Always Look Forward

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Red Eye or Batman Begins!

Chapter Twenty-five

Jackson was having a rare moment alone inside the confines of Arkham Asylum. Jonathan Crane had semi-unwillingly reunited with his twin brother, and seemed suspicious of the other man. Jackson did not mind and Jonathan did not dare try anything for fear of angering Ra's Al Ghul, who had ordered them both to work together. Jonathan had explained to him the entire plan and he was worried how Crane's plan would affect his Lisa. He did not know where she was, so he could only hope and pray that she was safe.

A dark figure appeared in the room quietly. Jackson pretended to ignore him as his fingers reached towards his favorite weapon. He would not be caught unawares. There was far too much at stake.

"Where's Crane?" ordered the voice, false-sounding. Someone was trying to disguise his or her voice. But who? And more importantly, who were they working for?

"How the hell am I supposed to know? I don't keep him on a leash," snapped Jackson, his fingers tightly wrapped around his knife.

"What's Crane planning with the toxin?"

"Why should I tell you? I don't know who the hell you are," Jackson spun around, knife poised in the air, ready to strike. He found himself facing the bat-like creature that he had last seen in the apartment that his brother had torched—and tried to kill him in.

"I'm someone who wants to take down Crane just as badly as you do. Will you help me?"

"And hand myself and my family over to his toxin on a silver platter? I think not," snorted Jackson. This was absurd. He was talking to giant bat.

"Why are you helping Crane?"

"To save my family. If I help him and the League, then I can save them. I'm not sure how yet, but I'll save them."

"The League? League of what?"

Jackson raised his eyebrows. What did this bat character know? Why was he asking these seemingly random questions? Was he planning on foiling the plans of Crane and Ra's?

"If I tell you what I know, will you help me protect my family?" Jackson offered. He would not risk their lives; even if it were to save many other lives.

The bat-man nodded. "You help me, and I'll help you."

Rachel strode confidently into Arkham. She was finally going to nail Dr. Crane for his toxin. Falcone could not possibly have become insane this fast without Dr. Crane's interference. He had to have used the toxin. This twisted game ended here.

Until she followed Crane into the room where he 'made the medicines'. The toxin was being mixed below her. Why had Crane taken her there? What was he planning?

Rachel did the only sensible thing that she had done all night—she ran. She flew back to the elevator, pressing all the buttons, praying that it would move, but it did not. It would not budge without Crane's key. It was one of the ways they made sure the inmates stayed locked up.

A cloud of the toxin shot Rachel in the face as Crane, his features hidden by a burlap sack-mask, entered the elevator. Rachel gagged and coughed, trying to stop the toxin that she knew so much about. But it was useless. She lost to the power of the toxin.

"Rachel Dawes? Are you insane?" questioned Jackson as Jonathan ordered her limp body brought into the toxin room.

"No, unlike you, I'm perfectly sane. If she had gotten away, like your annoying little wife, our plans would have been ruined. I couldn't let that happen," Jonathan argued, snapping at Jackson. Oh, how he longed to gas his brother…

The lights disappeared and the room was plunged into darkness. Jackson was dimly aware of Crane removing the mask and running his fingers through his dark hair. Jonathan looked insane at the moment.

"He's here," muttered Jonathan, not sounding pleased.

"Who?" a voice asked in the inky darkness that surrounded them.

"The Batman."

Batman—the stranger that he had spoken to earlier. Batman was there to stop Crane. He was here to help. Jackson would have to help him. There was no way that one man could thwart Crane and his cronies on their own.

Jackson ignored the conversation between Crane and his workers—it was not important to him. What mattered was stopping Crane and saving his family. That's all that ever mattered anymore.

As he heard Crane's men being dealt with, Jackson moved closer to Rachel. The giant bat seemed to be doing rather well on his own. His job then would be to protect his wife's friend. Rachel had helped Lisa, and now he would help her. He would keep Rachel from Crane.

Unfortunately, he was mistaken and the Batman grabbed him. Jonathan seized the opportunity to flee.

"Hey, get back here!" Jackson yelled after his disappearing brother. He could not be allowed to escape.

It was too late. Jonathan was gone.

"Who are you?" hissed the Batman.

"Jackson. It's Jackson Rippner. Remember me?" he said, trying to reach his knife.

The Batman dropped him, and he fell to the concrete floor. Panting, he struggled to sit up. His blue eyes focused on the bat and he gritted his teeth in pain and annoyance.

"You let him get away!" accused Jackson. "Now he's going to hurt her! He's gonna find Lisa and hurt her!"

Lisa ran through the dark streets of the Narrows. Okay, she did not have the best of plans, but she had a plan. She was going to sneak into Arkham, find Rachel, and leave. She wanted to deal with Crane, but she was not sure if she would have the time or the resources to fight the psychiatrist.

She never made it to Arkham. A cloud surrounded her and she inhaled the familiar toxin. It had no affect on her, but she knew that it was coming from Crane. She turned around to face him and his arm was outstretched in the air.

The hated mask was covering his face, shielding his likeness to Jackson from her eyes. That made it easier to fight him.

Lisa lashed out, a high kick with her right foot was aimed at his head, but he grabbed her ankle and twisted it. She was knocked off-balance, so she swung a fist at him as she fought to regain her lost balance. She could hear Crane laughing.

She threw her head forward in a powerful head-butt, crashing into Crane's head. He stumbled and she continued her attack.

"Gonna kill me, Leese?" he questioned, his voice painfully reminding her of Jackson. He was trying to imitate Jackson's voice.

"Ye-no, I don't know," she admitted, stopping her attack. She knew that she should continue and beat him into a bloody pulp. He had done nothing but hurt her and he deserved payment for his crimes. She should be the one to administer justice.

"My brother's very worried about you, you know?" he baited her.

"Your brother?" Lisa asked. Could he be talking about Jackson?

"Yes, my twin brother—Jackson."

Lisa gagged and turned to throw-up. No, no it could not be. Jackson could not be Crane's twin! It had to be a lie! It had to!

"Don't fight me," he whispered, wrapping an arm around her throat from behind. "I don't want to hurt you."

"Liar!" hissed Lisa, trying to sense his weak spots so that she could launch another attack. This time, there would be no mercy.

"Well, I'm still mad at you for biting me, but I'm not going to hurt you unless you make me. Or your children…"

"What did you do to Henrietta and JR?" screamed Lisa, fighting his hold. She was not going down without a fight. This monster would not hurt her or her children! Not while she could still fight.

"Nothing, but they're insurance. To keep you and Jackson from doing anything stupid. You play alone and they are fine. Understand?"

"Yes," sobbed Lisa, her lower lip and voice quivering as she ceased her struggles.

"Good girl," he whispered, before slamming her head into a brick wall. He was not going to let her fight him. For some reason, the toxin had not worked. He had no other means by which to subdue her besides brute force. Oh well…

Author's Notes:

Yes, I'm changing the storyline of the movie slightly. Crane escaped early, but everything else is still going to be regular. He's going to get a dose of his own medicine soon. Enjoy and please review!