AN: As noted last chapter, there is gonna be a little bit of action this chapter. If you are wondering where the Dark Knight, Batman has been in this story, he might make an appearance near the end of the story. Speaking of the end of this story, it might be coming up soon. I say that because this story is gonna continue into Arkham City. With those words in mind, let us continue.

Chapter Five: Birth of the Lunatic Fringe

Michael did not tell any one about the little episode that he had the night before. Honestly, the way that dragon tattoo appeared on his left arm scared the hell out of him. He felt fine now, and to be frank, he felt a lot better. Stronger, his mind was on fire, in a good way, of course, and then he felt as though he now had all of these powers that were just waiting to be unlocked. For the sake of argument, let's say he was right, how were these powers of his gonna be unlocked, so to speak?

Michael did not know, but what he did know was that he had something to do, and for that to be done, he had to talk to Christian again. He sent word for him to come out here because he had something important to tell him. He did not want Melody to hear it, because he knew that she, being an emotional girl and has always been, that was not gonna be good for her to hear this. Just thinking about what was about to happen, that meant that there was gonna be trouble.

Michael smiled.

Even though he has been out to Arkham before, Christian still felt nervous driving out to the asylum. For some strange reason, he knew something was about to happen, and it wasn't because of where he was, but what he was about to do. The day before, Michael sent word that he wanted to talk to him, and only him. Christian agreed, but when he tried to press as to why he was coming to see him alone, Michael did not say another word. Michael rarely asked, if ever, for a favor like this. So Christian knew immediately that by those reasons alone, whatever Michael had to tell him, it was going to be big.

Christian made his way through all of the check points as he did when he last came to see Michael, and when he arrived at the visiting area, Michael motioned for him to come over to sit with him. Michael wore his usual inmate clothes, but his hair touched his shoulders, and he did not wear his glasses. As Christian sat there with Michael, Christian felt that there was something in the air, but he did not question it.

"Michael, you are looking well. Care to explain to me why you had to see me so soon, and alone?" Christian asked.

"I have some news for you, and seeing as how you found me when I tried to kill myself, I figured that you should be the one to hear this first." Michael said.

"Okay, what is it that you have to tell me something important?" Christian asked him, bracing for the worst.

"Well, here it goes." Michael said with a very small smile. "The night before you found me, I went down to the beach to see Miley. I was going to ask her something important, but she had something important to tell me first. She told me that she had been cheating on me with Travis. That had been going on since she had became famous. That is where our relationship ended, and the day after, I tried to kill myself. That is the basic version of what happened."

Christian sat there, a look of shock on his face. Shock as to what Michael had just told him, and shock as to the fact that Michael had told him this information as if it was two friends getting together over a cup of coffee.

"Michael, why did you come to my house to do it?" Christian asked him.

"I still have no idea." Michael said shrugging his shoulders.

"Is that why you did not want Melody here? Just to tell me this?" Christian asked.

"I know that you are gonna tell her anyway, so if you are going to, I have to ask you these favors. Tell Melody why Miley and I broke up. Second, when you get home tonight. Stay there. You understand me?" Michael said, his face taking a different look.

Christian was going to ask him something else, but Michael had the look on his face that meant he was serious. That confirmed it. Something big was going to happen, and it was going down tonight.

"Well, I had an interesting conversation with Michael." Christian said to Melody. Christian took her out to lunch at an restaurant a little bit away from their home. He had something important to tell her, and boy did he have to tell her.

"Okay, you dragged me almost out of town, so what do you have to tell me?" Melody asked him.

"Michael told me why he tried to commit suicide." Christian said. Melody was silent for a moment, and then Christian continued.

"Michael told me that Miley had been cheating on him the entire time that they were together, and that it was with Travis, the guy she hangs around now." Christian said.

"That bitch." Melody said. "I literally had to beg Michael to go out with her, and she does him like this?"

"What are we gonna do about this?" Christian asked her.

"I am gonna kick her ass." Melody said, getting up from the table and heading back to the car they came here in.

Christian immediately caught up with her, and grabbed her by the arm.

"Wait, if I take you back, promise me that you won't do anything crazy." Christian said.

"I promise that I won't do anything crazy." Melody said.

Christian knew that she was lying, but he really didn't care. He was looking forward to seeing Miley and Travis get what's coming to them. He knew that it was happening soon, too.

Michael laid in his bed, staring at the ceiling through the pure darkness. He could not sleep, because it was as if he was waiting for something to happen, and he knew exactly what was going to happen. He laced his fingers behind his head, and just waited. Why wait? Well, it's not as if he had any thing else to do, right?

"Three, two, one..." Michael said, calmly counting down, then...

BOOM.

Michael smiled as he heard a faint explosion, and then sirens going off. He was going to wonder what, or who was behind this, but this being Arkham, he dropped that question from his thoughts, as he knew that Joker was behind this, and he was breaking out of Arkham.

As various guards were running around, getting dropped by the more powerful inmates, Michael heard some footsteps running towards his cell, and the door to his cell being unlocked.

"Mikey Boy! Harley, myself, and some other inmates are taking a little trip! Care to join us?" Joker asked him in a cheerful tone.

"Sure. Anything is better than staying here." Michael said. Michael hopped off of his bed, just as Joker opened his cell door, and ushered him out. The guards were so busy with trying (or rather, failing oh so miserably) to coral the inmates, they did not even bother to try and stop Joker or Michael from escaping. They went right out the back, and towards the docks. There, Harley was waiting for them.

"Mistah J! Well, I see that you brought your stepson with you!" Harley said.

"Well, I couldn't leave him there, you know? This little scamp is a unique little devil." Joker said, messing his hair. Michael just chuckled, ducking his head away from him.

"So, now what?" Harley asked.

"Simple. We get revenge." Michael said, a smile on his face.

Christian was sound asleep in his room when he felt someone shaking him violently to wake him up.

"Wha, what is it?" Christian said, clearing his vision to see his Uncle Jeff standing over him.

"Michael's escaped from Arkham, and the police think that he might be on his way out here." Jeff said in a somewhat panicked voice.

"Shit! Really?" Christian said, sitting up in his bed.

"Christian, did Michael tell you anything when you went to see him?" Jeff asked him.

"No, nothing out of the ordinary." Christian lied. "Where do they think he might be going?"

"I have no idea." Jeff said, pacing in Christian's room. "They think that the Joker kidnapped him, just so they won't go after him if he had a hostage with him.

"Jesus, what are they going to do now?" Christian asked.

"I don't know. I am going to call Charles right now to see what he has heard." Jeff said, leaving his room.

Christian laid back down, a million thoughts running through his mind. Then he remembered what Michael told him earlier. Michael must have knew there was going to be a break out at Arkham. Christian wondered if he should tell Jeff about what was going on. No, let him think there is something he can do. Whatever was going to happen to Miley and Travis in the future, they were gonna have it coming.

AN: Coming up, a surprise for all. What is that? I have no idea myself, so...