CHAPTER 10
Several things were running through Batmans mind as he soared slowly back down into the burning streets of Gotham.
For years, he has been fighting the chaos that almost swallowed the city. for decades he had been doing that. but in one night, he couldn't fight it. in one night, the city became the one thing he had been keeping it from becoming: a nightmare.
And that was just one of the things that was annoying him.
Batman landing at the end of the long street leading up to Wayne Tower.
It was worse, much worse than most other streets would be. veichles were piled up on the sidewalks like an old scrapyard. people lay on the street, dead,broken, even mutilated. the buildings were burnt, demolished and covered with graffiti, all worshipping the Joker.
He must of taken over from Riddler, Batman thought.
"Gordon, wear are you?" Batman spoke into his wrist speaker.
"The reservoir. we got our forces landed here, but we can't get to anywhere near the Wayne tower" Gordon anwered. "all the thugs are holding us off like it's D-Day"
"Focus on the rest of the city, I'm heading in to Wayne Tower. Wheres Freeze?"
"he headed for the clocktower, said that you had his wife there"
"Good. he's done all the help he ca..."
Batman was interrupted. someone had stabbed him in the side, he dropped to his knees, clutching at his bleeding wound. he collapsed forward when his attacker stabbed him in the shoulder.
"Damn it!" He groaned.
"I may be damned, but i'm not an it"
Batman knew that voice. Zsasz.
"he quickly, painfully stood up and faced the tally marked man.
"Oh, i thought you would want to see your dear Robin" Zsasz mocked.
'Robin?"
Zsasz chortled. "Notice any new tally marks, Batman?"
Batman squinted. there was a new tally mark, still bleeding, on his forehead, completing a set.
Zsasz had been saving the fifth tally mark on his forehead for a special murder. someone like Batman, someone like...
"No" Batman gasped.
'Yes. the latest Robin is gone, your in for a new sidekick again" Zsasz laughed. he lunged at the wounded Batman, swinging his knife aimlessly.
Batman kept stepping back out of harms way. he couldn't find the strength to fight.
Zsasz cut another wound, if minor, across Batmans chest, but the Dark Knight couldn't take it anymore. he collapsed backwards.
Zsasz jumped on top of his foe, fiddling with the bloody knife in his hand.
"wow, if i knew it was this easy, i would of done off the boy wonder years ago" Zsasz taunted. "Then i could of done you off, nice and easy"
Batman found his breath, and his strength. he punched Zsasz in the jaw, then kicked him off.
Zsasz lost his knife and rolled to the ground, clutching his jaw.
Batman stood up and left Zsasz, walking towards Wayne Tower.
'Your not gonna finish me?" Zsasz asked.
"No, i'm going to finish this fight" Batman anwsered.
"before you go, take this"
Zsasz though a small sack at Batman. Batman turned and caught it. fearing what was inside, he opened it. he gasped, tears came to his eyes.
"Courtesy of the Joker" Zsasz laughed. "although, i did most of the work"
Batman dropped the sack with Robins decapitated head in it, and ran at Zsasz, who was making to crawl away.
Batman turned Zsasz over, then began tp punch him repeatedly and unmercifully.
Blood spurted from Zsasz's nose and mouth, every bone in his face breaking.
Batman roared as he threw a final punch at Zsasz.
He was breathing heavily.
Angry, he was shocked at what he had just done.
He swore never to shed blood in his crime figthing...he had just broken his vow.
Batman stood up, slowly and weakily. it was not his fault. he wasn't going to turn over to insanity or evil.
No.
This was nothing.
He turned and faced Wayne Tower.
this fight was coming to an end.
Joker was looking out the window. Harley was cuddling up to him, humming cheerfully to herself.
'Now that is what i call a horror movie" Joker said. he watched as Batman walked away from Zsasz's near dead body towards Wayne Tower.
"Our guest of honor is coming Mr. J" Harley giggled.
"Indeed he is Harley. go give him a nice warm welcome, i'm going to do the finishing touches for our party"
Batman kicked down what was left of the main doors into Wayne Tower.
as soon as he walked in, the Jokers goons were running at him from everywhere.
He punched the first that reached him to the ground. threw an uppercut at the second one then high kicked the third.
Another came up beside him swinging a lead pipe. Batman held his arm up, blocking each swing. he grabbed the lead pipe out of the thugs' hand and bashed it over his head. the thug fell to the ground.
Batman fired a bat claw at the ceiling, and swung himself up to the balcony overlooking the main entry foyer, the thugs were too late to catch him.
As soon as he landed on the balcony, he was kicked in the jaw by Harley Quinn.
"Hey big bat" she sang, leading another kick to Batmans chest, exactly where Zsasz had cut him. Batman clutched at his wound and fell to the side.
"Oooo, sorry. i didn't mean to kick you too hard"
Harley punched Batman in the jaw, he spat out blood.
"But a punch is something entirely different" Harley laughed.
Harley made to punch him again. Batman grabbed Harleys hand before it made contact, he punched her in the ribs.
She let out a squeakish gasp as she fell back.
"Ow. hey, you can't hit a girl" she cryed.
Batman stood back up. Harley kicked him again,he fellback down
"Now come on. hitting a girl is wrong, but being beaten up by one is just stupid"
Batman quickly stood up again and grabbed Harely by her shoulders.
'How about throwing?" he said.
"Throwing?"
Batman picked Harley up and threw her over the balcony into the army of thugs below.
he watched as Harley and the thugs shuffled around and stood back up. he turned around and moved for the elevator, stepping inside and pressing the buttons to take him to the top floor.
This fight was about to end.