Cognitive Dissonance

Chapter 17: Triage

JASOOON!!!

No words were exchanged between the brothers. They both know that voice belonged to just one person. Rachel's. Dick failed to reach Jason when the latter ran as soon as he heard his name being called in a scream of bloody horror.

A few sounds of struggling and Jason immediately traced the path that would eventually lead him to where he supposed Rachel is at the moment she called his name. Dick, running closely behind him. It wasn't the normal kind of shouting like when you only want to reach someone who wasn't looking at or listening to you. It's a cry for help. And not the kind of help that only require you to fix a broken vase or carrying people who got sprained ankle from tripping.

"Shit!" Jason cursed as they reached halfway through the hallway to their bedrooms. It was empty. "Rach-" Dick started to call but Jason grabbed on his shirt's collar. "Dude, what the fuck? Don't give away our location," Jason hissed. "What's wrong with you man?"

At his younger brother's words, Dick's lips thinned. Jason's right. None of them will fool themselves into thinking that it wasn't an intruder. It is. However unfortunate sounding it was that the manor -- a place they all knew as safe -- had been infiltrated. If he gave away their location, it will be easier for that person to take Rachel with him. He only need to steer away from where the sound came from.

The truth is, after learning that the Joker might be involved with the case of Rachel's mother's murder, Dick's never had a decent sleep. It was in no way an excuse for his strange actions as a seasoned detective. Yet, as Barbara confirmed another of his theories in her call, he has been trying to bury his thoughts with trivial things related to his brother and Rachel.

"Right, we'll split up and if you find her, go as far as you can away from here," Dick said as he started retracing their path. Jason, already leading a few steps. "I'm ahead of you," Jason responded, turning to his left, expecting his older brother to go right.

Now, Dick may have had lapses just a few minutes back but he's in no way less capable. His mind still works. Before his brother was able to get out of his sight, he was able to give him a signal to stop on his tracks. The latter did as was instructed and retracted his steps.

"They're in her room," he whispered. "H-how?" Jason asked inching closer to the detective. "He knows we're coming because Rachel was able to scream for help. There are only two rooms at the end of this hallway," Dick said as if it made sense. "Yours and hers," he added. "They can't have possibly gone far if they went through this long hallway. We would have met them here," he pointed out.

It's the truth. The only exit will be through the hallway and into the main wing or through the windows in their rooms. Considering they are on the third floor, it would be difficult to get the hostage on the ground. Conscious or not.

"What if he caught her right here?" Jason asked. The intruder might not necessarily have waited for her at her room. For one, how would the intruder know where her room is? He could have easily waited for her to turn up at the start of the aisle where they are currently standing on. In which case, it's more logical to reach the stairs than Rachel's room.

"We still would have seen them," Dick gestured behind them. The main wing has so much floor space, it will be easy to spot anyone going anywhere. Even in the dark. And the thing is, there's always light by the stairs.

"What now?" Jason already got the point but the more pressing matter is where they are supposed to go from there. "I'll get to her room from yours," Dick said. "You wait outside hers," he continued. "I'll make sure she gets free from him, and when she's out, go with the original plan. Get her as far away from here as you can."