“So, Timothy~ I heard you have a crush.”
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“Hi Dick.”
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Tim looked up from his book as Dick sat down next to him.
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“Is she cute?”
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“Don’t you have a date with Kore tonight?”
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He shook his head.
“Nah it got canceled, there was a Tamarin holiday she had to go attend.”
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“And you weren’t invited?”
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“Shocker I know. But we weren’t talking about me.”
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A grin crossed his face before the door to the kitchen flew open Jason crossing over to them.
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“Let’s go guys.”
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“Uh… where, Jason?”
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“Bruce texted me, Dick, he’s stuck with some chick in traffic downtown, blah blah, bomb threat. Let’s go.”
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Tim tilted his head to the side and stood up.
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“It’s not like Bruce to get stuck like that. And where’s Damian, aren’t they supposed to be together? He better not be with Bruce.”
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Jason waved his hand dismissively.
“Yeah, yeah whatever. Alfred’ll stay here to watch for him. I’m sure the little monster is fine.”
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“You better not be calling me, a monster Jason.”
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Tim followed the voice and looked over his book. There stood Damian and Elliot Argus.
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“Elliot shouldn’t you be protecting Bruce?”
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The white haired man raised an eye before speaking.
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“I’m protecting him from CPS.”
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Dick stood in between Jason and Damien.
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“Heya Elliot, I know that you're technically off shift now…”
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“But?”
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“But… can you stay and watch Damien while we go clubbing?”
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Elliot squinted at them.
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“All three of you are going clubbing?”
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Dick grabbed Tim’s arm as he protested and pushed Jason past the bodyguard.
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“Thanks Elliot! Bruce owes you a raise!”
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Alone in the kitchen with Damian and Alfred, Elliot spoke.
“I’m going to teach you how to play darts Damien.”
“Sounds fun.”
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____________
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The three men suited up and found their own mode of transport across the city respectfully. The radios inside of their headgear allowed them to continue the conversation from before, much to Tim’s disappointment.
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“So, Tim. That girl, what was her name?”
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“If I tell you will you leave it alone?”
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“Not likely, but I’ll stop asking you.”
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“It’s Bianca ok. She’s the girl I stopped from getting mugged alright.”
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Jason chimed in at this point.
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“What’s her last name?”
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“No idea. I didn’t get that far. We’re getting close to Bruce’s signal.”
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Dick sped up to be next to Tim as he pointed to a familiar car with black tinted windows.
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“There he is!”
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Jason’s voice clicked in.
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“Want to pop in? Have some champagne? Steal his date?”
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Tim stayed silent as they chatted about this mystery woman that Bruce was with.
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They sped around the stopped traffic to where a line of police officers stood. Tim noticed the building that joker had called the threat on. It looked like it was hosting a convention of some kind. He alerted the group while they parked their bikes nearby and went to talk with the gaggle of GCPD units nearby and crowd of people dressed in costumes.
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One Hour Earlier...
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Bianca sat in the crowd of the panel that was talking about the effects of Batman and the “cauldron of helpers.” on the general populace of Gotham.
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Personally she found this topic a bit dull. Just by Batman being here caused more strife because he always saved the day. Which led the people of Gotham to not have the drive to save themselves. Even worse, there was the god complex the citizens offered him.
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Surrounded by people of all ages and genders dressed up as the Batman and his various ‘bat family’, Bianca squeezed past feeling she was the only one not in a cosplay. People were even in villain costumes, she saw a few of her fathers, but all were simply poor imitations.
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Soon she found her goal of getting off her feet with a warm beverage, coco this time. Just as she was taking a sip, she noticed a group of purple clad people with prop guns. That’s what she thought until a chill went up her spine at the sight of the black and red costumed Harley Quinn. She dropped the drink and climbed underneath the table whimpering as she heard a voice comment towards them that their outfits were ‘amazing’.
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This was followed by pure chaos.
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A high pitched laughter, spray of gunshots. Bodies hitting the ground. The smell of copper. Screams.
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She stayed silent as people walked towards her before she heard the table shift as someone stood on top of it and spoke.
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“Convention goers! Identity fraud is a big no-no! Because of this, I’ve hidden a tasty little gift somewhere in the building for you!”
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“Aww Puddin’ give ‘em a hint!”
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“Just this once! The gift I’ve given is so amazing it’ll blow the roof off this place!”
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Another hideous laugh sounded out through the silent room before a different voice cut through.
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“Batman will save us, Joker! You don’t stand a chance!”
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BANG.
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Bianca clenched her jaw and eyes as a gunshot sounded from right above her.
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“Oh dear, I think I just killed A Batman. I suppose he wasn’t the real one!”
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Another laugh, soon joined in by others, only added to the horror as the screams followed.
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“I know! I know! Puddin’! Let’s line ‘em ALL up and for every 5 minutes Batman don’t show up, we kill one!”
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“Harley! That’s a wonderful idea! Starting now.”
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He jumped off the table and Bianca watched wide eyed as he grabbed a middle aged man just wearing a shirt emblazoned with the bat symbol and pulled the trigger as his goons took any and everyone in costume and lined them against the wall.
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She looked around the room, she had to do something. Everyone was in danger! Think Bianca! What can you do!?
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Her mind reeled before she remembered the sprinkler machine outside the door closest to her, it was hooked up to the fire department’s system. Then with the noise, she could call for help.
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It wasn’t a perfect plan and she didn’t even know if it would work, but she had to try.
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She crawled to the edge of the table. All eyes were on Joker as he lined everyone up by their heights. She focused on the door, and let out a breath before staying low to the ground and quietly as she could scooted closer to the door, using the upturned tables as cover. Once she was on the other side of the door, she rushed to the fire alarm and pulled.
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There was a delay before the lights flashed and she could hear the water turn on.
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THIS IS NOT A DRILL, PLEASE REMAIN IN AN ORDERLY FASHION AND PROCEED TO THE NEAREST STAIRWELL. I REPEAT…
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“SOMEONE turn that off!!”
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Bianca scrambled away, phone in hand already dialing 911 while the emergency message repeated through the empty halls.
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“911, what’s your emergency?”
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“Hello? I’m at the Wayne-Fox Center, J-Joker is here and there’s a bomb!” Bianca managed to say those words before she saw at the end of the hall a familiar silhouette. She dropped the phone and scrambled into the pitch dark room to her left. The ground was covered by inches of water.
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She could still hear the operator's voice.
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“Ma’am, I need you to remain calm. Ma’am? Miss?”
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“Oh dear, wrong number.”
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She heard footsteps after Joker hung up the phone before smashing it.
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“Come out dear, I’m not going to hurt you~”
He said in a singsong voice until his footsteps sloshed through the water.
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“Ugh! These were new!” Bianca made a conscious effect to not flinch before he added under his breath, “That little bitch couldn’t have gone too far.”
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A noise from down the hallway caught his attention and she watched as he went towards it.
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She let out a sigh after what felt like hours.
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Okay Bianca, almost everyone should be out and safe…
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She stood up and carefully walked the opposite direction that the Joker had. She froze as she heard someone running towards her position but there was nowhere to hide here!
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An explosion rocked the building and the wall in front of her collapsed along with the ceiling. She yelped as someone fell through and landed at her feet.
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It was someone in a Red Robin costume, this one was actually quite good, but that's besides the point! They needed help!
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She rolled him over and the helmet was broken. Her eyes widened in horror as she recognized the face.
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“Tim!?”
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Once he heard her voice he tried to get up.
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“Bianca? You shouldn’t be”
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“We need to get you out of here!”
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She got him in a standing position with most of his weight on her. His arm looked bad.
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As she got to the stairwell, he kept repeating that he was fine. She didn’t care though.
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“Tim! You need a doctor!”
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They exited the building at the ground floor around the back, looking like the delivery bay area.
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“Okay Tim, we’re out I’m taking you to the ambulance!”
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“No. People can’t”
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He struggled in her arms until she relented.
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“Okay! Okay! No ambulances… but please let me take you somewhere! It’ll be off the books!”
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He nodded and she started to walk to a friend's place.
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Oh I hope she’s home…
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——
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Bianca, almost dragging Tim at this point, arrived at a red iron door and banged on it.
“Carmellia! Please open the door! I need help!”
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Soon the door was opened and Carmellia stood there and helped Bianca with Tim.
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“Oh gods Bianca! What happened!?”
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“I was at the convention to get that extra credit for Wymans class and”
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“What? No! To him!”
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Tears streamed down Bianca’s cheeks as they put him down on the kitchen island.
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“He fell through a ceiling! Joker had a bomb!”
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Carmellia pulled back her star speckled hair and rubbed her hands together a cackle of energy rippling between them. She motioned for the other woman to have a seat nearby while she examined the man in front of her.
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Bianca sat on the floor watching her alien friend work her magic.
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“Gods, Bianca. You’re lucky you got him here when you did. He’s a wreck…”
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She glanced over with her empty white eyes and frowned.
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“Who is he anyway?”
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“The guy that returned my purse… his name’s Tim.”
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Carmellia only nodded while she peeled off his clothing. Bianca saw deep almost black bruises criss crossing his abdomen.
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“You can fix this right!?”
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“It’s a good thing you brought him here…”
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Body tensed Bianca watched as the bruises dissipated under the energy from Carmellia.
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“Bianca, I need to look at you next.”
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She nodded and sat down. The adrenaline from what she went through was starting to fade at this point and she felt the blisters on her feet from running in her sopping wet shoes and socks.
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“He was lucky you were where you were. So what exactly happened to you?”
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While Carmellia slowly healed Tim’s wounds, Bianca told her what happened, including almost being caught by the Joker.
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“Bianca… you saved those people. You’re a hero.”
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“No… I left so many to die…”
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The blue skinned woman lifted a hand and turned on the tv.
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It was live coverage of the event. Night wing had gotten the hostages out of the building safely and Joker and goons were already back on their way to Arkham. They were interviewing a man who described a girl who had escaped and turned the fire alarm on, he wanted to thank her but no one knew who she was.
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“See?”
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“I don’t need all that attention… People still died.”
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“True, but less did. You saved this guy after all.”
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“And I’m so happy that I did.”
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She smiled as Carmellia put the outfit back on as best she could.
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“Heh, I can’t really save his clothes…”
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“It’s a fair compromise. Do you want anything he could wear?”
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She shook her head.
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“Sorry. It’s time for your check up though.”
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Bianca nodded and let Carmellia give her the once over. Nothing was broken or really damaged. Some scraped knees and blistered feet but those would heal by themselves.
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“Um.. Carmellia, can I borrow your phone? I need to call Lindsey.”
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“Sure, but why?”
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“She knows Tim better than me. I might be able to get someone to pick him up…”
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With a nod, Bianca was soon dialing Lindsey. She picked up within 3 rings.
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“Hello? Carmellia? I wasn’t expecting a call from you.”
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“Actually… it’s Bianca, Lindsey. I broke my phone.”
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“Oh no! Are you alright?”
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“I’m just fine. Anyway… since you’re close with Tim, I was wondering if you had his address? He’s here with me and well… he’s uh… smashed.”
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“Tim’s drunk?”
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“Yeah…. I was shocked too! I just want to get him home so he can sleep it off but uh… I don’t know where it is…”
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“Okay. I’ll send Carmellia the address. Take care Bianca.”
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“Thank you Lindsey! You’re the best!”
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She hung up after they said their goodbyes and soon had the address in hand.
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“Um… Carmellia do you mind…”
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“Not at all. Help me get him in the car.”
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Between the two ladies, they got Tim into the backseat and buckled up in Carmellia’s Jeep.
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They followed the GPS and pulled up to the large gate.
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“This is…”
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“Wayne Manor.” Carmellia finished.
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They looked at the unconscious man in the backseat in shock before Carmellia pushed the buzzer.
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“Excuse me, I got...what’s his name? Right. Tim here. Lindsey said I could drop him off here?”
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“Ms. Lindsey sent you? Allow me to open the gate for you.”
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The gate soon creaked open and Carmellia drove forward, making a comment about it needing some WD40.
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When Bianca turned to Carmellia, her alien appearance was gone. A tanned woman with ashy blonde hair and grey eyes looked back at her.
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“Bianca, he won’t remember any of this. You know that right?”
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“That’s okay. I’m not going to hold it over him or anything.”
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“I know dear.”
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