Book One: Fear

Chapter 6

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New Chapter, read, enjoy and review.

Bruce and I were walking side by side in the corridors. "I don't believe in coincidence, Mr. Wayne." I replied to his previous questions. "Batman's activities started since you came back in town. It wasn't difficult to put two and two together." I continued smoothly. I feel guilty for lying with such ease to Alfred, to Sue and to Bruce Wayne but it's better if they don't know, right? "And my doubts has been confirmed that night when I heard you give a call to Alfred. You'll agree with me that there isn't a lot of Alfred, living here in Gotham."

"I agree. There's only one like him." Bruce said affectionately. "I'm curious to know why are you inclined to keep my secret safe? Why are you doing it?"

"I have no interest to blow up your cover." I retorted. "Because Bruce Wayne is a simple human being and Batman…well, Batman is a symbol. He's incorruptible. Everlasting. The people of Gotham needs that." I looked up at him and saw that he was staring at me with a thoughtful expression.

"You…seem to be honest. And you are one of the few honest police officers that are left in Gotham and yet, I don't know if I can fully trust you." Bruce started. "There's no records of Emma Sanders prior to her life in Gotham City. You've only been existing for seven years."

"Gordon made the same remark when we first met. And still, he helped me. He did it not knowing if he could trust me or not." I chuckled. "I'm not asking you to trust me, Mr. Wayne. I just want you to understand that you and I are on the same side and I'll do everything I can to help. So, if you have to trust something, you should trust that."

"Who are you?" Bruce asked me.

I scoffed. "Someone like you." I raised up a smile. "Someone who'll rattle the cages."

We stared at each other for a few seconds. It was long enough for me to see how blue his eyes was. How beautiful is nose was, how soft his lips seemed to be. And I snapped out of it when I became aware of my train of thoughts. I mentally slapped and ordered myself to get a grip. Because this was Bruce Wayne, and I was probably just fangirling. You know, me probably having a crush on Bruce Wayne. Nothing more.

I looked towards the door hoping to see Rachel there. But she wasn't there. I frowned at that. She is supposed to be here, this is how Bruce knows where to find her. This is how Bruce knows that she went to find Crane at Arkham. And yet she wasn't there. Alfred stopped next to Bruce Wayne and gave a blue box. "From Miss Dawes." He said giving him the box. "She won't be attending your party tonight. She has other matters to deal with."

"Finch has been missing for two days." I said as an explanation. "It's probably why she won't be here." I zipped up my jacket. "Alfred, can I have my helmet please?"

"You should come to my birthday party, officer Sanders." Bruce suggested.

"I would love to but I'm going to pay a visit to Dr. Crane at Arkham." I told him. "Thanks." I said grabbing my helmet. I continued moving towards the door and pulling my phone out.

"Arkham? It's in the Narrows, officer."

"I know and please call me, Emma." I replied dialing Rachel's number. "Look, Crane has been working for or with Falcone during the last few years. He's the one who drugged you. He will most likely going to spread that drug around Gotham pretty soon. We need to know how. So, you do your part and I'll do mine." I stepped through the door. "Happy Birthday, Mr. Wayne." I threw over my shoulder. I put my phone to my ear. After three ringtones, Rachel answered the call. "Miss Dawes, tell me where are you?"

"Officer Sanders, I'm going to Arkham, right now." She replied breathlessly. "Crane moved Falcone there on suicide watch."

"I know." I retorted. "Wait for me before going in."

"Why?"

"Listen, I think it's a dangerous place. I just want to make sure you are safe." I told her. "So, humor me and wait for me. I'll be there in a few minutes." I didn't give her time to answer before hanging up.

I put my helmet on, climbed on my bike and started the engine. I knew that Batman will be down there. I already knew how Crane was going to spread the gas but I couldn't give out too much information. Bruce didn't trust me already and I didn't want to add another reason for him not to. I would give out as few information as I could unless I didn't really have a choice.

I'll use my knowledge of this universe as much as I can. Doing my best to protect as much people as I can, help as much people as I can. I could simply have told the truth to Bruce since I knew his secret but I don't think he would have believed me. Would you have if I told you that I came from a world where your life is just all lies? A fiction to others while for you is all real. I don't think you would have. So, this is my life now. A life where I'll lie to the people I care most about and where I'll have to hide what I really know most of time.

I stopped my bike next to Rachel's car. She actually waited for me. "Miss Dawes."

"Officer Sanders." She greeted back.

"You've been here long?" I asked her.

"No, I just arrived." She answered. "And I followed your advice. I called Dr. Lenhmann to file up a new assessment tonight. It should be on the judge's desk by morning."

"Good." I nodded.

We went through the hall, checked in at the reception desk and they took us to Carmine Falcone's room. He was dressed in a red uniform, shaking his head from left to right and saying scarecrow, over and over again.

"Miss Dawes, Officer Sanders, this is most irregular." Crane greeted us. "I have nothing to add to the report I filed with the judge."

"We have questions about your report." Rachel told him.

"Such as?"

"Isn't it convenient for a 52-year-old man who has no history of mental illness to suddenly have a psychotic breakdown just when he's about to be indicted?"

"As you can see for yourself, there is nothing convenient about his symptoms." Crane replied.

"There is when you administered a powerful psychotropic drug to your patient, Dr. Crane." I retorted catching him off guard. "I have proof that Falcone and you have been shipping drugs here in Gotham. Included a really powerful psychotropic."

"Psychopharmacology is my primary field." Crane smirked. "But I fear you have been mistaken, officer Sanders. The drugs I administer to my patients are in their interest."

"Somehow I doubt that."

"That's why I want my own psychiatric consultant to have full access to Falcone, including blood work." Rachel started towards the elevator. "To determine exactly what you put him on."

"First thing tomorrow, then." Crane sighed.

"Nah, we want that tonight." I replied. "Dr. Lehmann will be here anytime soon."

Crane entered with us in the elevator, put his keys into the button panel. Rachel was going to get dosed by the fear drugs, maybe I can change that. But it won't actually change the plot. Only that Batman will get to see from where and how Crane is going to gas Gotham City. Well, if he came. I've already changed a few things. They might not be important but in the long run, they can be a problem.

Rachel and I followed Crane through the corridor of the basement. I looked around and behind me to see if there was a way out for both of us. I knew the elevator couldn't be used. The corridor seemed to go in another section in the opposite way. There was light coming from that other part. All I had to do was to get Rachel and I to safety since Batman should be here. Well, I hope he was.

People in red suits were making more of this drug. Others were dumping massive quantity of it in the water supply. There were five or maybe six armed man. Alone, I won't be able to do much. I could fight and faced all those guys but running was still the safest choice. I was the one who grabbed Rachel's hands and pulled her behind me. We ran past the elevator.

"Where are you going?" Rachel cried.

"It won't work." I yelled back. "Trust me."

We turned the corner and the corridor just kept going. It was lit by a bright yellow light. There was a door at the end of the corridor. I dragged Rachel behind rushing to the door. I could hear Crane's men running after us. I prayed that the door led to a flight of stairs. I ripped the door open and pushed Rachel through it. I slammed the door closed behind me. "Run!" I yelled at her.

I was lucky on this one, that door actually led to a flight of stairs. I followed her quickly. The door behind slammed open behind me and people were climbing up behind us. Rachel was already climbing her second flight of stairs. They were gaining on us. I had to slow them down as much as I could. I looked up briefly at Rachel who was still climbing the stairs. And I did something I wouldn't have done in another life. I jumped over the railings, down on top of those two thugs. I banged the head of one of them as fast as I could against the steps. The second one grabbed my arm and pulled me up, I clenched my hand and connected my fist against his jaw.

It didn't do much damage. He shoved me against the wall, encircling my throat with his hand. "Officer Sanders, you might want to clear your head." Was all I heard before inhaling Crane's gas.

Emma tried to change things a bit but she ended up getting hurt instead. What do you think of this chapter?