The Thing Inside Me

Chapter 23

She had the most beautiful smile on her lips, and the colours of the sunset reflected off her eyes making them sparkle. The lights suddenly flickered, I automatically got into a fighting stance. Making Sapphire giggle, "It's time." She smiled. The lights went out and the sunset faded into darkness, revealing stars. Bright stars of different colors, dancing in the sky. I looked over at Sapphire, her blue eyes twinkling in the starlight. Her smile brighter than the stars. I found myself smiling too. We watched the stars dance in the night sky for what felt like forever. I lowered my gaze to find Sapphire nowhere in sight, I spun around in a panic to find her standing near a large button. She pressed it, making the room light up with a hologram of the planet's solar system. I reached out in front of me touching a holographic star, the image zoomed in.

"Cool huh." She said from behind me, sending shivers down my spine. "Yeah." I replied trying to ignore her close presence. I looked at the map of stars and read all the names of the planets and stars. "I don't recognize any of these planets." I pointed out. Sapphire sighed and walked over to the button. Pressing it again, turning off the hologram. I was about to say something when a fiery explosion burst through the large doors. I turned towards Sapphire but to block her from the explosion, but found my self sitting on an uncomfortable chair. In the real world. Sapphire's heart monitor was beeping rapidly, she sound hurting my ears. "Sapphire!" I yelled as I panicked. Her body twitched uncontrollably. Her eyes shot open and they filled back into her head as her shaking got worse. I grabbed her hand and helped it tight, using the other to hold down her body. "Nightslash, you need to wake up!" I said in a demanding tone. She continued to shake and my heart rate increased. Come on Sapphire. Wake up.

She continued to shake violently, a gray haze forming around her. "Please calm down. You're going to hurt yourself." I tried to say in a calming voice, not knowing who I was trying to calm down. Her or me? I let go of her trembling hand and released her body from my other hand. I cupped her face between my hands, "Please wake up." My voice sounded a little shaky. I stroked her hair, brushing it behind her ear. Her hand shot up, grabbing my wrist. Her eyes seamed to meet mine and she stoped shaking. "Sapphire?" I questioned quietly as the grey haze faded. Her eyes closed and her hand dropped. Leaving me alone in the room.

"Hey." A voice called from behind, making me tense. I turned to find Wally standing in the doorway. "Been awhile since I could startle you." He smiled, but his expression changed when his eyes meet mine. "Your sweating. Did something happen?" He asked approaching me and placing a hand on my shoulder. I sat stood there silently trying to think of a response, and decided to tell him the truth. "Sapphire had some sort of a seizure, I wasn't sure how to respond." I said quietly. Wally inhaled as if to collect his thoughts, which wasn't like himself. "Is she oaky?" He asked, breaking the silence. "Her blood pressure, breathing, heart rate and everything is back to normal. She should be fine." I answered looking up at him to assure him. He nodded and walked over to her, taking her hand in his. "She's strong, isn't she." He asked making it sound more like a statement. I nodded in reply. "Your going to be late." He said giving me a half smile. "Yah." I said taking in a deep breath before leaving the room.

I started my patrol around six, on the corner of tenth street and fifth avenue. There is a bank, two jewelry stores and a bridal store, who thought of putting these stores close to each other? Not sure, but it make it easier to watch for bunglers. I sat quietly for what seemed like forever, until a man grabbed a lady's purse and ran for it. I leaped building to building, hot on his tail, enjoying the chase. I cornered him in an alley, after he made a wrong turn. I laughed at his foolishness and leaped down from the building. "If your going to steal something and run, at least know where your going." I smiled while shaking my head. The man gritted his teeth and pulled out his gun. I charged at him using the walls to gain speed and maneuver to quickly for him to make a clear shot. It pushed off the wall grabbing the gun out of his hands and landed in a crouch beside him. I kicked out my leg, knocking out his from underneath him. He let out a surprised yelp as he went down, he groaned on the ground as I picked up the purse he dropped. "Learned your lesson?" I smile shaking the purse in front of him. The sound of police cars echoed in the alley, followed by tires screeching to a halt. "Looks like your ride is here." I laughed as the police rad down the alley towards us, a woman trailing behind them. I handed the purse to the woman, she thanked me then stared to yell at the man who stole her purse. The two police officers arrested him and dragged him to their car.

I used my grappling hook to easily pull myself out of the alley. Where I was greeted by a tall familiar dark figure. "A little late aren't you?" I asked putting my grappling gun away. "You took care of it." He said in a low voice. "Any news on Sapphire yet?" He asked calmly. "She had a seizure earlier." I said trying to get the image out of my head. He stood there quietly. I looked up to meet his eyes. They were clouded with concern and questions. "Let's get back to work." He said motioning over my head, I turned to see the Bat-signal lighting up the cloudy night sky. We leaped onto a few buildings and down into an alley, were the Batmobile was waiting. We jumped inside, "Can I drive?" I asked already knowing the answer. "No." He said turning on the engine, I rolled my eyes as we sped down the street.

"Commissioner Gordon." Batman said in a low voice. Gordon turned around suddenly, "I'll never get used to that." He said after a long exhale. "Harlequin and Joker have been tearing up the downtown area. Ten people have already been killed. It's-" "Near Moon Light nightclub?" Batman interrupted. "Yes." The commissioner nodded. He stared to say something but we were already gone.