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As soon as Dick woke up, he froze. The bedding was unfamiliar as were the smells. And perhaps, most condemning of all, was that he couldn’t remember what had happened before he had fallen asleep.
He breathed in deeply trying to take in as much of his surroundings as he could without moving or opening his eyes. He was on some kind of thin bedding. The room was an average temperature and the lights were on. He could hear the faint sound of air through vents and the smell of the air didn’t give away any tells either. Apart from the air coming through the vents, it was also really quiet.
He opened his eyes and saw a concrete ceiling above him with some recessed lights. He still couldn’t hear anything else so he sat up and looked around.
He noted he was dressed in a t-shirt and loose sweatpants, he had no socks or shoes.
He was pretty sure he had been taken as Grayson, but he couldn’t be sure if they had taken him for being a Wayne or for being Nightwing. He appeared to be in a concrete room, approximately 10 feet by 8 feet, the ceiling was maybe 10 feet up, with a small camera in the corner. That would mean there would be no way to reach the lighting or the vents along the top of the wall, though they probably wouldn’t do much good since they were very thin. There was the mat that he was laying on which included a thin blanket and a pillow, though the mat was just on the floor with no bed frame. There was a toilet in the corner with a sink above it. And lastly, there was a metal door with no handle. The door looked like it had a small panel with a piece of flat metal jutting out at about chest height. Apart from that there wasn’t anything else in the room
He walked around the room investigating everything in it, looking especially close at the door but it didn’t look like he’d be able to open it from the inside. After spending probably two hours examining everything in his room and determining that escape was highly improbable, at least until someone came in, Dick sat down on the bedding and decided to wait. Someone would be along soon enough to tell him what he was here for and to gloat. They always did.
****
By his estimates it had been close to five hours and still no one had come in. Dick had done another investigation of the room, but nothing new turned up.
Then he heard a small thunk, and the small panel slid open and a piece of bread and an apple were pushed onto the flat piece of metal by the flap.
“Hello!” Dick called, stepping up to the door. “Who’s out there! Why am I here?” he pounded on the door but no one answered. Dick couldn’t even hear footsteps walking away.
He slumped against the door.
He picked up the food, turning it over in his hands, smelling it and giving it a tiny nibble. He didn’t think it was poisoned but it was always good to be sure. It seemed fine so he ate a few bites of the bread. Again, he felt fine about an hour later, so he caved to his grumbling stomach and devoured the rest.
No water had come through, but there was the sink above the toilet that he could drink from.
He walked around the room again, eight steps in one direction, turn around, eight steps back.
Then the lights shut off.
Dick fought back panic as his heartbeat sped up. Slowly, he made his way to the mat and sat down.
He couldn’t even see his hand in front of his face.
Nothing was happening.
Dick sighed, he didn’t really feel tired but there wasn’t much he could do in total darkness. So he laid down and closed his eyes.
***
He woke up when the lights flared on. He had no idea how much time had passed. He stretched and ran through a few exercises, and used the toilet.
He was bored, but surely someone would come soon. He had to be here for some reason. Maybe this was just a ransom call. But if it was, it would be highly professional. Dick ignored the unease that brought. Someone would be by soon.
***
He thought maybe three hours had passed since he’d woken up when the flap opened again and another piece of bread, this time accompanied by a banana, slid through. Dick darted forward, but whoever had pushed the food in shut the flap too quickly.
“Hey! When is someone coming to talk to me? Why am I here? What do you want?”
Nothing.
Dick grumbled and ate the food.
***
He started running math calculations in his head to keep his mind occupied, but that bored him quickly. He tried remembering what the book Jason had been reading was about, but he could only remember it was some old classical novel.
He ran through more exercise.
***
He tried standing next to the door at about the time when the food came through so that he could reach through the flap before it closed. But no food came.
He didn’t eat that day, or the next day.
He stayed away from the door after that.
*****
Dick paced. His legs ached. He wanted to run, to do some actual exercise. His whole body ached. He needed a shower. He felt filthy and sweaty even though the room was maintained at a constant temperature. There was the sink so if he used his shirt he could do a sort of sponge bath, but he’d have to put the same clothes back on.
***
He pounded on the door.
“Let me out! What do you want! Please, I'll give you anything. Just let me out!”
***
He laid listlessly on his mat, not reacting when he heard the flap opening and food being placed out.
***
He didn’t know how long it had been. It felt like it had been months or at least weeks. Why wasn’t anyone coming? Where was his family? Were they even trying to rescue him?
***
He pounded on the door, on the walls.
***
He threw his bedding at the door even though he knew it wouldn’t do any good.
***
He screamed as he beat his fists against the door, his hands bruising and his knuckles bleeding.
****
He laid on the floor, his bedding strewn around. He was so tired. He felt so weak.
****
Why was no one coming?
****
Dick sobbed.
****
No one was coming.