Epilogue

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She awoke to muffled voices.

Pain seared through her body and yet she was freezing. Her head throbbed, her hair sticky and wet as she slowly came to her senses.

"Are you okay Miss?"

She could feel someone's hands upon her arm, but she shied away. Their skin cold and unwelcome.

"She's awake!" someone exclaimed "Go and get help!"

"B-Bane?"

"You're alright now Miss. Stay still, help is on the way."

Opening her eyes, she saw a man leaning over her. His unfamiliar features causing fear to shoot through her.

"Get away from me!" she cried scurrying away from him.

"It's okay Miss. There's no need to be afraid -

"Where is he?"

The man's face frowned in confusion "Where's who?"

"I have to find him."

Dazed and confused she got to her feet. Ignoring the pain as she pushed the stranger aside. She didn't have time for this. She needed to find him.

Stumbling around blindly she realised it was raining. The rain blurring her vision as she limped around lost and confused. Where was she? Where was Bane? Was he okay? Was he alive? She kept going, dragging her ankle along as she screamed for him. Her heart hammering in her chest. Her hair plastered to her face as she collided with other bodies. Shrieking in terror when their hands reached out to help her. Her throat was raw from screaming. Her ankle burning in agony. She was tired and afraid, but she could not give up. If she did – it would all be over.

Turning around she smacked into something hard. Hands suddenly grasping at the tops of her arms.

"Woah there!"

"Let go of me!" she hissed, thrashing against him.

"It's alright. It's okay. I'm a cop! Look at my badge. There? You see?"

She stopped fighting. Her eyes following his finger that pointed to the gold badge pinned against his chest.

"It's alright" he said calmly "just take it easy."

She stood motionless as the man released his grip. Keeping his movements slow and careful, like the way you approach an animal so not to startle it.

"You want to tell me what happened?"

She said nothing. Lifting her gaze, she was met with warm brown eyes – kind eyes. He was an attractive man with dark hair and a strong jaw. His skin tanned from warm days on patrol, though today he was geared up, a police raincoat zipped over his stab proof vest.

"Can you tell me your name?"

She said nothing. Just looked around in a dazed state as the officer began talking into his radio.

"Okay Miss? Miss? I'm going to pick you up. I don't want you walking on that foot anymore. We're just gonna go inside alright?"

She was barely aware as he wrapped his raincoat around her. Her body cold and numb as he lifted her into his arms. Reassuring her that she was going to be okay as he carried her down the street but how could it be?

Rounding a corner, they headed towards the hospital. The neon red sign causing her throat to clamp up.

Gotham General.

XXXX

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Her eyelids fluttered open. The incessant beeping of monitors filling her ears as she strained against bright hospital lights. Tubes ran in and out of her, the clear liquid invading her body filling her with dread. Ripping them from her skin, she watched as her flesh began to bleed from tiny pinpricks when a hand reached out.

"Hey, hey, hey it's okay."

Her head snapped up to see the eyes of the young police officer staring back at her.

"It's okay. You're safe now" he said softly.

Her eyes never left his as he slowly let go of her hands, before reaching over to the water cooler and pouring her a cup of water.

"Here."

Lauren hesitated. Still unsure whether she could trust him or not. She remembered him trying to reassure her when she was brought in. Arguing with the doctors about sedation as she hurled herself at the nurses. She didn't know they were trying to help. They could have been Crawlers – or worse.

Taking the cup from his hands she watched as he retreated to his chair at the foot of her bed. He looked tired, his uniform creased and dishevelled as though he had been sat there all night.

"How are you feeling?"

She said nothing. Her lips dry and crusty as she took a gulp of water, suddenly parched.

"Can you tell me your name?

"Lauren" she croaked.

"It's nice to meet you Lauren" he smiled softly "I'm officer Blake. I work for GPD here in the City."

"I'm - in Gotham?"

Blake nodded.

A gasp escaped her lips. So, it wasn't a dream. She really was home after all.

"I found you wandering the streets last night. Can you tell me what happened?"

Lauren bit her lip, unsure what to say. Everything was blurry. Fractions of her memory jumbling together into a muddled mess. She remembered Bane's bloody body and an engine humming beneath her. She remembered Barsad apologising again and again, telling her she was safe now before the cold hit her. The rain soaking her skin as she lay in the middle of the road. Tires screeching into the distance. She remembered calling for Bane only he was not here.

"It's okay. There's no rush" Blake said, misinterpreting her hesitation "We'll take as long as you need"

She lay back, listening silently as he went through the procedures of what was to happen next. He'd need a statement. Something to go off if she wished press charges. She knew he assumed she had been attacked but he was way off. She couldn't tell him the truth. How could she? She'd spend her days in Arkham asylum as she did.

"Lauren?"

His voice pulled her from her from her thoughts. Bringing her back to reality as she stared at him blankly.

"Did you hear what I said?"

Lauren shook her head.

"Do you have any questions?"

There was only one question upon her lips. The only one that mattered.

"Where's Bane?"

The End.

Thank you all for your continued support. I cannot tell you what it means to me.
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This is only the beginning.