Becoming Nightshade

"Drive, now!" Jason barked.

Dick didn't hesitate. The tires screeched against the pavement as he floored it, weaving through Gotham's streets at breakneck speed. Maggie clutched the seatbelt tightly, her heart pounding in her chest as she glanced back to see Briggs and his men in hot pursuit.

Suddenly, the sharp crack of gunfire echoed through the air. Pop! Pop! The rear tires exploded in a burst of shredded rubber and smoke. The car lurched violently, swerving uncontrollably as Dick fought with the wheel, his face set in grim determination.

"Hold on!" he shouted.

The vehicle spun out, skidding sideways before flipping onto its roof with a sickening crunch of metal against asphalt. Glass shattered, airbags deployed, and everything turned upside down in a dizzying blur of noise and chaos.

Maggie gasped, her vision swimming as the world seemed to slow. Jason groaned from the driver's side, his arm pinned awkwardly between the seat and the crumpled door. Dick's head rested against the deployed airbag, blood trickling down the side of his face. The smell of gasoline filled the air.

Maggie coughed, blinking rapidly to clear the haze from her mind. "Jason? Dick?" Her voice was weak, disoriented.

Jason let out a low groan, shifting slightly. "I'm… just peachy…" he muttered, trying to free his arm.

Dick stirred, his voice strained but steady. "Mags… you okay?"

Before she could answer, the crunch of approaching footsteps sent a wave of dread through her. Briggs and his crew moved in, their silhouettes dark and predatory.

Briggs knelt down beside the overturned car, his smirk visible through the spiderweb cracks of the shattered windshield. "Well, well," he drawled, tapping the glass with the barrel of his gun. "Looks like Todd had a little accident."

Jason groaned, trying to move, but Maggie's hand found his, squeezing tightly.

One of Briggs' men, the one with the skull tattoo, peered inside with a grin, his eyes gleaming with cruel anticipation. "Boss, we takin' 'em in?"

Briggs grinned wider, his teeth flashing in the dim streetlights. "Yeah," he said, nodding to his crew. "Grab them."

Before Jason could react, the thug next to him wrenched open the door with a grunt, grabbing Jason by the front of his jacket and yanking him roughly out of the car. Jason hit the pavement with a harsh grunt, his body still reeling from the crash, but his eyes burned with fury.

"Get off me!" Jason snarled, struggling against the hold, but another of Briggs' men slammed a boot into his ribs, knocking the wind out of him. He doubled over, coughing as they forced his arms behind his back.

Dick wasn't faring much better. As soon as the door was pulled open, two of the thugs dragged him out, pinning him the wrecked car. "Easy, boys," Dick muttered, wincing as they twisted his arms behind him. "You'll mess up my jacket."

The thug growled, pressing him harder against the metal. "Shut it, pretty boy."

Inside the car, Maggie's heart pounded in her chest as the last thug reached for her, his grimy fingers wrapping tightly around her wrist. She yanked back instinctively, kicking at him, but he was stronger, his grip ironclad. Panic surged through her veins as she fought against him, but before she could react further, another thug appeared, reaching in and grabbing her other arm.

"No! Get off me!" she screamed, thrashing against them.

The two men worked in sync, their brute strength overpowering her despite her struggle. With a grunt, they yanked her out of the wrecked car, and before she could brace herself, she was thrown onto the pavement with a hard, unforgiving thud. Pain shot through her shoulder and ribs, the impact knocking the wind out of her.

She gasped, blinking through the shock, but before she could gather herself, rough hands grabbed her arms and wrenched them behind her back.

"Stay down, sweetheart," one of them growled, pressing his knee into her lower back to keep her pinned.

Maggie struggled beneath his weight, her chest heaving as she tried to twist free. "Let me go, you piece of—"

"Easy there," Briggs' voice interrupted smoothly as he crouched down beside her, his smirk infuriatingly calm. "We wouldn't want you getting any more banged up than you already are." He reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face, his touch sending a shiver of anger through her spine. "You're worth a lot more in one piece."

Jason's growl cut through the tension, his voice raw with fury. "Get your hands off her!" He struggled violently against the two thugs restraining him, his muscles straining against their grip. One of them slammed a fist into his gut, doubling him over with a pained grunt.

Dick, pinned against the car hood by two more thugs, gritted his teeth. "Briggs, let her go. You don't want to do this."

Briggs laughed, standing up and dusting off his jacket. "Oh, but I do, Grayson. You see, Todd here owes me… and I always collect."

Maggie clenched her fists, feeling the familiar pull of the shadows stirring within her. They rippled beneath her skin, itching to strike, but she forced herself to stay calm, waiting for the right moment.

Briggs motioned to his men. "Load 'em up. We've got places to be."

The thug holding Maggie hauled her to her feet roughly, keeping a firm grip on her wrists. Jason's eyes locked onto hers, his jaw tightening. "Maggie, stay with me," he murmured, his voice low but steady.

She nodded, her mind racing, searching for a way out.

Briggs grinned. "Don't worry, Todd. We'll make sure the little princess here gets the VIP treatment."

Jason's teeth clenched so hard his jaw ached. "If you so much as touch her—"

Briggs wagged a finger at him. "Tsk, tsk. You're in no position to make threats, Todd."

Dick glanced toward the street, his sharp eyes catching distant headlights approaching. He needed to buy time. "You're making a mistake, Briggs," he said, his voice calm despite the pressure.

The thugs started hauling them toward a black SUV parked nearby, their grips unforgiving. Maggie struggled, trying to dig her heels into the pavement, but a sharp yank nearly pulled her off her feet.

Jason shot a desperate glance at Dick, silently urging him to stay alert. But before either of them could act, Briggs' crew shoved them roughly toward the waiting SUV. The doors swung open, and with little effort, they were thrown inside, landing hard on the cold metal floor.

Maggie winced as she hit the interior wall, her head spinning from the impact. Jason grunted beside her, and Dick barely managed to brace himself before he was shoved in after them. The doors slammed shut, locking them in darkness.

"Blindfolds," Briggs ordered from outside.

Rough hands grabbed Maggie's wrists again, yanking them behind her back while another thug pulled a black cloth over her eyes. Her breathing quickened, the sudden loss of vision sending a spike of fear through her chest. She felt the same happening to Jason and Dick—resistance, a few grunts, but ultimately no way to fight back without tipping their captors off too soon.Jason sat rigid in the back of the SUV, his hands bound behind him and the rough fabric of the blindfold pressing uncomfortably against his face. The steady hum of the vehicle's engine filled the tense silence, interrupted only by the occasional bump in the road and the sound of tires splashing through puddles.

Beside him, Maggie's breathing was steady but shallow. He could feel the subtle tremor in her posture, though she was doing her best to stay composed. Dick, sitting on the other side, shifted slightly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Count the turns," he murmured, his tone calm but purposeful.

Jason gritted his teeth, focusing. He felt the car turn left, then right, then left again. The uneven terrain beneath them suggested they were moving closer to the docks—somewhere isolated, away from the city's prying eyes.

Minutes stretched on like hours until the vehicle finally jerked to a stop. The engine rumbled for a moment before shutting off, leaving an unsettling silence in its wake.

The doors swung open, and without warning, rough hands grabbed Jason by the arms and yanked him out. He stumbled slightly, feeling the cold, damp pavement beneath his feet. Maggie let out a small gasp as she was pulled out next, and Dick followed closely behind.

"Move," one of Briggs' men grunted, shoving Jason forward.

Jason could hear the unmistakable sound of water lapping against concrete. The docks, he thought. They were definitely near the waterfront.

A moment later, Briggs' voice cut through the silence, smug and satisfied. "Welcome. Hope you're comfortable."

The blindfolds were ripped away, and Jason blinked against the harsh fluorescent lighting flickering overhead. They stood in the middle of a large, dilapidated warehouse—rusted shipping containers stacked high along the walls, the faint scent of oil and saltwater filling the air. The dim glow from a few overhead lamps barely illuminated the grime-covered floor.

Briggs stood a few feet away, arms crossed and a smug grin plastered across his face. His five goons flanked him, all watching their captives with predatory amusement.

"Now," Briggs continued, stepping forward. "Let's talk about what you're gonna do for me."

Jason's eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. "Not interested," he spat, his voice laced with barely restrained fury.

Briggs chuckled, shaking his head as if Jason had just told a joke. "See, that's the thing, Todd—you don't have a choice." He nodded to one of his men, who tossed a worn manila folder onto the ground in front of them.

Jason knelt down, glancing at the photos inside. They showed a sleek, high-end sports car, the kind that was worth more than most people made in a lifetime.

"That beauty right there," Briggs said, tapping the top photo with his boot, "is sitting nice and pretty in a showroom downtown. Custom security, top-of-the-line tracking systems... and I want it." He glanced up at Jason. "You used to be the best at this kind of thing. Boosting cars was your bread and butter before you got all... respectable."

Jason's mind raced, keeping his expression neutral. Briggs didn't know who he was now. He thought he was still dealing with the street kid, not someone trained by the best detective in the world. That was an advantage—one he needed to use wisely.

"And if I say no?" Jason asked, keeping his voice even.

Briggs' grin widened, his gaze sliding over to Maggie and Dick, their hands bound tightly behind their backs. Without breaking eye contact with Jason, he gave a subtle nod to the thugs standing beside them.

"Then," Briggs said smoothly, "we give you a little... incentive."

Before Jason could react, the thug next to Maggie delivered a brutal punch to her gut. She gasped, doubling over as pain exploded through her abdomen, her knees nearly giving out beneath her. Dick lunged toward her instinctively, but his captor was faster, slamming him face-first against the side of a rusted shipping container. He grunted, his forehead splitting open on impact, blood trickling down his face.

Jason's entire body locked up, his teeth clenched so hard it felt like they might break. "Stop!" he barked, his voice raw with fury.

Briggs tilted his head, feigning curiosity. "Is that a yes, Todd?" He crouched slightly, watching the anger burning behind Jason's eyes with satisfaction. "I suggest you don't take too long to decide. I'm a reasonable man, but my patience?" He clicked his tongue. "Not so much."

Jason's fists clenched behind his back, his breathing heavy and labored. His eyes darted to Maggie, who struggled to straighten herself, sucking in ragged breaths. Dick, ever the big brother, shot her a worried glance, blood trickling down the side of his temple.

Jason swallowed down the rage boiling inside him and forced his voice to stay level. "Alright," he said, his jaw tight. "I'll get you the car."

Briggs' smirk widened in triumph. He clapped Jason on the shoulder with mock camaraderie, the weight of his hand heavy and condescending. "Knew you'd see things my way," he said, his voice slick with satisfaction. His eyes gleamed with something darker, something far more dangerous. "Smart choice, Todd. Now, don't get any funny ideas. If you think about double-crossing me, remember..." He gestured lazily toward Maggie and Dick, who were still recovering from the blows. "Your friends won't live to see tomorrow."

Jason's fists clenched behind his back, every fiber of his being screaming to fight, to do something. But one glance at Maggie, still catching her breath, and Dick, wiping blood from his temple with a sharp glare, reminded him of the stakes.

Briggs leaned in closer, his breath reeking of stale cigarettes. "I know your type, Todd. Always looking for a way out. But let me make this crystal clear—there is no way out. You do this job, and maybe, just maybe, we all walk away happy." He straightened, giving a smug grin to his crew. "Get him out of here. Give him the details, make sure he knows what happens if he screws up."

Two of Briggs' men grabbed Jason roughly by the arms and hauled him toward the exit. Jason didn't resist, letting them think they had him under control. His mind was already racing—calculating, planning. He could do the job. Hell, he could pull it off in his sleep. But the real trick would be turning the tables before things got worse.

Before stepping outside, Jason turned his head slightly, locking eyes with Maggie. There was no fear there, only the silent understanding between them that he would come back. Maggie, despite the ache in her ribs, gave a small nod. Dick, sitting slumped against a crate but fully aware of every detail in the room, called out in his usual sarcastic tone. "Don't scratch the paint, Jay."

Jason smirked faintly before being shoved out the warehouse doors, disappearing into the autumn night.