Morning came quietly.
Nick slowly opened his eyes, letting out a tired groan as he stretched.
Nick: Ugh…
He rubbed his face and sat up.
Then paused.
His eyes shifted to where Bat had been sleeping.
Empty.
Nick frowned.
Nick: …Bat?
He stood up quickly, looking around.
Left.
Right.
Nothing.
Nick walked a few steps forward, peeking into the alley.
Nick: Bat?
Still nothing.
Nick's expression tightened slightly.
Nick: Don't tell me—
WHOOSH.
A figure dropped from above.
Nick flinched.
Bat landed smoothly behind him, a small bag in his hand.
Nick spun around.
Nick: WHAT THE HELL?!
Bat looked at him calmly.
Bat: Morning.
Nick stared at him.
Nick: Where did you go?!
Bat lifted the bag slightly.
Bat: I went to look for food.
Nick blinked.
Nick: …food?
Bat nodded once.
Bat: I figured you'd be hungry.
Nick's eyes lit up instantly.
Nick: Of course I'm hungry!
Bat opened the bag and held it out.
Inside—
Scraps.
Old food.
Things wrapped in paper.
Nick leaned in.
Then his face dropped.
Nick: …what the hell is this?
Bat: Food.
Nick looked at him slowly.
Nick: This is garbage.
Bat: It's still edible.
Nick: Did you get this from a dumpster?!
Bat didn't answer.
Nick stepped back.
Nick: Nah. No. I'm not eating that.
Bat: You'll starve.
Nick crossed his arms.
Nick: I'd rather starve with dignity.
Bat said nothing.
Nick sighed, running a hand through his hair.
Nick: Man… we need money.
Bat looked at him.
Bat: Yeah, we do.
Nick: Like… a job.
There was a pause.
Then—
Bat nodded slowly.
Bat: Yeah.
Bat: That sounds like a great idea.
Bat looked straight at him.
Bat: Let me just walk into one of those buildings and say—
Bat: "Hello. I'm looking for a job."
Bat: "Don't mind how I look."
Bat: "Don't mind how I smell."
Bat: "Don't mind the mask."
Bat: "I have no identity and no idea where I am."
Bat: "But please hire me."
Bat looked at Nick.
Bat: Yeah.
Bat: That sounds like a great plan.
Bat raised an eyebrow slightly.
Nick stared at him.
Nick: Yeah… that makes no sense.
Nick sighed.
Nick: You don't have to rub it in like that.
Bat: I'm being realistic.
Nick groaned.
Nick: So what are we supposed to do then?
Bat didn't answer immediately.
Nick's stomach growled loudly.
Nick froze.
Bat looked at him.
Nick looked down at the bag.
Nick: …
Bat held it out again.
Bat: Eat first.
Bat: Then think.
Nick stared at it.
Silence.
Nick: …I hate my life.
He reached in and grabbed a piece.
Far away—
An engine roared.
A motorcycle sped along the road, cutting through traffic.
The rider moved fast.
Precise.
Controlled.
After a while—
The bike slowed.
The rider stopped.
He removed his helmet.
Sky.
He looked ahead at the massive city.
Sky: Hmm…
His phone buzzed.
He answered.
Sky: Yeah.
Director Halden Krowe: Are you there yet?
Sky glanced forward.
Sky: Yeah.
Sky: I made it to Aurelis.
A short pause.
Director Halden Krowe: Good.
Sky stepped off the bike.
Director Halden Krowe: We've lost them.
Sky's expression didn't change.
Sky: Lost?
Director Halden Krowe: They're off the grid.
Director Halden Krowe: Our cameras can't see them.
Director Halden Krowe: We've sent you their faces.
Sky's eyes narrowed slightly.
Sky: …
Director Halden Krowe: They may be onto us.
Sky exhaled lightly.
Sky: That's… interesting.
Director Halden Krowe: Do not attract attention.
Sky: I'm not stupid.
A pause.
Director Halden Krowe: I know.
Then—
Director Halden Krowe: One more thing.
Sky waited.
Director Halden Krowe: Void is in the city.
Silence.
Sky's grip tightened slightly on the phone.
Sky: …
Sky: Why?
The call ended.
Sky lowered the phone slowly.
Sky: …fuck.
He looked toward the city again.
Eyes sharp.
Focused.
Sky: This just got annoying.