*Chapter 7: Arkham Mansion*
"Joker here with a little update for you all. First the good news. We have Dr. Young. Bad news is she's not talking. She's hidden a document somewhere in the mansion. I want it found!" Joker growled on the speakers. Batman and Mia looked down to see the inmates searching in the files, throwing paper around, making a huge mess. "I've got a plan or six to loosen her tongue, but in the meantime, search every kook and granny. There's a prize for whoever finds them." Joker said. Batman glides down and knocked down one of the inmates, surprising the others. Mia watched from above. She had to wait for him to finish them off before jumping down. Batman threw one man at the wall as he gave the other a punch in a mouth, breaking his teeth. After finishing them off, Batman looked up at Mia and got in position to catch her.
"Come down." He said, bringing his arms out. Mia took a deep breath and jump down. Batman caught her in his arms and place her on her feet. "You'll get used it if we do something like this again." He told her. Mia scoffed at him.
"God I hope not." She said, walking over to the mess. "We have to find those notes before Joker does. Dr. Young is around here somewhere."
"We have to hurry." Batman said. "Follow me." They walk up the stairs of the Main Hall, passing by a statue. They see Joker's chattering teeth by the west door. Batman and Mia walked through the door and found themselves in the West Wing. There are dead guards around and there is a inmate aiming his gun at the doctor and a guard. Batman snuck up on him and knock him out. But, there is a metal object around his neck, making a strange noise. Mia examines it.
"What is that?" She wondered.
"Why's it making that noise?" Batman asked the guard.
"It's the suicide collar. But it sounds weird." A guard said, resting on one of the stair steps. Batman and Mia stared at him, wondering if they heard it right. Suicide collar? Why would they name it? "They've got some other name, but, well, we just use them to monitor the patients' heartbeats. If it drops too low, the alarm goes off and a crash team rushes in." The guard said.
"And so does my crew if you trigger one." Joker's voice spoke, making Batman and Mia look up at the tv screen with Joker grinning away. "How do you like them apples, Bats? Standing around in the...hmm, let's see...ah, the west wing. They'd be here now if they weren't busy knocking a little sense into Cash. I'll tell you what, I won't spoil the surprise and let them know you're coming." The tv is off. Mia sighed to herself.
"He really thought this through." She said. "Batman, do you think...?"
"Don't let him get to you." He said. He walked up the stairs and she followed him. She turned to see Dr. Young's office. It's locked up tight. There could be another way inside, but right now, they have to save Cash and find out where the doctor is hiding.
XX
In the Arkham Records Room, Mia hides behind the file cabinets from the goons armed with guns and wearing the collars. Batman grapples up to take down the inmates one by one. Mia peeked around to see Joker's goons punching Cash, trying to make him talk. Joker talks through the room from the speakers, telling some of the goons that their friends are taken down as the collars went off. Mia went over to Cash and the other guard to untie them, telling them to keep quiet.
After Joker's men were knocked out, Batman came over to Cash. Dr. Young wasn't around the room, but Cash told Batman she ran off and possibly went to her office. It happened twenty minutes ago or more. Her notes had to be in her office. The guard wondered what is special about Dr. Young's notes.
"Joker wants them. That's what makes them important." Batman told Cash. "Stay here! I'm going to find her."
"Not a problem. I'll try the radio. See if anyone else is around." Cash said. He grabbed his radio. "Arkham Control, can you hear me?" Batman turned to Mia.
"I'm going to find Dr. Young, you stay here with Cash. You'll be safe." He told her.
"What? No!" Mia said.
"For once, just listen! I'll be back. Stay here." He said in a firm voice. Mia watched him leave to a door. She turned to one of the doctors, asking where Dr. Raymond is.
"Oh, your boss. Well...you really don't wanna know." He said.
"What happened?" Mia asked. "Don't tell me he's dead." The doctor lead her over to the corner of the room and there was a body of Dr. Raymond. His eyes are open wide, and has a big smile on his face. He is dead. "Shit." Mia hissed. "The hospital should know about this."
"The Joker's crazy. What is he planning?" The doctor asked, looking away from the body. Mia didn't reply as she walked away to speak to Batman through the ear comm. He has to know about it.
"Batman...Dr. Raymond is dead. Joker gave him a venom."
"That's not good. I'm sorry, Mia." Batman replied. "I promise I will make Joker pay for what he had done."
"I know. If there is anything I could do to help-"
"I'll be fine, Mia. Just stay where you are. I promise I will come back for you. I'm finding a way to get inside Dr. Young's office." Batman said before breaking the comm. Mia sighed to herself. She didn't want to be helpless. She turned back to Dr. Raymond's body, and made a look. No way she will let Joker kill anyone else.
Following the trail of Dr. Young's fingerprints, Batman walked through the door that leads to the library. Oracle gave him an update earlier that the GCPD found Joker's bombs, but they are nothing but marzipan and kittens. Batman knew it was just a twisted diversion. The real action is on Arkham.
Batman finishes off the inmates and Joker appeared on screen, telling him the next thing to do is rescue the hostages that are kept downstairs. The doorway to them is blocked. But there is always a way.
He uses a batarang to cut the rope of a chandelier. It fell below the floors of the library. Batman heard a voice screaming up at him below.
"Watch it! You could've killed somebody!" Batman looked down to see Mia on the second floor. He groaned and jump down to rescue the hostages. Mia watched him open the purple box. He jumped back as a red boxing glove pop out. "Did you find the notes?" Mia asked. Batman didn't answer as he checked on a doctor and a guard. The doctor told Batman what had happened. Dr. Young was taken by the patients from here. And claimed to meet in the Warden's office. But Batman still needs to find the notes. Dr. Young must've hidden them somewhere before she was caught. Batman uses his detective mode to search through the books. Mia arrived at the scene when the door is unlocked.
"I told you to stay with Cash." Batman said.
"And I thought you could use my help." Mia said, still angry at the fact the chandelier came down without warning. "Since Dr. Young could be kept in the Warden's office, I wanted to give her a piece of my mind for creating Titan the Joker wanted."
"Things are going to be more dangerous for you." Batman said. He walked over to the book and open it. He found the notes. "Oracle. I found Dr. Young's formula."
"Great! So does that mean you've stopped Joker?" Oracle asked. She wanted to sound relieved. Batman uses gel to burn the paper.
"It's never this simple with him." Batman replied. Mia watched the formula turn to ashes.
"What's that you've got there, Bats? No! Not the formula. What am I going to do? Who can help me now?" Joker spoke. Batman grabbed Mia and grapple up to one of the floors. "What's that? How about our old friend Zsasz? Hmmm. I did bump into him on the way back from the gardens, where no doubt he was acting out some twisted fantasy. Maybe he could get her talking? I think he probably can. Great plan, Bats." He giggled. Batman and Mia were about to approach the door, but they caught the funny smell. Fear Toxin. Batman grabbed her hand.
"Hold onto me, no matter what." He said. Mia coughed.
"Not again..." She said. They walk out of the library.
His grip is tight on her. Scarecrow's laughter can be heard. Mia shook her head, trying to ignore him. She didn't want to face her fears again. She walked down the endless hallway with Batman. Yet, she hears voices around her.
"What's your name, sweetie?" A female voice asked. A policewoman. Mia remembered it all.
"Mia." Her seven year old self replied. "My mommy's not home. Why are you here?"
"Mia, we are sorry to say this. But, your mommy had a terrible accident. She's...she's dead."
"Wh-what?"
"She died in a car accident." A policeman voice said. Seven year old Mia started to cry, wanting to deny the fact her mother is killed. The cops were there to take her to the orphanage since she had no other family members to take care of her. Mia shook the voices away. But, Batman's hand is no longer in hers.
"Batman?" She called.
"Poor little girl. All alone like before. Batman won't save you. You will live in the fear of loneliness forever! Your son will be next!" Scarecrow's voice taunted.
"No!" Mia screamed.
"And your rich boyfriend, Bruce Wayne. You will be all alone."
"No! You're wrong! Stay away from them! Stay away from me!" Mia yelled. Scarecrow laughed around her, taunting her. This is worse than the first toxin she inhaled. Her memories of losing her mother and husband are too much. She doesn't want to lose Axel and Bruce. "This...is...not...real." She told herself.
"Mom?" Axel's voice called from behind. Mia turned around and see her son standing there. A gunshot was heard and Axel was shot in the head.
"Noo!" Mia screamed. "Axel!" A dark figure held a gun, glaring at her. Mia couldn't tell who it was. He killed her son. Mia ran over to her son's body. "Axel! Please! Don't leave me!" Crows started to fly around her. Mia started to cry. "Scarecrow! Fuck you!"
XX
"Mia! Mia! Snap out of it! Mia!" Batman's voice spoke. He was shaking her. Mia opened her eyes to see him. "Mia, it wasn't real!" He said. Mia looked down at her hands. They are shaking.
"Bruce...he...he was-"
"Mia, it's okay." Batman brought her close to him. He embraced her to calm her down. "It wasn't real. Whatever you saw, it wasn't real."
"My memories, and saw Axel getting killed...oh my god..." Mia started to sob. "Why is Scarecrow doing this to me?"
"You're not the only one." Batman said. "He got to me too. My parents getting murdered." Mia sniffed and dry her tears. Batman strokes her cheek with his hand. "You're okay. Everything's gonna be okay. I promise you." Mia gave him a kiss on the lips. Batman returned it before pulling away, giving her a small smile. Mia then realized they are in the bell tower.
"How did we get up here?" She asked.
"Honestly...I have no idea." Batman replied. Mia couldn't help but to chuckle. It is best not to know. Right now, they need to find Dr. Young. Mia prayed she won't have to smell the Fear Toxin again.
Batman and Mia rush through the corridors of the mansion to get to the Warden's office. Mia has seen some of the personal items in glass cases the other criminals have been using. Catwoman's old goggles and gloves with claws. She remembered she first encountered her. She stole her necklace Bruce gave her for her birthday. It wasn't a great meeting, but at least Catwoman didn't try to scratch her with her claws.
'Even Batman tried to convince her to bring it back.' Mia thought.
"Mia, through here. Stay behind me. Zsasz is very dangerous." Batman spoke, approaching the door. "Let me handle this." Mia did as he says from now on. Batman walked in and see Zsasz holding Dr. Young, walking backwards with a knife against her throat. Mia shivered at the sight of the man with many scars.
"Stay where you are, Batman! Listen to my carefully." He spoke.
"Help me! Please, somebody help me!" Dr. Young cried out in fear. Batman and Mia can't be seen by him. They crouch down by the wall, hearing Zsasz's threats about killing the doctor. Batman took the batarang out. He threw it to hit Zsasz's face, knocking him out. Dr. Young turned and slam her fist down on Zsasz's chest.
"You monster! You evil, evil, evil monster!" She yelled. Batman and Mia approach her. Dr. Young looked up at them. Her eyeshadow is smudged down her face.
"He's not going anywhere. You can stop now." Batman said in a calm tone. But he is glaring at her. Mia crossed her arms. Batman helped her up.
"Sorry... I'm so sorry!" Dr. Young said.
"We saw Bane." Mia said in a firm tone. "I think the only monster I see here is you."
"Mia." Batman spoke firmly, facing her. Dr. Young knew this was coming. She explained that the Joker threatened her, yet she wanted to stop the experiment. She tried to give his money back. Of course Joker won't take no for an answer.
"He wants an army. A horrible twisted force to destroy Gotham. But, he couldn't do it without the formula. I hid it, but..."
"So now he has Venom, and your formula." Batman said.
"God. He has gallons of the stuff. There's a lab, hidden in the gardens. It's locked off, but the security key codes for the entire island are in the Warden's safe!" Dr. Young said walking over to the hidden safe.
"What else is Joker planning?" Mia asked. Dr. Young turned back to her and Batman.
"How should I know? You think anything he says make sense?" She opens the frame of the wall and there is a safe, but there is green spray paint. "I think he's insane..." Dr. Young was cut off when confetti pops out with a noise. "Oh my god!" Dr. Young gasped. It's a trap.
"Get out of the way!" Batman shouted. Mia remained behind him. The safe explodes, throwing the trio away. Everything went black.