Veil of Shadows ๋࣭⭑⚝ Dick Grayson

2 ๋࣭⭑⚝ Help

"Lup-dub. Lup-dub. Lup-dub."

A heavy silence blanketed them, broken only by the steady rhythm of her heartbeat echoing in her ears.

The pair moved cautiously through what seemed to be an abandoned building. Dick gripped his pistol tightly, both hands steady, while Jules tiptoed closely behind him.

Without warning, he froze mid-step, causing her to stumble slightly into him.

"What is it?" she hissed, barely above a whisper.

"You hear whimpering?" he murmured.

She held her breath, straining her ears. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but then she caught it—muffled cries, so quiet they could have been mistaken for the wind.

"Good catch," she muttered, her voice low, as they pressed forward.

They reached a sharp turn, and she felt the air catch in her throat when his fingers brushed her arm, hesitating for a moment before wrapping firmly around her wrist.

"Stay close," Dick said in a hushed, commanding tone.

She nodded, but her body stiffened as the atmosphere shifted. The air grew heavier, colder. Her instincts screamed at her—something unnatural was near.

The two approached an open door cautiously, each step deliberate.

"Rachel," Dick whispered in shock, his voice barely audible.

Jules stepped forward instinctively, reaching for the girl, when the door slammed shut with an incredible force, sending them both flying backward into the wall.

A groan escaped her lips as she blinked, her vision swimming before gradually settling.

"You good?"

The sound of his voice, deep and close, sent a jolt through her. She realized with embarrassment that she was practically on his lap.

Before either could process the moment, a piercing scream tore through the air, reverberating off the fragile walls. Jules shot to her feet, running to the door and pounding against it.

"Rachel! Rachel, open the door!" Dick’s voice boomed, panic laced in his words.

"Rachel! Are you—" Jules jumped back with a yelp as the bloodied face of a man slammed against the foggy window.

She exchanged a horrified look with Dick, her chest heaving.

The man’s body jerked unnaturally, as if yanked by invisible strings, before being dragged away. A sickening thud echoed from behind the door.

The door creaked open slowly.

Dick raised his gun, stepping forward with caution. He kicked the door fully open, revealing the gruesome scene inside.

The same man lay in a crimson pool on the floor. Whether it was his own blood—or something else—Jules didn’t want to know.

A raspy cough drew their attention. Their eyes darted upward to see Rachel, tied to a chair, pale and trembling.

"Rachel!"

They rushed to her. Jules conjured her dagger, slicing through the restraints with quick, precise movements.

Dick’s gaze flickered between the terrified teen and the lifeless body on the floor, tension clear in his posture.

"Hey, hey, hey..." Jules dismissed the blade and cupped Rachel’s face, her thumbs brushing against the girl’s tear-streaked cheeks. "It’s okay. You’re safe now. He can’t hurt you anymore."

Rachel’s chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath.

"What happened?" Dick asked, his tone sharp, though Jules shot him a warning glare.

"I... I don’t know..." Rachel whimpered, her voice shaky.

Before they could press further, the girl collapsed forward, wrapping her arms around Jules in a desperate embrace.

"Please... help me," Rachel sobbed into her shoulder, her voice barely audible.

Jules froze, swallowing hard. She looked up at Dick, her expression conflicted. His wide eyes mirrored her shock.

"...Y-yeah," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "It’s okay... you’re okay..."

She repeated the words like a mantra, holding Rachel tightly, her heart breaking at the sound of the teen’s quiet sobs.