My Ghost

thirteen

ray's point of view

I hang my suit up in the closet of my room, admiring it one more time before sliding the door shut. My feet pad across the floor as I walk barefoot around the room, siding open my dresser drawer to find something to wear.

The night had gone... alright. Luckily, there wasn't anything major to be done, just a bit of surveillance and interrogations. We didn't see Jason, luckily, but we'd run into some drug dealers that are in with him. Hopefully Bruce can look past their deaths.

Cole and I didn't speak unless it was related to our mission, and the tension was thick. I feel as though I should apologize, but at the same time I have no reason to. He works for Black Mask and I work against him, there's no possible way we can ever be friends.

I pull on a pair of leggings and an old crew neck before putting on my socks and shoes to leave. I couldn't wait to leave Roman's Headquarters and go home to my father.

I exit the room and walk over to the elevator, pressing the down button. The doors slide shut and I stand there silently, watching the elevator count down the numbers.

BOOM! The elevator shakes and the lights flicker. I stumble into the wall, confused, until I hear a loud snapping sound. Suddenly, the elevator is falling, and my back is pressed to the ceiling of the elevator.

I struggle towards the center, trying to pop open the emergency hatch as the metal box plummets to my death. Eventually, I get the hatch unlocked and slam myself into the door and it flies open. I hold on tightly as the elevator falls down the shaft. I keep my eyes fixated on the walls, looking for something I can grab. I watch each floor pass, timing my jump carefully. Finally, I launch myself forward, reaching out as far as I can and narrowly grabbing the edge of the floor. My body slams against the wall and I cry out in pain as I feel my right shoulder dislocate. I grunt as I lift myself to the narrow ledge. I place my fingers in the small crack between the elevator doors and pull, attempting to open the doors to whatever floor I'm currently on. The door doesn't budge and I sigh, banging my left hand against the door.

"Help!" I scream as loudly as I can. "Somebody!"

I hear a slight tapping on the other side of the door, followed by a rush of footsteps. Had somebody heard me? I continue to bang and shout, praying that someone has.

After a few minutes the doors are cracked open slightly, and I see fingers grip the side to start prying them open. I join, screaming in pain as I pull.

"Ray?" Cole asks, as I come face to face with him and the metal doors fly aside.

"Cole!" I exclaim, breathlessly. I throw my left arm around him, hugging him. "Thank you so much."

"What were you doing?" he asks, bewildered, his arms slowly resting around my back as well.

"The elevator... I heard a loud explosion and a snapping. Suddenly it was plummeting with me in it," I rush my words, trying to get them all out.

"Yeah, Black Mask's office was fired upon. Just minutes ago. Jesus, are you alright?" he asks, concern in his voice.

I nod. "Yeah I just dislocated my shoulder. Will you?"

I turn to my side and Cole grabs my arm, pushing it back into place. I sigh as my shoulder re-enters its socket, feeling instant relief mixed with slight pain.

"That didn't hurt?" he asks, clearly amused.

"Not really, I've experienced it before."

Cole just nods in response. "I shouldn't say I'm surprised. Listen, we gotta go in case there's another attack."

I agree and follow Cole as we jog across the room to the emergency stairs. A group of henchmen stand there, waiting for us. Cole takes off down the stairs and I follow.

"What exactly just happened?!" I exclaim.

"The Red Hood!" Cole shouts over his shoulder. "Put a missile right through the top floor window. He somehow new it was under construction and could be penetrated."

I smile and stay silent. Jason was here. He knew where I was and was coming to help me.

I listen to the footsteps slamming against the stairs as the entire building evacuates. I follow Cole as we reach the bottom floor and he opens the emergency exit. He waves us all into the tunnel and I enter first, Roman's men following behind me.

The tunnel was dim, and it seemed more like a bomb shelter. The walls were at least six feet wide, and every sound within the area echoes. I stop moving when I finally spot Roman, standing with Melanie a few yards ahead of us.

"How the hell did he know it was able to be shot?!" he yells.

"Maybe it was a lucky guess," Melanie suggests.

"BULLSHIT!" he screams, and silence falls over the men in the tunnel. I turn to see Cole pushing his way to the front of the crowd, standing beside me.

"Who told the Red Hood?" Roman growls, turning to face all of us. "Who doomed us all to hell!"

The group stays silent and Roman shakes his head, reaching into his coat pocket and pulling out his custom-made revolver. "I said, who TOLD HIM?!"

Once again, no one steps forward. If Roman had a normal face, I would bet he'd be a shade of purple he's so angry.

"I bet it was you," he growls, storming over to me and pointing the gun at my head. "You're the one with all the fucking answers!"

"You know where I've been and what I've done at all times," I tell him calmly. "Besides, I've never had a run in with the Hood, I've only ever heard what Batman's told me."

"I know you're lying dammit, you told me he could infiltrate this place without me even knowing! You know more about him than your letting on and I see right through it," Roman hisses, putting a bullet in the chamber. "Give me a reason not to blast your head off and then put you through the reboot process again."

I roll my eyes and cross my arms. "Because you're supposed to have him dead by the end of the week for Luthor. If you don't, no more shipments for poor old Maskie," I taunt, smirking.

Roman lets out and angry scream, turning away from me and twisting the gun in his hand before turning back to me, bashing me in the forehead with the butt of the gun. I groan, collapsing to the floor as I feel blood rush from the wound. I see Cole instinctively move to help me, before realizing how much trouble the two of us could get in and returning to his position.

"When I find out who told that red hooded demon about my damned window I will have your heads, do you hear me?! I'm missing the entire top floor of my headquarters thanks to you, and I will make all of your lives Hell because of it. And you-" Mask says, turning to face me. "You'll be lucky if you're still sane after tonight."