Ello! Minion here! First I would like to thank the overwhelming support from all of you readers and reviewers that have followed my story so far! Your words mean more than I can say.
ATTENTION!
It seems that not too many of you read these author notes which normally is alright, but lately the developments in the story require a bit of background that's found in my prologue 'Jonathan Crane: The Origin of the Scarecrow' which is loosely, LOOSELY based off of the comics. The 'appearance' of Madeline in this chapter is better explained in the prologue but I'm sure you could piece together the story without reading it anyway. I just wanted to give a reference point so as to clear any possible confusion.
The other small note is that I quoted the 2005 movie 'Red Eye', starring Cillian Murphy and Rachel McAdams with the words "for the sake of time and sanity". I have other Red Eye references in the story which I will point out as they appear. The movie itself is wonderful and gives me inspiration for Crane in any physical scenes since the two characters share a lot of common points.
Also I do not own in any way, shape, or form Batman with that in mind, enjoy!
Chapter 21 Dr. Crane's POV
Why did I tell her such a vulnerable piece of information? I had no reason to share such an intimate detail of my life and even if such an occasion had occurred it would not be so difficult to instead lie...but I told her the truth.
Madeline...
I sighed as I ran a hand through my hair.
Whatever incited me to relate the existence of my past lov—friend, is of no consequence to my current situation for it would not happen again.
Despite my revulsion of my earlier admittance, I could not help but wonder what I had been thinking at the time—
Well, to be honest, I hadn't been thinking at all.
"Who else is there for you to love?"
I had barely heard Revis speak before I was struck by a memory of her. Her soft laughter coaxing a smile from my normally stoic face. I had no reason to laugh before that time—before Madeline showed me a side of life I hadn't given thought to.
"Do you think he's lonely?"
She asked that innocent question so long ago. Before, I had no feelings toward the rotting sack of straw but she soon changed that. She changed me.
"Do you think he's lonely?"
What a foolish question...
I shook my head, attempting to rid myself of the onslaught of thoughts when I found myself unable to break away.
Of course, I'm lonely...
She hadn't been addressing me, in that distant time, but now I could hardly differentiate between the beaten scarecrow in that field and myself...adrift in a cold world—
What was I thinking? I had no time to ponder the absurdities of my past. Madeline was dead; I had no business thinking of her musings.
"Do you think he's lonely?"
I could picture her face...Such innocence gazing upon my wary eyes with sweet inquisition. There were no thoughts of betrayal or snide snickers, just open trust and a sweet smile. I thought her to be foolish, rightfully so, yet I couldn't help but look into those searching eyes.
It was her searching that killed her.
She yearned for understanding, for an answer to her pains but only found a bullet lodged in her head.
Foolish, foolish Madeline.
Why did you defend me? I had no use for your pain...You shed your blood for naught—Bo didn't cease my torment, Sherry didn't silence her gossip, nothing was different since the night you fell from that roof: dead. Your death was in vain.
You shouldn't have been searching for answers...I already had the answers. Life is cruel, people are vindictive and ambitious, there are no happy-ever-afters. Those were the answers you sought. You knew them all along but refused to accept it.
Foolish, foolish Madeline.
No one mourned you, it seemed so unfair—but that's what life is: unfair, uncaring, and impartial. No one would change their ways...Not until I forced their hand.
That was the key to life, Madeline. If you want peace, you must silence those who oppose you. If you want your happiness you must take it—I could have given you all of the answers you sought but you instead chose to protect me, to die for me.
Foolish, foolish Madeline.
Nevermind that, it was in the past and now I should focus on the other foolish woman.
After all, Revis would be preparing the molecular structures of her compounds which would then be brought to life and tested. At last, I could make use of her. It was an endearing quality she possessed, the quality to easily mould into whatever role I wished.
Opponent, patient, test subject, assistant, no matter the position with only a few twists to her bleeding heart she fell into line. Of course, there was always the pestering rebelliousness that seemed to pop up in the most inconvenient of times—like today—but those moments were easily smothered although the newest act of rebellion may require more thought than the others.
I clenched my hands into fists as I recalled her malicious smile as she berated my work.
So many years of work...Did no one truly understand the genius of my work or the many, many pains I faced to reach the heights I've surmounted?—
"For you are merely Icarus, flying higher than father psychology warned"
What did she know of my brilliant designs and complex equations? She was merely a pawn, just a lowly mortician who mistakenly directed her attention where it was unwanted—
"Then you'll take your fall from grace, burning brightly as an example to others who press the natural boundaries."
—and look where that brought her. Now, she was hopelessly in love with me, willingly accepting my toxins, and barely able to stand in the shadow of her former life. If anything, she was the one who had fallen.
Brown hair styled in ringlets, the flutter of black lace in the wind, pale skin so soft but now marred by the wide eyes that strained to comprehend the cruelties of this world...and then closed as tears slipped down cold cheeks unnoticed.
BANG!
She fell.
Angrily, I stood from my bed which I had been sitting on as I had first entered the house. I had no use in reliving the past, I would not be the successful man I was today if I had spent my time giving remembrance to something that would never change.
...
Thunder boomed in the distance as the onslaught of rain renewed with a greater frenzy. Lightning flashed in the sky, casting the gloom of the house in a wicked luminance. Once more, the thunder shook the air with a sharp fury. Now the buckets of rain hardened into large chunks of ice.
The sound created was most distracting as if a million men stormed across the rooftop in a haste so dangerous it threatened to cave the roof it—Yet I knew it wouldn't. The rooftop of this impromptu house held interlocking tiles, the like of which is unused today due to it's too-decent job of dispelling rain, hail, and such penalties of nature's wrath. Yet the house which hadn't been updated since the 1950's circa, held many faults.
It wasn't the fact that the screens in all the windows were poked through with holes and off their intended track making it impossible for the screens to be pulled down from the top of the window and secured at the bottom—Not that the windows themselves which swung out were ever used. It wasn't the chipped tile in the bathroom and kitchen nor the faded paint and occasional indentations in the already thin walls. Of all the faulty workings of the house, the floorboards were the greatest offence.
These gnarled floorboards howled—No, shrieked with sudden intensity when anyone so much as shifted their weight upon its surface. Normally, I would experience only a modium of faint annoyance at the sound but now that I was sheltering someone else, the tell-tell house informed me all too quickly every movement she made.
Before, this hadn't bothered me. In fact, it became a useful tool to closely monitor my wayward patient—but now...It seems that the unstable woman living with me has taken a new joy in haunting me with reminders of Madeline.
In all honesty, I had been shirking my duties in order to avoid her—Not that she stood as a source of opposition or peril to myself but rather a source of unwanted unpleasantries in which I had no time to be bothered with.
My research has always been of a complicated rhythm, falling and rising in matters of success yet even with Revis' 'assistance' I lacked the means necessary to my intentions—or should I say the funds.
This ramshackle house was a risky last resort to continue my plans—one that I was surely paying the penance for acquiring. As Revis unraveled the lies of the pseudo-Arkham in which I had entrapped her, I knew the abandoned warehouse would no longer suit my needs. Of course, my own house was out of the question—A year spent in Arkham was testimony to that! Although my business within Arkham itself was most pleasing, allowing my attentions to then shift to my wayward patient.
It wasn't too difficult to acquire a place of residence; a small suburb of new residential housing near the outer edge of the city made for a great source of shelter and test subjects. Those who I deemed unworthy were merely sent on their way, deep trauma blurring their memories until only a strong, irrational fear of the area kept them from returning. Then a multitude of construction signs, roads laced with rolls of yellow tape, and a series of flyers warning others of a dangerous, toxic gas leak kept any nosy outsiders at bay—Yet the months which have passed proved the need to move on.
After all, there's only so much rummaging through the houses for money, food, clothing, etc. and payments made from the decreasing bank account of the house's previous occupants (easily found within a filing cabinet) in order to keep the water, gas, and electricity running. Not to mention, it's hardly sanitary to keep the garbage piled in the house next door—along with the partially embalmed bodies which Revis took under her wing.
No, it was most certainly time to move on—but to where?
My deposits of money were made under two pseudonyms cannot last forever, especially considering the danger that would follow if I was recognized on a trip into society—already the vans, sedans, cadillacs, and other cars were nearing empty due to the little time available to safely refill the gas tanks.
I had instead switched from car to car until almost all had expired its use. Of course, most my trips were made in either secret of in the early days in which Revis was kept in the garage as a willing and submissive test subject—Ah, how wonderful those days were.
Honestly, between her aggravating mood swings, insolence, irrationality (especially concerning the topic of love), and rebellion it hardly seems as though much of a change has occurred within the course of time spent under my dominion.
Yes, it was most clear that I was in a rut of sorts, nearing the end of my resources yet lacking the tools to replenish them. It would be unwise to linger in this house, this empty neighborhood, for too long—Yet where else would I journey to, especially with someone as useless as Revis?
A rich volley of musical notes permeated the air, filling my throat with rancid bile. Did she really think such acts of foolish musings were of any use? There was no melody, no lullaby, to wash her fears away but rather that damned violin, of which I've been subject to for days, acts as a siren's call, luring her into the embrace of danger.
Enough! I will have her obedient!
A sharp crash of thunder punctuated my silent words.
I had been lenient, forgiving, for far too long. She has grown used to my passive behavior thinking her to be passed punishment—Oh, how wrong she was to think I would allow her to do as she pleases!
Angrily, I tore through the hallway, uncaring if my rapid approach was broadcasted by the screeching floorboards before I wrenched open the door to her bedroom.
Startled, she flinched causing the violin to squeak in protest as she looked up—
Blue gold eyes gazed imploringly into my own framed by long, light brown and gold hair. The colours seemed more vivid by her reddened eyes, spilling forth silent tears shed with care to not betray weakness.
Such pain...I felt a sharp jab to my heart as those seemingly green eyes, rimmed red, closed for the last time—
"I'm sorry—"
Madeline!
"—if I disturbed you," there was a pause in which she sniffled while lowering her violin in order to wipe at her eyes, "I-I didn't mean to—"
Revis...It was only Revis. She must have been playing in order to cover the noise of her strangled weeping from the empty, echoing walls which all too often spilled forth sound in a rush of gossiping tones.
A sudden flash of humiliation flared in my veins yet I strode forward with confidence and tore the offending instrument out of her hands, sending it crashing to the floor in a sudden clamour.
Gasping, Revis reacted on instinct and began to quickly kneel in order to rescue her beloved violin—
Ha! As if I'd let her passions rule her mind! No, that was too dangerous. She was unable to function with so much overwhelming stimulation, it was best if she focused her efforts on the work expected of her.
Intercepting her, I firmly grasped her shoulders as I pushed her back causing her to stumble in the open air until she caught her balance against the wall still tightly gripping the violin bow.
"What—" she began in a choked voice before I intercepted.
"Don't ask questions. There's nothing to search for, Ma—" I bit my tongue before retrieving the violin from the floor and collecting my thoughts, "Your efforts at gaining my attention have succeeded. Congratulations Revis, you've reminded me of how I've shirked my duties," I sneered down at her pale, trembling form, "For instance, I should have destroyed this nuisance a long time ago—"
Without further explanation I harshly struck the already abused violin against the wall, its impact echoing sharply as the reverberation of the cracking wood shot sharp pins from my hand into my arm.
"No! STOP!" Revis yelled hoarsely as I ignored her in favor of destroying her 'precious' violin.
A sharp pain flared across my back as she began to ferociously beat me with the bow.
Exhaling harshly, I threw the well mangled instrument, strings snapped and once polished wood in shambles, to the ground in order to wrestle the bow from her hands before snapping the wood and horse hair against my leg.
Now only the sound of hail pummeling the roof was heard amid our heavy breathing as more tears fell down from her flushed face while she struggled to maintain some semblance of composure despite her shoulders which shook with barely suppressed grief—or was that rage?
Yes, it was rage for she soon prepared to lunge at me but I caught her off guard by returning her gesture weeks before as I backhanded her causing her head to turn sharply, brown and gold hair flying as she fell to the floor.
I stood panting, slowly reigning in my explosive fury before I acted out rashly again—A flash of lightning flared outside, the blinds to her window glowing inhumanly before a tremulous rampage of thunder sounded nearby.
Had I such little control of myself that I was able to lose myself to my rage as easily as Revis?
Speaking of which, her shaking form remained on the ground, quivering arms barely supported her body as her legs lay useless, unable to find purchase in the wood through the haze of shock. Never had I resorted to such outright displays of physical violence. She was probably unable to process the swiftly changing events—
"How dare you," she hissed venomously from behind the tangled veil of her hair. Her arms shook even more fiercely as she whipped her head around in order to both move her troublesome hair from view as well as fix me with a livid glare dampened by the red mark across her face. Defiantly, she raised her voice in a hoarse bark, "How dare you!"
She eased the pressure of her arm by sitting on the floor, partially reclining as she continued, "You think you're so much better, so much more important or intelligent, than everyone else but you're not," she paused to send me a dark look, "You're no better than the lowliest scum living in the gutter; from the mob to the slums you're no different than any other filthy man in Gotham!"
Once more my lividity rose but I controlled it as a sudden flare of brilliance appeared within my mind.
Oh yes, that would do quite nicely...Yet I would need to make my point clear before continuing.
I lowered myself to her level until I was balancing on my haunches, "Interesting notion, Revis, but I assure you there are quite a few differences between myself and the general scum of Gotham yet for the sake of time and sanity I'll only explain one difference," I reached down ignoring her flinch and easily blocking the wild swing from her free hand yet due to the shift in gravity she fell onto the ground face first and I quickly took advantage of this by pinning her to the rough floor.
"Get off of me!" she yelled as she struggled but I only leaned down and brushed her hair away from her reddened face tucking it behind her ear causing her to pause.
Unnerved by my action her mad scramble to free herself stilled as I huskily whispered, "The difference, my dear Revis," she gave a halfhearted jerk attempting to dislodge me before ceasing her futile actions, "between those men and myself is as such: no matter the opportunity presented to me, I have never used your body for my own pleasure."
She froze, gasping as my words hinted upon the (false) notion that I had desired to do so. It was time she was reminded of her position and my generosity as well as the many weapons I wielded should she think of rebelling. After all, this unseemly position would no doubt send her spiraling through a series of traumatic memories.
Perhaps the desired effect was too much to ask for as she suddenly regained her bearings and attempted to lash out in blind panic, "DON'T TOUCH ME!" she hollered, her face flushing as she applied herself earnestly to rid herself of my touch.
Yet I only pressed down, taking delight as her efforts crumbled—Did she believe I hadn't noticed her sudden decline of appetite? Whatever sparked the desire to starve herself aside from coffee and the occasional fruit surely was turned against her as I restrained her with hardly an ounce of exertion toward my own reserves of energy.
Foolish, foolish Revis.
As if to give validity my thoughts she slumped against the floor breathing heavily underneath my weight as she turned her head away, "Please...don't touch me," she paused as if waiting for a response but upon receiving none she continued, "Please, if you truly love another—" I pressed myself against her cruelly earning a soft whimper, "—d-don't touch me."
Hissing, I breathed my reply in her ear at a low tone, "I will do with you as I please. You continuously confuse who holds the power and who obeys. So go along and play make-believe that you are either sane or worth something of value as you act the 'honourary' role of Death—but never forget that you belong to me. You forfeited your right to live independently the moment you confessed your love and now you must bear the penance."
I eased myself off of her crumpled form as I straightened my rumpled clothing, "See to it that you are packed by tomorrow. We will be leaving to spread our chemical wares to Gotham's underground. Perhaps as you become acquainted with the very filth you so wrongly confused me with, you'll better understand just how benevolent and merciful I have been to someone as ungrateful as you."
I turned to leave her disgraceful form in the room when a sudden thought occurred to me, "Oh and Revis? There won't be much room for any experimental toxins so tonight you will finish testing them all. I'll be waiting in the laboratory."
I paused, expecting a response of some sort but instead I only saw chilling eyes that regarded me with a mix of fear and sorrow so familiar to that damned night when I lost the only person who was worth saving.
Oh Madeline...Sweet, sweet Madeline.
She blinked causing the illusion to shatter until I only saw the pathetic form of my unstable patient.
Damn Revis...Worthless, worthless Revis.
