A flash of light, and then... nothing.

Dick opened his eyes.

Above him, the metal ceiling was covered in posters and stickers. Little stars decorated the corners, and in the center was a big poster displaying three smiling faces. The Flying Graysons.

Where am I?

He pushed aside his blanket wearily. His arms were aching, slightly sore from last night's performance. He had only practiced the manever a few times before being thrust on stage, so he was understandably not ready for it.

That's not what happened. That's not what I did last night.

Dick groaned, rubbing his head. Something inside of his brain was hurting. It was like two blocks colliding together, a loud ringing sound buzzing inside his ears. He'd have to talk to Dr. Ayres about it.

"Dick?"

A woman peered around the frame of his door. She was in her late fifties, grey hair starting to show- but her bright blue eyes betrayed her burning spirit.

Who is she?

"You okay?" She came closer, sitting on the edge of his mattress. "That was a great show last night."

"Yeah, it was." Dick grinned. "I'm fine, mom."

Dick's mother kissed him on the forehead. "I know, sweetie. I'm just worried about you, like I always am. You're growing up so fast..."

"Where's dad?"

"With Mr. Haly." She let out a chuckle. "Even in his old age, he wants to set up the show."

"Huh." Dick sat up. There was a feeling- a wrongness- sitting on his chest. It made it hard to breathe. "Where's Br-" a name escaped him. "Where's Br... Bryan?"

This is wrong.

"Bryan's with Raya and the others," she said, smoothing his hair. He swatted it away out of habit. "You feeling good enough to join them?"

"I'm fine. I am." Dick pressed his hand to his temple. "Just have a headache, that's all."

"Did you sleep well?"

"Um... I think so. I had a dream."

"Was it a good dream?"

Dick frowned, trying to remember. "I don't know... I can't remember it."

She smiled. "Well, you're awake now. No need to trouble yourself with things you can't remember."

"Okay." He smiled back. "Back to reality I go, I guess."

No... Where did my world go?

Dick sat in the stands, leaning his head back against a pole. The rest of the day had been as strange as waking up. All day things had been the same, and yet, different.

He couldn't decide whether it was the world that had changed, or him.

"Dick?"

Raya walked over to him. Being sort-of-maybe girlfriend and boyfriend was strange, sure- but today something else was off.

Whenever he saw her, he kept on thinking he should be with someone else.

"Hey, Raya."

The buzzing in his head had grown worse. The pain ceased to hurt him, but the buzzing got louder, and sometimes Dick thought he could hear a voice.

Bats. Night. Brothers. Words that made no sense to him at all.

Please listen to me.

Raya frowned at him. "Is something wrong? You've been acting strange all morning."

Dick shrugged helplessly. "I don't know. Something's been off today, but I don't know what it is."

She slid closer to him, putting her hand on his. "Maybe I could help things feel right again."

He immediately flinched away. A name fluttered across his mind.

Barbara. Who was she?

"Dick?!" Raya withdrew her hand, confused and hurt. "What... What did I do?"

"Nothing! It's just..."

You're not her. Where did she go?

"Hey lovebirds," called a voice, "if you're not too busy, we need a little help clearing up."

Raya stood up silently. He could see the hurt in her eyes, brimming over with confusion. His heart sank.

He growled and tried to stop the voice in his head. It was messing him up, tripping him in places he didn't think to look. He gritted his teeth and ignored the insistent pleading, of words that sounded like 'family' and 'help' and 'home again'.

"Coming, Bryan," he called. Dick flipped down the bleachers and landed perfectly on his feet. "Where are we packing up to?"

Bryan threw him a look of surprise. "Have you forgotten already? We've been talking about this for weeks!"

Raya said nothing.

"I... um, kind of have a bad memory right now," Dick said sheepishly.

Bryan laughed. "Well, you'd better prepare soon. As I recall, you were more excited than I was to go there. Said you wanted to see what people call 'Hell's Pit'."

"Hell's Pit?"

Mr Haly, Bryan's father, came towards them. Beside them was Dick's father, holding him by the arm.

"Sup, chum," Dick's father grinned.

This is not my father.

"Hey dad. Are you going to tell me where we're going?"

Mr Haly let out a laugh. "You've forgotten? Well, that isn't like you, Dick."

Dick's father ruffled his son's hair.

"Dick," he said, "we're going to Gotham."

In the anger of light there is nothing to see.

But there is a voice, calling out to me.

Everything is about to change...

Hey everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, the first chapter in this new story! This is my first attempt at a really plot-based story (besides that awful Percy Jackson story)- but I'm still more comfortable with character, so the plot might be a bit shaky. Anyway, I know this chapter was short, but I do hope you come with me on this new journey! As always, like, follow, or review! Oh, and if you have any ideas/requests, don't hesitate to PM me!

Thanks again!