I am so very sorry for being gone for so long. I am helping my father finally build that bathroom that has been on hiatus for a long time, and I have had little time to write and no energy. But I hope this chapter makes up for it!
Life Unexpected
Chapter 19
Batcave
Four days. Victims already in the double digits. Victor Zsasz's handiwork was found at the scenes. His blood left behind, tallying his work, after he had slaughtered innocent people that he deemed 'zombies' and left them posed as if they were mannequins.
The police were alerted to Zsasz's disappearance from his cell at Arkham the following morning when it was time for his medication.
Gordon got in touch with Batman as soon as he got the call. The police commissioner was already demanding answers from Jeremiah Arkham as to how a vicious killer such as Victor Zsasz managed to escape without being seen. No guards were talking, the security cameras did not pick up anything. The only thing the police were able to find was an abandoned Arkham vehicle left behind near a gas station in Tricorner.
It had rained not long after his escape, washing away any traces or clues to Zsasz's current whereabouts.
Since then, the bodies had been piling up.
Batman wanted to know how Zsasz got out. Since Zsasz was on the loose and people were at risk, the Stock Exchange perps would have to wait. Even though he was curious about what caused the explosion that killed them, Zsasz was the priority.
Dick was antsy as he was performing gymnastic moves to steady himself. He, too, wanted to capture Zsasz and stop the killing.
Bruce was scouring the CCTV cameras in the city hoping to find a sign of the bald man.
Unfortunately, he came up empty where the cameras were concerned. So, the dynamic duo was taking it to the streets, hunting down anyone who could give them a clue as to Zsasz's whereabouts.
Bars and nightclubs. Places where the unsavory ilk gathered, they hit and hit hard demanding Zsasz's whereabouts.
It was a long shot considering Zsasz rarely used henchmen. But if the criminal element heard and heard loud and clear that no one would be safe until Batman got Zsasz, they would be wise to assist the Caped Crusader into getting the serial killer off the streets.
Another two nights passed without a sign of the killer, except the body count increased by four and were discovered near the wharf posed as if they had just caught a big fish and were celebrating with beers.
It was getting so serious that the mayor ordered a mandatory curfew. Everyone would be home by six o'clock and to lock their doors.
Diana had made certain that Elissa wasn't going anywhere until that Zsasz animal was captured. The girl was annoyed by her unfair and spontaneous 'grounding' and started to act out like a normal teenager. However, Diana would not back down, besides she had Bruce on her side concerning this particular topic.
He agreed with her that Elissa should not be out alone in the city with a killer on the loose. Knowing that Elissa was safe at home with Diana filled him with mild relief and could focus his energy on Zsasz.
Batman's fury only increased as the body count rose. The streets knew it, too, as Batman expressed his anger 'healthily' by beating down any poor miscreant that dared to act out while he was hunting.
Fortuitously as Batman and Robin were cruising through the streets when they picked something up on the police band.
"Dispatch, we have Victor Zsasz sighting over in Cyrus Pinkney Museum. He is to be considered armed and dangerous. Proceed with caution."
Instantly, the dark-clad man jerked the steering wheel to the right, tires screeching along the road as the engine roared. The batmobile changed direction as it raced down to the museum.
Unsuspectingly to the vigilante, Bane was also listening to the police band. He left his safe house and was intent on seeing this animal in action. More intent on witnessing the Batman deal with one of his rogues.
As soon as they got near the museum, the pair left the fabled car and took to the rooftops to stay out of sight until necessary.
Batman could already hear the chatter from the cops on scene through the communications in his cowl.
"Where the hell did he go?!"
"I just saw him!"
"Mike's bleeding badly! Get an ambulance!"
Several police officers shouted at each other as they had thought they had cornered the escapee, only for Zsasz to turn the tables and injure one officer and get out of sight.
Activating thermal imaging, his cowl lenses glowed white as he scanned the area searching for Zsasz's heat signature.
It took him a few minutes of glancing at the nearby apartment complexes surrounding the museum. As he scanned, he suddenly jerked his head back to one of the adjacent buildings, he magnified his vision and was able to make out Zsasz's visage. He was crouching, hiding under the stoop, shirtless flashing his marred body proudly.
"I have visual," he announced to Robin.
"Where?" the teen inquired eagerly.
"Over there," the dark-clad man pointed to an apartment building. Just then he noted something out of the corner of his eye. "It looks like the cops noticed him too," he stated. Turning his head to Robin, "Make sure they don't get hurt," he ordered the teen, who nodded in understanding.
With that said the Dark Knight took flight as his cape transformed into a glider and rode the air currents. His silhouette casting a long and predatory shadow over the ground.
He landed gracefully along to the rooftop of the apartment building, his cape no longer a rigid glider. Before he could take a step, a scream hit his ears.
Alarmed, he raced to the ledge and leaned over to see Zsasz, crazed as ever, had grabbed a woman trying to enter the building.
"Please, don't!" she pleaded through tears.
"Quiet, zombie!" the bald man admonished. His forearm wrapped around her chin, tilting her head upward to expose her throat. A knife raking over her carotid temptingly.
Things got worse as the cops had heard the scream and raced over hurriedly. An ambulance siren and lights seemingly ignored as the officers raced to the building.
Sweat permeated the escapee's pores as adrenaline kicked in as the cops raced to his position as guns were drawn.
His knife handed twitched as the urge to slit the 'zombie's' throat grew to unbearable proportions to ignore.
But call Victor Zsasz what you will. But he was not an idiot. He knew if she dies, he no longer has a shield between the cops and himself.
"Let the woman go, Zsasz!" a cop demanded, gun trained on the serial killer. From his appearance he looked like a veteran cop, he knew how these situations could go. Someone usually dies.
Before the serial killer could utter a retort, someone else's voice boomed.
"I'm not in the mood for you tonight, Zsasz," Batman stated as he dropped down from his perch. His cape fluttering in the wind as he landed effortlessly in between the cops and Zsasz.
"Let her go!" his voice boomed furiously. He took a careful step forward, but once he saw Zsasz take a step back towards the building door, he stopped all movements. His eyes stared into the eyes of the hostage, her mascara leaking down her face.
His eyes bore into the bald man, who continuously stayed in motion as he had not just cops but the Bat cornering him.
Batman knew Zsasz would kill the woman if he could. He knew if he backed down, Zsasz would kill her anyway just for an opportunity to escape.
At the moment, he had Zsasz's attention. Now, Batman hoped his partner would seize the moment.
From his perch atop of the apartment building where the standoff was occurring, Robin analyzed the situation. He was certain that Batman would reprimand him for not following orders and making sure the cops didn't get hurt nor interfered.
But right now, a job needed to be done. His eyes narrowed as he crouched atop the ledge of the building. An idea already forming inside his head. He walked along the ledge moving away from the scene. When he decided he was far enough, he used his legs and leap off the ledge his cape instantly activating and becoming a glider. He rode the wind as he got closer to the serial killer. He was quick to note that Zsasz had yet to notice his approach and pressed on. Instinctively, his legs moved, and his feet was at the forefront of his body. Suddenly, he felt the impact as he collided with the mad man and pushed off with his legs. Luckily, the escapee's knife arm flung away from the woman's throat as Zsasz stumbled to the side, his legs stagger attempting to steady himself.
Robin had landed a few feet away from the bald man, his body squatted in order to stick the landing.
Survival instincts kicking in, the woman sprinted away with a scream as she raced to the nearest police officer, ignoring the giant bat.
Seizing the moment, Batman in two steps was on Zsasz, disarming him as he was still slightly dazed.
When Zsasz finally realized what was happening it was too late as Batman delivered a devastating blow to the man's head before he slammed his head into a wall downing him.
Batman was kind enough to step on Zsasz's hand, bones crackling as metacarpals gave way under the pressure of a two hundred something pound man.
The vigilante shared a look with his partner before he turned to the officers approaching the serial killer.
"Get him back to Arkham," he issued an order to the cops. They did not seem bothered by the man's coarse tone. They too, had enough with Victor Zsasz. The animal needed to be taken off the streets.
The Dynamic Duo fired their grapple guns and took to the sky vanishing from sight.
Unbeknownst to them, a pair of men had observed the scene from a far. With the aid of binoculars, Bane had watched the confrontation with interest. He watched intently as Victor Zsasz was taken down. Even after all the death he had wrought, Batman did not kill the man.
Batman did not kill. Not even the most depraved and unrepentant. A code of honor, perhaps? Or was Batman so shattered within his mind that he needed something to separate himself from his foes?
Bane was deeply baffled by how long it took for Batman to track Zsasz down. But the objective was completed he had seen firsthand how the Batman battled his enemies. He saw a man just a man. Nothing but a symbol and skills and weapons that aided him in his quest. He recognized some of the fighting styles used and now had a sense of how Batman and his young squire fought.
Turning to Bird, he ordered, "Contact our men in Santa Prisca. It is time to make preparations."
"Sure thing, Bane," the blond-haired man obeyed. "I know some guys who could smuggle our guys into the city, but there's just one problem," he voiced carefully. Bane did not like problems.
"Speak," the large man commanded as red lenses narrowed warily.
"Penguin runs the docks and the smuggling ring. Nothing gets in or out without his say so. He could pose a problem."
"Then we will pay this Penguin a visit and educate him on who runs the docks," Bane replied ominously as he turned to leave with Bird slowly beginning to follow.
With Victor Zsasz captured and the curfew lifted, Elissa was allowed to be a teenager and hang out with friends. With Natalie in summer school and Dick off doing his own things, Elissa decided to spend more time with Dean. She had gotten to know him better and they were getting closer. But when Dean's friends were brought into the equation, Elissa slowly got the impression they were not like Dean at all.
It was a hot summer evening with the sun beginning to set. A dejected Elissa sat in front of a mini mart atop a curbing stop, the setting sun giving the environment a glossy glow expressing summer. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she wondered if she was going to be arrested for loitering.
But instead, she merely sat patiently as she glanced around for her ride occasionally. She shifted slightly as the concrete slab made her rear uncomfortable.
Disappointment rose when they were nowhere in sight.
Inwardly, she reflected on how she got to this point.
It started two days ago, when Dean reintroduced his friends to her from the prom.
Naomi, Kelly, and Addison, the Wayne heir remembered from the dance. They were nice and polite. Friendly to the point where they wanted to be besties with her.
Dean's friends on the football team were with them too. Blake, Tyler, and Matt, Elissa also remembered them from the dance. She got the impression that they were dating the other girls and when she asked them point blank they responded in the affirmative.
So, they met up at the Gotham Fairgrounds that opened at the beginning of summer and closed on the last day of September.
The place was packed with screaming from the people on the rides and clamoring kids wanting to go on a ride once again. Senses overloaded with fried foods and popcorn as the group of teens walked along the place.
Silently, Elissa missed Natalie and wished she could have tagged along as the other girls among the group were chatting about some idle nonsense, she had no idea what. Something Elissa considered meaningless to her.
Dean was walking next to her, scanning the rides for the one he wanted to go on first.
Some of the girls had taken Elissa aside as the boys were going on a ride none of the girls were interested in going on.
"So, you're rich?" Addison asked, sounding unsure.
"My father is," Elissa answered simply, blocking out all the screaming.
"But you're rich," Addison maintained.
Shrugging, "I guess," Elissa answered.
"Cool!"
The three girls were all smiling at the dark-haired teen to the point that she got uncomfortable. It seemed like she was not getting the joke or something.
"Are you and Dean an item?" Naomi inquired, curious on Dean and Elissa's relationship.
The question made Elissa freeze as she was uncertain herself about their relationship status. All they had done so far was hang out. No confessions of love or anything like that.
"We're just… hanging out," she responded uncomfortably.
Sensing her discomfort, the girls backed off on the matter and merely chatted about social media until the boys came back.
The next time Elissa met up with Dean and his friends they all went to the arcade. Once again Natalie was unavailable as was Dick. But Elissa did not let that discourage her. She enjoyed video games as much as the next teenager. Surprisingly to Elissa, she was slowly coming out of her shell and felt like one of them. She laughed with them when it came to jokes and was eager to hang with them.
Only… things started to turn.
When they got to the arcade and went to pay to be allowed to play the games, some bemoaned as they didn't have enough cash. Addison instantly turned to Elissa.
"It's okay. Elissa's got this," the girl stated with a smile that hide her true agenda. The others swiftly turned to the dark-haired girl expectantly.
Their combined gaze began to make her uncomfortable. "Uh, sure," Elissa slowly nodded and stepped forward from the back. When she reached the counter, she pulled out the card Bruce had gifted her and began to make some withdrawals.
As soon as they got what they needed the other teens cheered and began to excitedly exclaim what games to try first, leaving Elissa behind.
Dean stayed with her as she put her card away.
"You okay?" he asked with a hint of concern as Elissa was silent when she gave the others the cards that enabled them to use the games.
"Sure," she responded with hollowness. "Let's go," she beckoned as they raced to the nearest game that interest them.
As Elissa was in the midst of gaming, the other teens walked up to her and asked for more money shamelessly. The teen paused and contemplated their request for a second before consenting and went to get them more cards.
At the end of the day Elissa had spent over five hundred dollars at the arcade.
When Bruce saw the charges, he wrote them off as a teenager having fun during her summer vacation. Five hundred dollars was nothing to the billionaire.
The next time all of them went to the movies, Elissa paid for everything. It was then that the girl was starting to get the suspicion that they were using her for her money, albeit Bruce's.
The final straw for Elissa was when after hanging out at the park they went somewhere for a late lunch. When Elissa was coming back from the bathroom, she overheard the girls Addison, Naomi and Kelly talking rather loudly.
"Who's paying for all this again?"
"Who else?" Naomi answered with an obvious tone. In an instant they were all giggling at the prospect that Elissa would be paying once again.
"It pays to have a rich girl tag along," Addison reminded everyone, to which they all laughed, even Dean.
With every laugh another knife went into Elissa's heart as she realized they were just using her. They were all using her. Probably since the beginning when Dean asked her to the dance.
A despondent Elissa made a beeline for the door, avoiding their notice as she left the restaurant, hot tears threatening to spill from her eyes.
Through teary eyes she kept walking. She was uncertain how far she walked only that her legs were tiring, and her sobs had dissipated replaced with anger and hurt by people she thought were her friends.
She sat in front of a mini-mart and texted the one person she thought of. The one whom was at fault for all. Blame outwards swiftly turned inwards as she began to berate herself.
Chastising herself for being so stupid as to let people get close to her. It always came back to bite her in the end. She knew this since she was seven and like an idiot, she tried to make friends and got hurt in the end again.
She did not know where she went wrong. She was not someone that needed to be liked. But the way those girls mocked her behind her back made her so angry at them—at herself for being so stupid.
The boy that she liked being that only added to her humiliation.
How long was Dean involved in this? The beginning? Was that why he asked her to the dance? Every memory she had with him was now muddy with suspicion and anger.
She wanted nothing to do with the boy now!
Tears threatened to spill once more but she held them at bay. Already she was rebuilding her walls to protect herself. It would take a long time before she brought them down again.
She sat in silence as she wiped her eyes and sniffed as she awaited her ride.
She was engrossed that she did not realize someone walked up to her and took a seat next to her. Her eyes registered dress shoes glistening with polish before she realized Bruce was sitting next to her.
His expression was one of sympathy. He exuded zero negative emotions as he waited for her to start speaking. He already had an idea on what was happening, but he desired to hear it from her. Guilt gnawed at him for not doing more for her. Wanting to protect her all-consuming.
Elissa purposely turned her head away from her father, refusing to allow him to see her in such a state.
The two just sat there in silence for some time before Elissa finally swallowed that suffocating lump in her throat. Riffling through her wallet she pulled out the credit card. "I-I don't want it," her voice heavy with sadness.
Bruce looked at her with sympathy as her gesture made it all fall into place for him. He saw her hand shake from being made a fool of and being hurt by those kids.
"Are you sure? I am not upset with you about any of this."
She merely held the card out for him to take unable to speak.
He took the card from her, "Okay. We can figure something else for you," he explained pocketing the credit card.
He saw her nod, her face scrunching as tears leaked from her eyes even though she tried her damnedest to hold them in.
To comfort his daughter, he put his arm around her pulling her in close, to which she did not refuse. "I'm sorry, Elissa," he started. "I should have discussed with you that there will be people who will try to use you. Either for your money or for your status," he spoke with deep reflection as he recalled going through the same experience as his daughter. He had severed ties with an old friend long ago because of money. His heart ached for her. "I'm sorry."
His daughter slowly started to pull away to look at him. Searching for more information.
"I've had my fair share of bad experiences when I was around your age. Been betrayed by people I thought were my friends. But that does not mean you should sever any ties you form with people to avoid being hurt. It will be up to you to differentiate between true friends and those that simply wish to use you," he expressed earnestly. He scolded himself for not mentioning this earlier. Truthfully, Elissa only had contact with a handful of people and rarely used her credit card, so he decided against broaching the subject. Now he realized he erred.
"I thought they liked me," Elissa started, her voice full of embarrassment. "I should have known!" she scolded herself, shaking her head at her foolishness.
Bruce immediately reached for her, so she was looking at him. "You didn't do anything wrong," he emphasized. "They are at fault. But teenagers are cruel," he reminded. He saw Elissa nod her head in agreement.
"This is just something you will learn from. But this doesn't mean you shouldn't reach out to others," he was quick to say. He hoped he was reaching her but after the day she had she really didn't want to deal with people right now.
She slowly nodded, at least to let Bruce know she was listening. Carrying out what he said was an entirely different matter.
"Come on," he beckoned as he rose with Elissa joining him. As they made their way towards his car, the billionaire had one more thing to ask. "Just tell me something, was Dean part of this?"
Dean's laughing face flashed in Elissa's mind as he was just using her. "Yeah," she grumbled in distaste.
"I never liked him," he said with disgust starting the car. Elissa was silent as Bruce drove.
"Can we not tell Diana about this? At least, not yet?" she asked him, silently hoping he would agree. She really didn't need Diana's overprotectiveness now. She knew her mother would raise hell towards those jerks for exploiting her daughter.
"Okay," he agreed. "I'll let you be the one to tell her in your own time."
"Thanks," Elissa nodded, slightly glad Bruce agreed. Although, her mood was still despondent.
The car ride was one filled with silence. When they arrived at Diana's home Elissa immediately broke down in tears in front of her mother and told her everything. Her mother wrapped her in her arms prepared to ease her suffering.
Iceberg Lounge
Oswald Cobblepot, known as the Penguin to many unsavory individuals and law enforcement agencies, sat behind his desk, the air pungent from cigarette smoke.
The oddly proportioned man was inspecting his latest shipments into the docks when suddenly one of the hired help rudely interrupted him.
"Uh, Mr. Cobblepot?" he started with fear written on his face.
"What?" the round man tersely responded, looking up from his desk.
"Uh, you have someone who wishes to speak with you," he informed his boss, his young face deathly pale.
"I don't have an appointment," the short man dismissed. "Send them away," Penguin stated derisively with a wave of his hand.
"About that…" the young man started, which earned the Penguin's ire as he glared at the employee through a monocle eye.
"What is it, you idiot?!"
"Our bouncers tried to throw him out, but he…."
"He what?" Penguin snapped with impatience.
The young man gulped down the lump in his throat, "He broke them in half, sir. He picked up two men weighting over two hundred pounds and he broke their backs over his knee." The employee appeared horrified as he had witnessed the large, masked man enter the establishment and once accosted by their bouncers effortlessly destroyed them viciously. The snap still echoed in his mind as he feared he would lose his dinner all over Penguin's expensive rug.
Penguin sat behind his desk hollow as dread hung over him. His mouth agape as he visualized said breaking of backs, his monocle popped out of his eye and landed onto his desk with a clank. His mind was processing what he had just learned and wondered what kind of person could do such a thing?
"Where is this individual now?" A nervous Penguin inquired after regaining the ability to speak.
"You… want to speak with him?" the employee pressed with uncertainty.
"I… don't know. It depends on your answer," the short man snapped at his lackey, regaining his threatening fire.
The doors suddenly burst open, and a goliath of a man started to enter the office. The employee was knocked forward and fell to the ground with a grunt.
"You are the Penguin, yes?" Bane's south American accent distinctive to the short crime lord as the man was fully in the room, looming over the man.
"He's here, sir," the employee grunted as he got to his feet. The employee received a scathing scowl from Penguin and made himself scarce and shut the doors behind him to give his boss privacy.
Penguin met the red lenses covered eyes of this huge muscular man. Leaning back in his chair, he lit another cigarette, blowing smoke he started, "I understand you killed two of my men."
"I broke them. If they die it is from their own weakness," Bane dismissed with detachment.
"Who are you?"
"I am Bane," Bane introduced himself, although when he said his name Penguin felt like the name held some sort of status of importance.
"What do you want?"
"The docks for starters," Bane answered, still standing.
"Those are mine at the moment," the short man gloated. "If you want it, I'm sure we can come to an arrangement."
Large thick hands grabbed Cobblepot by his lapels and pulled him towards Bane, a look of surprise one the short man's face as he dangled in midair. "You will give me the docks, or I will kill you slowly," Bane growled threateningly.
"Alright! Alright!" Penguin struggled to say. "You can have the docks," he complied.
"Good," Bane nodded in acceptance. He unceremoniously dropped the little man onto his desk, objects clattering to the floor or breaking from the collision.
Bane left without a second glance unaware of the furious glare Penguin sent towards the wresting reject.
Revenge was in order for such disrespect.
He took his phone and called his right-hand man. "Get the boys ready. We have an interloper on the dock front," he said and received and affirmative as everything was underway.
NEXT: Rumblings
I want everyone to know that the countdown has begun! We are getting close to the endgame here with maybe 4 or 5 chapters left!
I want to thank everyone for favs, reviews and follows! They are greatly appreciated and please continue to support the story. As of this moment all other stories are on hiatus until I finish this one. It is my hope to have this story completed before the end of the year. I'm sorry but as soon as this story is completed I will get back to all my other stories that you are all anxiously awaiting an update.