Cracks of Silence

Jason pushed through the sliding doors of the ER, scanning the bustling room with sharp eyes. Dick was only a step behind him, his face set with concern as they approached the front desk.

"We're here for Maggie Wayne," Jason said quickly, his voice edged with urgency.

The receptionist glanced at the computer screen. "She was brought in a few minutes ago by ambulance. She's being examined now. Please have a seat, and someone will come update you shortly."

Jason clenched his jaw, already bristling at the idea of waiting, but Dick placed a hand on his shoulder, steering him toward the chairs.

"Take a breath, Jay," Dick said softly. "They'll let us know as soon as they can."

Jason reluctantly dropped into one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. His foot tapped against the floor, his frustration palpable, the weight of guilt and worry pressing down on him.

Dick sat beside him, calmer but no less concerned, his eyes flicking to the hallway every so often. The tension was thick between them, the air heavy with unspoken worry.

Suddenly, Dick's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glancing at the screen before answering. "Bruce," he said, his voice steady.

Jason's head snapped up at the mention of Bruce's name, his sharp gaze fixed on Dick as he leaned slightly closer to listen.

"Dick," Bruce's voice came through the line. "I got your message.What's going on?"

"It's Maggie," Dick replied, keeping his voice low as he glanced around the waiting room. "She had a motorcycle accident. We're at Gotham General. She's being examined now."

There was a brief silence on the other end before Bruce spoke again, his tone controlled but tight. "How bad is it?"

"We don't know yet," Dick admitted. "They haven't given us a full update. Jason followed the ambulance here."

Another pause followed before Bruce replied, his voice softening slightly. "I'm on my way."

Maggie winced as the ER doctor pressed gently against her side, the sharp pain making her suck in a breath. The nurse beside him was busy cleaning the scrapes on her arms and legs, but every touch sent a fresh wave of stinging through her body.

"Sorry," the doctor said, his tone calm but apologetic. "I know it hurts. Just a few more checks to make sure nothing's broken."

Maggie bit back a groan, her fingers gripping the edge of the bed. "I'm fine," she muttered, though the sweat beading on her forehead said otherwise.

"You've got a few nasty bruises, and I'm concerned about your ribs," the doctor said, stepping back and motioning to the nurse. "Let's get her prepped for an X-ray to rule out fractures."

The nurse nodded, placing a hand on Maggie's shoulder. "We're going to take good care of you, sweetie. Just hang tight, okay?"

Maggie gave a faint nod, her breathing uneven as the pain radiated through her body. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to block out the discomfort and the memory of the crash.

"You can't avoid it forever," Lillyanna's voice whispered in her mind, low and insistent.

Jason sat forward in his chair, his elbows resting on his knees as his foot tapped anxiously against the floor. Dick sat beside him, calm but alert, his gaze fixed on the hallway. Both men glanced up as the sliding doors opened, and Bruce Wayne walked in, his sharp eyes scanning the room before landing on them.

He strode toward them, his posture tense, his usual calm demeanor undercut by the concern etched into his face. "What's the update?" Bruce asked, his voice low but firm.

Jason stood quickly, running a hand through his hair. "They're still examining her.—"

Before he could finish, a doctor approached them, clipboard in hand.

"You're here for Miss Wayne?" the doctor asked, glancing at the trio.

"Yes," Bruce said, his voice clipped. "How is she?"

"She's stable," the doctor began. "She has a fractured rib, some deep bruising, and several scrapes and abrasions. Nothing life-threatening, but she'll need rest. We've given her pain medication, so she's a bit loopy at the moment."

Jason exhaled a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, his shoulders slumping slightly.

"Can we see her?" Bruce asked.

The doctor nodded. "She's being moved to a recovery room. Follow me."

Maggie lay propped up in the hospital bed, her arms and legs bandaged, her face pale but relaxed. The pain meds were clearly doing their job, and she gave a faint smile when the door opened, and Bruce, Jason, and Dick entered.

"Hey," she greeted them, her voice soft but a little slurred. "You guys all look so serious."

Jason moved quickly to her side, his sharp eyes scanning her for any signs of pain or discomfort. "How are you feeling?" he asked, his voice tight with worry.

"Like I got run over by a truck," Maggie said with a small laugh, though she winced as the motion pulled at her ribs. "But they've got me on the good stuff, so it's not too bad."

Dick crossed his arms, leaning against the wall, though his concern was evident in his tone. "You gave us a scare, Mags."

"Sorry," Maggie murmured, her gaze dropping briefly before flicking back up.

Bruce stepped closer, his face unreadable but his tone calm and firm. "Maggie, what happened?" he asked, his concern carefully masked but still present.

Maggie hesitated, her hands fidgeting with the edge of the blanket. "I… I hit a curb I didn't see," she said finally, her voice steady but a little too rehearsed. "The bike lost control, and I wiped out."

Jason frowned, his arms crossing tightly over his chest. "That's it? You just didn't see it?"

Maggie nodded quickly, not meeting his eyes. "Yeah, it all happened so fast. I wasn't paying attention, I guess."

Jason's frown deepened, and he exchanged a brief look with Dick. "You weren't paying attention? Mags, you're a better rider than that. You're always careful."

"I wasn't careful enough," Maggie replied, her voice firmer now. "It's my fault, Jason. I messed up."

Bruce studied her closely, his piercing gaze making Maggie shift uncomfortably under the scrutiny. "Are you sure that's all it was?" he asked quietly.

Maggie nodded again, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "I promise, it's nothing more than that. Just bad judgment."

The room fell into a tense silence, the weight of her words hanging between them

Bruce's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he spoke. "You'll be discharged soon. We'll take you home, and you're not getting back on a motorcycle until you've fully recovered."

Maggie hesitated, glancing down at her hands, her voice quieter than usual. "Actually… I was thinking maybe I could stay with Dick for a while instead of going back home."

"What?" Bruce's tone was calm but firm, his brow furrowing slightly as he looked at her.

"It's just…" Maggie fidgeted with the blanket, her words stumbling slightly. "I—I think I just need a change of scenery. Just for a bit."

Jason narrowed his eyes, his suspicion flaring. "Why? What's wrong with home?"

"Nothing's wrong with home," Maggie replied quickly, avoiding his gaze. "I just think it'd be better for me to be somewhere else for a while."

Bruce's gaze hardened, his voice taking on a definitive tone. "The answer is no, Maggie."

"But why not?" Maggie pressed, her voice rising slightly as she looked up at him. "It's not like Dick would mind." She glanced at Dick, almost pleadingly. "Right?"

Dick opened his mouth, hesitating before responding carefully. "You know you're always welcome with me, Mags, but…" He glanced at Bruce, his tone cautious. "You should probably be home right now."

Maggie's shoulders slumped, frustration flashing across her face. "You don't understand—"

Bruce's brow furrowed, his tone even but probing. "What don't we understand, Maggie?"

Jason leaned closer, his gaze sharp. "Mags, talk to us."

Before she could speak, Lillyanna's voice cut through her thoughts like a knife, low and insistent. "They will never understand. Best not to explain it.They'll see you as a problem."

Maggie froze, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled with the words. Her heart pounded in her chest.

"Mags?" Jason pressed, concern evident in his voice.

"I…" Maggie faltered, her gaze darting to the floor as Lillyanna's words continued to echo in her mind. "Don't let them see inside. Keep it to yourself."

"I just need some space," Maggie finally said, her voice quiet but steady. "That's all."

Bruce's gaze softened slightly, though his tone remained firm. "If you need space, we can give it to you. At home."

Maggie's shoulders tensed, her frustration flickering back for a moment, but the heavy pull of the pain medication began to take hold. She blinked slowly, her eyelids feeling heavier by the second. "I just think it'd be better somewhere else," she murmured, her words slurring faintly.

Jason crossed his arms, his expression skeptical. "Why? What's wrong with being home?"

Maggie's eyelids fluttered as the haze of the pain medication dulled her senses. Her voice was soft, almost inaudible. "Too much… too much…" she murmured, her words slurring as her head tilted to the side. Within seconds, she drifted off, her breathing evening out as sleep took her.

Jason frowned, glancing at Bruce and Dick. "What does that even mean?"

Dick shrugged slightly, though his brow was furrowed in concern. "Could be the meds talking, or…" He trailed off, exchanging a look with Bruce.

"She's overwhelmed," Bruce said quietly, his gaze fixed on Maggie's sleeping form. "But we'll address it once she's settled."

At that moment, the door opened, and the doctor stepped in with a clipboard. He smiled briefly at the group. " I've reviewed her scans, and everything looks stable. You're clear to take her home."

Bruce nodded. "Thank you, Doctor."

The doctor nodded back. "She'll need to take it easy for at least a couple of weeks. No strenuous activity, and make sure she follows up if her pain worsens or if anything feels off. I'll send the discharge papers with the nurse."

As the doctor exited, Jason looked at Bruce, his jaw still tight. "So, home, then?"

"Yes," Bruce replied firmly.

As the nurse entered to finalize the discharge process, the three men prepared to take Maggie home, their minds weighed down by unspoken questions.

Maggie opened her eyes to the oppressive darkness of the void, the swirling shadows stretching infinitely around her.

"Why can't you leave me alone?" she demanded, her voice trembling but defiant.

From the darkness, Lillyanna's voice rang out, calm and confident. "Because you're not ready yet."

Maggie spun around as Lillyanna emerged from the shadows, her pale face serene, though her dark eyes glimmered with intensity.

"Ready for what?" Maggie asked sharply, though her voice faltered slightly.

Lillyanna smiled faintly, tilting her head as if studying her. "For what's to come," she said simply, her tone low and steady. "You think this is about me tormenting you? You think I enjoy watching you stumble through your fear?"

Maggie's eyes narrowed. "Yeah, that's exactly what I think."

Lillyanna sighed, as though speaking to a child. "You have no idea what's waiting for you out there, Maggie. There's a storm coming—one that will tear through everything you know, everyone you care about. And unless you're ready to face it, you're going to lose."

Maggie shook her head, her frustration flaring. "If you're so concerned, why don't you just tell me what's coming? Instead of playing these mind games?"

"Because telling you won't make you strong enough," Lillyanna replied, her tone sharp. "You have to feel it. You have to fight through it. That's the only way you'll survive."

"I didn't ask for any of this!" Maggie snapped, her voice rising. "I didn't ask for you, or your power, or whatever this… connection is!"

Lillyanna stepped closer, her expression hardening. "But it's yours now. And whether you like it or not, you'll need it. Because when the time comes, no one else will be able to save you."

Maggie's breath hitched, the weight of Lillyanna's words pressing down on her. "What's coming?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Lillyanna's expression softened slightly, though her dark intensity didn't waver. "You'll find out in years to come, Maggie," she said, her tone calm but heavy with meaning. "When the timing is right."

Maggie shook her head,frustration creeping into her voice. "You keep talking in riddles, whispering in my head, dragging me into this…How am I supposed to trust you?"

"Trust?" Lillyanna repeated, her lips curling into a faint, humorless smile. "This isn't about trust. This is about survival. Whether you trust me or not doesn't matter. What matters is that you listen."

Maggie glared at her, her defiance flickering back. "Why me?"

Lillyanna stepped closer, her gaze locking onto Maggie's. "You were chosen for a reason. What you want won't matter when the time comes—only what you're capable of."

Maggie took a shaky breath, her voice trembling. "And what if I don't want to be?"

Lillyanna's smile faded, her expression turning cold. "Then you'll die, Maggie," she said bluntly. "And so will the people you care about."

The words hit Maggie like a blow, the truth—or what felt like truth—behind them cutting deep.

Lillyanna's tone softened slightly, though the steel remained in her eyes. "I'm not your enemy, Maggie. I'm your strength. You don't have to like me. You don't even have to understand me."

Maggie swallowed hard, her voice barely a whisper. "And if I do want to be?"

Lillyanna tilted her head, her dark hair cascading over her shoulder like liquid shadow. "Then you'll survive. And maybe—just maybe—you'll save the ones you love."

Maggie jolted awake. She glanced around her room, her hands trembling as they clutched the blanket. The quiet, moonlit space felt like a prison, Lillyanna's presence still lingering in her thoughts.

Maggie pressed her forehead against her knees, drawing them close as she whispered to herself, "What am I supposed to do?"

But the only answer she got was silence.