In an instant, the cross was snatched from Dick's hand before he had even straightened up, then ruthlessly driven down into his back.
Surging flames burst forth. Dick let out a scream, but Schiller yanked the cross back out and kicked him in the shoulder, sending Dick tumbling into the corner.
Polished leather shoes appeared before his eyes. A figure crouched down, and the scream stopped abruptly as the blood-dripping end of the cross was shoved directly into Dick's mouth.
The red light in his eyes flickered twice before vanishing completely. Savagery turned into fear.
"Shh..."
Schiller, crouching before him, made a silencing gesture.
Being able to touch a cross and having a cross driven straight through one's brainstem were two entirely different things.
Dick did not dare move. The other end of the cross was in Schiller's hand now; if Schiller pushed forward, his fate would be no different from shooting himself in the head.
Schiller took back the necklace and dangled it before Dick again. Furious red light rose in his eyes once more.
"Even the stupidest person wouldn't leave their back to an enemy," Schiller said with a smile. "Do you want to admit that you're stupid, or admit that a mere necklace from Batman exposed the greatest weakness of your life?"
Dick instinctively kicked out, but Schiller seemed to take it as resistance. He jerked the cross upward, and Dick let out a pained whimper. Blood spilled from his mangled upper palate and dripped from the corner of his mouth.
With a bang, the door opened. Batman stood outside.
With another bang, the door shut. Dick lowered the hand he had just raised and looked at Schiller with almost pleading eyes.
"Don't come in yet," Schiller said to the person outside. "I won't do anything to