Damian
I arrived back at the cave around six am. While there wasn't much activity, it was freezing. This winter seemed colder than most, and while I am getting used to snow, you don't expect two feet to be dumped on you. I expected Pennyworth to greet me as usual, then I recalled that he is currently under the weather.
After getting into normal, warm clothes, I made my way upstairs. For now, it's only me, father, Abigail, and Pennyworth in the house. Grayson is staying in Bludhaven, Drake invited Thomas to stay at his apartment for the night, Cain and Brown are out of the country, while my clone and his other sister are on a mission. Todd never stays at the manor.
I reached the kitchen and made myself a light snack. Typically, Abigail would be down here to greet me, or would have come up with me from the cave. I personally benched her due to her encounter with Scarecrow the other night. She didn't like it but understood. Where is she? Perhaps she managed to get some sleep. This odd feeling coursed though me, Grayson might describe it as concern.
Then a call further cemented my suspension. 'Wilson Clone'.
I answered. "Tt, this better be important."
"Go check on Abby."
"Excuse me?"
"Abby didn't pick up. She always picks up."
"Did it not occur to you that she may have actually achieved some sleep?" For some reason, I still went upstairs. A growing guilt building in my gut.
"That soon after nightmare gas? No. She refuses sleep anyways. She might even try coffee to avoid reliving her nightmares." He does know that she encountered Scarecrow a few days prior. I wasn't aware of Daniel's nightly calls to her until he blared in my ear, demanding to know where she was. I didn't relay to him the content of her hallucinations, but he knows her well enough to guess what they are.
"Tt. Fine. I shall check on her if you will stop blaring in my ear!"
"Good."
After another minute, I was in front of my sister's door. I knocked, though was no real reason to, she knows where everyone is. "Abigail, open the door and please explain to the clone why you refused his call?" Silence. "Abigail!" Perhaps she is asleep. I opened the door. Her medical equipment was out on her bed, her embroidery artwork was in their places.
"Well?!"
"She isn't in her room. Although her medical equipment is out, probably grabbing equipment to replace some things." Somehow, I knew it wasn't true.
"Do you see her phone anywhere?"
"No." I frowned. "Hang up and call it."
"Won't help, it's been going straight to voice mail."
"Tt, when was the last time you tried?"
"About two minutes before I called you. I called over ten times." Concern was gnawing at me.
"I am going to check the manor. I will call you back."
"You will call me as soon as you find her!"
"Yes." I sighed.
"Stop pretending you don't care! I know you do! If you weren't worried you wouldn't have picked up!"
"Tt, do you want her found or not?" Silence. "Once I find her, I will call you." I ended the call before he could say anything else. I checked my watch. 6:50. I didn't have time to check the entire manor on my own. I needed help, fortunately it didn't require begging any person for aid. I whistled. A moment later, all four dogs came bounding up to me.
Ace is technically Pennyworth's. A fierce German shepherd, too violent for the police to handle. I sometimes consider the possibility that I learned my talent of taming fierce beasts from him. Ace looks like your average German shepherd, with the brown and black coat.
Titus is my great Dane. Black coat, loyal, and hates Drake. Ranger is Daniel's Dobermann pincher. Black coat, with brown around his face. Hunter is a mixture of a coon hound and a rottweiler. His coat is bronze red, and black, with a splattering of white along his back. I had him specifically breed for my sister.
I grabbed one of my sister's jackets, having all four of the canines sniff the cloth. "Find". I was depending on Hunter in particular. The reason I had him breed like this was to find and protect my sister. While the rest of the canines can smell well, his ability to seek is superb.
Hunter led the chase. Following close behind was the pack and me. I was led to the library. Odd. Abigail can't read. I attempted to push the door, finding it locked. The library is never locked. Dread. Heavy dread filled me. The pack was clawing at the door, anxious to find their target.
I grabbed the key set along the top of the doorframe. I may not be as tall as father yet, but I can sure jump that high thanks to my training. The door still wouldn't unlock with key. I know this is the correct key because I locked Drake in the library once with this key. I tired to pick the lock, I heard it click, but the door wouldn't open.
Frowning, I took a knife, and attempted to jimmy the door open. No luck. The original lock had undone, but it seems another lock was added, maybe a mechanical lock. If it was mechanical, there was no keypad on this side. There wasn't even a hidden alcove where a keypad could be hidden.
I breathed. 7:45. I had been trying to pick this darn lock for nearly an hour. How about you try listening? D? Who knowns, maybe you'll hear something. Abigail taunted in my head. While she has meta hearing, I do not. A fact that she will not accept in that simple brain of her's. I didn't have her to see what was behind the door, so, for once, I tried it her way.
Glass being shifted, objects falling, furniture being moved, heavy breathing. Someone is trying to clean up a crime- no a scene. Not a crime scene. They must have heard me trying to get in. Pennyworth is bedridden; besides he never locks the door when cleaning. Only he, father, Abigail, and I are currently residing in the manor. The breathing was far too deep to belong to a teenage girl. Or most of the feminine world. So, the person is either an intruder or… father. No. Mabey Todd crashed here due to the cold, got drunk in the library, and was trying to hide the evidence.
That didn't add up. Todd had no reason to come near the manor at all. His territory is the Crime Alley area, in the middle of the city. With the snow, that would be over an hour away from the manor. There was no evidence that Todd was here. The fridge was fully stocked, and his cologne wasn't detectable.
Then it's an intruder. That still didn't make since. No alarms went off. So better than your typical bugler, besides the library was on the fourth floor. Not many would try to steal up here in winter. How would the intruder, except for Cat woman, know we have a mechanical lock on the door? Perhaps Cat woman brought a friend? Or she was playing with father. I shuddered. Why must I have such a vivid imagination? That still didn't answer why the door was locked, or why Abigail was in there, or where she is.
I examined the door more closely. The door bore scratches. From the dogs, but some were deep as if the dogs were trying to get inside to defend Abigail. Something happened in here, most likely Abigail being injured or threatened in some manner. I took my phone out and took pictures of the scratched door.
At the bottom of the door frame was a strand. White, a long black strand next to it, both ruffly 2 feet in length. Abigail's hair. She is the only person with black and white hair that is so long.
The dread grew uncomfortable in my stomach. I needed help, unfortunately other than the canine variety. I decided to ask Pennyworth if he heard anything. Though unlikely to his room being two floors below. I made my way to his room, the pack following behind me.
I knocked on his door. "Enter". Pennyworth's quarters are ruffly, half the size of mine. Surely, he should be given better, at least larger quarters due to his devotion to father. "Ah, master Damain. Do require something that I am able to help with in my current position?" He was in bed, coming over the flu.
"Yes Pennyworth. It does not require to leave your bed." I stopped him with my words as he made to get up.
"Then what do you require master Damian?"
"Answers."
"Is this an integration?"
"More like a secondhand witness statement."
"Alright." He settled back down in his bed. I sat in a chair close to the bed.
"When was the last time you saw Abigail?"
"Mostly likely right after you left on patrol. May I ask why this information is important?"
"I shall answer that question once I have asked all of mine." I left on patrol at 7. Winter has longer night hours, the only benefit of winter. I arrived back at 6 am. Nearly an 11-hour time gap from the time I left and arrived back. "Did you hear anything strange anytime after she left?"
Pennyworth frowned in concentration. "Perhaps. I thought I heard the dogs barking, maybe something crashed. I thought someone had arrived home and they were just excited. I would say this noise occurred at 10 give or take a half hour."
"Is there anything else you can think of?"
"No. Now will you please answer my question as to why this is important?"
I sighed. "When I arrived back from patrol, I found it odd Abigail wasn't there to greet me. Then Daniel less than a half hour later and demanded I find her. Saying that he had called her ten times and all he got was voicemail. I thought she may have achieved some sleep, but her room was just as I saw it earlier today. Expect that her medical equipment was on her bed, as if she was going through it. I called the dogs to find her, and they led me to the library."
"The library?"
"Yes. I found it odd myself. I attempted to get in, but the door was locked. I picked the original lock; however, a mechanical lock is the issue. There is nothing to hack the door open. Someone is inside, however, I heard them trying to clean up after themselves by moving glass and furniture. It wasn't her. The person is most likely male, or a female who is a wrestler."
"Have considered the intruder to have an accomplice?"
"Yes. But no alarm went off. Other than Kyle, who would try to steal from us tonight during a blizzard, at the library on the fourth floor? She isn't known for joint thievery either."
"Perhaps master Jason came to spend the night?"
"No. There is no evidence of Todd. The fridge is stocked, his disgusting cologne can't be detected, and he would have visited you if he did come by the manor."
Pennyworth considered the lack of evidence. "I am unsure if the stocked fridge is evidence or not. Though his cologne is strong, and yes, he would have visited me if he came. Is there anyone else you suspect?"
I hesitated. "Yes. But I dearly hope my suspicions are false. Father."
"What makes you suspect him?"
"Male, no alarms, knows about the mechanical lock, the only other person in the house."
"Are you positive your sister was in the library?"
"Yes. I found her hair at the base of the doorframe. Both black and white 2 feet in length. Also, the dogs were scratching at the door."
Pennyworth wrinkled his nose. "The dogs know better than to scratch the door. We both taught them this."
"Yes. Look here." I pulled out my phone and showed him the scratches. His face went into an unreadable expression. "It appears the dogs were trying to help someone. Most likely Abigail."
He handed my phone back to me. "Have you tried a tracker?"
"She removes as soon as there placed. In that regard, she is similar to Grayson."
A slight smile graced Pennyworth's face. "Have you contacted anyone about this?"
"No. I have only discussed what I've found with you, and Daniel is worried about Abigail."
"It would be best to call some help in."
I didn't want to ask for more help. Coming to Pennyworth had been a challenge of pride in itself. "I will take you up on your advice once I check the grounds. I may be able to see the library from outside."
He nodded. "Master Damian. Take the dogs with you, they may be able to find something. Also, call master Daneil and tell what you've found. I fear that boy will come here and hurt himself in finding Abigail."
"Thank you, Pennyworth. Get better."
I made to leave, "Master Damian, please do let me know when you find her."
I nodded.
8:05. I went outside with all four canines. My vision was becoming blurry. I need rest, but I need to find Abigail before she gives Pennyworth a heart attack.
Abigial has buried herself into everyone's heart. She often helps Pennyworth with dinner and cleaning parts of the house. She is a child around Grayson, constantly learning his acrobatic moves. Todd may even see her as his daughter. She listens to Drake ramble on, even if she has no idea what he is saying. She often corrects his speech and requests him to use words in a language she comprehends. Thomas likes to read to her, as she is unable to do so herself. Abigail and Brown love to play pranks, though Abigail runs when Brown attempts to put makeup on her. Cain loves to sign with her. Abigail managed to bring Respawn into a life he wanted to live. She even managed to make me like her. Often, she requests aid with her embroidery. Sometimes I draw her picture for her, though she mostly asks for help with colors. She has made portraits with her thread. The only person she struggles with is father. I don't believe the two have been alone in the same room together once.
I didn't realize where I was until I heard Hunter howl, effectively waking me up from my thoughts. The pack was digging in the snow, beneath the library window. I was trying to see through the window, broken. Someone crashed into it or fell out of the window.
"Aru"
I turned to see that Ranger had hurt himself. "Stop." They did, expect Hunter. "Hunter Stop." He bayed. I carefully dug in the snow. Glass shards. I took my scarf and wrapped Ranger's paw; I'll treat it when I get inside. On the glass shards was blood, much more than Ranger's. Someone fell out of the window. A large area of snow was soaked in blood. Dread tugged at me. Abigail's locket. The chain was nowhere to be seen. I held the pendant in my hand, blood was on the 'A'. A blood trail was leading to the city.
I put the pendant in my pocket and picked up Ranger. "Come." Hunter whined. "Hunter, come. Before I can find her, I need to pick up some necessary tools."
I needed to treat Ranger, but I needed to find my sister. Best compromise? I was back at Pennyworth's door. "Enter". I managed to unlock the door and went in. "Master Damian what is the meaning of this?"
"Someone fell out of the library window. I am sure it was my sister. Ranger cut himself on the glass shards. I need to find my sister; can you please treat him?"
He was flabbergasted. "Yes of course I can take care of him. What makes you so sure your sister fell out of the window?" I set Ranger down, next to Pennyworth's bed. I pulled out her locket. He paled. "Go."
"I am taking Hunter and Titus with me. Ace shall be left with you."
"Master Damian, please find her."
I called my clone. He picked up on the first ring.
"What took you so long to find her?!"
"I haven't."
"What?" He whispered.
"You need to come to Gotham. She is hurt, I am about to go look for her."
"How? When?"
"Time is from 7 pm to 6 am. How… I am not entirely sure. I know she fell out of the library window, fourth floor. Her locket pendent was buried in the snow, and there is a blood trail leading to the city."
"I'm coming. Does anyone else know about this other us?"
"Just Pennyworth. He helped limit the time frame. Once I left for patrol, she visited him. Around 9:30 to 10:30 he heard the dogs barking, he just thought one of us came home."
"Alright. Me and Rose will probably be in Gotham in four hours. Is there anything I should know?"
"Yes. But not over the phone."
"Alright, I'll call once we're close to Gotham."
I ended the call. I had grabbed everything I needed. Medical kit, knives, leashes, dog coats, and my sister's coat. "Titus, Hunter come."
They bounded after me, I went for the winter RTV. I put the dog coats on them, leashed them to the bed loosely, and went after my sister.
8:55. I reached the outskirts of the city. In the morning light the city looked so peaceful.
I unleased Hunter from the RTV and held his leash tight. "Hunter, find." He didn't even wait to smell my sister's coat. He was already searching for her. Titus bayed, but I left him for the time being. Once I had a direction, I was getting back on the RTV.
Hunter found her smell, and more blood. Looks like Abigail was heading to the middle of the city. I smirked. Abigail may not be able to read a book, but she is smart. She knew if she made it to the city, she would probably find one of us. I dragged Hunter back to RTV, latched him, and went further into the city.
Forty-five minutes passed. We had been led to the worst part of Gotham. I passed Crime Alley, and Hunter went nuts. Howling like a mad dog. I knew she was close. I unhitched both dogs and went into the alley. Hunter began to dig like his life depended on it. I had to stop him before he ruined any evidence.
Blood. The crimson liquid stained the snow. No other sign of my sister. She wasn't there, but clearly someone had found her. Who? Crime Alley. Who claimed it? Hood.
10. I called Hood. He had better have an excellent reason for not informing me where my sister was! He picked up on the second ring.
"WHERE IS SHE?!"
