Hello! I would like to show you my brand new work and I would be lying if I said I knew it was going to happen. I knew that too few Riddler fanfics were a huge problem, but I didn't feel really confident about writing in English (it's not my first language!) and I still can't believe I've made it. Of course, with my bestest friend, English mastermind. So this first chapter, and probably the rest of the story she will edit (if I continue, I mean), I would like to dedicate to her.

As always on Saturdays, dozens of sweaty bodies filled the dance floor in the club located on the outskirts of Gotham. Predictably, the establishment wasn't very glam - it was an ordinary, sleazy dive, full of seedy people whose cigarettes smoke hovered all over the place. But again - was it that much different from other Gotham clubs?

Nonetheless, neither the smoking room, nor the bar's ill fame scared off Candy and her friends or kept them from ruling the small dance floor. It wasn't their first going-out, for sure. Sultry women and alluring men danced like professionals and their moves radiated with self-confidence. The group clearly stood out in the crowd – it would be a lie to say that they didn't attract attention. Their observers were mostly male, sitting on the second floor and desperately trying to take some girls home. Kenny Marlow wasn't different. He was currently watching Candy. He slowly drank his whiskey from a dirty glass. It was a long way from Hilton's standards, but he was okay with that. He belonged to one of numerous groups of pickpockets in Gotham. Marlow was engaged mostly in thefts and occasional robberies. And he certainly didn't have any scruples to stop him from forcing a woman to do whatever he wanted. That's why when he noticed Candy was leaving the floor, he quickly hurried to the stairs.

She half-danced half-walked to the cloakroom. Close behind followed her friends: three girls and two boys.

"What about you?" She asked while putting on the coat handed to her by a disgusting security guard. "Are you staying?"

"Well, we're not", one of her friends pointed to herself and a brunet standing next to her. "I don't know about them."

"We'll stay for a bit longer." Said the other one. "Our first rehearsal begins at ten, so we should manage to wake up"

"Sure thing" Candy exclaimed, rolling her eyes. "I can see that. But at least you've got an excuse, lucky ones. Some people work hard from the crack of dawn."

"Just don't cry, diva!" Her other boyfriend pouted and wiped an imaginary tear off his cheek.

Kenny watched the three say their goodbyes to everyone and then leave. He followed them carefully, on his way out waving to his friends sitting in the smokers' arena. Though there weren't many people in front of the club, he didn't even try to keep his distance. They surely had drunk too much and didn't bother to pay attention to anything.

And they should, he thought while bringing a knife out of his jacket. After all, it's a grim place.

"Both of you are living awfully far away from here, take this taxi. I will wait for another one" Candy offered, opening a door. "The next will probably be here in a minute. There are plenty of them around."

"Come on, we won't leave you here all alone" The brunet disagreed. "What if you meet the Joker?" He added, singing the last word.

"Danny, you idiot!" Candy's friend hit him in the arm. "You can't joke like that!"

"Why not? You see him somewhere?" Danny looked around, pretending to be terrified.

In this moment, the irritated taxi driver interrupted them.

"You driving or not? Some of us can't get smashed in the club, they got work to do!"

"They're going, sir. Sorry!" Candy answered and pushed her friend inside. "Maggie, don't panic. Nothing is going to happen. Danny, get in. God, you're so drunk."

The man just smiled and sat next to Maggie, loudly slamming the door. Both of them waved to her from behind the window. Candy waved back, already feeling that maybe this wasn't her best idea. She looked around and noticed a group of suspicious guys standing a few metres away. As if it wasn't enough, she didn't see any taxis, just vans. Candy immediately regretted her decision. It was cold, melted snow-mush got her boots wet and the group's laughter was getting louder. In this situation, she decided to do the only possible and reasonable thing – go back to the club and order a taxi from there. She changed the direction and moved at a quick pace. And then she bumped into someone.

Keeping her eyes fixed on the strong arm which foiled her escape, and painfully feeling a sharp blade of a knife on her throat, the woman thought about the irony. It was the one and only time she wasn't coming back home with her friend Michael. What was she thinking? Why did she let her companions leave her alone? Didn't she get scared because of this stupid Joker comment? Involuntarily, she started to struggle. Kenny's response was instantaneous – his grip got stronger, almost breaking her rib.

"If I were you, sunshine, I'd be a good girl" He admonished her. "Let's go."

Candy's eyes became wide open. She was surprised when her legs followed the aggressor's command, completely ignoring the hard pounding in her chest. Despite the paralyzing fear, she carefully watched the street. How was it possible that no one saw what had happened, even in this dim light? She wanted to scream, but was too frightened. The knife was a sufficient threat.

He pressed her against a wall in a horrifying dark alley. Not holding out much hope, but feeling she had to at least try, she offered "I have twenty dollars, let me take them out" But, just like she predicted, the man only laughed.

"You're cute" He proclaimed, eyeing her up and down. At that, his face twisted into a lecherous mask, and his lips turned into something which might've resembled a smile. "You know, I could make it good for you, too."

A deafening scream interrupted his speech. It was only after a second that Candy realized the sound was coming from her own mouth. Her survival instinct had finally won over the immobilizing panic. Almost instantly, the bottom part of the woman's face was covered by a harsh hand. The man swore. His smile faded.

"Okay, so we're doing it my way." He barked. His arm was reaching for Candy's leg, when, suddenly, he fell on his knees. Surprised, the woman jumped away from him. Kenny slid down the wall. She looked at the place where he stood just a moment ago. Now, that space was occupied by another man. She had trouble with describing him, because the only light reaching the dim alley were the echoes of the main street lanterns. She could tell he was tall – definitely taller than her, in spite of leaning on a cane. It was quite uncommon, since she measured 171 centimetres and there were 4 inch heels on her feet. Be that as it may, he certainly wasn't well-built. Candy would call him… slender.

"What is your name?"

The woman got scared hearing this question; however, she quickly realized that this mysterious man asked the assailant, not her. Marlow mumbled something.

"Excuse me? How?" The stranger bent over him and theatrically put his hand to his ear. "Kenny? So listen, Kenny, do you happen to have a sister?"

The answer didn't seem to be forthcoming, so the man took a swing and hit him in the stomach with his cane. Candy winced.

"I asked you a question" He snarled, obviously furious. After a moment, his face once again became the embodiment of calmness. It didn't reach his eyes, though.

"Ye… yes" He gurgled. The woman thought that this was a truly pathetic sight. A man she had feared was now lying on the ground, hunched like ordinary, homeless people.

"Well, imagine then, that some puny scum like you, no offence, would like to harm her. Would you be pleased?"

Just like before, he didn't hear an answer, and just like before, he hit Kenny. This time in the back.

"Would you?!"

"No!" He howled, splurting with his own blood which was trickling from his mouth.

"Then why did you assault her?" The stranger thwacked him once again and grasped his cane behind his back. "I absolutely detest people like you. In usual circumstances, you probably would be dead by now, but! Because, unlike you, I am a gentleman, I shall let the lady decide."

Candy realized that the lady was her. The scene before her seemed so unrealistic – like reading a book or watching a movie. She looked at her savior, who was inspecting her heedfully. She was sure he felt her fear.

"So?" He asked with raised eyebrows.

"So what?" She uttered at least.

The man sighed, taking a hat off his head, which apparently had been there the entire time. He neatened his hair and leaned on the cane.

"Do you want me to kill him or let him go?" He asked, enunciating each syllable, as if she was slow on the uptake. "Or maybe you want to kill him by yourself?"

"No, no, no, of course not, no" She answered in the negative, intense emotions making her babble. Inhaling deeply, she forced herself to regain some control and said almost evenly:

"Let him go."

The stranger didn't look surprised; nonetheless, he continued to watch her closely.

"Are you sure? He just tried to rape you." He reminded her. Perhaps hoping for a change of mind?

Candy nodded decisively. The stranger put the hat back on his head, smiling eerily. Without warning, her savior once again hit Kenny. She took a step back, once again coming in contact with the wall.

"You're lucky that this city still has some kind people, Kenny. Today, you escape. But if I were you, I would be extremely careful not to meet me again." He threatened him with smooth, but definitely dangerous voice. After that his face lightened and he almost sang:

"Well, wasn't it fun! Alas, all the good things must come to an end. Bye!"

Kenny managed to stand up somehow and, half-bent, ran to the main street. He didn't slow down even for a moment, as if feeling the hateful gaze of the strange man on him and dreading what fate would await him in case of tardiness. Candy watched his pitiable escape with tremendous relief. She herself discreetly took a few steps in this direction, hoping for a quick ride home.

"You can't even imagine how grateful I am to you for saving me…" She started, cursing herself for not running while no one cared about her. The stranger acted politely, but still, he used violence seemingly without a second thought.

He regarded her with evident amusement, which he didn't even try to hide.

"How about a riddle?"

Candice thought she must've misheard him.

"Excuse me?"

"A riddle." Stranger repeated patiently with bigger, bizarre smile.

"I'm afraid I'm not in the mood…" She answered, shifting slightly towards the club. It didn't matter. The man suddenly leapt at her and gripped her wrists tightly. She was sure she'd have bruises tomorrow. Her heart raced.

"I am most happy with your enthusiasm!" He stated cheerfully, sardonic smile on his lips.

"I will give you a short one. Alone I am twenty-fourth, with a friend I am twenty. Another friend and I am unclean. What am I?"

She felt she had to answer or it would end badly. She had heard this somewhere before… wasn't Michael trying to make her laugh with that one just today? He was reading the newspaper and she was eating the breakfast. It would be so much easier if Mr Enigmatic didn't look at her so maniacally!

"Quickly, you are running out of time!" The stranger informed her in a high voice. He didn't mention a time limit before, but Candy didn't dare to point it out to him.

She had laughed at this one! It had a pun in it! What was it?

"It is an easy one! Don't you see it?"

"It's… it's x! The letter x!"

The tall man looked at her, a flash of astonishment in his eyes. She felt a well-known sensation – butterflies in her stomach. Except it wasn't the stage-fright, it was horrifying fear.

"Correct." He announced quietly. He loosened his grip. She backed away from him.

"It's… correct." He repeated louder. Candy finally felt her legs and did something she should've done much earlier.

She escaped.