CHAPTER 10

Underpass

The bus skidded around another bend, the back wheels screeching across the tarmac. Several cars followed closely behind, and several other cars were trailing behind them.

Bruce pusher his hand through the gap in the window and fired a couple of shots at the car tailing then. He reloaded.

Tom gave him a worried glance before dragging the steering wheel sharply to the right to avoid a pile of bricks in the middle of the road. His face scrunched up as the car span for a moment, tossing Bruce sideways.

"Sorry, kiddo!" He said, desperately trying to right the vehicle again.

Bruce swung his head back to look out of the back window. There was a clunk and the car surged forward as another car rammed into the back.

"Right," Tom scowled. "I've had just about enough of this. If these bastards want a fight, they got one." He threw Bruce a glance. "Hold on, kid."

Bruce's eyes darted around. "What are you doing?"

Tom hit the accelerator and ragged the steering wheel to the right, causing the car to be thrown into an alleyway. The automobile following them to use the brakes abruptly. Another car crashed into it from behind, then another, causing a pile up that blocked half the road.

The walls raced past the car so closely, Bruce could have sworn he heard them scraping against the sides. It wasn't a moment later when the wind mirrors were ripped off as a metal bin was crushed against the wall.

"Tom," Bruce said with fear in his voice, gripping the sides of the chair with his nails. The leather began to tear. "Are you sure you know where you're going?!"

"No idea," he replied, keeping his eyes ahead. "But, hey... it's better than being stuck back there."

"But what about the bus?"

"We'll take the backstreets to avoid Penguin's men. Then we can meet 'em somewhere nearer the hospital and run the remaining cars off the road."

"You sure it'll work? What if the bus is surrounded? What if it doesn't get there?"

"Bruce, you seem like a smart kid, but you ask way too many questions." Tom said as a washing line was torn down. "Learn to go with the flow."

There was silence as the car emerged onto the main road, a few piles of boxes and bin bags pushed out with it. They didn't stop to gather their thoughts, but swung sharply to the left and continued down the middle of the road.

"Bruce!" Bruce leapt as his radio burst into life. "Bruce! Please tell me you're there."

He fumbled with it clumsily before pressing a button on the side. "Harvey! I'm fine, I'm here. We took the backstreets to avoid getting hit."

"Thank God, Jim'd kill me if anything had have happened to you."

There was a crackle as the device began to cut out.

"Listen, I'm about to go out of range. We'll meet up with you later and try to get them off the bus' tail."

He pushed the radio into his pocket.

"Right-oh!" Tom said, looking up at the street signs. "Last lap of the streets. There should be a road to the left that leads directly to the bus."

A few seconds past before Harvey spoke from the radio again. "There's an overturned truck blocking the shortcut to Gotham General, we'll have to use the underpass."

"Roger that, Harvey." Bruce replied.

"Change of plan," Tom whispered, driving past the turn-off and straight on. "We should reach the underpass in a minute."

Overturned truck, Bruce thought, I wonder if it's one of Jerome's.

The underpass appeared ahead of them.

"There she is,"

The car drove into it quickly, avoid the remaining abandoned or burnt-out cars. Bruce's ears popped as they descended, letting out a brief yawn. Rolling down his window, he listened for the sound of vehicle engines.

There was nothing.

He rolled it back up again and looked at Tom, but didn't say anything. His expression explained it for him.

"They said they'd be here," Bruce whispered, his eyebrows creasing.

"No idea, sonny." He spoke after a few seconds.

Bruce tried his radio, but there was no answer. "Harvey, are you there?" He paused before trying again. "Harvey...?"

He hoped it was just something to do with the signal.