Ch 12
I awoke with a gasp. I was warm. In a cabin. I felt like shit, but someone had bandaged me up. I tried to sit up, but a voice stopped me.
"Don't move." The man said in perfect American English. "You'll put too much strain on your body and pass out. Not many a man survives the sword of Ra's al-Ghul."
"Where am I?" I asked through heavy breaths
"Certainly not on a mountain top." A voice in my head, Death, said, "The air is way too abundant. Even in this hybrid form."
Death and I had come to an agreement. He and I would both have control of the body, mostly me, but for obvious reasons. It was my body, after all. Unfortunately, that would mean I wouldn't be completely alive. I was the world's first zombie, I guess, to explain it simply.
"You're safe, that's all that matters." The man said. As he stepped into the light, I could see that he looked rather… primal. Though he was dressed neatly and spoke cleanly, there was something offsetting about his appearance.
"Who are you?" I panted, clutching the wound as I sat up slowly.
"My name is Vandal Savage." He told me, "I found you on the mountain, nearly dead with an old man."
"How long have I been out?"
"About a week. At a certain point I was sure you were going to die, but your heart never gave out."
My heart rate was slow. Too slow. I would say I was at about 40 beats per minute.
"Not bad, for a zombie." Death said with a laugh. I wanted to tell him to shut up, but I didn't want this Vandal Savage guy to think I was crazy. He did find me on the top of a mountain after all.
"How are you feeling?" He asked me softly.
"Like crap." I answered, "Look, not to be rude, but I need to go. I have to stop Ra's.
"Wait, you can't leave, you aren't well enough." Savage said. I stood up, but instantly collapsed to the ground in pain. My sword wound throbbed. I grimaced.
"Shit!" I exclaimed, pressing a hand to the wound. I heard Death laugh in my head.
"Stings, doesn't it? You know Danny, I like this situation after all. I can't feel your pain anymore."
"You need to relax." Vandal Savage said, "You haven't eaten anything in a week. You'll pass out if you put too much strain on your body. I have a broth on the fire right now. Follow me. Slowly."
I got up slowly. I felt faint, but I managed to brace myself against the wall and followed Savage into the other room. His cabin only had two rooms, the main room and the bedroom. The main room had a fireplace, a small table, and two comfy looking armchairs, though one looked completely unused. I stumbled over to that one.
The strange man went over to the fireplace and took the lid from a small pot. He stirred it, took a scoop with the spoon, tasted it, then nodded.
"The broth is ready." He said in his calm, quiet tone. He went over to a small cabinet. He came back with a small wooden bowl and poured me some of the warm soup.
"Who are you? Why are you helping me?"
"Who I am is not important. I saved you because we share a common enemy."
"What did Ra's do to you?"
"He stole something from me, something very important. Unfortunately, I can't defeat him without it."
It was silent for a long time. I wasn't sure what to say. Savage just stared at the flames in a strange way, as though it were something new to him. He didn't seem used to it.
"What's this guy's deal?" A voice in my head asked. At least I wasn't the only one who thought that…
Savage was quiet for a long time. He looked wild, even though I could feel his calm. He breathed heavily, through his mouth. His eyebrows were thick, and his beard mangled. He was wild yet refined.
"Who are you? Really?"
"I'm the man who is going to help you kill Ra's al-Ghul. Who I am is not important, but the fact is, Batman, I am on your side. Now, you need to rest."
"How are you going to help me?" I asked him.
"First, I am going to help you heal." He replied with a toothy grin. His teeth weren't straight at all, but they were white. "Then, i am going to train you."