Cognitive Dissonance

Chapter 18: Alone

There was no looking back.

Just a month and a few weeks ago, Rachel was on her feet, running for her life. She didn't look back. No matter how much she wanted to. No matter if she was running away from the very home she grew up in. Leaving the only person who loved her behind.

That was the first time she learned how much she wanted to live even if her circumstances were telling her to feel otherwise. She got to Detroit the next day, lived like a fugitive for the succeeding ones with nothing but herself, a few change in her pockets, and her school bag. And then in some wicked twist of fate, she found herself in another danger by following a stranger, she thought, would help. That very situation pushed her to run again. As fast as she can, and it led her to Dick Grayson.

Alone. That's what she was. And even when she got back to their neighborhood that same week -- Dick was able to convince their neighbors a few blocks away to take her in while he reached her nonexistent relatives -- she knew she wasn't really welcome. She can't blame them. She wouldn't have taken her in if she was in their position. For lack of better word, she's nothing but bad luck.

Alone started to change when Dick made himself responsible of her. He drove to the neighborhood almost daily to check on her and the area. The case was out of his jurisdiction but he was there to guide her through every police questioning she sat at.

One day, he just told her to pack her things -- whatever she can grab anyway -- and drove until they reached his home. He said he was able to pull some strings so he was allowed to take her in. Up to this day, Rachel has no idea why he made himself welcome in her life. Nonetheless, she was grateful about it.

"Come on Jason," she hissed to herself as she keyed in the password he gave her on the pad. Like the coward that she is, she didn't look back. She made it in the training room and is quite aware that Jason has yet to catch up.

The shelf moved to the side to reveal an entryway. Closing her eyes, she decided if she was going through it or she'll wait for whoever turns up. If it's Jason, then that's good. And if it's not, she has the gun.

It's different now. She's no longer alone and she doesn't have to be. Dick and his family somehow became her own. Leaving them behind would mean one thing. That she valued only herself. Except that's not true.

Don't look back Rachel, was the only thing in Jason's thoughts as he grappled with another masked man who just arrived. The truth is, he doesn't know for how much longer he'll be able to hold them off. A new one's coming every few minutes.

It doesn't help that this time, these men now had weapons with them. Understandably so as two of them ended up with major injuries that could affect their lives permanently. "Fuck!" he cursed in between gulps of air.

If he doesn't follow Rachel now, he might die a second time with no chance of being resurrected. Yet, if he didn't stay long enough, they might quickly catch up with the both of them -- considering he's already worn out -- and that would be worse.

He heard it. The cutting in the air as he felt something cold graze his neck. It's death. Talking. Working its way to him in trickles of warm liquid, slowly coloring his shirt.

"Shit!" he cursed once more, narrowly avoiding death with a sidestep. He immediately put a hand on his neck and saw the blood on his palm when he removed it. The masked man's knife successfully made contact with his skin but failed at posing real harm.