WOW! Your feedback on chapter one has been amazing! You have a lot of faith in me. I hope I don't disappoint you guys.
The next few chapters may seem kinda boring but they all lead to something. Trust me.
I may not be able to post 2 chapters a day, but I will try and post at least one chapter a day. I know how much you like my fast updates. Because I update so fast I know there will be type-os and things. Pls ignore them.
Pls. Enjoy and review.
2.
~ "You know, everyone keeps dismissing this guy as being crazy, but I don't think he was." Ariadne said looking up at Arthur from her drawing. The couple were laid out in their bed. The Point Man doing research on his ever ready laptop, the Architect sketching mazes.
Soft piano music played through out the room.
Bliss.
"Did you not hear everything I just told you?" Arthur laughed. "He robbed banks, killing his entire team in the process. Brutally murdered a judge, a Police commissioner, an assistant DA and tried to kill the Mayor and Harvey Dent. Gotham's White Knight."
The Point Man looked over the photo's of Gotham general, what was left of it.
"Lets not forget he blew up a hospital and held a group of doctors and nurses hostage before he was captured. Or that he rigged two water ferries to blow each other up."
"I understand all that." Ariadne said rolling her eyes. "But that proves my point. A mentally ill person could never orchestrate an operation that complex."
She sighed as it was Arthur's turn to roll his eyes. Ever the pessimist.
"Listen, this level of planning is not the work of a schizophrenic mind. A disturbed person, perhaps even a psychopath, but not deranged." She argued.
"What's the difference?" Arthur laughed. "Crazy is crazy."
"Well a psychopath can operate well in society but have no compassion for others. Only themselves. I don't think the Joker was manic, or crazy. I think he was willing do what it took to achieve his goals."
"Yeah, to rain chaos and destruction on innocent people." Arthur sighed.
Ariadne shook her head and put her maze away. Agreeing to disagree. She pulled the covers over and readied for bed. Arthur took the hint and closed his laptop.
"I'm looking forward to this actually." She told him as they settled into one another's arms. "We've never done an extraction like this before. I'm anxious to go into the mind of someone like this."
"About that." Arthur said.
Feeling tense. He hated to break bad news to her.
"Cobb and I think it would be best if you stay here. Not got to Gotham." He said calmly.
"What?" Ariadne sat up. A look of shock, clearly on her face.
"After everything you've been through, with what happened in your coma..."
"If my coma taught you anything is that my subconscious can defend its self better then anyone else on the Team." Ariadne said.
Her voice was cold and stern. Just like the Red Queen.
"I know that." Arthur said running a hand over her arm. "Ariadne, I don't want you in the same room as that... thing." The Point Man confessed.
The Architect snorted.
"I'm not waiting on the sidelines." She told him. "I've proven myself as a part of this Team time and again. If you and Cobb don't want me apart of this mission, then you don't want me as your Architect."
Her words were biting and final. Her resolve like steel.
"Ariadne." Arthur said softly. Pulling her back to him. He searched for the right thing to say. "I know that you can do this. I don't want you anywhere near that man. What he's done, he's killed people."
"He'll be sedated." Ariadne told him. Allowing him to wrap his arms around her.
"Not good enough." He told her.
"Arthur, I'm going on this mission." She told him sternly.
He sighed and leaned back. He couldn't fight her. Didn't want to.
"It's Cobb you have to really convince." Arthur told her.
"Why Cobb?" She asked.
Arthur laughed.
"He thinks that you didn't really make it out of your coma. That your really the Red Queen. It's ridicules." Arthur laughed again.
Ariadne's face was immovable. Emotionless. Her eyes cold.
"Why would he think that?" She asked in a dead tone. Arthur shrugged.
"You know how paranoid he can be." The Point Man said.
She only nodded.
"Leave the light on. Okay?" She asked as he snuggled back into his arms. Feeling safe.
"I know." He told her kissing the top of her forehead.
"It's kinda pathetic, huh? Your girlfriend is afraid of the dark." She laughed at herself.
"No, I like it." Arthur said honestly. "I get to protect you." He whispered.
~ A privet plane was sent to bring the team to Gotham. Landing on a remote airport where they were taken by limo to a reclusive home in the country.
"Welcome to Master Wayne's summer estate." A courtly gentleman with an uncanny resemblance to Miles said as the Team looked over the opulent house. A Victorian complete with turrets and towers.
"You must be Alfred, Miles cousin." Cobb said shaking the older gentleman's hand.
The congenial butler smiled and warmly welcomed them in. The walls were adorned in cherry wood paneling. Stained glass in every available window. Every detail perfect and ornate. No short cuts taken in the building or decorating. Like a modern day castle.
"I'm afraid Master Wayne will be otherwise engaged this evening." The perfectly poised butler said as he showed them the house. Having their bags sent to their rooms.
"He sends his regrets and asks that you please make yourself at home. That he can discuss business with each of you in the morning." Alfred said.
~ "Look at this place." Ariadne said as she and Eames separated themselves from Cobb and Arthur to explore the impressive house.
"Right. Just the summer Estate." The Forger said with a smile. She had suppress a grin.
The Architect threw a glance at Cobb. The Extractor talking to Mr. Wayne's butler about the job. Asking questions the poor gentleman most likely did not know the answers to.
A cold stone growing in her belly at the idea that Cobb thought the Red Queen still held power over her.
~ Ariadne couldn't sleep. Perhaps it was being in a new place. It's dark shadows and strange noises. So different from what she was used to. She didn't trust the closet, the things that might be hiding in there. The shadows in the bathroom. For a long time she lay curled into a tight ball and listened to the house.
Arthur was sound asleep beside her. He could sleep through a hurricane and wake up ready to start the day. His years of dream extractions meant he never dreamed. In sleep, his mind was not troubled or haunted.
He was a comfort to her after the ordeal of her coma. He really did keep her safe. The first few days after waking up, she was plagued by ghastly nightmares.
A demon woman, rattling around her head, trying to get out.
"I'll cut you! You horrible girl!"
Even now, she could hear the voice, wanting to get out.
Waiting to be freed.
The Architect abandoned her bed with the Point Man. Throwing a robe over her night dress and picking up a high wattage flashlight.
She knew a glass of milk would help her sleep. Perhaps a nice cup of hot tea with honey. Her mind comforted by the idea of it.
It was eerie, this summer home on an enigmatic billionaire. It was well past midnight and the home was dark and foreboding. She stayed in the lighted safety of her bedroom and pondered the darkness that lurked in the hallway.
Her flashlight cutting a forceful beam into the depths. Exposing all the hidden things.
Her common sense told her that there was nothing there, but she still felt nervous.
Slowly, she closed her bedroom door and crept on silent feet down the hallway. Keeping the bright beam of light on her at all time.
The things that live in the darkness are afraid of the light.
The house was obscenely large. It's stained glass casting odd shadows that tricked her eyes. Her feet on the hard wood floors gave off loud creaking noises that she feared might alert someone. Or something.
She tried to move swiftly through the house. Hurrying to the kitchen that Alfred had shown them. Away from the creepy stain glass and noisy floors. Things in the shadows just out of her flash lights reach.
It felt like relief to finally reach the kitchen. Bright and cherry. The lights, snapping on gleaming and safe. Like a hospital. Chasing away every speck of shadows. Ariadne relaxed as she quickly found where the cook kept glasses and tea things. She drank her milk as she waited for the kettle to boil.
Never hearing silent feet creeping up behind her. Never seeing a dark figure spying on her.
"What are you doing here?" A strange voice growled.