CHAPTER 2
Wayne woke up late in the morning, his head slightly sore from his fight as Batman last night. The Riddler must have hit him in the head with his cane.
"I'm going to need some panadol" he sighed, as he got out of bed, pulling a long sleeved shirt on.
Wayne searched the kitchen cupboard for a box of panadol; there were so many cupboards that it might take him ages to find any. He finally found some panadol and took two of the tablets, washing it down with a glass of water.
As he walked out of the kitchen, Alfred was in the living room watching the TV.
"Al, I never thought I'd see the day when you turn into a TV zombie like the rest of us" Wayne joked, moving over to see what was on.
"I think you'll become a zombie yourself once you see the news, sir" Alfred said, fear in his voice.
Wayne frowned and listened carefully to what was being said on the news.
"Early this morning, this videotape was sent to us by Gotham famous criminal, the Riddler.
"A wise man is sure of it, the idiot knows it, and the widow has it. What is it...it is nothing. For years, I, and the rest of Gotham, have known nothing, about the true identity of Batman. Well, tonight, that is about to change. People of Gotham, tonight will be a wonderful night. Terror and death will consume this city, for none of us are scared now, of the famed Dark Knight. We will destroy this city, as we will destroy the Bat…can you hear this Batman…are you prepared for a fate worse than death".
Bruce turned the TV off, his face was extremely stern.
"Master Wayne, what should we do?" Alfred asked.
Bruce didn't answer, he simply looked at Alfred. Alfred understood, and left the living room.
I knew this day would come, Bruce thought to himself. I didn't think it would come so quickly.
Bruce was in the bat cave, going through several news reports on the computer. They all showed the same thing.
A mass breakout from Arkham Asylum, the Riddler's threat against Gotham, and reports of riots all over Gotham.
Several bats in the cave screeched, and stretched their wings.
"Sir, everyone is evacuating the city. Commissioner Gordon has the full police force blocking all ways in and out of the city" Alfred told Wayne.
At least the citizens won't get hurt, Wayne thought. My battle tonight might bring more harm than I intend to bring. The less innocent people there are, the easier it will be.
"Oracle" Wayne began talking through the computer. "What's the status of the city?"
"Not too good" came the reply. "Dad and the army have got the city quarantined; Wayne manor is in the quarantined area".
"What about the criminals?"
"It looks like Riddler is leading them, there burning every district in the city. Wayne looks like his hideout though".
"How can you tell?"
"It has a big green question mark on it"
"Shouldn't have asked".
There was a moment of silence, as Wayne stood up, taking in a deep breath.
"What are you going to do?" Oracle asked.
"I'm going to fight them" Wayne replied. "Either I win big, or die trying".
Wayne left the computer, and moved to the casket containing the Bat suit. He opened, steamed hissed from its edges.
"Wayne, you better be prepared" Oracle called out from the computer. "The penguin is moving in on Wayne manor and his got an army of thugs with him".
Wayne held the Bat mask tightly.
"Let them come".
It was night time. The penguin stood on top of a captured SWAT van, watching over the thugs spreading gasoline around Wayne manor. Several of them were breaking down the front doors, bits of wood cracked under their feet.
The thugs broke in, wielding cricket bats and crow bars. They observed the main foyer of the manor, making wolf whistles.
"Man, never thought a rich guy would be the bat guy" one of them laughed.
"Shoulda been obvious though" another said. "He needed someway to pay for all his stuff didn't he?"
"Too true that. Let's find some safes, and sneak off with sum cash before we burn this bitch down".
The thugs immediately began smashing every piece of furniture they could find. They pulled down every photo or painting off the wall, trying to find a safe. One headed up the stairs, and stopped halfway.
"Yo boys, it's the Bat!" he called out, before Batman glide kicked him to the bottom of the stairs.
A thug swung his cricket bat at Batman, who caught it and bashed it against his attackers head. He high kicked a third thug who fell back on a table near the broken doors. A lit candle that was on table fell to the floor where a puddle of gasoline was set alight. Fire spread on the outside of the mansion, several thugs who were still pouring gasoline were engulfed in flames, as well as the one who fell against the table.
"Not part of the plan" the penguin grunted. "But definitely more enjoyable. Ah, here comes the man of the hour".
Batman walked out of the mansion, unharmed by the flames. There were only two thugs left.
One ran at Batman, attempting to stab him with a large knife. Batman punched the thug in the face before he could make the kill. The second thug aimed a handgun at him; Batman threw a batarang at his face before he could shoot, knocking him out and leaving a huge cut across his cheek.
Batman turned to the penguin; he was screwing a small rocket to the tip of his umbrella. The penguin aimed at the mansion, and fired the rocket. Batman ran to safety before Manor was blown to rubble, there was deafening explosion that shook the ground, and the surrounding trees were caught on fire.
"Now, there is a sight for sore eyes" the penguin laughed, getting into the SWAT van and made to drive back to Gotham.
Batman observed the remains of Wayne Manor, what was left of it was still burning.
All his memories were now dust, the last possessions to respect his parents by, gone. A tear ran down his cheek.
Either I win big, he thought…
…or die trying.