Always Look Forward
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Red Eye or Batman Begins!
Chapter Thirty
Jonathan Crane sat alone in his 'cell' at Arkham Asylum, reflecting on the past. He was in a straightjacket and confined to a chair. Not that he minded, yet it was rather strange for the psychiatrist to be housed in his own facility.
Yes, the nut had indeed taken over the nuthouse. But now that same nut was no more powerful than anyone of the nuts he had treated during his tenure at the infamous Asylum. The Batman had seen it that himself.
With the help of his twin brother, the former assassination manager, Jackson Rippner, that was. His spoiled older brother…. Yes, Jackson had been the lucky one, according to Ra's al Ghul. He had two parents who loved him and the 'perfect' childhood. Yet he had thrown it all away one day and took the lives of their parents, who Jonathan had never met, and joined forces with their half-brother Roberts and the company. Jackson had it all and he never knew how hard life could be. Surely, Jackson had never dealt with bullies.
Jonathan sighed. He had managed to save some of his sanity from the Scarecrow's reign of terror. How ironic that he would have taken on the persona of the very name that he had been taunted and teased with since he was a little kid…
Jonathan had been mental ill, just like Jackson and Roberts. It was a family trait. It must have come from their mother. She was one commonality in all of their lives.
That had not stopped her from abandoning Jonathan and Roberts and keeping only Jackson. Jackson was the family favorite and Jonathan hated it. Jackson even had his own perfect little family—a wife and two children.
The bond between Lisa and Jackson Rippner was nothing short of extraordinary to his mind. He had once been in love, but he doubted that it would have ever been as strong as his brother's and sister-in-law's was. Even if she had not died.
A simple car accident had stolen her and instilled fear into the fearless Dr. Jonathan Crane. They had been forced off a country road and into a pit of quicksand. It was dark and tar-like, and it tried to suck him down into its endless depths. But Jonathan had managed to escape, beginning the closest to the edge. But alas, his love had not been so fortunate. When he turned to help her, she was already gone, sucked along with the car, into the ground.
Jonathan had snapped that day and slowly morphed into what he was in this present day and age. A so-called 'monster' who loved fear. He respected fear and its power.
"Hello, Jonathan," called a stiff, uncomfortable voice, causing Jonathan to stop his musings for the time being. There would be plenty of time to think later.
"Well, well, what an unpleasant surprise…" sneered Jonathan, catching sight of his identical twin brother and his family. Lisa stood at Jackson's side, one arm wrapped around his waist and he had one arm wrapped around hers. Henrietta stood beside Lisa, holding her hand tightly, while JR stood on the other side, holding onto Jackson's hand. All four Rippners were dressed in black.
"You're lucky that you're even alive," snapped Jackson, his hatred and disgust showing. Neither of them knew what had come over them that day. Another other time and they would have eagerly ripped each other's throats out. Yet, they had not.
"Oh, lucky me."
Lisa intervened, sensing the thick tension in the room. "I thought the twins should have a chance to meet their Uncle Jonathan."
Jonathan snorted. How absurd. The miniature look-a-likes of him and his brother would be better off without knowing him. Hell, everyone would have.
"I'd hug you, but I can't," Jonathan said, glaring at the twins before looking at his straightjacket. Not that he would have hugged them anyways. Emotionlessness ran in the family as well. Jonathan had shut down all of his emotions years ago.
"Gordon says that you will be going to trial soon," remarked Lisa, trying to make conversation. She had known that it would be best if they all meet once more before the Rippners returned to Miami for Joe's funeral. After the funeral, they would stay at Joe's house for a time, but neither of them had planned what would happen afterwards. The company would still be looking for them.
"Yeah, and then its back here," muttered Jonathan, taking in the bleak room that he occupied.
"Don't be so sure. If you show the judge and jury that you're not entirely evil…"
"Then I'll get out for good behavior, right, Leese? I'm not Jackson—I don't change sides like someone people change clothes."
Lisa's green eyes narrowed. She would never forgive him for what he had done to her, but she hoped and believed that deep inside him was a decent person, just like Jackson had been. But, she was wrong. Jonathan Crane was deranged—he had been driven mad long before the fear toxin that he had created had invaded his mind.
"Let's go," Jackson whispered to Lisa, who nodded. They had seen enough.
The Rippners left without another word and headed to the airport to catch their flight out to Miami. Alfred drove them to the airport and they said good-bye to Alfred, Rachel, and Bruce. They thanked them for everything, especially Bruce, before stepping through the gate. They were headed back to what reminded of their shattered lives.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Crane sat back at Arkham Asylum, in his little room, and laughed. For a long time, with his voice echoing in his empty room. He did not know why he laughed, but he did not care.
Author's Notes:
Just a quick epilogue left and this story's done with! I'll probably go back and tweak some of the chapters later, add stuff and fix mistakes (such as extending the action in the last chapter). If you'd like me to let you know by e-mail or PM when I've changed a chapter, please leave a note in your review. Enjoy!