Chapter 2

Not too far-fetched in her mind, the boss had no family and now he was dead. But everything was left to her, the business and the estate. Mr Richmond had always said his bank would go to the next person to success him, but almost everyone had died apart from her. Stella had been questioned by the police, they said she was the luckiest woman in Gotham and this proved it. Even though a paper had said she might have been part of the whole idea as she was now a millionaire.

Stella tried to remember the events of two weeks ago, she had a super villain and The Batman in her apartment and lived to tell the tale. She sat in her home, looking out over the City of Villains and thought that this was all to much. She was now labeled as Gotham's Luckiest girl, this was the thing that made her grit her teeth. She was not lucky, she was smart... to the extent that she had even sent a Riddle in the paper to the Riddler and used the nickname of Shadow. He was smart, he would realize that she had more of less thanked him for not killing her. She flicked through the paper, there she was again near the front and this time it was more rumors that she had planned it out with the two super villains. She had not heard from Joker at all, he had taken half of Riddler's loot and vanished into the night. Stella did not want to be a super rich person in Gotham, it made you a target and worse of all you had to attend dinners with posh and proper people. Bruce Wayne had extended her an invitation, he was avoiding a large party that they had both been invited too and suggested they go out for dinner instead. She accepted to deal with Wayne, he was more a man of glory but she wanted to see this man for herself. As she flicked through the paper she froze at one page, there was the reply and it simply read 'You're Welcome, Mr.E". Stella smiled, he had seen it and found it in him to reply. She would have thrown the paper down and been happy but then something caught her eye, it was a message but this was plainly written and said 'Crush it while it stands empty. Ha ha ha'. Stella was worried now, this looked like a threat or something worse. She stood up, without any idea why she quickly rushed to her purse and out of the apartment.

She was in her office, the bank was under light security as most of the items had been taken from the vault. Compensation had turned the business from a billionaire business to a millionaire business, but here she was disguised in black and swinging around a black baseball bat. She wore a mask, it seemed odd but she was tired of all these rumors and this was her first step into stopping them. Her outfit was a tight leather jacket and leather trousers, her mask covered most of her face apart from her mouth and curved down her throat. Sure enough the alarms went off, she quickly rushed to the vault. There were about ten thugs there, she frowned as they were trying to break into the only safe that had not been broken into... The Elliot safe. She slammed her thumb down on a button in her hand, the lights went out and she snuck against the wall and one by one took the men out. Some started to shot thinking that it was the Batman, but she was agile and vaulted off one seven foot man and slammed her black boot into the face of the gunman. The seven foot guy swung wildly, but she ducked it as easily as she had Riddler's cane and used the bat to knock him to the ground and whispered

"I am the Shadow"

With her calling card left she fled the scene, she entered her apartment through the same window she had thrown the bullets from and waited by the phone. Sure enough it started to ring, she answered it with a fake yawn and said

"Hello"

"Miss Shine, there's been a second break in" the voice of Commissioner Gordon said down the phone and she replied with a perfectly acted gasp

"Oh no"

"Don't fret, a new vigilante got there before Batman. Didn't get the boss but the little fish were all taken care of. We have it all under control"

Stella felt red fire burn through her and with all her power asked as nicely as she could

"What boss?"

"Oh, by the looks of it Joker's men... Probably trying to finish off what they started" Gordon said back and Stella said back

"Ok, good night Gordon"

"Night"

He hung up with a click, Stella knew that someone was stood by the window behind her and just one look at the shadow told who it was. She tensed up, then let her self ease up. Stella turned quickly, a second to fast for Harley but the pair started with a high kick. They hit boots together, both looked at eachother for a moment and spun around and both tried for a punch and caught eachothers hands. Stella smiled, she backed off as Harley tried for a head butt and completely missed. Harley had had enough by then and snapped

"Stop doing that"

"We must check to see if you can still do that brilliant back flip that you make look so easy" Stella said back with a lighter and more purr like voice

Harley stopped for a moment, she then noticed the agility trophy in the corner of the room and stammered

"St... Stella. Is that you? Oh... wow it been to long, how are you?"

Stella sat down and threw her head back laughing, Harley sat down on the double sofa and crossed her legs. Stella looked at her old college friend, she was thin muscled but looked a little ill with it. Stella asked as she removed her mask

"Would you like something to eat Harl? I'll be honest honey, you do look terrible"

"Oh, well Mr J doesn't really have the funds to keep us eating big meals" Harley said back rubbing the back of her neck as she took off her mask and Stella came back with

"How about any food? Come on girl, I'll cook you up... what on earth do you eat these days?"

"Well, let me see"

Harley asked as the pair walked into the kitchen, Stella popped a large pizza into her multi cook microwave. It took hardly anytime for it to cook, then she sat Harley down at the table and handed her a knife and fork. Harley was obviously starving but ate the pizza like she was having her last meal, savoring every mouth full and taking a drink of milk with her meal. When she was done she said sitting on the double sofa

"Thanks Stella, you're still an awesome kid ya know"

"Thanks Harley, look I know the Joker's reputation... I've got some jewels and stuff from rich snobs trying to buy my heart. You can take the lot, say that with the interruption this was all you could grab" Stella replied standing up

She grabbed a box that had of sorts of jewelry in it, Harley opened it up and had a look at all the sparkling diamonds and other gem stones. Stella only kept one back, a flawless emerald and told Harley it was her favorite color. Harley let her stomach rest for a little while, then she walked to the window and said hugging her old friend

"Thanks Stel, I promise to come and visit'cha"

"You be sure you do, also try and get here if your going hungry again" Stella said back

With that Harley Quinn filled the box of gifts in her bag and vanished into the night, Stella hid her new costume out of the way.

The buzz of being Shadow had taken it's toll, Stella wanted to go again the next night but knew she had to go to the dinner with Bruce Wayne. He had a car sent to her apartment, she arrived at a new high stand restaurant and saw him for herself in the flesh. He was handsome, strong and had a lot of girls looking at him even if they were with other men. He smiled seeing her, she extended her hand and he shook it lightly. He said as the waiter held out her chair and pushed it in as she sat down

"Good evening Miss Shine"

"Good evening Mr Wayne, thank you for your kind invitation" she said back and Bruce said sitting down

"Well I figured I might as well save you from one of those god awful parties thrown by the Mayor. He has a tendency to leer at the females, but on a nicer subject. How are you taking to the life of a millionaire?"

"It's a hideous thing Bruce, all that money and endless boring... sorry board meetings" Stella said back and Bruce smiled and said back

"I know that feeling"

"I guess, but Bruce you are the man with the life of a playboy right? Everyone thinks I am a secret villain, a woman who goes out at night and conspires with Arkham's finest" Stella said back

Bruce smiled, he really could relate with that one but didn't want to let on the fact that instead of conspiring he fights them. The dinner was going better than expected, but half way through the bat signal was up in the clouds and Bruce got a phone call a few moments later. He answered after apologizing to Stella, then he said as the dessert menu came along

"I'm so sorry Stella, I have to run"

"That's fine Bruce, it was nice meeting you" Stella replied

She went to leave the restaurant, she stopped at the desk and asked as she went into her purse

"How much do we owe you?"

"Mr Wayne paid, also left this note" the waitress replied

Stella read the little note and it read 'We'll try this again sometime'. Stella put the note in her bag, she walked out of the room and started on her walk home. As she walked she felt as if she was being watched, so went from a walk to a power walk. She got to her apartment, but it still felt as if someone was still on her tail and so she switfly rushed up the stairs and slammed her door shut. Now she had to make a choice, let the shadow loose or go out the window as herself. Her door was knocked loudly, she rolled forward and rushed into her room grabbing her running outfit. The door was now being hit against, whoever was on the otherside wanted in bad. Stella was quickly out of the window after getting dressed into her normal running gear, if it was someone like the police it was best not to be caught like as Shadow. She waited on the platform just above the window, she decided to try and have a look and spotted a pair of nice enough shoes. Then a slightly high voice say

"Come on out, Riddler said you'd be able to hide me from the Bat"

Stella swung down, she landed on the rails beneath her and looked into the room. Her door was broken off the hinges, she was more surprised to see it was ScareCrow stood at in her living room. Stella was wary of him, she knew that this might be the safest distance from him other than the floor twenty stories below. She asked crouching and holding onto the bar her feet were on

"Not to be rude Scarecrow, but why should I believe that?"

"He said to tell you the answer was Shadow. Not many people know it but Edward and I are friends" Scarecrow replied

Stella jumped down, she looked at her door and sighed... Propping it back into place as best she could she turned and looked at the master of fear. He was terribly thin, she walked over and spotted those syringes on the end of that glove of his. She extended her hand towards the double sofa, he sat down and she asked

"Okay, how is Eddie?"

"He recently moved, hard enough to do in Arkham. I have been trying to avoid the Bat for sometime, luckily he is currently squaring off his brain against that brainless beast Croc" ScareCrow replied and Stella asked as Crane settled

"How long would you like me to hide you out for?"

"Just a few hours, a couple of my gas canisters floated in the direction of the Bat and he might find my latest hideout. You're scared of me!"

Crane noticed that Stella had not stopped looking back at his gloved hand, she did not feel less of a woman as she slightly nodded. He was wearing that mask, that was enough to put the fear of all in her, but that glove was the topper. She was amazed still that Riddler had sent Crane to her of all people, surely he had plenty of contacts around the two cities. She gathered her senses, she looked at Crane and asked

"Would you like something to drink?"

"Thank you, no. I have a feeling that you have another visitor"

Crane looked at the door, they spotted a shadow moving around and Stella indicated for Crane to get into the cleaning cupboard. Just as she went to close the door, the front door was kicked in to the sound of

"Don't worry Stel, I'll save ya"

Harley booted the door down, Stella face palmed and said sliding her hand down her face and looking at her wrecked door

"Come on in Harley"

"Are you okay?" Harley asked

Stella put the door back into place, as Crane walked out and Harley said waving at Scarecrow

"Hiya Proffesor Crane"

"Good evening" he replied

Stella sat in her favorite seat, with her hand over her eyes and trying to believe what was going on. Two of Gothams most infamous super villains were having idol chit chat on her double sofa. All she needed now was the Batman to crash through the window and she was going to be doing at least ten years in black gate. Harley always liked Crane, he saw her as such a innocent thing and never really harmed her at all. Stella finally looked up as Harley asked

"What'cha got to eat kid?"

"I bought you a box of gingerbread men, both of you feel free to eat them up. I have already eaten" Stella said back and as Harley went into the kitchen Crane asked

"Are you really that millionaire banker? Riddler said you sent him a hidden message of thanks"

"I did, but I didn't think I'd be hostess of Arkhams finest"

"Dear child, you have a reputation... half of the city of Arkham think you are cold blooded and deserve a place by us" Crane said back as Harley came back in with a bowl of gingerbread men

"And the other half?" Stella asked and Harley said back

"They think you're lucky, want your heart as a good luck charm"

Suddenly a black shadow swooped over the window, Stella quickly ushered the criminal pair into her broom cupboard and shut it on them. Sure enough, the Batman was in her room after a couple of seconds. Stella turned the light back on, he was less threatening this time and she asked as she sat down in her seat

"Good evening, how can I help you Batman?"

"I followed a trail here, fear gas of the Scarecrow" Batman said back and Stella replied

"Is that your pick up line? Look, I have already had enough of all this attention Batman. Someone broke my door down, I really think that they didn't find what they were looking for. It won't help my case that I don't harbor the super villains of the world mind you. Look can you and I go somewhere else, somewhere I can at least have one night where I can sleep with out being scared half to death"

Stella asked the Batman with tears in her eyes, Crane could now understand why Riddler had sent him this way. Batman had scanned the room and it was obvious that Crane had been there but the trail was mixed cold here. He looked at the broom cupboard and asked looking at it

"I'll take you somewhere safe, after I've had a look in there"

Stella went cold, then spotted a syringe of Crane's on the floor. She hated the next idea, but she didn't want him to find Harley and silently stuck it in just under her buttock. She let out a yelp as if she had just sat on it, then said looking at the dark Knight

"I think I just, (pulls of the needle) Batman"

He caught her as she went to faint, the only problem with this was that he had none of the antidote on him. He rushed her out of the window, then onto the roof and he looked at her eyes to see they were almost glowing orange. He demanded to Alfred to get the BatWing to send an antidote, while down in her apartment Crane and Harley had run. Crane saw what she had done, Harley was upset that her friend had to do that to save her. Crane said as they looked back up

"Worthy of our allegiance, don't you think my dear?"

"She's cool, will she be okay?" Harley asked and Crane replied before he darted into the darkness

"As long as she remains focused"

Harley had eaten her share, but she really wanted to go back and make sure that Stella was okay.

Stella was in a swirling hell, she saw herself on one side and on the other was Shadow. Shadow was running ahead, then she heard a gun shot and saw a green question mark explode before her. The force sent her flying through the air, she felt as if someone had died that she loved dearly. Then came Harley, she was being chased down and then thrown from a roof. Stella saw needles in their thousands shooting at her, only one hit and then she just felt exhausted. Panting she was not sure if she still in that horrible world or the real one. Batman held her close as she was shivering, but the antidote was working as her eyes were darkening down. He lifted her up, she was so strong both in body and mind as he knew that no normal person could really have made it that long with the fear gas. He placed her down on her bed, she needed to be looked after that night and he radioed to say he was not going anywhere for a while.

Stella woke the next morning, here place was empty and her door was still broken from the night before. She flopped back, it was time for her to get up and go to work but all she wanted to do wa scream. Another night of... fun and terror. She felt around for the remote, once she got hold of it she turned on the news. The TV sparked into life, it was Vikki Vale and she was stood outside Arkham City and said

"The city that should never be escaped from, yet it had been confirmed that at least ten criminals have escaped and then walked right back in. We ask you, is this wall of barbs and guns still not enough or is there something we are not being told? This is Vikki Vale..."

Stella turned off the TV, never did like Vikki first nor last as she was not a bright spark or had a voice that could be stood for long. Stella picked up her phone guide for a locksmith and maybe even a place that does door made of cryptonite. Then a knock came to her door, she groaned and answered it. A man was stood there ready to repair her door and she asked stunned

"Who, how did you know?"

"Your boyfriend, called us and said he'd pay for a new door" the man replied

Stella felt that some feeling had come back into her head, she called into the bank and they had already been told that she would be fine to stay at home. They had been informed that she was ill, also recommended she take a week off. The door was done before lunchtime, it was a nice door and much like her old one. Once the men left, she looked out over Arkham city. She made decision, she was going to find out why she seemed to be the new hottest thing around.