Here it is. Finally.
She could hear the sobbing echo from downstairs as she lay in her bed. Glancing over to her sister in the darkness she couldn't see her asleep, but she couldn't hear the gently breathing that escaped her, and the soft whistle of her snore. She pushed herself up and climbed out of the bed as softly as she could, tiptoeing across the floor being careful to avoid the squeaky floorboard just outside their room.
She could see the light from the living room flooding the hallway, and then the soft sound of footsteps freezes her in place. She sees the figure exit the living room and leave through the front door, closing it quietly behind him. She waits a while before walking slowly down the steps. She can hear the blare of television becoming louder with each step.
Her mother is sat on the couch facing the television, but the only thing the young girl notices is the crimson covering her front, dripping from the slash on her throat.
Alice awoke, hot, shaking, and the image of her mother's corpse imprinted in her mind. She didn't remember much of her childhood, but that was the one thing that had stuck with her no matter what. How could someone forget something like that?
She leaves the room, expecting Bane to be on the couch waiting to deliver her punishment, so when she sees a random man sitting in Bane's place she can't help but be more than a little surprised. "Who are you?" Her attempt to sound brave falters; the quiver in her voice undeniably shows fear.
He looked up and stood as soon as he heard the sound of her voice. He was lanky, with arms like twigs, his shaggy dark hair falling around his face as he smiles a bright toothy grin. In any other circumstance Alice would almost say he was cute, he couldn't have been much older than she was, but this wasn't a normal circumstance, this was far from normal. Besides, she hated the way he was smiling at her, like he knew a secret she wasn't allowed in on. He's wearing the same attire all of Bane's men seem to wear, bulletproof vest, combat pants and heavy boots. Alice notices the gun laid out on the table. She doesn't understand why he would bring a gun up here, Bane doesn't. Then she realises with his less than impressive muscle mass he probably couldn't fight anyone else, give her a good beating, maybe, but unlike Bane he probably couldn't snap her neck with a single hand spasm. Her eyes are fixed on the firearm for too long, because soon he's stood next to her, breathing heavily.
"Bane sent me up. Said I had to keep an eye on you."
Immediately Alice feels uneasy. Its the way he's looking at her, leering at her really, like he hasn't seen a woman in months. She had become so use to being around Bane that being dressed in just her pyjamas wasn't an issue anymore. Now someone new had their eyes on her and suddenly she just wants to run back to her room. "He never sends anyone up here."
The man shrugged as he looked her over and after a moment starts to walk back to his seat, she finally lets out the breath she was holding. She watched him as he sat down on the couch, setting his feet on the small coffee table and a pang of annoyance vibrates in her chest. "Bane doesn't like that." She says quietly.
"Well, he isn't here, is he?" The man replied as he looked back over at her and pulls a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. "He doesn't like this either, how about you?"
Alice shakes her head. He smiles once more as he places one between his lips. "You've been asleep an awful long time. You know it's almost two in the afternoon?"
"I wasn't aware." She mumbled, not that she really cared, sleeping for the rest of her life sounded like an extremely pleasant idea right about now. When the foul stench of smoke starts to edge towards her she storms back into bedroom and remains there for the rest of the day. She could hear him outside, shuffling about, going through things. She tries to sleep again, failing miserably. She can't sleep while he's on the other side of that door and she's not sure what he'll do. So she reads, for hours her mind focuses on the book, successfully blocking out all noise he's making. She's not sure how long she's sat there but it isn't until she finally lifts her head to stretch her neck that she heard the click of the door and he emerges, leaning against the doorway.
"You got it pretty made up here."
She resists the urge to roll her eyes. "Being held captive, always pleasant." She muttered back, her eyes dropping back to the book although every word she reads doesn't seem to sink in.
He walked in, studying the furniture and items, a small smirk creeping onto his face when he reached her pile of clothes and traces his fingers over her underwear.
"Keep your hands off." She hissed at him, squeezing the book tightly in her hands and forcing herself to ignore the ache in her wrist. The desire to throw the book at is head is strong but all she can do is sit there, fighting back the urge.
"What are you going to do about it?" He snapped at her. He wasn't as scary as Bane, he didn't have the overwhelming size and the way he glared at her wasn't nearly as intimidating as a simple glance from Bane could be. That didn't stop her mind coming up with the worst scenario possible that could take place right then. "So what's the deal, you fuck him and he keeps you safe?"
"No." She spat back.
"Cause," He looked her up and down, his eyes settling on her breasts as he leered. "He doesn't seem to want to share. I'll admit it though; he picked a good looking one. Does he tell you how pretty you are when he fucks you? I can't imagine it, he doesn't seem like the type,"
"I think you should wait outside the apartment."
"Because if it were me, I'd fuck you raw every chance I got."
That's it. Alice stood from the bed, looking across at him in utter disgust. "Get out. I don't want you near me."
"How do you know he didn't send me here for this exact reason?"
"He said he wouldn't do that to me." The tremble in her voice is clear, and it just seems to make him grin more.
"He said he wouldn't?" The man chuckled. "Did he say anything about the rest of us?"
"I believe, I told you not to lay a finger on her."
The man quickly stood to attention at the sound of Bane's voice. As Alice looked over at him looming in the doorway she could see the anger in his eyes, and it was all directed at the man. Bane didn't even bother to glance at her.
"I believe, I told you not to touch her, or speak to her, or go near her."
"You did, sir."
"Then why, are you in here, with her?"
The man's eyes flashed to Alice. "I – I don't know sir. But I didn't lay a finger on her."
Bane enters the room fully now, his footsteps heavy on the floor, each one seems to sound louder than the last. "You touched her belongings, and if I hadn't entered the apartment at this moment, you would have touched her." He finally turns and faces Alice who's watching the whole display from her corner. "Tell me, with which hand, did he touch your belongings?"
"Um," Her eyes dart back and forth between Bane and the pile of clothes as she tries to remember. "I – I don't remember."
"Are you sure, little one?"
She keeps her eyes on Bane, she can't even force herself to look at the other man. "It – it might have been – the right. I'm not – " She doesn't even get to finish her sentence. In less than a second the vulgar sound of cracking reaches her ears and deep cries of pain ring out throughout the room. He's on his knees, Bane's hand is wrapped around his and every time Alice sees Bane's muscles flex the bastard on the floor cries out in agony. "Perhaps now, you will learn to listen to instructions properly, boy." He twists again and another yell fills the room. Alice presses herself against the wall as she watches the spectacle in front of her, but she can't seem to look away. Bane eyes her for what seems like hours before he finally lets go and looks down at the guy. "Now you may leave, you are no longer required."
The man scrambled off the floor, not even daring to look over to Alice as he staggered out of the room. Only when the slam of the front door rings out clear does Bane bother to look at her, inhaling deeply as he does. That's when Alice finally speaks. "Was that really necessary? Breaking his hand? I mean he shouldn't have touched my pan….my things, but still,"
"If he had placed that hand on you I wouldn't have just broken it, little one. It would no longer be attached."
That shut her up.
"You will need to get dressed, we have somewhere to be."
"Where?"
He breathes deeply again, eyes locking with hers as he ignores the question. "Will you require help changing?"
Alice looked over to the pile of clothes and then down at her bandaged wrist. It still hurt and she knew that she would need his help if she was to dress quickly, but she couldn't stand the thought of him seeing her like that again, even the thought of his hands touching her after what just occurred made a chill crawl up her spine, gently she shook her head no.
Raising an eyebrow he starts to take slow steps towards the door before addressing her once more. "I suggest you dress warmly."
Half an hour later she emerges from the bedroom, fully dressed and a thick jumper underneath her jacket. Bane smirks slightly from beneath his mask. He says nothing as he stands from the couch and unlocks the front door, holding it open for her. She glances nervously between the two, but eventually she walks out and he swiftly follows. There's a car waiting outside for them and once again he holds the door open for her.
It's a long drive; Alice watches Gotham as it rolls past but the only thing she can seem to think about is how Bane is so bloody calm after what just occurred. If he did that to someone for just touching her things then what the hell was he going to do to her? She had left. She had disobeyed him. She had gone through his things. Deep down she knows what he's going to do to her is going to be far worse than what that man received.
'This time I will have to punish you differently. Physical violence doesn't seem to teach you' His words have been going over in her mind all day and right then they see to ring out clearer than before. She knows better than anyone how damaging emotional scars can be. Cuts, punches, she can deal with that no matter how much it hurts, her wrist will heal eventually. But she doesn't know how much more emotional damage she can take before she finally snaps. Maybe today is that day.
When the tall dark buildings suddenly turn into trees and thick greenery she sits straighter and turns to look at Bane in the front seat. "Where are we going?"
Bane doesn't answer; his eyes are focused on the road ahead. Alice sinks back into the seat as nerves spread throughout her stomach and the bile starts to violently churn. She recognizes this road and sudden realization occurs. She knows where they are going. When they roll through the front gates of the asylum it takes all her will power not to be sick in the back seat.
He leaves the car first. Alice reaches for the handle but he's already there, opening the door for her. The first thing she sees is the dark, old, almost ruined mansion before her, somehow it looks different from the last time she was here, but that was almost ten years ago. She remembers the screams, piercing eyes from the inmates and guards alike. All the fears from this place that have settled deep inside her, hidden away, start to claw their way out of their hibernation. "What are you going to do? Give me electro-shock therapy?" She knows that here of all places it's one of the better things that could happen to her.
"I wouldn't need to bring you here to do that."
As he walked on Alice stood there, a look of horror plastered on her face. She wasn't sure if he was being serious or if that was his poor idea of a joke. Once she snaps out of her daze she follows him, but still keeps a distance between the two of them. They walk past security; the men say nothing as they breeze on by and enter the cold dank building. The first thing to hit her is the smell of disinfectant; it surrounded her like a cloud of poisonous gas. The place just seemed sterile, basic, and functional. Faded walls with streaks where it had been cleaned, same with the cold hard floors. Alice was so busy looking around she didn't even realise that Bane was talking to someone until she heard the shrill voice.
"He's still in his room but we'll bring him over as soon as possible. Is his visitor here yet?
Bane turned to look at Alice, in doing so she saw the blonde haired doctor that was stood in front of Bane, and upon seeing Alice her face broke into a wide smile. "You must be her!" The blonde strutted over to her and took Alice's good hand in her own. "I'm Doctor Harleen Quinzel."
"Like the clown." Alice said without thinking. She could see the corner of the doctor's mouth twitch as soon at the words, but she still kept on smiling. "Perhaps you shouldn't come along, Bane," The doctor remarked once she let go of Alice's hand and turned back towards him. "While you were here early you upset some of our more…violent…patients."
Alice almost snorted as soon as she heard that, but the quick cold glance from Bane stopped her. She was surprised he hadn't smashed the young doctor's face in for suggested it to him in the first place. When he didn't answer the doctor shrugged and walked away, Bane following shortly. Alice followed the two of them through the cold halls, ignoring looks from members of staff as they walked past. Some were looking at her but mostly their eyes were fixed on Bane, probably wondering why the hell he wasn't locked up and was able to walk into the asylum without a care in the world.
When they finally reach a small corridor with a singular chair and several doors, the doctor turns to them and smiles again.
"It's just in there," She tells them as she points to the door. "You can wait there while I go get him."
"Get who?" Alice asked, but the doctor just smiled and winked at her before strutting down the corridor, humming sweetly to herself.
Bane entered the room first. It was small, cramped, with dirty walls and two chairs both facing a large window. When Alice stepped inside he closed the door behind them and watched her closely as she stared out of the window and into the room opposite. It was only slightly bigger, but this time a table separated the chairs held within. "One-way mirror?" Alice asked and looked over to him. Bane nodded as he strolled over and stood behind her, then pulled the jacket from her shoulders. She was too warm in here. He could see the red in her cheeks from wearing the thick layers; even so she was still shaking from the fear of what lay ahead. "So, who is she going to fetch?" She finally asked, folding her arms against her stomach.
"I believe you already know the answer to that."
He could see her breathing quicken as she stared into the other room, her body even started to tremble slightly. "So…my punishment is what? You're going to let him kill me too?"
Their gaze broke when they heard the unlocking of a door and two guards entered the room opposite with a man between them, chains binding his hands. Alice held her breath as he was pushed down onto a chair. He was tall, skinny, dressed in dark grey clothes and just as bald as Bane. His skin was dull and dirty, his face sunken in and tried looking. Her eyes spot the cuts covering his long arms.
She turned quickly, sliding against the glass until she hit the floor. "Please don't make me go in there." She suddenly blurted out. He could hear the absolute terror in her voice, the way she clutched herself and swallowed hard as she fought back tears. "Please, do anything else to me but don't make me go in there."
"Do you fear him more than me?"
Alice didn't even need to think about it, the nod was instant.
"Do you even know his name?"
"Yes." She said quietly. "Victor Zsasz." The terror that consumed her was still there, it was obvious, but Bane could sense something else as he watched her dig her nail into her arm. Anger. Rage. Hatred. "It was in the papers. And I know he's killed a lot more people than just my…my mom." She remembers seeing the cuts covering the murderer's arms, and she wondered if the rest of his body looked the same. "A lot more."
"HOW LONG DO YOU PLAN ON KEEPING ME IN HERE, DOCTOR?"
At the sound of his voice through the speakers Alice shudders in disgust. It seems to pierce right into her as she covers her ears. "I'm not going in there."
"It is not up to you to decide that." Bane remarks.
"Yes it is!" She cried at him. "And I'm not going in there. I'm not going to go and sit in a room with the man that killed my mother!"
"You have no choice in this matter."
Alice pressed her hands to her eyes in some poor attempt to not let the tears fall. She can't cry in front of him again, she won't allow herself to. "Please." She whispered. "Please don't make me go in there. I can't. Please?"
He kneeled down in front of her then, forcing her hands away from her face and tilting her head up so she had to look at him. "I will not allow him to kill you, do you understand?"
"I understand, I just don't believe you."
Without another word he tugged her up and forced her out of the room. The guards and the doctor watched as he stops in the corridor and pulls the knife from his pocket, lifting it to her face and pressing the cool metal against her cheek. "You have a choice to make." He tells her as he leans in close. Alice eyes are focused on the blade in his hand; she can't seem to tear her eyes away. "You must choose what to do, little one. Allow the man whom murdered your mother and so many others to carry on living, to be allowed to carry on with his pitiful existence, or finally avenge her."
He held the handle of the knife out for her and as soon as she takes it firmly in her hand the door opens, and he pushes her inside. Even though it slammed shut behind her Alice turns and rattled the door handle, but it was no use, it was locked tight.
The air suddenly felt staler as she inhaled deeply. She stayed facing the door, her hand tight on the handle as she listened to the wheezing breathing coming from behind her. It was much worse than having to listen to bane's mechanical breaths.
"Would you like to sit?" He asked every so politely, his voice sending a chill down her spine as she stood facing the door. She said nothing, remaining perfectly still and allowing her eyes to close as her grip on both the knife and door handle tighten, she even ignores the throbbing pain in her wrist as she tries to block everything out. She hoped Bane would get bored and just open the door and let her out, but she knew it was silly to hope for that.
"You do look so like your dear mother."
That snaps her out of it. She turns, holding the knife behind her back as she presses herself against the door and forces herself to look at him, even if she is terrified to. "What?" He had to be lying. He wouldn't have remembered her mother, she was just another body to him, another throat to slice, and he couldn't know who she was unless someone told him. Maybe that doctor did.
"You have the same hair. I remember how soft it was, how the curls felt under my touch. Same eyes." His eyes never leave her, constantly darting from her face, to her hair, to her body. Just talking about it, her mother, she can see the pleasure in his eyes even when his face is so void of any emotion, but she notices the corner of his mouth twitch, as if he's trying to supress a smile.
The she has on the blade tightens.
"Shut up." She hissed at him. Shut up shut up shut up.
"Lara, I believe her name was. Lara Kendrew. You're the spitting image of her." Alice noticed him run a long finger over a jagged scar on his arm. "I suspect that your blood is the same colour too, that it flows just as easily. Tell me. Have you ever experience the joy of cutting cold steel into warm flesh?"
"Stop it!"
This time he allowed himself to freely smile. "That's what she said. But they always say that. The knife slid against her so easily, how could I stop?" He ran his finger against the scar again, shivering at the touch. "This was her mark; perhaps I'll put yours next to it."
"Why her?" The question just spills from her mouth. Alice forces her voice to stay strong as she asks the question. She can't allow any weakness right then, even if she does feel like collapsing into a heap on the floor as she stares into the cold eyes of the man who destroyed her family.
"Because I could. Because I wanted to. I saved her from the misery that was her pathetic existence. I gave her the gift of salvation." His head tilts slightly to the side as he studies her and seems to sit straighter in his chair. "Is that why you're here? To ask me these questions?"
"I'm being punished." The answer is automatic; she doesn't see the point in lying.
"You have sinned?"
Her eyes move to the mirror as she thinks back to the man she had injured, the snow, and the blood. It then occurred to her that she didn't even know if he had survived or not, and she wondered if Bane knew. Surely if he did he would have tormented her with that knowledge, allowed her to feel even guiltier than she already did. Perhaps he would even try to drag her down to his level, how they're not so different after all, both murderers with someone's blood on their hands. She pulls the knife out from behind her back and it manages to glint in the low light of the room. "I suppose you could say that."
"Ah, you're here to kill me! Is that it? To settle the score?" Something raw settles over his twisted features, she had no idea what he was thinking; she doesn't even want to imagine what going through his twisted little mind.
"I don't think – that I can."
When she hears the scrap of wood against the floor she spins around and forcefully grabs a hold of the door handle and rattles it once again, even when she knows it's pointless. His hands grasp at her back and she's swiftly being jerked back towards him. She doesn't even think, she just swings her hand that holds the knife and is grateful when she feels it sink into him, in fact hearing him yell seems to bring her this intense satisfaction that she's never felt before. He stumbles back as she turns towards him. He's staring down at the knife embedded in his thigh before his eyes shoot back up to her. "Well, that was – unexpected..." She can hear the tremble of pain in his voice, but mostly it's cold venomous anger that's spilling from his mouth. Looking at her with blood shot, desperate eyes, desperate for her blood, he grips both hands around the handle, and yanks the bloodied blade from his thigh. As he raises it above his head there's a gleam in his eyes that can only be his desire to see her blood spill next.
As soon as Zsasz pulled the blade from his thigh, Bane had stormed out into the hall, followed by that moronic doctor. He watches as she struggles with a large ring of keys, trying desperately to find the right one.
"Open, this door, now!" He barks at her.
"I can't – I can't find the key!"
"Then why lock it in the first place, if it's so difficult to find?"
"Its procedure!"
"OPEN IT."
She still fumbles with the dozens of keys when he pushes her out of the way and forces his body against the door. Twice more and it bursts open forcing him to find Zsasz on top of Alice. His Alice. Her hand is wrapped around the blade of the knife as Zsasz attempts to force it down against her neck. Blood leaks from in between her fingers and drips onto her as she struggles to keep the blade from penetrating her skin. She can't keep it up for much longer. Her arms are trembling as this point and she had to remind herself that she can't slip or let the excruciating pain overwhelm her, or the first place the tip of the blade will go is straight into her neck. It doesn't even register in her mind that Bane would help her; more than likely he's stood on the other side of that glass, watching, probably enjoying it as she struggles for life. She didn't hear the sound of the door opening, the only thing she can hear is Zsasz breathing overwhelming her, his eyes bright with pleasure as he forces the knife down harder and harder. Then she catches a glimpse of Bane over Zsasz shoulder. At first she thinks he's just come in to watch her death up close, but quickly she notices the dark anger in his eyes. The heavy weight pressing down on her chest is lifted off her as Bane reaches down and grabs Zsasz by the neck. As he's being dragged from the room she lets out a cry of relief, but her hand can't seem to let go of the blade that's sunken into her flesh.
Bane throws Zsasz out into the hall, both guards already pointing their guns at the patient as he lays limp against the wall. But Bane isn't done, not by a long shot. He kneels in front of him, grabs him by the scruff of his overalls and starts to punch as hard as he can. He feels flesh come into contact with his knuckles, then blood, then feels the crunch of bone underneath his hand. He hasn't beaten a man to death for some time and he starts to remember the intense satisfaction that comes from it.
All the while Alice has managed to push herself up and press her back to the wall. She allows her hand to open, blade dropping to the floor with a clang. The pain in her hand is excruciating and it continues to bleed as she lets it fall into her lap. She doesn't have the energy to even attempt to stop the blood flow. She can see Bane hitting Zsasz, blood covering his knuckles as he hits again and again and again. "Bane…." He doesn't seem to hear her, he's too preoccupied with beating a man to death. "BANE!"
He freezes, slowly he turns to look his shoulder as he holds his fist back, ready to strike again at any moment. He sees Alice crumpled on the floor, trembling, covered in blood, her skin white from the loss of blood and the agonising pain she must be in. "Come here." She murmurs her voice rough and just about ready to give out.
He's surprised by this, but relinquishes his hold on Zsasz, who is unconscious anyway, and makes his way over to Alice. Crouching down in front of her he brushes the hair from her face so he could look at her properly. When she doesn't flinch at his touch, he allows his hand to rest against her neck. She's fighting through the pain, trying not to pass out, trying to stay focused on him. Every word she says next is a struggle to say. "I've learnt my lesson. I want to go home. With you."
Every word is a lie. She doesn't want to go home with him. She wants to be sat on her couch at home with her grandmother's arm wrapped around her as they watch horrid TV. She wants to go back to that right in the alley and leave him stranded there, walk on by like any sane person would. But she can't do that. The only thing she can do is tell Bane what she thinks he wants to hear so she can leave this place and not be near Zsasz any longer.
Bane says nothing. Alice hasn't broken eye contact the entire time even though she would like nothing more than to drop her head and go to sleep. His eyes seem to become clearer, and she feels the tips of his fingers rub against her neck for a brief moment before he picks the discarded blade from the floor. "Good."
A/N: I know! I'm so sorry it's been a while but I had such a hard time writing this chapter but with help from my lovely beta megan I am finally happy with it. Just so you guys arn't sat around getting frustrated I'm going to try and update every 1-2 weeks, sooner if I can. But I get busy and sometimes when I do sit down to write I just can't seem to get down whatevers stuck in my head. I am not giving up on this story and hopefully you guys haven't either.