Hey all! I'm updating this a week early for my wonderful reviewers! I probably won't happen again but as this is the beginning and I also want to get a good few chapters up before homework starts to overload my schedule so here you go I hope you enjoy!

"Good day, Mr. Warren."

"You! I'm doing what you want, why are you calling?"

"Oh, just a friendly little reminder to keep up the good work after all, you do not want anything to happen to your daughter do you?"

"But you said-! No! You can't please."

"Does she take after her mother? She must, that long dark hair, rich brown eyes, quite beautiful, I must say I cannot really see the resemblance between you two."

"You bastard, if you harm her—."

"Do not worry Mr. Warren I will take good care of every hair on her pretty little head."

Isabel found Mr. Irving a block and half down the street. He was just hanging up as she approached.

"Usually a person skips out before they pay."

"Well I'm not a normal person."

"Obviously, should we move the books then?"

"Of course, I'll bring my car around while you box up the books?"

"Sure thing." They walked back to the library together diverging when they reached the alley that led to the back car lot. Once inside Isabel hurriedly made her way to the boiler room and packed the books into two crates. Isabel lifted one of the boxes and nearly dropped it, setting it down quickly she frowned at the box.

"That's heavier than I thought it would be…ok let's try this again." This time Isabel was successful and made it all the way to the front desk before setting it down with a relieved sigh. At that moment the library door opened and Mr. Irving came in.

"The other box is still back there if you could grab it."

"Of course."

"It's quite heavy, careful," Isabel said as he walked down the aisle. Half minute later Isabel had to hold in a giggle as she heard a grunt, the cry of "shit", and then the thump of the box landing back on to the table. There was a sigh another grunt and soon Mr. Irving was coming around the corner. Although he was trying to make it appear as if the box was nothing Isabel could see a line of sweat starting on his brow. She lifted her own box to her chest so her eyes were just peeking out from over the top and they cautiously made their way out the door and down the steps. Isabel was almost to Mr. Irving's old brown sedan when the weight of the box disappeared from her arms.

"I got that for you Isabel," said the familiar voice of Gus. "No need for a woman to do all this lifting."

"Oh um, thank you, Gus. It's just going to that car though."

"Okay, open the trunk then."

"The backseat actually," Mr. Irving said from behind his box, "it's already unlocked." Gus started as though seeing the other man for the first time, which considering how dense Gus was that might have been true. Isabel opened the car door and Gus slid the box inside with Mr. Irving following suit.

"So Isabel who's this?" Gus said trying to seem more intimidating by crossing his arms and puffing out his chest.

"Gus this is Stephen Irving, he just bought the library's vintage book collection."

"Why are you selling the books?"

"Well like I've said, at every town meeting and fund raising event that I've held, our library is in desperate need of money. These books are very valuable and by selling them we'll be able to do a few renovations and get some newer books to bring in more people."

"These old things can't be that pricey I mean come on," Gus picked up one of the books from the crates and paged through it. "The pages are all yellow; it smells funny, and the print off center, besides who reads books anyways?"

"I do." Isabel and Mr. Irving said at the same time.

"And given the dullness in your eyes you would do well to read some. Perhaps at your local library I happened to see they have a good selection, might I suggest 'Winnie the Pooh'?" Isabel gasped and hid her smile with a hand while Gus simply stood there with his mouth hanging open slightly. She looked at Mr. Irving who was smirking with a condescending glint in his eyes. Then before Isabel could react Mr. Irving was on the ground his nose bleeding.

"Gus!" She cried in shock as he grabbed Mr. Irving by the collar of his sweater vest and pulled him to his feet before slamming him against his car.

"Nobody talks to me like that, got it nerd!" Gus shook the taller man but Mr. Irving never lost his smirk.

"Gus! Stop that or I'm calling the cops on you." Isabel said sternly taking out her cellphone. Gus stopped and slowly let go of Mr. Irving. "Good now get out of here and don't you even think about coming back."

Gus stormed away hitting a nearby tree in anger as he left.

"Are you alright?" Isabel asked rushing up to Mr. Irving very concerned.

"Yes, just a bloody nose."

"Thank goodness, I would hate for something to happen to you because of his stupid behavior." Mr. Irving wasn't really paying attention as he was focused on trying to get the blood to stop flowing. "There's a bathroom in the library you can use to clean up."

"Thank you." Isabel led him inside guiding him by the arm as he had his face up in the air.

"I'm pretty sure you're supposed to hold your head forward not back." Isabel said as she opened the doors to the library.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, it has something to do with the drainage of blood."

"Okay then, I'll take your advice." Mr. Irving tilted his head forward as he went inside the small unisex bathroom. From outside Isabel heard the tap water run and a few minutes later Mr. Irving stepped back outside with only a couple smudged drops of blood on his sweater vest to show that the incident had even taken place.

"All better?"

"Yes, thank you." They walked back to Mr. Irving's car in silence and Isabel was rather disappointed that their time together was ending. She had very much enjoyed Mr. Irving's company he was wonderfully intelligent and well read, Isabel couldn't remember a time when had such an in depth conversation about literature.

"It was lovely meeting you Stephen, thank you, for what you have done."

"Of course, it was wonderful meeting you as well. Perhaps you would like to keep in contact? I know I would enjoy talking to you some more about the classic authors."

"I would enjoy that very much, Stephen."

"Excellent, goodbye, Isabel."

"Bye." Isabel waved Stephen off before heading back into the library.

That night Isabel sat on her couch with the steaming cup of tea and the television turned to the local news. She took a sip of the Earl Grey and smiled thinking about the day. It had been a good day by all accounts, it had been completely different than her usual day and that, she believed, was a very good thing. Isabel wished she could have more different days especially if they involved Stephen. She blushed slightly at the thought of the man it would be an understatement if Isabel said she had enjoyed the man's company.

Her eyes wandered to her desktop computer that sat in the corner of the living room. Maybe he had emailed her? Maybe she should email him? Ask him how the drive back was; apologize again for Gus, anything to keep up a conversation. Isabel was half way to her computer when she froze. This wasn't like her. She was never this forward or pushy. What was happening to her? Was one different day so much of an upheaval that she had this sudden shift in personality? No, Isabel never did anything bold, she just kept her nose in a book. She should wait for him to contact her. After all she didn't want to seem desperate.

Isabel sat back on the couch and drank some more of her tea. She would let him contact her first. After all she had a comfortable everyday life and there was no need to have it thrown out of whack by a man. Even if that man was incredibly intelligent, witty, and rather good looking. Her life was fine as it currently was. She lived in the same house her entire life surrounded by books and corn fields.

The house had been her father's, well technically it still was as his name was on the deed, but he had left it to her when he had moved to Gotham City in the hope of selling some of his inventions. It was several months since she had seen him and when she thought about it he hadn't called her in almost two weeks. Deciding she might as well do one thing differently tonight she picked up her phone and dialed her father's number.

It rang several times before he father answered. "Hello?" His voice was shaking as though he was scared of who might be calling.

"Dad, are you okay?"

"Isabel! Thank goodness you're alright!"

"Of course, are you Dad? You sound really shook up."

"No, no I'm fine; I just had a rough day."

"Okay, I'm glad it's nothing…we haven't talked in a while how's business? Have you found any buyers yet?"

"A couple, I was actually commissioned by someone a few weeks ago, that's why I haven't called I've been too busy."

"That's great Dad!"

"Yeah. So how are you? Library still keeping afloat?"

"I'm doing great actually, today was really nice. I finally sold some of those vintage books the library has to a guy who gave me a really good price on all of them."

"That's good."

"I know he was a really great guy too, we had lunch together and a wonderful conversation about novels, mainly horror genre but we enjoyed it so much we're going to stay in contact."

"Horror genre?" Her father's voice was quavering again.

"Yeah, Stephen is really well read, we talked about the differences between Lovecraft and King, it was wonderf…" Isabel trailed off at the sound of the doorbell. "Hang on dad there's someone at the door." She went over to the window and peered outside. "Must have been a prank there's no one there."

"Isabel listen to me you have to get out of there now!" Her father's voice was suddenly panicky, "Leave just leave, get in your car and drive, go to the city or something. Just get out of town."

"What? Why? Dad you're making no sense."

"Please, sweetheart, just listen to me. This is all my fault, please, just—" Her father's voice was cut off as the phone line went dead. It wasn't just the phone Isabel quickly realized the lights and the air conditioning had died as well. Her power had gone out; it wasn't unusual this time of year as the old generator could only take so much. Isabel hung up the phone and went to slip on her shoes but then a noise caused her to freeze. It was a slight scratching on the patio door. Isabel turned around quickly but nothing was there. Then suddenly another scratch but this time the sound was so much clearer coming from the kitchen.

"Get out of there now!" Her father's words echoed back to her. Isabel's heart was pounding in her chest now. Breath coming in panicked bursts Isabel slipped on her shoes hurriedly.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Isabel screamed as the force of the knocking shook the old wooden door. Grabbing the umbrella she kept by the door she threw open the door swinging her makeshift weapon wildly. There was no one out there though. Isabel looked around seeing nothing besides knee high corn and the flickering lights of Mr. Keller's farmhouse down the road. The umbrella in her hands was shaking violently as she peeked around the corner of her house to see if anyone was there.

"Gus! Is this you? Show yourself you coward!" Nothing but the light summer breeze making her skirt brush against her legs. "That's it I'm calling the police!"

Isabel turned around to go back inside and ran right into a tall hard something. She went to pull away but the something wrapped its arms around her body pressing her close to it. Screaming Isabel pounded her hands against its chest but it did not flinch; she looked up and was greeted by a horrible visage. A twisted gapping maw turned up in cruel mockery of a smile and mad piercing eyes whose gaze shook her to the core petrifying her. The beast's breath came out in long rattles, it loosened its grip on her but Isabel was too terrified to move. A raspy chuckle issued somewhere from its core jolting Isabel into motion. She went to run but the monster grabbed her arm and pulled her against it again this time her back was against its chest. Its tall lean form seemed to envelope her as one of its claws clamped something over her mouth and nose. Isabel began to struggle as drawing breath became difficult.

"Shh, shh," the creature hissed, "just relax and breathe." Isabel's head was starting to spin and her eyes were growing heavy. If the beast hadn't been holding her she would have fallen to the ground but with its arms wrapped around her she fell against its chest unconscious.

Karloff Warren stood the middle of his apartment his hand clenched tightly around the phone. Isabel was in danger and it was entirely his fault. He had taken the contract without knowing who his sponsor was and now his daughter was in peril. What would Scarecrow do to his little Bell? He could only imagine the terror she would experience. Would he just scare his daughter? Kill her? Or, god forbid, follow through on his original threat and bring her to Gotham?

No, his little girl wasn't prepared for the city not for a city like Gotham. She'd never been to a big city before, the state capital of their forgotten mid-west state didn't count Des Moines wasn't a city like Gotham. His innocent naïve Isabel couldn't survive in this world especially with a man—no—monster like Scarecrow.

The phone rang in his hands causing him to drop it in shock. "Isabel!?" He asked picking up the phone quickly.

"Try again."

"You bastard! What have you done to my daughter!?"

"Your daughter? Oh yes, you mean the luggage in the trunk. Well I would not worry too much about her right now unless someone rear-ends me of course." Mr. Warren's mouth opened several times like a fish, unable to say anything. "I see I must have caught you at a bad time. Do not worry Mr. Warren you will be seeing your daughter soon." The phone went dead and the distraught father fell against the wall in horror.