He returns later, masked. I look past the burlap; I meet his eyes. I have no fear for myself.
"Scarecrow," I say. "I challenge you to a duel."
He doesn't blink.
"A duel?"
"Yes. I used to admire the work of the fascinating young Dr. Crane. Your insights into the nature and use of fear are what inspired me to become a psychiatrist. But I had some ideas of my own. Fear may be the perfect tool for destroying the mind, but humiliation can grant long-term control while leaving the subject superficially intact. I was going to write a paper comparing my theories to yours. It would have been masterful. But life interfered. I never finished my paper or my education, and I've always wondered…So now I want to challenge you to a duel to see whose techniques are superior."
"And how do you propose we carry out this duel?" he asks, sounding faintly intrigued.
"Batman has two sidekicks, right? If you could capture them both, get them back here, and keep them for a few days without the Bat finding us, they could be our test subjects. You take one and I'll take the other, and whoever has the secret identity first is the winner. But the deal is, no removing the mask yourself, no drugging them, and no physical torture that might leave permanent scars. Psychological techniques only."
"I suppose if you win, you'll want me to let you go?"
"No. You'll have me no matter what. If I win, I want you to let Emily go. Get her to a doctor—a good one—and swear you'll never go after her again." He looks at the mess on the floor and laughs dryly.
"And what happens if I win?"
"If you win, I'll help you stand against Batman. Whether you go to him or he comes to you, he's going to be pretty damn pissed. This could be your ultimate showdown, and most of the people I care about would be better off if you were the one who survived."
--
I'm not sure he can actually pull it off, but a week later, he brings me Batgirl and Robin. A couple of kids. I wouldn't call either of them a day older than sixteen. Duct tape keeps them immobilized and silent, but they glare at us defiantly, both sure that any minute now, Batman will come to their rescue.
Scarecrow takes Batgirl. I take Robin.
He doesn't lock me up anymore (I have given my word not to use my relative freedom to try to escape) but he has assigned Joe Henchman to watch my every move. Poor Robin. It will be so embarrassing for him to have another man watching everything I do to him.
I have Joe Hench take him to a bare white room, one of a long line of former offices that are all I have seen of this building. Joe Hench stands blocking the doorway. Robin lies helpless in the middle of the room. I stand over him.
"Well, well, well," I say. "It's the Boy Wonder." I kneel beside him, tracing the R on his chest with my finger. "I always heard that you and Batman were," I lean over to whisper coyly in his ear, "please help me," and transition smoothly to, "and that's why he makes you run around the city in panties and tights. Any truth to the rumors, Boy Wonder?"
"Mmm?" he says, perplexed.
"I've always thought it was a shame, you being so cute and all. Oh, well. I wonder what the Dark Knight sees in you." I have the tights around his ankles before he can kick me away. "Naughty, naughty, Robin. I'm sure you've escaped more than one clever trap because the villains forgot to strip search you." I tape his knees together. "Very nice muscle tone in the legs. With your build and these rock-hard calves, I'm guessing you're a dancer." I free his ankles, remove the tights and briefs, and replace the tape. "This really is a ridiculous costume. If you wore something that incorporated pants, people wouldn't think you were such a fairy." With difficulty, I get his tunic up over his head without dislocating his shoulders. Getting it past the tape on his wrists without giving him a chance to fight me is harder, but within a few minutes I have him down to nothing but duct tape and a domino mask. I feel like a perv.
"I always hate to look at a naked masked man. They all look so much smaller without their costumes." I am thinking of how Dr. Crane looked when we took off his threadbare suit, like a man half-starved or terribly ill. But then my eyes are drawn to Robin's pitiful, naked frame. "Is it cold in here?"
He shivers. He nods. Already he won't look at me.
I detach the cape from his tunic, give it the once-over, and spread it on top of him. It's too short to do him much good. While tucking it around him, I manage to whisper in his ear again.
"Sorry, kid. Have to make this look real."
I sit up and rip the duct tape off his mouth.
"Batman will come for us!" He sounds so young.
"You really think your dearest love will save you?" Robin stares at me blankly.
"That's disgusting. He's like my father."
"Oh, a father, is it? Then I guess he won't be quite so happy to find you trussed up and ready for him, will he?" I stand up. "Have a pleasant evening, Boy Wonder."
I give the costume to Joe Hench and tell him to hang it where Robin can see it. I wait for him in the hall, thinking I probably ought to learn his real name.
This is my first chance to look around. Down the hall to my left is the room with the dried blood on the floor. Beyond it I know there are stairs leading to the side entrance Dr. Crane used when he brought me. The front entrance, I assume, is boarded up.
The room I have just left, of course, is Robin's, and the one between that and the bloody room is where they keep me now. There are more rooms in this hallway, but I don't know if they're occupied. I don't know where the Scarecrow and the rest of his henchmen sleep. I don't even know if there are any other henchmen; Joe Hench is the only one I've ever seen.
I haven't seen Emily since the day I suggested the duel, but Dr. Crane assures me there has been no change in her condition.
Down the hall in the other direction, I can see a window. We're somewhere above street level, but I already knew that. The hallway splits off to the left and right. I wish I had time to explore.
--