Leila frowned the moment she heard her son crying in the living room. She stepped out of the room and walked quickly.
Just an hour ago, she’d left the living room. Back then, Nora was still on the carpet playing Crocodile Dentist with Finn, while Tim sat behind them on the couch, typing on his laptop. He’d even waved at her as she left.
They were the two people she trusted most—especially Nora, who had a natural gift for calming babies in seconds. Finn had never cried like this when Nora was around.
Her steps quickened unconsciously. Something heavy pressed against her chest.
When she entered the living room, she came to an abrupt halt—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl12cTQJ11r
Only Finn stood there, alone on the carpet, his face streaked with tears, crying uncontrollably.
No Nora. No Tim.
A cold instinct shot up her spine and gripped the back of her skull. Blood roared in her ears.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50KOP8bF6V
She knew—something had gone terribly wrong.
She dropped to her knees immediately, reaching out to hold Finn—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0XZKP00c7
But at the last second, she stopped, placing both hands gently on his shoulders instead, trying to calm him.
—She couldn’t rush to comfort him. She needed to find out what happened first.
Her hands signed rapidly:41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIGztALQnT
“Where’s Uncle? Where’s Miss Nora?”
Finn sniffled and shook his head, his small shoulders trembling.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnFRdaDs4j
“U-U-Uncle’s crying… and… and then…!”
Leila’s pupils constricted sharply.
Tim… crying?
She pulled out her phone at once and called Jason. Normally, they messaged each other more than called, but this time, she didn’t hesitate.
Before the call even connected, she handed the phone to Finn and signed:41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJhe2D6Wx2
“Talk to Daddy. Mommy’s going to find Grandpa Alfred.”
She turned and ran out of the living room. Her chest ached—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Gxj2BfqKF
But she couldn’t stop.
If Tim, the most composed one in the family, had cried so hard that it scared a child—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqleXP4zoJ
It meant something was seriously wrong.
For the first time, she hated her own silence—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23hVis2hWN
If only she could speak, she wouldn’t have to rely on slow hand signs.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRKkuaQt8s
If only she could scream, she would’ve woken the entire manor by now.
But she still had Jason.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRSmMpqw0U
She knew the moment he heard Finn crying, he would alert the entire Bat-family. That was the fastest way to spread the word.
She raced through the familiar halls of the manor.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NE6RYM3UY
She needed Alfred.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgFdbYNsxd
She needed to go down to the Batcave—with him.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZmiddV2b7
She had to know what happened.
Leila didn’t slow down outside the living room. She practically burst into the kitchen—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYetEtY8Rt
No Alfred.
She turned and ran toward the tea room.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9V9n2tkeDJ
Her heels clacked sharply against the wooden floors, sweat already trailing down her temple.
Still no one.
The echoes in this century-old manor were too loud—every footstep sounded like something was chasing her, but she didn’t dare look back. Her breathing grew ragged, her chest heavy as if weighed down.
She didn’t stop.
She kept running, turned into the back corridor, and sprinted into the garden.
The sun was blindingly bright. Roses bloomed, green leaves perfectly trimmed—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllV0Wjcloz
But her heart had sunk into a nightmare she couldn’t wake from.
Until finally, she saw that familiar figure—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwT2CJUDwdR
Alfred, standing before a row of rose bushes, calmly trimming the leaves. His shirt was neatly pressed, silver clippers in hand, his movements as composed as ever.
Alfred turned and saw her.
He immediately stopped what he was doing and frowned.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeTQwpfsVw
“Miss Leila…?”
He only managed to say three words.
Leila braced her hands on her knees, gasping for breath. She forced herself to straighten and signed with a sudden, sharp motion:
“Something happened to Tim!”
No further explanation was needed.
Alfred’s gaze darkened at once.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgvLODnwqp
The silver clippers slipped silently into the grass.
“Come with me, Miss Leila.”
His tone was calm, but his stride was firm and urgent.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OgXhS109I
He moved without hesitation, heading toward the hidden passage.
Leila followed, dragging her breathless body into a run.
The two of them disappeared under the rose archway, vanishing into the depths of the garden.
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and then Add to home screen.