(Here it is! The long awaited chapter. Please enjoy, I made it extra long just for you guys!)
Chapter 17
I walked from the laundry room back towards the movie theater. Tim Drake turned and smiled at me. I swear I saw his pearly whites sparkle. Another teen guilty pleasure movie was cued up on the screen. I smiled back at him as I nervously fixed my hair. It was really nice getting to know him. Before this whole incident I had only been able to see him in the halls or running around a football field. But today, I felt like I got to know the real Tim Drake. And he was pretty spectacular. But all of that had to wait. This wasn't about me, or any attractive boy that caught my eye. This was about my mother. The woman who would do anything for me. It was time I returned the favor.
"Hey are you getting hungry? I could go for anything right about now." I smiled at the handsome devil.
"Yeah sure, what do you want?" He inquired. He pulled himself up off of the leather seat and made his way towards me. This was my distraction, I needed to rack my brain for ideas in the procrastination department.
"Pizza?" I suggested.
"Sure, I'll call Angelos right now." Tim Drake pulled out his phone. Angelos? 10 minutes or less or its free Angelos? That's not enough time. I needed more.
"How about Cotumaccio's diner? They have the best calzones!" I smiled, recollecting their slow delivery and horrendous customer service skills. Tim raised his eyebrow at the idea.
"Are you sure? Last time I ordered from there it took two hours." He explained. I put on my best cute face.
"Please? I really like their calzones." I begged, my puppy dog eyes in full force.
"Okay I'll call them up." He smirked.
"Thank you! I'll go right upstairs to get some money." I said as I turned towards my room.
"No, on me." He said, pulling out a black Wayne Enterprises Rewards Card and placing his cell phone against his ear. Of course. I sighed, realizing my alibi wasn't going to fly.
"No really, I insist, you've been so nice to me!" I begged. He shook his head as a loud mouthed woman picked up on the other end. Great. After a few minutes, the order was taken with only 10 insults being exchanged. I think that's a new record for that place! "Alright, well, I'm just..uh...going to take a shower real quick and I'll be back just in time for the food!"
"Fine, I'll be here if you need me." He said. And with that, I hurried off to my room before he could stop me. I locked the door to my bedroom and pulled out my laptop. My mother was with the Joker, I just knew it. I had to stop him. I had to save her. Alright. I needed to get myself into the Joker's headquarters, alive. From there I would be able to find my mother. Now, what mega villain would ensure my safe passage to The Joker. Riddler? Maybe, but he would be too hard to locate by tonight. Black Mask? His last words to me rang in my ears: "You'll pay for that you bitch." Yeah, I don't want to take my chances. Mad Hatter? Definitely not! He wasn't interested in the money at all! Clayface? I wasn't sure I'd be able to find him either. Penguin? I knew I could find him in the Iceberg Lounge but that arrogant little asshole would kill me and take half just out of pure hatred. I glanced over at my mother's book on the desk. That's when it hit me. Hugo Strange. He certainly wanted me alive. Even though he was working with Penguin I'm sure they worked out some arrangement to keep both of them happy. Including me being alive. But would Penguin stick to his word? my attention was brought back to the woman in the trench coat meeting with Black Mask. Bird Brain said that woman was my mother. Maybe she was trying to send me a message. A message to go with Penguin and Strange. I could only hope that this would work.
I quickly typed his name into the google search bar. A few billion hits popped up, but the first one. The Office of Doctor Hugo Strange. A phone number. I had direct access. I could do this. I picked up my phone and called the number on my screen.
"Dr. Hugo Strange's Office, how can I help you?" The voice of a young woman inquired. She clearly sounded like an intern who was completely over this shit.
"I need to speak to Hugo Strange. It's urgent." I replied.
"Who, may I ask, is calling?" She groaned. She was clearly over this place.
"Tell him it's Sarina and I'd like to arrange a meeting regarding a large sum of money." I answered. Hopefully that would get his attention.
"Alright hold on, I'll transfer ya." She groaned, the sound of bubblegum popped over the receiver. After a few moments a chilling voice came through the other end.
"Miss Gibson I presume. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Mr. Strange."
"Doctor." He corrected.
"Right. Look, I know you're interested in the bounty on my head and I have decided to turn myself in."
"Turn yourself in to the Clown Prince of Crime? You do know that no good could come of this. Why would you willingly send yourself to the slaughter?" He inquired devilishly. I could see that I had his interest.
"What can I say, I have a death wish." I replied sarcastically. "Now, do you want my cooperation or not?"
"But of course Miss Gibson." He replied. "My associates will meet you at Pauli's diner at precisely 8:00pm. From there we will escort you to The Joker."
"I'm guessing I'll be looking for your big guy I bumped into this past week."
"Very observant of you Sarina. Yes, he will be there." The intimidating man explained. "I am looking forward to our meeting Miss Gibson, I hope you don't get cold feet. I detest broken arrangements."
"Yes, I'll be there." I replied.
"Good." And with that, the line went dead. What a jerk, hanging up on me like that. I looked at the clock, I had been up here for 45 minutes. I better head downstairs before Tim gets suspicious. I quickly composed myself and made my way downstairs, just in time to see Tim at the door with a disgruntled delivery boy.
"Yeah, well same to you!" He groaned as he slammed the door. He caught my eye and smirked. "Service is getting better down there!" I walked over to him as he put the food out on the table, putting a calzone in front of me. My eyes widened as I began to devour the sub-par calzone. At that point I didn't care. "Your hair dried awfully fast."
"Huh?" I inquired.
"Didn't you just shower?" He replied. Shit!
"Oh yeah, I dried it before I came down. Always have to look my best." I smirked. Smooth recovery Sarina.
"How's the calzone?" He asked.
"Mmmm...yum?" I lied.
"Huh, the best calzones must have gone downhill." Tim chuckled. Was he on to me? He was so on to me.
"So, what's new?" I inquired as I gagged down my lunch.
"Just applying to colleges, getting ready to graduate." He explained. "You know."
"Where are you applying?"
"Mainly Gotham U. That's my top choice." Tim replied. I smiled, I was looking closely at GU.
"I'm looking there too! I mean, if I can get in." I sighed.
"You can do it. I have faith in you." He retorted without a moment of hesitation. I could feel my cheeks redden. No one but my mother had faith in my abilities to get into Gotham U. And she was obligated to have faith in me! If she were in vegas though, my odds would not be so pretty.
"Thanks." I said with a shy smiled.
"So what are your plans for tonight?" He asked, changing the subject. "I was thinking we could...you know, do something tonight?" I froze mid-bite. Wait...did Tim Drake just ask me out? Oh my gosh, what? I was trying to take this all in. Tim Drake, the dashing handsome muscular football player with the shiny blue eyes and luscious raven hair wanted me, to do something with him tonight?
"Like...as a...date?" I probed.
"I mean, only if you want it to be." He replied.
I was in shock. I think I was becomming catatonic. I needed to respond. C'mon Sarina, use your mouth words!
"I'd love to." I began. "But I can't. I have a lot of homework to catch up on tonight." There was no way I was giving up on my plan now. There was no backing out.
"I could stay here and help you tonight." He said. "It must be a lot." Oh god! He's so kind and considerate! No, stay focused.
"No really, as I much as I appreciate it I don't work well in groups. I get distracted so easily! I'm like a baby with a set of keys in their face, you know?" I fumbled an explanation.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." He said, his brows furrowing. I sighed to myself as I tried to finish the disgusting meal before me.
Eventually, Bruce came home and broke the tension between us. I said goodbye to Tim Drake and sealed in my fate for the night. As it turned out, the moment Tim left dinner happened to be ready. I entered the dinning room and sat across from Bruce Wayne. Alfred placed a delectable looking Chicken Alfredo. Good, I would need to carbo-load for tonight.
"So, how was your day with Tim, Sarina? I hope he didn't get too annoying?" Bruce smirked. I smiled back.
"No, not at all!" I replied. "It was nice to have some company."
"Well, maybe I could see if he'd like to spend some time with you this evening. I would hate for you to get lonely." Bruce proposed. Dammit, what does everyone have to be so nice to me! I mean, it's great really, but I didn't have time for that tonight.
"No, I really have to get some work done. I get distracted very easily. I wouldn't get anything done with Tim around." I replied politely.
"Oh I see." Bruce replied. Huh, interesting. He and Tim both seemed hell bent on trying to get me chaperoned for the night. But why? I looked over at Alfred. He was the only one who knew of my plan. Would he be trying to stop me by convincing the Bruce and Tim to keep me under supervision? Interesting tactic, Alfred. After a few more minutes of polite conversation Bruce Wayne excused himself and vanished into his study.
"Miss Gibson." Alfred said, looking at me with the deepest concern. "I highly suggest you reconsider your crusade tonight. Batman has this quite well under control, I can assure you."
"Then I can help him." I countered. "I'm the perfect bait aren't I? He can use me to lure in whoever he needs for information."
"Putting you in danger is exactly what he is trying to prevent." Alfred replied. "But if you insist, I am at a loss to stop you." With that, he picked up my clean dinner plate and placed a black bag in front of me. "He are the supplies you will need tonight. I wish you the best of luck." With that, Alfred left the dinning room. Leaving me with the bag and my thoughts.
That's it? He wasn't going to try and stop me? No, Alfred couldn't stop me. But Batman or Bird Brain could. I had to make the first move. Quickly I gathered the bag and made my way to my bedroom. I locked the door and the windows and immediately dumped the contents of the bag onto my bed. One familiar black catsuit with matching wig. My head itched at the memory. Along with it came a pair of regular reading glasses. I don't think I would have time to catch up on light reading. I put the glasses on for the hell of it only to realize their true value. The room had completely changed, it was as if I had x-ray vision. I could see through the walls and into the surrounding rooms. Sweet. I found a button on the side of my glasses and vision immediately returned to normal. Nice! These would come in handy. Lastly, I noticed a singular black batarang remaining. For me? I picked it up delicately and examined it. I used to have a boomerang. Played with it every summer until I smashed the neighbors window. On purpose. But my mother didn't know that. I hadn't seen it since. When she comes back home I'll ask her what she did with it.
I put on my leather catsuit and sheathed the batarang in a handy built in batarang holder. I knew I would need it later but not at first. To conceal this, I put on an over-sized sweatshirt and a pair of jeans. I left the glasses on. They really added to the outfit. I glanced at the time. 7:30pm. It was time to head out. Leaving the bag and wig on the bed, I made my way down the stairs and out the door.
After a ten minute walk and a twenty minute bus ride, I stood before Pauli's Diner. This was it, the moment of truth. I stepped into the diner. The place was dead. There were a few tables of strays and loners. But there was one loner in particular that caught my eye. The man who had tried to capture me before sat quietly at a table in the corner with a cup of coffee. I took a deep breath and made my way over to him. I sat down across from him. His expression unchanged.
"You turned yourself in." He stated plainly, glancing down at a copy of the Gotham times before him.
"I'm aware." I replied.
"I was hoping it would be more of a challenge."
"Sorry to disappoint." I snapped. "You went to all the trouble to work with Penguin's boys too." I mentally smacked myself at the word vomit I had just unleashed. Why could I never just stay quiet!
"So you know?" He inquired. "You are smarter than I thought." The man took his last sip of coffee and stood up. "We best not keep them waiting." I stood up and the man immediately wrapped his arm around me. As if he thought I would try and run away. I couldn't help but noticed the man didn't even pay his tab when he left. Jerk.
We left the diner and I was guided towards a back alley. Nothing ever good happens in back alleys. I stood before a dozen men wearing jackets with a single penguin on their shoulder. Of course there would be reinforcements. Soon enough, a wet rag covered my mouth. This was it. I could hear the men laugh to themselves as I slipped into darkness.
Things were fuzzy yet again when I opened my eyes. I began to recognize my surroundings as a van. The back of one at least. Although, I wasn't alone. I was surrounded by the same men who greeted me in the alley. They all sat around me, shooting the shit. I attempted to move a muscle but was met with thick metal chains. I've upgraded from ropes to chains. I'd almost be flattered if I wasn't about to be transported to the Joker. My heart was racing. I knew this was all according to plan but it was still nerve racking. The van rolled to a stop as the back doors opened. The men all hopped out while two others grabbed me and quite literally threw me out of the van. I slammed onto the ground, clearly hard concrete. A trickle of blood slipped down from my forehead to the ground. No need to be gentle with these brutes. I was forcible picked up and got a good look at our location. An abandoned factory. How original. The thugs carried me over to two men before me who I recognized as Dr. Hugo Strange and Oswald Cobblepot.
"Long time no see." I groaned, eyeing the both of them.
"Not so funny now eh?" The little man sneered.
"That's enough Cobblepot." Strange commanded.
"What about our deal strange?" He snapped. The taller man sighed.
"Very well." He said with indifference. In an instant, An umbrella smacked me upside the head. The only thing that kept me standing was two thugs with a firm grip on my arms.
"Oi, love." The Penguin smirked as he pulled out a small knife from his pocket. "Be a dear and hold this for me, will ya?"
"I mean, I can't exactly use my ha-" I started to explain how idiotic Penguin's request was when his knife was stabbed into my thigh. "FUCK!" I screeched. This was the worst pain I had ever felt. It didn't help that the sad, strange little man wiggled the blade.
"That's enough!" Strange snapped. "She'll get far worse in the hands of Joker." Cobblepot sneered once again at me as he turned back to Strange, leaving the blade. The men carried me into the factory. The heavy doors were pulled open by more thugs, these ones wore white face paint. As we entered the center of the room, it was apparent that this was it.
The clown in the purple suit, and his bubbly girlfriend stood before me. The clown grinned deeply and sent shivers down my spine.
"Welcome to the mad house!" He cheered. His thugs roared in approval. I had finally been captured.
I was in the belly of the beast now.