Chapter 10: Innocence Evolves Into Corruption (Enigma's Narrative)
Alex was just silent after I told her everything. She looked at me as if she was was seeing an entirely different person. It's already 9 PM and I have to get going. I stand up to gather my things to leave. Finally Alex said something, "Why do you love him so much? You know if he see's what you're going to do there will be bad blood between you two."
"There won't be." I said.
"How can you even be sure? What makes you think he'll won't help them?"
"Edward is not into kidnapping young girls and taking their pictures. All he does is riddles, commit crimes, and occasionally kill a few people or two. Well at least that's was the Riddler does."
"Meaning that's now what you do?"
"Exactly. I'm not asking you to like it just accept it. The Riddler is now my name and I am one of the big time villains of Gotham. If becoming this villain is what it's going to take to keep Edward safe and away from this life that's exactly what I'm going to do."
"What about Galavan then? What are you going to do with him?"
"Kill him of course. I must follow the timeline Alex or else everyone in Gotham dies."
"How many people do you have to kill?"
"So far, Kristen, and Galavan. Penguin's mother has to die by Tabitha's hands though. I know it sucks but I can't even change it. I can only change the things that are not crucial to a important person."
"What was Hanna then, not important?"
"She was very important, Alex. She was the one who gave me these powers. She trusted me with them to do good. I just can't save everybody."
"I don't think the definition of good means to become a criminal."
"Look at it any way you want, Alex. Now I have to get to work."
"Let me come with you."
"No, you'll only give my identity away if you come with me. Look give me your number and I'll call you when it's over."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
... (Alastor's Narrative)
After I was done taking pictures of the girl I let Kristen take her back home. Before she took off she asked, "So what did he say?"
"He'll help me."
"So why is he still asleep?"
"You wouldn't understand if I told you."
"Try me, Alastor."
Why is she so interested? I said to her, "He's like Nero. He has the same innocence she does."
"What do you mean? How so?"
"Kristen, when you were dating him for the past few weeks. Didn't you notice how conservative he was? That he would speak about other things besides himself?"
"Well yeah he would say a lot of riddles until he annoys the hell out of me with them."
"Nero wouldn't say riddles but she would mention other things besides herself. Like games, YouTube, drinks, pictures, music, and all this other information that not even I know of. I didn't find it annoying I've found it charming and pure. Except I knew deep down inside them they both have a damaged past."
"... Are you saying right now, you want to take pictures of my boyfriend?"
"Boyfriend? Whatever happened to my pet?"
"... Fine go ahead. I'm not stopping you. It's just weird that you want take photo's of a man. The only time you ever do that is if someone is paying you to do it."
"You have no idea how rare Edward is do you?"
"Alastor, you pay me to help you get your subjects and prepare them. I don't have to understand anything."
"Of course. I can't believe I've even forgotten who I was talking to. Come back with something for him to eat."
She took off without another word. I cut the duct tape off that was binding Edward to the chair. I drag him over onto the studio mat and took off his jacket, glasses, and tie. I look through his pant's pockets and took out a pocket knife, keys, and a packet gum. I then duct tape his wrists together in front of him. Taped his thighs and ankles together. I then use his tie to gag him.
I get my camera ready and work on the lighting. I took pictures of him from different angles and move his body in different positions. If only Nero was still alive. I could have got them together and taken wonderful pictures. Two of them side by side. Oh Nero, I miss you so much. Ever since I've met Edward, it feels like you're alive again.
I took a closer shot of his face. How innocent he looks as he sleeps. I wonder, if his skin as smoothed as hers? Kristen was able to touch it, so why can't I? I caressed his right cheek. It's soft just like Nero's. Right there and then I don't want anyone to touch him. I'm not going to let Kristen near him again. She treats him too low to be his girlfriend.
I wonder what compels him to talk about riddles? Is it an outlet to get through the days? Or is it just a way to make things interesting? If so, why riddles? With Nero she would talk about a lot of things. Once he wakes up I'm going to have to take off his gag to hear a few riddles.
I now consider him real special to me. Galavan took away two of my girls, I'm not going to let him get Edward too. I'll protect him until I'm able to kill Galavan. When I've changed the lighting to green I've realized how well it complimented Edward. Green is his color.
During my session of taking pictures of him. Suddenly I heard someone walking down here. "Is that you Kristen?!" I called out. If so that was really fast. Though when I heard a female voice it wasn't from Kristen.
"Riddle Me This Riddle Me That. Tell me Alastor." I couldn't believe my eyes to see the Riddler come down here, "They try to beat me, they try in vain. And when I win, I end the pain. What am I Alastor?"
"... I expected to only hear riddles from him. How did you find me?"
"I'm the one who asking the questions Alastor. Now tell me the answer to the riddle, and I'll won't break your limbs."
I've never heard of the Riddler breaking limbs before. She doesn't look capable but then again, villains always surprise you. I thought over about her riddle until I came up with an answer. I said, "The answer is death."
"Correct. A professor of photography and he yet he knows his riddles. I'm surprised you even had a brain at all Alastor."
She walked past me to go near my subject. "Don't touch him." I immediately said. She suddenly turned around and side kicked me in the chest! I fallen back into the chair where I had Edward tied to. She then toss a metal ball at me which sprung out wires that bind me to the chair.
"Me don't touch him?" said Riddler, "You shouldn't have even come near him. Edward Nygma belong to me, not you."
"How do you know about me? Are you working for Galavan?"
"Hell no. Galavan has nothing to do with me being here at all. I came here for two reason. For him and Kristen."
"Kristen? Why?"
"Because she needs to die. What a perfect place to do so too. So far out from Gotham inside your Dark Room."
She toss her questioned mark can and bowler hat onto the black couch of mine. She suddenly walk towards me until she was standing right in front of me. She looked down upon me with those mint green piercing eyes... Wait, mint green?... I know those eyes.
She said, "You know it's so nice to see you tied up for a change. Mind if I take pictures of you this time?" When she took off her eye mask and half face mask. I was shock to see the familiar face of my Nero.
"Nero?" I said her name, "You're... You're alive?"
"Of course I'm alive. You didn't think Galavan was gonna get the better of me did you?"
"... Nero why are you the Riddler?"
"Well I could explain but I don't have to explain myself to you."
She walk over to the tripod where I've set my camera. She took the camera in her hands to turn to me and take a picture. "Nice." she said, "A memento to cherish." She then go through the previous pictures I've taken of Edward. "Despite that these are pretty good shots. These still make me sick. This is not capturing innocence, Alastor. This is."
She took out a picture from her vest pocket and show me a picture of Edward sitting in a booth of a diner smiling. "You say that you preserve innocence. That's not what you do. You just get off on people who look helpless. What did you say to me about it? Oh that's right, innocence evolves into corruption. This picture that I'm holding right now. Was the only moment I've ever saw Edward truly happy." She put the picture away. "You wouldn't even know what true happiness is even if it hit you in the face."
She toss the camera on the couch so she can go over to Edward's side. Instead of untying him she held him in her arms while petting his hair. She looked at me as she asked, "Did you hurt him?"
"No. I don't hurt my subjects."
"Of course you don't. How long is Edward going to be asleep?"
"I gave him a sedative earlier when he came down here. But only to knock him out for 20 minutes to tie him up. This drug I gave him is ATP. It will keep him asleep for hours."
"Exactly how long?"
"Up to 5 or 6."
"Hmm, well it's long enough."
Suddenly she picked him up in her arms as she stands up. How can she do that? He may felt a little light to me but he can't be that light to her size. "Where are you taking him?"
"To my car so he can rest there. Don't worry I'll be coming back."
After she done that she came around back in front of me to sit down on the floor again. She looked up at me as she said, "You know I'm still wondering if I should you kill you too? After all the shit you put me through?"
"What do you mean? I've never even took pictures of you!"
"Oh you have, just not in this reality. You don't understand right now because I've prevented you and Galavan from even getting close to me." She suddenly run her hands up my legs to stop at my knees. "I remember when you had me tied up. Taking pictures of me from every angle to every different position. Instead of me saving Edward from the Dark Room, it was him. Except it wasn't from this Dark Room. Oh yes, I know about your 2nd one that's back in Gotham."
"You know a lot about me don't you?"
"You can say I almost know everything about you, Professor Harrison."
I've haven't heard her call me that in a while. It's almost refreshing to my ears. I couldn't help but smile as I asked her, "So how exactly are you going to kill Kristen?"
"I was thinking about stabbing her to death like how I did to Officer Dougherty. But since I the blood will only ruin this room, suffocation is in order. Of course I have to get rid of the body which is even more work... You know what now that I think about it, what the hey. I should have a little bit more fun with her before I just kill her off."
"And what about me? Still thinking on it?"
"Hmm... Then again you said you were protecting me from Galavan, but that doesn't excuse you from kidnapping the other girls. Now only is it a hobby but a job... Nah, killing you is just letting you off the hook. I have enough evidence to put you in jail for a long time."
"... Tell me why you became a villain? Why call yourself the Riddler?"
"Like I said, I don't have to explain myself to you."
"Then why bother putting me in jail? Don't you want to get rid of Galavan? I can help you."
"Because you and I have nothing but bad blood between us. My innocence is no longer with me because of you, Dougherty, Kristen, and Galavan. Riddler would've killed you in a heart beat, but I guess the old me is still there."
Suddenly she went quiet looking off in the distance. At first I thought she was looking at something behind me, but when I turn my head to the side I see no one there. Until finally I heard her sigh and said, "Of course, I've forgotten. Villains can't let someone live who knows their secret identity. Why did I reveal myself to you anyway unless?... Unless subconsciously I want to kill you... Huh, looks like I've already made that decision."
"Nero-,"
"Nero is dead. She died the moment she killed Dougherty. When Hanna Becker disappeared. Now you're going to die to."
"But I won't-... Never mind, maybe it's for the best. Whatever I have done to you I apologize. If this is what it takes to make you happy again I'm willing to let you have my life."
"... That's exactly what I want to hear."
She stand up as she took out a small chip device I've never seen before. "What are you doing?"
"Turning you into my personal pet. Don't worry, this will only hurt a bit."
She press the device on the back of my head which dug into my skin. I wince at the pain but it was only a moment. When she got the wires to release me she said, "Just sit there and stay quiet." The device made me obey. I've never thought technology like this exists.
Suddenly we both heard Kristen walking down here. "I'm back, Alastor!" she called down. Nero took up her cane and walked out of my sight. I didn't need to turn around to see what was going on. The moment I heard the sound of a sword being unsheathed the rest you could paint a picture with that blood curdling scream.