Greetings FanFictionland,
Just to give a few author's notes before we start:
1. This is my first story ever in the public view, so please be gentle with the reviews.
2. Having said that, since this is my first story I look forward to reviews to improve my writing and general story telling so lets keep the criticisms constructive.
3. All recognizable characters are property of their respective owners, mainly DC Comics.
4. This story isn't set in any particular universe other than my own mind, so some events may differ slightly if at all.
5. And lastly, I have an odd work schedule so updates may be spotty. Just a friendly FYI.
Now onto the story. Hope you enjoy my alternate world.
Gotham
Chapter 1 - Snow on Christmas
It was deathly cold.
It was ominously dark.
It was perfect.
He slowly lowered himself into a squat as he observed the seven men that were unloading several boxes from a warehouse into the back of an unmarked truck. The wind kicked up around him, forcing his cape to billow wildly behind him, and he smirked as his analyzing gaze saw the men below him shiver. He had no such problem thanks to the nano-fiber suit he had designed to protect his body from both the elements and any other hazards that may befall him. The thugs below weren't so lucky as they shivered wildly from the cold. Good, that meant they would move slower, which meant they were more vulnerable.
He knew that these men were Carmine Falconi's thugs from an informant from which he had procured information from a few hours before. In all fairness he only had to break four fingers before the sought after information had come spilling from the man's lips, along with some additional information he could have done without, like the man's phobia of spiders.
Carmine "The Roman" Falconi, the gang kingpin of Gotham's infected dying core, held the city in a death grip.
His city.
He had only returned to the city a few months ago from a ten-year absence, but he wasn't going to waste anytime in bringing the criminal element in this city to its knees. However, his mission was complicated by the sheer number of corrupt cops and city officials which gave credibility to the phrase: "Good cops in Gotham? What good cops in Gotham?" But if there was one thing he was certain of they would all fear the night, and what it held.
Him.
According to the unfortunate informant The Roman had sent the men below him to remove boxes filled with firearms out of his warehouse before the customs inspector came in the morning to inspect his cargo. And that was why he was here right now, to make sure the Roman's plans failed.
"Sir," the voice of his faithful butler and confidant buzzed over the communication piece in his cowl, "I count only two with firearms, it would be wise to take them out first."
The man merely grunted as he continued to observe the men as they worked.
"Also, might I remind you sir that you have an important meeting tomorrow morning," the level voice of his butler reminded him. "It would be nice if you were able to rest for more than a few hours, for once."
"I'm sure Fox will understand if I'm running a little late," the man finally spoke as he rose to his considerable height, "Besides, I have a reputation to maintain."
"Yes, about your reputation…" the voice tried to continue, but was quickly cut off by the man.
"Your objections are noted, Alfred, but right now I have more pressing matters," the man cut in before he pulled out a small tool.
A new invention of his, that of course will be credited to his companies R&D team, which disables any electronic signal that it is attached to. He quickly fires a bolt hitting the roof of the truck, cutting off the thugs' escape.
"Hey did you hear somethin'?" a thug wearing a fisherman's heavy coat asked as he looked towards the direction of the truck.
"There's no one out here at this hour man," another thug with an AK-47 and a blue beanie answered as he cocked the gun for emphasis. "Besides, that's what we have the guns for."
"Wouldn't the cops come lookin' round if you shot somebody?" the fisherman coated thug grunted as he picked up one of the last crates.
"Do you realize how often people disappear in Gotham? Most that'll happen is that their picture will end up on the news at eight. Now finish loadin' that shit so we can get out of this fuckin' cold," the previous thug answered.
The two thugs slowly lugged the crate out to the open truck leaving the other five thugs in the warehouse to finish with the last crate. As two of the remaining thugs bent down to pick up the last crate, the lights suddenly began to flicker before dying. Quickly dropping the crate the thugs began to look from one to the other.
Taking charge the blue beanied thug began to bark orders as he shouldered the rifle, "Alright, everyone spread out and check for an electrical box. Wind probably just knocked out a fuse or somethin'."
"How would the wind blow a fuse out? Ain't that just lightning storms that do that?" one of the other thugs questioned as he began to make his way to managers office.
"Faulty wiring? How the hell would I know, I'm not a fuckin' electrician alright. Just hurry and find the fuse box," the head thug yelled back as he moved to the doorway.
It was pitch black in the manager's office as the man slowly made his way the far wall. He had worked here for awhile after he had been downsized from Ace Chemicals after they had been busted for safety violations. It was the manager, who was in Falconi's pocket, that had recommended him to the Roman as a possible low-level enforcer. So he knew where the fuse box was, now he just needed to flip the switch and they could get out of there and someplace warm.
Finally reaching the fuse box he flung it open as he felt for the switch opposite of all the rest, "There we go."
Instantly the lights flicked back to life as he closed the door to the box and took a step back. However, he immediately ran into something, something…big. Slowly he turned only to come face to face with a figure in all black. Shocked he could do nothing but gape at the giant creature. He needed to warn the rest of the crew, but before he could the creatures claw shot out grabbing him by the face. The last thing he felt was the warm stream running down his leg.
"Alright everybody the lights are back let's warp this up," the head thug yelled before a loud crash was heard from the manager's office and the lights once again died. "What the fuck was that? You guys go check that out."
The head thug watched from the entrance as the three other men in his crew slowly entered the manager's office, the other thug with a rifle heading up the group. Silence, for what felt like an eternity there was no noise, no gunfire, no voices, nothing. Then just as suddenly as the lights had died, the sound of gunfire erupted the muzzle flash giving brief glimpses of the demon that was terrorizing the men in the room. Then just as suddenly silence fell over the warehouse once again.
"Hey, what's goin' on in there?" the voice of the fisher coated thug broke the lead thug out of his shocked state.
"I don't…," just then he felt something wrap around his ankles just before he was pulled off his feet and back into the darkness.
The shriek and the horrified expression on the face of their leader will haunt the two remaining men as they watched him disappear into the darkness, his gun the only evidence that he had been there mere seconds beforehand. Quickly breaking out of his stupor the two remaining of Falconi's thugs prayed for the first time in years as they jumped into the cab of the truck. Shoving the key into the ignition the coated thug tried to bring the engine to life to make their escape from the creature that was surely coming for them next.
"Come on man, get us out of here," the other thug yelled at his partner as he kept his eyes on the dark warehouse.
"It's not turning over man, it's dead," the first thug panicked as he kept trying the key while pumping the accelerator.
"Fuck this man, I'm out of here," the thug in the passenger seat cursed as he opened the door to make his escape only to be hauled out of the cab of the truck.
Panicking the remaining thug faced the gaping door as he heard the screams of pain and crunching just a few feet away. Silence, a few moments of chaos and then nothing. He was petrified, he knew he was next and there was nothing he could do to stop it, the only thing his fear addled mind could think to do was push himself even closer to the drivers door. He didn't even have time to scream before he was unceremoniously pulled through the side window of the cab.
"WHAT ARE YOU?!" the man yelled as he stared into the creatures white eyes, before he was knocked out with a headbutt.
"I'm Batman," the creature stated as he dropped the man onto the cold ground.
Only then did Batman notice the pure white snowflake float softly into his waiting hand. Taking a few brief moments to just stare at the snowflake he slowly looked up into the night sky.
Snow on Christmas.
So thoughts, questions, comments, critques? Leave 'em in the comments, please. Thanks.
Also, in everyone's opinion, should I aim for longer chapters (keep in mind chapter length will vary irregardless)? Just a thought.
Till next time.