Tea Time - Chapter Four

by: Mynce & The Hatter

Disclaimer: I do not own any Batman.

Note: This is the story off 'The Hatter' account. It is my brothers account and the story has been moved to my account, I will be co writing with him.

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The Mad Hatter began to sing to himself, and such a peculiar little jingle
you never did hear.

"See yon cage my little lass?

That doth contain yon beast?

Do not approach the cage my lass,

Lest you become It's feast.

And should you happen near,

And yon Thing should say quite queer,

'I'm in something of a rage,

'Tis false, these accusations that you hear.

'You see, I haven't eaten in an age,

'And haven't eaten in a year.

Respond thus my little one,

'Please, do lend an ear.

'What is jolly, bright and fun,

'Yet always, worketh hard,

'Who's work is never done?

As It mulls this over,

Take your leave and escape.

When It's thoughts do draw near,

The Thing shall say quite queer,

'A bright, shiny cape?

And as It's thoughts begin to cool,

The beast doth realize,

'Outwitted by a fool,

'Any man could see,

'That the lass hath two eyes,

'And I all but six.

'Here is where your peril lies,

'This cage is made of sticks.

'Why am I here? Why are you here? Why is anything any particular sort of
thing, and what is T-H-I-N-G?"

He regards the bound and gagged little girl sitting on an oak chair directly
opposite him across the long table.

"Would you like some?"

He stands, and produces a pipe from his vest pocket identical to the one he
is smoking.

The girl screams in a most muffled manner, and, shaking, tears are
evident... why they are rolling down her cheeks.

"You will drown in that river if you are not careful, Monster."

Lighting the pipe, he strides over to her and forces it into her mouth.

"Inhale!"

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Anna Dune is standing fidgeted at the police station. Her face is pale and streaked from crying, her nails have been bitten low. She checks her watch and sees it is well after 2 am in the morning. She would be on her morning shift now at the hospital if it weren't for..

Her stomach clenches as bile rises in her throat, a panic attack soon reaches her like a roaring train. She is forced to sit down, she lowers her head in-between her legs and starts to breath. She needs air, she needs fresh air, she needs…

"Ms Dune?"

Anna looks up at the police officer. He has brown hair sifted to the side and a stern expression.

"Ms Dune I'm officer Trinity, I'm here to talk to you - are you ok?" he takes in her appeal. Damn she looks tired.

"Having a panic attack - bag - paper bag!" she replies her lips chapped.

Officer Trinity nods and quickly leaves then returns with the paper bag, he gives it to her. Anna places it over her mouth and breathes, her head pounding painfully. She gives her self a moment to calm down than lowers the bag, "water."

The officer returns with the water and hands it to her. She takes a sip.

"Ms Dune, I need your help - can you give me your help?"

She nods letting a whimper escape her.

"Now your daughter" he pauses and watches as she lowers her head into her hands. "Your daughter - Lisa, when exactly did she go missing?"

Anna shakes her head slowly, "I don't know I… I was at work the baby sitter called me she said.. Oh God.. She said Lisa.. Was gone". Anna breaks into sobbing tears as the officer records her words on paper.

"Can I have a description of your daughter?"

Anna shudders and licks her lips, "she's eleven years old, blond hair blue eyes.. Small.." Anna squints her eyes almost as if trying to remember, "she has a scar, on the left part of her forehead, its small.. An accident from falling."

The officer nods, "What was she wearing?"

Anna's head snaps up, "Pyjama's what the fuck do you think?!"

The officer frowns, "Ms Dune please calm down."

"I am fucking calm I… I'm sorry.. I just lost my fucking daughter!"

Anna leaves the station a little bit later. She pulls a cigarette out of her purse and lights it, she takes a puff and starts to walk down the street. She is trying not to sob. She turns into an alley way and leans against the wall, she lets her self slowly fall to the cold hard street.

"Smoking will kill you.."

Anna nearly has a heart attack and leaps up, she looks around and her eyes slowly fall onto a leather clad figure. Her mouth falls opened in disbelief.

--------

The room is small, the apartment smaller. The Hatter is forcing a young girl
to suck on a wooden pipe, his having fallen to the floor. The smoke whirling
through the room and from her mouth, she sputters and coughs, the gag having
been removed.

"You like that, don't you?" He muses aloud. The girl, wide eyed and
frightened, begins to mumble and scream. "Do as you please, there is no
escaping your inevitable penetration."

"Yes, you will soon penetrate the veil of sanity, and see as clearly as I do
now."

Caressing her blonde hair slowly, he stares into her eyes.

"Ah, the eyes are said to be the gateway into the soul. These eyes will soon
show me yours."

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The streets are dark, and grimy. Water drips from the buildings and make hollow echoing sounds. A lone figure walks along said street with a coat pulled up close around his face. Other people walk down the street, criminal like people with weapons and what not attached to their belts. The lone figure comes into view of a nightclub for the 'underworld', he can feel himself tense.

He enters the night club and heads towards the back door, shovelling through crowds of people, stumbling every few steps. He makes it to the back and slowly turns the knob, it opens and he goes through the door. He looks ahead of him and sees a desk, at this desk an obese man with a long bird like nose dressed in a fine black tuxedo is sat.

He is surrounded by black clothed men with guns.

"Well well well, if it isn't my old friend Scarecrow" says the man, this is followed by a squawking laughter. "You escaped the funny farm I see" another laugh.

Scarecrow looks up at the man, Penguin with gritted teeth and clenched fists.

"Let me guess," says Penguin "you plan to get revenge?" he laughs again, the men aim their guns. "No, no do not be fools, lower those he cant do anything, he's washed up."

Scarecrow is angry, his head starts to pound, water dripping down into his vision. Penguin crosses his arms and smiles, a menacing smile, "tell me do you still turn into that animal?" he asks, "or did your little coma change that?"

Scarecrow's head hurts more, he laughs "and if I do?"

Penguin shrugs, "you'd probably be hunted down by Batman within moments, tell me has word gotten out of your 'escape' yet?"

"No but words gotten out of your ally with him" Scarecrow hisses, his side hurts.

Penguin laughs, the sound hurts Scarecrows ears, "I did not ally him, but I must say being off of his hit list is a nice change, Scarecrow, tell me how do you live on?"

"Shut up.."

"Honestly look at yourself, your pathetic, washed up."

"Shut up!"

"Why do you even bother trying anymore? You've got nothing, no 'super powers' no toxins nothing."

"SHUT UP!"

"Why did you even bother trying to break out of Arkham, your nothing but an animal anyhow."

A sound; much like a wounded animal is heard. The sound of ripping is also heard, a snarl and then a crackle more menacing then ever is heard from Penguin,

"The Scarebeast returns!"