Book One: Fear

Chapter 7

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Inhaling that gas was like inhaling a cloud of dust. It went through my nose, my mouth and my throat. It smelled terrible, it was thick and awful. But that wasn't the worst part. The worst part was to trying to battle with the horrible visions that I was seeing. I knew it wasn't true but fear is a strong feeling. I knew that the one I was seeing right now was Scarecrow. But there was worm crawling out of his eyes, his mouth and his nose.

"Who knows you're here?" Scarecrow asked. "Who knows?"

I could feel my tears running my face. "Everyone." I replied. "Make it stop." I continued.

The lights shut off. In the dark, I could see things that weren't there. Shapes moving around me. My head turned wildly from one side to another, trying to get away from whatever things that were trying to reach out to me. Unaware that Batman was here fighting off, Crane's men. The drug was taking over. I could feel myself losing grip of reality. I knew it wasn't all real; just hallucinations but I was completely a victim of my own mind. Ironic, don't you think? That I was losing grip of reality in a world that wasn't real.

I was aware of the pain that was gripping my body. Like every muscles of my body were contracting at the same time, trying to lift up an imaginary weight. My heart was beating faster, ready to jump out of my ribcage. My breathing was fast and ragged. And more tears were running out of my eyes. I was between consciousness and unconsciousness constantly.

"I don't want to die." I said barely aware of Batman lifting me up into the air.

"You won't die." Batman's rasped voice answered me.

I screamed when I see his deformed face. There was a black liquid coming out of his mouth. He looked more frightening than the first time I've seen him. My surroundings were just blurs and unshaped shadows. I didn't see Gordon. I didn't hear Gordon and Batman talked. Or I just caught bits of their conversation.

"…a panic inducing toxin." I turned my head around trying to see who was talking but I just ended up yelping in pain. "…down to the medics." The words were flying over my head and my fuzzy mind. "…toxin hidden in Falcone's drugs…dumping in the water supply." I covered my face as something black and deformed clawed at my face. "…someone worse." Another yelped escaped and I tried to reach out to the people around me. "…before the damage is permanent." I felt someone lift me up into the air. My eyes were searching my surrounding. "What is that?"

"Backup." I answered slurring.

Someone carried me once more as a giant swarm of bats flew around us. I knew there was a swarm of bats and yet I couldn't see it. I could feel it, hear those squeaks and squeals. I panicked, breathing rapidly, wriggling in the arms of whoever was holding me. And all of the sudden, I felt fresh air hit my face. Again words were flying over my head. I felt the change when another pairs of arms carried me. "I'll get my car."

"I brought mine." I slurred again. It was as if my panic-induced mind was making me recite the lines that I knew from the movie. I felt it when I was placed into the Tumbler. I felt it when Batman buckle me up. And I felt it when the car started. "I've gotta get me one of those." I slurred again.

And all of the sudden, I was aware of my surroundings again. "Stay calm." I heard Batman say. I grabbed my belt tightly. Out of the window, the landscape was a blur, I couldn't make out any shapes. But I don't know if it was because of the drug or because of how fast we were going. We drove through the city, I can tell you that much. The police sirens blaring loudly through the streets of Gotham. The Tumblr drifted sharply to the left.

"What are you doing?" I questioned.

"Shortcut."

"The rooftops aren't shortcuts." The words slipped out of my mouth. "You're crazy. You're bat crazy." I shook my head, shutting my eyes briefly.

We drove up to the higher level of the parking garage. I held the ceiling of the car. Not hearing him trying to reassure or ask me to trust him. His seat moved closer to mine before he sank down, under the control panel. There was an explosion and the Tumbler flew from one roof to another.

The Tumbler literally was flying, racing on the rooftops of the building of Gotham City and I was living a nightmare. I didn't know if the drug still had any effects or I was just hallucinating because of what I was living right now. I closed my eyes as the Tumbler finally landed on the solid concrete again. My eyelids felt heavier and my breath was shallower. I was slipping away, I could feel it. I feared that I wouldn't get the antidote in time. And that's what I thought before everything went black.

I sprang upright gasping for breath. "Take it easy." I looked to the side only to see Bruce without the mask and the coal around his eyes.

My head was pounding like someone was banging a hammer on my skull. "Did Rachel get out in time?"

"She's safe." He replied.

"Good." I jumped down from the cold platform I was sitting on. I lost my balance slightly and Bruce sprang forward to stop me from falling down. "The antidote. Did you give it to Gordon, yet?"

"No."

"Well, I'll do it for you." I said pushing him away slightly. "One for Gordon and another for mass production."

"You need to rest. You're still weak from the poison." He reasoned with me.

"We don't have time for this." I stood upright. "Whatever happened tonight is only going to accelerate things. The poison is going to be spread on Gotham, tonight."

"How do you know?" Bruce stood in front of me.

"I don't have time to explain either." I said annoyed. "Listen, I'm going to give this antidote to Gordon because I have to. Without it Gotham is lost. So, give me that antidote." I urged him. "Mr. Wayne, you don't really have a choice but to trust me for now." I insisted seeing that he was scrutinizing me. He moved to the table, took the antidote and placed them in my hands.

"Gordon and Gordon alone." He told me pointedly.

"I know." I nodded closing my hands around the small bottles. "You have to be careful tonight. Ra's al Ghul is still alive."

"Ra's al Ghul is dead." Bruce frowned. "And how do you know him?"

"That man that you know as Henri Ducard is in town and he is Ra's. He's going to set fire to your mansion. So, you need to get all of your guests out before that." I continued.

"Who are you?" Bruce asked squaring his jaw.

"I already told you who I am." I said back. "I know things that I'm not supposed to and I would like to explain but it's too complicated and you wouldn't believe me."

"Tell me, who you are?" He asked again his hands around my wrists.

"Fox is going to be here tonight. Ask him how someone can spread an inhalant through water. He will tell you it's impossible unless you have a microwave emitter powerful enough to vaporize the water in the mains." I continued. "Just like the one Wayne Enterprises just misplaced."

"How do you know all this?" Bruce asked again.

"You wanted others to feel your dread." I answered instead. "That's why you chose the bat as a symbol because you fear them." He released my wrists. "I would love nothing more than to explain but I can't because I don't even understand it myself. I know you don't believe me for now and you probably don't trust me right now. But you need all the help that you can get. And I'm offering mine. You do your part and I'll do mine."

"Sue, please tell me you are at the Wayne Manor right now?" I said on the phone standing outside of the Manor.

"Emma, where are you?" Sue asked concerned. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. Tell me, are you at that party right now?"

"No. You told me to stay safe. And I was too worried to have fun." She replied. "Why?"

"Nothing. I gotta go. Just stay inside." I hang up on her. "What now?"

I heard a car's engine behind me. I turned around. "Maybe I can be of help, Miss Sanders." Alfred said holding the door of the driver's side.

"You're a life saver, Alfred." I rushed to the passenger's side and got in.

"Where to, Officer?" Alfred started the car.

"Drop me off at the Narrows." I answered. "And don't be afraid to over speed."

I never took Alfred for a reckless driver so I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I told him not to respect the speed limits. I was gripping my seat tightly, looking over at Alfred, making a mental note not to say those words to Alfred ever again.

We finally reached the bridges that led to the island. Police cars and police officers were blocking access to the bridge. "Thank you, Alfred." I said getting out of the car.

"It was my pleasure, Miss Sanders." Alfred smiled at me.

"Mr. Wayne is waiting for you." I said as a goodbye. "Go back as fast as you can." I walked away before he could ask any further questions. I pulled out my phone quickly dialed 911. "Here's officer Sanders, there's a fire at 1007 Mountain Drive. It's the Wayne Manor, can you send a fire unit up there? Be quick." I showed my badge at the police officers at the bridge and they let me through as the dispatcher confirmed to me that they were sending people at the Wayne Manor right away.

I ran up to the other side. "Hey! You seen Gordon around?" I asked to a patrolman. He threw his thumb over his shoulder, I looked over it and saw that Gordon was talking to Flass. "Boss!" I stopped in front of him.

"Emma?" Gordon said as soon as he saw me.

"These are for you." I said showing him the antidote. "One to inoculate yourself and the other for mass production. It counteracts Crane's drug." Gordon took it. "There'll be more. And raise the bridge now."

"What? Why?"

"They found a way to spread the gas into the air. They're using a SWAT truck to get in. Raise the bridge now." I explained quickly.

Gordon took his radio. "This is Gordon. We're about to raise the bridge. Let no one through." Gordon looked at me. "They might already be in. Raising the bridge is not gonna change that."

"Not if we did it before they got through."

"Why would they come here?"

"The train. They're going to use it, to spread the drug not only in the narrows but in the entire city." I replied to Gordon.

"If this is really their intention, we can't stop them. They'll only force the passage."

"I know but we'll have to try."

Half of the truth is out and Emma is trying to do her part. What did you think?