Solomon Grundy, born on a Monday,
Christened on a stark and stormy Tuesday,
Married on a grey and grisly Wednesday,
Took ill on a mild and mellow Thursday,
Grew worse on a bright and breezy Friday,
Died on a grey and glorious Saturday,
Buried on a baking, blistering Sunday.
Batman arrived at the edge of the swamp, the fog obscuring all but his cold white eyes and the yellow circle encompassing the sigil on his chest. His boots squelched against the muck and moss under them as he wandered deeper within the bog. A chill travels down the Dark Knight's spine; he quickly pivots only to be sent flying through a nearby clearing of trees.
"Ow." Batman slowly rose from the rubble, his vision slowly returning as a gigantic shadow loomed over him. His eyes widened, and he quickly leaped to the side, barely avoiding the giant grey fists that slammed against the ground. Landing on his feet, the Caped Crusader glared at the charging hulk of undead flesh stampeding towards him.
"SOLOMON GRUNDY, BORN ON A MONDAY!"
Batman fired a grappling line upwards, using it with Grundy's back to launch himself behind the zombie. Grundy growled and turned, wrenching the trunk of a tree out of the earth before throwing it at Batman like a javelin.
"Christened on a Tuesday," replied Batman, barely dodging the deadly projectile before launching his grapple line towards the giant. The hook flies past his head, hooking onto the tree trunk behind him, pulling the Dark Knight forward giving him enough momentum to slam into his chest. He hissed in pain as both fell into the murky waters of the swamp, with Batman doing his best to hold his breath as Grundy reached for his neck. Batman responded in earnest with an elbow to the dapper deadman's nose, breaking it but doing nothing to stop him.
"Crap!"
Batman groaned as Grundy's massive hands wrapped themselves around his cowl. It was then his turn to be the projectile thrown. He launched out of the water like a bullet, crashing into the nearest mud pit with a loud SPLOOSH! Grundy then followed him out of the water, now huffing on account of his shattered nostril.
"MARRIED ON A WEDNESDAY!" Grundy threw a punch, crashing into the mud where Batman landed and caking his fist in the wet earth.
"T-Took ill on Thursday," Batman spoke, rising from behind as Grundy removed his fist to find three Batarangs embedded into his rotten flesh. After a series of faint beeps, the weapons exploded in a burst of heat and light, blinding Grundy.
"GREW WORSE ON FRIDAY!" yelled Grundy, flailing his arms in response to being blinded. Batman fled into the shadows, firing his grappling line to act as a makeshift trip-wire. The giant tumbled around. Eventually, his ankles meet the cable, forcing him to fall into the same mud that once held Batman.
"Died on a Saturday."
Batman dove into the waters, using his chance as he swam more profound into the waters below. Clicking the switch on his buckle ignited the lantern on his chest, illuminating the darkness of the water. He scanned the area as best he could, his eyes widening as they finally caught sight of their target. He swam over, grabbing hold of it as he fired his line once more to propel himself out of the water and into the cold night air.
"*cough* *cough*!" Batman groaned as he emerged from the water. In his gloved right hand was a withered and old rope connected to the source of his target. A noose wrapped around the neck of a corpse long since devoured by fish and maggots of the swamp. "Finally."
Grundy roared as he stood over Batman, his fist ready to pulverize the Dark Detective at a moment's notice before stopping as the cowled figure removed the noose from the deadman's neck. The sun slowly rose over the horizon as Batman fell to his knees and began to dig into the mud. Grundy, frozen like a statue as it watched his opponent dig before placing the corpse into the hole. He then covered the hole, used his Batarang to etch words into a nearby stone, and used smaller rocks to surround the grave.
"Buried on a Sunday." Batman removed his cowl, revealing his tired expression as he stared at the grave before him. "I'm sorry you were kept awake for so long."
Tears then fell from Grundy's dried eyes, his body fading away to dust as Bruce stared at the grave. The headstone placed reading the words-
HERE LIES CYRUS GOLD.
1944-1964
May you live on as you finally achieve peace.
Bruce stood up once more. From his belt, he produced a white rose before placing it under the headstone. As he walked away, he threw the noose into the water to never be seen again. Reverting to his cowled self, Batman then left the swamp as day shined over the grave.
"Thank you." whispered a voice in the Dark Knight's ear. A faint smile found its way on his face; behind him stood the specter of a well-dressed young man with a peaceful expression on his face. As if he was finally alive for the first time in years.
-THE END-
Tomorrow: SPOTLIGHT