Chapter 5

Thomas had successfully avoided any and all police, he'd checked his watch constantly for the time, he had two minutes before he'd go back, hopefully to find Bruce alive and well

His own words from that morning begin to echo throughout his brain, we taught him well, Bruce is a good kid, he was fine. As the last minute is up, Thomas veers the car directly down Crime Alleys path.

Seeing no sign of his young son, the father began to fear the worst, where was Bruce? "Bruce! Son can you hear me?"

Bruce had been attempting to get freed of his bonds, but so far was failing in freeing his wrists; he'd gotten his legs untied moments ago.
The boy ceases his tugging and pulling as a loud voice grabs his attention, easily getting closer and closer.

"Bruce!" continues to yell Thomas as he searched the alley, silently kicking himself for believing the kidnappers' word "Son, are you here?"

Bruce's eyes widen as the identity of the voice is revealed as none other than his father, frantically the child begins to kick the wall of the dumpster, his head pushing on the lid.

Thomas hears the sounds and runs for the lone can in question, he's appalled at the sight of locks and chains keeping the lid closed "Bruce, are you in there?"

Bruce screams as loud and distinguishably as he possibly could, his father had found him.

Thomas smiles as his son's voice echoes to his ears, his hands quickly move to study the locks and chains keeping his boy prisoner "Hold on Bruce, I'll have you out as soon as I can."

The locks were in need of a combination, it could take hours before he could hope to open just one, by that time Bruce may suffocate, that left only one option.

Discreetly he removed his phone from his pocket and dialed the number to the mansion, not even waiting to know who picked up when the line stopped beeping "In my study, there's a button hidden in a book on the desk, press it and head down the steps to the metal door, the code is BRUCE; once inside turn on the machine and wait for further instructions."

Whoever was on the other side of the line ran to do just that, finding the button, running down the stone steps and punching in the code.

"Are you inside?" Questions Thomas as his hands clutch the phone, he'd moved far enough away that Bruce wouldn't be able to hear the conversation

A female voice answers the man's question as Martha Wayne makes her way into the bat cave, her hand flipping every on switch in sight "Yes, I'm here and all the machines are turned on."

Thomas stills upon hearing Martha's voice, he'd hoped that Alfred had been the one to answer, he had no time to explain anything "Do exactly as I say, I'm going to relay to you a series of models, your job is to enter each one into the system and tell me the combination to that exact lock."

Martha nods her head and prepares to type, whatever was going on had to do with Bruce, she knew it and therefor would save questioning her husband for later "Understood."

"Ok, Master Lock, model GLD."
Martha quickly types the words into the system, a four digit combo greets her search "05, 27, 39."

Thomas applies the combination and removes the first of many locks "You're doing great dearest, the next one is-"

Bruce listened as sound after sound of locks opening and being tossed to the ground are heard, that's what his kidnappers had been doing earlier, they trapped him inside under lock and key.

"Alright dear, this is the last one, Master Lock, numbered 1572 BLK."

"Searching now, ok I got it, 3, 21, 38." Answers Martha as the last lock is opened.

Bruce closes his eyes tightly as light suddenly floods the darkness, he felt his father gently lift him up and into his arms, the two remained hugging for many more minutes before Thomas begins working on the tight knots constricting his son's arms.

"Almost there son, you'll be able to stretch your arms in no time." States Thomas as the ropes fall to the ground.

Bruce rips the tape off his mouth and hugs his father once more, he'd been so happy to see his dad, he knew he'd come for him.
Thomas smiles and hands Bruce the phone his wife was still on "Here son, someone would like to speak with you."

Bruce takes the phone and happily converses with his mother, telling her he hadn't been harmed, that he was safe and coming home soon.

"I'm so glad you're alright, your father, Alfred and myself were deeply worried." Cries Martha into the phone "Are you quite sure you aren't hurt?"

"I'm just fine." Answers Bruce as he hands the phone over to his father, holding onto the man tightly as the pair walked towards the car.

"We're heading back to the mansion now dearest, do call and inform the police Bruce is home and well."

"I will do just that, you haven't forgotten about tonight have you? The promise to go out as a family?"

Thomas laughs, leave it to his wife to want to go out in public after rescuing their kidnapped son "No dear, I haven't forgotten, if Bruce is up to it, I have tickets to the theater this evening."

Bruce nods and smiles, he wasn't too fond of the cameras that were sure to be in his face, but spending time with his father was exactly what he needed

"Looks like Bruce would like to go, get ready dearest, the opera starts at 9:00."

Martha hung up and hurriedly locked the cave down, she still had every intention of questioning Thomas, but that would wait until tomorrow.

Father and son made it home in no time, Martha awaiting their arrival outside the door, much like she had been earlier that day, only this time her blonde hair was up, white string pearls hung around her neck, a brown jacket covering her black gown followed by a small purse over her right shoulder.

Standing beside Mrs. Wayne was Alfred, two coats and ties in hand, one for Thomas and the other Bruce "It's good to have you back Master Bruce." Bruce happily hugs his butler and takes the coat and tie "It's quite good to be back, Alfred."

"Well, since it appears everyone is ready, shall we be on our way? Don't want to be late." Speaks Thomas as his tie is secured around his neck

Bruce nods eagerly and waves goodbye to Alfred, his mother taking hold of her son's hand as the trio walk towards the car.

"I phoned the station and spoke with Mr. Harvey Bullock about Bruce's abduction." Speaks Martha as the short drive ends, the large theater coming into view

"What are we watching?" Asks Bruce, he honestly didn't care what they saw, just as long as they were together.

Thomas hands out the tickets before speaking "Mefistofele, it's a Faustian opera about a man who makes a deal with the devil."

Martha gasps "My word, is this appropriate for a child?"

"Don't worry about me, I'll love it." Answers Bruce, he himself wasn't so sure, but he couldn't risk ruining their night together

Thomas plays with Bruce's hair "He'll be fine, Martha, if he does get scared we will simply leave, no harm done."

Martha smiles and is lead by her husband into the large theater, the family take their seats as Act 1 Scene 1 begins.

Everything was going good, Thomas and Martha really enjoyed the tale, Bruce was unsure of how to feel, but he was handling it maturely, that is until the second act started.

The second act began with bat like performers who Bruce perceived as monsters swamping the stage, he couldn't help but shake as the black creatures reminded him of the two men from earlier, their black masks and piercing eyes were all the boy saw

Thomas noticed the sudden change in his son, Bruce's body was shivering, his eyes locked on the bat like performers "Bruce, are you alright?"

Bruce makes no response to his father, not even a flicker to show he'd registered the words.

"Martha, I believe it's time we go, Bruce doesn't look well."

Martha takes one look at her son and hurriedly leads the boy out of the theater and away from the creatures.

Once outside, the family began the small trek to their car, they had to park a bit a ways to avoid any photographers or press.

Bruce slowly began to calm, he wasn't near the creatures or those men, the eyes left his mind and he happily walked alongside his mother and father.

The family began to talk and laugh as they continued their way, they decided on taking a short cut through the alley to remain hidden, a mistake that would forever change their lives.

A lone figure dressed head to toe in nothing black waited, a gun in hand as he approaches the happy group, the first to notice the gun was Bruce, his brown eyes widen as the weapon is pointed in their direction.

"Give me your money!" demands the robber, Martha's arms wrap around her son in fear.
Thomas stares, his face not showing any of the emotions he was currently feeling "Stay calm, Bruce."

Bruce turns towards his father, taking in his stoic look at the demand "Give me your money."

"No problem." States the father as he slowly hands the man his wallet "We'll cooperate."
The robber turns to Martha, his gun pointing straight at her heart "The necklace."

Quickly Mrs. Wayne moves to unhook the pearls, handing each strand over to the robbers greedy hand, one line broke, causing white pearls to fall to the hard concrete.

The robber looks from husband to wife, Bruce subconsciously moving farther into his mother's arms.
"Please." Speaks Thomas, he couldn't lose his family; he'd rather give up his own life than watch his wife and son be murdered.

The tension breaks at the gunshot that's sent into Thomas Wayne's chest, the man falls to the ground in a bloody heap.

Bruce turns and watches in shock of what had just occurred, his father had just been shot, blood was sprayed all over.

The moment of torture continues as the sound of the gun being cocked echoes followed by a bright light and loud crack signifying another bullet had just been fired.

Bruce turns from his father's body to see his mother go down, her hand tugging at his shoulder as she lowers to the concrete.

The robber smirks underneath his mask at the child, this young boy who stood before him looked so petrified, the man then points the gun straight at Bruce's head.

Bruce stares, tears forming in his eyes as fear takes over, his mouth open wide in fear, he couldn't move, couldn't scream; all he could do was stand and wait for his own death.

Seconds pass before the man slowly lowers the barrel of the gun to the ground, the murderers eyes bore holes into Bruce's own, finally the man walks forward, simply pushing the child aside as he makes a hasty exit, those eyes never once leaving the child's brown gaze

Bruce lowers down to his dead mother, shaking her body in any attempt at reaching her "Mom ... Mom!"

Having failed at bringing back his mother, Bruce turns to his father, shaking the man's body as well "Dad ... Dad!" His father's dead gaze falls to his son as the man's head falls.

Bruce ceases the shaking, instead the child stares in shock at his parents' blood that now covered his small hands, his legs gave out and he fell in between the two, the boy's head looks towards the heavens as a blood curdling scream left his mouth.

So I wanted to write my own version of the night the Wayne's were murdered, a different scenario leading up to the tragedy.