I wiped my bleeding lip and slowly got back up to my feet. The man's goons looked at me in shock and he noticed.
"You should stay down. It might help you live a little longer," he sighed.
Come on, you can do this.
I turned to glance at the little boy's frightened eyes. Coming from the smog was a group of prisoners. They had old scars, tattoos, and creepy smiles on their faces. With what little strength I had left, I got up and grabbed the boy. On the ground was a cop, unconscious.
I took his gun and aimed it at the first prisoner in the front. He had a knife in his hand and murder in his eyes.
"Don't look," I whispered to the boy.
"Batman will come. He'll come," he whispered back.
Batman won't always be there, kid.
Suddenly, we were wrapped in a black cape and lifted off the ground. The boy screamed and held onto me. We were brought to a rooftop and greeted with a scowling dark knight.
"Perfect timing," I breathed.
He looked half annoyed and half pissed off. "What the hell are you-"
"Don't thank me," I broke in.
He frowned. "Get out of here. Now."
"I'm not leaving you or my father here. You need me. Admit it."
His face told me otherwise. I rolled my eyes and sighed. "I'm staying here. Let me help."
Staring at me for a moment, he shook his head. "Stay on the ground and keep the chaos down. People are running scared. Keep things from getting bloody."
I nodded. "Right. Okay. How much of this stuff has hit the rest of Gotham?"
"It hasn't. Not yet. They'll be using the train to do that. Wayne Tower leads right above the main sewer line. If they run that train into the tower, it'll-"
"It'll hit the whole city," I realized.
He handed me a small phone-looking device and placed it in my hand. "If you need something, use this to call me."
He passed by me with a grunt. I turned and hurried after him. "Wait!"
He stopped.
"You could die. I just...how can I say thank you?"
His dark eyes glanced me over and he pressed his lips on my cheek for what felt like an eternity. With that, he tool out a gun and fired it at the passing train. He flew into the air and I sighed through my nose.
The little boy ran to me and begged me not to leave him. "Please...please!"
"Everything will be okay. Just listen to me, alright?"
He wiped his tears and nodded. I couldn't bring him with me. He'd slow me down. I gave him the device Batman gave me and smiled.
"Can you take care of this for me? I have to go, but I need someone to take this. Think you can do that?"
He though about it, and nodded.
"What's your name?"
"Tyler.
"Well, Tyler, stay here. I'll be right back. You understand me?"
With a sniff, he nodded. I headed towards the edge of the roof and used the fire escape to climb down. I hurried through the streets, trying to guide people to safety, but the poison had already gotten to their heads and they were just freaking out left and right.
I found another lost kid, but her parents weren't too far from her. They took her and ran away. I just shrugged it off and turned to be greeted by a horse.
It gave a loud cry and I screamed as it stood on its hind legs. The rider let out a laugh.
"Don't fight it. There is only fear. Let it consume you," Crane growled through his mask.
I still had the gun that I took from the knocked-out cop and aimed it at him.
"Don't move, Crane!"
He chuckled. "Crane? No. Scarecrow. Crane is gone."
Suddenly, he leaped off the horse, my finger twitched on the trigger. "Freeze!"
"You wouldn't shoot me. You don't exactly look like a bad cop. Just give that gun to me."
"Get back!"
He didn't get back. He just stepped closer to me. Even with his mask on, I could see his eyes. They weren't the eyes of Jonathan. They were cold and filled with wicked thoughts.
"You're a little short for a cop. But, giving that you're wearing a mask, I'd say you were a vigilante."
I swallowed. "Just get on the ground and-"
A hiss made me fire out of panic. He had released some of his gas and I heard him howl in pain. I had grazed his arm and blood poured from the injury. He climbed his pony and rode away.
Shaking, I dropped the gun and felt my chest tighten. What had I done? I had just shot my friend.
No. He was right. He's not Jonathan Crane anymore. He's a psychotic killer and his mind is lost.
My shoulders sagged and I took deep breaths. A muffled explosion made me look towards the tower. I hurried into the street, below the tracks, and saw fire and more explosions right below the tower.
The tower itself was unharmed. I felt a huge sense of relief. As I looked up into the sky, I saw him. He flew through the air and out of my sight. I shook my head and folded my arms.
"Showoff."