A very short chapter, hot off the press...
I'd really enjoy reading your thoughts thus far. As a writer, it's a nice feeling when I get to open up my emails in the morning and see your feedback/opinions/thoughts/reactions... its almost as good as the first sip of coffee.
This part of the saga is wrapping up shortly - but there's much more to come: twists, turns, action, adventure, romance, evil, torment... blah blah blah you get the picture. Stick around ;)
-R.K
x
"Officer Blake" the Joker sang, his clowns circling him slowly. They created a perimeter around John and Lucy.
"I'm retired," John said coolly, stepping between Lucy and the Joker. Lucy's eyes were closed. Unconscious. He needed to get her to a hospital.
"John Blake, retired cop, heroically throwing on the mask and cap." with his hands behind him, the Joker began walking back and forth. "Maybeee… I should put you on tv like the last Batman wannabe." he said, licking his scars. "You must remember that broadcast as a young and strapping officer?"
"You're not escaping this, Joker. Even if you kill me, you're surrounded by the GCPD."
"Ah… a hero's favorite lines. We've got you this time! There's no escape now! Tell me, Officer John, does saying it help inflate your little ego? Does it make you feel like the Batman?"
John made a move towards his utility belt.
"Ah tah-tah-tah I wouldn't do that, if I were you" the Joker said, pulling out a small remote from his pocket.
John froze, looking at the device.
"You didn't think I'd crash this party just for the little lady, did you?"
The Joker wiggled a finger back and forth. John's brow furrowed under his mask, connecting the dots.
"Blowing up a clubhouse full of Falcone's men? …So, how much money did the Penguin pay you to do his dirty work?"
John's mind was furiously working on an escape plan. He needed to get Lucy out of there. Even if he didn't make it, she didn't deserve to die like this. He chose this path, she was thrown into it.
The Joker rolled his eyes and sighed.
"If you're good at something John, never do it for free."
"But… why this?"
The Joker looked at a pretend wristwatch and began tapping his foot impatiently.
"Sparing you the details and wasting less of my time on a dead man... Gotham's in need of a good tilling. Since Batty's kicked the bucket, organized crime has sucked all the fun out of things. Too many established rules and regulations. BORING!"
He caressed the button as he talked.
"You see John, with all the Arkahm escapees running loose and sinking their teeth back into this city… I am helping to cultivate the land, ring in a new era of crime… and it's not a true celebration without some good fireworks."
John faintly heard the sound of GCPD's helicopters approaching from the bayside.
"I won't let you do this," he growled, clenching his jaw.
A clown kicked John's legs out from behind him, causing him to drop to his knees. Taking a henchman's gun with his free hand, the Joker held it to John's temple.
"In your pre-dic-a-ment, officer, I wouldn't make empty threats. You're not in the best position to stop me…"
"I am" said a voice from behind.
A dark figure swung into the scene with impressive speed. Knocking the Joker to the ground, the detonator flew out of his gloved hand and towards Lucy.
"Grab the detonator" the voice growled, standing to meet him. A black, towering shadow with voice that could shake the core of one's being.
John stood in shock.
It was him.
It was Batman.
The Joker whooped with laughter on the ground, louder than he ever had before. It was maniacal. An energetic type of teethy laugh that could only be attributed to utter delight and disbelief.
"And here he isss… The one and only!" the Joker sang hysterically.
Before John had time to reach the detonator, the clowns surrounding them began shooting. Batman fought with a sense of urgency and swiftness that was beyond what John had ever seen. The Joker had bruised what ego John had left. And he was right - he wasn't anything like Batman.
The Joker quickly crawled his way towards the detonator, pausing to admire Lucy's unconscious body. So innocent and peaceful when resting, so delicate and volatile when awake. A rose on a grave.
"See you soon, dollface" he said, grabbing the tiger's eye necklace from her open palm.
As he clicked the button, a muted boom shook the roof beneath them.
One by one, the bombs detonated around the building. The building's already rotten foundation was threatening to collapse with every explosion.
Clambering to his feet, the Joker stumbled towards the fire escape at the back of the building, laughing as he disappeared into the shadows.
Quickly losing interest in the fight, his clowns followed suit, scrambling off the roof to safety. At the first opportunity, John ran to Lucy and threw her on his back. He hadn't held her in ages. It was bittersweet. She was a ghost of who she had been.
He turned to Batman who was steadying himself on the crumbling ground.
Without saying a word, Batman pressed a button on his utility belt. Reaching up, he then caught hold of a dangling rope. There above him, hovering silently, was a stealth fighter that must have been stationed there the entire time.
"Hold on!" Batman commanded, as he motioned for John to take the rope as well. With his free hand, John held on tightly as they were lifted off the ground just as the roof was collapsing into itself.
With an explosive finale erupting below them, they flew off into the night.
