'Madness is, as you know, like gravity. All you need is a little push!' Always the same dream. The Jokers face. Laughing at him Taunting him. He looked out of the window. It was light. He glanced at the clock. 7:30 am. He put his head back against the pillow. The pain from his back hit him hard. He heard his bedroom door open and Alfred walked in "Good morning sir" He put a tray of breakfast on his bed and a newspaper. Bruce picked up the Gotham Times and the headline read: Explosion at Wayne Tower' Bruce threw the Gotham Times back onto his bed and shut his eyes. The events of lat night came flooding back. The stranger on the roof, the look of hate in the old man's eyes, the gut-wrenching thud as Eva hit the ground from the roof.
"You will be meeting with contractors today to discuss the costs of repairing Wayne Tower." Alfred said.
"When will that be?" Bruce looked at him
"12:30"
"Okay. Alfred I'm going to take a quick shower. If you could get the Lamborghini ready to go, I'm going to head into town before the meeting."
Alfred smiled "Of course sir" Alfred watched as he stood up. All over his back were cuts and bruises. "Sir have you thought that maybe you need to think about taking some nights off."
Bruce stood up and pulled a towel, a shirt, a pair of trousers and a tie "Alfred I can't ever take a night off. This is a responsibility that I've been burdened with. I've been Bruce Wayne for too long. It's time to be Batman again."
Alfred nodded and walked out. Bruce walked to the bathroom to take a shower. He turned the water on and stood under the spray. He looked up and jumped. Written on the roof in blood was WHY SO SERIOUS?. He gasped and slammed back against the wall. It couldn't be. He'd watched him die. He'd watch him fall from the building as the string snapped. Then through the house echoed a horrifying cackle. The laugh cut straight through him like a razor blade.
He got out the shower and toweled off. He put his suit on and glanced in the mirror. In the reflection he saw the face of The Joker. He whipped around and he was alone once more in the bathroom. It wasn't possible. It couldn't be real.
He walked down to the garage doing his cufflinks up. Alfred was stood by the Lamborghini "Sir you look like you have seen a ghost."
"It doesn't matter Alfred. Take the afternoon off Alfred. Head up to Central Square. In fact I'll drop you off. Come on"
"But sir..." Alfred said
"I won't take no for an answer Alfred. Get in"
"Uh well thank you sir" Alfred smiled and opened the passanger side door.
On the drive to Central Square, Alfred turned to him and said "How much do you think it'll cost to repair the hole in Wayne Tower?"
"I don't know Alfred but I don't dare to think about it. All those people are dead because of that man on the roof"
"Don't be too hard on yourself sir. There was nothing you could do"
"I know Alfred but I couldn't let go. I couldn't do it Alfred"
Bruce pulled over and Alfred got out. "Be careful Bruce"
Bruce watched Alfred get out and headed for the library. Bruce put his head back against the seat and closed his eyes. He opened them and frowned. Stuck to his windscreen was a small piece of paper. He opened the door and took the paper. It was a joker card. Written on it was 'Let's play, Batman. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA" He got back into the car and scanned the card into the onboard computer. The computer beeped into life 'DIAGNOSIS PROCESS ACTIVATED' He watched as the fingerprint scanner began working. 'NO MATCH' He frowned. "Well that can't be right" He said under his breath. He threw the card onto the passengar seat and drove off towards Wayne Tower.