Before the Plans
#21
Batman shook sleep away once again.
He had been tracking the Joker as he rampaged through Gotham. Every time Batman got there, the Joker had just left. It was a never ending battle, but he knew that the Joker would make a mistake sometime, and he would be there to stop him.
He caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye.
But there was nothing there. He had been awake for three days, ever since the Joker broke out. He couldn't do this much longer, but he couldn't stop either. He had to continue onwards.
Another cup of coffee.
The Joker had yet to make his move. Batman was in the Batcave, monitoring all radio and television signals in Gotham for any clue to the Jokers whereabouts.
His eyes began to close.
No. He couldn't sleep. He began to review the case in his head. He had gotten word of the Joker's breakout Monday. He swept through all of the Jokers previous hideouts. He wasn't there. But, he had managed to release laughing gas on several people in Gotham Square. Fortunately, only five had died.
Something shifted behind him.
He whirled around to face his attacker. No one was there. Sleep deprivation was making him paranoid. Back to the Joker.
More caffeine.
A few more had died as the Jokers rampage went on. The police were handling the chaotic civilians, so that was one less thing on Batman's list of things to do. Luckily, he had provided the hospital with an antidote to the Joker's gas, so they could save most afflicted by it.
A weird powder fell from the sky.
Now Batman knew he was loosing it. Sand didn't fall from the sky. At least, not in Gotham. Not in the Batcave.
He rested his head on his hand.
This was looking hopeless. How was he supposed to find Joker when he had to focus to hard on staying awake?
More powder fell.
Batman quickly turned to find a young man in stripped pajamas sprinkling sand on his head. He grabbed the mans arm and twisted it behind his back.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Trying to make you go to sleep, you're way behind schedule!"
Batman pushed him against a wall. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't dislocate your arm here and now."
"I'm the sandman! It's my job!"
Batman frowned. "The sandman doesn't exsist."
"Yes I do! I'm right here! And you're hurting me!"
"Get out of the Batcave, and don't return."
The man disappeared in an explosion of sand, which disappeared as it hit the ground.
Batman returned to his hunt for Joker. It was weird, he didn't feel as tired anymore. Maybe that guy really was the sandman, and not a figment of his imagination.
But it didn't matter, because Joker had made his mistake. Batman rushed off into the night to capture him, mentally making a note to write a new Batingency plan in case this 'sandman' showed up again.
Tada, hope you liked it. I don't knew what else to say. Nap time?
-Shadow