BLACK MARKET

Doctor Maxwell Wright's Perspective:

Business is good on the Black Market, parts and bodies. Living or dead. They all sell for a pretty penny. My job, is to maximise the profit and let people have what they want. All men want a pretty girl, why not give them one? I don't care what they do with them, that's not my problem. But if they don't pay...then we have a problem.

"Miss Kyle, would you like to know how you ended up in my care?" I asked, looking at Selina in her barred cell.

The Black Market was both a prison and a thriving business. I held the potential candidates in cells out the back, and then the auctions at the front of the building. I could always get away with it too, nobody suspected a simple nightclub to be such a dangerous place for young women.

"Another failed attempt of Harv or Eddie trying to torture me?" she answered sarcastically.

I don't like sarcasm. Or a sense of humour.

"Mmm, no. You're here because I kidnapped you from your previous loving owner, The Joker? If that's his name." "But it's alright, you're safe here." I assured her. "For now..." I whispered under my breath as I turned around and walked away from her cell.

Poetry was always a hobby of mine, I try and keep my victims guessing...it's more interesting that way. They can't predict my planning and they sometimes get so bored of my poetry that they try and kill themselves. Though my poems aren't to be confused with riddles. Riddles? Ugh no, they're way worse than poems.

I'm flattered that everyone thinks I'm the so called 'poetic murderer' really, I am. But that's not me, it's just a hobby. I don't love the hobby enough to become associated with it. That doesn't mean I won't take advantage of their suspicions though. I might be able to use this to scare the general public.

"Can you just kill me and get it over with? I really have better things to be doing right now than listening to you. Don't you think I've heard enough of your whining voice?" she asked, groaning.

"In time, cat. In time..." I said.

I walked up the stairs and slammed the door shut behind me. It was auction time. My favourite money-making business with hundreds of paying customers willing to pay me up front for such beautiful women. I straightened my tie and presented myself to the crowd.

I picked up the microphone from the security guard and walked up onto the stage. The stage was like a catwalk, I let the few lucky girls model themselves on it if they behaved. The naughty ones? They stay out back.

They're for...more personal uses.

Catwoman, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and all the other well known criminals, vigilantes and heroes will be top of the list of pre-orders. Pre-orders for what? Oh, that's the best part! My customers will decide what they're used for. Parts, maybe. Sex? Maybe. That's not my decision. What is my decision, however is what I choose to do with them in the meantime, I got Catwoman already caged up, it won't be long before her girlfriends want to try and rescue her.

Anyway, I have a crowd to address.

"Hello everyone! Welcome to a very special auction. This week only, I'm offering you the chance to buy not one, not two, but three beautiful girls for one special package price! First come, first served...believe me you do not want to miss out on this spectacular offer." I started. I walked up to the three women in chains standing on the stage. "Who do we have here?" "Three incredibly gorgeous girls ready for your bidding, ladies and gentlemen!" I took my hand and clenched one of the girl's jaws in a threatening way. "Don't disappoint me, sweetie" I said, laughing to myself.

"Hell yeah! I'd slap that ass!" one of the buyers shouted.

"Fuck you man, I got my eye on those girls" another buyer replied, directing his attention to the other buyer.

"You wanna go, mate?" the buyer said, getting up close to the other buyer.

"I aint your mate, asshole" the buyer replied, shoving the other.

"Call me that again, go on! Say that to my fucking face! I dare you!" the buyer commented, starting to threaten violence towards the other buyer.

"Security" I proclaimed.

Security members charged into the crowd and split the two fighting males apart. They restrained and punched them until they stopped trying to kill each other.

I walked down the stairs and into the crowd, I approached the previously fighting men.

"Are you pleased with yourselves?" I asked, angrily staring at them with my arms crossed. "I appreciate your enthusiasm but please, we do have rules in this establishment. I, for one would rather you two settle down and I give you another chance...but I think I have a better idea" I leant over to the security guards and whispered "Put them out back."

"But sir...only girls are-" one of the security guards started.

"Just do it" I interrupted.

"Yes sir" he replied.

The two security guards dragged the two men out back and through the door, they were kicking and screaming, trying to break free... but couldn't. Quite pathetic really, but then I think they need to learn some manners.

I can help with that.

I return back to the centre of the stage and continue.

"Sorry about that, ladies and gentlemen. Just a slight disturbance. I've... dealt with the troublemakers so now we may continue!"

"Let's start the bidding at $500!" I shout.

Suddenly, the door opens.

"I'll give you $10,000 if you let them go and all of the other girls you've kidnapped...you also get a free ticket to prison"

That deep...irritating voice.

Oh how joyous...The Dark Knight. Batman himself has joined the bidding for my auction. He thinks he's going to bribe me? Turn me in? I don't think so.

"Dark Knight, how wonderful of you to join in... such a special auction." I say, smiling and secretly pulling out a switch-blade from my pocket. "You know, if I took off your mask and sold it, I'd be richer than you...not only that, but I'd be able to sell your parts...and your dignity. Everyone would know who the caped crusader was. I'd be rich and famous...and well...you'd be dead" I flip the blade out and hold it behind my back. "You can't save everyone, Dark Knight. You have a choice. You can save these three beautiful women, the crowd of money grabbing buyers you're standing in or dear Selina Kyle who's tied up out back. Choose wisely, Dark Knight."

"What have you done..." Batman asks, angrily looking at me.

"What have I done? Well, you spoilt the auction. You try and take me to jail and to top it all off. You make false bids. Now that's really a waste of your time, my time and everyone's time" I put the blade close to one of the girl's throats. "Move, and I slit her throat. Don't move, and...well the crowd might beat you senseless anyway...after all, this is their only fun place to hangout in the evenings. Gotta expect some excitement once in a while, right?" I bring out a detonator from my other pocket. "I can control which room to destroy first, maybe even both at once. Isn't that the fun of poems? Not knowing what they mean, but when you figure it out it's such a great feeling." I move my thumb close to one of the buttons. "I always wondered if you knew what you did to me. Not physically, mentally. When you failed to save my wife in that house fire, I thought of how disappointing you were. My expectations didn't live up to reality. And so, here we are."

"Don't do this, Max. It's not worth it."

"No, Dark Knight. Your life isn't worth it, their lives aren't worth it." I slice the girl's neck with the knife. "But your reaction, their reaction. Now that... that's worth every second"

"No!" Batman said, running towards the dying woman. He would knock anyone out of the way if he had to. "You monster..." he said, looking at me...wanting to hurt me. Would he kill me? No, he doesn't kill.

The crowd is screaming and frantically trying to get out of the building. Well... so much for loyal customers.

"We're all monsters, in our own right. My type of monstrosity is just a little different to yours." I said, leaning down to Batman who was mourning over the injured girl.

All he ever does is regret. Why mourn over the events which have already happened? It's a boring way to live your life.

He grabbed me by the neck and started strangling me.

"You just killed an innocent woman. I may not kill you, but you are going to prison. That, I can guarantee." he said, whilst tightening his grip on my throat.

"You...don't...scare...me." I said slowly, as my body started to lose conciousness.

And then, darkness.