(Hey everyone! I am so sorry I haven't been writing lately, I've been really busy at school and I just couldn't find the time to upload any more of my story. Also, thank you so much for reading and I hope you all enjoy this chapter. It's probably my favorite so far. I know my lyric writing isn't the best, so be nice!)
At twelve thirty, a group of guards enter Meg's cell.
"What's the big idea?" she cries only to be sedated by one of them holding a large syringe. "Man, what the hell-?" she mumbles. Then her eyes glaze over and she is taken to the interview room once more. Bruce Wayne is already waiting. "Oh, hey!" she says, "Whassup?"
"Meg, I heard today was your operation day. I wanted to make sure you were alright."
"You know, you've got a lot of balls coming to see me again. Especially today."
"Meg, please don't do anything stupid. If you try to break out, I can't help you and you will be brought to justice."
"Justice, schmustice. I won't try anything Brucie, I'm reformed," she giggles, "I'll be more than happy to live out the rest of my life in my cell. Alone. Forever. Or, maybe when I'm a mute, they'll let me out of my cage right?"
"You'll be fine."
"Hey Bruce, you know anything about Batman?" asks Meg drowsily. He pauses.
"Not formally. I know he's done some helpful things for Gotham City though."
"Well, if you see him, could you give him a message from me?" Bruce just stares at her. "Tell him it's too late. There's no way to save me now. I'll see you later Mr. Wayne. I have a date tonight." She turns and waves to the camera behind her. Four guards enter and take her out of the room. Bruce Wayne stands to leave, straightening his tie.
Maybe it`s not too late, he thinks, leaving.
Meg is thrown back into her cell.
"A little respect would be nice!" she shouts to the door as it slams shut.
"Are you alright?" asks Bertrand through the grate.
"Huh? Oh, fine. I just need a minute to shake this drug out of my system."
"Does it hurt?"
"Huh?" Meg shakes her head, no, "It's fine. Don't worry. I'll be ready by the time the patrol comes. I swear, Bertrand."
"I hope so," he mutters under his breath. He turns to face the wall behind him and grimaces anxiously.
"I will. I promise I will make you proud," she smiles. Bertrand turns to face her, smiling as well.
"I'm already proud." With that, the two sit silently on their beds and wait for the patrol.
One-thirty PM: Meg and Bertrand wait anxiously in their cells for the regular guard to pass by. Within seconds, he does and Bertrand nods subtly to Meg who, checking to make sure both of their door slots are wedged open, cries out in pain and crashes against the glass. The guard spins around, confused, not really thinking of how he could hear the prisoner in the soundproof room.
"Help me!" she screams. She falls to the ground and begins to spasm uncontrollably. The guard peers through the window, shocked, then shakily removes the key ring from his belt and opens the door.
"Are you alright?" he asks, rushing to crouch by her side as a strange fog creeps into his mind. Meg stops thrashing and grabs the guard's belt, throwing the Taser across the floor.
"Never better," she replies. She quickly removes the bat-plugs from his ears and rolls across the floor.
"What the-?" the guard murmurs. Then he stops as he hears Bertrand's voice bot through the vent and across the hall.
"They thought that they could hold us
They thought we'd just stay still
It's time to show they can't control us,
This time, it's all real." The guard's eyes glaze over as he falls under the Meister's spell. Meg joins in on the second verse and picks up the Taser.
"So stand up boy and help to make
A brand new start for us,
Everything is about to change
Let him out, it's time for our success." The guard stands and dances to Bertrand's door, key in hand, and opens it with a flourish. Bertrand hops out and takes Meg by the hand.
"Ready?" he whispers.
"Ready," she nods. The three run down the hallway into the normal section of the Asylum where there is no soundproof glass to stop them.
"We need people to bust us out
It's a jailbreak. Jailbreak.
If you're ready to move and go all-out
Come on, jailbreak. Jailbreak." The guard opens several cells with his key and some of Gotham's finest leap out and join the growing chorus. "Jailbreak, jailbreak." Meg glances down an adjoining hallway to see a group of guards barreling towards them. She pokes Bertrand in the ribs.
"Take them down!" he belts over the chorus. The villains leap on top of the guards, overpowering them immediately. The earplugs are soon ripped from their ears and handed to Bertrand. The newly hypnotized guards begin opening cells as well, all the while singing. "Jailbreak, jailbreak." The horde grows larger and larger as they draw nearer to the exit. All guards attempting to stop them are subdued and turned. As the huge group of dancing villains and guards exit the Asylum, Meg and Bertrand fall back into the crowd. They flood the streets, terrifying the innocent citizens. Their cover works perfectly as Meg and Bertrand slip down an alleyway away from the throng. Without orders, the horde begins to wake from their trance. Quickly, the former inmates flee the scene and the guards try their best without weapons to apprehend them.
"That was incredible!" cries Meg as soon as they are a few blocks away. Bertrand grins at her.
"You did well," he says, then adds slyly; "for a rookie." Meg punches him playfully.
"You jerk!" she laughs, "Okay, okay, where to now?"
"Now, to my home. I think you'll really like it." The pair rounds a corner and Bertrand makes a large sweeping gesture to the run-down building. Meg smiles and they walk along the sidewalk as nonchalantly as possible before ducking into the dusty entryway. At first, it is nothing impressive, an old lobby, covered in grime. Bertrand takes Meg by the arm and leads her into the theater. She gasps with shock.
The theater is large and grand with brass accents and long, red, velvet curtains. Hundreds of seats surround a large, rounded stage containing a piano and a pipe organ. Meg, who had only seen a theater once, was blown away. "What do you think?" asks Bertrand.
"It's amazing," she says, walking down the aisle to the stage. "I mean it, I just, wow." she turns to smile at Bertrand.
"That's not even the best part," he says, taking her by the hand and leading her up the stage. He pulls her to the center and she gazes out at the empty seats. "Picture it: standing here, singing, the entire world watching, just you and me." she turns to face him. "We could be together forever you know."
"I know. I promised."
"But if you hadn't promised, would you still stay?" Meg bites her lower lip in thought. Bertrand takes her chin in his hand gently and pulls her face towards his. She closes her eyes and kisses him willingly. And they stand like that, holding each other for a while before coming apart. "How about now?" asks Bertrand softly. Meg looks into his eyes, expecting to feel pulled, controlled. Instead, all she sees is genuine concern and hope.
"Yes," she replies. Bertrand grins happily like a little boy and pulls her by the hand back stage where he obviously lives. A room with a gold star on the doorway is obviously his bedroom several others are full of various devices, props and costumes. Bertrand pulls a rack from one of the rooms and takes off a hanger with a black suit and powdered white shirt.
"I'm going to change," he says excitedly, "pick out whatever you want and meet me on the stage in ten minutes." He hurries to his room, humming happily. Meg, dazzled, opens one of the doors to see a huge array of gowns and suits. For a girl who had never really had much else than a sweater and a pair of jeans, this was a treat. She begins pulling dresses off hangers and placing them in front of her, trying to decide which would be best. A new dress and a first kiss all in one night? It seemed too good to be true. Finally, Meg decides on a long, flowing, elegant, pink summer gown. She grabs a brush from a shelf and combs out her tangled mess of brown hair. She looks at herself in a body mirror and pulls her hair back into a bun. She manages to find a pink rose accent for her hair and neatly tucks it behind her ear. She also finds a pair of white dress shoes and slips them on. Looking at herself one final time, she leaves the room, flicking the light switch on her way out. Nervously, she walks onto the stage. Bertrand is already waiting at the piano. When he sees her, he stands and she sees his suit, his beautifully combed orange hair, and his startling green eyes. "You look gorgeous," he says. He blushes and looks away, "Ah yes, well, it's still a bit early for dinner so I thought I might give you a little more of a tour." He extends an arm and Meg blushes slightly as she takes it.
The two look in several of the backstage rooms and Bertrand shows Meg to one of her very own.
"I've never had my own room before," she says, "Hell, I've never had my own bed before."
"We can paint it if you like, and decorate it. Anything, as long as you're comfortable." He shows her the washroom, the other storerooms ("You can have any clothes you want,") and finally takes her upstairs to the balcony. They look down at the stage. "Sometimes it's nice to sit up here and just rest. You can see everything and just let your mind wander. Do you like it so far?"
"I really do," Meg replies, "I've only ever been in a theater once. I snuck inside one during a performance of Phantom of the Opera. They kicked me out before I could see the end." She smiles at Bertrand who lowers his head in thought. "What's the matter?"
"Oh nothing," he straightens up, "I'm just trying to think of something we can do before dinner."
"Could we try out that organ?" asks Meg. Bertrand stands, offering a hand.
"I thought you'd never ask." The two hurry downstairs, Meg trying diligently not to trip over her dress. Within minutes, they are sitting on the bench in front of the organ. Bertrand places both hands over the keyboards. Then, with a strong, firm motion, presses down to form a clean chord. The sound fills the theater. He moves to another, and then another, each one complementing the last, each filled with contrast and notes that should never be put together. But under his masterful hands, the chords bend into beautiful music. Soon, he begins a melody in the higher register, hand flying up and down the keys. Meg slips off the bench and stands back, staring in awe at the maestro. The piece reaches a climax, a tenseness that wrenches Meg's heart, and Bertrand stands suddenly, knocking the bench backwards. Then, impossibly, he slows the melody and the chord progression and finishes softly. The air still seems to ring with the sound and Meg stands immobile until it has completely dissipated. Bertrand turns slowly towards her. "Well?" he asks, anxiously. Meg steps over the bench and hugs the musician.
"You are the most beautiful man I have ever met," she says, looking up at him. She pushes forward, kissing him hard, passionately. At first, Bertrand is surprised. But as realization floods through him, the realization that someone actually loves him, he kisses her back. And for once in both their lives, everything is perfect.