Haddonfield, Illinois
Haddonfield, Illinois was a respectable ground for the tradition of Halloween, even on days where the holiday wasn't on date; the area carried with it… a terrifying feel. Passerby were scarce to be seen in and around the neighborhoods, however, the city housed all sorts of strange people. The sight that greeted our dear Dark Knight was a mystifying one, each and every resident of the county were milling about, transfixed on a news station not too far from where he had landed the Batwing, after a long and tiring flight (he had yet to sleep, and the rays of the sun had just come up), moreover, no one had since noticed him, attentive as they were, on the broadcasting program.
"The notorious serial killer Michael Myers, who was rumored to have murdered his 15 year old sister on the night of 1963, and who once again struck terror in the hearts of Haddonfield occupants 15 years later, was recently subdued and incarcerated. Further details have yet to be announced, but his psychiatrist is scheduled for an interview this afternoon. Stay tuned folks. Haddonfield News County out."
Quickly cycling through the 1978 case file, Batman located the exact information he was looking for, this Michael Myers indeed had a psychiatrist, and for 15 years it said. Unfortunately, it gave no such details on what his name was This is going to slow me down, I need to find this man once it gets dark, in the meantime, I should focus on staying out of sight finding a narrow alleyway, Batman moved out of sight and into the dim shadows, he would have to wait until nightfall.
A couple hours later, he detected a disturbance in the vicinity, someone was indeed watching him and whoever they were, they obviously didn't want to be seen. Taking out his grapnel, he fired up to a nearby tree to get a better vantage point over his surroundings, only to be met with a false alarm. It was just a child, no older than he was when he-no, he had an objective to fulfill… he would brood later. The child stared up at him in both awe and fear, he wouldn't blame him, and Batman had a frightful presence for a good reason. Deciding to make small talk, Batman jumped off the tree branch he had been perched to and landed with a silent thump, the child backed up some, even though he was behind a fence, the sudden movement surprised him. In the gentlest tone he could muster, "Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you." There was something about the innocence of children that he fought hard to preserve, since he himself had been robbed of such innocence, he only hoped this child's virtue had been spared.
Uncharacteristic of him, he offered the child a genuine smile, it was the smallest of smiles, barely detectable from a distance but the child perceived it to be true, "Why are you dressed up funny?" his eyes shined with childlike curiosity, Bruce would have laughed if the situation were any different, but as it happened, his privilege of happiness had been stolen from him years ago. Instead, he knelt down to the child's height "Have you ever read comic books?" there was a degree of the charismatic playboy in that tone to put the child at ease but it still contained the gruffness of the Bat. The boy nodded enthusiastically, "Then you must be a superhero! Like Superman! He's the best!"
Inside Bruce Wayne's mind, a struggle was permitting, a struggle not to glare, though he was very close to Superman, they couldn't be any more different. Nevertheless, "Yes. Like Superman. Do you know who I am?" Frowning, the boy shook his head, it was to be expected, Batman wasn't exactly an icon or a beacon of hope like the Son of Krypton was, "I'm Batman." His stomach growled unexpectedly, when was his last meal? He lost track if he wanted to keep his strength up he needed to eat. Batman turned to walk out of sight, trusting the boy to not hold any hard feelings at his abrupt departure, when he felt a taut sensation, the boy had grabbed onto his cape rather tightly "Don't go" he whispered "What if the boogeyman comes back and no one's here to protect me?" Bruce's ears perked up at the boy's use of "boogeyman", his sharp analytical mind instantly made the connection, He has quite the reputation, and he must be very formidable. I can't underestimate him.
"Having a little fear is a good thing." He had once told his ward Tim Drake the very same thing, and in the exact same words, it was just after the Scarecrow's fear gas became "unfear" gas, Bruce had been dosed with it while undercover, he thought he could handle it, but he was wrong. He almost killed someone, something he swore never to do.
Whatever the child was about to say, he never got to say it, his parents had called him back inside, and the boy was hesitant to leave his new friend all by himself, "You don't have to stay, go back inside. It's not safe out here." With a final look and a tiny wave, the boy went back inside.
Batman departed soon after, it was starting to get dark and he needed to get some supplies from the Batwing before exploring Smith's Grove Sanitarium.
Once upon nightfall, Batman's boots made contact with the mental hospital's rooftop, carefully examining his options, took out a multi-tool and loosened out the screws of a dilapidated air vent. Prying open the vent, he ventured inside, being careful to make as little noise as possible lest the security become alerted to rat infestation. Finally, after many twists, turns and backtracks, Batman found an empty room that was relatively dark, if anyone came in, they wouldn't see him. Switching on a flashlight, he began searching the room, while being mindful to put back objects in the way he found them.
It was a good while before he found anything relevant to his investigation, as luck would have it, this used to be the notorious serial killer's quarters, and the details were found on a clipboard with a list of all known patients to have stayed in that room. Michael Myers was the only one on the list for some strange reason or another, next to the patient's name; there was a list of medicine which were administered to him, namely Thorazine and Oxytocin. Batman stored away this information for any potential uses I'll need to get a sample of the medicine, should I encounter him
The door squeaked open while the Dark Knight was in his musings, "Who's there!?" Batman turned to the source of the interruption; it was a security guard on his nightly patrols. "Stay where you are! Don't move!" Said security guard fumbled about with his walkie-talkie, attempting to enlist protocol assistance but before he could get it working to the right frequency, he crumpled to the guard like a rag doll as Batman forcefully tapped the side of his head, knocking the guard unconscious, the poor man never even saw it coming.
With ease, he dragged the guard's body into the room and checked his pulse, it was steady and even, a signature notification that the man was asleep and with the severity of the attack, he wouldn't be getting up any time soon.
Checking for any nearby security personnel, Batman silently made his way out of the serial killer's room.
"Did you hear the news? I can't believe it! The Michael Myers actually in prison? How long do you think until the psycho breaks out?"
"Don't get so jittery John, it was only a matter of time until that freak of nature was captured."
"No way man, you don't know what it was like when I was a kid, we couldn't even go out at night. I'm telling you, he's not human!"
"Whatever have it your way. He's just one man, I'm sure a maximum prison can hold him. Though if it makes you feel any better, his psychiatrist, Dr. Samuel Loomis reassured everyone that he was administered Thorazine, and will be monitored daily. Now quit moaning and keep your eyes peeled, I wanna get home early tonight."
With their conversation concluded, neither guard had noticed the shadowy and imposing figure quietly slip away, with nary a sound under his feet.
Once outside Smith's Grove Sanitarium, the masked vigilante activated his communication's link to get in touch with Barbra Gordon, the Police Commissioner's daughter "Oracle, I need you to run every background check and cross reference you can on one Dr. Samuel Loomis and upload it to the Batcomputer, I'll also need you to relay the information directly to me. It's time I pay him a visit."
Barbra barely had time to react when she answered his call; he at once launched into his orders and ended the transmission. Typical Bruce she thought. She quickly dialed Dick's number and waited for him to pick up, only to receive his answering machine "You've reached the Grayson residence, unfortunately, I'm not at home right now but please feel free to leave a message, I'll give you a call later." Just what she needed, was Bludhaven really as bad as Gotham, or was Dick sleeping again?
Hours later, she had finally managed to extract every bit of information she could on this Loomis guy, she was just about to give Bruce a call when suddenly she heard something, it sounded like footsteps, she turned around in her wheelchair, hoping to catch whoever it was that was in the clock tower with her, seeing nothing, she turned back around and made some final touch ups on those reports she had written up. There it was again, those footsteps, whoever they were, they clearly knew how to stay quiet. Just when she was about to give up, she the outline of a muscular looking man "Dick, is that you?" coming out of the shadows, said man was revealed to be exactly who she had anticipated "Hey Barb, thought I'd drop by. You gave me a call a few hours ago, and I figured it must have been important. You almost never call me unless it's dire, so what's up?" Sighing heavily, and rubbing her arms, it was a cold night "So instead of calling me back like a normal person, you come all the way here, I'm not sure if I should be flattered or peeved. Probably both." Dick Grayson, also known as Nightwing, gave her a cheeky grin which almost made her insides melt from the warm sensation she felt "I was raised by tall, dark and gruesome, I can never be normal." And he laughed, not at her, but at the absurdity of being raised by a man who dressed as a giant bat at night, and then having everyone else tell him that he was normal. Barbra wanted to swat at his arm, and she would have too, if she still had the use of her legs. "Dick" she told him "Yes?" he said, "Why exactly are you here? Because I know for a fact, it's not just because I called you. So spill Romeo."
Back in Haddonfield, Batman had just received the direct information to Loomis' address, and so mounting the Batwing he went east, in the direction of the Psychiatrist's home. Moments later, after descending and camouflaging his Batwing, he made his way over to the man's residence. Picking the lock to a window, the Dark Knight slipped inside and was mindful to close the window behind him before a breeze rustled the papers scattered all over a desk to his right and would alert the Psychiatrist to his arrival.
Unfortunately, he had underestimated the elderly man's keen sense of awareness and overall ability to remain un-phased even when face to face with someone like himself, Samuel Loomis had walked into the room and switched on the light before the billionaire playboy had time to leave the room "If you think, for a moment that that getup you're sporting is going to scare me, think again." The serial killer's doctor certainly knew how to handle bizarre situations, and Batman was probably no worse for wear than the elusive boogeyman that had captured Jim Gordon's attention the other day. As if seeking protection, Bruce wrapped his long cape around his body in the hopes of giving off an intimidating stance; the former psychiatrist raised a brow at the younger man's antics.
"I could go on and on picking your psyche apart, but I sense you're not here to book an appointment. What do you want?"
Batman's face set into a determined and serious stone as he eyed the much shorter man and ignored the way his eyebrow had shot up in silent amusement, taking out the case file, he tossed it to the doctor's feet, "Michael Myers, born October 31st 1957, suddenly suffers a psychotic breakdown and murders his sister on Halloween. Is sent to Smith's Grove Sanitarium, and becomes your patient for 15 years, then at the age of 21, he breaks out and resumes his sadistic activities." Loomis in turn narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the way he was being looked at, "I didn't let him escape, I gave strict orders for his incarceration to be permanent. But no one would listen to me, they thought he could be cured of his savagery but when I looked into his eyes, I saw the blackest eyes, the devil's eyes and I knew, there was no curing him." Suddenly grasping onto the Kevlar of his costume, Loomis' voice raised in octaves "He's not human! So whatever you do, don't go seeking him out. It'll be your death wish."
Batman pried Loomis' hands off the chest of his costume, retrieved the case file from off the ground and turned to leave the elderly man to his own devices but he didn't make it far enough, "Who are you?" the Psychiatrist asked. Eyes narrowing into thin slits resembling that of a reptilian, Batman marched up to him, "I am vengeance, I am the night, I'm Batman!" while not shouting, his voice boomed with confidence. Loomis wasn't at all impressed by his presentation and he told him just that, which prompted the dark looking figure to oppose, "An elusive boogeyman is the least of my worries Doctor, fear created me." He left Loomis staring after his retreating figure,Maybe I underestimated him he thought.
