the black raven | 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋 - 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐓𝐖𝐎

□ mara □

The GCPD showed up at the Manor about ten minutes after Alfred made the call, and took over the house. They did a house search, probably to see if we were holding the girl and her father hostage, from top to bottom.

Everywhere I turned there was a person in blue, and I honestly felt a little claustrophobic. It was overwhelming I guess, to see all of the people in every room I went to, but I kept myself relatively relaxed.

After following some officers around, just watching them, and making my way back to the foyer where Alfred stayed, I was asked questions.

About the girl, about my night so far - of which I had to lie to their faces - and the whereabouts of my other family members.

I told them the girl's story, about what she told me, and they had her tell her story as well, for proof of my statements. I realized after they asked all of the questions that I had just lied to the police, straight to their faces.

It doesn't sit well with me at all, but I had to. To protect my family -- to keep their secrets safe.

If the police found out my family's secrets, they would be arrested and imprisoned, probably for life.

And no matter how much I want to punch them, and no matter how many stupid decisions I make that get them riled up against me, I don't want them to go to prison.

Or even worse, Arkham Asylum, which is ten times worse. That's where the really fucked up ones go.

But because I lied, they won't be going anywhere.

And so after that, an officer, a medic, and a child therapist took Narcissa out of our hands, explaining that they would keep in touch.

It was to make sure that they found her father, and that they were reunited, and we would know because of our hospitality.

Alfred and I nodded, stepping aside to let the flow of officers and medics exit the house, slowly but surely. It took a good chunk of time, but they left, after about forty-five minutes here.

I don't realize it, but I let out a heavily weighted sigh, slumping my whole body from the straight stiff posture it was just in.

Alfred chuckles, "you did very well, Miss Mara."

I raise my eyebrows, suppressing a laugh myself. "Thanks, Al, I appreciate that."

"Al?" He asks, peering down at me. I raise my gaze to his.

"Well, yeah, I guess. I mean, I nicknamed Damian already, so I guess another couldn't hurt."

"Mm, right. So, Miss Mara, does anyone have a nickname for you?"

"Yeah. Dick just calls me 'M'," I respond, giving a smile without a choice. It just happens.

Just thinking about my brother Dick giving me a cute little nickname makes me just slightly happier than before, even if he's disagreeing with my recent choices.

But, as always it seems, the moment of normal is interrupted by a male tone clearing their throat.

I just watch Alfred's face falter slightly, and I already know who came up here.

"Father has requested your return to the cave, as he is nearing it himself, alongside Timothy and Richard."

I close my eyes, extremely hacked off with not just this dooshface of a brother, but my hell-damned protective father too.

I turn to face Damian now, "well, how about you tell Father that he can call me down when he gets there himself, instead of sending his little bitch!"

"Miss Mara!" Alfred calls sternly, but it's too late. I've said it out loud, and it feels like a relief off of my shoulders.

I know, God, I know I should be ashamed of what I've just said to Dami, but I'm not.

I can't read him perfectly, but if I didn't know any better I'd say Damian's eyebrows dipped slightly. I might've just hurt Damian emotionally, and got him to show it, let alone feel it at all.

Shit, Mara, look what you've done now.

He deserved it.

No, shut it out. Shut it up. Shut it away right now.

Leave it alone goddamnit.

"Father requests you downstairs, now."

I blink, swallow, and keep my chin held high as I brush past Damian, not expecting to hear a silence follow me. I thought he would be right on my heels, but he's not.

I shake off the feeling that I should turn back, to go drag Damian down with me, and keep walking. If I go back, it'll just make me look like I didn't actually mean what I said.

Okay, I didn't mean what I said, but I just can't go back right now. I need my words to sink in I guess, since I'm still heated, and I need Damian to cool down, since I know he's definitely still hurt at my retort.

Sooner rather than later, I'm back at the clock-elevator mix, and stand leaning against the gated walls of the downward moving shaft.

Staring at the ceiling, eyes open, I feel something hit my forehead. Blinking, I drop my head, wiping my forehead. If I still had bangs, I wouldn't have felt it.

I find a speck of...dirt?

It crumbles quickly, almost as soon as it hit my hand, and I stare at it.

But it can't be dirt, not with its light color. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot something moving, something small. At first, without looking up, I believe it's just a light reflection or something.

But the thing is, there's not that much light when you get deeper and deeper into the cave. I look up, to see more specks falling, just like the one that fell on me.

Frowning, the elevator comes to a stop, the gated door opening.

I step out of the small area, looking up the immediate wall of the elevator when suddenly, I hear it.

A loud booming sound and I know exactly what it is.

My body flinches, curling in on itself as I gasp, suddenly my throat yelling for my brother and grandfather upstairs, clawing at the now-closed doors.

"No no no! Damian! Alfred! Jesus-- no!"

I start pacing as my hands start shaking, my breath labored, my blood pumping in my ears.

How did this happen?! Did I do something? Who did this-- I did this! I couldn't kill him, even if he had me at knifepoint, I could've done something!

"Alfred!! Damian!" I'm shouting now, tears barely being held back as I run my hands through my hair now, trying to do something besides fully breaking down. My mind isn't helping one bit.

Yelling and shouting some more, going back from pacing and pounding on the gate for a couple more seconds, the tears finally fall, my body practically pouring out my remorse.

I hear another boom, and my throat tightens, like a snake around its prey. I see the red, I see the red hot numbers, I see the floor breaking beneath my shoes.

Gasping for air, holding onto the elevator gate for my family's fate, for my mind running through that day, I let out a guttural cry.

I feel weak all over like I've just gotten sick and I can't move, and I collapse, knees giving way below me. Shoulders throbbing forward and back, my tears wetting my clothes like a river, I shut my eyes.

Trying so hard to get rid of the memories, trying to just make it all go away, trying to just die, my body jerks at random, feeling the pressure of the ceiling above me crush my bones.

Suddenly, I choke, air surging through my throat and into my lungs abruptly, I'm wrenched backward.

With no time for my body to react, I can only hear.

"Mara!"

My name. Someone is calling my name.

My eyes open, a blur of black, grey, beige, and red numbers being all I see for a split second. Then, faster than I thought possible, Bruce Wayne is holding me up, looking at me, his face apprehensive.

"Mara, what's going on? Are you alright?"

Still letting in choppy breaths, I manage to get something out.

"A --,"

"--b-bomb -!"