Disclaimer: I don't own "Batman Begins"
Tick-tock.
Time was running out. Even though my eyes were closed to block out my worst fears, and I didn't know what time it was, I could tell that midnight was nearing. At midnight, or sooner, my life would end.
Tick-tock.
I could almost hear a clock in my head, counting down the seconds.
Tick-tock.
I had stopped crying only minutes ago, but I couldn't control the shaky breaths that trembled my cold body.
Tick-tock.
My whole entire body shook violently. Sniffing a bit, I tried to calm myself down as I wrapped my arms around myself after blindly scooting backwards to one of the pitch black corners of the holding cell...What have I done wrong? Was there anything that Edgar had a grudge against me for, other than the fact that I born? Frightened, I squeezed my eyes tightly to keep them shut, and pulled my knees toward my chest. I tried to think of what good will come out of all of this. Maybe it will help me keep calm, and slow down the poison. Let's see...Josh was with his mom in Metropolis, so he's okay...Ally and Nathan are physically all right...If my doom came sooner, then I would get to see my parents again...I wouldn't have to lie to protect others anymore...I wouldn't have to run away anymore...No one will hurt me again.
Tick-tock.
Who am I kidding here? There is no good that will come out of this. After Edgar kills me, he'll still bring terror to everyone that I love. People are going to be hurt, and it would be because I never told anyone who killed my parents. Everyone I have met had already been marked with my touch, and targeted. I let out a small whimper before letting it evaporate into a useless sigh. I had to keep my eyes closed for as long as I could, but I knew that I would have to open them sooner or later. An unseen power in the toxin will make sure of that...Memories...Dark memories crawled into my mind...They started to fill my entire subconscious. My hands clasped my head in attempt to block those painful thoughts.
"No," I whispered. "Go away. Leave me alone. Please"
FLASH!
"Yes, I understand..."I heard Gordon reply on the phone. "...She has nowhere to go..."
FLASH!
I turned back to the sinking coffins at that thought. Tears started to stream down my face. Why did they have to die? Why did they have to leave me?
FLASH!
I took a glance at my relatives. Some had smiles on their faces. How could they be so cruel? All they ever thought about was money. They were practically swimming in billions. Why would they need more?
I held my head harder, wincing as the white flashes came faster and more painful. Breathing rapidly, I knew that the toxin was finally tightening its frightful grip on me.
FLASH!
"Never underestimate Gotham City. People get mugged coming home from work everyday of the week. Sometimes--" Falcone chuckled. "Sometimes things just go bad,"
FLASH!
I glared at him. My parents weren't goons. He didn't even know them. Falcone took out a gun, a pair of handcuffs, and then he threw them to a guy with long hair.
"Take her around back," he said as the two holding me shoved me to the other guy.
"And do what?" the guy asked as he grabbed me.
"...Use your imagination,"
I let out a silent gasp as I tried to free myself from the guy's grasp. They were going to kill me.
FLASH!
"You may think she's the same as everyone else, Mr. Wayne, but she never was. She'll never be one of us. She's not saying anything back to me because she knows it's true, and there's nothing she can do about it,"
I covered my ears through all this nonsense. I broke free out of Bruce's grasp and ran through the crowd. I needed somewhere safe to be. Away from prying eyes.
FLASH!
"You know something! Tell me!"
But the next thing I knew, Flass was going back down, screaming his head off, and I was carried up to the roof at lightning speed, struggling. Batman wouldn't let me go. His grip was growing tighter. I yelled at him over the rain.
"Let me go!" I screamed at him.
"Not until you calm down," Batman hissed in my ear..."No! I won't! Not until I find out who killed my mom and dad,"
FLASH!
"...Blood...Take--Take poison. Blood poison...poisonous," I heard a few mutters.
I whipped my head toward the bed to find Bruce. He was shaking uncontrollably, and muttering those awful things in his sleep. He must be really sick. I walked slowly toward the bed, and squatted down on the floor beside it, so I could see his face. It was so pale, and he was sweating. I didn't understand.He was fine yesterday. He was having fun with me, showing me everything there was to know about Gotham City, and showing me all the good things that I had missed about it. How could he get sick? On his bedside table, I saw that case he showed me when I got in trouble at school. The stethoscope that belonged to his father. The stethoscope that he used on my heart and gave me a piece of his childhood. Gingerly, I opened it and took it out. Putting it to my ears, I placed it on his heart. His heart was racing, like something was scaring him. But...he was the bravest person I knew, besides Batman. Grown-ups can't get scared...Can they?...Apparently, I was wrong. Yet, when I touched him, he seemed to calm down, as if he knew I was there. I felt more humble now, and a little bit more brave...Here comes the part that still creeps me out. Before I could even blink, Bruce snapped his eyes open, and grabbed my arm in a tight grip. I didn't scream, but jumped just a little, and struggled to get out of his grip. I wasn't afraid of him, but worried that whatever he had might hurt me. He wouldn't let me go...Those eyes. It was happening again. Deja vu. Where have I seen those eyes before?
"Alfred!" I shouted.
I heard the loud, teeth grinding squeak of the rusty door to my cell. No. It couldn't be time already...
Could it?
FLASH!
"Sarah," Mrs. Rose gave me a comforting smile. "Have a seat,"
"If you excuse me, Mrs. Rose," I said with the most polite manner possible. "But, can you tell me what's going on?"
There was silence, which set me off uneasily. I saw Mrs. Rose glance at Gordon, who glanced a Commissioner Loeb. I started to worry.
"Is Bruce all right?" I asked, concerned of my godfather's well being.
"Oh, he was fine, last time we saw," Commissioner Loeb replied. "It's actually you that has to be all right,"
"Why? What's going on?...Jim?..."
I was growing nervous by the second. To comfort me, Jim bent down to my level, and put his hand on my shoulder.
"Sarah," he said. "We just want you to know that we're going to do everything we can to keep you safe, and keep everyone else from getting hurt. Most of all, you,"
"...Jim," I said with breaths. "What happened?"
Jim looked at Commissioner Loeb, who turned to me.
"Last night," he started. "The department received a call from Matthew MacCallister. We didn't actually get to talk to him, but dispatch was able to catch some of the conversation that took place,"
"What conversation?" I asked.
"We've no idea. But it was most certainly about you,"
"...Me? Why would they talk about me? Who was he talking to anyway?...What's going on?"
"We found Matthew MacCallister's body in the parking garage near his firm. Autopsy said they found a bullet in his head,"
Jim squeezed my hand to comfort me for this next part.
"It was the same caliber your parents were shot with," he said softly to me.
I looked at Jim with fright in my eyes.That man...That murderer...The murderer who killed my parents; who killed Matthew MacCallister. He's out there. He's still out there. Waiting. Waiting for me. Waiting for the golden opportunity to come and find me... And kill me. He wants to kill me.
FLASH!
"Interesting, isn't it?" I heard a calm, cool voice.
Dropping the strange mask to the floor, I gasped in fright to find Dr. Jonathon Crane. He looked like he was the type of guy that would make girls swoon. Tall, dark, and somewhat handsome. Yet there was something about him that made me want to run out the door. He extended a hand toward the mask, and I handed it to him, never taking my eyes off it.
"It is interesting," I agreed softly. "How did you come across it?"
Jonathon Crane merely gave me a warm, but chilling, smile as he stuffed the mask in his coat pocket. Gesturing for me to have a seat, I did so as he continued to talk.
"I came across it by taking it away from one of our patients," he said as he sat at his desk.
"But don't you usually lock the items up?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes. But I found this to be quite peculiar, I decided to keep it,"
Something in my gut told me he was lying as he looked at me through his non-framed rectangular glasses. He took out the mask once more and put it on the desk, showing me the face.
"Tell me," he said. "What does it look like to you?"
I studied the potato sack face. It just sat there on the desk looking at me. I stared at it, pondering what it looked like. It seemed to look at me as if it knew me. The mask knew my dislikes, what I liked, where I lived, who my friends were...What I feared. Now, I really didn't know exactly what I was scared of, because I was scared of almost everything...But that mask...With those empty eyes staring at me and my soul...It knew what I was afraid of to the bottom of my heart, and the scary part was it knew what I was afraid of. Not me.
"It looks like a scarecrow," I said, an image popping in my head.
To this, Crane nodded slowly as he put the mask back in his coat pocket.
"Very good," he said to me.
FLASH!
"DO YOU REALIZE HOW WORRIED SICK YOU'VE MADE EVERYONE? DON'T YOU EVEN REMEMBER THAT SOMEONE IS OUT THERE TRYING TO KILL YOU? WHAT YOU'VE DONE WAS RECKLESS AND STUPID! I THOUGHT YOU WERE SMARTER THAN THAT!"
FLASH!
...She did it. I don't believe it, but she actually did it. She made me angry. I don't remember what happened. The next thing I saw, though, was the contents of my punch glass splashing all over her pink dress. She let out an ear-splitting scream, causing an attraction to the other guests. My heart was pounding, and I was in labored breath. Haley scowled at me.
"I am so--" I started.
"No!" Haley screeched. "Don't say that you're sorry! You're not!"
Well, she's right about one thing. I actually wasn't sorry that I ruined her dress.
"Look at what you did! This is a one of a kind dress! It's worth more than your useless life,"
"Oh, get over it!" I snapped at her. "It's punch. Not blood!"
"Might as well be. You killed it, you freak!"
"...You know what Haley, I just might grow out of being a freak, but you will never stop being a witch!"
Footsteps on the concrete floor echoed in my ears, and grew louder as they hurried toward me. I kept curled up next to the corner.
"No," I whispered. "Please,"
FLASH!
Something was wrong. Something happened to Bruce. My heart was telling me all of this. I grabbed my backpack as I started to panic.
"Turn the car around," I said as we started turning a corner.
My Uncle jeered at me.
"No," he said. "I told you. You are never to see Bruce Wayne again. You never listen to me, do you?"
I looked out my side window, peering at the road we drove on. It looked like the car was flying on it...Flying fast...Man, I can't believe I was doing this.
"You're right," I said softly. "I don't,"
Taking my chance, I unlocked my car door, opened it wide, and jumped out of the moving limo with my backpack over my shoulder. The impact sent me rolling off the side of the road, and into a ditch. The second I was on my feet, I took off running into the woods, covering myself in darkness.
FLASH!
I skated after the monorail to see if I could get ahead of it. As I saw Batman swing himself into a window, smashing small shards of glass that had found their way to the ground, a plan was forming. If I found the brake system that would stop the train, then maybe the poison would stop spreading. But, first, I had to dodge every car, every citizen, and every water-main lid that exploded from the pressure underneath. I heard the Bat-tank close behind me as I covered my head to avoid a falling water main lid. It seemed as though I was no match for the train, because, as it sped ahead of me, I was covered in the poisonous mist of fear. I caught myself on a nearby light pole, and started coughing my lungs out. I knew I was safe from the toxin, but it almost blinded me, and it got caught in my throat. Again, I felt sick to the stomach. I realized now that even if I could get to the emergency brake system, I wouldn't be able to stop the train.
Now you finally notice I thought sarcastically to myself.
As I hung onto the light pole, I saw something that had to deal with the Bat-tank. I don't know what it did, but, somehow, it caused part of the train tracks to break apart from the rest. My eyes were wider than they were before. Now the train was going to go flying off the track! Composing myself immediately, I sought refuge in a nearby alley. I knew that the train was going to explode, and I was so close to where it would crash. I kneeled behind a dumpster and covered my head. I was in a safe position just as I felt a great rumble under my feet, and the dumpster shook against me with a force so strong. I was afraid it would fall on me. When it finally subsided, I remained in a curled ball, my hands covering my head protectively. Sharp, but shallow, breaths escaped from me. I dared not make a sound...No one should have to go through all this. Especially the innocent people of Gotham.
FLASH!
Josh and I were the only ones left on our team. I couldn't believe that I had made it this far into the game. On the other side, Haley and two other girls were left to try and get us out. Ally was out a long time ago. One girl threw a dodge-ball at Josh, and he caught it. That meant that the girl was out. In a rage, Haley and the other girl pelted dodge-balls at us, with no success. Josh was able to get the other girl out. But as he threw the ball he had, Haley caught him off-guard, and hit him hard in the stomach. It had to be painful. I watched him fall to the ground, clutching his side in pain. He was crying out a bit. I couldn't understand. The balls didn't even hit that hard to injure you. What was wrong? The next thing I knew, I was running toward him.
"Time out!" I shouted at the coach as I bent down next to my cousin. "Josh, are you okay?"
Josh didn't answer me as kids from our team, and even Haley's team, circled around Josh and I. Two boys put Josh's arms around their shoulders and led him out of the gym. Before I turned away, I heard him mumble my name. I went to his side as he mumbled another thing:
Adam Gerons.
Someone touches me, and I flinch the moment the tips of their fingers make contact with my shoulder. My whole body tightens with fear as I tried to shrink into the corner more. My pulse beats faster. My blood pressure rises. My entire being is growing hot enough for beads of sweat to drop down my forehead. At this point of my story, I knew that the toxin was beginning to reach the peak of my growing state of fright. I could tell so by how shallow my breath had gotten, how unfocused my senses were, and how everything I heard seemed to ring or echo. Whoever was touching my shoulder had had enough of my resistance to cooperate. An arm somehow managed to slip around my waist and yank me away from my corner.
FLASH!
I found my way to Edgar's office, and my eyes bulged. There was Edgar, with Josh being punched by his own fists. Without even thinking, I plunged myself into the chaos, trying to pry Edgar off of my cousin.
"Stop it!" I screamed. "Leave him alone"
SLAP! WHAM! SNAP! I was hit, and on the ground. When I caught myself, the floorboard underneath my right hand creaked loudly. I didn't know why, but it caught my attention for just a moment before I was dragged to my feet by my hair.
I held my head to refrain from screaming out loud. My eyes squeezed out tears of pain, but my words were dripping with anger.
"You're drunk," I spat.
"So what if I am?" Edgar hissed in my ear.
After this, I was thrown across the room, rolling on top of the coffee table.
FLASH!
I dropped the pen, and looked at the broken creaky floorboard. Prying it open, I saw a black box. Taking it out, I opened it...A black gun lay inside, neatly in its place...On its holster was engraved the initials AG-EM...If Adam Gerons killed my parents, then that means...
Edgar Mason, my uncle, killed my parents.
FLASH!
"Sarah!" shouted Josh. "I am not running one more block until you tell me what's going on!"
It was the next morning around 7. The sun was just rising, and Josh and I were running down the almost deserted sidewalks. Let me break it down to you about what happened so far. With only 3 hours of sleep, I had gotten to the computer in Edgar's office and onto my bank account at Gotham National Bank on-line. From there, I took out at least 2000 dollars, and put it aside so I could pick it up soon. Then, I got my backpack, and packed in everything I could fit in there: Toothbrush, toothpaste, change of clothes, the book Bruce gave me, and my roller blades. After I put on a pair of jeans, put cover up on my face to hide the bruises, and a black turtleneck sweater with 3/4 sleeves, I rushed to Josh's room, and made him get up. He was asking me repeatedly what was going on, but I wouldn't answer him. All I did was make him pack as much as he could in his backpack. As soon as he zipped up, I took him by the arm roughly, and we both rushed out of Mason Manor...hopefully for good. Yeah. We were running away. I know its dangerous, but its the only solution I could come up with.
FLASH!
Suddenly, a strong hand gripped my bruised arm. Involuntarily, I let out a yelp of pain. My arm. It hurt so much, my eyes were squeezing out tears for the trauma of my beaten muscles. Ally gasped as she backed away, and as I looked into the cold face of my Uncle Edgar.
"Nice performance Scummy," he hissed in anger. Then he grabbed the back of my neck, making me look into those cold eyes. "But not nice enough!"
"Somebody help!" Ally called out as she tried to pry Edgar's grip off of me. "Let her go! Help! Anyone!"
Edgar smacked Ally away from us, and she fell to the ground. I gasped. She wasn't getting up. He knocked her out. I struggled to get out of my uncle's grip, but it hurt so much, I thought that I was going to pass out from the pain.
I struggled so much, the guy holding me had to pin my arms to my sides by wrapping his arms tightly around me. Still, I tried to free myself with all the strength I could use.
"Let me go!" I screamed.
I had barely said those words when a hand was tightly clamped over my mouth to keep me quiet. My pleas for help were muffled by his smooth, leathery glove, but it never stopped me from shouting them.
"Hold still," A familiar voice echoed in my ear.
Before I could question myself on who it was, something pricked the skin of my arm, and I whimpered a bit. A cold sensation ran through my body before making its way to my head as the hand was removed from my mouth. It felt like a lethal brain freeze had taken over me and let me moan in discomfort. The grip around me lessened to a gentle wrap of strong arms. My jean jacket was being pulled off my shoulders, and I heard it tossed to the side before an arm went under my shaking legs, and another around my shoulders. I felt the wound where Edgar kicked me on my side twitch with pain, making me whimper again.
"Shh" I was told when I was sat upright against the wall. "You're going to be all right. Here. Drink this,"
The lid of a cold water bottle met with my chappy, pale lips. Grasping it blindly with both hands, I greedily took it, chugging down the cool liquid as fast as I could. I could feel my head growing clear and a bit of my strength coming back. In less than one minute, I drank every last bit of cold water that had once existed in the canteen. I took deep breaths of air, almost coughing, as I felt a gentle pry of my eyelid opening. My vision was blurry, and all I could see was a black, fuzzy image of who had obviously come to help me. After a few short moments, my other eye was inspected. I moved my head away, to rub my eyes with my thumb and index finger, trying to clear my vision.
"Can you walk?" I was asked in a gutteral voice.
"...A bit," I nodded with an exhausted reply.
I was suddenly pulled to my feet. Testing myself, I could only walk two steps before I would start to crumple. Luckily, I was quickly caught and brought closer to my rescuer. He gently pushed my head to his hard armor clad chest, as he wrapped an arm around my waist, supporting me so that I could stand.
"Just lean closer," I was commanded. "Walk very slowly, and don't make any noise until I say it's safe. I'll be with you every step of the way. Do you understand?"
Feeling a bit more strength, I nodded vigorously.
"Good girl. Now come on. We don't have much time,"
Half-carried and half-dragged, the cool air of what was left of Arkham's hallways embraced me with its sudden chill. Though I was glad to be out of that cell, mar arms formed shuddering goosebumps on my bare arms. As they crawled up my spine, a heavy sort of material was draped along my shoulders as they warmly protected me while my rescuer and I lurked our way through the asylum...Hold on a second. I've had something like that on me before...And there was only one person that came to my mind of who had always done that. Around this time, my eyes had gained back their strength, and I opened them as I looked up to find a clearing image of the Dark Knight, supporting me until I received full strength.
"You found me," I whispered
"Shh," I was hushed.
But I had something to say.
"Batman--," I started softly
"Sarah," Batman gently reminded me. "Take it easy. You have to be quiet until I get you to the Tumbler,"
"But there's--,"
Suddenly, we heard a door in a nearby hallway slam shut. Batman's arm instinctively clutched around me, and we stood frozen on the spot, but for a short moment.
"Mason's coming," I heard that low growl in his voice. "Hurry. Wrap your arms around my neck, don't look up, and hang on tight,"
Obeying as I buried my face in the hard shoulders of the Batman's armor, I was quickly lifted off my feet, and was concealed by the Winged Avengers long black cape, to keep my bright colored clothes extra hidden, and keep me warm as the Batman raced soundlessly through the halls. I uttered not a word, not allowing any sound of discomfort to go past my lips. I didn't even let my painful gashes, bruises, or cuts get me to cry out, but I had to wince hard enough to not do so. Everytime that would happen, my coiled arms would tighten around Batman's neck, and lessen when the pain went away. In an instant, the movement had stopped for a few moments. I could tell we were somewhere spacious by the way the air filters echoed off the thin walls. In the dark, I could hear the Batman's breathing with his heaving chest as he quickly tried to find a place to lay low for a while. I listened closely for more sounds...Only to locate the beating of Batman's own heart. Like an old forgotten lullaby, I was suddenly at peace with the pensive thought that I had heard that same heartbeat very recently after my parents died. Before I could try to locate the memory, I was quickly set on the ground again, my back resting against the wall by the peculiar Caped Crusader in a dark area. I remembered it to be the same warehouse I had seen Rachel held captive in by the Scarecrow while I was hidden on the floor above me. The only thing holding me back, at the time, was a tangled mess of barbwire wrapped around my leg in blood. Crouching alongside me in the dark, Batman kept his cape draped around my shoulders. His eyes were glowing in the dark brighter than ever before as they stared straight ahead to the rest of the building. When he held me in a protective way, I knew I had to stay as quiet as I possibly could. There wasn't much uncomfortable silence we edured, until we heard the loud slam of a door, and two people yelling at each other. I hardly gasped before I was quickly concealed by the cape again. The only things left uncovered by it were the two pairs of feet of Ethan Peak and Edgar Mason.
"How hard is it to keep track of a silly little girl?" Edgar sounded outraged.
"I swear Mason," Ethan testified. "One minute, I hear her crying for help, and then the next minute the door to the Solitary Confinement Room is wide open, and there's no girl,"
Keeping my breath as low as possible, I stayed still in Batman's arms while Edgar's voice was growing more loud with contention by the second.
"You do realize," he started through seethed teeth. "That I need this girl to gain access to my future?"
"Of course I do!" Ethan protested. "I just don't see how you would get the information out of her! That kid will answer to nothing! Especially to you!"
"...Oh," Edgar laughed cruelly. "She'll have no other alternative, but to answer to me,"
Though I was supposed to stay in the dark, there was nothing in the world that I wanted more than to run towards that psychotic nut, and beat him with my own fists. The only thing that stopped me was Batman's armored arms wrapped around me. Besides, no matter how hard I could try to stop Edgar, I couldn't win. I was still weak from the toxin, and my entire body was still in pain from all the kicks, punches, and slaps across the face. If I went out there to stop him, I would be helping Edgar prove himself right:
In other words, he'll hit me so hard, I will never wake up again.
Batman's heartbeat rang next to my ears in the dark, calming me as I listened more to Edgar and Ethan's sinister conversation, and watched their footwork through the small space of light left by the cape.
"What is that?" I heard Ethan ask. "Some kind of locket?"
What? Locket? My locket? Without thinking, I moved to see if it was, but I was still held back by Batman. He pulled me closer to him, gingerly pushing my head to his chest, and holding it there as he still kept us hidden. My breathing became more quick with anxiety while hearing Edgar chuckle.
"Yes," he remarked slyly. "A very special locket. It belongs to the girl, and she practically thinks that it's her life source. She's broken-hearted without it...Oh look: She even has a picture of her parents in here. Ah, Jennifer. Such beauty wasted on such a pathetic girl,"
Edgar's cackle sent shivers up my spine, and I almost let out a scream of sadness. Instead, I just moved in closer toward Batman, trying to stop myself from bursting out there by tightly hanging onto him. His arm gently wrapped around my back in comfort. Everytime Edgar's laugh reached a new tone of evil, both of our grips would tighten around each other. Both of us knew that we had to stop him.
"She can't have gotten very far," Edgar started as soon as his devilish guffaws were done. "You go out and see if Wayne's here with the money. He should be here by now. Remember: No money, no goddaughter. Then shoot him,"
Another tight grip around Batman, and a tiny mouse-like whimper that was, luckily, too small to be heard. Not Bruce. Please. Anybody but him. They can't do this to me! Why do they want to kill my godfather?
"I'll go out to the back alley," I could hear the two men walk away as Edgar spoke again. "See if that little brat's crawled her way out there,"
His voice was fading, and then...SLAM! Both men were out of Arkham's basement. Instantly, the cape was pulled off of me, and I was set against the back wall once again.
"Sarah," Batman pried my arms off his neck. "Calm down. Listen to me..."
I couldn't remember if I had been crying, hyperventilating, or if I was hysterical at all. The only thing I can remember is trembling all over, and taking shaky breaths. Batman tried to soothe me as best as he could, placing his gloved hand on my sweaty cheek.
"Sarah--" he tried again.
"He's gonna kill Bruce," I softly said, almost terrified. "He's gonna kill my godfather,"
"No he won't--"
"And he's gonna kill me,"
"Sarah, I promise you, I won't let that--"
"It's gonna be all my fault,"
As soon as I had said that, Batman's fingers gently curled around my chin, and moved my head so that I could look at him. A stern expression stared back at me. There wasn't much to say about it, other than it was another clue that showed he was just as human as me.
"I never want to hear you say that again," he softly scolded. "Understand?"
I did nothing, or said anything to answer him. After a few moments silence, Batman spoke one more time.
"Listen carefully," he explained. "I'm going to go take a look around and see how I'm going to get you out of here without taking a long route, or causing any noise. You have to stay right here--"
"What?" I softly exclaimed, surprised.
"--And stay put until I come, and get you. If you do what I tell you, you'll go home quicker without anymore injuries--"
"But--"
"I'm not taking you to a hospital for medical attention. I've been strictly ordered by your godfather himself to bring you home. You'll be much safer there,"
"What? You saw--"
"Promise me that you'll stay here, and not make a sound,"
"But what about Bruce?"
"...They won't kill you or your godfather. I promise you that,"
...I nodded. It was agreed then. I was to stay in the basement of Arkham Asylum until Batman returned to come, and get me when it was safe. We were both quiet for a bit. I noticed the looked in his eyes...
"Are you scared?" I dared to asked.
"...No. You?"
"...I'm terrified,"
For a moment, I could've sworn I saw a comforting smile, but that thought went away when Batman gently cradled my head in his hands, and gave me a fatherly kiss on the forehead. Puzzled, I looked at him strangely when he pulled away. Why did he do that? What was its purpose? I stared at him with the same expression as he swept his hand on my head to move the stray strands of messy blond hair out of my face.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner," is what he said to me.
I was puzzled again. Tell me what? What was it?...His voice had changed from its guttural tone to normal, like once before...What was he saying?
"Tell me what?" I asked softly.
"You look as beautiful as your mother," Batman softly said.
My eyes widened at this.
"You knew my mother?" I inquired.
"Stay here," Batman leaped to his feet.
"Wait--"
"I'll come back. I promise,"
There was nothing I could say to make him stay. Batman was once again out of my sight, and left me all alone in the warehouse, wondering what sort of mystery was behind him, and my mother. I sat there, shivering from the cold, and hurting from my wounds. The atmosphere seemed dead silent to me as I looked around. The room was in total ruin from the explosion that happened during the Narrows recent chaotic destruction. Frankly, it didn't change much of the basement's gloomy appearance, but that was my opinion. In front of me sat a table with a laptop on top of it, its screen shining brightly with the Gotham National Bank Home Web-page in the somewhat dimly lit room. I suppose Edgar needed that for part of his plan...A very essential necessity to him, I would imagine. I know I was supposed to stay where I was, but I had to do something besides sit there. Placing my hands flat on the ground, I felt something underneath my skin that felt cool, and thin, but sharp around the edges. Furrowing my eyebrows, I removed my hand as I looked down, letting out a small gasp when I saw the batarang I had lost during my last visit. Though it proved useless to me when I previously needed it, I was not caught by painful barbwire's this time, so I stuck the batarang in my back-pocket for future incidents that were more than likely going to occur. Feebly, I stood up on my wobbly legs, holding onto the boxes and metal support beams to help me as I weakly made my way to the table. I almost collapsed when I got to the laptop, but I pushed myself up to keep steady. Once I logged into my bank account on the laptop, it was currently showing 1,999,000 dollars. The 1000 dollars that was missing was split into the 500 dollars Josh and I each had in our attempted escapes' from the city. Immediately, flashes of lightning struck in my head as I found out what I had to do with the money. Quickly typing in a few things, I requested my inheritance to be sent to a different, new, and fake account, and logged out. I won't tell you where I hid the money now, but I assure you: It was sent somewhere safe. Another idea coming to me, I went back to the log-in page, typing in Edgar's name and password, and waited until I was allowed access. His password was easy to guess: Adam Gerons. It was so obvious he would use that, that it was probably impossible to guess, for most anyway. I did what I had to do with Edgar's account. I knew that once I was done, that there was no going back, and that there would be nothing anyone could do to change what I had done. It may not have been a smart choice, but it wasn't a bad choice either...At least I hope not. When I had finished, I composed myself, and felt a bit stronger. I turned to go back to my dark corner before Batman would return, but something caught my eye. It was on the ground, and a glimmer of gold twinkled at me from where it laid. Gasping, I immediately snatched my heart shaped locket up from the ground, and fastened it around my neck. I soon felt a sort of peace as I stood there, thinking that now that I had my locket back, I could take on anything that came my way...Except Edgar standing right behind me with a gun pointed to the back of my head.
"I've got you now, Sarah Chante," he slithered with a trace of triumph in his nasty voice. "Right where I want you,"
WHAM!
With rough force, Ethan was slammed against a car parked outside the destructed Arkham Asylum. He should have started to run once he had recovered from the sudden blow, but the pain and fear that came to him had frozen him completely. In front of him was the one they called Batman, the one who had haunted the dreams of men for a period of time now. Before he had even gasped of fright, Ethan was grabbed by the collar, and lifted a few inches in the air as Batman glared at him. I watched all this on the rooftop of Arkham Asylum with a gun's barrel pressed against my right temple, and Edgar's arm draped tightly across my neck, threatening that any move I made would be my last. He had forced me up there earlier, jabbing me in the back with the gun as we went up the stairs to the top, nagging at me to keep on moving. I could breathe very little. Desperately wishing for more air, I tried to cry out. I wanted to be save. But the only sounds I could make were small gasps. I could barely even hear what Ethan was babbling to the Batman, out of fear of getting hurt.
"I swear, man!" Ethan almost stuttered. "All I did was bring the kid here! Honest!"
"Did you hurt her?" Batman growled at him, bringing Ethan closer to his face.
"It was all Mason! He told me that it was mostly personal business with her! I didn't ask any questions! Just let me go, man! I'll talk if you want me to! Just don't hurt--"
BANG!
I almost collapsed in a faint, thinking the gun went off and shot me in the head. It seemed to take me hours to find that I was still alive, but Ethan was not so fortunate. I stood frozen and wide-eyed as blood poured freely out of the bullet wound in Ethan's head, dripping down from his face to the ground. Ethan was murdered while being interrogated by the Winged Avenger. Batman seemed to just stand there in shock as he still clutched the shirt collar of the dead man before Edgar caught his attention by laughing cruelly into the night air. Snapping his head toward the laugh, Batman dropped the body to the ground, and stood at a stance, straight and tall as he looked up to where Edgar and I stood on the roof.
"It's hard to find good help that won't squeal on you, isn't it, Batman?" Edgar taunted.
Batman's eyes seemed to possess fear in them as he saw me stand still, being held by the neck with Edgar's arm against his chest, and a gun resting against my head. I was afraid to speak, but I tried to be brave, and mentally told my dark ally that I was all right.
"You know," Edgar continued to rant. "I almost didn't believe it, but it looked like I was right: You seem to be everywhere this little brat is getting into trouble...Most of the time, at least,"
"Let her go Mason," Batman growled, and clenched his fists.
"Not until I get my money,"
"It's not yours!" I opened my mouth.
Edgar's hand automatically shut me up, clamping it tightly over my lips.
"You Scum of the Narrows," he growled. "Shut up!"
I did as I was told, still keeping my gaze at the Batman. It was all I could do, and all I had, to keep myself calm about the situation. Batman was resisting the urge to just fly up there, grab me, and fly me away towards home where I would be safe. But he knew if either of use made any sudden moves, one, or both, of use might wind up dead. The tension was building. The anxiety was rising. Life-threatening suspense was eating away at our last nerves, tempting the rage within us to break out, roaring with anger and fear. With a discreet, sympathetic look on his face, Batman reassured me that everything was going to be okay, before turning toward Edgar, glaring at him through his dark mask.
"You kidnapped the goddaughter of Bruce Wayne for money," he stated. "Her inheritence money; The money that was given to her by birthright,"
"No," Edgar growled, holding me tighter. "Not her inheritance money. My money. It belongs to me,"
"But not the girl," Batman held up an arm, reaching up to me, a pleading look almost in his eyes. "Give her to me, Mason. I'm taking her home,"
A quiet, rising fear was slowly erupting, increasing my heartbeat. In my mind, I could already see Edgar grinning to himself as he thought of something evil. Very evil.
"Why do you care about this girl so much?" he taunted the Batman. "Do you know how much trouble she's caused in the past few weeks?"
"She's only a child," Batman stated. "Give her to me,"
"Do you consider her your friend, Batman? Do you tell her everything? Does she tell you everything?...Did she tell you that, two nights ago, she discovered that I was the one who shot Luke and Jennifer to their deaths?"
My eyes were wide. My heart was pumping so hard, it was all I could hear. With mind-clouding fear, I had forgotten, until now, that I never told anyone who killed my parents. But it was only for fear of this: The fear of what was happening to me right now. I was afraid that if Edgar found out that I squealed, he would kill me. But I never thought of what would've happened if I didn't tell anyone. This was the penalty of not getting much needed help: A gun to the head, anxiously waiting for the click of the trigger, and the bullets impact against my sweating head. I turned my head away, not wanting to look at the Batman's expression, the gun still held against me. Edgar laughed.
"The poor girl must've been scared to death," he mocked as he stroked my cheek with a bony, cold finger that made me shudder. "He looked so pale, she looked like she had seen a ghost...Oh, poor thing. Now she looks deathly white,"
I was getting sicker with every moment that passed. Batman seemed to notice as well.
"You're making her sick," he growled. "Let her go"
"Oh, I'll let her go all right. Batman," Edgar sneered. "Just as soon as the dear girl decides to cooperate, give me the password to her account, and transfer all of the inheritance money into mine,"
As I stood in Edgar's grip, shaking, I noticed him pull something out from under his other arm. The laptop. He must've grabbed it on the way out. Eyeing him with anxiety, I waited for him to explain the next part of his devious plan as he dragged me closer to the edge of Arkham Asylum's rooftop. My first thought was that Edgar was going to throw me off the roof as he set the laptop on the ledge, the screen showing the log-in page to my bank account. I took a look at an anxious Batman, and knew immediately that if I would be thrown off, then he would be there to catch me. With discreet concern in his face, his eyes asked me if I was okay so far. Sweat beading down my pale, cheek flushed face, I just closed my eyes, shuddering from the chill of the winds sudden blow on my shoulders. I left my jean jacket back inside, so I was left in my pink tank top, blue jeans,ratty old puma shoes, and a blood stain on my tank top, making a darker shade of pain from Edgar's kick. Finally removing his hand from my mouth, Edgar slithered dangerously into my ear.
"Type in your password," he whispered. "And I give you my word that you can go home free"
I never trusted his word. His word was a lie. As soon as I would give him what he wanted, he'd shoot me from behind. Besides, even if I did want to...I still couldn't. Edgar wanted all of my inheritance money, and I had already taken 1000 dollars out of it. Plus, the rest of the money was transferred somewhere safe, so nothing was in my account. Edgar had another surprise coming to him. Shifting my eyes from Batman to Edgar, I took a huge breath. This was not going to be a very pretty memory for me, if I should live through this.
"Do you promise not to hurt my godfather if I give you what you want?" I asked softly.
Edgar moved a few steps forward to me, a face of anger rising in his cheek bones, and the barrel of the gun moving closer to me, aiming at my head better.
"Type in your password," he commanded again. "Give me my money, and we'll see,"
"...But that's not what I want--" I had started again.
I was cut short by a strong hand grasping tightly around my neck. My breathing was short and little. Edgar glared darkly at me, the gun barrel digging into the center of my forehead. Batman watched below, not knowing what to do. If he moved to rescue me, Edgar would shoot me, and saving me would be out of the question. If he used any of his weapons to hit the gun out of the way, there was always that chance of hurting me. There was nothing he could do but watch me suffer.
"Tell me!" Edgar shouted again. "What is your password?"
"'bat'!" I managed to gasp. "'bat'! The password is 'bat'!"
"Don't play games with me, you little witch!"
"No! The password is 'bat'! I swear! Please, let go! Please! Please! Let go!"
Edgar threw me aside to the roof floor, and I sat there, holding my throat, and gasping for air as he typed in my password himself. I took a glance at Batman. Those light green eyes were concerned at the issue if I was all right or not. I have one quick nod, mentally saying that I was fine as I coughed, bracing myself for what I expected to happen next. In a rage, Edgar pushed the laptop off the ledge, its faint crash heard on the ground below.
"What...have...you...DONE?!"
Edgar turned around to face me on the last emphasized word. His eyes were burning with hellish fires, and an anger that I had never seen, until now. With a small, defiant glare, I slowly stood up from the ground, wincing as I felt my side wound, and standing up tall. Everything worked. My plan worked.
"What have you done?!" Edgar asked again, movng closer until he was towering above me.
I stood still, unmoving, and angry a bit myself.
"Why are you mad, Uncle Edgar?" I asked mockingly. "What did I do to make you so angry? Could it be that I've already spent the two million dollars--"
OK, that was a lie, but it seemed like the truth to Edgar, and that was good enough for me.
"You spent--"Edgar seethed through his teeth.
"Or," I interrupted. "...Could it be that I hacked into your bank account, and put you down for bankruptcy?"
"WHAT?" Edgar grabbed my shoulders, shaking me. "HOW DID YOU GET INTO MY ACCOUNT"
"...Sucks to be a Poor Rich Man, doesn't it?...A Spawn of Pure Evil?...The Scum of Gotham?...Well? Aren't you going to say something back? Or is my coward of an Uncle hiding in the identity of the dumb, witless, and brainless man known as...Oh, what was his name again?...Adam Gerons?"
"Shut up!"
SMACK!
"Sarah!" Batman shouted.
I fell to the ground with a pained expression on my face. I had been hit across the face with Edgar's gun, making a cut above my left eye: Another addition to the wounds that I had already. I had never felt so much pain in my entire life. When I heard the Batman shout out my name, not only did I notice that he used his "normal" voice, like with Rachel before, I also heard Edgar's gun fall, and skid across the cement ground next to me. Keeping my eyes closed for a second, Edgar immediately reached for the gun, and, apparently, pointed it at me as he shouted at Batman.
"MAKE ONE MORE STEP BATMAN, AND I'LL KILL HER!" Edgar screamed. "I SWEAR IT! WITH OR WITHOUT HER COOPERATION, RICH OR POOR, PRINCESS OR SCUM, FAMOUS OR OUTCAST, PARENTS ALIVE OR PARENTS DEAD, I SWORE ON THE DAY THIS GIRL WAS BORN THAT SHE WOULD REGRET THE DAY SHE GOT IN MY WAY!"
As he ranted, I opened my eyes, and silently gasped. Edgar may have had the gun with him, but he must've grabbed it from a farther distance than I thought it had slid, after he hit me with it. Apparently, he now held an empty gun in his hands, because the bullets were right there lying in front of my face! The bullet chamber case on the gun must've snapped open, and let the calibers fall out. Driven by instinct, I snatched the bullets, and stuffed them in my pocket, quick as lightning. Edgar thought I hadn't moved when he grabbed my by the collar, dragging me up to my feet. Grunting with pain, I only glared at him, my heart pounding with anger, and a hint of satisfied revenge. I took a glance at Batman, who only stood frozen on the spot, in a position where it looked like he was about to come get me.
"Twice you have refused me," Edgar nearly shouted. "You have one last chance. Choose wisely, Scummy,"
What could I do? Nothing. Was there anything to stop Edgar? Maybe. Is there anyway of getting away from him? Yes. I peaked another look at Batman as Edgar pushed me back from his grip. Those eyes...Those light green eyes I see in Batman were frightened. Frightened for me. Frightened of how hurt I would be, and how much pain I would endure when all this was over. Slowly turning my head back to Edgar, I saw him raise the empty gun at me. I stood still, but calm...Behind him was a closer building that I could jump to...Add that to the list of things to remember...
"I'll only ask once, and only once, so I trust you'll listen carefully," Edgar growled. "...TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED TO MY MONEY!"
I shook my head, glaring at him.
"No," I said.
"AND WHY NOT?"
"...Because you'll never win Edgar...You never have..."
"Why you little Scum of the--"
Edgar stopped. Lights had suddenly flashed red and blue on the side of our faces. Wailing sounds, no, sirens, filled our ears. Both of us whipping our heads behind us, Edgar and I saw about a dozen of Gotham City Police Department cars. Every cop in the city must have been there! I turned to look over my shoulder, and saw Batman, taking his chance to rush up there when he saw that Edgar was temporarily distracted. Just in case, I reached into my back-pocket, and pulled out the batarang that I found in Arkham's basement as I turned back to the scene.
"Edgar Mason!" I recognized Commisioner Loeb's voice on the megaphone. "This is the police! Put down the gun, and step away from the girl with your hands up!"
I knew Edgar wouldn't listen, so he grabbed me by the arm, and pulled me towards him. I let out a yelp as I was pushed against his chest, the gun pointed at me head again. I heard a couple of the polices' own guns turn off their safety's when Edgar started to move, but then I heard Gordon. Jim! Jim was here!
"Don't shoot!" he ordered. "Hold your fire!"
Edgar chuckled.
"Smart move, Sergeant," he laughed heartily. "A very wise decision you've made. I suppose this girl is worth something after all,"
"Hey Edgar," I made up my mind about my secret plan.
"What?"
"Is this a wise decision?"
With one firm stab, I thrust the sharp tip on the wing of the batarang into the side of Edgar's leg. I pulled it out before he collapsed, and screamed. The blood that had poured out from the gory gash dripped on my hands from the bloody batarang that I held tightly, and made me want to throw up. But I controlled myself, and stayed strong.
"Because, personally," I replied calmly. "I think it's a very wise decision,"
Trying to get on his feet, Edgar grabbed his gun as I took this opportunity to escape. Though it was painful, I sprinted toward the side ledge of the building. I never stopped. I took a giant leap, and jumped towards the roof on the next building.
"Sarah! No!" I heard before I had jumped.
I knew it was Batman calling out my name, because I then heard signs of a struggle between him and Edgar as I landed on the roof of Arkham's neighbor building. No matter how much I wanted to, I couldn't look back. I had to get to Gotham City. I had to get to the bridge. With the batarang safely tucked away in my back-pocket, I continued jumping off from one rooftop to another. It really wasn't that hard, because there was hardly any space between each building. But the pain in my side was growing more intense, and I was stumbling a bit more each time I landed on a roof. I knew that if I kept going at this rate, I would fall unconscious on the roof, or, worse, midair. So I jumped to another roof one last time, and started down the escape ladder the minute I landed. Going down as fast as I could, I planted my feet firmly to the ground when I reached the cement floor. Rushing out of the alley, I took a good look around me. I could still hear the police sirens, but I noticed that they must still be by Arkham. Why were they still there? Where was Batman? Suddenly, I saw the bridge. No! The police rose the bridge up! They must've done it to keep Edgar in the Narrows with no escape! I had to try to get to Bruce's penthouse, and tell him the whole truth, and tell that I was all right. Where the bridge was split, the midsection met together in the air, almost forming a triangle. The support beams had to be close enough to reach and climb on. Rushing as best as I could, I ran to the side, swinging my leg over the railing. I steadied myself as I swung my other leg over. Keeping a tight hold on the railing, and balancing on the river's side of the edge, I reached for the nearest metal support beam that was underneath part of the risen bridge. When I grabbed a hold of it, I noticed something. My hands reached to my neck. My locket was gone.
"Scummy!" I heard.
Gasping, I whipped my head around to find Edgar, limping as he ran toward me. Never before in my life had I seen such fury, such anger, and such desire to murder in one's eyes. For a time, I felt frozen, but I snapped out of it. Channeling all the strength that I had in me, I pulled myself off of the edge of the railing, and swung onto the support beams. My side hurt from the effort, but only a little bit. I slammed my feet on top of a beam underneath me, and steadied myself. Breathing to keep calm, I could hear Edgar catching up to the bridge. There wasn't that much time. When Edgar started climbing over the railing, I already was climbing the support beams as fast as I could.
"You can't run from me forever!" Edgar shouted as he grabbed onto the first support beam.
But I could try. Thoughts sped in and out of my mind. Where was Batman? Why wasn't he here? Is he all right? I continued climbing up the first half of the bridge until I was almost to the top. Turning my head around, I saw the other half of the bridge, getting closer in sight as I climbed higher and higher. If I could just reach across and get to the other side, then I could climb down the support beams from there, and be in the City of Gotham in no time. Reaching the top of my side of the risen bridge, I exhaled a breath, almost relaxing as I positioned my feet on the railing of which I stood on. Coiling my left arm around the top railing, I looked behind my shoulder. A few yards away was the top support beam of the second half of the bridge. I was almost to freedom. I was almost home. Looking down, I could see Edgar below me, grunting in pain as he climbed higher. Though he was still far below me, I knew that it was only a matter of time, short, precious time, before he would catch up. I have to get to the other side, climb over the top, and slide down to Gotham. It would be much faster than climbing down the other support beams. Problem was...there was no other way to get to the second half of the bridge but to jump across. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes a bit to compose myself. This was impossible! I can't jump from here to there! It was too far, and too hard, even without all my injuries.
"Ready or not Scummy," I heard Edgar as he was coming closer. "Here I come!"
I shook my head. No. This can't be the end of it. It shouldn't be. IT WON'T BE! I can't stop now. Not after how far I've come.
"Just think," I told myself, my voice barely above a whisper. "...Just think that you're flying...I'm going home...I'm going home..."
Starting to swing myself on the bar like a monkey, I jumped. However, Edgar had caught up to me at the top of the bridge. His attempt to catch me by the ankle ruined my confidence, making me drop a few feet before I caught myself at a lower support beam on the other side. Painfully, I pulled myself up with my arms wrapped around tightly, my legs swinging back and forth over the river far down below me. My eyes darkened a bit. I was running out of time.
"It's the end of the line, Sarah Chante!" Edgar triumphantly jeered above me from the other side. "The end of your pathetic little story!"
I wasn't listening to him. I was trying to pull myself up. No luck. The pain that I endured in my efforts darkened my eyes more. I hung there, clinging onto the support beam for dear life, literally.
"Batman..." I tried to call out loudly.
My voice was getting weak. Edgar chuckled.
"He can't hear you," he taunted. "No one can. I'm a pretty good distance away from your friends, and no one can stop me from fulfilling me plans,"
"What about the police, Mason?" I asked, trying to corner him. "Your son? Your wife? Batman? Someone's going to confess what you've done, with or without me alive,"
"You're a smart girl,"
Edgar grinned evilly down at me as he pulled the gun out of his back pocket.
"...But we all have our secret identities to choose from. No one will ever find me...Do you have any last words to say before you die?"
"...Is your gun loaded?"
A small silence was heard between us. I looked up more fully to find Edgar's shocked face as he found that the bullets I took were gone. I mentally grinned to myself. Still hanging on, I managed to take out one of the bullets, and showed it to him in the palm of my hand.
...Hearts beated...
...Drops of sweat streamed down our faces...
...Edgar's face grew red with anger.
"Why you little--" he growled.
...I don't know how it happened. The next few seconds seemed to be erased from my memory. But...When Edgar...He seemed to had forgotten the fact that we were both hanging on for our lives...I think I might've dropped the bullet accidentally...The next thing I know, I hear this haunting, ear-splitting scream as it plummeted down to the depths of the waves and rushing, foaming waters of the Gotham River.
...Edgar died while trying to kill me by letting go of the support beams, and had drowned.
My mouth stayed wide open...I trembled violently...My eyes darken completely and my body goes limp...I'm falling though the air as if I was a precious rag doll that a little girl accidentally dropped from a great height.
That's all right. I don't mind falling. I fell all the time. People fall all the time.
But this time...I can't pick myself up.
It was impossible. I was suddenly awakened for a short while when my body emerged into the freezing cold water of the Gotham River. My head was rushing though many things.
What happened?
I fell into the river.
How?
I slipped from the support beams underneath the bridge. I didn't have that much strength to hold on any longer, and I passed out for a bit.
Does anyone know where I am?
...I don't know. Everything was happening so fast. I couldn't control my swimming movements. There was just too much work to do it with my hurting arms and aching head. I would only surface my head and shoulders out of the water, wade for a second or two, and go back in the water.
I was drowning.
I was running out of time.
I pop my head out, and call for help.
"Batman!" I screamed.
Back down in the water again, deeper and darker down. I had to try again. Pushing myself out, I called out again for a rescue.
"Batman!"
Still nothing as I plummet in the dark abyss. My strength was failing. My eyes were darkening again...I had to scream one last time...Pushing myself up towards the water, I gave out another cry.
"Bruce!"
...Why did I do that?...Why did I scream out my godfather's name?...I can't answer...My body is limp again. M eyes are closed. No one is there to save me this time.
...But it's okay. No one's going to hurt me anymore.
...I'll still miss my friends, though...and Rachel...and Alfred...and Jim...Bruce...especially Bruce.
It's too late now. I can't change my mind. I've already floated down too deep into the river. There was no way for me to regain full consciousness, and swim up to the surface again.
So I fall, still. Slowly. Smoothly. Gracefully. Down, down, down I go. Never to go up. Never to come back. Ever again. I'm dying, and there's nothing anyone can do about it.
Strong currents pass me underwater, and an arm wraps around my waist tightly, pulling toward a strong chest. Someone heard me scream for help, and dove in to save me. It was a man, that much I can tell by the way he held me. He places something over my mouth as he swims up, with me in his arms. It was some sort of re-breather. It gave me oxygen, but very little of it. My lungs were still filled with water that I had accidentally swallowed while I was drowning. I don't know how we got up on the concrete floor from the bridge, but I do remember feeling as if I was flying through the air. The cold wind attacks me, freezing me in my wet clothes. I barely took notice. At the moment, I could feel myself being pulled into the arms of death. The last grain of sand was bouncing around in the hourglass, wondering if it should end my life by dropping down the small gap.
"No," I hear someone say to me softly. "Don't do this, Sarah. You're not going to die. Not here,"
It's someone familiar. Someone I know. Someone I trust. I want to answer him, but my body could barely function, and my mind wasn't entirely in tune with the world. I was on the brink of death. Immediately, I'm placed on the cold concrete ground, gently, and I felt someone put two fingers under my neck to see if there was any pulse.
Apparently, there was.
My head's tilted back, the re-breather is taken out of my mouth, but it stays open a little. One hand is placed on my chin, and another pinches my nose with its thumb and index finger. Someones lips are pressed against mine, sending huge puffs of air into my lungs. I was being given mouth-to-mouth. His lips left mine after a few huge breaths, and I feel him push on my stomach firmly. Something inside me comes up, but only a little. I was given air again, and that thing inside me came up more. Finally, after a couple more sets of mouth-to-mouth, I feel something come up in my throat, wanting to come out. Life comes back to me as I gurgle, squeeze my eyes tightly, and wildly cough up the nasty water I swallowed in the river. I turn on my side still coughing, open my eyes a little, and hold my side. As I wonder where I am, I feel someone pull back the wet hair from my face gently.
"Good girl," I hear as I breathe as much as I could. "It's all right. It's over now. I'm taking you home,"
Weakly and painfully, I look up at my rescuer. Very little surprise came to my face when I saw Batman on his knees, leaning over me. He had this troubled look on his face that I will never forget.
"How did you--" I softly say in a weak voice.
I can't finish. The pain in my side hurts so much. My body was shaking from the cold. My forehead was burning. Immediately, I'm wrapped up in the black cape and picked up, my head resting on Batman's shoulder.
"Easy now," he whispers. "Just close your eyes. You need to rest,"
"I--I can't," I whisper in a tired voice. "There's still...I--I gotta tell you--"
"Tell me later," Batman starts to walk toward the tank, with me in his arms. "Close your eyes and go to sleep. You'll feel better soon,"
"There's a--" I murmur, not listening. "--A bullet in my pocket. It's from Edgar's gun...They--they mentioned something earlier. A--about a tape...Some...something to...something to do with my...my parents,"
As I continued talking, my voice grew quieter, and I mumbled my words. Both my body and my mind were getting weaker by the moment, but still, I kept on going, trying to get whatever it was I wanted to say out of my mouth. Feeling myself being lowered into a reclined seat, I still spoke in a pained voice.
"Please," I whisper. "You have to listen to me. My money. I never spent it. I--I put it in a new account. It's under my godfather's name so that he could get it. The password is as same as mine. Please, you have to--"
"Sarah," a soft voice whispers in my ear as a hand brushes the side of my head. "...I know. I heard you. It's all right. Now listen to me: You have to get some rest. You're too weak to do anything as it is,"
"...Where are you taking me?"
"Home, where your godfather is waiting for your return. But you need to rest, all right?...Turn your head toward the sound of my voice..."
I did so, but in a tired way.
"Good. Now open your eyes a bit, and follow this light as best as you can,"
Weakly, I opened my eyes as a hand was placed behind my head so I could focus on one point. A bright shining light was shone into my eyes...a red light. It must've been some sort of device that would trigger my mind to get some sleep or something...I didn't have time to think more on that subject.
The moment I laid eyes on the red light, I slipped back in unconsciousness.
(A/N: Review please! I am so sorry I haven't been able to update lately. I've been so busy. Next chapter won't be a long wait, I promise)