Hey everyone! Sorry it's been so long again since my last update. Thanks for all the follows and reviews! Can't wait to hear what you think of the next chapter. Hope you guys enjoy it!


My eyes were scanning the room for exits but there was only one and the guy was blocking it. I was trying to remember what Bruce had taught me about self defense. If I could surprise him enough, I could take this guy. "

Let's go. He's waiting for you." He said, walking over to me and grabbing me by my arm, leading me out of the room, down a long hallway.

My heart was beating faster than ever before, I was looking around. If I knocked this guy out, I wouldn't have much time to make a run for it. If I didn't see an exit it might not be very helpful.
We kept walking down the long winded, dark hallway. I was still trying to understand where we were. This didn't look like anything I had seen in Gotham before. Were we still in Gotham? I had no idea how long I had been unconscious for.

"How long was I out for?" I asked.
"Long enough." He responded. Obviously he knew why I asked. I was trying to gauge where we were.

This didn't look good. I was hoping Bruce had a way of locating me.
Suddenly I saw a guy walk out of a door and it looked like daylight on the other end. This was my chance.
As we kept walking I faked falling down.
"You alright?" The guy asked me as he caught most of my fall.
"Yeah how silly of me." My adrenaline was beating like a drum. It was now or never.
With all the force I could muster, I smashed the bottom of my palm up his nose. He screamed in pain, letting go of me for a second. I starting running as if my life depended on it and I wasn't sure if it maybe did.

Whoever brought me here, it wasn't the Joker and right now I wished it was because at least with him I would know he wasn't trying to kill me. I reached the door, the guy running after me. I made it through the door, running down a staircase.
Though daylight, it was not outside. I was still inside this building. Now with more windows surrounding me. As I ran as fast as I could, I felt him catching up to me.
"Get back here you bitch!" He screamed.
While running full speed, my eyes scanned for an exit but this seemed like an endless labyrinth.
I saw another door and tried to open it but it was locked. I
n that moment I felt the guy grab me from behind, throwing me on the ground. He pinned my head on the ground, putting his heavy boot on my neck. I could hardly breath, trying to push him off.
I looked at his face, blood pouring down his nose. It looked like I managed to break it.

I won't kill you because he needs you. But if you think I won't hurt a woman you're mistaken." He said kicking me with full force into my ribs. The pain vibrating through my body, he released my neck as I inhaled for air, tears of pain streaming down my face.
I tried to get up but he moved over me, pinning me to the ground.

"Don't go." He smiled at me again, the red blood staining his teeth. "I'm not done with you yet."
He started opening his belt and I felt nauseous. "No, no, no." I said, panicking. Talk about your family, if he knows you're a person with family it will make it more difficult for him to hurt you. "I'm…"I said coughing. "I'm pregnant."
It worked. He stood still, his expression changed, the smile was gone. "Pregnant." He repeated, staring at me.
Suddenly a deep voice echoed through the room. "Can you explain to me what you're doing?"
The guy immediately jumped up, visibly scared of whoever was entering the room.
"I…I'm…" The guy was stuttering.

I slowly got up, my ribs burning at every move. The man who just entered helped me up with ease. I looked at him and wasn't even sure what I was looking at. He was giant, his face covered underneath a mask. But it was more than that. It almost looked like the thing was holding his face together.
"Welcome Miss Hunter." He said, holding me firmly by my arm. "I'm extremely sorry for his behavior."
I just stared at him in shock. This must be Bane. There was no way I had a chance against him. He looked like he was triple the size of Bruce, his eyes gleaming at me.
"As for you." He said, turning to the guy again. "You got your nose broken by a girl and your answer is to beat her and try to rape her? You're weak and your weakness threatened this entire operation."
"I'm sorry." He said, shaking over his entire body.
"So am I, brother." He said, grabbing him with one hand by the throat, lifting him up. I turned away, not wanting to watch him die. I closed my eyes, listening to his struggle and hearing the life being squeezed out of him.


He raced home, opening the secret door to the bat cave. In the elevator, the air rushing around him, he felt panic engulf him. Was he too late?
But he couldn't think like that. He couldn't let his feeling for her get in the way. He had to concentrate. He took a deep breath, centering himself before walking towards the suit.

"Master Wayne." Alfred said as he saw him.
"Found anything?" He asked, not looking at Alfred, taking off his jacket.
"Yes." He felt the old butler hesitate.
"I'm all ears." He said, waiting for Alfred to continue.
"There is a prison. In a more ancient part of the world. A pit. Where men are thrown to suffer and die."
"I'm not in the mood for story time, Alfred."
"But sometimes, a man rises from the darkness." Alfred continued and the seriousness of his tone took him by surprise.
"Sometimes... the pit sends something back."
He turned around to face the old butler.
"Bane." He said, feeling his stomach twist and turn. He had heard rumors of the man in the mask. Never truly believing it. It was Bane who was trying to get uranium. And now, she was in his hands.
"Born and raised in a hell on earth." Alfred said.
"Born in a prison?"
"No one knows why. Or how he escaped. But they know who trained him... Ra's Al Ghul."
Bruce felt his blood freeze. "Bane was a member of the League of Shadows." He said in disbelief.
"And then he was excommunicated."
"I can take him." Bruce said getting dressed.
"Take a good look." Alfred said, pulling up security footage of Bane by the FBI. "At his speed, his ferocity, his training. I see the power of belief.
"You said he was excommunicated."
"By Ra's Al Ghul."
"Ra's al Ghul was the League of Shadows and I beat him. Bane is just a mercenary."
"That may be so but…"
"You think I can't beat him."
"I think you're walking into a trap."
"I know it's a trap. But I can beat him. I fight harder, always have."
"You won't be any good to anyone dead…"
"Enough Alfred. What is your plan? Huh? Let's hear it."
Bruce tried to channel his anger. "
"I need to stop Bane. Whatever his plan, the fact that he's in Gotham means he is planning something major and I need to stop him."
Alfred sighed. "Alright Master Wayne. How can I help?"


I had been sitting in a dark room for a while. I couldn't tell how long it had been. I had no concept of time. It felt like an eternity.
I was nervously walking up and down in my torn and blood-stained white dress. Thinking about ways how I could break out of this place, I noticed I had my hand instinctively on my stomach. I was pushing my worries about the pregnancy aside as much as I could. Right now it wouldn't do any good for me to think about that. I had no way to ask a doctor. All I had to do was make sure both of us would get out of here alive.
Think! What does Bane want from you? Why are you here? Whatever it is, he doesn't want to kill you. If that had been the plan, I'd be dead already. Why would he want to kill you anyway? You're a nobody.

Suddenly the door opened. Two big guys walked in.
"Time to take a walk." One of them said, the other one grabbing me by my arm.
"Where are you taking me?" I asked but I got no answer.
The two men grabbed me by my arms, marching me down the hallway.
"Where are we going?" I asked again. What if Bane decided he had no use for me anymore? What if he was going to kill me now? The image of him killing that man with one hand rushed through my brain, panic rising in me.

We walked into a giant room, water gushing down. We were in some kind of underground sewer system.
We walked a little further and I saw Bane standing on a thin bridge, his hands holding on to his vest, staring at the entrance.
What or who was he waiting for?
When we were facing the entrance, one of the guys moved my arms behind me back, holding me tightly. Was this necessary? It's not like I was about to run away. I was clearly outnumbered.

"Why am I here?" I yelled at Bane but he gave no answer. He didn't even look at me.
As I stared at the entrance like everyone else, I realized what was happening. I was the bait. This was a trap.

In that moment I saw Batman slowly walk through the entrance, his kevlar suit almost blending into the environment.
"No." I whispered.
I knew he would come for me but I didn't want him to.
"It's a trap!" I yelled.
He didn't look at me, his eyes fixed on Bane. He knew it was a trap. Maybe he had something up his sleeve that I didn't think of.

"Let's not stand on ceremony here," Bane said. "Mr Wayne."

I gasped in shock, and I could see the surprise on his face as well.
How did he know his identity? And now it made even more sense why I was here. I felt awful and the panic in me was only rising.

Bruce was the first to land a punch and though it looked and sounded painful, Bane didn't even flinch.
I was shaking, feeling absolutely helpless as I watch this nightmare unfold.
Bane hit Bruce and the sound of the impact vibrated through me. Bruce fell backwards, catching himself on the railing.

This was their plan. To lure him in here, facing an impossible opponent. I looked at the faces of Bane's men around the room. They were closely watching, nobody even attempting to jump in.
I felt useless. What was I going to do? How was I going to help?
I wasn't. I was meant to watch.

It was dead quiet in the room aside from the gushing sound of water.
Bruce hit Bane in the kidneys hard. Bane stumbled backwards. Maybe this was him taking over now?

"You fight like a young man, nothing held back." Bane said, catching himself. "It's admirable, but mistaken." He said as he placed another punch, almost knocking Bruce out. I had never seen Batman out of his league physically.
"Victory has defeated you," Bane said. "Love has blinded you."

Bruce threw something at him that exploded in his face. I jumped as it scared me but Bane didn't flinch.
"Theatricality and deception...powerful agents to the uninitiated. But we are initiated, aren't we, Bruce? Members of the League of Shadows."

League of Shadows. I remembered Bruce telling me about this. He was part of it as well?

"And you betrayed us." He said grabbing Bruce by his throat and punching him several times in the stomach.
Was he going to kill him like he killed that man?
"Us? You were excommunicated. From a gang of psychopaths." Bruce said, his voice sounded in pain.
"I am the League of Shadows...and I'm here to fulfill Ra's Al Ghul's destiny." He said once again hitting Bruce he stumbled backwards, but getting back into fighting form quickly.

Suddenly the room went dark. I almost breathed a sigh of relief. This was not over.
"Ahhhh!" Bane said and the tone of his voice immediately killed any hope I had left. "You think darkness is your ally. But you merely adopted the dark." He continued as my eyes tried to adjust to the darkness.
"I was born in it. Molded by it. I didn't see the light until I was already a man. And by then it was nothing to me but blinding."

In that moment I heard loud punches again and saw the lights come back on. Bruce on the ground but he got back up ran towards Bane, this time managing to move him backwards, until he wrapped a chain around his neck. Bane struggled for a second but got a grip on the chain and kicked Bruce back.
Once he was out of the chain and Bruce stood back up again, he pointed at me. My stomach was in knots.
"You haven't even acknowledged your beautiful bride to be."
"Because it's not about her. You want me." He said in a gravely voice.
"Oh, but it is about her. She changed you. Didn't she? Gave you hope. Blinded you from what was going on for months right in front of your eyes. I should thank her for distracting the unbeatable Batman so I could infiltrate every level of this city without you even knowing about it. And who can blame you. I mean, look at her." He said suddenly looking at me closely. "I know I am." He said
Bruce was standing there, his hands balled into fists, his eyes like daggers.
"You know she begged for her life." Bane said. "…and that of her unborn child."
No! I felt my blood freeze.

I saw it hit Bruce like a punch. His face turned white, his eyes widened, his mouth opened. His eyes shot up to me in desperation. I looked at him helplessly.
"Ohhhh!" Bane said under laughter. "You didn't know." He said and then turned to me. "He didn't know."
I felt tears streaming down my face. "Shut up!" I yelled at him.
"Tell me, Bruce, does it pain you that I knew about her carrying your child before you did?"
I had never seen him like this before. It looked like he was about to fall apart. His chest moving up and down fast, his eyes looked glazed over, his face pale. "Shut up you freak show. Shut up!" I screamed. The two men still holding onto me tightly.
"The heir to the Wayne throne…" Bane continued.
"Let her go." Bruce finally said in a gravely voice. "You want me. Here I am." He said in a defeated tone. "Kill me. Let her go."
"Your punishment must be more severe than death."
"Torture." He said matter-of-factly.
"But not of your body. Of your soul."
I felt nauseous.
"When her blood is running down the blade I'm going to use to slid her throat with, and she lies lifelessly in the puddle of her blood and that of your unborn child, then you have my permission to die."
A guttural sound came out of Bruce that I've never heard before as he charged at Bane in blind anger, landing a solid punch at Bane's neck who fell down but got up again and hit Bruce. The sound of Bane's punches were awful. They sounded like they went straight through kevlar. They sounded bone shattering.

"Stop!" I screamed in desperation. But Bane didn't pay attention to me.

"The shadows betray you, because they belong to me." Bane continued as Bruce was laying on the ground, trying to get up again.
I almost wished he didn't and would give up. I was afraid Bane might kill him.
"I will show you where I've made my home…" he said as he grabbed a remote control from his vest. "...while preparing to bring justice. Then, I will break you." He hit the button and the ceiling exploded, several bat mobile looking tanks fell down."
"Your precious armory. Gratefully accepted. We will need it."

I was trying to understand what was happening. His armory. We must be straight underneath Wayne Enterprises.
The thought of Bane having access to all of it made me shudder but my brain was in overload. The adrenaline running so high, I felt like I was about to pass out.

Bruce got up again, trying to attack Bane but at this point he was more staggering than anything.
"Ah, yes! I was wondering what would break first…" Bane said hitting Bruce again. "...your spirit…" he said as he grabbed Bruce and lifted him over his head. "...or your body." He said as he dropped Bruce on his knee.
The sound of his spine snapping vibrated through me like it was my spine. I felt my knees give in as I almost dropped to the ground, the guys holding me up. I wasn't even aware of my screams or tears. I was in complete shock. Unable to comprehend what was happening.

As Bruce was laying next to the water, Bane took part of his mask off that had broken off from his punches and took it, almost like a trophy, walking off, looking at me. The guys let me go and I ran towards Bruce as if my life depended on it. I wasn't even sure what I was doing anymore, my adrenaline so high, I felt like I was in a bad dream. My fingers felt numb. I reached him and his eyes were rolled back.
"No, no, no." I said, grabbing his hand with one hand, the other on his face. "Don't you dare go. Bruce!" Unaware I was even crying, I saw my tears hit his kevlar suit. I placed my hand on his wrist, feeling a pulse. It was weak but it was there.
"Bruce!" My voice was barely audible. "Bruce….please…."
He was nearly unconscious from the pain. After all, I had heard his spine break. I couldn't even imagine the pain he must be in.
Suddenly his eyes focused on me. "Bruce!" I said, smiling at him. "Hey! Don't give in, ok? I love you more than anything in this world so don't you dare give in, ok?"
"Boy or girl?" He whispered.
I tried to hold back tears, still holding his hand tightly in mine which felt limb and lifeless.
Of course, didn't know the answer but I wanted to give him an answer.
"It's a girl." I answered and saw him smile softly before his eyes rolled back again. "Bruce?" I asked, shaking him but there was no response. "Bruce?" I said, panic settling in again, my voice getting louder and louder but he was unresponsive. Two men grabbed me, trying to pull me away. Instinctively I grabbed onto Bruce, holding onto him in desperation while still screaming his name.
It took them more effort than they had thought to peel me away from Bruce but they eventually did as I was kicking and screaming, all rationality long gone.
Suddenly, I felt a needle being inserted into my neck and felt myself slowly losing unconsciousness. The last image before it went to darkness was Bruce with a half broken mask laying lifeless on the ground.

He slowly came back to consciousness as he was dragged across a hot, desert ground.
Where was he? Where was Catherine?
His brain tried to remember what last happened to her. Images of her leaning over him came back.
"It's a girl." He heard her voice in his head.
That's right, she was still fine when he saw her last. Bane hadn't killed her.
He couldn't feel anything below his waist and was wondering if he was ever going to walk again let alone fight. Who was going to help her?
As he was thinking that, he went unconscious again, the pain still overtaking his body.

When he woke up again he was laying on a bed, Bane looking at him.
"Why…" he swallowed hard, his mouth feeling dry. "Why didn't you just kill me?"
"You don't fear death. You welcome it. Like I said, your punishment must be more severe."
"What have you done to her?" He asked, barely bringing out words, his head spinning with pain.
"Nothing. She is just the symbol of your failure."
"Where am I?" He asked, looking around.
"Home. Where I learned the truth about despair. As will you. There is a reason that this prison is the worst hell on earth… Hope. Every man who has rotted here over the centuries has looked up to the light...and imagined climbing to freedom. So easy. So simple. Your hope is vested in her. She is your light. She is what you're still living for."
"Your mother was tortured in this prison. Are you about to do the same to another woman?"
"Oh no. I'm not going to torture her. I will terrorize Gotham… I will feed its people hope to poison their souls. I will let them believe they can survive...so that you can watch." He said, turning on an old TV. "I'm not going to torture her. I promise you her death will be quick and painless."
Bruce tried to get up but his body wasn't cooperating. Anger and pain mixed to a poisonous cocktail inside of him.


I woke up, my eyes slowly adjusting to the lights in the hospital room. I saw a doctor and a nurse talking next to my bed.
Immediately, I knew what the doctor was going to tell me.

I knew.

But at this point, a shock wave went through me again, reminding myself of what had gotten me here.

"Where is Bruce?" I said sitting up, feeling my ribs ache immediately. "Where's my fiance?"

The doctor looked at me both surprised and alarmed. "Try to relax. Your butler said Mr Wayne is on a business trip but is on his way back as soon as possible."
Business trip. Of course Alfred would come up with an alibi.
"Is Alfred here?" I asked, my voice still ringing in panic.
"Miss Hunter please lay back down." The doctor said, placing his hands on my arms.
"Is Alfred here? Can he come in?" I asked.
"Certainly." The doctor said, nodding to the nurse to get him. "Please lay back down."
"Is Alfred here?" I asked still in a high pitched voice.
"Yes, but you're in no shape to get back up."
I laid back down, waiting for him to tell me what I already knew in my heart.
"Your ribs are severely bruised but luckily not broken. I've given you morphine against the pain, which means you need to be extra careful because you can't tell it's hurtful but your body is not ready for you to be getting up yet."
I was still waiting to hear the words I was mentally preparing myself for. I knew they were coming.
He paused before continuing. "Were you aware of your pregnancy."
"Yes." I said looking at my hands.
"I am very sorry but you lost it. There was little we were able to do. It was still early on in the pregnancy, not unusual to lose a pregnancy especially with the physical and emotional stress you were put under…"

His voice was more a distant noise than words. I had known the second I woke up. I could feel it. I didn't have time to mourn the loss at this point. I was too concerned over Bruce and what Bane was planning next. Was Bruce still alive? If so, where was he? Could we send in a SWAT team?

I saw Alfred at the door and sat back up again. Alfred walked in and the doctor left.
"Alfred." I said, feeling my voice break again. I felt so guilty. Before I knew what I was doing I hugged him closely, my hands grabbing onto his jacket closely. "Do you know where he is? Is he ok?" I asked, once again already knowing the answer.
"No Miss, I don't know. I was hoping you could fill me in."
"It's all my fault." I said, tears streaming down my face, hitting the old butler's jacket. He broke the hug, looking at me closely.
"Nonsense. Master Wayne knew what he walked into. It's Bane's doing and his alone. None of this is your fault."
"I'm so scared for him Alfred."
"Did you see where they took him?"
I shook my head. "He was barely alive." I whispered. "Bane…he…he broke his spine. I could hear it, I can still hear it when I close my eyes. That sound is on a loop in my brain."
"Don't worry about Master Wayne now. He is resourceful and more resilient than you think. If he was alive when you saw him last, he's still alive now and already thinking of an exit strategy." Alfred smiled at me with more hope than I surely was able to muster.
"I…I didn't tell him about being pregnant. He found out through Bane." I managed to say, barely above a whisper.
"No regrets, Miss Hunter. Master Wayne is much stronger than you give him credit for."
"If it wasn't for me, he wouldn't have been in that situation."
Alfred shook his head. "You've given him hope. Wherever he is right now, he is trying to get back to you. After his parents and then Miss Dawes, I wasn't sure he wanted to go on living. You brought that will back and that is what keeps him going right now."
I nodded, trying to pull myself together. Alfred was right, self-pity wasn't going to solve anything. "I have to speak to Gordon." I said getting up. Despite the morphine, I was still in pain.
"That has time, you need to look after yourself."
"Alfred, Bane is planning something big and I need to talk to Gordon now. I've got some bruised rips. I'm fine. My spine is still in tact."
Alfred sighed and nodded, helping me up.


"Miss Hunter, how are you feeling? I just heard." The commissioner asked me concerned.
"I'm fine. Bane. Heard of him?" I asked, my head spinning.
"The masked mercenary? I've heard rumors."
"Yeah, well they're true. He's here. He has hundreds of men down in the sewers."
"In the sewers?" He asked confused. I nodded.
"He's underneath Wayne Enterprises. Or he was."
"Is our masked friend on it?"
I felt an emotional wave hit me but I pulled myself together. "He was." I whispered.
"Did they kill him?"
"I'm not sure." My eyes looking at the commissioner in pain.
He took a deep breath, standing up and opening the door. "Martinez, I want every available unit." He yelled at one of the officers, who got up and nodded. "Bring in the SWAT team, go check underneath Wayne Enterprises and smoke them out."
"If the press asks…?" The officer asked.
"Training exercise. Go!"
"You should call in support." I said quietly.
He turned to face me again. "I'm dispatching every unit."
I shook my head. "From outside. Get the National Guard."
"They won't come unless we have a serious crisis on our hands."
"Oh you do Commissioner, you do. Bane is getting ready for war. He has an army underground and now he has access to Batman's arsenal. War is coming, whether you like it or not."

Alfred drove me home and half way there I realized he wasn't driving me to my apartment, he must automatically drive to Wayne Manor.
"Alfred, you're not headed towards my apartment."
"No miss. I said I would bring you home." He smiled at me through the rearview mirror.
When we walked into the front door, I felt the emptiness surround me immediately. I was hoping for him to walk down the hallway any minute now, greet me with his cheeky smile and a kiss. Instead - emptiness.
Alfred looked at me standing in the entrance frozen.
"I'll make us some coffee." He said and held out his arm. I nodded, slowly walking to him. I still felt in shock, as if this was a terrible nightmare I would wake up from any moment now.
I took a seat at the kitchen counter and Alfred turned on the lights and with it the TV. He started making coffee for us, smiling softly at me.
"My mom always told me nothing a hot cup of tea couldn't solve but I think coffee is the solution to everything." He said, placing a cup of coffee in front of me.
I grabbed the warm mug, wrapping my fingers tightly around it.
I couldn't even muster a smile in response. I felt lifeless. Nothing felt important.
In that moment I noticed the programming on the TV being interrupted.
"We're interrupting your regularly scheduled broadcast with breaking news. There seems to be a massive explosion at the Benz Stadium where the Lakers played the Dodgers. Take a look at this dramatic footage…"
It showed a player running and suddenly the earth underneath him gave in and disappeared.

I got up, knowing already who was behind this.

"…a man identified as Bane said he is responsible for the attack and he has a nuclear bomb and that someone in Gotham has the trigger…."

"It has started Alfred." I said quietly, my eyes glued to the screen.
"What has?" He asked.
"War."


I called Gordon and it was worse than I thought. "They have all my men trapped underneath." He said.
"What do you mean?"
"He had explosives around the city and they all went off at the same time. All bridges are cut. It's only a time before he will cut communication…."
"Gordon?" I asked but my phone was dead. We were now prisoners in our own city.

I jumped up. "Alfred."
"Yes miss?"
"Is it just my phone or did they cut cell phone towers?"
Alfred looked on his phone. "I'm sorry to say it's the latter."
I took a deep sigh. "This is a nightmare."
"Unfortunately, all of Master Wayne's technology is no use to us. It's all based on cell service or the internet. I guess we never prepared for this scenario."
"Is this the end of Gotham, Alfred?"
He smiled. "Never. I've seen it go through much more struggle than you have over the years. It's always come back."
"But he has a nuclear bomb."
"It will not come to that."
"Without Bruce here…" I swallowed hard even saying his name out loud.
"There are many bright people in this city. Including you. Together, we can stop him."
I wasn't convinced. "I have to go talk to Gordon."
"Now?"
"Yes."
"But Miss, you just got back from the hospital."
"I don't care…" I said as I opened the door and saw Alex standing there. I looked at him for a second before I hugged him tightly. I was so glad to see a familiar face.
"Are you ok?" Alex asked worried.
I nodded as I let go of him. "Yes. I'm fine."
"I was on the way to see you after I heard what happened to you and then I got a call from Peter about what happened at the stadium…" He shook his head.
"Who is covering the story?" I asked.
"Not sure. I was talking to Peter when I lost reception."
"You didn't lose reception. They cut all forms of communication."
"Where are you going?" He asked me as I moved past him, towards the car.
"I want to talk to Gordon."

I needed to help somehow but I didn't know what I could do. We went down to the Gotham Police Department again.
Alex and I went in and Alfred waited in the car.
The building was completely empty. I stood in there, still unable to understand what was happening.
"Looks like a hurricane came through here." Alex said.
"You shouldn't be here." A woman said quietly. "
Why?" I asked.
"It's not safe to be a cop in this town anymore or to be associated with one. I'm just getting my stuff and then I'm out of here." She said as she grabbed her coat. "I suggest you do the same."
"I need to talk to the Commissioner." I said.
"Good luck with that." She said as she left.

Alex and I walked around the abandoned station, papers flying through the rooms.
"Where is your masked friend?" He asked and I felt an emotional wave hit me at one. I stopped walking.
He looked at me. "Cat?" He asked concerned. I didn't respond, trying to compose myself. "Is he…?"
"I don't know." I whispered. "They took him."
"Wait, what exactly happened? Peter just told me you were attacked by some random guys on the street, trying to take your purse."
I shook my head. "No it was him, it was Bane."
"What?"
"He took me as bait. And it worked. It worked perfectly." I said, almost in trance.
"You were bait for Batman?"
I nodded. "I tried to run away but there was no escaping. And then Batman came to save me but it was a trap. Bane beat him. Broke his spine." Telling this story seemed surreal, like it hadn't actually happened and in a way that's what my entire life felt like right now. Like it was not real. A nightmare that I would wake up from any minute now. All the events of late were so awful that it seemed too much to comprehend.
"Are you ok?" Alex asked me.
"Fine." I nodded. "But let's not waste time telling stories, I have to find Gordon."

Alfred walked up to me. "Miss, they're patrolling the streets. We should leave."
"No…"
"Yes." Alex said, holding me firmly by my arms. "Cat be smart about this. You can't risk your life because we need you, ok? This city needs you. We need to outsmart these bastards. You playing the hero now running around doesn't help any of us."
I didn't know who he was kidding - I was of no help to this city.
I nodded defeated. "How are you going to stay in touch?"
"I know where you live." He smiled.
I smiled. "Ok, take care of yourself."
"You as well."

Alfred and I drove back. The streets of Gotham looked abandoned. An eerie quiet.

When we got back to the house, Alfred kept saying things to me but I felt like I was in a bubble far away.
He opened the door and I walked in when I noticed someone standing in the hallway. "Welcome home."
It was Bane. Alfred froze next to me.
"What do you want?" Alfred asked.
"I'm just checking on Ms Hunter. The princess of Gotham."
"I'm fine. Now that you've seen me well, you can leave."
"It is not for you to say when I come and when I go."
"What?"
"I'm putting you under house arrest."
"Excuse me?" "
You're very valuable. I want to make sure nothing happens to you."
"I can take care of myself thank you very much."
"I'm sure you can but I want to have you under surveillance. My men patrol the perimeters of Wayne Manor. Don't think about leaving." He walked towards me, his face only a few inches from mine. "Get some sleep, we have a big day tomorrow." He said as he left.
"Big day? What are you talking about?" He walked out and didn't turn around. "Answer me!" I yelled but he didn't.
Alfred grabbed my arm, pulled me back and closed the door. "Don't challenge him, Ms Hunter."
"He thinks of me as his property!" I said.
Alfred nodded. "He's a maniac with a very precise plan. This has been years in the making. We have to figure out his plan. The best way we can do that is play along."
"How can I figure out when I'm just sitting in this house?"
"We can't do it in a day and for now we can't do anything and you need to accept that. You won't stop this madman on your own and no one expects you to. For now, we regroup. I suggest you take a hot shower and I make some nice tea."
"How can I sit around and drink tea when he's…"
"You're not just sitting around. You're regaining your strength. You need to focus. None of that comes from being frantic."
I took a deep breath. "Ok."


I couldn't sleep.
I had insisted of sleeping in the guest bedroom because I couldn't bare the thought of sleeping in his bed. But even then, I just laid there unable to rest.
The sun was barely up when I heard the door bell followed by loud bangs against the front door. I heard Alfred open the door and the voices were of one of Bane's men.

"Bane needs her in 30 minutes. Better get ready." One of the men said.
"If you're thinking I'm going to let…"
"Listen grandpa, we're nice enough to let her stay in the mansion. We could easily keep her prisoner and you know it. Now if you care about your life at all, you're going to shut up. Understood?"
I put on some clothes and went downstairs where Alfred looked concerned.
"I'm going to be fine. I don't think he wants to hurt me or he would have done it already. And you were right, if I play along, I might be able to get some intel on what he's planning. Either way it can't be that bad."
"I don't like the idea of you going with him. We can try to hide you in the Batcave."
"For how long? And at what cost? He's going to kill anyone I care about and burn down the house to find me. It's fine. I'm part of his plan and as you said, we have to understand what the plan is."

Half an hour later, Bane walked in with two of his men, both armed to the teeth.
"Alright, what's our little day trip?" I asked, grabbing my coat, trying to seem not concerned.
Bane grabbed my wrist tightly. "Come with me." He said and walked with me upstairs.
Alfred walked up but was immediately stopped by the two men. I nodded at him, signaling him I wasn't worried. It was strange but I was not even the slightest bit scared. It was as if I had nothing to lose anymore.

"Now what?" I asked when we got into my room.
He went through the closet and pulled out a long red dress. "Put this on." He said as he threw it at me.
"Excuse me? I'm not going to dress up for you." "Oh I think you will."
"You must not know me very well then." I said, crossing my arms. I never felt so empowered. I had lost so much that it seemed like I lost fear as well.
He slowly walked towards me.
"You don't fear death anymore." He said quietly, bringing one hand to my face and holding it gently. "It's a liberating feeling, isn't it? I know you're not afraid of me anymore. You're not afraid of what I could do to you."
It was true. Even now, with him this close to me, my heart rate didn't even increase. I was numb - so numb I wasn't even scared anymore.
"But you should be. Afraid of me." He continued in a quiet, soft voice as if he was telling a bedtime story. "Not for your own life which you no longer value. But I know you care about the old butler downstairs." I felt my adrenaline increase. "Don't you dare…" "And I know you care about your journalist friend Alex. And the Commissioner."
"Stop it." I said pushing his hand away. "Fine, I put this dress on. Where are we going?"
"You will know shortly." He said as he left the room and closed the door behind him.
I felt helpless as I put on the dress. I loved this dress but now I felt exposed in it because he made me put it on. It was surprisingly demeaning. I walked out of my bedroom and he was waiting outside of the door for me.
"Let's go and get this over with." I said.
He nodded and I was quietly thanking God that he didn't make a comment on my appearance.

We walked downstairs where Alfred was still held at gunpoint.
"For future reference," I said. "If your guys pull guns on Alfred or anyone I care about, I won't cooperate with you."
The mask on his face that replaced his mouth made it impossible to see normal human facial expression but I could swear he was smiling. He nodded as his guys and they lowered their guns. I gave Alfred a reassuring look as we walked outside and to one of the many tumblers.

We started driving. I wanted to ask him about Bruce but I was terrified of what he would tell me. Would he tell me the truth anyway? Maybe he would tell me he was dead to scare me or tell me he was alive to have something to threaten me with.
I refrained from asking. "So, what event is this?" I asked instead.
"I'm going to tell Gotham my plan for its future."
"Why am I here then?"
"Because you're Gotham's elite. Gotham's royalty."
"Good one. Only I am not. I'm just a journalist who lost her job."
He didn't respond. He was very different to the Joker. The Joker loved to talk with you, engage you in mental warfare. Bane on the other hand, he didn't care you were there. He was focused on his plan. Me being here was merely a distraction from his end goal.
We arrived and he stopped the car. He got out and I followed. Suddenly he grabbed me and bound my arms together by my wrists.
"What are you doing?"
It's not like I was able to over power him anyway.
Once again he didn't respond.
"You know the whole silence treatment is getting old." I said.
He pulled out a piece of cloth and forced it in my mouth. I tried to stop him but he was too strong. He tied the piece of cloth in the back of my head.
"Ah! Silence!" He said, his eyes gleaming at me. "Let's go."
He grabbed me and carried me underneath one of his arms like I was a sack of potatoes.
I had stopped resisting. There was no use in it anyway.

We turned the corner and now it all made sense. Hundreds of cameras were pointed to the stairs of the Stock Exchange a and journalists from all over Gotham were staring at us.
In the crowd, I could see Alex, his face turning white. He stared at me in desperation.
Bane walked up the stairs to the Exchange with me. He let me down and immediately held me tightly by my arm.
Alex continued to stare at me. I nodded at him, trying to signal him I was ok.
"Good evening Gotham. On this very day, we celebrate Gotham's new beginning. For too long were you prisoners to your own city. Prisoners to the rich and the elite. But I say - no more. Take back your city! Take back what is rightfully yours."

In that moment I saw prisoners from Black Gate storm out with assault rifles in their hands.
My eyes scanned them quickly. I recognized many of the most high-profile criminals of Gotham. Most of them brought in by Batman.

"We're returning Gotham back to the people." Bane continued and I knew already that wasn't why he was here. This wasn't his grande plan.
But my eyes kept searching for a frightening smile in the crowd. Where was the Joker? Did he release him as well? He must have, unknowing of what he was doing. Who he was setting free. And Scarecrow? Where was he?
I had tuned out Bane's speech when he suddenly pulled me closer to him.

"So here we are Gotham on this fine day." His breath was hitting my neck. I felt myself shivering, not of fear, but because it was so cold.
"We are here to celebrate being free of the shackles that hold us back. Gotham's elite," he said as he grabbed me even closer. "They used to look down on us, laugh at us when we were in the gutters. They took everything and then more. Until we had nothing left. Now it's time we're bringing them down to our level."
With that he kicked me in my knee caps and I fell to my knees. He grabbed me by my hair and pulled up my head.
Was he going to kill me now? I didn't care. I was waiting for him to do it. Just do it. Make all this pain go away. Make it stop.
Cold metal hit my neck and I almost took a breath of relief, waiting for the knife to do its work. But then I heard a clicking noise. It wasn't a knife on my neck. It was a metal brace around my neck. Almost like a dog collar. I heard the noise of a chain attached to the collar.
"Now, Gotham," Bane said as he yanked on the chain hard and my head spun back. "We're their masters. We tell them what to do. We're in charge."

Bane's men brought me back home. They immediately removed the collar. I knew they would. It was all for show. I was his biggest price.

Alfred walked up to the car quickly. I could see pain in his eyes.
"Miss are you alright?" He asked me as I got out of the car.
"I'm fine Alfred."
Quickly we walked inside, Alfred helping me though I felt fine. At least physically.
When he closed the door he turned to me. "I'm so sorry I left you alone in this."
"You didn't. I chose to go. It was no big deal. Just a lot of theatricalities that's all."
"We need a plan to get you out of Gotham as soon as possible." Alfred said.
"No." I responded quickly.
He looked at me confused.
"Alfred I'm not letting Alex or you get killed. Besides, there is no way out. Bane owns the entire city. You were right, we have to play along and think of a plan of how to stop him."
"But miss..."
"Right now, all I need is a shower and to get out of these clothes and into something comfy and sleep."
"Very well miss."
I hugged the old butler. "Good night Alfred. I'm so glad you're here."

I walked up the stairs, the house seemed cooler without Bruce here. Slowly I made my to the hallway.
I stood in there for a moment, my arms crossed, wrapping around me tightly.
The door to his bedroom was closed. I slowly walked up to it, my hand on the door knob, twisting it until the door opened.
The familiar smell almost immediately overwhelmed me.
I stood in there, unsure of what to do.
I hadn't seen the sun all day, it was a gray and rainy day. Now that the sun was setting, it was a darker, glummer gray. I heard the wind howl outside. Very carefully I kept walking, my feet making one step after another on the soft carpet. I felt numb. I didn't want to take a shower, or really do anything. So I just stood there, staring at the windows.
I wished it was me Bane had taken and Bruce was still here. I walked a few more steps and saw one of his shirts on a chair. I took it, my hand slowly wrapping around the material. Everything seemed like in slow motion.
It smelled like him. I took a deep breath, closing my eyes and the smell brought memories of him back. I saw his face so clearly - it was almost like he was right in front of me. I felt tears well up, my breath hike up. I held on to the shirt tighter and then the loss hit me all at once. Images of him rushed through my head and images of what our child could have looked like.
I fell to my knees - not even crying. I was unable to feel. I was emotionless. Lifeless.
I realized I was not scared for my own life, I was scared for his and Alfred's and all the other good people of Gotham. But not for mine. If he was dead - I had not much to live for anymore.
My breath was even. Too even. As if it was just merely supporting enough for my body to be functioning. I rolled up in a ball on the floor, holding on tightly to his shirt, as if it was the only thing in this world that still mattered to me.


He woke up from a feverish nightmare only to wake up to the nightmare that was his life.
It took him a few seconds to realize what had happened and why he was here. And then it hit him all over again. Like a dagger straight through his heart. He saw her face in front of his, telling him under tears it was a girl. But that's the last of her he remembers. Then he failed her. He failed his city.
Now he was at the other end of the world with a broken spine. A pathetic useless mess.

"You haven't eaten." An older guy who was sitting next to him said.
"I'm not hungry."
"You should still eat. Get your strength back."

For what should he get his strength back?

"Ah, it's time." The man said.
"For what?"
The man grabbed a remote control from the stand. "To see whatever it is they wanted you to see."
He turned on the channel and it was Bane, walking up the stairs to the Stock Exchange with what looked like a woman underneath his arm. And then he recognized her and his arms grabbed tightly onto the stretcher he was laying on.
"Good evening Gotham." Bane said.

He felt his breath hike up, every muscle tense and his teeth clenched.

Bane kicked her and she fell to her knees. He wanted to get up in anger but when his muscles tried the pain locked up his back, unable to move.
"I'm sorry, they forced me to turn it on." The old man apologized, seeing the pain it caused him.
Bruce didn't respond, his eyes glued to the screen. What would he do if Bane killed her? There was nothing he could do. Nothing to stop him. Was that what Bane wanted him to see.

"When I slit her throat and she lies in a puddle of her blood and that of her unborn child, then you have my permission to die."
Bane's words echoed in his mind as he saw pull her head back by her hair.
"No!" He yelled as if it was going to help anything.
She looked calm, her eyes closed, her lips closed, breathing evenly. She wasn't scared. Why wasn't she scared?
Tears were running down his face. He never felt this helpless in his life. That wasn't true. The last time he felt like this was when he was a kid and his parents were shot. All he could do was stand by.

Bane grabbed something from behind and Bruce held out his arm as if he could hold her, reach her, let her know he was there.
But then he saw what it was Bane had in his hand - it wasn't a knife or a gun. It was a metal collar. He locked it around her neck, a long metal chain attached to it. He was holding her on a leash like a dog. Theatricality and deception. He wasn't going to kill her. He was going to demean her - and make Bruce watch.

He yanked her back on the chain. The anger in Bruce was taking over every little part of his body. He tried to get up again but instead just fell off the bed, his body shocked by the pain.
The old man came up to him and helped him back on the bed.
"You can't just get up. But I can help you get better." The man said.
"I can't die in here."
"That woman, is she special to you?"
"Yes." He swallowed hard. "How can you help me?"
The man waved over another guy to help him get Bruce up. He wrapped a sheet around him and hung it at the ceiling. Bruce was standing but only because it was holding him upright.
"You have a vertebrate that is out of place. It needs to be pushed back. This will hurt."
The old man punched the vertebrate and Bruce felt like someone had just liquified his whole spine, the pain spreading through his entire body like wildfire. He screamed in pain.
"Wait like this until you can stand." The man said and Bruce lost consciousness again.


"Miss? Some tea?" Alfred asked when he walked into the room in the morning.
I was staring out the window, motionlessly waiting for time to pass, watching Bane's men guard me like a precious stone.
"Miss?" Alfred asked again.
"I'm fine. Thank you."
He walked up to me until he faced me. "It's been a week and you've barley moved, staring out the window with emotionless eyes."
He was a keen observer.
"Tea won't fix that." I responded.
"No but perhaps you could find interest in something again."
"Like what? I'm trapped in this house. I can't help anyone."
"You're giving people hope."
"How am I giving them hope?"
"You're still alive. Gotham is looking up to you."
I shook my head. "No, they're waiting for their Dark Knight to save them from this nightmare. And I'm the reason he's..." I swallowed hard. "Not here."
I didn't want to believe he was dead. I couldn't. I had to hang on to a shred of hope.

Dark clouds were forming over Gotham. It felt like I hadn't seen the sun in a week. The air had gotten colder. Or maybe it was just my heart.

"Miss, you have so many talents and we can figure out a way you can communicate with Gordon. I already talked to Fox about it."
"I'm no use to anyone. I can't..."
In that moment a ray of sunlight was coming through the clouds, as if it wanted to tell me something.

And then it hit me. I got up and stood taller than I had all week.

"This could work." I almost said to myself.
"What could?" Alfred asked, looking at me intently.
"You're right, I can't sit around anymore and do nothing. I need lessons."
"Lessons, miss?"
"In how to fight."
"Miss?" Alfred looked at me confused.
"I know I can't do what he can. But I sure as hell can try."
"No..." Alfred shook his head.
"Alfred I know you think you have to protect me. But at this point, if I don't do something, I'm slowly dying from within. I need training with the best trainers there are." I said pacing the room nervously. "I can use the Batcave as a means to investigate. Fox can make me a suit."
"A suit? Miss, you're not honestly considering..."
"I am. It makes perfect sense."
"Nothing makes even remotely sense." He said shaking his head. "You've never fought before... This is a sure way to get yourself killed."
"I'm not planning on fighting Bale, that would be ridiculous."
Alfred breathed a sigh of relief. "Ah! Thank God!"
"But I can try to stop him."
The concern immediately returned to the old butler's face.
"It's the perfect disguise." I continued. "I'm going to be held up all day in the house and won't do anything. We play along, like you said."
"You can do that without putting on a cape."
"Oh I wasn't thinking a cape."
"Good. I thought when you said suit you meant..."
"Yeah but I think a cape would be in the way when you're fighting."
Alfred sighed. "What is it with this family and costumes?"