Book One: Fear

Chapter 8

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New Chapter, read, enjoy and review.

"Where are you going?" Gordon asked following me as I walked to a patrolman on horseback.

"I'm going to block the train before those guys arrived in the narrows. Slow 'em down a bit." I replied. "I'm gonna need your ride."

"Do as she ask." Gordon ordered him. The guy reluctantly get down from his horse. I climbed on it. "You be careful." Gordon said gripping my hand.

I nodded quickly. "Wish me luck."

I kicked the horse's side and the animal set off in a gallop through the Narrows. The people got out of way with cries of protest, burying themselves into the walls. I knew the train would be at the first stop after it has crossed the river would be but I knew I had to block access to it at any cost. I was nearing the train stop when the gas was released into the air. The manhole cover flew into the air as the water was vaporized. I pulled the reins and the horse stopped. I jumped down and started to climb the stairs two steps at a time. I pulled out my gun with the safety off. Ra's weren't near the train, so I still have time. I pointed my gun at the conductor of the train as soon as I got in.

"GPD, sir. I'm gonna ask you to get out of this train. Now!" The man raised his hands up immediately and he stepped around me staying as far away from me as possible. Muttering something about me being a crazy woman and another think about complaining to the police about it.

I blocked the door I just got through with my handcuffs. I took a sudden step back as I saw Ra's mercenaries arrived. They stopped in front of the door. I aimed my gun at the door stepping backwards to the conductor's room. I was confronted with another problem. The stupid conductor's room has no door. How am I supposed to block access to this room? There is a real lack of security in this train.

I stood in the door aiming my gun at the door. Waiting dreadfully the moment they will get through. Because they'll get in, I know. My only consolation before dying, because I'm gonna die, would be that I, at least, slowed them down a bit. It was a stupid plan anyway. I mean really it wasn't the only door that they could get through. And what was I thinking really? Did I really believe that I could do something against Ra's al Ghul? Pfff! So much for not getting involved.

Two men entered the train. I am pretty screwed right now, they are trained mercenary. Trained to kill and I, well, am a cop. Maybe if I took them by surprise, I might have a chance. All those thoughts were racing through my mind at high speed. Let's do this. Give more time to Batman. Yes, that what I was gonna do, give them time.

I emptied my gun on them but they kept walking as if they weren't hit. I threw my gun on the floor, jumped and grabbed the handle bar above my head. I pulled myself up and kicked one of my opponents in the head. He staggered backwards as I landed on my feet. His colleague immediately attacked me. He grabbed me by my shirt, lifted me up in the air and slammed me violently against the ceiling and let me fall back down on the ground. The air got knocked out of my lungs. If I got out of here alive, I'm gonna take lessons in hand-to-hand combat.

One of them lifted me up by my shirt and started to drag me out of the train. While two other mercenaries entered carrying the microwave emitter. I started to grab the seats to stop them from taking me out of the train. But that only earned me to be pulled up harshly and be thrown in front of Ra's al Ghul himself.

"It's honorable of you to try saving your town." He started smirking. "But it's useless. Gotham will tear itself apart." After that I felt a sharp pain in my side. "It's a shame you won't be here to see it. Gentlemen."

I was stabbed by Ra's al Ghul and now I was going to be left to die in the Narrows. Not the end I was expecting for. Ra's al Ghul's mercenaries threw me on the platform and left me there. They simply left the station and probably the Narrows itself. I put my hand on my left side, it was wet. When I pulled my hand up to get a look at it, my hand was covered in blood.

I pulled myself up holding my side and I started to walk down the stairs. Whatever I've done hadn't change a thing. It didn't slow them down. It did nothing. I did nothing. I needed to get out of here. Out of the Narrows, otherwise I'll get killed and I was already dying. When I reached the bottom of the stairs, there was a cop lying on the ground unconscious. I bent down and grabbed his gun, pulled off the safety and continued to walk through the Narrows. Looking for a safe place to hide until this is all over.

There were several explosions which could only mean one thing, Ra's was already on the mainland. The gas was being spread over there too. The people in the Narrows were running around frightened, screaming at things that weren't there. Others were lying on the ground and had a fever. I leaned against the wall, my side was hurting me and I could feel blood running down my side. A group of people were walking in my direction. I saw red uniforms and I didn't think. There was a door nearby that I pushed open, I slammed it behind me. I slid down the door and sat on the ground my back against it. My hand still on the handle.

I prayed that everything goes as it supposed to. That I didn't screw up the plot that much. And next time, I feel like helping I will make a better plan that won't get me killed or injured. Well, if I live long enough to see the day. Please, let me live to see the day. My eyelids were getting heavier and heavier, I was so tired. I wanted to go to sleep but I knew I couldn't. Maybe for a few seconds. Yeah, I think I can do that. Shut my eyes for a few seconds. Just…a…few…seconds…

I opened my eyes to the sound of bips, people talking and to a bright light. "She's awake." A female voice said with relief.

"Where am I?" I croaked out. My throat was real dry.

"At the hospital." That same voice said again. A face appeared in my sightline.

"Sue." I smiled. "Can I have some water?"

"Sure." She disappeared briefly before reappearing again with a goblet in her hand. She helped me by putting the straw in my mouth.

My dry throat was screaming with joy when I swallowed the fresh water. "You got us pretty scared, kid." Gordon said at my left. He was there with his wife.

"You're back at calling me kid again." I complained. "How are you doing Barbara?"

"Better than you." She smiled softly.

"Miss Sanders, I'm Dr. Malone." A young pretty good looking blue eyed Doctor came in. Whoa, wait a minute.

"Am I on morphine?" I asked scrunching up my eyebrows.

"Yes." Malone answered as he starting to test my eyes with his small torch.

"That's pretty strong stuff."

"Do you feel any pain? Uncomfortable? Anything out of the ordinary?" He asked me grabbing his pen from his pocket.

"I'm on morphine, so no pain. I feel pretty great. And I was stabbed with a sword. How's that for out of ordinary?" I answered fully awake.

"She's being a smartass. She's fine." Sue said dryly. "When will she be able to leave?"

"Well, her wound is healing pretty well. But we'll keep her tonight, for further examination." Malone wrote something on his report. "Tomorrow, she'll sleep in her own bed."

"Can I take that morphine of yours with me?" I questioned him.

The doctor scoffed. "Alright. If you need anything, don't hesitate." He told us before leaving the room.

They stayed for a moment, Gordon told me what he could tell me in front of others about how the situation in the Narrows has been fixed. Sue scolded me for being reckless and thanked me for being alright. Gordon and Barbara both left first and Sue and I watched TV together for a while. Before I asked, no begged her to get some rest. Sue left. I read the newspaper of the day. Batman was making the front page, I went to page eight to see what happened with the Manor. Unlike in the movie, it wasn't about a drunken billionaire who has burnt down his house but about how Bruce Wayne has made it out miraculously after they thought him dead. The photo showed that the house was only half burned, not reduced to ashes.

About two months later

Bruce Wayne hasn't paid me any visit, neither did Batman. I haven't paid him any visit. Mostly because I wasn't too thrilled about this meeting. He probably want answers that I don't have. And I didn't want to give too much information. On a side note, I sat the exam two weeks ago and I was currently waiting for the results. It wasn't a simple written exam there was so much more than that. We were tested on our general knowledge, our skills regarding criminal investigation, criminal procedure. How we lead an interview and interrogations, the search and seizure, collection and preservation of evidence, investigating report writing, etc…Commissioner Loeb and some other senior law enforcement official will decide of the results. All I have to do now was to wait.

So I waited and knowing that the Joker was free and about to strike at any moment. I've started to look for him. Looking into any bank robbery, drug sells, anything. I even went to the extent to dress up with dirty ragged clothes and went into the Narrows in hopes of finding anything that could help. And so far no leads on the Joker. That's the problem with movies. Sometimes they don't give a precise timeline, so I had no idea when he will attack the Gotham National Bank. It could be three months from now or even in a year. They don't even tell you or even hint at his whereabouts before the events of the Dark Knight. I was as clueless as Batman and Gordon about the Joker.

I also started kickboxing one month ago. I said I'll take hand to hand combat lessons and kickboxing sounds as good as any of them. I mean a fighting style that invites you to use your fists as much as your legs. And that's exactly what I was looking for. Anyways, it was worrying me that Batman or Bruce Wayne hasn't tried to contact me. I was worried that he thought that I wasn't to be trusted. Or that I could also be a danger to Gotham City. Maybe he was watching me right now, waiting for the moment I will make a mistake. It's crazy I know but it's still a possibility.

"Morning Alfred!" I greeted the butler after the lift of the new loft of Bruce Wayne opened. In spite of the manor being half-burnt, Bruce has decided on renovating his manor. "Is your Master here? We need to talk."

"Good Morning, Miss Sanders! It's a pleasure to see you again." The butler smiled at me. "Master Wayne was expecting your visit a bit sooner."

"He was expecting me?" I asked raising my eyebrows up.

"Yes. He had this idea that you will come to him to discuss some important matters." Alfred continued leading me to Bruce's bedroom. "Master Wayne. Miss Sanders is here to see you." Alfred announced opening the door.

Bruce stood in front of his large window, wearing a dark robe. "Miss Sanders, it's good to see you back on your feet." He smiled turning around to talk to me.

"I've been back on my feet for two months now." I replied coldly.

"Do you wish something to drink, Miss Sanders?" Alfred offered kindly.

"No, thank you, Alfred." I smiled at the man.

"Call me should you need anything." He said leaving the room.

"Are you kidding me?" I asked louder than I intended to. "I tell you that I know things that I'm not supposed to and after you knew I was right about Ra's al Ghul because I was right. You don't try to talk to me. You don't even ask questions about how I do know so much or why I know so much. I mean aren't you even a bit curious?"

"Would you tell me if I asked you?" Bruce answered instead turning suddenly serious. He stepped towards me. "Would you tell me the truth or feed me with lies?"

"I don't think I would." I retorted quietly. "I would neither tell you the truth nor feed you with lies."

"What will you tell me then?" Bruce asked.

"That there's things that I know. Important things that could help Batman and save lives. But that I don't know everything about the future." I breathed out. "I wish I could tell you the truth but…I'd rather ignore it." I exhaled deeply. "Why didn't you just come and visit me?"

"I wasn't sure if you could be trusted." Bruce told me walking past me to his wardrobe. "I observed you these last two months."

"Not creepy at all." I muttered.

He snorted. "You were looking for something or rather someone."

"The Joker." I replied. "The problem is I have no idea about where he is or what he's doing."

"Do you know what's going to happen?"

"He's gonna do what the Joker always does. Mayhem."

I hope you'll like this chapter as much as the others. I won't jump right up into the next movie. I'm going to build up the relationship between Bruce and Emma before doing so. I really hope you like this chapter. I rewrote it like five times before getting to this version. Now, about the last part, I'm not sure everyone will like it but I felt like it was a right end to Emma Batman Begins version. So, just tell me what you think.