe, you can open the door." Inside, she heard shuffling before the deadbolt unlocked. The door opened to reveal Virginia, pale as a sheet and trembling.
"Is-is he gone?" She whispered.
Casey nodded. "They took him away." Virginia let out a sob and gripped at the door as if she could collapse at any moment. "Come on," Casey said gently. "Let's go sit down and I'll call Annette."
"Yes," Virginia murmured as Casey took her arm and led her inside to the living room.
Once Virginia was settled on the couch, Casey left to go make tea and call Annette. "Casey?" Annette asked on the phone.
"Hi Annette," Casey said. "Can my mom stay with you for a couple nights. Richard showed up at the house."
Annette drew in a sharp breath. "No," she said. "He did? What happened? Are you two okay?"
"Called the police and he was arrested but she's pretty shaken up."
"Of course, of course," Annette said. "I'll be right over."
"Thanks," Casey replied and hung up. She sighed deeply and rubbed her temples.
Someone cleared their throat and she jumped. Bruce stood at the entrance of the kitchen looking a bit lost. She had gotten so caught up with her mother she forgot that Bruce was with her. And then she remembered what he witnessed just earlier. "I'm sorry you had to see that," Casey said quietly, feeling ashamed. She had not thought she'd broach this subject with Bruce until much later and she was sure their relationship would lead somewhere.
"I won't deny that it was alarming," he admitted. "Especially what you said to him."
"It's just..." Casey trailed off as the kettle whistled. She busied herself pouring a cup for her mother and dunking a chamomile tea bag inside. "I'll explain later when my mother is out of earshot."
He nodded. "Of course," he said and she felt a surge of affection towards him. But deep down, she wondered what he thought about the situation. He lost both his parents at a young age and here he was, witness to Casey anger at her father and the fragility of her mother.
Casey delivered the tea to Virginia who thanked her. "Mom," Casey said gently as she took the spot next to her. "I want to introduce someone to you." She gestured for Bruce to come over.
"Who?" Virginia asked as she set her teacup down.
Bruce stood in front of them and Virginia took in a slight breath. "Mom," Casey said, "this is Bruce Wayne. Bruce, I'd like you to meet my mother, Virginia Wilson."
He flashed a charming smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Virginia."
To Casey's surprise, a pale pink flush appeared on Virginia's cheeks. "An-and you as well," she stammered. "I'm sorry you had to see such a scene."
"You've done nothing to apologize for," Bruce replied. He took a seat in the chair next to the sofa. "You have a beautiful house."
Virginia smiled. She kept the house clean and void of any personal reminders, habits left over from her marriage but now she was proud of her ability to keep a house clean. "Thank you but I doubt it holds a candle to Wayne Manor."
At that Casey stood and told the two she had to use the bathroom. Since her explosion at her father, a headache started throbbing in her head. She closed the bathroom door behind and her opened the medicine cabinet. After popping a couple Ibuprofen she took a moment to pause. She was still reeling from earlier.
Had she really threatened her father with the Batman? Oh god, how the hell would that conversation go? Do you want to take a few swings at my father, Batman? I promise you he's a dickbag and deserves it. She wondered if Batman would do it on her say so or if he'd tell her she was not a judge or jury even though a judge proved her father was an asshole.
No, that wasn't Batman's prerogative. Casey sighed and washed her hands. The Batman threat was empty but deep down she hoped her father believed her.
When Casey returned to the living room, she found her mother laughing and moving her hands about. "And she stood in the kitchen, covered in flour, and presented me with a burnt cake and said, "Happy Birthday Mommy!" right before the fire alarm went off."
Oh boy. It was the cake story. The only weekend the two of them had to themselves during Casey's entire childhood when her father went on a business trip. Her mother's birthday had been that weekend and twelve year old Casey took it upon herself to bake her mother a cake as a surprise. Needless to say, it did not work out.
Bruce laughed heartily and Casey felt her face going hot. "Mom," she whined. "The cake story?"
"It's a good story," Virginia said. "I don't get to tell it often and it was so sweet of you to attempt baking a cake."
It was a good story, Casey knew, because it was the only time she had seen her mother genuinely happy. There was no forced smile upon her face but a real one. Until her father came home and learned what happened.
Luckily, Casey was spared the mortification when the door opened. "Virginia," Annette called from the foyer.
"In the living room!" Virginia called back and stood.
"Oh Virginia," Annette said when she saw Virginia. "How are you, Dear? Are you alright?" She embraced Virginia tightly.
"I'm fine," Virginia replied. "Casey came over and she brought Bruce." She gestured to Bruce who had stood. "Annette Browning meet Bruce Wayne. Bruce, this is Annette Browning, a dear family friend."
"Pleasure to meet you," Bruce said and offered his hand.
Annette didn't take it. "I've heard of you, yes," she said, regarding him sternly. "You show up to parties half-drunk with models on your arms and buy hotels for your own amusement."
Oh no. Damage control, now. "He hasn't done that for awhile now," Casey butted in. She moved to stand next to Bruce. "He's been all about Wayne Enterprises."
Annette raised a brow. "Is that so?" She didn't look convinced.
"Yes," Bruce said. "We've been working on raising money to expand our bio-medical facilities. In the future, we hope to become a leading expert on medical research and find cures for untreatable diseases."
Annette's lips tightened but she said nothing. "Well now that Annette's here," Virginia announced, "I don't need to be keeping you two any longer. I'm sure both of you have important work to get done."
"Yes," Annette said loudly with a pointed stare at Bruce. "I'm sure they do. Virginia, let me help you get your things around."
Virginia nodded. "Of course." She turned to Casey and Casey rushed forward to give her a hug. Casey's heart broke in two when she realized how thin her mother was. "Goodbye Casey. I'll speak to you soon."
"Of course," Casey said.
Virginia looked at Bruce. "It was so nice to meet you."
Bruce nodded and smiled. "It was a pleasure to meet you." He reached for Casey's hand and she took it and they left the house.
Outside, he took a deep breath. "So..." He said.
"So," Casey echoed. And then she sighed. "Can we talk someplace private that isn't a car?"
He nodded. "Would you like to come over to the Manor for dinner? We can talk there."
She smiled. "That would be great." And it gave her time to prepare what she was going to say. She had never told anyone the story. Not even Barbara or Gordon knew.
As Bruce drove, Casey had the sense to call Gordon to tell him she was taking the rest of the day off and apologize for leaving so abruptly.
"Does this have to do with a Richard Wilson sitting in our holding cell?" Gordon asked when he picked up.
"It does," she replied. "I can explain everything tomorrow if that's okay." Though the file would tell most of it, Casey would just fill in the gaps.
"It's fine. You do what needs to get done. But I'll have you know Boles told me some alarming things but I can tell you about them tomorrow."
"I'm sure I can guess what," Casey groused. "But I'll see you tomorrow and thanks, Gordon."
"No problem Casey."
The rest of the drive was silent as Casey practiced what she was going to tell Bruce and slowly, she began to dread it. And sooner rather than later, Bruce was pulling into Wayne Manor. She opened the door and got out.
"Miss Wilson," Alfred greeted, surprised, when they walked in. "Master Wayne didn't tell me you were coming over."
"A bit of a surprise, Alfred," Bruce said as he took off his coat and handed it to the butler. Casey followed suit. "I'm sure you can set a place for Casey at dinner."
"Of course," Alfred replied. "I shall start on dinner right away."
"Thanks Alfred." Bruce turned to her. "We can talk in the study, if you'd like."
"Yeah," she said. "That's be good."
She followed him down the hallway that led into the study and she eyed the library door. Maybe later she could take a peek and see how it looked in there. But Bruce walked over to the couch and plopped down, loosening his tie.
Casey took a deep breath, preparing herself. Here goes… She joined him on the couch. "Before I start, I have to tell you something."
"Okay."
"I've never told anyone about this. The people who know were a part of it when it happened so things might get a little shaky. It's just been a long time since I had to… talk about it." Or face it.
And so, Casey began her tale.
-x-
Virginia Clements believed she had a bright future ahead of her. She graduated among the top of her class and had plans to start college that fall and eventually, she would enroll in dental school. Her parents couldn't be any more proud of her.
But a few weeks after graduation, at a party the class threw before everyone went their own way, she met Richard Wilson. He was a few years older than her, a friend of someone's older brother, and there to supply the teens with beer. He was charming, handsome, and stayed by Virginia's side the entire party. He encouraged her to try her first beer and asked her all kinds of questions about herself and flattered her all night.
By the next week, she and Richard were dating and it was pure bliss. She never had a boyfriend before (her father would not allow her to date while in high school.) She found the life of being someone's girlfriend alluring and felt as if she were on top of the world.
When fall semester started, she and Richard kept in contact though it was difficult. He was going to Gotham University and she to Metropolis University. The distance put some strain on them as Richard complained he didn't get to see her often enough. While Virginia was enjoying the college life and academics, she tried to make time for him by driving out to visit. More than once, she would propose the idea of him coming to see her in Metropolis but he refused. He was in his final year for his degree in Accounting and was too busy.
For a moment, Virginia thought their relationship was too rocky for it to survive but she worked hard to keep it going. She would ditch her friends nearly every weekend to drive to Gotham and back. All the things she wanted to say, to plead with him to come visit her, were swallowed up by the joy she felt when she saw him grin and say, "there's my girl!"
Once the spring semester was over, Virginia believed things would go back the way it was. Her first year of college was done and she was ready for the break. Richard, on the other hand, graduated and would start working at his father's accounting firm.
But he surprised Virginia that summer. He asked her to marry him. Full of love towards him, Virginia said yes. And two months later, they were married in a small ceremony with family and close friends.
Perhaps that was when it really started or maybe Virginia had been blind to it the entire time. But as fall semester neared, Richard sat her down for a talk. Perhaps college wasn't the best idea for Virginia right now, he said. If they were going to have kids, she would need to be at home taking care of them. She couldn't care for children if she were busy with school. One year off, he promised her. One year and then she could go back part time. If they had a child by then, Richard was sure to make enough money to hire a nanny.
And sure enough, by Christmas Virginia found out she was pregnant. And next year in late September, Casey Rebecca Wilson was born.
Then things started to go bad. As Casey grew up, Virginia started to get more and more reclusive. Casey remembered Richard speaking to Virginia like she was child being reprimanded for doing something she knew not to. It was hard to pinpoint exact moments but as early as the age of five, Casey could recall times when Richard would criticize everything Virginia did: The house wasn't properly cleaned, something was wrong with dinner either it was overcooked or undercooked, Virginia was gaining weight, she wasn't smart enough to go back to school, Casey was being too loud and Virginia should have control of her daughter by now. The list was endless.
And every time he said something like that, he made himself out to be like a saint for putting up with Virginia's faults. He'd always drove the point home by telling her she was falling as a mother and that's why Casey didn't have any friends.
By the time Casey was in middle school, Virginia's self-esteem was completely shot. She would double—no, triple check everything, the entire house to make sure nothing was out of place and dinner was perfect before Richard came home from work. Yet, every single time, he would walk through the front door and there'd be something out of place whether is was a fork or an underdone potato and Casey'd watch her mother's face just crumple. She'd apologize profusely and promise next time it'd be perfect. To which Richard would reply he doubted it and he couldn't believe he stayed with her so long.
Casey had learned by then to keep out of her father's way. She'd do her homework quietly in the corner while he read the newspaper or watched television. She'd murmur a goodnight to her mother every night and sneak off to her bedroom, making sure not to make noise going up the stairs or else her father would complain.
And then Casey started high school. By then, Casey had matured and noticed how different everyone was with their parents. She waited for them to notice it too but no one did. Her father was a perfect gentlemen in public, claiming Virginia was at home nursing a migraine and acting the devoted father to Casey.
But as Casey entered her mid-teens, she noticed her father's biting words were coming her way now. Why wasn't Casey doing well in science? Obviously she wasn't doing her proper work or else she would get it. Try out for the basketball team? Don't be absurd Casey, he said. You're too fat to play sports. Perhaps you should try home economics and maybe we can have a decent meal for once.
Yet Casey did not allow herself to succumb to her father's suggestions. Instead, she signed up for a computer class and was hooked. She threw herself into coding and learning everything there was to know about computers and software. It was something that was hers and hers alone. Her father wouldn't understand and he could never criticize her about it because he wouldn't be right this time. And as she did, she found herself cutting ties with her old friends and brought less and less people over (not that Casey brought many over lest they see too much of her home life.)
When Richard found Casey wasn't an easy target anymore, he doubled his efforts on Virginia. He blamed her for Casey's reclusive behavior. And Casey was ashamed to admit that whenever it happened, she shut herself away in her room and refused to come to her mother's aid.
It wasn't until after Casey's sixteenth birthday did everything change. A woman and her son moved in down the street. Annette Browning was a shock to the neighborhood. Not only was she an African-American woman living in a predominately white neighborhood, but she began to arrange neighborhood barbecues in an attempt to be neighborly. She did, however, get several families on board with such a plan.
Those barbecues were what saved Virginia and Casey. Annette noticed the Wilson family right away. Who wouldn't when Virginia was the one fetching food and drink for Richard the entire time and barely having enough time to feed herself or her teenage daughter? When she heard Richard jokingly tell the men that Virginia was a terrible cook and that he should have thought of a neighborhood gathering like this before to be spared Virginia's cooking, she knew something was very wrong with the Wilson family.
But she couldn't prove it right away. Instead, she set her son to the task of befriending Casey. Unfortunately Rodney was only a middle schooler and a high schooler hanging out with a kid was lame and embarrassing.
So Annette came up with a Plan B. She offered to drive Casey to school in the morning since the middle and high schools started at the same time. Seeing no reason to refuse, Casey accepted. Annette spent the rides getting to know Casey, what she liked and disliked and earning her trust. It was a slow process but within a few months, Casey began to trust in her.
Finally, Annette would invite Casey over for dinner and sat her down for a serious talk. She asked cautious questions about her home life and especially her father. Casey didn't reveal much but she didn't realize she let a few details slip like her father's obsession with Virginia keeping the house clean and having a good meal every once in a while.
It was then Annette turned her attentions to Virginia. She would come by with homemade treats in an attempt to speak with Virginia. While Virginia initially rebuked Annette, it was Casey who convinced Virginia to let Annette in.
Slowly, Casey didn't know how, but Annette became Virginia's friend. She would come around when Richard wasn't home and assessed the situation for herself. But Annette became a friend of both Casey and Virginia.
It took almost a year before Annette could sit Virginia down for the talk while Richard was out of town. Annette admitted she knew something was wrong with the family when she saw them interact before but she couldn't come out without accusations. Then, Annette surprised the two with a revelation of her own: Annette had been in an abusive relationship. She knew what it felt like to be terrified in your own home, the place where everyone had a right to feel safe.
And finally, Annette took Virginia's hand and asked about her relationship with Richard. It was one of walking on eggshells and attempting to please a man who could never be happy with anything. With tears in her eyes, Virginia finally confessed what she had been ignoring for years: Richard was an abuser.
It was like a weight had been lifted off their shoulders. Finally someone admitted. It was out in the open. And Annette moved into action. She asked Virginia if she was willing to get help. Virginia denied she needed help but Casey asked Virginia to do it, to find some happiness. So, Virginia relented and packed a suitcase. Annette would take her to a woman's shelter. Once Virginia was settled in, Annette would come back for Casey.
But Richard came home early. He demanded to know where Virginia was and Casey, feeling bold, told him exactly what was happening. That would be a mistake. Her entire life, Richard would use his words to put down Virginia and Casey. But this time, he went into a rage. He ranted about how much effort he put into keeping the family together, that he was the only one who did anything right, and neither of them would survive without him.
When Richard threw a vase at Casey's head (and missed) she knew it was time to get out of there. She ran for the door and didn't stop until she reached Annette's where she hid until Annette came home. Perhaps that was what Annette was waiting for because when she heard Richard threw a vase at Casey, she called the police.
Though Richard only spent a night in jail, it was enough to get a ball rolling. With Virginia safely away in a shelter, Annette managed to procure paperwork that would make her Casey's temporary but legal guardian until she was eighteen.
During Virginia's time in the shelter, she filed for divorce and a restraining order for her and on behalf of Casey. They got the restraining order when Richard showed up at the shelter demanding to speak to his wife. And at the divorce hearing, when Casey was eighteen, Virginia and Richard were legally divorced. Richard would pay alimony to his wife who had no way to pay her own bills due to having no college degree. That was the last time Casey and Virginia ever saw Richard because he moved to Washington D.C. for work.
-x-
Casey was crying by the time she finished. "No one believes it's abuse when there aren't bruises," she said, wiping tears away on her sleeve. "But Annette saw and she—she saved my mom. It's been a long road of recovery and even though her self-esteem is still non-existent, she's done so much better since we left." She sniffled.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you this before."
"Hey," Bruce soothed. "It's okay. Something like that takes time and trust to tell. We've known each other only for a couple months." He draped his arm around and pulled her in close. She buried her head in his shirt, crying. Bruce merely wrapped his other arm around her and held her."Why don't you stay the night?" He said.
Casey brought her head up. "Stay the night?"
He nodded. "We have a guest room you can use. It's your choice."
She smiled weakly and shifted so she sat on her knees. With the few extra inches of height, she managed to kiss him briefly. "Thank you," she whispered. "If it's no trouble with you, I'll stay."
He smiled and kissed her back, bringing her flush against him, and stroked her hair. "It never is," he assured her.
-x-
When Casey was tucked away in a guest room, sleeping peacefully, Bruce called for Alfred and headed down to the Batcave. He hadn't expected to invite Casey to stay the night but she looked so broken after she told him her story and he just didn't want to leave her alone while she was so vulnerable.
With all her cheerfulness, Bruce never thought that she'd be hiding such a darkness. The way she reacted to her father's presence… it was like seeing a completely different Casey. And when she threatened her father with the Batman, he knew she despised the man. Casey did not take the Batman lightly.
He knew Casey's father would be in the GCPD for the night but he promised himself the Batman would keep an eye on the situation. Quietly, of course. He didn't want Casey getting suspicious of him. It was the least he could do for her.
-x-
The new peace Gotham was experiencing since Sionis got locked up pissed Frank Boles off to no end. He was supposed to be raking in the cash for looking the other way when the mob did their jobs. Now he had no choice but to do his job or else Gordon would have his balls.
He wanted to do nothing more than leave that man who agitated that little bitch from Cybercrimes at the house. But under the eye of Bruce Wayne and the bitch who'd run squealing to Gordon, he couldn't do anything except his job.
"Is this the place?" His partner, Jacob Brown, asked.
"It's where the call came from," Boles groused as he parked the cruiser. It was a disturbance call, nothing they'd have to worry about when Sionis was in power. But if Gordon found out they were neglecting their jobs… That man was looking for any excuse to weed out the corrupt ones.
He and Brown got out. Down the alley, they heard someone muttering and banging against the dumpsters. "Probably a homeless guy," Brown said as he clicked his flashlight on.
"Hope so," Boles muttered darkly.He only hoped it was someone he could beat and work off his frustration. Brown would have the decency to look the other way.
They walked down the alley, looking for the sign of the noise. The banging got louder as they walked further in. Boles' flashlight drifted over a pair of legs and he stopped. It was a kid, college age by the looks of it. "Hey," Boles said loudly. "Let me see your hands."
The kid however, kept bumping against the dumpster, muttering to himself. As Boles and Brown neared, Boles could see his hands. He was hitting himself hard enough to leave bruises, judging by the kid's face, and he kept slapping himself all over.
"Hey kid," Boles said, alarmed. "What's wrong?"
Finally, the kid looked at them and Boles had to take a step back. The kid's pupils were so dilated his eyes appeared black. And when the kid saw them, he began to scream.
"GET THEM OFF ME. GET THEM OFF ME."He started punching himself frantically, as if trying to get something off him. But, as far as Boles could see, the kid didn't have anything on him. Just his clothes.
"GET THEM OFF," the kid kept howling. "THEY'RE EVERYWHERE. GET. THEM. OFF."
-x-
And that concludes chapter twenty-one. I'm sure some of you had suspicions but the truth about Casey's father has been revealed. And this was a difficult chapter for me to write because it drained a lot out of me. But I hope you enjoyed you, at least.
Reviews, favorites, and follows are love! See ya in chapter twenty-two!