NOTE: I do not own any of the Batman Begins characters, including Rachel, Crane/Scarecrow, Batman etc. Please enjoy my fanfic.
"Tonight. I've already paged Dr. Lehman over at Count General."
Those words. They echo in my head still to this day. They meant nothing to me at the time, but a few days later they would mean everything. I still remember the walking behind Dr. Crane, stepping into the elevator and saying those wretched words. If I hadn't said the sentence, Crane and his henchmen probably would have spared me. But, now, I'd like to take you back. Into my mind. Into the nightmare…
"Scarecrow… Scarecrow…s-s Scarecrow." The word tumbled over in my mind as I watched Carmine Falcone, strapped to a bed, muttering, through a wire-reinforced window. I remembered once when I was young, visiting my Uncle at his farm in the suburbs of Gotham…
…I was eight. The car ride had been forever, as we pulled into the driveway of my uncle's farm. I gratefully climbed from the backseat and stepped out onto the dirt road. In the distance, I could see my Aunt and Uncle coming towards our car, and as my parents unloaded the car, I waved to my uncle, and raced into the cornfield. I ran through at top speed, but something ahead of me made me stop. What looked like a man, stood motionless, at the edge of the field. "Hey mister!" I called. Nothing. "Hey!" Still nothing. I ventured closer to the man. I now saw a black crow perched atop his shoulder, nibbling at the fabric of the cloth. I walked up, and stared into the face of the man. It wasn't a man! Its face was made of burlap! I cried out and stumbled back. I bumped into my uncle. "That's a scarecrow Rachel." He said with a smile. But he noticed my blank stare. "There to scare away the birds that eat the corn." I nodded. I looked at the scarecrow. It looked kind of creepy as it stared at me; it's eyes and smile never moving…
"Miss Dawes." My head snapped up, to see Dr. Jonathan Crane striding toward me. "This is most irregular, I have nothing further to add to the report I filed with the judge."
I had decided that I didn't really like Dr. Crane. I also hated the way he said my last name. Miss Dawes. He made it sound like I was a dog. "I have questions about your report." I said stiffly, shifting my weight uncomfortably.
Dr. Crane was one of those people that made me uncomfortable to be around. "Such as?" he asked curiously, cocking his head, and adjusting his glasses. "Isn't it convenient for a fifty two year old man, who has no history of mental illness to suddenly have a complete psychotic breakdown just when he's about to indicted?"
Crane glanced into the cell containing Falcone. "Well, as you can see for yourself, there is nothing convenient about his symptoms." I looked back into the cell, and listened to Falcone's muttering.
"What scarecrow?" Crane jumped right in. "Patients suffering delusional episodes, often focus their paranoia on an external tormentor," he said. To me, it sounded as though he had memorized that entire speech. Crane continued, "In this case… a scarecrow." I stared at Falcone, mouth open, drooling, eyes rolling back into his head. "He's drugged?" "Psychopharmacology is my primary field. I'm a strong advocate. Outside he was a giant. In here, only the mind can grant you power." I nodded slowly, taking it all in. "You enjoy the reversal?" I asked. "I respect the minds power over the body." I just stared at him. "It's way I do what I do." "I do what I do to keep thugs like Falcone behind bars, not in therapy." I said, walking past Crane.
I decided to take charge here.
"I want my own psychiatric consultant to have full access to Falcone, to find out what you've put him on." I stalked to the elevator, pressing the button. Nothing happened. Crane came up beside me, and inserted a key into a slot. The doors opened.
He thought he was so smart, didn't he? We both stepped into the elevator. "First thing tomorrow then." He said, turning the key, and pressing a button. "Tonight." I said. "I've already paged Dr. Lehman over at County General." I smirked triumphantly. Dr. Crane was one of those people that I enjoyed beating. I had the last word. Not him.
The elevator descended. Two, three floors, I guessed. The doors slid open. Crane got out first. I followed. "This way please." He said over his shoulder. I frowned. This place did not look like the exit. This was not the way to the lobby. "I think there's something you should see." I sighed, and walked through two double doors.
I was standing on a balcony, with stairs on either side of me, leading into the room that I was looking at. Men in orange jumpsuits sat busy at tables, refining a white powder in front of them. A few were pouring it into a hole into the floor. I heard rushing water.
"This is where we make the medicine," I looked over at Crane, who stood staring, his face blank. "Perhaps you should have some." I had heard enough. In the corridor, I stumbled. Damn boots.
I tore into the elevator, and franticly began to press any button I could see. Nothing. I floored the alarm. Still nothing. All dead without Crane's key. "Oh, my god. I gotta get out of here." I thought desperately. I jumped as the doors opened, and Crane stood there, framed in the doorway.
A burlap mask covered his face.
He raised his sleeve, and a white powder exploded in my face. I fell backwards, coughing violently. I looked up again, and the scarecrow reached for me. I screamed.
Authors Note: I hope everyone enjoyed this, and please review when you're finished reading.