The Lone Knight (Under The Cowl Book #1)

CHAPTER 46

     Everything moved so fast. The swarm of Collectors wasted no time to swoop in and grab hold of Stephanie and detain her.

Rough with their pat down, the Collectors were quick to slap the cuffs around her wrist without uttering a single word to her. The push and pull while removing her from where she stood gave Stephanie little time to even breathe. Less to even catch what could be the last glimpse of the man she loves.

Stephanie didn't allow her gaze to linger for too long at Tim with Darla standing right beside the man she clearly has affection for. Obviously there was no need to search for the meaning behind Darla's scowling gaze, as close as she stood beside Tim she was clearly marking her territory.

Before she knew it Stephanie's pulled out of the Batcave and thrust into the outside world. Unlike anything she'd seen before, it was above the trees where she could see a skyline of cars coasting across the sky, buildings of unique shapes shinning against the pouring rain. It felt like Stephanie stepped into a futuristic world. But despite all the lights in the distance it did not take her long to find Wayne Tower. A new look, it was the city of Gotham looking back at her.

Pushed into a van made for prisoner transport, Stephanie catches another glimpse of Tim making his way out of the cave. But this time his expression did not read like an arresting officer. If Stephanie didn't know better and allowed her inner romantic to read between the lines, she'd say out loud with confidence that Tim was looking at her like a long lost lover would for someone of great importance to him.

Joined by a Collector, Stephanie found herself chucked back into reality while forced to wear a hood over her head. Unable to see anything in front of her, Stephanie listened to the van door closed where once again darkness returned.

Once the hood over her head was gone, along with the pulling from the cuffs she wore and the manhandling from the Collectors taking her to who knows where, Stephanie looked down at her wrists cuffed and chained to the table she sat in front of.

Average cuffs unlike the high tech bracelets Daria wrapped around her wrist. Stephanie didn't feel at all strange to have her cape stripped from her. Her utility belt, gloves, boots, socks included, they were all gone. Stephanie pressed the bottom of her feet together to avoid the cold floor as much as she could. Pretty much everything that would cause concern for the Collectors had been taken away from her. It sort of said a lot, and Stephanie couldn't help but to feel a little honored. The Collectors are aware of her ingenuity when it came to how to escape capture, so it helped to be cautious. 

This was a new experience but not far from what Stephanie believed would ever come to actually pass. If not for her father's extracurricular activities, it's likely she never would have dawned the hood and cape of the Spoiler. And without Batman's guidance, prison, drugs, or a trip to an early grave would've been her future.

The door opened as a Collector entered with a rather large file in hand. 

He closed the door behind him softly and cautiously entered.

"Is that mine?" Stephanie asked, unsure if she should be worried or impressed.

The Collector sat down across from Stephanie without bothering to utter a word.

Trapped in awkward silence and avoiding all contact for a good five long minutes, Stephanie knew this kid was waiting for someone. She watched him check his watch and sigh heavily, likely annoyed. 

Tired of waiting, the young Collector opened the folder on the table.

"Is that your homework on me?" Stephanie pointed towards the papers on the table with her name on the top left-hand corner. "You could just use your words and ask me what you want to know."