9:43pm

" I can't let you leave. Now that he's after you, you're life is in danger." Bruce said, as he paced the living room in front of Alexis.

" I'll be fine. What's he going to do?" Alexis asked, shifting positions on the sofa.

" Kill you. He'll kill you. He may even be on to me. If he finds out I'm Batman, you mind as well kiss your life goodbye."

Alexis let out a deep sigh. " He's not going to find out who you are."

" Well I can't take any chances."

A bright light flashed through the glass window. They both looked up to see the formation of a bat in the night. Alexis turned to Bruce. " Go. I'll be fine."

Bruce forced a smile. " I'll be back soon. Don't leave."

Alexis nodded. " I won't."

Bruce disappeared.

XxXxXxXx

A 2007 black hummer sped down the streets of Gotham city. The Joker sat in the back staring at the ground thinking fiercely.

" So boss. When are we going back for the girl?" A clown henchman from the passenger's seat asked.

Joker looked up. " We?" He laughed uncontrollably. He pulled out a pistol and shot the clown in the back of the head. " There is no we."

The driver kept his eyes on the road, not daring to look back. A knife appeared inches away from his mouth. " Why so serious?" The Joker whispered.

The driver nodded in fear and made a big smile.

" I have some big party plans for tomorrow. The mayor won't know what hit him!" Joker laughed at his joke immensely.

" When do you plan on getting that girl?" The driver asked.

" Miss. Alexis Garner will be in my clutches tomorrow." Joker answered. " I'm a man of my word.

XxXxXxXxXx

Tuesday 11:53 am

Alfred knocked on the door to Bruce's bedroom. " Excuse me Mr. Wayne. Alexis is ready and is waiting for you in the kitchen. And your suit is already in the car in case of any emergencies today."

" Thank you Alfred. And don't worry, there will be something that the madman will plan." Bruce said, as he finished tying his tie. " The only difference is. I'll be ready this time."

Alfred smiled. " Just be careful out there today. Commissioner Gordon said that there will be plenty of snipers on the roof tops."

" The Joker will find a way around them." Bruce replied in a hushed tone.

" Bruce the car is here!" Alexis yelled.

" I better get going. See you Alfred." Bruce said, before leaving the room.

XxXxXxXx

Bruce rolled down his window in the limo. He studied each building as they drove further into town. " There are snipers on every building. Alfred wasn't kidding."

" You thought he was?" Alexis asked.

" I didn't think it would be like this." Bruce answered. The window made it's way back up. " We need to stick together. If something happens and we get separated, go find Gordon. Don't wonder around by yourself."

" Okay. Don't worry so much. You're already starting to get wrinkles." Alexis laughed.

Bruce smiled.

The limo pulled over and Alexis and Bruce made their way to the sidewalk. The street was full of people from the military and the police force to honor the mayor. The mayor made his way to the microphone and began his speech. The crowd became quiet, except for paranoids whispering in hushed tones about what could happen. Alexis looked at them disgusted at how they're thinking so negatively.

" Let's move closer." Bruce pulled Alexis with him.

The mayor stepped down and just as he did a sniper went off on a nearby roof. Everyone, including the police turned to the noise. Bruce started running when he saw Commissioner Gordon. " What happened?"

" I don't know. We didn't instruct anyone to fire." Gordon answered. He held up a pair of binoculars to his eyes. " Oh my god." He handed the binoculars to Bruce.

A clown henchman looked out the window holding a sniper. " He's already here." Bruce turned around. " Alexis? Alexis!"

" I'll find her. Just hurry up and go!" Gordon instructed.

Alexis rushed through the crowd of frantic people. " Bruce!" Pushing past people, she ran. A police car behind her exploded. She scanned the crowd fro Bruce or even his Batman identity.

An officer stood a few feet in front of her. Remembering what Bruce said about finding Gordon she walked up to him. " Oh officer. Please I need…"

The officer turned around and gripped Alexis' shoulders. She gasped in fear.

The officer smiled. " Why so serious, my dear?" He had two scars across his face, forming a smile. Alexis recognized him as the Joker without his make up.

" Is something wrong?" Joker asked. He tightened his grip on her shoulders.

" No. No I was just looking." Alexis attempted to pull away, but her clutched her wrist tightly.

" Leaving so soon?"

Alexis gazed in fear at him. " Please."

" How about we take a little walk." Joker laughed his loud evil laugh.

Alexis tried to pull away again. " Ah ah ah." Joker held a knife up to her throat. " I'm sorry, but if you want to live you'll cooperate with me."

Alexis nodded. She allowed him to lead her to a police car with other clowns.

" You got her boss?" The driver asked.

The Joker took out a gun and shot him. He threw his body out of the car and threw Alexis over to the passenger's seat. " Sit still."

Alexis looked to the back seat to see three clown henchmen looking back at her. She took a deep breath and pulled open the car door and jumped out.

The Joker appeared beside her. " Not a very good listener, ah?" He threw her back in the car and shoved a bomb into her hand. " One more wrong move, and your life will be gone."

Alexis held the bomb firmly. She watched the Joker get into the car and he sped away down the street.

Batman jumped down in front of the car. " Oh the Batman came out of his cave." Joker said, laughing.

Batman walked towards the police car. " Officer."

" Don't utter a word." Joker instructed. He held a gun to Alexis' side. He rolled down the window and tilted his head to hide the scars. " Can I help you Batman?"

" Where are you headed?" Batman asked. He noticed Alexis and the three clowns in the back.

" I caught these three clowns and decided to take them down town." Joker answered. He shoved the gun into Alexis' side.

" And I was just going with him to get to a safer place." Alexis said.

Batman nodded. " Be careful. That Joker is dangerous."

Joker drove away. " You don't know the half of it."