So, I have learned shorter stories

are better for me, they're easier to update since they aren't so daunting.

I hope I'm right haha! This is obviously another Batman fic. It will

have Zsasz eventually, but this chapter is just an intro.

And sorry, I can't tag Zsasz in a story in the Comic section. He isn't there :( Silly fanfic.

I sent in a suggestion so hopefully it will be fixed... But for now this will be in the game section..Even though

they spell Zsasz wrong... very irritating, but at least he is there i guess

I hope you all enjoy, Echo~

PS: I know I have some readers, friends and such, that don't actually know Batman much, so I write my stories so anyone can read and enjoy, so if you're worried that you won't enjoy if you're one of 'em, I hope you enjoy it all the same ;D


My Scarlet Dagger

Chapter 1: A Shattered Mask

Leaning back in the uncomfortable metal chair, Ella's soul felt torn in two. Her brother, Jonathan Crane, was the new patient at their asylum.

She hadn't known of her brother until her freshman year of college, their mother had given her up for adoption at birth. He was two years older than her and they had met through a teacher. Mr. Robertson, if she remembered correctly. He had mentioned that they both had amazing psychology skill, and he wanted them to meet. He said something about him mentoring her. They had met for coffee, and somehow ended up talking of their pasts. She mentioned that she was given up as a baby, her mom never hid anything from her and told her all about her old family, to be sure that if they ever came she wouldn't be devastated. Jonathan had asked about the family, and after some questions and a call to her mother, they realized they both had a new sibling.

Ecstatic about one another, the two were inseparable. Her new brother was a tall man, with a very slim but toned build. His brown hair was wavy and parted down the middle, reaching to his ears. It was the perfect length to mess with her fingers when she was teasing him. She loved to tease her older brother. His eyes...she was shocked by his eyes. They were a crystal ice blue, he was always complimented for them when they were out. Her own eyes were a light green, very plain compared to his. He always said they were lovely though when she felt sad about it...he was a nice brother. He usually wore nice attire, dress shirts and pants. He wore a square pair of glasses most of the time, except for when he was proving a point, then he would take them off and point them at the person dramatically, like it helped his point. She had thought it was so silly.

Over the years, she came to adore her older brother, it was as if they had never been separated in childhood. They even landed the same job at Arkham Asylum, treating patients. Honestly, she should have seen it coming. He had told her when she asked that as a child people treated him poorly, that she was lucky to have been given to a new family. He had said that his family was horrible to him, that he lived in fear at home.

He had said school was no better, in his youth he was even more lanky than now, and a scholarly young boy, always focused on studies and books. Of course, in school people like that were known to be bullied. She always expressed compassion towards him, but didn't think much after. Many people have bad childhood memories.

If that hadn't given it away, then his actions lately should have hinted it to her. Usually they openly discussed their patients, trying to find suitable treatments between them. It worked wonders when two people could figure something out. However, over the past few months he had hidden away in his office, not letting her in like usual. He said he felt swamped with a new treatment idea he was researching and all the new patients he was receiving. He also stopped discussing his treatments with her. She found it all odd, but she would never assume anything bad to come from her older brother.

Frustrated, she leaned forward, putting her elbows on the cold metal table in front of her, wiping the tears of sadness and frustration from her cheek. She had seen the news, "Scarecrow Attacks! City in Chaos!" She tried to call Jonathan about it, but obviously she couldn't reach him... he was busy.

Batman caught the Scarecrow, she felt relieved until the asylum called her in. It was two in the morning, she had made her way over the bridge to Arkham Island, and she couldn't shake her feeling of dread. Her hands had shaken the whole time. Walking in, a security officer took her to another psychologists office. For some reason, Batman was there with some police. As she took a seat across from them, she looked puzzled, until they asked her the question, "Is this man, Jonathan Crane, your brother?" Batman had held out a picture. It was her brother. He was strapped to a chair, wrapped in a straitjacket, his thin body constricted so tight it made him seem fragile. His usually sparkling blue eyes were wide, crazed. His left eye was bruised, his bottom lip split. She felt rage flood her heart, who did this to her brother?

Looking closer, she saw an odd item in her beloved brother's lap. It was a mask. It was made of a rough brown fabric, and had large stitches running all along it. The eyes were cut out, and the mouth was cut with stitches over it. She recognized the mask, it was the one the Scarecrow was wearing on the news. Gasping, reality hit her hard, sinking her heart in her chest. Her brother was the Scarecrow.

Devastated, she began to hysterically sob, the Batman moved to stand beside her, his large hand on her delicate shoulder. She turned to hide her face in his stomach, his hand moving to stroke her wavy brown hair.

Taking a few minutes to get the bulk of her grief out, she sat up, moving a wavy brown lock of hair from her face to tuck it behind her hair. She took a deep breath to calm herself, Batman kept his hand on her shoulder, his eyes sympathetic. She had to stay professional, she was at her work place, there were important matters to attend to. Wiping her eyes, she looked to the psychologist across from her.

"When can I see my brother? Is he going to be in prison?" She had asked, the man had explained to her that Jonathan's state was obviously a psychological issue, and he was instantly admitted into Arkham. She had asked to see him, and they agreed. Family members were allowed to see patients after being admitted, and since she was a worker at the asylum they agreed to let her see him instantly.

Those events had led to her position, sitting in a cold metal chair in a patient treatment room, her heart racing anxiously and her tears flowing in frustration as she waited for them to bring up her brother, the newest patient at Arkham. The room around her was a dull white, intended to be neutral for the patients. The ceiling lights above her were bright, making the tears that had pooled on the desk glisten. She wiped them off, stopping when the door on the other side of the room opened. Jonathan was led in by two large guards, his arms still restrained in a straitjacket. He was sat across from her, his head leaning to the side as if it was hard to keep it up. She looked to the guard for an explanation.

"He was violent when Batman brought him in, we had to give him some medication to calm him down." Aaron Cash, the head security guard, explained. She nodded at him and the two security guards moved to lean back against the wall behind her brother.

"Jonathan?" She asked, wondering if he would be able to concentrate on her with the medication still strong in his system.

"Ella?" He said. His voice was...different. He used to have a calm, intelligent voice. The kind of voice that helped a person win an argument even when they were completely wrong. His voice now, it was different. It sounded arrogant, and deeper, intimidating. He sounded like he was mocking everything about her by just speaking her name... It made her feel small, unimportant. She couldn't stand to hear it from her dear brother.

"Jonathan. Why would you do this? People died today Jonathan. How could you do this to me, you? Both of us! We...We were supposed to work together forever, help people forever!" She cried out, he stared at her, his look detached. A low snicker escaped his abused lips.

"It was never like that Ella...Never. I never wanted that, I never wanted what you did. Every patient... every FREAK in this place! They were all experiments... mice in my lab set up. Their fears, they were so there, so present. It was so easy to exploit and study them... Someone normal, no, they hide their fears. Every person each day lives with fear. But we learn to live with our fears concealed behind the mask of our expressions. We smile and smile... but we always feel that fear, deep in our gut. That's where I come in... to bring out these fears. To make them live their fears just as I did! I never had the chance to hide my fears! I was mentally beaten, day after day until the mask hiding my pain slowly cracked and deteriorated until there was nothing left but the face of a scared boy. I was humiliated and terrified...time and time again. But, I'm off topic now, the patients...oh yes, the patients. Their fears, each and every one of them, were unique. They were like no other person's. Perhaps best of all, the patients didn't hide their fears. Each time my fear toxin flooded their veins... I was able to watch as their faces transformed! It twisted their expression, destroyed their sanity... Their eyes grew wide with horror, all due to me! It was... the ultimate fear. They realized the true power of terror!" He ended with a loud laugh that shook Ella to the bone. Her brother's words...they destroyed her from the inside out. She never would have thought to hear him speak so poorly of the patients. She felt sick to her stomach. Just looking at Jonathan made her own expression twist in sadness and shame.

"Jonathan..." She tried to speak calmly. Jonathan grabbed lunged forward, ripping from his restraints and gripping her neck.

"No, the doctor is out, Scarecrow is in!" He yelled in her face, his hand tightening. The guards rushed to grab him off her, taking his arms and tugging him backwards. He fell back into their grip, his smile growing. Ella stared forward towards him, her expression solemn.

"Why Jonathan..." She said softly. Her brother looked to her, his grin falling to a calm smile, almost like his old smile, but more intimidating.

"I've never been who you thought little sister. You don't know what I have been through... you escaped it as an infant, be grateful you escaped the torture of fear until now...you will be feeling it soon enough!" With that threat Jonathan was pulled out, leaving Ella alone in the empty room to let it all sink in. Falling into the chair beside her, she laid her head on her arms. She didn't know what to think. Over the past years, her brother had been the center of her life. They were so close or, at least she assumed they were. She couldn't believe that it had all been a lie, that her brother was so, insane. She didn't want to admit it, but he wasn't a sane man. That was a fact she would have to deal with. There would be no more friendship between them. He was now a patient, and she was a psychologist. In her heart, he was still her brother, but she would not let that cloud her mind until the day he was cured of his mental ailments. She could wait for him, even if her heart felt shattered in her chest. Taking shaky breaths, Ella left the room, thanked the officers, and went home to sleep. The next day would be new, she would work hard to cure all patients that she could, and she would swallow the pure pain of loss and betrayal that was lodged in her throat, making her choke out sobs and tears the entire ride home.