Chapter 21

Please read, review and enjoy!

The sun was just as unforgiving as Bane remembered it. It's scorching hot rays burning the back of his neck as he stared into the dark void in front of him. It had been some time since his last visit and for good reason. The pit was a place of pain and suffering. A rough hewn labyrinth of stone cells located at the bottom of an endless stepwell where even the strongest men struggled to survive. He had never intended to return after Talia's death but with time was running out Bane knew he had no other option but to return to the place he had once called home.

Taking the rope handed to him Bane noticed the nervous sheen of sweat that clung to his men's faces as he secured it tight around his waist. Usually he would have punished such cowardice but for once he let his anger subside. They were right to be nervous. Taking a deep breath Bane gave the rope one final tug before slowly turning around, the sight if the well like structure still causing him to tense as he stepped up onto the ledge. Looking down he saw nothing but solid black before slowly beginning his descent into the darkness of the pit.

He had returned numerous times since his rescue and practice had made the plummeting descent easier. What had once seemed impossible was now no more than a meaningless physical task but Bane did not take his freedom for granted even years later. Tilting his head back he savored the last of the suns warm rays before the stone walls stripped him of its sweet light, enclosing him in a familiar cold embrace as he slid further into the abyss. Ignoring the tightening in his chest he concentrated on his footing as the rope tugged and jarred beneath him, knowing only too well that one wrong move could send him plummeting to his death when his feet touched ground. The heavy thud of his boots echoing throughout the prison as he landed firmly on the balls of his feet.

Inhaling deeply, he slowly turned away from the wall. His eyes quickly adjusting to the darkness as he looked out onto the maze-like structure of the prison. Nothing had changed. The cells still overlooked the center the pit, barley allowing any light to reach the inhabitants inside as they watched those bathing in the murky pool below. The rusty iron bars still holding strong despite being worn with age. Behind him the rope master stood at his post awaiting the next desperate soul to try and make the impossible climb while fighting arena, still marked with chalk, remained as a means of settling feuds between men.

Becoming aware of a hushed mumbling Bane looked down to sea of faces staring back at him. Their dark, dead eyes standing out against their blue burlap ropes as they craned to see the latest arrival only to stumble back in horror as they realized it who it was that stood before them.

The revenge extracted upon Pena Dura had not been forgotten and those lucky enough to survive the massacre kept fear fresh in the latest resident's minds. Mainly murderers and rapists Bane had condemned them to life in hell once he had claimed the prison as his own. Seeing their sentence as a better punishment than execution, he had supplies delivered every month to prolong their suffering but the arrival of food always ended in bloodshed. Here, every man was for himself. Fights were a regular occurrence in which winning could mean the difference between life and death. Bane himself had suffered at the hands of many when he was a boy, having to fight men almost twice his size for the smallest of scraps and usually ending up in the doctor's quarters. As he got older, he learned to fend for himself and constantly battled with the other prisoners in order to become stronger. It had taken time and multiple beatings but eventually his hard work paid off and staked his claim on the prison and all those within it. It was due to his unchallenged authority that he was able to take care of Talia without interference for so long. Many of the other inmates had been skeptical child, deeming her too 'pretty' to be a boy but his fearsome reputation and imposing physique kept their suspicions at bay until she became too old to bathe in the communal pool. Unable to risk anyone discovering her identity, Talia was forced to wash alone in the cover of darkness while Bane stood guard living with hundreds of others made it difficult to go unseen and it was only a matter of time before someone spotted them.

Angered by the eyes that lingered upon him Bane pushed past the cowering bodies, barley giving them a second glance as he made his way up a flight of crumbling stairs. Trying not to think about anything but the task ahead he continued up the never ending stairwell until he reached the sixth level. Turning on his heel he strode down the stone corridor, passing several inmates on his way before coming to a stop outside of the last cell on the left.

Inhaling deeply he pushed open the heavy barred door, the metal groaning against his fingertips as he entered the vacant cell. Like the rest of the prison, the cell door was left unlocked allowing prisoners to come and go as they please for their was only one escape – an impossibly high vertical shaft leading to the earth's surface hundreds of feet above them but he could sense the room had been untouched despite the threat of thieves.

The cell was barley six feet wide, cold and unfeeling. There was no light, no privacy or furniture besides the metal cot pushed against the far wall. With nothing to do except wait it was easy to understand why many inmates went mad, their tortured screams often piercing the suffocating silence that accompanied them at night. Barred walls enclosed him on all sides, allowing him to look out onto the prison below. In the summer the fresher air was a relief, helping to lessen the stench of human excrement but during the colder months it provided a bitter draft, reducing the temperature to near freezing. He was fortunate to have lived here on the higher levels where he did not have to worry about flooding but it made the descent down both dangerous and time consuming.

Crouching in front of the iron bars Bane watched the activity below when he noticed a strange gleaming out of the corner of his eye. Curious as to what it was, he turned away from the ambling bodies and he knelt beside his cot. His back groaning in protest as he fumbled around until his hands wrapped around something soft and fluffy. Pulling the object out Bane stumbled back in surprise, the forbidden memories he tried so hard to forget invading his mind like the plague as he stared at the tatty teddy in his hands.

Otis had been the only possession Bane had had when he was condemned here as a child. A gift from his mother, the bear was the closest thing he had to a friend during his many years here but born and raised in hell Bane soon outgrew the bear and had intended to give it to Talia for her eighth birthday but was unable to give her it before she was forced to make her escape. He could recall everything that happened that day. He remembered the way she had clung to his chest, her tiny hands desperately clutching his rags as he pried her from him. Despite the child's pleas to stay with her Bane had hauled her onto the ledge encouraging her to make the climb as he turned to face the oncoming men. He had not expected to survive. It was his duty to protect the girl. He had promised Talia's mother, Melisandre, that he would do everything he could to keep her daughter safe so that she did not suffer her mother's fate. Bane had done what he could to fend of the advancing inmates until the mob had surrounded him on all sides. Certain that these were to be his last moments he had lifted his head to see terrified blue eyes staring back at him before hands dragged him down into the darkness.

Beaten and broken Bane somehow managed to make it back to his cell where he had collapsed in a pool of his blood. Unable to breathe he had taken the bear in his blood soaked hands, and clung to it, hoping to find some form of comfort as he awaited death the find him. The searing white hot pain causing him to roar in agony, threatening to pull him under when the doctor finally appeared through his blurred vision.

"You have returned."

The familiar voice broke Bane's concentration, bringing him back to his less painful reality and looked back over his shoulder to see the face of the prison doctor stood in the door way behind him.

"So it would seem."

"How may I be of service?"

Irritated Bane was about to send the old man away when he thought better of it and got to his feet. Flexing his muscular shoulders in a display of dominance Bane turned to face the old man. It had been a while since their last encounter and time had not been kind to him. Deep bags hung beneath his eyes with greying skin that made him look older than his sixty seven years. He had worked as the doctor's assistant when Bane had arrived so many years ago and had helped take care of him when the doctor failed to operate. But, unable to eliminate his pain, Bane had sentenced him to life in the pit unlike his friend who had suffered a slow and agonizing death.

"I'm looking for someone."

The doctor paled beneath his robes indicating that he understood what Bane asked of him. Snitching was not tolerated in the pit and informants run the risk of being killed if found out but Bane knew the doctor would not lie to him in fear of losing his life.

"I see. And who it is that you seek sir?"

"Arman." he replied sharply. His name like venom on his tongue.

He had memorized Lauren's description of the 'hooded man' over and over again. Trying to come up with any other conclusion as to who the culprit may be other but her description was so strikingly similar that even Barsad had questioned it. Bane didn't want to believe it but the resemblance was too similar to ignore and had flew out that evening to investigate further.

"Arman sir?"

"Yes. Now tell me where I may find him. I wish to speak with him alone."

"Well. I…um, I'm afraid I can't do that sir."

Anger flared in his chest. His hands curling into tight fists as he took a deliberate step towards the trembling doctor.

"You dare defy me?"

"No! No of course not sir" the man cried, shying away from Bane's advancing form. "There's just…just one small complication."

"And what is that?" Bane growled forcing the elderly man back against the bars of the cell.

The doctor looked almost green as he lifted his eyes to meet his. His expression a mixture of terror and reluctance as he craned his neck to look at the seething mass of muscle in front of him.

"He isn't here."

Bane paused. His brows pulling together in a moment of confusion before a fresh wave of heat washed over him and grabbed the doctor by his robes pulling him in close.

"You should know better than to lie to me Demetri" Bane growled.

"Please I can explain!"

"You have ten seconds" Bane thundered "Make them count."

"There was a...an escape" Demetri whispered.

"An escape?"

"Yes sir."

"Do not take me for a fool" Bane snarled taking a hold of the doctor in a vice grip "Nobody has ever made the climb."

"They didn't."

"Explain."

"They - they had help sir."

"How?"

Bane followed the doctor's gaze as he looked up the shaft of the prison, squinting against the sun's harsh glare as he had done so many times before.

"A rope was lowered." Demetri explained "Sent down by the man you brought here to die."

"Bruce Wayne?"

"Yes sir."

Bane's breathing faltered. His hands slipping from the doctors ropes as he turned away from him. How? How had this happened? Bruce Wayne was supposed to die here and yet he had somehow escaped - something that still eluded him to this day - but in doing so he had helped unleash evil upon the earth where it would no doubt poison what little innocence there was left.

"Why stay?" Bane asked confused. "Why not make the climb?"

The doctor smiled softly although it did not reach his eyes.

"Few were able to escape before the ropes were cut leaving the sick and the old behind. Or those who refused to join the rebellion."

Bane stiffened. The word ringing in his ears as he turned to face the doctor; "Rebellion?"

"Yes sir. Those who escaped planned to rise up against those who wronged them."

"And Arman one of those men?" Bane asked in a tight voice.

"No sir. He was their leader."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"We will be ready for takeoff shortly sir."

Bane ignored the young soldier and sunk deeper into the seat, exhausted from the trip. Despite leaving him physically and mentally drained their journey had been successful. He had the answers he needed. Having heard enough Bane had stormed from Demetri who knew better than to follow him as he charged towards Arman's cell, needing to see for himself that his nemesis had really gone but found the cell empty.

He had had the misfortune of meeting Arman when he was just a boy. Vulnerable and alone he was singled out and subjected to the older man's cruelty much to the delight of other prisoners who soon joined in with his malicious antics. He was tortured, beaten and left to starve but he never broke. As he got older he learnt how to fend for himself constantly battling with the other prisoners in order to become better and stronger until eventually his time came. Many had gathered to watch the fight expecting feud between the two rivals to end in bloodshed and they were not disappointed. Seeking revenge for the years of torment he had endured Bane beat Arman until he was unable to stand, his face swollen in a blur of blues and purples but even that did not stop him.

Humiliated and stripped of his title Arman vowed that he would have vengeance. As time passed his loathing for Bane grew but Arman was no fool. He knew Bane was too strong for him to beat singlehandedly and changed tactics by targeting the child Bane now protected. Bane did his best to ignore his foe, reminding himself of his responsibility to Talia until one night Arman caught them by the pool, stating that he knew their secret telling Bane to keep an extra eye on the girl for she would not last long should the others find out about her. Bane had been furious and thought about killing him there and then but Arman assured him there was a way they could both get what they wanted before disappearing into the shadows.

Days passed and Bane remained on high alert while Arman continued his reign of torture, knowing he had the upper hand. Eventually the older man proposed his offer – Bane was to give him Talia for one night in return for his silence. As expected Bane outright refused to which Arman responded by screaming the truth about Talia sending the inmates into a blind frenzy. Grabbing Arman by the throat Bane had thrown him to the ground, before quickly ushering Talia out of the cell but Arman caught a hold of her ankle. Fuelled by rage Bane yanked her from his grasp and threw himself at Arman while Talia watched on in horror. In a cowardly move Arman somehow managed to grab the lit torch and swung it towards Bane face who narrowly managed to roll out of the way causing a spark to catch and ignite into bright orange flames. Grabbing his neck Bane thrust Arman's face into the burning flames leaving him screaming in agony to burn alive as he dragged Talia from the room but they did not get far.

Arman had been the first of many to slice him. The other inmates had held him down as they awaited for him to arrive, his body puckered and blistered from the flames he had thrown him into. A dull throb at the base of his spine pulled Bane from his thoughts. The pain reminding him to have Lauren top up his medication when they returned. Unlike Arman Bane had never recovered from his injures, the mask provided him with relief from the perpetual agony he had endured but he would never be able to go without it. Feeling the rumble of the plane engine beneath him Bane sat back, watching the endless desert surrounding Pena Dura disappear from view as he had done so many times before only this time would be his last.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hey guys!
How are we all? I hope you enjoy this chapter. It took me so long to write because I wanted to it to be perfect and give you my interpretation of how I imagine Bane's backstory to be. What do you guys think? Leave me a review and let me know. I cant wait to hear from you.

Much love xoxoxoxox