I hadn't seen Dick in weeks.

At first it was because I'd been confined to The Room, then I was haunted by his screams. He was always in a lower section of the compound, we've moved to a new city every weekend.

That's how I've been keeping track of time.

At least as best I could from inside my locked room. It wasn't quite The Room but it was bland and exactly like all the others.

I curled up in the furthest corner from the door, trying to block out the screams. Dick needed help and I couldn't give it to him. It tore at my heart to hear him every day. Likely it wouldn't stop until Father got what he wanted.

The little flap in the bottom of my door opened, my next meal pushed through.

Dick was still screaming so it had to be Wintergreen that had done it, my suspicions were confirmed when he shouted. "Eat Maddie."

I didn't want to talk to him, didn't want to eat the food he brought. He betrayed me and set this entire thing in motion.

"Robin's going to receive your punishment if I come back and that tray isn't empty" he warned, letting the flap drop.

Closing my eyes, I buried my head in my knees. Maybe if I did what they wanted, Dick wouldn't have to be in pain anymore.

With as much motivation as I could muster, I got up and moved over to the tray. Tonight's meal was rice and cut up chicken. The smell made my stomach rumble and I managed to get a few bites in before my body started to protest it, I felt like I wanted to throw up.

Gathering the plate and cup of water, I moved again toward the toilet bowl, dumping the unfinished food inside.

I wasn't going to be able to eat it anyway. I returned to the tray, depositing the plate there before chugging as much of the water as I could and placing it back as well.

By the time I got back to my spot, I felt sick. Nausea swelled inside me, making me clench my jaw. All I wanted right now was to be back in Dick's apartment, sitting next to him on the couch and watching a movie.

I wanted to feel safe.

Maybe Tim realized what happened and told Bruce. What if they couldn't find us? I didn't dare let myself hope.

"Please. You're so pathetic, needing someone to come rescue you" Hallucination Dick leaned against the wall by my bed, his arms crossed. "If I was the real Dick, I'd realize how worthless you are and leave you here to rot. You really think I can't get out of here?"

I held my hands over my ears, closing my eyes tightly.

Not real

Not real

Not real.

"Go away" I begged, the real Dick's next scream punctuating the air. "Please" I couldn't stop the newest influx of tears.

"You're just a waste of space, maybe you should just let yourself starve, then I'll finally be free of you" Dick's voice echoed in my mind regardless of what I did.

Suddenly the compound was dead silent. I reluctantly pulled my hands away, curiously creeping toward the door. Had Dick lost his voice? Did he die?

The locks on my door began to slide open and I scrambled away from it just in time for the door to swing open, Wintergreen standing in the now empty frame. "Come."

I followed him out toward the throne room, my hands shaking.

Dick was already there, on his knees and hardly holding himself up. I ran past Wintergreen, kneeling beside Dick. "Hey" I gently turned his face toward me. The sight of him broke my heart, he was covered in cuts and bruises, barely alive.

He tried to offer me a smile but instead he teetered forward, leaning his head against my shoulder. I ran my hand through his hair, cautious to touch any other part of him. He was so fragile.

Father entered, dressed in his armor.

Was he going somewhere? If he left Dick would finally have a break? Wintergreen usually didn't like to get his hands dirty with torture.

"Robin has been reluctant to join my side." Father continued walking toward us, taking a sword out and handing it to Wintergreen. "I grow tired of trying to convince him of his true calling."

Slade crossed over to Dick and I, grabbing me by the arm and dragging me away from Dick despite my struggle against him. Dick immediately fell to the cold concrete floor, not strong enough to hold himself up any longer.

"Listen well daughter." Slade grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at Dick. "I'm done waiting for him to come around, obviously nothing is working, not even that taste of freedom you both had." Wintergreen approached Dick, pulling him up by his hair.

"No" I breathed, fighting Slade harder.

No. No. No. No. No.

"This is what happens when you're disobedient" Father sent a nod toward Wintergreen who promptly stabbed Dick through the chest before winding back and doing it again and again.

"NO!" I screamed, desperately scratching at any of Slade's exposed skin. As soon as Dick fell to the floor, I was let go. It felt like I was under water as I fell to my knees at Dick's side, cradling his head. I frantically brushed back the fringe that normally framed his face, as if that would help.

Time itself seemed to slow, all that came out of Dick's mouth was a faint gurgle and he grabbed my hand, holding it close to him.

"Please don't leave me" I whispered, laying my forehead against his. His grip went slack, a final breath leaving his chest. I sobbed into his chest, uncaring of the blood I was getting everywhere. Maybe if I stayed, he'd wake back up. I felt like I couldn't breathe, like I was dying right along with him.

It would be better that way.

"You will inherit everything of mine when I die and you will carry on with the family business." Slade stood over us. "If you refuse? Well, I have more friends and family of Robin's to kill. That new one masquerading as the new Robin will be the first on my list, and it will continue past my eventual death."

Instead of waiting for my response, Slade simply picked me up, carrying me far away from Dick. I tried to fight it, to get back to him, but I was too tired, too weak, to be able to do anything.

I hardly realized when the door locked behind me, I stumbled toward my bed, barely making it there before I curled around my pillow, tears falling once again while Dick's blood stained the white fabric.

"Please come back" I begged quietly, knowing my friend was gone. "I still need you"