SPOILER ALERT: If you have not read BATGIRL #18 and do not wish to know what happens, stop reading this post now (major spoilers ahead!)

“Death of the Family” is over, and Barbara Gordon (a.k.a. Batgirl) has survived yet another terrifying ordeal with The Joker. But is she ready for a showdown with another one her greatest foes, her brother James, Jr.?! He’s already sold her out to The Joker – but what will he do next?

In “The Mask of Ashes,” from the creative team of guest writer Ray Fawkes and artists Daniel Sampere and Rob Hunter, Batgirl and her devious brother take sibling rivalry to a whole new level.

Last issue, Batgirl found herself in Firebugs’ path as he proceeded to burn down an entire building. Now, the fire seems to have set off a bigger trap, which brings the entire building down – with Batgirl still in it!

James witnesses the whole scene, and watches the locals dig through the rubble to find Batgirl. Just as hope begins to dwindle, Batgirl emerges, bloodied and bruised.

Meanwhile, Barbara’s father, Commissioner Gordon, receives tragic news from Batman about the death of his sidekick, Robin (for more on this, click here. And be sure to check out all of the Bat-family books this month for more of Damian’s “Requiem”).

Commissioner Gordon delivers the news to his daughter, but before she can grieve the death of her ally, she receives a phone call from James. He’s got plans for his sister. Big ones.

But before Batgirl can investigate these plans, she must bring Firebug to justice. After knocking him out and leaving him for the police, Batgirl sets off to track James. Her signal tracer leads her to an abandoned house, the perfect place for James’ secret headquarters, but he is nowhere to be found.

Instead, James is in a child’s bedroom, calling his newly recovering mother. But this isn’t your typical mother/son talk, as James has an ultimatum for her: Come to the Gotham Bay Aquarium or Barbara dies!

Will James’ mother agree to his terms? And what does this have to do with his plans for Batgirl? Place your bets in the comments section below!

Below, take a look at the final page of “The Mask of Ashes,” as James teases a gruesome death for Batgirl! And be sure to pick up a copy of BATGIRL #18, in stores now!