CHAPTER one
Alfred Pennyworth grew increasingly agitated and nervous as he paced about the large Living room of the Wayne Manor. The room was decorated with various memorabilia and portraits, of which a Portrait of Bruce's Mother and Father holding him took center stage. There was a HD Television affixed to the wall and a large array of Sofas, Chairs and Cushions. The room was completely AC, and illuminated by sets of large windows at day, and a Pure Crystal Chandelier at night.
The time was already almost nine o'clock. Normally, it wouldn't bother Alfred, who very well knew that Bruce was a frequent customer at all the best night spots in Gotham, but tonight, he had said he was coming home for dinner, and that had been about three hours ago. Bruce was supposed to show up at about six or seven latest...
Alfred had even called all the Night Clubs in town looking for Bruce, but it appeared he hadn't even visited one of them tonight. Alfred tried Warren "Cash" Rogers, Bruce's Limo driver, to no avail. The Cell Phone was off. Alfred was now only seconds away from losing his cool and calling the Police.
Bruce Wayne groaned as he awoke. A Bright light was directly in his eyes. He squinted trying to adjust to it, but failing miserably as the light burned them, out of options he shut them again. He tried to lift his hands, but to his surprise found they were bound by chains.
"What the hell?" he asked, unknowing whether anyone was in front of him.
"Ah, Mr. Wayne. How nice that you could join me today..." came a mocking gravelly voice.
"Where the heck am I?" growled Bruce angrily.
"In my... home." replied the Voice patiently and emotionlessly.
"What do you want from me?"
"Look, Brucie, I really am too bored to play 20 Questions with you, so listen up. I want the formulae for the Nanoids. I have your briefcase Bruce, so don't bother lying to me. The only problem I'm having is that your Techie's are a bit.. too good. If I try to force open the Case without the Codes and your thumbprint it goes boom. So, give me the Code. I've already imprinted the thumb."
"Go to hell." snarled Bruce. "Those belong to Wayne Tech. Not some maniacal creep like you who kidnaps people."
"Ah well, I was hoping that you didn't have to go to hell, but well, you made your choice..."
"Boys, show Mr. Wayne to our, little ... room... will you?"
Bruce felt two pairs of hands lift the Bed like thing he was strapped to and wheel it out. His eyes were still seeing colored dots from the light. Moments later the motion stopped. This time the room was totally dark. Slowly his vision began to return and adjust to the darkness. He could see a blurry figure standing in the shadows of the room.
He could also see various instruments stacked on racks. The two goons left from behind him and waited near the metallic door to the room.
"That's it boys. Now, go have some supper or something... shoo!" said the man in the shadows. The twosome obediently nodded and left the room, closing the door behind them.
"Ahh..." sighed the man zestfully.
"Wh..Who are yo..u?" groaned Wayne.
"Ah, I apologize for my rudeness... I am the Red Hood, leader of the Carpella Mob. Now that our acquaintance is finished, let's get down to business, shall we?"
The man put on a pair of gloves and hungrily stretched them.
"You see Mr. Wayne, I was trained by the Nazi's themselves on how to interrogate people... And I think we are going to have quite a lot of fun..." he smiled sinisterly and approached Bruce.
Bruce spat at the slightly visible portion of his face.
"Ahh.. you do have some 'spunk' in you..." He raised up his sleeves, cracked his knuckles and started beating Bruce Wayne mercilessly. Blood flew everywhere, and Bruce felt sickening pain shoot through him every time the Red Hood's fists connected with him.
He bit his lip, anything to keep from screaming, of giving him the pleasure, to show that he, Bruce was in pain...
"U...U Sonovab..b..'tch..'ll nev..r te...ll you...'ny...ngggh! thi..thing.." he managed to choke out as the battery of blows hit him. He could feel the wetness as blood seeped through the many wounds on him. After 15 minutes of beatings the hood stopped. He appeared even happier that Bruce had stood up. He then proceeded to one of the racks in the room, and wore something. Bruce's face whitened as he saw what it was; a pair of brass colored knuckles, with angry looking spikes sticking out of it. The blood on the Red Hoods hands had seeped onto it, making it look blackish in the darkness. He was just about to say something when a Cell Phone rang. Cursing the Hood went to answer it.
"I'' be back, my friend, you just stay put..." Bruce could see his shining teeth as he grinned. He opened the metal door, leaving Bruce bound and gagged. After leaving he closed it and locked it.
Bruce saw his chance, and using his many years of Martial Arts practise, managed to slip free of his chains. He staggered as he tried to run to the door.
"Shit!" he growled, he hadn't thought that the beating had taken this much out of him.
Wincing in pain, he made his way over to the door. It had a normal model lock, made of steel. Looking around, he found a sharp object, presumably a longer spike for the knuckles. He shuddered. After about 3 minutes he managed to pick the lock. Opening the door, he quietly went through the corridor that had brought him in to the Chamber. A While later he saw the Hood, he was talking with two men, apparently discussing some deal. For the first time, Bruce saw his face. It wasn't metaphorically speaking that he was the red hood, he really did wear a hood, it had two eye slits and a breathing hold as well as a mouth entrance, other than that it completely covered his face.
Hiding in the shadows, Bruce made his way to the exit. He saw the two bodyguards waiting there. Quietly he removed his sneaker and threw it onto a side. They looked up at the sound and like Bruce thought they would, went to investigate. Bruce took his chance and slid out of the exit. He saw that he was in a fairly (Though not as big as his) big mansion. Remembering this, he ran into a nearby parked 1980' style Pontiac Trans-Am and hot wired the car the best he could, after all, being in the FBI, even though it didn't work out had it's advantages...
The Car roared to life, in the process alerting the goons and the Red Hood who came rushing out. He floored the pedal, ignoring the sense of pain in his leg as the car sprang forward. The goons were about to rush into their Motor bikes, parked on the other side of the house, but were stopped by the Hood. He knew that Bruce had too far a lead. Bruce kept on holding the pedal for dear life as he looked back. He sighed in relief to see no one.
Half an hour later he arrived at the Manor, barely finding his way back. He'd made some makeshift bandages, but he'd already lost too much blood. He was surprised to see the Police at the Manor. Parking the Pontiac at the front entrance, he ran in holding his thighs as he did.
As soon as he entered, he saw Alfred and some Police Officers stare at him disbelievingly. Alfred quickly recovered and rushed to aid Bruce who had half collapsed on the floor.
"Master Bruce, What happened to you?" asked Alfred, getting a First-Aid box from the kitchen and hurrying back. He began to remove Bruce's makeshift bandages and clean the wounds.
"I..I was.. Kidnapped by .. Red hood... Carpella mob... wanted code f..for ..Plans for Nanosuit... He... Beat me... managed to escap...e..."
The Police and Alfred listened in awe to this account.
One of the Police spoke to his colleagues.
"Bullock! Give this place 24/7 Security! Now!" he barked.
The fat overweight cop chewing a donut, nodded and took out a Cell and began calling someone.
Bruce's head began to spin and in a few seconds he became unconscious due to the Sedative Alfred had given him. He lay there, dreaming as the Clock on the Mantle Place struck 12...
