บท 54: Hunted
Bruce's eyes narrowed as the implications hit him. Maggie was hurt, and using her shadow abilities would have been both reckless and dangerous. But another thought gnawed at him—a more troubling one.
"Do you think she overheard us?" Bruce muttered to himself, though Jason caught the words.
Jason frowned. "Overheard what?"
Bruce didn't answer immediately. Instead, he reached for the phone on his desk and dialed a number.
"What are you doing?" Jason pressed, his frustration mounting.
"Calling Constantine," Bruce replied, his tone clipped. The phone rang twice before a familiar, rough voice picked up on the other end.
"Bruce," Constantine greeted, his tone casual but laced with curiosity. "Didn't expect to hear from you so soon. Everything alright?"
"No," Bruce replied, his voice firm. "Maggie's gone."
There was a pause on the other end, followed by a low whistle. "Gone, you say? As in, 'packed her bags and buggered off' gone?"
"Yes," Bruce confirmed, glancing at Jason, who was pacing the room like a caged animal. "Jason believes she used her shadows to teleport."
"Well, that's a bold move," Constantine said, his tone turning serious. "She's injured, yeah? Pushing herself like that… risky."
"I need to know," Bruce continued, his voice hardening, "if it's possible she overheard what we were discussing. Could that have pushed her to run?"
Constantine let out a slow sigh. "You mean the whole 'using magic to get her to talk' bit? Yeah, mate, it's possible. If she's already on edge, the idea of us poking around in her head would've sent her running. She's sharp enough to piece things together."
Bruce's jaw tightened. "If that's the case, where could she have gone? Based on her abilities and her injuries, she couldn't have teleported far."
"Metropolis," Constantine said immediately. "It's logical. She'd know you'd figure out Gotham too quickly, but she wouldn't have the strength to go much farther than the next major city."
Jason stopped pacing, snapping his head toward Bruce. "So, what are we waiting for? Let's go."
Constantine interrupted, his voice firm. "Hold your horses, kid. Just barging in won't help if she's running scared. Especially if she thinks you're coming after her to mess with her head."
Jason glared at the phone. "So what do you suggest? We just sit here and hope she texts us a postcard?"
"No," Constantine said evenly. "But if you want to bring her back without making things worse, you need to tread carefully. She's already feeling cornered. She used her powers to get away—that means she's desperate."
Bruce exhaled sharply. "Can you track her, Constantine? Based on her energy or the shadows she's been using?"
"Maybe," Constantine replied. "But I'll need something of hers to anchor the spell. Something she's been in contact with recently."
Bruce nodded, already turning toward the door. "Jason, find something of Maggie's—clothing, jewelry, anything. Bring it to the Batcave."
Jason stormed back into Maggie's room, his mind racing with worry. His eyes darted around the space as he tried to piece together what had happened. The room was in slight disarray, a sign that Maggie had left in a hurry.
He approached the bed first, his hand brushing against the crumpled covers. It was clear she hadn't taken the time to fix them. The faint indentation on the pillow told him she'd been there earlier, but now, she was gone.
"Where are you, Mags?" Jason muttered under his breath, his jaw tightening.
He turned his attention to the nightstand. The drawer was slightly ajar, and when he pulled it open, he noticed that her phone charger was missing. The book she'd been reading the night before was gone, too. His chest tightened—she'd packed for more than just a short trip.
Jason moved to the closet, the door left ajar. He pulled it open wider and quickly noticed the empty hangers where some of her clothes had been. His frustration mounted as he scanned the shelves and realized her overnight bag was missing, too.
As he stepped back, something on the floor near the foot of the bed caught his eye—a faint glimmer in the carpet. Jason knelt down, his breath hitching as he recognized the charm bracelet he'd given her before she left for England.
He picked it up carefully, turning it over in his hands. One of the charms—a small Robin—was slightly bent, as if it had been yanked or dropped forcefully.
"It must've fallen off when she teleported," Jason muttered, the weight of the realization sinking in. She'd used her shadows to leave, and in her hurry, she hadn't even noticed the bracelet slipping from her wrist.
Jason stood, clutching the bracelet tightly in his fist. His gaze fell to her desk, and a flicker of curiosity mingled with his frustration. If she had packed and left, maybe she'd written something down—anything to explain why she'd run.
He stepped over and sifted through the papers on her desk. Notes from school, and loose sheets of homework littered the surface, but nothing gave him a clue about where she'd gone. His frustration boiled over, and he slammed the drawer shut—only for something else to catch his attention.
A small, leather-bound book sat slightly hidden beneath a stack of notebooks. Jason hesitated for a moment before pulling it out, as he realized what it was. Maggie's diary.
Jason's fingers hovered over the cover, conflicted. He hated invading her privacy, but this wasn't a normal situation. If she'd written anything in here about her shadows, her fears, or where she might have gone, it could be the key to finding her.
"Sorry, Mags," he muttered under his breath as he opened the diary, flipping through the most recent pages.
Her handwriting, neat but slightly hurried in places, filled the pages. As he skimmed through, certain phrases jumped out at him:
"The whispers are getting louder."
"I can't let them find out."
"The shadows feel stronger every day."
Jason's grip on the diary tightened. She'd been struggling more than she'd let on, and she hadn't told anyone—not him, not Bruce, not Dick.
He flipped to the very last entry, his heart pounding.
"I might have to leave. I don't have a choice anymore. If I stay, they'll try to fix me. They'll never understand. The shadows are mine to deal with—not theirs. I'll be fine… I think everyone better off without me."
Jason slammed the diary shut, anger and worry warring within him. He stuffed the book into his pocket, his mind racing.
"She didn't just leave because she wanted to," he muttered to himself. "She left because she thought she had to."
Jason looked down at the charm bracelet still in his hand. He felt a wave of guilt wash over him—he'd noticed her acting off, but he hadn't pushed hard enough to find out why. Now she was out there alone, injured, and with no one to protect her.If she thought she could run from them, she was wrong.
He left the room with the bracelet and diary in hand.Jason stormed into the Batcave, the familiar hum of the Batcomputer and soft glow of the monitors filling the cavernous space. Bruce was already at the console, scanning through security footage, while Constantine leaned against a nearby table, casually lighting another cigarette.
Jason threw the bracelet and diary onto the table in front of them. "She left these behind."
Bruce's eyes flicked to the items. His gaze lingered on the charm bracelet Jason had given Maggie, its bent Robin charm a painful reminder of her hasty departure. Without a word, he picked up the diary and opened it, flipping through the pages.Bruce's eyes darkened as he read through Maggie's last entries. The tension in his jaw was visible as he absorbed her words. "She knew," he said finally, his voice quiet but heavy. "She overheard us. About using magic to make her talk."
Constantine exhaled a stream of smoke, his expression turning grim. "Well, that would explain why she bolted. Kid's sharp—too sharp.
Jason gestured toward the bracelet. "She dropped that when she teleported. She's hurt, Constantine. She can't keep this up."
Constantine picked up the bracelet, holding it between his fingers as he studied it. "This'll help," he said, his tone thoughtful. "If she used the shadows to teleport, I might be able to trace the energy signature. It'll give us a general idea of where she landed—assuming she hasn't moved again."
Bruce nodded. "Do it."
Constantine reached into his coat, pulling out a pouch filled with small vials and chalk. "Give me a few minutes," he said, clearing a space on the table to work. He began drawing intricate symbols and muttering incantations under his breath, the air around him seeming to grow heavier.
Jason hovered nearby, his frustration bubbling over. "This could've been avoided," he muttered.
Bruce placed a hand on Jason's shoulder, his expression grim. "We can't change that now. All we can do is find her."
Constantine glanced up, his eyes briefly glowing as the spell took effect. The bracelet in his hand began to shimmer faintly, emitting a faint pulse of energy. "Got it," he said, a sly grin tugging at his lips.
"Where is she?" Jason demanded.
"Metropolis as suspected," Constantine replied, slipping the bracelet into his pocket. "She didn't get too far—smart girl, picking somewhere familiar. But she's not exactly subtle. The energy she left behind is strong. If I can feel it, so can others."
Bruce's eyes narrowed. "Others?"
"Anything—or anyone—magical or other," Constantine explained. "She's practically leaving breadcrumbs."
Jason stepped toward the Batcomputer, already pulling up a map of Metropolis. "Then we need to move. Now."
Bruce nodded, his voice firm. "Suit up. We leave immediately."
As Jason turned to head toward his gear, he glanced back at the bracelet and diary on the table. His jaw tightened. "We're bringing her home," he said quietly, his determination unwavering.
Bruce pulled out his phone, his expression unreadable but his movements quick and deliberate.
He dialed a familiar number, and after a couple of rings, Clark Kent's voice answered.
"Bruce," Clark greeted, his tone light but curious. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"This isn't a social call," Bruce said briskly. "I need your help."
Clark's tone immediately shifted, his concern evident. "What's going on?"
Bruce hesitated for only a moment before speaking. "It's Maggie. She's gone."
"Gone?" Clark repeated, his voice laced with worry. "What do you mean, gone?"
"She left the manor earlier today," Bruce explained. "Packed a bag and used her shadow abilities to teleport. Constantine traced her to Metropolis. She's hurt, Clark, and she's scared. We need to find her before something happens."
Clark was silent for a moment, processing the information. "Does she know you're looking for her?"
"She ran because.... It's my fault." Bruce said, his tone tight. "I need your help. She's vulnerable."
Clark's voice softened but held a note of urgency. "Of course I'll help. I'll keep an eye out from above. Conner's here, too—he can cover ground faster than most."
Bruce nodded, even though Clark couldn't see him. "Thank you. We're on our way."
"Conner and I will start looking right away. Do you have any idea where she might go?"
"Somewhere she thinks she can lay low," Bruce replied. "Somewhere to avoid detection."
"We'll find her," Clark assured him. "I'll call you the moment we see anything."
"Appreciate it," Bruce said before hanging up. He turned back toward Constantine, who was packing up his spell materials.
"Clark and Conner are in," Bruce informed him.
Constantine nodded, slipping the pouch back into his coat. "Good. The more eyes, the better. But I'll tell you this—if she's dabbling too much in the shadows, it's not just you she's running from. Something might be calling to her."
Bruce's expression darkened, but he said nothing.
Jason returned, fully suited up as Robin, his expression determined. "What's the plan?"
"We're heading to Metropolis," Bruce replied. "Clark and Conner are already searching. Once we get there, we'll coordinate and track her down."
Jason's fists clenched at his sides. "We have to find her before anything else does."
"We will," Bruce said, his voice steady. "Let's move."
Superman floated high above the city, his keen eyes scanning the streets below. The bustling energy of Metropolis felt almost overwhelming compared to Gotham's darker, quieter atmosphere.
His communicator crackled to life as Conner's voice came through. "Anything yet?"
"Not yet," Clark replied, his gaze sweeping over a park where clusters of people were gathered. "She's keeping herself out of sight. That much is clear."
Conner's voice carried a note of frustration. "If she used shadows to get here, she's probably drained. She couldn't have gone far. I'll check the south side again."
"Good idea," Clark said. "Stay sharp.She's on edge."
"Got it," Conner replied before the line went quiet.
The sun hung low in the sky, casting long, amber shadows across the city. As the daylight faded, the soft hum of Metropolis transitioned into the buzz of nighttime activity. From her perch in the abandoned apartment, Maggie could see the faint glow of the streetlights flickering to life, their warm halos cutting through the growing darkness.
She sat slumped against the wall, the peeling wallpaper a muted backdrop to her exhaustion.Her breathing was shallow, her ribs aching with every inhale. She'd managed to teleport here hours ago, but the strain of the jump, combined with her injuries, had left her drained and disoriented. The small bag she'd packed sat beside her, its contents spilling onto the floor—a couple of shirts, a hoodie, and a water bottle she hadn't had the strength to open yet.
She glanced at her hands, trembling from exhaustion. Her body felt heavy, her mind clouded with a mix of pain and regret.
"You shouldn't have pushed yourself like that," Lillyanna's voice whispered in her mind, soft but chiding. "You're lucky you made it here in one piece."
"Not now," Maggie muttered, her voice barely audible. She leaned her head back against the wall, squeezing her eyes shut. "I just need a break."
"A break?" Lillyanna's tone turned sharp. "There's no time for breaks, Maggie. You're vulnerable, weak. Do you think they won't find you? Do you think he won't find you?"
Maggie's eyes snapped open, a chill running down her spine. "What do you mean, he?"
Lillyanna's voice softened, almost soothing. "The shadows aren't just yours, Maggie. They belong to something greater, something ancient. And now that you've used them, you've caught its attention. Do you feel it? The pull? The hunger?"
Maggie shivered, her hand instinctively clutching her side where her ribs ached. "You're lying."
"Am I?" Lillyanna replied, her voice curling like smoke. "You've felt it—haven't you? That itch in the back of your mind, that whisper when you're alone. You can run from Bruce, Jason, Constantine… but you can't run from this."
Maggie pressed her hands to her temples, trying to block out the voice. "I just need time to figure this out," she whispered. "That's all."
"Time is a luxury you don't have," Lillyanna warned. "If you don't get stronger, if you don't let me help you, it won't just be them you're running from. It'll be him. And trust me, he be far less forgiving."
Maggie let out a shaky breath, her eyes darting to the cracked window across the room. The city beyond felt so close yet impossibly far. She wanted to believe she could find peace here, even if only for a little while.
But the lingering presence of Lillyanna in her mind, and the faint, eerie pull she couldn't shake, told her otherwise.
Suddenly, a noise from outside snapped her attention to the window. Her pulse quickened as she crawled closer, wincing with every movement. Peeking through the blinds, she saw nothing but the empty alley below.
The shadows in the room thickened, twisting unnaturally as Maggie turned away from the window. Her breath hitched as the faint scent of sulfur filled the air. She froze, her body tense with unease.
When she turned back around, her heart stopped.
A figure stood in the center of the room, cloaked in darkness that seemed alive. Their presence was suffocating, a cold, unnatural energy radiating from them. Their glowing, otherworldly eyes locked onto hers with a predatory intensity, and a faint, cruel smile played on their lips.
"Who—" Maggie stammered, her voice trembling. "Who are you? How did you get in here?"
The figure tilted their head, the movement slow and deliberate. Their voice, low and resonant, sent chills down her spine. "You know who I am. You've felt me watching, haven't you?"
Maggie swallowed hard, her hands trembling at her sides. "I don't know what you're talking about."
The figure stepped closer, the shadows around them pulsing with every movement. "I am Eclipso," they said, their tone cold and measured.
Maggie took a shaky step back, her ribs flaring in pain. "What do you want?"
Eclipso's smile widened, cruel and mocking. "What I want is what you already have. Power. Raw, untamed, and perfect for the taking."
Maggie's chest tightened as she shook her head. " I..I don't have anything you want."
Eclipso chuckled darkly, the sound reverberating through the room. "Oh, but you do. The shadows within you… they are a gift and a curse. I see it. The potential. The strength. And it's mine to claim."
Eclipso raised a hand, and the shadows in the room surged forward, wrapping around Maggie like tendrils. The pressure was immense, squeezing the air from her lungs as she struggled to break free.
"You're strong," Eclipso said, their voice almost admiring.
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