Silence

Chapter 25

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"Ms. Bates. Ms. Bates. Willow."

I feel someone gently shove my arm and my head jerks up. I push my hair from my face and see Mrs. Conley and the rest of the class staring at me. Did I fall asleep?

I must have, because Mrs. Conley doesn't look pleased. Bridgett, who sits near me, must have shoved me. I hear other kids snickering.

"Please try to stay with us, you already have a lot to catch up on." Mrs. Conley gives me a sympathetic look and turns back to the screen full of notes. I begin jotting them down as quickly as possible, trying to comprehend what Mrs. Conley is saying. My mind struggles to process anything recently.

At the end of the class, I slowly grab my things and head for the door. I'm stopped by Mrs. Conley.

"Are you feeling okay?" she asks. I nod reassuringly. "You're not usually one to fall asleep in class. You sure you're okay?"

I nod again, and I give her the same grateful smile I give every teacher or student who tells me the same thing. I know they all mean well, but it's gotten old fast.

A few weeks without much sleep has taken its toll. As I walk out of the class, my eyes glaze over with thoughts of last night.

Almost every night I've spent on the streets and rooftops of Gotham as the Silent Phantom. Some nights are more eventful than others. I've gotten better at fighting, but I have a long way to go. Last night I took down a group of henchmen trying to rob a gas station.

I saw the man again. The one I saw on my first night in the city. The coward who ran away. He recognized me and bolted. I tried to chase him, but the others attacked me before I had a chance to find him. I was able to take them down, but the man was long gone by then. I cursed myself for not being able to catch him for the second time in a row.

I know I've seen him before. That scowl isn't something one could forget. I've spent weeks trying to remember, but nothing comes. I reach my locker, and switch out my books.

As I head for the library, I'm lost in my own head. I can't stop thinking about the man, the long nights, and worst of all, the Team. I try to block all thoughts of them. But when I'm flying above the streets of Gotham, I wonder how much more beautiful it would be with M'gann or Zatanna beside me. And as I fight off a score of thieves, I imagine the protection of fighting with Robin, Artemis, or Aqualad. I laugh at the thought of Kid Flash zooming past, saying all the quips I can't.

Above all, one thought relentlessly
persists. When I wake up in a cold sweat from one nightmare after another, I remember the peacefulness I felt when Nightwing was beside me. I remember the feeling of fighting alongside him.

I also remember rejection. I can't forget that anger, that hopelessness. Whenever Nightwing appears in my mind, the image of his sorrowful gaze never fails to pierce through my thoughts.

My thoughts, which are soon interrupted when I run into someone and fall to the ground. My books fall from my hand.

Embarrassment aside, I think I'm okay. I reach for my books, but a heeled foot kicks and scatters them across the hallway.

I look up and see a blonde girl in my grade. I think her name is Paige. Next to her is another girl and Shelby, who looks like she'd rather be somewhere else. Odd, since she's usually the one leading the pack. I roll my eyes and reach for my books. Paige kicks them again.