The trial seemed to drag on for eternity. Photos, documents, and other various pieces of evidence were pulled up and put before the jury. Witnesses, like policemen, family members, et cetera, were brought up to the stand at an alarming rate.

Only one person seemed to be at ease with it all. The one person who should have been the most nervous about everything. Adriana.

Even after being put on the stand, she paid barely any attention to the prosecutor or even her own attorney's questions. The judge had to snap her out of delusions from time to time to answer.

The courtroom was thick with tension and stress, people were anxious for the verdict. Once the jury was let out to deliberate, everyone seemed to give a deep sigh of relief.

Adriana, however, took this chance to give a look around the room. She turned her head ever so slightly, watching as the people behind her began to speak quietly amongst themselves. She could see Cassie leaning against Keith's shoulder, both looking very uncomfortable and distressed. Adriana knew her sister thought she was guilty. Frankly, though, she didn't care.

She continued to scan the crowd and paused, her eyes landing on Bruce Wayne a ways away on the other side of the room. He didn't take notice of her immediately, but once he looked at her, he could quite look away. Adriana gave him a coy smile, the smile a child with a secret gives, and looked away quickly. Bruce stared down at his hands and scowled.

Adriana looked over her other shoulder and spotted an unlikely person in the back row. Doctor Crane. She blinked and frowned, faint, dark images flickering suddenly into memory. Burlap mask, messy, dirty, mouth sewn on lopsidedly, maggots…and…oh those lifeless, cold blue eyes peering at her, sneering, laughing, harsh.

"We never change our ways, Mrs. De Soto." Adriana's heart stopped as the glacial voice filled her head. It was as if someone were standing right next to her, breathing in her ear. "Don't worry, dear…once this is all settled, I'll come back for you. You'll be my little specimen again."

The judge, who was taking a bit of a nap, woke from his slumber when a scream pierced the air. The courthouse was in a frenzy as people leapt to their feet, staring at the overturned chair where Adriana sat just seconds before. She was curled on the ground, shaking and uttering nonsensical words.

"Order! Order in the court!" The judge's gavel rang out, but people were crazed, scooting away from the scene as much as possible. The bailiff hurried over to stop Adriana's cries, but she just wailed louder when he pulled her to her feet.

"NO! NO! Don't let him take me again! No, god, no! Get him away! PLEASE!" She screamed, clutching to the guard's arm.

"Keep your client quiet or I will remove her from my courtroom!" The judge barked, pointing his gavel at Adriana.

But she didn't listen to him, or anyone else. She was in a craze. The judge demanded her to leave.

Adriana finally kept quiet once she was dragged through the aisle to the door. She cast another look to find Crane, but he wasn't anywhere to be seen.

Adriana was set down on a bench outside the courtroom, looking around wildly, clutching her shoulders.

"Is he gone?"

"Is who gone?" Adriana's attorney muttered wearily, running his hand through his hair.

Adriana fell silent again. She held her forehead as a horrible pain seared through it.

"I…can I go to the bathroom? My head is killing me." The man nodded and Adriana shuffled to the restroom.

She huddled over the sink, gripping the porcelain for dear life. She was trembling so badly she could barely turn the faucet.

"That was an interesting little display in there."

Adriana peered up at the mirror. Doctor Crane stood in the doorway to one of the bathroom stalls, his lips turned up in a faint smile.

"What are you doing here?" Adriana murmured hoarsely. She was too tired to put up a good argument.

"Talking to you, of course."

Adriana rolled her eyes. "Don't be a smart-allec."

Crane took a few steps forward. "You're playing that insanity plea very well. I'm surprised the nice men in white coats didn't storm in to take you away."

"You're a sick, degenerate little man, Doctor Crane. I'm not going to be your little specimen." She wheeled on him. "This is your fault! You and that stupid mask!"

"Stupid mask? Adriana, that's not very nice. I made it myself." He pulled something from his pocket and held it out at her. It was the scarecrow's mask.

Adriana winced, backing up as he brought it close to her face.

"Not so stupid now, is it? Adriana, I'm trying to help you. If I hadn't talked to Dawes for you, you'd be one of the first in line on death row…At least I gave you a fighting chance."

"That…that was you? You're the one who sent her over to talk to me? She's the one that made everyone think I was crazy!"

"How could you blame her? You thought that your dead husband came back around to help you…that just SCREAMS psychopath."

Adriana turned bright red and frowned. "Did you…did you do that too?" Crane kept quiet, his eyes narrowed over his smug face.

Adriana shook her head and turned back to the sink. "Well, thanks for making everyone think I'm crazy, Doctor Crane. Thanks a lot."

Adriana scooped water in her hands, splashing it in her face. She felt a warm breath on a neck, a breath that still managed to chill her right to the bone.

"You're welcome, Adriana."

Adriana spun around, ready to push the man away, but no one was there. The stalls were empty, the bathroom was completely desolate. Adriana held up her hand, pressing it to her forehead, and closed her eyes.

"Maybe…I am crazy…"

"Has the jury reached a verdict?"

"We have your honor."

The verdict had come quickly. That was never a good sign. Adriana stood to her feet, looking at her attorney. But he wasn't looking back. He stared at the jury, his lips pursed.

The jury representative handed an envelope to the judge who nodded. The older woman cleared her throat.

"In the case of the multiple murders, we the jury find the defendant Adriana De Soto guilty of all charges."

Adriana didn't feel at all surprised by the verdict. She looked down at the floor and let out a long breath through her nose.

The judge looked over at the young lady, frowning at her severely.

"Mrs. De Soto," he growled gruffly.

Adriana looked up.

"Your little display earlier helped warrant my decision easily. I believe you are a danger not only to others, but also to yourself. Thus, I hereby sentence you to life incarcerated in Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane."

The bang of the gavel made the girl flinch. Arkham? She had to go to…Arkham? She could hear her sister release a sob as the bailiff came over, puling her arms behind her back, and clapped on the handcuffs. People rose from their seats, milling to get out of the courtroom. Adriana watched Bruce Wayne rise up and start towards the door.

"Bruce Wayne!" She called out to him. The young man craned his neck, bewildered. Adriana gave him a coy smile and snickered. "You're lucky Bruce. Very lucky…" The bailiff gave her a hard shove and she continued walking. She felt slightly numb as the guard brought her past her tearful family and through a door into a long narrow hallway.

"So…this is it? All that I did…reduced to one verdict. Guilty…insane…" her smile returned as she hung her head, giving a little giggle. "but I know something they don't know…I knew it wasn't just a coincidence that I hated Bruce Wayne so much…he's lucky…lucky that I'm not out on the streets or I would be sure to finish what I started."

Another chill came over her. She looked around everywhere, but there was no sign of anyone. Even so, the creeping voice returned, latching into her thoughts.

"You shouldn't get ahead of yourself…you don't know as much as you think you do."

Adriana was led outside to a large white van and flipped her head back, letting the cold wash over her.

"Your little specimen knows more than you think."