Ello! Minion here! Wow, I can't believe that we're finally getting to the good stuff! With about 1-2 more chapters to go before our characters are reunited I find myself beyond giddy ^-^
I quite enjoy these upcoming chapters (now gone are the awkward chapters I struggled with to reach this point!) and I hope that you all will enjoy them even more than I do! Once more I would like to thank everyone for reading and reviewing, your words mean so much to me...honestly, I feel like I'm soaring through the sky while I explode with the happiness one feels from eating a spoonful of nutella-yea, it's just that good!
Also I do not in any way, shape, or form, own Batman/ Batman Begins, with that in mind, enjoy!
Chapter 5
"Revis," my Boss called out to me as he popped in four fish oil pills, "Interview this girl, she wants a job here."
Typical...push off your duties like some overseer as you sit in your own 'office' at the head of the joint room that held all the desks of each employee. Just sit and kick up your leather cowboy boots on your desk as you chew tobacco and down fish oil pills as if it were the elixir of life...
I shook my head, as he walked passed me. Before I had been interrupted, I was reviewing my paperwork but now I had to go evaluate some girl. I heard a brief knock at the joint room's door and I called out, "Come in."
A timid girl, seemingly sixteen, walked through the door at a nervous, shuffling pace. Her greasy, black hair fell limply at her shoulders which were obscured in an oversized, grey hoodie.
"I-I'm here for the job interview..." she stammered.
"Yes," I smiled pleasantly, "Please take a seat."
She did so, stumbling on her shoe-laces and barely catching herself on the chair. She then sat down on the edge of her seat, both red in the face and looking extremely uncomfortable.
"Tell me about yourself."
"I-I just g-graduated from Gotham High. I know I don't have any previous experience and all but I'm really interested in working here."
I fought to raise by eyebrow in disbelief. Did she not realize she would need a college degree to even consider working here?
Even so I nodded as if I cared, "Do you have any special skills?"
She blushed again then replied, "I'm willing to work hard and for long hours. I c-can be understanding to those who have recently lost someone...I—"
"What brought you here today?" I inquired, cutting her off, eager to end this sad charade of an interview.
Her eyes widened, "I-I.."
Again I interrupted her strangled speech, "Is it the money? The credential? Some morbid fascination?"
She shook her head, "N-No, not for money...I recently got a room in an apartment in the Narrows, it doesn't cost much—Besides I used to hang around the graveyard my grandfather owned in Vermont. I'm familiar with the workings and I'd l-like to try it."
I stood and walked over to her, hoping to crush her 'dreams' when she was safely out of my funeral parlor, "Thank you for your time, do you have a number I can reach you at?"
She shook her head, "I just moved out and I don't have a cell phone. Besides my apartment hasn't turned back on the electricity yet."
I felt a creeping disgust at her gall...Even the sectaries here held a more extensive background than she did.
Even so, I smiled reassuringly, "Of course, that's okay. How about you come back this weekend, say Saturday at 8 pm and we'll talk then."
She shot up enthusiastically, "Yes—I-I mean, thank you!"
She took my hand in a handshake and I fought to not pull my hand back—
The dark night stretched out before me...only a few feet further—there! I walked up to the crypt of my target and began to pry open the door. I knew the group would be pleased with the loot. Ha! I couldn't wait to see their faces when I returned. They all thought the abandoned graveyard would be bust—but after they caught sight of all the jewels the rich bitch has hidden away they wouldn't doubt—
The memory suddenly cut off as she released my hand, thanked me once more, and left the office...
That lying, two-faced, hypocrite!
"I used to hang around the graveyard—" Oh yes, because graverobbing was considered 'hanging' around!
Damn her! How dare she try to work here! She didn't deserve a job among the dead...No, she deserved to die. Let's see how strong she was in the face of death...
"Revis!" my Boss called out to me once more as he stepped out from the room at the end of the hall where we stored the bodies that were to be presented during a funeral the next day, "Where's the girl?"
I schooled my features then smiled pleasantly, "I told her to come back on Saturday at eight."
He scrunched up his forehead, "But we close at seven..."
I nodded then looked past him into the holding room—what was that?
When I voiced my thoughts, he turned around with a big smile full of tobacco stained teeth and replied, "Come see."
I curiously walked forward then froze...
A patient lay on the table dressed in the biodegradable shroud that was custom for unclaimed bodies...but the hair was spiked up in too long spikes. The woman lay expressionless or would have if not for the too pale makeup and black eyeliner drawn in spirals around her face.
My heart skipped a beat upon seeing her like this then stopped for a moment when my Boss walked towards her and picked up a limp hand, "She was fun to work with, eh Revis?"
Suddenly he began to lift her arms and torso up so her head lolled to her shoulder the spikes crunching under the weight.
"Look Revis, she wants to dance!" he looked at me then narrowed his eyes and released her so that her body slumped down at an awkward angle, "Hey, I know what you're thinking but when you're in this line of work long enough, you gotta find a bit of humor."
I nodded only having enough control to respond naturally, "I understand...but I have paperwork to get to."
He nodded and popped in two more fish oil pill from his case of pills he kept in his pocket. After swallowing them without water he then wiped his hands on his pants, "Yeah, I should go out for dinner. You want something?"
I shook my head and he brushed past me smelling of too much cheap cologne with the final echo of the door closing I knew I was alone.
At first there was shock...
What had just happened? I had never met someone who could justify doing that.
Then there was fury...
The gall the man had...the snobbery of that graverobber, did no one respect Death?
How dare they disrespect my patrons! I cared for the dead and through my duty I would avenge them. After all, Death is inescapable and so they will not outrun me—but first I needed to fix my patient.
I slowly approached her, frowning deeply at the crude makeup and greasy gel. I brushed my bare hand across her neck soothingly before sharply pulling my hand back—It..? He...? No.
I ran to through the to the trash can nearest to me and threw up until I was left to dry heave in a vain attempt to reject the empty contents of my stomach. My throat ached and my eyes stun but the pain inside out measured that of my physical discomfort.
Why?
The images, burned into my mind in a split second, played over and over.
I hadn't witnessed a flicker of emotion or a glimpse of her life as I had thought I would—No, that had not been the terrorizing sight I saw. Instead I saw what happened to her post mordem. She was violated...disgraced...raped...by my Boss.
I couldn't take it anymore...and so I cried.
For the first time in so many years, I allowed agonized tears to fall from my normally dry eyes. I wept for the outrages against Death. Why did everyone mistreat my patrons? The deceased were my charges, for I was Death. I held the power to see life and all that life touched. I was blessed the ability to tend to those who had forsaken life for a world of silence; sweet, blessed, eternal silence.
Many fight against Death with vaccinations and medicine yet no matter the attempt, in the end I, Death, stood as the victor—But to those who slandered my charges, taunted me with their vile deeds...Oh, they would be punished. Since they were so insistently drawn to Death by their vile desires, I'd fulfill their fascination and carry them over to eternal darkness.
My sobs eventually softened as my resolve hardened. With new purpose I rose and returned to the holding room, choking back a cry as I looked at her once more...
Poor dear, don't worry I'll avenge you...but first I must cleanse you of that man's vile touch.
After I assembled the necessary items and had adorned the necessary clothing, I began. I worked tirelessly; fully devoted to my task. To start with I gently scrubbed away the ugly paint from her ashen face. Then I labored until her hair was styled correctly after being washed and dried into wispy strands which I then straightened to accent the layers in her hair. From there I applied appropriate makeup of a natural shade that held no trace of the horrid black which marred her face before. Despite the high probability that she would be cremated, I was determined to honour her in whatever way I was able, even if it were something so meager as dressing her properly.
I sighed as I looked over her once more.
Rest now, darling...I apologize because I cannot erase his touch but I will punish that man...but first I had some documents to destroy.
If I were to be Death then I would no longer require my name. After all, any record of my existence was not only unnecessary but bothersome.
In order to begin my newest task, I cleaned my station and then visited the file cabinets near the computer where we accessed all the records of everyone in Gotham in order to more readily identify the unclaimed bodies. Easily pulling up my file I began to delete everything. Once that was done I moved onto the fire-proof safe under my desk.
I didn't trust my apartment with the crime rate of the neighborhood and so I stored my social security card, health record, high school diploma, college degree, and any other paper of great importance that I had saved over the years at work.
Thankfully I had no worry of my apartment's lease or any mail addressed to me because all of it was listed under my grandmother's name who had supported my decision to move to Gotham despite her worsening Alzheimer's disease. Even so I knew I'd check over my apartment thoroughly once I returned home.
Then once I was sure my former identity was dead, I'd plan my vengeance on those who deserved it...
Unwaveringly I walked towards the crematorium as I held all my documents together before taking a deep breath. Upon exhaling I threw them inside, closed the door, and turned on the switch.
...Saturday 7:50 pm...
I waited by the entrance of the funeral parlor as my other co-workers traded shifts. No one bothered me, as they all had I learned that I usually waited for Barry to arrive before carried on with my routine.
"Eh Revis, Barry's out sick today and Kelly started maternity leave, you'll need to lock up when you're done," the passing day-secretary said.
I nodded accordingly as he exited the building with the last employee then continued to wait. I glanced at the clock: 7:55.
Suddenly the glass door was rapped on.
Ah, the traitor...the lying, stealing tramp—Well the lying, stealing, punctual tramp.
I greeted her with a smile and ushered her in.
"T-thank you," she stuttered, blushing again but I merely stared at her until she cleared her throat uncomfortably.
"Well then, you'll be shadowing me tonight. No one else is here, so you'll play the part of my assistant. Just wait here while I check my schedule."
Hmm, look how well my last assistant fared...maybe it was becoming a trend?
She nodded and took a seat near the wall while I stepped into my office and looked at my list: nothing but paperwork.
I frowned...
No, that wouldn't do—What about Barry?
He was absent after all so maybe there was—ah!
I smiled as I stared at Barry's calendar which hung on the wall just beside my desk.
So there was a body that needed to be picked up at the local hospital?
Perfect.
I walked back to the entrance and grabbed my trench coat. When I arrived I saw the tramp eying our urns and various artifacts hanging on the wall in cases. Briefly I felt the urge to chop off the very hands that itched to steal the mementos of Death—or maybe I'd gouge out her eyes. Since she walked the dark path of graverobbing perhaps she'd enjoy the permanent darkness before Death took her.
"Come along now, we have to pick up a body."
"Pick up a body?" she asked in a confused but gentle tone—How dare she continue the fascade!
I nodded and led her past the main office to a door in the hallway that also connected the mortuary itself and the joint office room. Before I opened the door, I took a key from the rings hanging on the wall and then motioned for her to follow me.
Three hearses waited in the chilly garage but I already knew which one we'd be riding in. As I walked up to the first one and unlocked it she hesitated until I beckoned for her to join me. She did so reluctantly although she didn't gag at the smell of Death and chemicals that remained in the hearse...In fact, it was her lack of reaction to smells that would gag most people unfamiliar with the deceased that furthered my resolve.
The drive to the local hospital was silent; she stared out of the window while I kept my eyes on the road. Already knowing the process by heart, I steered the larger car to the basement of the hospital and up to the loading dock made just for occasions such as this.
Once we exited the car I lead her into the building and we walked past the security who nodded in approval, already familiar with me from previous jobs. We then journeyed to the morgue within the hospital.
Now, we were alone...
"Damn, I forgot to say we're supposed to pack up a crate of A negative blood!"
She looked at me sideways, "Well where is it?"
Hmph, if she actual was "-familiar with the workings-" she would know that mortician's drained the blood from their patients only to fill them with other chemicals; however, I looked at her with widened eyes, "I don't think my Boss called in beforehand. Look, I'm sorry to ask this but can you find me a crate of A negative? You'll have to sneak it though, they get kinda pissy if we don't call in beforehand."
She nodded, a ghost of a smile on her face, "Alright, I know where they keep it. My Aunt was anemic and needed blood transfusions regularly. She was hospitalized a lot, so to help pay I interned at the hospital."
I smiled thankfully while my stomach churned.
"-No previous experience-", "-recently graduated-"
Liar.
That deceitful bitch, did she really believe I would fall for her fabricated nonsense?
"Thank you," I patted her shoulder making sure to avoid the skin showing in between her oversized hoodie and tight tank top.
She then turned around and scurried out like the filth she was.
Breathe Revis...
I took a deep breath then focused my attention to the real job before me. After methodically checking the different slots for the correctly marked body, I then identified the patient and began loading the body onto a gurney in order to wheel it down the slightly sloping floor.
Before I had traveled far, she abruptly reappeared, carrying a large crate with ease.
I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Of course she could handle the weight even with her slight frame. After all, graverobbing required a bit of strength.
I smiled hollowly once more before wordlessly leading the way back to the hearse as I ignored the calm gaze of the security guard. Although I preferred to be alone, I was finding that as Death I had more confidence, if only a bit more...Either way I enjoyed the feeling of not hyperventilating at the sight of another human; however, my legs still shook and I felt too warm and cold at the same time.
As we finished loading the hearse, I sent her back to return the gurney. When she returned I ushered her into the hearse once more before I drove us back to the morgue with my quarry. Upon arriving I asked her to place the crate in the corner of the morgue's embalming room until I was able to move it. She complied as I struggled with the body but eventually moved him to the storing room. My eyes lingered on his cold form.
Rest there for a moment, I shall see to you shortly.
As I turned to return to the embalming room, I heard gruff laughter break through the hallway.
Curiously I looked into the hallway and saw the light to the joint office's was open, allowing the warmth of light to spill through while carrying hoarse laughter on its rays.
I knew that laugh—it made my blood run cold. It was the laugh of a heartless monster; the laugh of a filthy creature; it was the laugh of my Boss.
Hmm, so we weren't alone after all.
I continued along my way until I was once more met with the the tramp's deceitful stare. Ignoring her for a moment, I looked over my shoulder to once more catch a glimpse of the golden light as I faintly heard a quick reply then the sound a phone being slammed down on the receiver...
Perfect.