Ellie's p.o.v

Ellie stayed on the floor as the Scarecrow dragged her sister out of the room. Jessica had told her, first chance she gets she takes it. Now seemed as good of a time as any. She waited until the door slammed shut and then got back up on shaking legs and ran over to the corner of the room. Lifting the mattress took nearly all her strength as she shoved it against the wall. And all of her willpower to not cower away at the stench coming off it.

This is for Jessica she told told herself as she forced it to stay upright. She grabbed the chair and tugged it over too. Needing a boost to stand on top of the mattress. She was a cheerleader and top of the pyramid in high school but she was still tiny. She took an uncertain look towards the door, she didn't feel right leaving Jessica here but she was right earlier. Bruce couldn't find them in this basement, and Ellie was the only one who could fit through the window. As soon as they got out of here, she was dragging Jessica to her Zumba class and dumping out all of her beer. If only she had listened.

Ellie's heart hurt as she thought of Bruce. Would this have happened if he had taken her out tonight? Would this be happening at all if she had never even met him? She shook her head at the thought, she loved Bruce and even though being with him would never be easy. She couldn't make herself regret it. Even as she climbed up chair and onto the mattress.

It sagged slightly under her weight but it held steady. She didn't want to test her luck though and as soon as her feet were upon it she grabbed onto the mantle of the window. It was already unlocked and she managed to push it open. The sun had fully risen in the time they had spent in the basement as Ellie could see as she wiggled herself out of the small space. She was about to run when she heard a scream from inside.

She didn't need to see to know it was Jessica that came from. But she couldn't do anything especially now she was outside, so she did what her sister had told her to do, and she ran.

Ellie was grateful for her sisters fore thought as she pulled the hood of Jessica's jumper up and over her head. She was even surprised her sister had the thought to put on trainers and trade pants with her. The basement wasn't exactly warm but it wasn't as cold as it was outside. Early morning Gotham was freezing. And if Ellie had been in her heels and same little pyjamas she wasn't sure she would have even made it outside.

She broke into a run and thought about how stupid she had been. How brazen she had been with Bruce especially when he was dressed as Batman, wearing tiny little pyjamas to make him jealous, not jumping out of the window when Jessica told her to. And now here she was, running around the Narrows while her sister was going through god only knows what at the hands of a psychopath.

Ellie didn't know much about the Scarecrow, she never felt the need to read up on any of the villains her boyfriend faced. She didn't think it was important, at least not to her. She wasn't dating Batman per say. She loved Bruce and even though she knew Batman came with that, she wasn't crazy about the idea either. Although he did look hot in kevlar.

So not what she should be thinking about she scolded herself. She was already out of breath and hadn't come across a single soul yet. Which was probably a blessing in disguise. Anyone in the Narrows by choice was not someone Ellie was going to put her trust in. She was ditzy at times but she wasn't stupid. Everyone thought she was but she wasn't, Ellie had brains and she had worked hard to become a fashion journalist. Now look at her, running through the narrows in her sisters clothes as she looks for someone to help her.

Ellie ducked into an alley as a white van raced through the street she had been walking on the side walk of. It looked exactly like the one the Scarecrow and his scary men had put them in only hours ago. And Ellie wasn't taking any risks. Jessica had given her a chance to get out and Ellie was taking it. She would contact Bruce and then he would go and save her sister. That's all she had to do, find Bruce. But how did she do that? She had no money to get a taxi, no phone to call him, if she told the police would they even take her seriously?

'Hello officer why yes I am in my pyjamas I would like to speak to Mr Batman please, no I totally know him.' They would lock her up in Arkham faster than she could blink. And then she would just be trapped again and her sister would still be with the Scarecrow. Another stab of guilt went through Ellie's chest as she thought of her sister and of her screaming just before she left. She had no idea what the Scarecrow would do, but he had pulled out that needle before and it didn't look very nice.

Ellie shuddered as she could only guess what was inside of it, she didn't like needles and this only backed up her fear. She racked her brains of what to do when she came across a payphone. She knew she didn't have any change on her whatsoever but she hurried into the small booth anyway and shut the door behind her. It stank in the small space, not as badly as the abandoned building they had been dragged through, but it was a close disgusting second.

She checked the small tray in the payphone hoping someone had forgotten their change but no such luck. She also checked Ellie's pockets for any stray quarters but again nothing. Ellie was about to begin crying again when an old jingle popped into her head. She focused on it as it began to become clearer.

"If your stuck in a spot and you need to make a call, call this quick number to say hello. Its easy to remember and as fast as can be. Call nine one two and then a two three four. Finish on up with an eight eight and three." She quickly dialled the numbers why the hell a jingle from the nineties was stuck in her head but she was grateful anyway. Even more grateful when it was still a service.

"Hello this is Linda from Happy to Connect, what number are you trying to connect to?" A bored voice came over the line and Ellie nearly yelled in triumph. Even if Linda didn't sound happy to connect her at all.
"I'm trying to connect to 678-832-4460." She quickly rattled off the number Bruce had made her memorise. It wasn't his cell number that was different, but he said if there was an emergency and she needed to get to him immediately, that she should ring that number.

"And what's your name? We need to tell the person so they can accept the charges." Linda asked, Ellie could hear her acrylic nails tapping at a keyboard all the way down the phone.
"It's Ellie." She whispered, scared one of the scarecrows thugs might be walking past.
"OK Ellie, I will put you through, thank you for calling Happy to Connect, we are always happy to connect." The phone quickly began to ring and Ellie bounced on her feet.

She hoped to god it was the number Bruce told her and she hadn't accidentality given Linda the number for the pizza place as her stomach rumbled. It didn't even take two beats before Bruce was on the phone.
"Ellie, it's me. Where are you?" Ellis slumped to the side of the booth. Happier than words could describe as Bruce's voice was in her ear.

"Bruce!" She wailed as her shaking came back and she had to hang on to the phone box to stop herself falling over.
"It's me Ellie, I'm here. I'm tracking the phones boxes location so just stay on the line with me." Bruce's voice was so calming when he spoke to her, she already felt safer knowing he was on his way.

"Ellie, honey can you tell me what happened?" He asked her, she could hear his car starting up and him beginning to drive as she told him the story of the past couple of hours. Trying her best to not sob every time she paused to catch her breath.

She told him that she went to Jessica's to spend the night and they ordered pizza, but it wasn't the pizza guy at the door it was the Scarecrow. And Jessica had slammed the door in his stupid face, then they went into the bedroom but some huge guy smashed the window. Then they were back in the sitting room and Jessica tried to make her jump out of the window into the dumpster. But she was too scared. So the Scarecrow and his scary men had got them and the Scarecrow had drugged Jessica because she tried to stab him with a broken bottle but it didn't work. Then they carried them both and shoved them into the back of a white van. Then they were driving for so long and Jessica didn't wake up until they were nearly at the place. And the Scarecrow had dragged Ellie out by her ankle and then they were forced into the building.

And Bruce had no idea how gross it was, it was so smelly and dirty. And there was so many men just in rooms and watching them as they went. Then the Scarecrow took them into a basement and said they needed to give him information on Batman but that they didn't say anything. But that made him mad. And then he went upstairs and shot a guy and it was so super scary. So Jessica told her she needed to get out the window and she could fit but Jessica couldn't because she keeps drinking beer and never does any lunges.

So the Scarecrow was going to take Ellie but she faked fainting and he believed her. So he took Jessica, which wasn't Ellie's plan but she hadn't known what to do. And then she escaped through the window but she heard Jessica scream. And then she ran until she found the payphone and called Linda who connected her to Bruce. And now she was waiting in a phone booth for him to arrive.

"You've had an eventful morning honey." Bruce said as Ellie finally finished telling him everything that had happened. She probably could have condensed it into the were kidnapped by the Scarecrow but once she started speaking she couldn't stop. Everything just came out of her like word vomit.

"Baby boo bear you have no idea." She wiped her face of the tears still running down her cheeks. "How far away are you?" Ellie asked. She needed him to go save Jessica, hopefully pick Ellie up first but Jessica right after. Then they could all go for breakfast or something.

"Ellie baby what are you wearing? I hope to god you changed out of the little pyjamas you sent me pictures of you in." He asked her with a worried tone in his voice.
"I'm wearing Jessica's hoodie and her flannel pants." She looked down at herself and even though these were more practical clothes. They were not as cute.
"Thank God...Wait if you're wearing Jessica's hoodie and pants. Does that means she's wearing your pyjamas?" He asked and she felt shame creep up her as she hummed a response.

"I didn't ask her to, she made me. Jessica said it was too cold and I would stick out like a sore thumb. So we switched." She felt like a traitor for letting Jessica give up her clothes so she would be safe outside while she was still stuck down there.
"No you both did the right thing. A girl running around with barely nothing on would only put you in more danger. Jessica did the right thing and so did you. I'm nearly there baby, but stay in the phone booth." Ellie couldn't hear any cars yet but she peeked from behind a flyer stuck to the inside of the booth to watch the street.

Suddenly a face appeared and an eye looked in from outside. Ellie screamed in surprise and dropped the phone.
"Ellie? Ellie?!" She could hear Bruce yelling her name but she was too scared to pick the phone back up as she heard from outside.
"Got her!" Ellie put her back to the furthest wall and stuck both her feet on the door. Sobbing as she did. It wasn't a good idea but it was the best one she had, the door shook a little as someone tried to push it open but Ellie's legs were stretched straight out and it would take a little work on their part to get in.

She was scared but she was by herself, Jessica couldn't save her right now so she had to come up with a plan by herself.
"What the hell?" She heard someone mutter outside. "Hey girlie open the door!"
"No! Leave me alone!" Ellie screamed back, locking her knees in determination. She wasn't leaving this booth until Bruce was here and she certainly wasn't going back to the scary Scarecrows basement. Jessica gave her a chance and she would be damned if she would be caught now.

"Don't make me break the glass to get you out." The man threatened from the other side and Ellie had to admit, sitting in a glass phone booth was not the best or most defensible position.
"Batman is coming and he is going to kick all your butts!" She yelled and could hear laughing on the other side as more men came from the van to surround her tiny booth.

"So the boss was right, you do know the Batman." Someone taunted and a banging on the glass to her right made her scream in fear.
"You better leave before he gets here!" She was still yelling but it didn't hold the confidence and strength it has before.
"You just made our job a lot easier blondie. Now all we need to do it wait for your boyfriend to show up and use you as our hostage." More laughter from outside and Ellie blanched.

She hadn't know she was playing into their hands, she thought calling Bruce would be the right thing to do, but that's what they wanted. Scarecrow wanted Batman and using her and Jessica as bargaining chips was his plan all along. Ellie had no idea what Scarecrow wanted from him exactly, to reveal his identity? To blackmail him? Oh my god was he going to kill him?!

Someone was back at the door to her only defence and was trying to force the door open.
"Open the door while we are still being nice." They warned and Ellie nearly did as they said, although she hadn't thought they were being nice at all. But she straightened her legs out further and tried to summon Jessica into her thoughts.
"Go to hell!" She screamed with all her might. Jessica might have used some more colourful language but Ellie wasn't ready to start swearing at big burly men just yet.

"Guess we are coming in then." Then the panel to her right was smashed through and Ellie barely had time to register it before the big man from before had grabbed her by the waist and thrown her over his shoulder. It was the same man who had broken Jessica's window and grabbed Ellie when they were still at the apartment.

She began beating her little fists on his back but he didn't seem to even feel her.
"Put me down!" She tried to yell but her voice only came out in heaving sobs. She had been so close but now they had her again. She had failed when she had tried so hard.

"You heard the little lady, put her down." A gruff voice called out and even though Ellie couldn't see, she knew it was Bruce's voice. Or rather it was Batman's voice he put on to sound more scary and to cover his actual voice. But Ellie knew it better than she knew her own. She tried to turn around but this man had a tight hold on her waist and wasn't letting her move an inch.

"Batman!" She yelled, her voice clearer than before. She was pretty sure he could see her, but just in case. He might not recognise her in these clothes, she never wore stuff like this around Bruce. And while she appreciated Jessica giving her the clothes, they weren't cute. Like, at all.

"Shut up you little brat." One of the man yelled at her and she felt a swat on her backside and froze. He had just spanked her like an unruly child. How dare he! "Now Batman, we have your girlfriend so you're coming with us." Ellie barely registered his words and she felt the sharp sting as he slapped her rear again.

"For that," She heard Batman say, his voice even darker and more gravely than usual, sending shivers up her spine.
"For that you'll go first." There was a flurry of commotion behind her as she heard fists and cries of pain. But from up here she couldn't see anything that was happening. She had to admit she was glad she didn't have to watch, she didn't like violence and would have been hiding behind her hands anyway. She didn't even like to watch boxing with Jessica, it was so boorish and mindless.

Although she did admit she liked a good cat fight on her real housewives shows. But that was her guilty pleasure and the most they did was yell and throw water in each others faces. Maybe rip a wig off every now and then. Nothing like what was happening behind her. Suddenly the man who had been holding her let her fall to the ground and raced to the van.

Batman hadn't been able to her to her before she slammed into the pavement and the van sped away. Her head hit the concrete and she cried out in pain. Batman quickly dispatched the few men left and quickly went over to Ellie who was quietly crying as she held her head in her tiny hands.
"Ellie, baby it's OK, I'm here now. You're safe." He gathered her up in his arms and took her to the Batmobile, her tiny frame curled up in his passenger seat.

"Jessica." She whispered quietly as sobs wracked her body. "We need to save Jessica."
Bruce cursed silently, in his haste to get to Ellie he had forgotten about her older sister who was still somewhere with the deranged Scarecrow. And now one of his men had escaped to warn him, they wouldn't have much time.
"Where is she Ellie? Where was he holding you both?" Bruce shook Ellie's shoulder but she wasn't responding. He thought she had only passed out but then he could see the blood beginning to soak her soft blonde curls.

She had hit her head much harder than he thought, he needed to get her to the hospital. He jumped into the drivers seat and pinned the current location on his map. If Ellie had gotten here on foot, it couldn't be too far from where the Scarecrow was keeping them. She wouldn't be able to tell him anything now, he would get her to the hospital and then continue his search for Jessica. He only hoped she could be strong for just a little bit longer.

I'm coming Jessica, I'll find you. I promise. He silently swore his promise and hoped it was true. But his priority was Ellie right now and although she might hate him for it, he would always put her before anyone else. And right now she needed a doctor, he hoped Jessica was in better shape.