Disclaimer: I do not own these charcters. They belong to DC.
Power and Strength - A Scarecrow Monologue
Cowards. Pulling back in fear. Disgusting. So much weak mindedness surrounds me. Their discontent blamed upon others. Unable to find themselves in the masses. Striking out against who they deem to be unworthy.
They once thought they could weed me out. They thought that if they leered and jeered I would wither away. As a child I was singled out, left alone. Everyone thought I had nothing. They thought wrong. I had vision. I knew I could find the source of their power. I searched for it asking questions of why. All their small responses leading to the ultimate answer. I studied it. Immersed myself in it, learned to control it. Fear.
But power is useless without strength. I needed to see my plans through. All the times I was rebuked by humanity. Hate grew inside me, it keeps a man alive. It gives him strength, focus. It has allowed me to see what I hate and what I can control. They flinch at their shadows, scream at their thoughts, attack at their projected their demons. Society is corrupt to the truth and blinded in its narcissism.
And I stand here. Amongst the chaos. Clear in my vision. My purpose. To watch all of Gotham fall before me in fear. I am their Master… No more pain and disappointed can be doled by these fools. They will be left to suffer in the dusty corners of their mind. I have no time for them. They are only the bait for what comes after dark.
One creature, obstinate in his own psychotic belief, has stopped me from accomplishing me fate. The Bat Man. I wonder if he knows that my power. My persistence comes from hate. I doubt it. For if he did he would know that I hate that he has victories in my past. But it gives me strength for another tomorrow. Resiliency gained through loss. The Dark Knight has beaten me... Not into submission but into rebellion. The hours I've spent in hate and design. The clarity and tools I now have. It will be used against him. There is no fear for me tonight, no future disappointments.
Tonight he will fall by my hand, fueled by me hatred and controlled with fear. This Batman is no more than a man. He is both surrounded by society and alone in his thoughts. The moments I barely survived will become the backdrop for his nightmares. Batman will die in fear.
Then once I am satisfied, I will return to Gotham. To complete my experiment upon civilization. I hate the sheep. And they frighten so easily…
*This one-shot was inspired by this video clip from the movie Ben Hur. www. youtube watch?v=lv9mHwbaho