The Next Nightwing

Chapter One

10 Years Later

Terry slammed the door to his father's apartment, heading off into the night. He always got blamed for everything. How was it his fault? Nelson had been the one to pick a fight and yet he was the one who ended up grounded. Well, his dad would have to find him first. Taking a quick left, Terry headed in the direction of the club.

'Hey, I thought you were in solitary,' Dana flicked her hair over her shoulder, smiling at him as Terry approached.

'I gave myself some time off for good behaviour.' He reached around her waist and kissed her cheek.

'You really scared me at school today, when are you gonna learn not to pick fights with Nelson!'

'Hey, he started it!'

'Yeh, but you didn't do a lot to stop it!' They stood in silence for a few minutes, gradually getting closer up the line to the club doorway. An engine roared and a sports car came to a squealed stop just outside the club. Terry gripped his hands into fists as Nelson Nash got out of the car. Dana took hold of his arm, pulling his attention away from the rich bully.

'Hey, don't go messing things up again.'

Terry turned away but his attention was brought back to the road almost immediately as four bikes sped into the street with four clowns astride. The clowns started circling the group, one of them riding over the top of Nelson's car.

'Hey!' As Nelson stepped forward, a clown in a pink dress knocked him to the ground. Distracted by the commotion Terry didn't see their leader, a sick twisted replica of the original Joker, come up behind them. He grabbed Dana pulling her onto his bike.

'You're not smiling!' The clown chuckled to her, as Dana squirmed, trying to get away. Terry ran toward them, taking hold of the clowns arm and flipping him onto the ground.

'Hands off dreg!'

As the Jokerz closed in to defend their leader, Terry beat them off, receiving no help from any of the watching crowd. Then over from the distance, the sound of more engines could be heard, as more of their gang arrived.

'Terry hurry, get out of here!' Dana cried. Terry grabbed one of the Jokerz fallen bikes, quickly revving the engine and drove away from the club, the clowns close on his tail. After breaking several traffic laws, Terry managed to loose most of the crew, but there was still half a dozen right on his heels. Making a split second decision he took a turning off the main road, following an uphill track. It was dark and there were trees on either side of the road, but Terry dared not slow down. Suddenly, out of the darkness, a figure appeared in his head lights and Terry swerved to avoid them, throwing himself off the bike.

'Are you alright?' The figure was a girl around his age with long dark hair. She looked at him in concern, but even in the limited light of the bike headlights, Terry could see her eyes were unfocused. She was blind. 'What are you doing all the way out here?' But Terry couldn't answer her, the Jokerz had finally caught him up.

'Oh look Mr Killjoy had an accident.' One of the clowns brought out a pocket knife, 'Hows about we put a smile on his face.'

'Leave him alone.' The girl stood and placed herself between them and Terry, 'This is private property, you're trespassing, get out!' Terry rose and pulled her back slightly.

'It's ok, I can handle this.' But the Jokerz were no longer interested in Terry.

'Who do you think you're talking too little girl? We're the Jokerz.'

'Sure you are.' She smirked at them. This seemed to anger the clown, he drew back his arm and swung his fist. But the girl stepped back avoiding it with ease before kicking out, catching him in the gut. As he bent over in pain she spun out with the other leg, catching him on the side of the head, sending him flying. Terry quickly joined in the fight and soon they had knocked them all down. As Terry turned to look at his new friend, the Joker who had captured Dana came up behind the girl. Terry went to call out to her but the clowns expression suddenly became pained, he fell forward revealing an old man behind him with a walking stick raised.