Disclaimer: All characters belong to DC, with the exception of Magda, Jim, and Danny. Everyone who is still sticking with me, Thank you! The next two chapters deal exclusively with Dr. Jonathan Crane. I'll say PG-13 for violence.

I stood outside Arkham at three pm sharp. I saw the main door slide open and Dr. Crane walk out. He was in a well tailored brown suit. Briefcase in hand, he walked to the front gate slowly. He wore a grimace on his face that matched his disheveled brown hair. I stood off to the side with my head down waiting for the right moment to approach him. He stopped and looked at his watch. He must be expecting a ride. I proceed to get closer. "Dr. Crane?" My voice must not of carried. I got close enough to tug on his sleeve. "Dr. Crane?"

His drowsy eyes focused on me, and a grin washed over his face. "You were here yesterday." He brings a hand up underneath my chin, and his icy stare meets mine. "Magda dear. What are you doing here?"

He caught me off guard remembering my name. "I need some help." He gave me a curious look and lowered his hand.

"Well depending on what it is, I might be able to." His smile disappearing.

I took a deep breath and took this slowly, "I feel weird saying this, but I need money. Twenty-five thousand dollars to be exact. I know you provide chemicals to many of the villains, and your usually well off."

His eyes narrowed, "And what makes you think I would give you any?"

I tried to remain sincere, "Because I would be willing to show you what I'm afraid of."

He suddenly pulled me up by my sweater. "Don't mock my work dear." His eyes didn't look the same. That anger made them turn darker. "If you test my patience, you won't like the consequences." He lowered me back down as a car was coming down the street.

I spoke in a low innocent voice, "I didn't mean to offend you, honest. Your a smart man. I'm sure you know what desperation can do to someone. I'm coming to you only because I know how much your work means to you." I felt my face get flush, "If I don't have this money in two days, then I'm a goner! I could go around borrowing and stealing, and never come up with that amount, only to end up dead. Or." I locked eyes with him, "I could surrender myself to you for a twenty four hour period, no questions asked, with only the possibility of dying from your experiments. If I survive then I get my money, and you gain more knowledge for your cause." The car pulled up beside him.

He seemed intrigued, "Well your case is very compelling. And I've never had a WILLING participant before. That could change a couple things in my research, hopefully for the better. You said it was twenty four hours, in exchange for twenty-five thousand dollars?" A smile appeared on his face.

"Yes, that's right." I got nervous.

He sized me up, and raised an eyebrow. "Then I guess you'll be coming with me now." He opened up the chair door. I was a little stunned and didn't move. He motioned for me to get in. I took a deep breath and slid across the black leather seat. The door closed with a thud. He got in on the other side, and the car began to drive away. I settled my backpack between my feet, and looked over at him. He had already pulled out a leather bound notebook from his briefcase. I heard the click of a pen.

I said nervously, "I guess we aren't wasting any time."

"Astute observation dear. Now. I would like for you to tell me about your background. I normally don't have the opportunity to get to know my...patients." He stared at me intently.

I looked down at my feet, "Um. Well I grew up in the orphanage from the age of five. That's when my mother got sick, and couldn't take care of me. I don't have relatives. Um...I'm not sure what else you need to know."

He sounded annoyed, "Let me make it a little easier. We can do a simple question and answer. What's your full name?"

"Magda Lynn McGuire"

"What was your mother's name?"

"It was Mary, and was never married. I guess that's a little ironic." My nervousness made me prattle on.

"Now we're getting somewhere. And your father? Did she ever tell you who he was?"

"No, she didn't. She only told me that he was too busy. Too busy to have a family."

He scratched something down in the notebook. "How curious. How would you describe your upbringing at the orphanage?"

"Fine I guess. Being surrounded by so many other kids, it had its good and bad moments. It was hard to make any friends, or get close to anyone because you never knew when they might get adopted."

"Did you ever manage to grow close to anyone?"

"Yes, only one person." My heart started to race. "His name was Daniel Green. He didn't grow up there, like I had."

He raised an eyebrow, "So then this Daniel was older when you met?"

"Yes, I was twelve and he was thirteen when we met, but I soon found out that our age was only a difference of a couple months. There is a certain age in which you can assume that if you weren't adopted, then you never would be. We were both past that age. Although he was skipped back and forth through the system several times before he turned eighteen."

"So in others words, he always came back to you?"

I fell silent for a while and my heart caught in my chest. He reached over and pressed his thumb against my wrist, then wrote something down. "Sure, but I tried to never dwell on things I couldn't control." I shifted around in my seat.

"Well that's only logical. So this relationship you had with him. Was it purely a friendship, or something more?" His thumb rested on my paulse again.

I felt nervous and looked out the window. "It was complicated. We were close, but not inseparable. We shared a lot of memories together." He let go of my wrist.

"I think I understand. And what happened when he turned eighteen? Did he leave?"

"Yes, but he came back one night not too long after he left. He told me how it was on the outside. He warned me not to trust what they were going to say, and he said he would be waiting for me."

"And when that time came, did you find him?"

I took in a quick breath and let it out, "No. No I didn't, and now I'm in my current situation."

He shut his notebook. "Then I think that's enough for now." We drove for another ten minutes, and ended up in front of an old abandoned Ace Chemicals building. He got out and came around to my door. I got out with my backpack and the car drove away. He began walking and I followed close behind. We ended up in a moderately sized facility. It had a lab, an office, and what looked like a resting or decontamination area.

He put his briefcase down on a table and turned to me, "Would you like to take a hot shower?"

I raised an eyebrow, "I thought you were utilizing every minute?"

"I am, but it looks like you could use one. And it always helps to be relaxed for what's about to happen next." He gave me a smile that didn't reassure me.

I looked around, "Sure, where is it?"

"Over in the corner is a room with a cot and a full bath. I'll come in a retrieved you in forty five minutes. That should give me enough time to prep."

I found the room and shut the door behind me. When I looked for a lock, there wasn't one. Great! I put my stuff down on the cot and undressed. At the edge of the bed was a stack of towels. I took them with me, and went into the bathroom. No lock again. I tossed the towels on the sink, and stepped into the shower. Turning on the shower, I got the water nice and hot. I had a feeling he was right, and I was going to need this more than I thought. Letting the mist wash over me I leaned up against the wall. I closed my eyes and let my mind drift. What could I possibly be afraid of? Danny. I opened up about him. I should be able to trust him. It's just a part of the process right? Danny's face stayed on my mind. I moved back in front of the shower stream. All those times we had together. I couldn't help it. I began to cry. I feel so alone. He was the only one I trusted. What do I do? Try and escape after this little charade? Or just give in and except this new...family?

I washed myself the best I could with the bar of soap I found in the shower. I turned off the water and got out, wrapping a towel around me. When I went back to the cot my things were gone. The only things that were left were a bra and a pair of panties. What the hell! I dried myself off and put them on. Wrapping myself in the other dry towel, I went to find Crane in an angry huff. As I approached what looked like the lab door, there was a stench getting stronger. Instinctively I put the towel over my face. I opened the door and went inside. The room was very well lit, to the point of hurting my eyes. I squinted until my vision could adjust, and to my horror I saw him dragging a dead body from a cage in the corner of the room. He didn't hear me walk in and became angry when he noticed me.

"I said I would come and get you!" He dropped the body and moved toward me in fluid steps. Reaching out a hand he grabbed the towel from me, and flung it over the corpse. "Don't just stand there, help me!" I froze, and he grabbed me by the wrist. Pulling me close to him, there was a flash of anger in his eyes. His voice snarled, "Like it or not if you want that money you'll help! Lift him by the shoulders and follow me." My body started to shake as I touched the cold man. He was so stiff and heavy. It looked like he had been there awhile. I lifted and followed him over to a laundry shoot. He stuck his end into it, and helped me push the body the rest of the way through.

I panicked and didn't know what to do with my hands. "Is there a sink anywhere?" He pointed to the right. I rushed over and began rubbing my hands vigorously, to the point of seeing blood in the water. Resting my hands on the edge of the sink, I tried to control my shaking. Many deep breaths later, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned and pushed him back screaming, "What the fuck just happened!? And where is my stuff?" I felt a sharp pain reach across my cheek as he slapped me.

His blue eyes hooded he spat, "Keep those emotions in check dear! It was nothing. When I was caught last, I left him here. He must of died from his last dose of fear toxin. These things happen from time to time. And as for your stuff, don't worry I have it in this room. I needed to make sure you didn't have any weapons on you, and sure enough you did." He didn't show any remorse, but why should that surprise me. "Since you came back so soon, I'm assuming you are ready?"

My voice had a stutter to it while I was still in shock. "S...s...su...sure." I was still dumbfounded when he picked me up and carried me over to a chair. Zoning out as I heard metal clicking, I felt the pressure around my wrists and snapped back to reality. I tugged at the restraints panicking, "Is this necessary?"

He was bent over securing my ankles. "Yes it always is. It's for your own protection. Once you are fully immersed in your fear, I can let you go and study your reaction freely. But first I need to do a simple test." He pulled up a chair across from me and got close to my face. He stared at me, never blinking. His blue eyes haunting. "Focus on me. Listen to the sound of my voice. You feel tired, and your eyes are getting heavy. Each passing moment they get heavier, and heavier." I could feel my eyes slowly fluttering shut. "I am in control. You will be calm, and when you open your eyes, you will answer every question I ask truthfully. When I am finished, I will snap my fingers and you will come back to reality." He touched my shoulder. "Now open your eyes."

I did so, and I felt nothing. It didn't work. My eyes darted around the room and I caught a glimpse of interest in his face. Confused, I retorted, "Your wasting your time Crane." He gave me a grin and jotted something down in his notebook.

"Bravo. Hypnosis has no effect on you. Weak minded you are not." The inflection of his voice sounded excited. "You truly are a special creature. Only ten percent of the population can withstand that."

I was a little bit relieved, "How many more hours do we have to go?"

He looked down on his wrist. "Twenty one. Are you feeling tired my dear? If you are just let me know. I have many vials of stimulants waiting to be used. Don't expect to get any sleep tonight." He got up from his seat and let out a low laugh. "Let me finish preparing the doses. I'll only be a couple minutes. Try and think happy thoughts." The sound of clinking glass caught my attention. Not long after that, squeaking from an old cart came from across the room. It settled beside me containing a neat rows of syringes with a little bit of clear liquid in them. "I'm sure you can count. One per hour. Eighteen in all."

"Why not twenty one?" He took his seat back in front of me.

"Because the last one is my most lethal. It requires more time. If you can survive it then you definitely deserve that money." I tried to thrash around in the chair. "Do you have any requests before we get started?"

My voice was loud and full of dread, "I thought I could trust you! They are right about you! You are a monster!" He jumped out of his chair and squeezed my neck with his hand. I couldn't breath. His eyes grew darker as his grip grew tighter.

"I'm no more of a monster than your boss! At least I can serve a purpose, and not just resort to senseless violence. And in the name of what!? His own ego?" He let go and his eyes lightened. I struggled to breath. "Don't test me again child." He reached over to the cart and took the first syringe in hand. "I hope your not afraid of needles." He gave a sadistic chuckle. I felt a pinch, and anticipated something. "There we go! It will take a couple minutes to course through your system." He looked at his watch.

AN: Please feel free to comment, review, like, or favorite. I'm looking for any feedback you have on how I can improve the story. If you thought this was intense, just wait for part two!