Chapter Nine - The Light Part I

"There is no coming to consciousness without pain. People will do anything, no matter how absurd, in order to avoid facing their own soul. One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious." Carl Jung

Diana should remember the last time she was in that familiar place. But she did not remember. For months, she stopped going to that neighborhood. For months, it was as if she had forgotten her friends. She did not want to, however, one thing or another kept her from coming back for a long time.

She crossed the street toward the neon sign. She put her hand on the door that had once been so familiar. She was reluctant to herself for a while, but at last she decided, and with a heavy sigh, she pushed it away.

An indie rock played bass. The chairs were on the tables, and there was no one on the premises, except for one person. Diana felt her heart race as she approached the counter, where Shayera had a notebook and a calculator.

"We are closed." The female voice came to her. "Didn't you hear? We're ... ah, it's you ..."

"Hello, Shayera." She smiled shyly at her former best friend.

"What do you want?"

The harshness in the redhead's voice took her by surprise, but Diana composed herself. She had a reason to be there, and she would not leave without trying. To save Bruce, she needed help and had no one else to tell.

"I know I haven't been a great friend in the last few months, but I need..."

"You always run to me when you do something wrong." She cut her off. "I can't cover you for your entire life."

"Stop being spiteful, Shay." Wally appeared. "Why don't you listen to what Diana has to say?"

Shayera looked from her husband to Diana.

"No."

"Well, I'm sorry for taking your time." She paused. "It was good to see you again ..."

Diana lowered her head and decided to leave immediately. Wally stared at his wife when they were alone.

"What?" The redhead asked.

"Aren't you going to talk to her?"

"I'm not obligated."

"Diana is your best friend. And you said she could always count on your help."

"Sometimes I hate you, Wally."

Shayera knew her husband was right, so she dropped the calculator and ran out. She saw Diana walking on the sidewalk, moving farther and farther away. It was strange to see her without the Wayne's family car, but decided to leave the questions for another time.

"Diana." She called. "Come on, let's talk."

Diana held the glass of water for the third time in a row. She tried to watch her friends' reactions, and none of them looked good.

"I don't know, Diana. It's too crazy!"

Diana had told them everything that had happened to Bruce in the last few days, as well as what she learned through Batman, including their alter-egos. And although it was hard to believe at first, she believed in her husband, and promised to get him out of that prison. She only now hoped her friends would believe, and cooperate with the madness that she intended to do.

"Do you really think that your pregnancy, our life, all this is a figment of Wayne's imagination?"

"Yes. I decided to give my vote of confidence to Bruce and I will help him as best I can."

"If none of this is real ... would you sacrifice everything for him?"

She paused for a moment to think. She knew the risks she would take, even if she had to give up her perfect life. But then she remembered Bruce giving up all that too, only to continue as a symbol of hope on the other side. Even if his other life was full of pain and suffering, Bruce would sacrifice everything for the sake of others, including hers. And Diana would do the same for him.

"I love him. Maybe the only real thing in this world is my love."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I don't." She said firmly. "But if you stop to think, you will realize that our memories are not as old or deep as they seem. We're not real. We are nothing but Bruce's mind. And he needs help to get back to his reality where he is in danger."

After Diana's thrilled and true words, the couple looked at each other. There was a long silence, until ...

"I believe her." Wally glared at the wife. "And you, Shay?"

Shayera was still reluctant to herself, but at last she sighed and nodded.

"If we believe in this crazy history, what do you want?"

The two women stood before the large gate separating the Arkham Asylum from the "normal" world. Even though it was afternoon, and the sunlight covered much of the environment, the place was still scary. Maybe was the criminals trapped on the other side, or the gloomy atmosphere, but the place looked like a horror film.

"This place gives me the creeps." Shayera rubbed her arms. "Dr. Frankstein would love to live here."

Diana shrugged, ignoring her friend and looking around. She searched, and waited, until the figure who sought so much to appear cautious behind a bush. The nurse drew them to his hiding place.

He was the same one that had helped her in the other time. He was a young Latin boy, he would not have been more than thirty years old. Tucked into the Arkham workers' uniform, he looked around, apprehensive and a little unsure. He rubbed his hands and looked around. The boy looked at the two women. Both had dark hair, dressed in jeans and sweats. Similar height, similar in appearance. He shook his head.

"I don't know, Mrs. Wayne. I have orders from Dr. Ledger. I can't let anyone see Mr. Wayne. He is isolated from others because he is considered dangerous."

"And someone here is not dangerous?"

"I'm not." Diana took a thick envelope from her sweatshirt pocket and handed it to the nurse. "It's all I have."

The boy looked from Diana to the envelope, and counted the money notes. It was a generous amount, as it had been the other time. It was against ethics, however, money was good enough to refuse. He put the envelope away and nodded.

"If they catch you, I don't know anything. Be quick."

The two women followed the nurse. Diana did not know his name, and she did not bother to ask. She just wanted to get to Bruce right away and get him out of that damn place. After walking through dark and poorly maintained corridors, past cells and hearing agonized cries, they finally reached the cell where Bruce was.

"I'll leave you alone."

When the nurse left, Diana ran to her husband in a straitjacket. She touched his face.

"God, Bruce! You don't deserve it!"

She kissed his face, then tried to free him from the straitjacket, yet the efforts were in vain. She screamed in frustration.

"I can't get that!"

"Leave it for when we leave. I don't trust that man."

Bruce looked up and saw the figure of the other woman standing in the doorway, staring out into the hallways. She dressed like Diana, but that was not his wife. Whatever they were up to, it was not the time to ask questions. Diana and Bruce got to their feet. Then, the three left that cell, and went on their way to freedom. But first, they had to leave Arkham.

Like all employees of that place, he was an unnamed one. He was just another nurse. He earned little, worked hard, cared for crazy people. And he saw no harm in earning an extra. He had no idea what women were up to, just wanted to know about the money he got.

He counted his notes down the empty corridor, when he bumped into someone. He fell, and the envelope went to the floor too, spreading his money. He got down on his knees, collecting his deserved bribe, ready to let out a curse, when someone stepped on the hand that was trying to reach the money. The nurse looked up.

Dr. Ledger was a macabre figure. He was not tall, but the sinister look and smile hid something beneath that psychiatrist's appearance. The nurse swallowed. Ledger bent down and picked up some of the scattered notes.

"What do you have to say about that, nurse?"

"I'm sorry, Dr. Ledger. I needed the money ..."

With unusual force, the doctor lifted the poor boy by the neck and pressed it against the wall.

"Better to start talking."

"He said he'd leave the door unlocked for us."

The three of them stopped as they turned the corridor, and instead of a door, just another wall, just like the others.

"Are you sure this was the way?"

"Yes, yes. It was here ..."

Bruce wanted to check the wall, but his hands were tied. Diana touched his shoulder, and pulled him down the hall.

"Let's continue walking, maybe we'll find a way out ..."

They stopped. None of them had any idea how it happened, but down the hall, they saw Dr. Ledger with his sinister grin, and several security guards behind him. The doctor shook his head.

"No, no, no!" He laughed. "You're not going to do it!"

His words hit Bruce. It was like going back in time, to the fateful day in the alley. If Bruce still doubted it, it'd come undone. Dr. Ledger and the clown who saved his family years ago, were the same in that reality. And in the other, in his real world, he was his worst enemy, the Joker. He just did not understand how the sinister figure ended up in that dream.

"You could have had a long and prosperous life in this world." He said, angry. "But no, you chose the truth, and now you're going to pay for it. Your final moments will be the worst nightmare that you can't escape. Get them!"

Under his orders, the security guards rushed after Bruce and the women. The three returned by the way they came, trying to find the door to leave. Or at least hide. Turning back, Shayera stopped running. A few meters ahead, Diana and Bruce also stopped. Diana knew their time was over, and even then, she went to her friend. The redhead was shaking, so Diana took her hand, but the redhead pushed it away.

"Keep walking." She said. "Are you sure we're not real?"

"If Bruce is right, it's just his imagination. Nothing here exists."

"Shayera?"

"I'm fine, keep walking." She paused. "I'm sorry."

So she understood. Diana did not want to, but the shadows of the security guards slammed into the wall. Her mission was to get Bruce out of that world, and she would, even if she ceased to exist. She loved him, regardless of reality, and he deserved to be free. With a nod, they walked away as fast as they could.

Diana barely left, and Shayera heard the voices.

"Hey, stop!"

Someone grabbed her hair and pulled at her wig. Shayera turned to the doctor, and the group of security guards who came with him. Ledger saw the red-haired woman with her hands raised. It was not who he was looking for. He turned his back on her, leaving her with the security guards.

"She's not important. Do whatever you want."

Diana listened to the security guards with Shayera, and she simply could not help. They just had to get out of there, fast. Or all their effort would be in vain.

Soon the second part.

Gratitude!