บท 17: Obsession
Gotham Prep was buzzing with the usual stress and anticipation of Fall midterms. The library was packed with students cramming for exams, study groups huddled over textbooks, and endless cups of coffee making the rounds. Jason, however, had his mind on something else. For the past few weeks, he'd been finding notes in his locker. At first, he'd assumed it was a prank, some bored freshman looking to mess with the older students. But each note was handwritten, scrawled in neat, looping letters, and seemed… oddly intense. At first, they'd been straightforward enough, though slightly
awkward—simple compliments and little statements like, "I think you're amazing," or "You're different from everyone else."
But as the weeks passed, the notes started to become more… passionate.
Every time he opened his locker now, he half-expected to find another one, and each time, his curiosity and unease grew. The most recent one had said, "I watch you every day. I know you feel it too." That line had sent a chill down his spine. Whoever was leaving these notes seemed to think there was something between them, something that he definitely wasn't feeling, considering he didn't even know who this person was. Today, as he turned the combination on his locker, he braced himself, wondering if he'd find another one.
Sure enough, as he swung open the door, a folded piece of paper slipped out, fluttering to the ground. He picked it up, unfolding it carefully, and read:
"Jason, I think about you all the time. You're everything I've ever wanted. I see how kind you are with others, and I know there's a deeper connection between us. Please don't ignore this—you're special, and we belong together."
Jason stared at the note, feeling a strange mix of confusion and discomfort. This was getting out of hand. Whoever was leaving these notes clearly had some kind of serious infatuation, and it was time to figure out who it was. He couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than just a harmless crush. He glanced down the hall, his eyes scanning the crowd, wondering if the person responsible was watching him right now. Maggie was at her locker a few doors down, chatting with Emily and Stephanie. For a moment, he considered telling her, but he didn't want her to worry. If he could handle it quietly, he'd save her the trouble. Still, he knew he couldn't ignore this any longer.
After his last class, he decided to take a closer look around his locker area. He knew most of the students who used lockers in this row, so if someone was hanging around here often, it might give him a clue. He lingered near his locker, pretending to look at his phone as he observed the people coming and going. A few freshmen walked by, laughing and joking around, followed by a group of juniors hurrying to a club meeting. No one seemed suspicious, but just as he was about to give up for the day, he noticed Nina walking down the hallway, glancing in his direction. She gave him a shy smile and waved; her cheeks tinged with a hint of pink. Jason waved back, feeling a little awkward. Nina had always seemed nice, friendly enough, but he didn't know her well. She had become friends with Maggie over the last couple of months, but they hadn't spoken much one-on-one.
"Hey, Jason," she said as she walked up to him. "Studying for midterms?"
"Yeah," he replied, trying to keep his tone casual. "Just taking a break, you know?"
She nodded, "Midterms can be brutal. I feel like I've been living in the library lately."
Jason chuckled, though he couldn't shake the nagging feeling in the back of his mind. "Yeah, same here. Just trying to survive it."
Nina chatted for a few more minutes about classes and study stress before glancing at her watch. "I should probably head to the library. If I don't pass history, my parents might actually disown me," she joked, giving him another shy smile before heading down the hall.
Jason watched her go, a small knot forming in his stomach. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something about the faint blush on her cheeks when she spoke to him… it felt like more than just friendly conversation. He tried to shake it off, reminding himself that he could be overthinking things. It wasn't like he had solid evidence. Nina had been nothing but nice since they'd met.
Over the next few days, he paid closer attention to his surroundings, noticing that Nina often seemed to be around him between classes, just a few steps behind or near his locker after school. She'd occasionally offer a friendly wave or smile, but something in her gaze lingered a little too long. He couldn't deny the odd feeling growing stronger each time he saw her, as though she were watching him more closely than she let on. After another intense day of classes, Jason opened his locker to find yet another note. This time, it was even more unsettling:
"Jason, I don't think you understand how much I care about you. I see things about you that no one else sees, things that make you special. I know you're just waiting for the right person to open up to. I'm here. I've always been here, watching."
A chill ran down his spine. "Watching." The word stuck in his mind, sending a wave of discomfort through him. He quickly folded the note and shoved it into his bag, looking around the hallway. The area was mostly empty now, but as he turned to leave, he saw Nina at the far end of the hall, glancing in his direction. He took a steadying breath, feeling his suspicions solidify. It was possible she just happened to be there, but it felt too coincidental. He couldn't ignore the way she'd always seemed nearby whenever he found a note, how her eyes lingered on him just a little longer than he was comfortable with. Jason walked out of the building, his thoughts racing. If Nina was the one leaving these notes, he needed to figure out a way to confirm it without jumping to conclusions. He didn't want to risk hurting Maggie by accusing her friend unfairly, but he also didn't want this to escalate.
That evening, he texted Maggie on the down low, while out on patrol:
Jason* "Hey, quick question—has Nina mentioned anything to you about… crushing on someone here at school?"
Maggie's reply came quickly.
Maggie* " I mean, she's made comments about some people being 'cute,' like you, Lucus, John but nothing serious. Why?"
Jason hesitated, unsure of how much to share.
Jason* "It's just… Someone's been leaving notes in my locker. Really intense ones. And I'm starting to think it might be her."
Maggie* "Whoa, really? That's… that's kind of weird. But I don't want to assume it's her without knowing for sure. I can try to ask her some questions, feel it out."
Jason* "Yeah, don't go too hard on it. Just… I don't know. She's around a lot, and the notes keep showing up. I could be wrong, but I want to be careful."
Maggie* "Totally understand. I'll see what I can find out."
The next few days at Gotham Prep an undercurrent of tension that lingered. Maggie took every opportunity to spend time with Nina, trying to gauge her reactions and see if she could uncover anything about the mysterious notes.
During lunch, Maggie casually steered the conversation toward Jason, observing Nina's reactions closely. "So… you mentioned you thought Jason was cute, right?" she asked, keeping her tone light and nonchalant. "Did you mean it?"
Nina's eyes widened slightly, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks. She quickly looked away, fidgeting with her drink. "Oh, well… I mean, who wouldn't think he's cute?" she said, forcing a laugh. "But it's not like I'm… you know, obsessed with him or anything. Why? Has he said something?"
Maggie shook her head, studying Nina's reaction. "No, not really. Just remembering if you mentioned it before."
Nina's shoulders relaxed, but there was a flicker of something in her expression that Maggie couldn't quite place—nervousness, maybe, or perhaps guilt. Maggie felt her suspicions deepen, but Nina wasn't giving her anything solid. She couldn't accuse her friend without proof, and for all she knew, it really could be a misunderstanding.
Over the next few days, things took an even stranger turn. Jason started receiving text messages from an unknown number. The first message had been a simple "I see you," followed by a heart emoji. He'd brushed it off at first, thinking it was a prank, but the messages continued. Each one grew more intense, almost demanding his attention:
"Why aren't you responding to me, Jason? I know you feel the same."
"Don't you get it? We're meant to be together."
"I know where you are. I see you every day."
Jason showed Maggie the texts, his face lined with frustration. "It's one thing to leave notes in my locker, but this… this is different. It's like whoever's doing this thinks we have some kind of… connection."
Maggie frowned, her stomach twisting as she read the messages. "This is… really intense, Jay. It's like they think they know you, like there's something deeper that isn't there."
He nodded, running a hand through his hair. "Exactly. I'm starting to feel like it might actually be Nina. But I have no proof, and I don't want to throw around accusations without something solid."
Maggie took a deep breath, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. "I tried to ask her about it again today, just to feel her out, and she denied everything. But I don't know… She's trying to laugh it off, but I can tell something's off."
Over the next couple of days, Jason found himself glancing over his shoulder in the hallways, a growing sense of paranoia creeping into his daily life. It was no longer just uncomfortable—it was invasive.
On Friday, as he was packing up his books after school, another message pinged onto his phone. He unlocked it, feeling his pulse quicken as he read:
"I saw you with her today. Why do you keep letting her distract you? Don't you see? We're meant for each other. No one else can understand you the way I do."
Jason's stomach turned as he looked around, feeling an eerie sense of being watched. Maggie had just texted that she'd be there soon, but he didn't feel like waiting alone anymore. He quickly grabbed his bag and headed for the front steps, scanning the crowd as he went. When Maggie finally caught up with him outside, she took one look at his face and knew something was wrong.
"Another message?"
He nodded, showing her the phone. "Whoever this is, they're watching us. It's not just random notes or texts anymore. They're paying attention, like they know my schedule or something."
Maggie's face grew serious, a mix of anger and worry flashing in her eyes. "This is going too far. Whoever it is, they're not just crushing on you—they're obsessed."
Jason nodded; his voice grim. "I need to figure out who it is and put a stop to this."
Maggie reached out, placing a comforting hand on his arm. "We'll get to the bottom of this."
The next few weeks at Gotham Prep took an unsettling turn as the messages to Jason escalated. What had started as vaguely flirtatious notes and cryptic texts had transformed into something far darker—something that felt less like a crush and more like an obsession. Jason's phone buzzed constantly, each message more invasive than the last. It wasn't just words anymore; now, whoever was behind the messages was sending photos—photos taken without Jason's knowledge, capturing moments from his day-to-day life around school. There were pictures of him at his locker, sitting in class, laughing with Maggie, and even one from the lunchroom with the caption:
"I know who you really want to be with. Stop pretending she's just your friend."*
Jason's frustration grew into genuine anxiety, and Maggie could tell he was on edge. He'd glance over his shoulder between classes, look around warily whenever he received a message, and stay close to Maggie whenever they were in crowded areas. The whole situation was starting to wear on him, and Maggie was just as disturbed. Whoever this was, they weren't just watching Jason—they were fixated on him in a way that felt deeply personal.
But it wasn't just Jason who was receiving the messages anymore.
One afternoon, as Maggie was leaving her last class, her phone buzzed with a new text from an unknown number. When she opened it, her stomach dropped.
"You think you're his best friend, don't you? Do you think he even really needs you?"*
Her first reaction was shock, then anger. She showed the message to Jason.
"They're targeting you now?" he said, his voice low. "This is getting out of control."
Maggie took a steadying breath, trying to keep calm. "It's like they think I'm… I don't know, competition or something. Like I'm getting in the way."
The messages didn't stop there. Over the next few days, Maggie continued to receive texts from the same unknown number, each one stranger than the last. They accused her of monopolizing Jason's attention, of being too close to him. One message read:
"You don't deserve him. He doesn't need someone who clings to him like you do."*
And then, a message that hit Maggie like a punch to the gut:
"You're jealous of me, aren't you? You probably have a crush on him yourself."*
Maggie's blood ran cold as she read the way the messages twisted her friendship with him felt invasive, wrong, like someone was trying to manipulate her feelings.
She showed the latest message to Jason as they sat in the library, both of them keeping their voices low as they spoke. Jason's face darkened, anger flickering in his eyes. "This has gone too far. It's one thing to mess with me, but now they're harassing you too. Whoever this is, they're completely mental."
Maggie nodded, feeling a strange mix of fear and frustration. "They're not just stalking you—they're making up this whole story in their head, twisting everything into something it's not."
Jason rubbed his temples, trying to think through the situation. "I'm still not sure it's Nina...But if it's not her, then who?"
The messages continued, growing bolder and more intense with each day. Jason received a new photo of himself almost daily, taken from angles that made it clear whoever was taking them was following him at school. One picture showed him walking with Maggie in the hallway, the message reading:
"There she is again, clinging to you. When will she learn to stay away?"*
Another message that Maggie received that same day simply said:
"You're not the one he really wants. Stop trying to be so close to him."*
Maggie felt a shiver run down her spine as she read the words. This person seemed to think she was somehow standing in the way of Jason's affections, that she was an obstacle in a delusional fantasy. It was becoming harder and harder to ignore the situation, and Maggie could see that it was taking a toll on Jason. He was tense, distracted, and more withdrawn than she'd ever seen him.
Finally, after yet another text—this one accusing her of "interfering" with Jason's happiness—Maggie had enough. She looked at Jason, her expression resolute.
"We have to get to the bottom of this, Jay. This isn't just harmless notes anymore. This is serious. Someone is fixated on you, and they're not going to stop unless we figure out who it is."
Jason nodded, the tension clear in his face. "I agree. We need to find out who's behind this. I'll start paying extra attention to who's around when I get these messages, and maybe we can catch them in the act."
Maggie squeezed his hand, feeling a renewed sense of determination. "We'll figure this out, Jay. They can't keep hiding forever."
Maggie was sitting in the cafeteria, her mind still preoccupied with the unsettling messages she and Jason had been receiving, when Emily slid into the seat next to her, her expression serious.
"Mags, I need to tell you something weird," Emily said, lowering her voice. She glanced around to make sure no one was listening before continuing. "I've been getting these texts from an unknown number… asking about Jason."
Maggie's eyes widened. "What kind of texts?"
Emily leaned in, her voice barely a whisper. "At first, I thought it was just someone playing around. They'd ask me things like, 'Did you really go out with Jason?' and 'How close are you with your ex?' I figured it was someone just fishing for gossip, you know? But then it got stranger. They started asking really specific stuff, like what he's like when he's with his friends, if he's ever mentioned having feelings for anyone… it was creepy."
Maggie's heart sank. She'd thought this whole situation was focused solely on her and Jason, but it seemed like this person was trying to dig for information from other people too.
Before she could respond, Stephanie approached the table, her expression anxious. "Maggie, I… I got some weird texts too. From an unknown number." She sat down next to them, looking between Emily and Maggie with concern. "They were all about Jason. At first, I thought maybe he was just trying to prank me or something, but the questions were… strange."
Maggie's stomach twisted as she listened. "What were they asking you, Steph?"
Stephanie looked down, as if trying to remember. "Stuff like, 'What does he like to do in his free time?' and 'What are his favorite things?'. It felt… personal, like whoever it was trying to get to know him on a level they didn't already."
Emily nodded in agreement. "Same with mine. They seemed obsessed with figuring out everything about him."
Maggie took a shaky breath, feeling the weight of the situation press down on her. Whoever was behind this wasn't just following Jason and sending cryptic messages—they were actively trying to dig into his life, even though his friends. The realization made her feel sick.
Just then, Nina walked over to the table, her expression tense as she held up her phone. "Hey, I thought I was going crazy, but… I got a weird text too."
Maggie, Emily, and Stephanie all looked at her, surprised. Maggie's initial suspicions about Nina wavered slightly, her curiosity piqued. "You got one too? What did it say?"
Nina glanced at her screen, then back at them, her voice low. "It was asking if I knew what Jason's schedule was… and when he'd be free to 'meet up.'"
Maggie's mind raced, piecing together what was happening. Whoever this person was, they weren't content with simply watching Jason and sending messages to him and her—they were branching out, trying to pull in his friends to gather more information. It was as though they were building a profile on him, trying to learn every detail they could.
"This is seriously creepy," Emily whispered, a shiver running through her. "It's like they're studying him, like he's some kind of… obsession."
Maggie nodded, her face set with determination. "You're right, Emily. This isn't just someone with a harmless crush. They're obsessed, and it's escalating."
Stephanie looked around nervously. "What should we do? If this person is texting all of us, it's like they know who Jason's closest friends are. They could be watching us too."
Maggie clenched her fists, the protectiveness she felt for Jason surging within her. "We have to be careful. Whoever this is… they're not going to stop until they get what they want."
Emily nodded, looking genuinely concerned. "If we keep getting these messages, we should save them. Maybe if we can gather enough, we'll have some kind of proof."
Nina and Stephanie exchanged uneasy glances but nodded in agreement. "Yeah, let's save everything," Stephanie said. "If they slip up, we'll have it all in writing."
Maggie looked around at her friends, feeling a sense of solidarity amidst the fear. They were all in this together now, and she felt a renewed sense of determination. "Let's keep an eye out, and don't go anywhere alone if you can help it. Whoever's behind this clearly doesn't understand boundaries, and we don't know how far they're willing to go."
The girls nodded, and as they left the cafeteria together, Maggie felt a mix of anxiety and resolve. Whoever was doing this was playing a twisted game.
The following week, things only grew more intense. Each day, the messages became increasingly specific, as though the unknown sender was piecing together Jason's every move, every interaction, every conversation. Maggie, Emily, Stephanie, and even Nina kept receiving texts, each one probing for details that only people close to Jason would know. It was like someone was building an entire map of his life—and it was clear this wasn't just a harmless crush.
By mid-week, the texts started hinting at Jason's routines. Messages like *"I know he spends every Tuesday in the library after school"* or *"Doesn't he look great in gym class? Don't you wish he'd pay more attention to you?"* arrived, one after another, each one more invasive than the last. The group tried to ignore them, to act as though they weren't bothered, but the anxiety was wearing on all of them.
Jason was visibly tense, the strain evident in his tight shoulders and quick glances over his shoulder. Maggie tried to stay close by him, but she could tell he was exhausted, caught between irritation and unease.
On Thursday, things took an even darker turn. During lunch, Jason received a photo of himself sitting at his locker, taken from a low angle, as if someone had crouched nearby without him noticing. Beneath the photo, the caption read:
"I was so close today. Closer than anyone else ever gets. Doesn't that make you feel special, Jason?"*
He showed the message to Maggie, his jaw clenched. "This is going way too far, Mags."
Maggie's stomach twisted as she looked at the photo, a shiver running down her spine. "We need to tell someone, Jay...They're stalking you."
Jason hesitated, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I know, I just… I don't want to make a big deal out of this if it's still just some messed-up prank. But… I can't keep pretending it's nothing."
The breaking point came that afternoon, when Maggie herself received a message that made her blood run cold. She was sitting in study hall, trying to focus on her work, when her phone buzzed. She glanced down, expecting another invasive question, but instead, it was a photo—a photo of her, taken as she sat alone in study hall. The caption read:
"You think you're keeping him to yourself by staying close to him? He doesn't belong to you, Maggie."*
Maggie's heart raced as she looked around the room, trying to spot anyone who might have taken the picture. Her hands were shaking as she stuffed her phone back into her bag, fighting the rising tide of panic that threatened to overwhelm her. She'd never felt so exposed, like her every move was being monitored and judged.
After study hall, Maggie found Jason waiting for her by her locker. She pulled him aside, her voice low and tense. "Jay, I just got a picture. Of me...Sitting in study hall."
Jason's face paled, and he looked around, scanning the crowded hallway. "This is serious, Maggie. They're not just watching—they're taunting us, threatening you now too." He hesitated, then added, "We can't keep this to ourselves. We need to go to the administration. Maybe they can track where these messages are coming from."
Maggie nodded, the gravity of the situation sinking in. "I agree."
That afternoon, they made their way to the office together, each step feeling heavier than the last. The school administration took them seriously, bringing in both the principal and the school's IT specialist to discuss the situation. They examined the messages on Jason and Maggie's phones, their expressions turning grim as they read the captions and saw the photos.
"We'll do everything we can to track this," the IT specialist assured them, his tone serious. "If these messages are coming from within the school, we should be able to trace the number. But I want you both to stay alert. Whoever is doing this… they're clearly not well."
Maggie and Jason nodded, feeling a mix of relief and fear. It was comforting to know someone was finally taking action, but the reality of how far this had gone was overwhelming.
For the next couple of days, they kept a low profile, trying to avoid drawing any attention as the school administration quietly conducted their investigation. But the messages didn't stop. They were more cautious now, often arriving only after school hours or during off periods, but they continued to grow more intense.
On Friday, Jason received one final message that left him feeling chilled to the bone:
"You think telling them will make me stop? You can't hide from me. I know exactly where you'll be on Monday."*
Jason shared the message with Maggie, his face set in determination. "This is it, Mags. They've crossed every line. No more hiding. No more ignoring it. I want to know who this is, and I want them to stop."
That night, back at Wayne Manor, Maggie and Jason sat across from Bruce in his study, the tension palpable. They'd agreed that keeping this from him any longer was pointless things had escalated far beyond simple annoyance or school drama. Whoever was sending these messages was dangerous, and they both knew Bruce could help in ways no one else could.
Bruce listened intently as they laid out everything—the notes, the messages, the photos, and the strange feeling of being watched. His face remained impassive, but his eyes grew darker with each detail, a quiet rage simmering beneath his calm exterior.
When they finally finished, he leaned back in his chair, his gaze shifting from Jason to Maggie.
"You did the right thing by telling me, "He said, his voice steady but carrying a sharp edge of protectiveness. "This isn't harmless. Whoever's doing this is methodical and obsessive. We need to find them before it escalates further."
Jason glanced at Maggie, relief and worry mingling in his expression. "Do you think… maybe we could use the Bat computer? See if we can trace the number or find out who's been watching us?"
Bruce nodded. "We're going to use every tool we have. I don't want either of you to be in danger, and if someone's been following you, this needs to end now." He stood, motioning for them to follow him to the Batcave.
Maggie and Jason followed him down the hidden passageway, the cold air of the cave prickling their skin as they entered the vast, dimly lit space. The Bat computer loomed in the center, its multiple screens glowing in the darkness, casting a soft blue light over the room. Bruce took a seat at the console, and Jason and Maggie gathered around, watching as he began typing commands with practiced ease.
"Send me all the texts and photos you've received from this number," he instructed, pulling up a tracing program on the main screen.
Maggie quickly forwarded the messages from her phone, and Jason did the same, their screens lighting up with the familiar and unsettling images and words. As the messages uploaded to the Bat computer, Bruce's face remained stoic, his eyes narrowing as he took in the evidence. He scrolled through each message, studying the images, the language, the patterns in the texts.
"The way these messages are written…" Bruce muttered, more to himself than to them. "It's calculated, almost like they're trying to manipulate you, to make you feel isolated. They're preying on your relationships and routines, trying to control how you think and act."
Jason clenched his fists, the frustration evident in his voice. "Who would go this far just for attention? This isn't just some classmate with a crush—they're practically stalking us."
Bruce's fingers flew over the keyboard, running the number through several tracing algorithms. The screen flashed with lines of code, then paused as the program hit a dead end. Bruce frowned, adjusting his approach, rerouting through a secondary trace.
"This number is using several layers of redirection," he said, his tone focused. "They've hidden their trail well. But…" He typed a few more commands, bypassing a firewall. "...not well enough."
After a few tense moments, a partial location popped up on the screen—a small, red dot flashing on a map of Gotham, narrowed down to a few blocks around Gotham Prep.
Maggie leaned closer, her heart racing. "That's near the school. So, they're definitely a student."
Bruce nodded, studying the map. "It's too close to be a coincidence. But this trace is only giving us the general area. Whoever they are, they're using burner devices that don't connect directly to a single location. They must be switching devices frequently, which means they're being very careful to avoid detection."
Jason ran a hand through his hair, visibly frustrated. "So, we're still in the dark?"
"Not entirely," Bruce said, his eyes narrowing. "If they're nearby and targeting both of you, they'll be keeping an eye on you at school. I'm going to set up a more advanced tracking protocol—one that will monitor any device that connects to your phones during the day. If they're using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi signals to intercept your location or information, we'll catch them."
Maggie glanced at Jason, feeling both reassured and unnerved by Bruce's intensity. "So… what do we do in the meantime?"
Bruce leaned back, his gaze steady. "Go about your day as usual. Act like nothing has changed. If this person thinks you're oblivious, they're more likely to slip up. And if anything feels off—anything at all—you contact me immediately. I'll have the Bat computer monitoring every signal in the vicinity of the school during the day."
Jason nodded, determination flickering in his eyes. "We'll be careful, Bruce. I just… I can't keep letting this go on. I'm done playing along with whoever's behind this."
Bruce's gaze softened slightly, a rare glint of empathy in his eyes as he looked at both of them. " We'll put a stop to it."
Maggie felt a wave of relief wash over her, a sense of safety returning now that Bruce was involved. She'd been carrying the weight of this alone with Jason, but now, with Bruce's help, it felt like they had a real chance of ending it.
Monday morning dawned with an unusual heaviness hanging over Gotham Prep. Maggie and Jason arrived together, their eyes scanning the halls with a heightened sense of awareness. Though they tried to keep things casual, both were on edge, the weight of the previous week's disturbing messages lingering in their minds. Now that Bruce was involved, they felt a renewed sense of determination, but it also made everything feel more real—and more dangerous.
The day passed slowly. Each time Jason received a notification or felt a vibration from his phone, his heart would skip a beat. He knew Bruce was running a trace on any device that came into range, but that didn't make the waiting any easier.
Between classes, Maggie kept her eyes open, watching for anything unusual. She noticed Nina lingering around the lockers a few times, her gaze occasionally flicking in Jason's direction. Maggie couldn't tell if it was mere coincidence or something more, but the small, suspicious twinge in her gut wouldn't go away.
During lunch, Maggie, Jason, Emily, and Stephanie gathered at their usual table. Though they tried to keep things light, the conversation was tinged with tension. Emily had also received another strange text that morning asking vague questions about Jason's "interests" and "favorite places," which had left her feeling uneasy. She was doing her best to ignore it, but her concern was palpable.
Halfway through lunch, Jason's phone buzzed. He glanced at it, his eyes narrowing. Another unknown number. The message was short but chilling:
"You think you're so smart, don't you, Jason? Watching you today has been so much fun. I know where you'll be after school."*
Jason clenched his jaw, quickly showing the message to Maggie under the table. She read it, her expression hardening. She'd thought they'd have some peace today with Bruce monitoring the signals, but whoever was behind this was still getting to them, still taunting them. Her own phone buzzed a moment later, and she opened it cautiously, half-expecting another unsettling text.
Sure enough, the message read:
"You can't keep him, Maggie. He belongs to me."*
She felt a chill run down her spine and glanced around the cafeteria, looking for anyone who seemed out of place, anyone who might be watching them. But everyone appeared to be focused on their own conversations, oblivious to the tension at their table.
"I'm done with this," Jason muttered under his breath. "Whoever this is, they're pushing their luck."
Maggie nodded, her voice low. "Bruce said to act normal, but this… it's getting worse. We should let him know what's happening."
Just as the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, Jason's phone buzzed again. This time, it was a photo—a photo of him sitting at their lunch table, surrounded by his friends, just moments ago. The message underneath read:
"Last chance, Jason. Meet me alone after school, or everyone will know your secrets."*
Jason's face went pale, and his jaw tightened as he showed the message to Maggie. Whoever this was, they were done hiding in the shadows. They wanted Jason to come to them, and they were willing to threaten his friends to make it happen.
"I don't think we can wait," Maggie whispered. "This isn't just watching anymore. They're trying to force you into something."
Jason nodded, a resolute look in his eyes. "Let's tell Bruce. He needs to know what's going on before this person tries anything."
They made it through the last few classes, their nerves on edge as they waited for the end of the day. Finally, as the final bell rang, Maggie and Jason slipped out of school quickly, keeping an eye on their surroundings as they walked toward a nearby alley where Bruce had arranged to pick them up without drawing attention.
As soon as they climbed into the black, sleek sedan Bruce had sent, they didn't waste any time filling him in. Jason handed his phone over, showing the messages from lunch.
Bruce's face hardened as he scrolled through the texts. "This person isn't satisfied with just watching anymore. They want control."
Maggie nodded; her voice low. "They sent me one too. Told me that I was 'in the way.'"
Bruce's jaw clenched, and he turned his attention back to the road as he drove toward the Batcave. "We'll track this latest signal. If they're on school grounds, they'll be easier to pinpoint. And if they want Jason to meet them after school, that gives us an advantage—they think they're the ones in control."
Once they arrived in the Batcave, Bruce immediately set to work on the Bat computer, loading the latest messages and setting up a live trace. The atmosphere in the cave was tense, filled with the soft hum of machinery and the steady clicks of Bruce's typing. Maggie and Jason stood behind him, watching the screen anxiously. After a few moments, a blip appeared on the map, hovering just outside Gotham Prep's campus. It was a familiar area—an old, unused classroom building that had been closed off for renovations for months. Bruce zoomed in on the location, his face set in determination.
"This is it. Whoever's behind this is in that building. They think they're safe, but they don't realize they've given themselves away."
Jason clenched his fists, a mixture of anger and relief flickering in his eyes. "What's the plan?"
Bruce turned to him, his gaze steady. "We'll go in together. Maggie, I want you to stay back and keep an eye on the perimeter. Jason and I will enter the building from two points and flush them out. Whoever this is, they're desperate. We have to assume they'll do whatever it takes to stay hidden."
Maggie nodded, swallowing her anxiety as she prepared herself. "Got it. Let's end this."
Within minutes, the trio was on their way back to the old classroom building. The halls of the abandoned structure were dark and silent, the faint echo of their footsteps the only sound as they crept through the shadows. Jason's heart pounded in his chest, a mixture of adrenaline and anger coursing through him. He was done being watched, done feeling like prey. Whoever was behind this was about to face consequences. As they moved through the building, Bruce signaled for Jason to split off, moving down a separate hallway to close in from the other side. Maggie kept to the shadows near the entrance, her eyes scanning the darkened campus outside for any sign of movement. After a few tense moments, Jason spotted a figure at the end of the hallway, partially hidden in the shadows. He couldn't make out their face, but the figure seemed to be waiting, watching for something—or someone.
Jason stepped forward, his voice cold. "You've had your fun. Now it's over. Come out where I can see you."
The figure froze, their head turning slowly to face him, and for the first time, Jason could see the glint of fear in their eyes. But just as they started to move, Bruce emerged from the other side, blocking off any escape route.
"Game's over," Bruce said, his tone commanding. "You're not going anywhere."
The figure hesitated, then bolted toward a nearby door, but Bruce was faster, blocking their path. Jason moved in; his fists clenched as he closed the distance between them.
The figure let out a shaky breath, backing up against the wall, and in that moment, the mask they wore slipped, revealing a familiar face—Nina.
Jason's stomach dropped. He'd suspected, but seeing her standing there, caught in the act, was surreal.
"Nina?" he said, a mixture of disbelief and anger in his voice. "You were the one… all this time?"
Nina looked at him, her expression shifting from fear to something almost… possessive. "Jason, I only wanted you to see how much I care about you. She"—she shot a hateful look toward the direction Maggie was keeping watch—"was always in the way. You were supposed to understand, to see that I'm the only one who truly understands you."
Bruce stepped forward, his voice steely. "This ends now, Nina. You're not coming near Jason or his friends again. There are consequences for what you've done."
Nina's eyes flickered with a desperate defiance, her gaze darting back to Jason. "They don't get it, Jason. None of them do. I'm the only one who's ever been there, watching, caring about you when no one else did."
Jason felt a shiver of revulsion. "This isn't caring, Nina. This is obsession. You went too far."
As Bruce called the cop over to arrest her, Nina's expression shifted, a strange, hollow smile forming on her lips. "You'll see, Jason. One day, you'll understand."
But Jason looked away, disgust and anger mixing in his expression. "I already understand, Nina. And I want nothing to do with you."
With Nina in custody, the nightmare was finally over. The sense of relief that washed over Jason and Maggie was immense, though the unsettling truth of Nina's obsession left them shaken.
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