Chapter 1: Life's Never Dull
Dr Molly Stone walked through the crowded airport, her heels clicked against the floor as she walked and despite being surrounded by crowds of people screaming and talking excitedly at the prospects of holidays, seeing family etc she heard nothing but the sound of her own heels clicking as she walked. She was lost in her own thoughts, the thoughts of leaving her brother, the case she'd just finished working on, distant memories, her future in a new city, too many thoughts. She was brought back to reality by an overly smiley check in attendant who wore to much frosted pink lipstick, so much that it was stuck to her teeth, and who wore so much strong, musty perfume that Molly thought she would choke on the stench.
'Your ticket and passport please' the overly smiley attendant asked once more trying, badly, to hide her frustration at Molly's daydreaming, the toothy grin starting to falter and frown lines appearing, 'sorry' Lara said handing her documents over, 'very good Dr Stone have a safe journey and we hope you enjoy your flight' the attendant said handing the documents back as though she couldn't wait to be rid of them, Molly merely nodded a thank you and walked away to wait for her flight.
As she sat in her seat waiting for the plane to take off her thoughts returned, she thought of her life, eventful as it had been in her short 25 years of life, she sighed pulling her long, wavy brown hair back from her face, she was tired but knew she wouldn't sleep, she never could sleep on planes. As the plane finally took off she pulled out the files she had been sent and continued reading from where she'd left off, un able to concentrate she pulled the letter she had been sent that was the reason for this big life change, and re-read it.
Dear Dr Stone,
I hope my letter finds you well, and fully recovered from your recent ordeal. The reason for my writing to you is to offer you a position at out prestigious asylum, I am in no doubt you have heard of Arkham and our inmates. I feel this offer would benefit both of us, you are one of the most successful doctors in your field as recently proven with your involvement in the highly documents FBI case for the capture of the notorious mass murderer Frank Grentz, and your employment at Arkham would benefit my patients I feel highly confident that you would help with the recovery of many patients and we both know that would benefit patients and society. I understand you may have reservations about uprooting your whole life in Baltimore and moving to Gotham, but a change can do wonders and having conversed with your mother I know she would love to have her daughter nearer. As an employee of Arkham I can guarantee you a high salary and full benefits, and as you know with certain inmates remaining in our care Gotham has never been a safer or nicer place to live in.
Please consider my offer, my details are enclosed and I eagerly await your response.
Yours sincerely
Dr Stanley Chilton
Head Doctor and director of Arkham Asylum
Molly folded the letter back up and placed it in the files. She didn't really believe any of the words written in the letter, she had heard of Dr Chilton and his strong desire for results with his patients, by any means necessary. But she did miss her mother and the case in Baltimore had taken its toll on her both physically and mentally, she felt exhausted. So begrudgingly with the support of her brother Wesley she packed up all her belongings and here she was on her way to Gotham.
She had felt awful for leaving Wesley alone in Baltimore, but she knew her brother was strong and could cope in most situations; it was a trait they both shared. Wesley at 28 years old, standing at 6 ft 3 would be fine, she stared at a picture she had thrown into the file in her hurry to get to the airport, taken only 2 years ago her brother really hadn't changed tall, muscular build that came from his training to be an FBI agent, and his strong blue eyes, he was not your average FBI agent, Wesley had a kind face and could be shy and quiet but once in a job he became strong, hard faced and focused. She remembered back to Wesley's graduation at the academy and the words his superior said to him,
'Killer instinct boy, you got it, you go a god given gift, and I swear you could shoot a flea from a mile off'.
She remembered how disturbed Wesley was by these words when he reflected back on them, being associated with the word killer did not appeal to Wesley in any way. But he was an amazing shot another trait she inherited from her older brother, though only 3 years between them Wesley had demanded she learn to shoot a gun for self defence should she ever need it, which living where they did with the high crime rate, probably wasn't a bad idea.
She smiled at the thought of her brother, and went back to reading her files, as part of her acceptance of the job Dr Chilton had requested she work with three high profile inmates, she read their profiles one by one, making quick notes on each of the three, first;
Dr Jonathan Crane
Age: 30
Fired from Gotham University before accepting job at Arkham
Former doctor at Arkham
Experimented on patients using hallucinogenic drugs that induce fear
Uses alter ego 'the scarecrow' and wears mask to scare victims
Only recently incarcerated at Arkham
Second was an all too familiar name,
Dr Ivan Sloane
Age: 55
Inmate at Arkham for twenty years, since his capture
Briefly transferred to Baltimore to help on the Frank Grentz case
Former psychiatrist
Physically and mentally tortured patients
Doesn't respond well to many of the staff at Arkham
She smiled to herself when she finished her notes on Sloane, working with Sloane again should be entertaining.
She finally got round to reading the last patients file,
The joker (real name unknown)
Age: unknown
Recently incarcerated at Arkham
Refuses to speak to any doctor at Arkham
Deranged madman, enjoys chaos
Zero empathy
Real name, family, origins all unknown
She smiled to herself so Dr Chilton wanted her to treat the joker, he must be getting desperate for results, if the joker had managed to alienate most of his staff. The pilot announcing they would be landing soon interrupted her thoughts,
'Life's never dull' she muttered quietly, smiling.