Chapter 3: Penalty Game
I was put in a cell but it's a little bigger and has more color to it. My cuts are all bandaged up and I'm not in pain as much as I was before. Man, I wonder how the hell can Batman put up with this everyday? It's gotta be tiresome at one point or another. Then again I bet he's been doing crime fighting for quite a while now, I bet it's just second nature to him.
Suddenly the T.V screen on the wall turned on to a program called Arkham Arcade's Penalty Game. "TIME FOR THE PENALTY GAME! TODAY WE'RE GOING TO PUNISH OUR ONE AND ONLY THE RIDDLER!"
The screen change to show the Riddler standing in the middle of the Arkham Arcade battle room. They then showed a slot machine being brought over to him. "THIS IS HOW IT'S PLAYED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! ALL HE NEEDS TO DO IS PULL THAT LEVER AND IT CHOOSES THE PUNISHMENT FOR HIM!"
The images in the slot began to spin. Riddler waited for a bit then finally pulled down the lever. The images finally lined up and reveal the punishment. "OH! THE 100 LASHES FROM THE WHIP! OH HE'S NOT GOING TO BE LAYING ON HIS BACK FOR A WHILE FOLKS!"
Two guards came up to him and took off his hat, jacket, and shirt. They weren't nice about it stripping him until his back is bare. Then a metal pole risen up as they chained his wrists facing it so his back his exposed.
"Oh God." I said as I started to feel my stomach churning, "Riddler, no."
Another guard came into view that's holding a whip. Once he unravel it I was reminded of the strips of the Man-In-White. How they unravel themselves to shed the blood of my classmates. Now it's going to be the same thing with Riddler.
"Ready, freak?" said the guard.
"Just get it over with." said Riddler.
The moment the guard gave him the first lash it made a long cut on his back. I only heard Riddler groan in pain which means he's gonna try to not scream so much. "No, this is enough!"
I got up and started running to the battle room. While I rush my way over there, my catlike appearances began to show. I'm going to protect Riddler until they stop. I'm not going to follow their ridiculous rules!
I burst through the doors as I see the guard has already given Riddler his 5th lash. "ENOUGH!" I shouted and ran past every guard that tried to stop me. I stop the 6th lash by grabbing the whip and yanked it out of his hand.
"Get her away from him!" shouted a guard.
"TRY AND I'LL KILL ALL OF YOU!"
"That's enough." said that voice of Hugo through the speakers, "Let them be. Shut the cameras and clear out of the room."
The guards were hesitant but they obeyed his orders. "Riddler?"
"The keys to my chains are over there on the table." he said but he was trying to whimper so much.
I grab the keys quickly and unlock the chains from his wrists. I grabbed his shirt, jacket, and hat then I help him get up. "I'm taking you to the infirmary." I said.
"No, they'll only give me a sedative. Take me back to your room, I'll guide you to aid these lashes."
"Okay."
It was a little difficult but I got him into my room. It's not easy trying to support some of their weight to get them walking. "Lay me down on my stomach." he said. I helped him lay down on his stomach on the bed. "Okay in my jacket's right pocket there's a first aid kit. It's a silver and green cube with a plus sign on it."
I took it out as I asked him, "How on earth does this little thing have what you need?"
"It's science that's too difficult for you to understand, and also I'm not up to explain how it works. Now please press the plus button."
I place it on the table and press the button on it. Right away it extended and open itself up to reveal all these aid items. "Wow, this thing is like the TARDIS except it's and Aid Kit."
"Hey, grab a clean towel and wet it in warm water."
"Kay."
I did as I'm told to do and came over to him with the warm wet towel. I get the picture that I'm suppose to clean his bleeding whip cuts, so I got on it. He hissed and shivered from the first touch of the wet towel. Right now he's trying to be tough but I know that he's in a lot of pain. I'm trying not to cry because I know that because of me that he had to be put through the penalty game. Dammit, all this blood, I think I'm feeling ill by just the sight of it.
"So," said Riddler, "You like Doctor Who?"
"Huh? Oh, the TARDIS thing yeah. I've been a fan of it for who knows how long. I remember that me and Red use to watch it all the time on Saturdays..." I stop dabbing his cuts for a moment when I just realized I've mentioned Red.
I got back to cleaning Riddler's wounds when he said, "This Red must be very close to you."
"...Well, he was my boyfriend. He was there for me more than my own parents. Well besides my best friend, Kira." If I remember... Her body was torn in half.
"I'm sorry." he said, "I shouldn't have you talking about it so soon."
"It's alright. I was bound to talk about them one way another... So, you don't have to answer it's just right now I'm curious. What made you become a villain?"
He was quiet for a moment but he did answer, "Well I guess you can say my parents and everyone else around me made me what I am today. You know you and I aren't so different. I had a best friend... and someone I love too."
... (6 Years Ago- Riddler's Narrative)
I was getting my stuff together as I was just about ready to leave the forensics lab. Just when I put on my coat, all of a sudden Kristen Kringle came in. I remember our last meeting so I tried to hurry up and leave. Until Kristen rushed up to me and said, "Edward?"
"Yes, Ms. Kringle?" I said without making eye contact with her.
"First off, I want to say I'm sorry about yelling at you."
"...For?"
"For rearranging my files. Det. Gordon explained your reason for doing so."
I couldn't believe Jim actually told her about my feelings for her. When I made eye contact with her I was beginning to blush. "Ahem, well I'm sorry about... having those feelings, and...(Sigh), I can't believe he told you." I face palm myself out of embarrassment.
"Don't be, I was actually wondering, if you would like to walk me home tonight?"
I remove my hand from my eyes to look at her in surprise. Did I really hear her correctly? Am I day dreaming again? "You... want me to take you home?" I asked.
She smiled, showing her pearly white teeth as she chuckled lightly. "Yes, to get to know more of each other on the way, also I rather not walk alone at this time of night. Remember that killer, Executioner, is still out there."
"Oh, right of course. Ms. Kringle, I'll be honored to walk you home."
We walked out of GCPD together, funny how once we were out she wrap her arm around mine. It felt...too new for me, but I gladly accepted it. "So Edward, how long have you worked at GCPD?"
"Oh, not very long actually. I've been working for the forensics unit for ten months."
"Wow, almost a year."
"Yes, almost. So why did you decide to work there, Ms. Kringle?"
"I've always been fascinated about the law. Working as a file clerk is my way of putting my foot in the door I suppose.
"Right, um, New Years is just around the bend. Are you doing anything to celebrate?"
"I'm not one to celebrate the holidays. For one I've never had a reason or anyone to celebrate it with. It's pretty boring when you're by yourself on the holidays."
"If so, maybe you would like to spend at my place for New Years. I don't really have anyone to celebrate it with either."
"I'm shocked, Ms. Kringle. Usually a young lady like you barely even gets alone quality time."
"What are you trying to say?"
Oh boy, did I cross that line again? Think fast Edward. "Uh, um... That you're, well-,"
"Heh heh, cute."
All of a sudden she stands on the tip of her toes and kiss my cheek. That's when I've blushed so red that I was beginning to feel my cheeks burn. Man did it get hot out here? And it's snowing for Heaven's sake!
"Come on, Edward." she said, "We're almost at my place."
"Oh...Heh heh, right."
I loosen up my tie with one hand so I can breath easily. Wow...my first kiss...on the cheek.
Before I could even realize what was going on. Something hard hit me in the back of the head and my lights went out.
...
I woke up laying down on my stomach. When I tried to get up I was having some problems. My wrists are in cuffs behind my back and my legs are tied together. The only thing I could do was turn on my side and shifted my body to sit up. It's dark in here, and it reeks of blood so badly that I'm starting to get a little sick.
"About time you get a girl into your life, Eddie." said a man in the dark. Wait...I know that voice.
The lights suddenly came on which hurt my eyes that I had to blink a couple of times to get my vision focused. "To think that I was beginning to worry that you weren't normal at all."
Before me I see the man I hated my entire life and forever more. My own father, Alastair Nashton. "Where's Kristen?!" I said, "What have you done with her?!"
"Heh heh, look at you. Haven't gotten to know the girl more than a day and you're already worried about her. I remember that I was like that once, with your mother of course."
"ANSWER MY QUESTION!" I shouted at him. I've never done that before but I need to know that Kristen is okay.
"Tch, the one problem you really have, questions. Well that, and disrespecting your own father. Fine, if your so desperate to see her that much, but brace yourself and try not to throw up like the others."
He suddenly reach over the table behind him and grab something...Oh... My... God... My eyes went wide and my jaw drop in utter horror.
"I've already put the rest of her in bags but I've saved the best for you, son." He held up the head of Kristen... Why?... Why would he?... "Here you go." he toss her head to me and it landed on my lap. I screamed and got it off by shifting my legs.
"KRISTEN! YOU BASTARD!" tears streamed down my cheeks as I yelled at him, "WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS?! WHAT HAS SHE DONE TO YOU?!"
He chuckled as he said, "Why I'm doing exactly what I was born to do. Taking out the lesser beings of Gotham. The moment I see a stupid shitty human being, I execute them."
...No way...but how could I not know this? He wasn't like this in my past years. He was only so violent to me because he always think I'm lying about my great intellect. I finally said, "You're the Executioner?"
"Bingo, kiddo."
"...You're insane... You've finally fucking snapped."
"Oh I wouldn't say that."
He kneeled down in front of me as he grab my chin, but I pulled myself away from his horrible touch. "Don't touch me!" He grab a fistful of my hair and yanked it back so roughly that I hissed at the pain.
"You should respect your father greatly, Eddie. Or else I'll cut your head off like I did with your mother."
I looked at him with shock. He actually killed my mother? He really has fucking lost it!
"Why am I alive then?" I said, "You hated me anyway so why not finish me off?"
"Oh, Eddie. I need someone to carry on my work. You fit the perfect description as the next Executioner."
"No, I don't want this! I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO WITH YOU!"
"You don't have a choice. It's in your very DNA to become the next Executioner."
"Fuck you!"
I spat in his right eye. He wasn't too happy with my action as he wiped off the spit. He sighed as he said, "You were always an ungrateful brat. Since you love games so much. I think we should play a penalty game."
He suddenly undo my neck tie. "What are you-, no stop!" He used it to gag me. After that he grab a knife and cut off my jacket. He force me to lay down on my stomach and grab something off the wall. When he brought it to my view I recognized it immediately. "How long has it been since you've been punished by this whip stick?"
I was hoping to never be hit by it again after I moved out. "Not too long, at least about 2 years." he said, "Have the scars on your back healed up nicely?"
I began to struggle and squirm so I can try to stop this from happening. This isn't happening! This is not happening! "Let's see, disrespecting me with words then spitting at me. I'd say that deserves 100 lashes."
Oh shit, if I can't even handle one I'm definitely not going to handle a hundred! "Well then better get this over with." Once he raised it he brought the first one down hard on my back. Since this shirt is thin, that whip stick can actually cut through the fabric and get to the skin. The second one made me scream a little louder, but of course the gag muffles my cries a little.
When I expected the third to finally come down, all of a sudden a gunshot ranged out, and my father's chest bled. He turned around then got a kill shot to the head. After he drop down dead, I saw Gordon and Bullock came in.
"Ed!" said Gordon as he rushed over to my side, "We're going to get you out of here."
"Holy shit is that Kristen's head?"
Once he got the gag off me I said, "That's Alastair Nashton, The Executioner, you've shot."
"How do you know that?" said Bullock.
"Because he was my father."
... (Present) (Cheshire's Narrative)
I was actually pretty shocked and surprised for what he's gone through. He told me his story about the Executioner and It's really horrific to know that your father was a mass killer. "So getting lashes is no stranger to you." I said.
"But they're not friendly either." he said, "Are they all cleaned up?"
"Yeah."
"Okay there's a small bottle of ointment in one of the slots." he said, "Use it to rub gently on my cuts."
I put the wet towel to the side and grab the ointment to use it on his cuts. While I was doing that he asked me, "Why did you stop them? I'm not exactly a good guy you know."
"Doesn't mean you deserve it. I think you've had enough of that in a life time."
He chuckled, "You're like your father. Naïve."
"Good to know. Man I wonder where they put Jervis? Think he's okay?"
"That man is always okay. But sometimes I question his sanity myself. He walks about and starts saying things like if he's really in Wonderland. Then he hums that weird tune I've never heard before."
"You sure find him weird huh?"
"Weirder than anyone else here... Wait scratch that, I think that ventriloquist who calls his puppet, Scarface, is even weirder. You always find him not in control of himself."
"I'll make that a mental note to not bump into him."
"Are you done?" he asked.
"Yeah just about. There we go." I've finished putting the ointment on his cuts, "Now what?"
"Get the bandages and gauges then start wrapping me up."
"Kay."
He sat up carefully so he can let me finish off taking care of his cuts. While I was bandaging him he said, "Hey, uh. Sorry I got a little carried away in are match. You must be not use to pain."
"No, I'm not." I said, "I actually thought you were going to kill me at first."
"What made you get back up?"
"Heh, you wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"...Cheshire, we're in a Asylum."
"...Fine, if you must know... I heard Red's voice, telling me to get back up. He's always tell me that ever since we've met. If he even see's a second that I'm giving up, he tells me to get back up. Tch, funny how that even in death. I hear him telling me to not give in.
"You must think it's silly."
"Um, no of course not. It's good that you had someone supporting you."
"...Yeah."
Oh if only Red was still alive. I bet things would've turned out differently.
"Oh, by the way. How long were you able to change form? You know, your Cheshire Cat form."
"Never. Yesterday was the first time ever. I've never even knew I had this power until now. Which is weird. To think this power would've been natural for me in the beginning right?"
"To think, yeah. So you never killed the students, which leads to another question who actually killed them. Did the Man-In-White done anything to you that you remember?"
"I remember that he used some part of his clothing to drill into my forehead. But there's no injury."
"Part of his clothing?"
"It's kind of hard to explain. He wears a straight jacket except his arms are free, and he's got this metal helmet that covers his entire head."
"Hmm, doesn't sound like anyone I would know. Finished."
He looked at the bandages as he said, "Not bad, rookie. Tell you what. In return for patching me up, I'll try to get any information on this Man-In-White. Besides I'm breaking out today anyway, I can stop by around the sight of the massacre and ask around what they really saw."
"Really? You would do that?!"
I stand up in excitement. "Well of course. I don't like being in debt for long." He smiled at me.
"Oh thank you so much! I-...Oh man, I'm trying not to cry."
Come on Cheshire don't cry in front of a villain. He laughed as he said, "No worries, Chess. I would cry too if I were in your position."
"Aww man that did it." tears finally came out, "But still, thank you, Edward."
