The pitch-black bathroom remained dead silent, save for the persistent, aggressive vibration of the communicator resting in Hide's palm.
Bzzzz. Bzzzz.
The pale, harsh light of the screen cut through the darkness, illuminating the pooling dark red blood on the white tiled floor and casting long, distorted shadows up the walls.
Hide stared at the screen. His first, most immediate instinct was to press the decline button and throw the device back into his pocket.
He had a bleeding, unconscious assassin at his feet who needed to be bound and stabilized before he bled out, and the last thing Hide needed was a distraction.
Yet, as his thumb hovered over the red icon, he hesitated. Today had been an absolute storm of chaos.
Could it be the Joker? The thought entered his mind unbidden, causing his jaw to tighten instantly.
