Chapter 3 - The Mask
Cris skipped the morning jog, and decided to sleep a little more. Her mind was plagued with nightmares about the previous night. Walls of fire she couldn't pass through surrounded her. The heat was suffocating. The flames grew closer and closer. The sweat poured down her forehead as she tried desperately to find a way out. Then her clothes light up feeling that horrible feeling as the fabric is grafted to her skin. The pain is unbearable as she screams. Cris wakes up screaming, almost falling off the bed. Out of breath she climbs out of bed and shuffles along to the bathroom.
Opening the cold-water tap, she splashes her face and then looks up at the mirror and stares at herself for while. Cris had never been afraid of fire before, she always fooled around with fire when she was young. Even singed a couple of her friend's eyebrows. While she tried, she could never catch Barbara, somehow Barbara was always one step ahead of her.
She walks out of the bathroom and into the kitchen, reaches for the coffee jar and a mug. She switches the kettle on and measures two teaspoons of coffee out and into the mug. She walks back into the bedroom and picks out the clothes for the day.
Sitting on the balcony, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath in, thankful for such a beautiful day and thankful to be alive.
***
Cris sighs as she accepts the last student's test papers. "Miss Stone?" the student stops and turns around in the doorway. "Yeah?" Cris replies looking at the girl. "Are you really going out with Matthew Harper?" the student asks. Cris chuckles, "Why do you ask?" The student hands Cris a newspaper, on page 3 is a picture of Cris and Matthew seated at the restaurant. Cris laughs, "Is that way everybody has been staring at me?" she asks the student. The student grins and walks out. Cris looks at the newspaper again and smiles.
"Good picture, isn't it?" says a voice at the doorway. Cris looks up. Matthew stood there, leaning against the doorway, smiling. He's wearing a white, knitted polo neck jersey and cream-colored cargo pants. "What you doing for lunch?" he asks.
***
Cris and Matthew walk through the schoolyard eating sandwiches. "What happened to your hand," he says when he notices the bandage. "I ah, I spilled hot water on it this morning when I was making coffee," Cris replied. Somehow she didn't want him to know the real reason. "Should have been jogging this morning, then you and I would have had coffee at the café," he said and took a bite of his sandwich. She just smiled. She felt comfortable around him. She saw and air of kindness around him. His eyes always sparkled when he smiled.
She almost laughed when she noticed two girls blush as they walked by. Dinah had told Cris that a lot of the girls had a crush on him. Cris found it even funnier when the girls looked at her with envy.
Back in Cris' classroom Matthew asks Cris what she's doing after school. "I've actually pretty busy in the afternoon and tonight. I'm training with a friend of mine this afternoon, and I have to mark tests tonight, sorry," she replies. "No problem, you just owe me coffee tomorrow morning," Matthew says grinning. "Okay," Cris replies. The bell rings, Matthew kisses her and then excuses himself. Dinah appears just after he leaves. "You know, the whole school is talking about you and him," she says as she walks up to Cris' desk, "Everybody wants to take up History now." "Good," Cris replies, "Ready for the test?" "Oh yeah!" Dinah replies laughing and takes her seat.
***
That afternoon at the gym in the clocktower, Barbara guides Dinah and Cris through training. Both are fighting with sticks. Cris takes a swing at Dinah, who manages to duck. Dinah in turn thrusts the stick towards Cris' stomach. Cris counters by swatting the stick away with one of her sticks and at the same time bring her another down towards Dinah's shoulder. Dinah spins around and elbows Cris in the back, sending Cris to the floor. "Good! That was good. You know Cris, you're a little rusty!" Barbara says smiling. Cris chuckles, accepting Dinah's outstretched hand and stands up, "I think she's just getting me back for the test," Cris replied playfully glaring at Dinah. Dinah stood grinning with the two sticks in her one hand and the other on her hip. Barbara hands a towel over to the both of them. Just the Helena walks in. "Hey, sorry I'm late!" She said as she strapped her wrists in wrist guards. "No problem, I've been getting a beating from Dinah anyways," Cris replied. "She did?" Helena asked sheepishly. Barbara nodded. "Cool, so you're in form another beating?" Helena asked looking at Cris. Cris laughs, "Bring it on!" Wasting no time, Helena leaps in the air aiming a kick at Cris' right arm. Cris ducks a little and grabs her leg throwing it up. As Helena falls backwards she reaches out with both arms and flips backwards. "Almost didn't see that!" Cris says bending slightly watching Helena. Helena grins. Cris lunges towards her throwing her punch. Helena grabs her left fist and pushes backwards. Still holding onto Cris' fist, she brings her left knee up and aims for Cris' stomach. Cris counters by lifting her knee up and blocks Helena's knee. Cris pushes her back and twirls around swinging her arms. Helena ducks and punches Cris on her side. Cris stumbles backwards. Helena doesn't give her time to recover and hits Cris in the chest with her palm. Cris is sent flying into the punching bags. Cris laughs while helping herself up. "You're really good!" Cris exclaims as she walks over to them. Helena smiles. "Okay, lets have a break!" Barbara says and moves out of the gym. Helena chucks a water bottle at Cris. Cris catches it, "Thanks," she says and drinks some.
They all head for the kitchen. Dinah leans against the table while Cris and Helena take a seat. "Uh, Cris, we need to talk to you," Barbara says after a while. "What's up?" Cris asks. "I went over to Carter Jones or rather Dragon's apartment and I found this," Helena hands Cris a piece of paper. It's the same piece of paper with the address of the building that burned down. "Okay, so he started the fire, we hand this over to the cops and that's it!" Cris says handing the paper back to Helena. "There's something else, he was waiting for someone," Barbara said placing her water bottle on the table. "Who?" Dinah asks. Helena and Barbara look at Cris. Cris first notices Barbara then Helena looking at her, "Me?" Barbara nods, "Apparently someone has put a price on your head. We don't know who, he didn't say, but according to Helena he seemed very eager to find you," Barbara replied. "He first thought I was you, so I'm guessing they don't know yet what you look like," Helena added. "This is not good," Cris said looking down at the water bottle. "I agree, perhaps you should stay low till we find out who's behind this." Barbara says running her hand through her hand. "No, something tells me, who ever this guy is, is the guy Darren worked for. I can't lay low," Cris replied interrupting Barbara. "Listen Cris, if they see you they'll recognize you from the newspaper and that put Matthew in danger too," Barbara tried to reason with Cris, but she had a feeling she'd lose. "Then." Cris' eyes shot towards Barbara, "then I'll wear a mask." As soon as Cris said that, images of Barbara dressed as Batgirl flashed through Barbara's mind. She tried to say something, but knew it wouldn't help. Instead they heard Alfred's voice from below, "Just what I expected." He climbed the stairs and approached them he had a parcel in his hand. "I had this prepared some time ago, when you'd visit, but I've never had the chance to give it to you," he handed the parcel over to Cris. She opened it. In it was a latex mask that covered the whole face except the eyes. Where the mouth went was a cloth, which allowed the bearer to breath and talk normally. "It was my perception that Shadow Walker should remain shadowed," Alfred said smiling. "Thank-you, Alfred," Cris replied. "My pleasure Miss Stone," He replied. Barbara smiled, but only half of it was genuine, she knew what it felt like to live behind a mask sometimes. Selina knew too, sometimes it wasn't easy, sometimes she felt like throwing the mask down and never wear it again, but then it would call to you, Bruce felt it too. She shook her head when she heard Dinah and Helena laughing. "You look like a burglar," Dinah said. "Maybe I should wear a hat with it," Cris said laughing. "You know what will look good with that, a western hat, dark brown. I know the perfect place to get one," Helena replied. "Okay, let's go quickly," Cris said as she took the mask off. Dinah, Helena and Cris stared at each other then rushed downstairs towards Cris' car keys. Helena's there first and snatches it. Cris laughs, "Just be careful with the clutch!" They run into the elevator.
Barbara and Alfred watch from the kitchen smiling. "Perhaps it'll be different for her," Barbara thought to herself.
***
Cris and Helena wait outside Dragon's apartment. Cris is wearing her new mask with a dark brown leather hat, made western style. She also wore a long brown leather coat, with a sleeveless black polo neck shirt, brown leather pants and black boots with long heels. Helena sported her usual kicking-ass clothes.
Cris fiddled a little with her mask then sighed, "How'd you get out of pulling a shift at the bar?" she asked. Helena grinned, "I told the boss that the new guy needed to handle at least one night alone at the bar and seen as though tonight is one of the most quietist nights, he might as well have tonight! And also that I'd tell his wife that I saw him flirting with two girls the other night," Helena replied. Cris shook her head as she smiled, "Probably see a lot when you're working as a barkeep," Cris commented. "Oh yeah!" Helena agreed. ::Huntress, Walker, there's an old factory on fire near the jetties, I guessing our friend is there:: said Barbara over the comm. set. "We're on our way!" Huntress replied. She turns to Cris, "I'm taking the rooftops, it'll be quicker." Cris dangles her car keys, "Last one there pays for the drinks!" Huntress leaps in the air as Cris dashes to her car. Cris would have used the shadows near-by, but she needed her strength to face this Dragon guy off, besides she studied the road maps of New Gotham, she knew the easiest way to get to the jetties, if she doesn't get held up she could get there before Huntress." ::Cris, don't drive too reckless,:: Barbara said sternly. Cris rolled her eyes as she climbed in the car, "When have I ever driven reckless?" ::Don't ask,:: Barbara replied. Grinning, Cris starts the Viper, the engine roars as she revs it a few times before putting it in 1st gear. As she pulls off the wheels spin a little leaving scorch marks and smoke behind.
As Cris drove, she heard Huntress talk to Barbara over the comm. "There's nothing in that section of the jetties, why would he set it alight?" she jumped of the edge of one building and landed on another. "He's probably signaling us, or rather Shadow Walker," Barbara replied watching the tracking system track both Huntress and Shadow Walker. "And here I thought you guys had a fan club," Cris added throwing her handbrake up to turn a sharp corner. "Ha, don't get too comfortable, once you start foiling bad-guys plans they'll be added to your already established fan club," Huntress replied running across another rooftop and then leaps of the edge. "I got a question, what do I do when they want my autograph?" Cris asks smiling as she slams the viper into 5th gear. "You give 'em a boot print in their ass," Helena replied again. Barbara couldn't help smiling. She checked their position and then said, "Looks like the both of you will be there the same time," she said as she typed a few commands on the computer, "The fire truck has been a little delayed, that gives you guys enough time to find Dragon and get him out there, I'll alert Reese once you have him." "Damn!" Cris replied, "and I was looking forward to an ice-cold beer." "Tell me about it, I was starting to dream about that vodka," Helena moaned.
The viper screeches to a halt, Cris jumps out and runs towards Huntress who had just landed. "Still beat you," she says as Cris runs up to her. Cris stares intently into the fire. "There!" she says pointing to the side of the burning building. Huntress turns around and watches as someone stands watching them.
Dragon stood watching the both of them while smoking another cigarette. He recognized the one from last night but the other he couldn't see because of the mask. "That better be her, otherwise I'm in fer one hell of a shock!" he said to him self. He flicks the cigarette away and then walks into a factory next to the burning one.
Huntress and Shadow Walker run up to where he stood. Walker bends down and picks up the cigarette. "It's him!" she said and then looks at the building he walked into. Helena and Cris head inside.
Cris skipped the morning jog, and decided to sleep a little more. Her mind was plagued with nightmares about the previous night. Walls of fire she couldn't pass through surrounded her. The heat was suffocating. The flames grew closer and closer. The sweat poured down her forehead as she tried desperately to find a way out. Then her clothes light up feeling that horrible feeling as the fabric is grafted to her skin. The pain is unbearable as she screams. Cris wakes up screaming, almost falling off the bed. Out of breath she climbs out of bed and shuffles along to the bathroom.
Opening the cold-water tap, she splashes her face and then looks up at the mirror and stares at herself for while. Cris had never been afraid of fire before, she always fooled around with fire when she was young. Even singed a couple of her friend's eyebrows. While she tried, she could never catch Barbara, somehow Barbara was always one step ahead of her.
She walks out of the bathroom and into the kitchen, reaches for the coffee jar and a mug. She switches the kettle on and measures two teaspoons of coffee out and into the mug. She walks back into the bedroom and picks out the clothes for the day.
Sitting on the balcony, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath in, thankful for such a beautiful day and thankful to be alive.
***
Cris sighs as she accepts the last student's test papers. "Miss Stone?" the student stops and turns around in the doorway. "Yeah?" Cris replies looking at the girl. "Are you really going out with Matthew Harper?" the student asks. Cris chuckles, "Why do you ask?" The student hands Cris a newspaper, on page 3 is a picture of Cris and Matthew seated at the restaurant. Cris laughs, "Is that way everybody has been staring at me?" she asks the student. The student grins and walks out. Cris looks at the newspaper again and smiles.
"Good picture, isn't it?" says a voice at the doorway. Cris looks up. Matthew stood there, leaning against the doorway, smiling. He's wearing a white, knitted polo neck jersey and cream-colored cargo pants. "What you doing for lunch?" he asks.
***
Cris and Matthew walk through the schoolyard eating sandwiches. "What happened to your hand," he says when he notices the bandage. "I ah, I spilled hot water on it this morning when I was making coffee," Cris replied. Somehow she didn't want him to know the real reason. "Should have been jogging this morning, then you and I would have had coffee at the café," he said and took a bite of his sandwich. She just smiled. She felt comfortable around him. She saw and air of kindness around him. His eyes always sparkled when he smiled.
She almost laughed when she noticed two girls blush as they walked by. Dinah had told Cris that a lot of the girls had a crush on him. Cris found it even funnier when the girls looked at her with envy.
Back in Cris' classroom Matthew asks Cris what she's doing after school. "I've actually pretty busy in the afternoon and tonight. I'm training with a friend of mine this afternoon, and I have to mark tests tonight, sorry," she replies. "No problem, you just owe me coffee tomorrow morning," Matthew says grinning. "Okay," Cris replies. The bell rings, Matthew kisses her and then excuses himself. Dinah appears just after he leaves. "You know, the whole school is talking about you and him," she says as she walks up to Cris' desk, "Everybody wants to take up History now." "Good," Cris replies, "Ready for the test?" "Oh yeah!" Dinah replies laughing and takes her seat.
***
That afternoon at the gym in the clocktower, Barbara guides Dinah and Cris through training. Both are fighting with sticks. Cris takes a swing at Dinah, who manages to duck. Dinah in turn thrusts the stick towards Cris' stomach. Cris counters by swatting the stick away with one of her sticks and at the same time bring her another down towards Dinah's shoulder. Dinah spins around and elbows Cris in the back, sending Cris to the floor. "Good! That was good. You know Cris, you're a little rusty!" Barbara says smiling. Cris chuckles, accepting Dinah's outstretched hand and stands up, "I think she's just getting me back for the test," Cris replied playfully glaring at Dinah. Dinah stood grinning with the two sticks in her one hand and the other on her hip. Barbara hands a towel over to the both of them. Just the Helena walks in. "Hey, sorry I'm late!" She said as she strapped her wrists in wrist guards. "No problem, I've been getting a beating from Dinah anyways," Cris replied. "She did?" Helena asked sheepishly. Barbara nodded. "Cool, so you're in form another beating?" Helena asked looking at Cris. Cris laughs, "Bring it on!" Wasting no time, Helena leaps in the air aiming a kick at Cris' right arm. Cris ducks a little and grabs her leg throwing it up. As Helena falls backwards she reaches out with both arms and flips backwards. "Almost didn't see that!" Cris says bending slightly watching Helena. Helena grins. Cris lunges towards her throwing her punch. Helena grabs her left fist and pushes backwards. Still holding onto Cris' fist, she brings her left knee up and aims for Cris' stomach. Cris counters by lifting her knee up and blocks Helena's knee. Cris pushes her back and twirls around swinging her arms. Helena ducks and punches Cris on her side. Cris stumbles backwards. Helena doesn't give her time to recover and hits Cris in the chest with her palm. Cris is sent flying into the punching bags. Cris laughs while helping herself up. "You're really good!" Cris exclaims as she walks over to them. Helena smiles. "Okay, lets have a break!" Barbara says and moves out of the gym. Helena chucks a water bottle at Cris. Cris catches it, "Thanks," she says and drinks some.
They all head for the kitchen. Dinah leans against the table while Cris and Helena take a seat. "Uh, Cris, we need to talk to you," Barbara says after a while. "What's up?" Cris asks. "I went over to Carter Jones or rather Dragon's apartment and I found this," Helena hands Cris a piece of paper. It's the same piece of paper with the address of the building that burned down. "Okay, so he started the fire, we hand this over to the cops and that's it!" Cris says handing the paper back to Helena. "There's something else, he was waiting for someone," Barbara said placing her water bottle on the table. "Who?" Dinah asks. Helena and Barbara look at Cris. Cris first notices Barbara then Helena looking at her, "Me?" Barbara nods, "Apparently someone has put a price on your head. We don't know who, he didn't say, but according to Helena he seemed very eager to find you," Barbara replied. "He first thought I was you, so I'm guessing they don't know yet what you look like," Helena added. "This is not good," Cris said looking down at the water bottle. "I agree, perhaps you should stay low till we find out who's behind this." Barbara says running her hand through her hand. "No, something tells me, who ever this guy is, is the guy Darren worked for. I can't lay low," Cris replied interrupting Barbara. "Listen Cris, if they see you they'll recognize you from the newspaper and that put Matthew in danger too," Barbara tried to reason with Cris, but she had a feeling she'd lose. "Then." Cris' eyes shot towards Barbara, "then I'll wear a mask." As soon as Cris said that, images of Barbara dressed as Batgirl flashed through Barbara's mind. She tried to say something, but knew it wouldn't help. Instead they heard Alfred's voice from below, "Just what I expected." He climbed the stairs and approached them he had a parcel in his hand. "I had this prepared some time ago, when you'd visit, but I've never had the chance to give it to you," he handed the parcel over to Cris. She opened it. In it was a latex mask that covered the whole face except the eyes. Where the mouth went was a cloth, which allowed the bearer to breath and talk normally. "It was my perception that Shadow Walker should remain shadowed," Alfred said smiling. "Thank-you, Alfred," Cris replied. "My pleasure Miss Stone," He replied. Barbara smiled, but only half of it was genuine, she knew what it felt like to live behind a mask sometimes. Selina knew too, sometimes it wasn't easy, sometimes she felt like throwing the mask down and never wear it again, but then it would call to you, Bruce felt it too. She shook her head when she heard Dinah and Helena laughing. "You look like a burglar," Dinah said. "Maybe I should wear a hat with it," Cris said laughing. "You know what will look good with that, a western hat, dark brown. I know the perfect place to get one," Helena replied. "Okay, let's go quickly," Cris said as she took the mask off. Dinah, Helena and Cris stared at each other then rushed downstairs towards Cris' car keys. Helena's there first and snatches it. Cris laughs, "Just be careful with the clutch!" They run into the elevator.
Barbara and Alfred watch from the kitchen smiling. "Perhaps it'll be different for her," Barbara thought to herself.
***
Cris and Helena wait outside Dragon's apartment. Cris is wearing her new mask with a dark brown leather hat, made western style. She also wore a long brown leather coat, with a sleeveless black polo neck shirt, brown leather pants and black boots with long heels. Helena sported her usual kicking-ass clothes.
Cris fiddled a little with her mask then sighed, "How'd you get out of pulling a shift at the bar?" she asked. Helena grinned, "I told the boss that the new guy needed to handle at least one night alone at the bar and seen as though tonight is one of the most quietist nights, he might as well have tonight! And also that I'd tell his wife that I saw him flirting with two girls the other night," Helena replied. Cris shook her head as she smiled, "Probably see a lot when you're working as a barkeep," Cris commented. "Oh yeah!" Helena agreed. ::Huntress, Walker, there's an old factory on fire near the jetties, I guessing our friend is there:: said Barbara over the comm. set. "We're on our way!" Huntress replied. She turns to Cris, "I'm taking the rooftops, it'll be quicker." Cris dangles her car keys, "Last one there pays for the drinks!" Huntress leaps in the air as Cris dashes to her car. Cris would have used the shadows near-by, but she needed her strength to face this Dragon guy off, besides she studied the road maps of New Gotham, she knew the easiest way to get to the jetties, if she doesn't get held up she could get there before Huntress." ::Cris, don't drive too reckless,:: Barbara said sternly. Cris rolled her eyes as she climbed in the car, "When have I ever driven reckless?" ::Don't ask,:: Barbara replied. Grinning, Cris starts the Viper, the engine roars as she revs it a few times before putting it in 1st gear. As she pulls off the wheels spin a little leaving scorch marks and smoke behind.
As Cris drove, she heard Huntress talk to Barbara over the comm. "There's nothing in that section of the jetties, why would he set it alight?" she jumped of the edge of one building and landed on another. "He's probably signaling us, or rather Shadow Walker," Barbara replied watching the tracking system track both Huntress and Shadow Walker. "And here I thought you guys had a fan club," Cris added throwing her handbrake up to turn a sharp corner. "Ha, don't get too comfortable, once you start foiling bad-guys plans they'll be added to your already established fan club," Huntress replied running across another rooftop and then leaps of the edge. "I got a question, what do I do when they want my autograph?" Cris asks smiling as she slams the viper into 5th gear. "You give 'em a boot print in their ass," Helena replied again. Barbara couldn't help smiling. She checked their position and then said, "Looks like the both of you will be there the same time," she said as she typed a few commands on the computer, "The fire truck has been a little delayed, that gives you guys enough time to find Dragon and get him out there, I'll alert Reese once you have him." "Damn!" Cris replied, "and I was looking forward to an ice-cold beer." "Tell me about it, I was starting to dream about that vodka," Helena moaned.
The viper screeches to a halt, Cris jumps out and runs towards Huntress who had just landed. "Still beat you," she says as Cris runs up to her. Cris stares intently into the fire. "There!" she says pointing to the side of the burning building. Huntress turns around and watches as someone stands watching them.
Dragon stood watching the both of them while smoking another cigarette. He recognized the one from last night but the other he couldn't see because of the mask. "That better be her, otherwise I'm in fer one hell of a shock!" he said to him self. He flicks the cigarette away and then walks into a factory next to the burning one.
Huntress and Shadow Walker run up to where he stood. Walker bends down and picks up the cigarette. "It's him!" she said and then looks at the building he walked into. Helena and Cris head inside.