Mask of Glass

Ch 14

Dick's eyes shot open, breaths coming in short gasps. 'Where am I?' He wondered. He was so cold. He tried to reach up with one hand to brush away a lock of hair that was hanging in his eyes, and only then did he realize that he was strapped down.

There was no give when Dick pulled and struggled under the restraints. His eyes flicked wildly around his surroundings. He was completely encased in metal with a glass looking door in front of him. The glass was coated in frost, and Dick's breath hung in the air like heavy clouds.

Memories tore through Dick's mind like bullets. Screams. Shackles. Pain. Blood. And cold. So much cold.

Dick began to shake as he realized where he was and remembered how he had got there. He was in a cryo-pod in the Batcave. Bruce must have put him in here because of what he'd done to Tim... and everyone else.

At this point Dick was having a full blown panic attack. His breaths were coming fast and tears ran down his cheeks. Every painful memory from his time at the court was playing on loop in his brain.

"Bruce!" Dick cried, hoping desperately that the man would hear him and let him out. 'Are they going to leave me in here forever.' Dick thought. 'Of course they are.' Another part of Dick's brain answered. 'That's what Batman does with monsters... he locks them up.'

Dick dissolved into hysterics, pulling at the restraints with all his might and frantically shouting for help.

—

Jason parked his motorcycle at the top of Wayne manor's long driveway, hopping off and setting his helmet on the leather seat.

Lifting his phone, Jason checked the time. 6:00 PM. Dick should have been out of the pod for about 3 hours now, and Jason felt that now would be a good time to pop in for a visit.

Jason knocked on the door a few times before opening it and walking in. "I'm back!" He shouted.

"Welcome back sir." Came Alfred's voice from the end of the hall where he was dusting picture frames.

"Thanks Alf." Jason said, walking towards the family room to try and find Dick.

Nobody was in the family room so Jason continued his search around the manor. He greeted Damian and Tim in one of the kinder ways that he knew, but he didn't see Dick anywhere.

As a last resort, Jason went to find Bruce. He found the man in the kitchen. Bruce was drinking a cup of cold water, and he waved when Jason came into the room.

"Hey Bruce." Jason started. "Where's Dick?"

Bruce took another sip of water before answering. "He's in the cryo-pod. Why do you ask?"

Jason looked at Bruce in complete horror. "Bruce, that thing was supposed to be done hours ago."

Water sprayed out of Bruce's mouth and he looked at Jason, realization just beginning to dawn on him.

"He's scared to death of being in that pod Bruce. You saw what he did when he thought you were going to put him in there... He would've rather suffered whatever agony he was in then be frozen in there, and you left him in there awake for 3 hours!" Jason shouted, turning and racing toward the entrance to the Batcave.

Jason turned the hands of the clock and the secret door clicked open. Both Bruce and Jason paused for a moment.

From the depths of the cave came loud sobs. It was Dick. They could hear him pounding on the glass, calling for help and begging to be let out.

Jason shot a quick glare at Bruce before bolting down the stairs.

Dick was in the pod, pounding on the glass, tears streaming down his face. His eyes were screwed shut and his body shook with his hysterical sobs.