Ready Or Not Here I Come - A Damian Wayne Story

Chapter 5

The man in black watched through the window as the boy slept, snuggling with his brother. He inwardly smirked as he took one last picture of the boy. Then he packed his camera into its case carefully and quietly, and jumped down from his position in the tree, silent as a wraith.

He walked down the sidewalk past the house he had been watching. He didn't make a sound as he disappeared into the shadows, appearing onto the roof of the house, and landing on his feet with ease. He took out a cell phone, holding it to his ear as he waited.

"Hello?" The voice on the other end of the phone was male, with a hint of drowsiness in it. "Who is this?"

"I've got the pictures you asked for."

The voice on the other end paused. "Shadow. I should've known it was you. So you have the pictures of the boy I want?"

"Yes." Shadow replied.

"Good. Your money will be delivered to your account in the morning, after you deliver those pictures to me."

"I want the money now."

The voice on the phone sighed. "Shadow, can't you wait until morning? I'm very tired-"

"No money, no pictures. That is my deal."

There was a pause as the man considered. Then he sighed again, in resignation this time. "Very well, Shadow. I am transferring the money right now."

"If I find out you aren't-"

"Relax, Shadow. I always keep my word. If I say I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it. Don't doubt me, Shadow." There was a click on his end of the phone. "There. All done. You now have fifty grand-"

"Fifty?" Shadow cried, outraged. "That's only half! Where's the rest of my money?"

The man sighed. "I am well aware that it is only half. If you want your other half, you have to do something else for me." Before Shadow could make a sound, the man continued. "Now, before you threaten to kill me, I want you to know that if you do, you'll never get the rest of your money. I am the only one with the access code to my account. If I die, so does my account access. You will have no money. Now, are you listening, Shadow?"

There was a pause before Shadow answered. "Yes," he said, gritting his teeth in anger. "What do you want me to do?"

The man on the other side of the phone chuckled. "I want you to apprehend the boy and bring him to me. Understand?"

Shadow growled lowly. "Yes."

"Good. I want him in three days' time. No sooner, no later. You may do whatever you feel necessary during that time, but I need him alive. Then, and only then, will you get your money. Understand?"

"Of course. Where shall I deliver the boy?"

"I will tell you when the time comes for that, Shadow. For now, your job is to apprehend the boy and keep him until I'm ready, or else their will be consequences."

Then the line went dead.

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Tim slowly opened his eyes as he felt something moving in between his arms. He blinked at what he saw. Beside him was Damian, shivering like he had been dunked in ice water and left out in a blizzard. Tim sat up quickly and felt his brother's forehead, snatching his hand away almost immediately. It was burning hot to the touch. Tim looked at his brother in alarm. Had the infection gotten worse overnight? He'd never seen an infection spread so quickly. He had to get Dick.

Tim unentangled himself from the bedsheets and went in search for his eldest brother. He found him in the first bedroom to his right, his left arm and leg dangling over the edge of the bed and the sheets only covering half of his body, snoring lightly. Tim shook his head in amazement, wondering how anyone could sleep like that. Then he remembered why he was in here and shook his older brother by the shoulders, whispering his name. Dick groaned and swatted at Tim with his hand. "Go away, Bruce, I'm not ready to get up yet."