The man stood in the shadows, his body covered in scars. His eyes followed the countless school buses, racing the children to their homes. But on one, his vision held.
She must have been sitting on her backpack, because her entire profile was visible in the window. Light blonde waves flickered unnoticed around her face, and her lips moved soundlessly to music only she could hear.
She was a middle schooler, freshman at oldest he guessed. She was the one. He would free her from her mortal coil, liberating her as he did the others. His predatory mind fixated on her, and he knew none other would suffice. He began to walk after the bus, but soon broke into a run.
Zsasz had found his next target.
-X-
Stella stepped off of her bus, waiting for it to leave view before starting her short walk home. Pushing a strand of strawberry blonde hair from her face, she trekked on. Unaware of her stalker silently moving through the alleys, she trudged through Downtown Gotham.
Seconds before she reached her door, a flash of skin pierced her peripheral vision. Diving down just in time, a man flew over her, the extra force throwing him to the ground. He was shirtless, exposing the innumerable tally marks that stretched over his body. He was bald, the only hair on his head being a dark goatee.
Stella's short time in Gotham had prepared her for moments like this. She fumbled with her house keys, trying to forget the gleaming knife she had seen in his hand. Pushing herself inside, she slammed the door behind her. As she turned to the inside of her home, her jaw dropped.
Half a dozen men stood inside, all but one holding large guns. The weaponless man stood center, bright red scars stretching from the corners of his mouth to his ears. Clown makeup covered the rest of his face. The other men wore rubber clown masks, hiding discernable features from view.
"Stella, Stella, Stella Dent," he chuckled, "Surprise!" he waved little jazz hands as his masked accomplices tensed their guns threateningly.
The door behind her burst open, Zsasz stepping out. His bare back gleamed with sweat, crazed eyes flashing over the confusing scene. He raised his knife, ready.
"Well this isn't going to work at all," the Joker frowned, also eyeing the scene.
In one swift motion, the Joker pulled a pistol from his purple suit, and shot Zsasz in the leg. Yowling in surprise and pain, Zsasz fell to the ground, clutching his injured limb. The Joker motioned forward with his head and the men began to sweep out. As they passed Stella they grabbed her shoulders, pulling her along with them. She cried out, twisting violently to no avail. In one last attempt, she used the full weight of her body to stomp on her attacker's foot. He hunched over in pain, and she took the opportunity to run. They had already towed her outside, and they blockaded her from her house, so the streets were her final option.
Running blindly, she tried to remember her brother's new address. He would know what to do, he always did.
The clowns' footsteps beat a steady patter behind her as she tried to utilize her adrenaline rush. Tears fell freely, and she vigorously attempted to wipe them away. Two days in Gotham and- and this! She turned into an alley hoping to lose them.
The Joker had walked steadily behind as him men rushed after the girl. His lunatic grin worsened as she turned into a blind alley. Now he would have some real fun.
Stella pressed her fingertips to the brick wall in disbelief. It was a dead end.
The Joker was in front of his men again, meaning to savor this. He flicked his knife out, not meaning to do any real damage. He enjoyed watching her squirm.
As he advanced on his cowering prey, a flash of black descended from above. Elbowing a masked goon in the head, Batman knocked his first target out cold.
As Batman fought, the disbelief on the Joker's face transformed into a wide grin. He flexed his foot, a blade popping out of the sole. As he rose his foot to Batman's chest, Stella cried out, seeing what had transpired. In a skillful play the Batman dodged, moving to the two foes that still stood.
Stella, now realizing the attention wasn't on her, began to scoot slowly across the alley, hoping to escape. A leather clad hand covered her mouth, and she tried to scream as she looked up to the Joker's face.
Finishing and hearing the noise, Batman whirled around. He hesitated, seeing the blade at Stella's neck.
"Ah, ah, ah," The Joker chided, "No sudden movements or, ah, little Stella here? She might not see high school."
A tiny whimper escaped Stella's lips, only provoking a chuckle from the Joker.
"Let her go," Batman's low growl reverberated across the alley.
The Joker laughed hysterically, not answering but acting as if he had. The Batman knew he wasn't dealing with a sane man, and he had to be careful, or the girl's life was forfeit.
"Joker," Batman breathed, "I swear, I-"
"What?" he laughed, "What, what do you swear?" he pressed the knife's blade into the bottom of Stella's chin, drawing blood.
He laughed on, past the point of humor. Suddenly a flash of silver appeared. The Joker fell, clutching the newest scratch that ran across his face. Zsasz had patiently waited, biding his time, and now he stood over the Joker's body. Blood still gushed freely from his leg. He scrambled to his feet as Stella ran behind Batman. She began to continue but thought better of it, hiding behind Batman's massive cape. The Joker began to chuckle again, rolling a bit. Zsasz's eyes were fixed solely on Stella. With one last, scared look, she fled. Zsasz began to give chase only to be stopped in combat by Batman. The sounds of battle were the last thing Stella heard as she rushed into the night.