Disclaimer: I own none of the characters or the songs, if you haven't already guessed (I put at least five major hints out).

Chapter 6: Break (Three Days Grace)

Cliff was finally calming down, sitting in the back of the squad car, a piece of the school curtains preventing him from opening his mouth. Now his feelings of anger were giving way to frustration. Why did he try to kill Batman back there? Now no one will be merciful to him.

Then again, he felt real sure that Batman would treat him like those bullies did back there. Batman was, after all, not that merciful when dealing with criminals. It's a wonder he hasn't killed anyone yet!

As Cliff Meisters ruminated on this, he suddenly noticed that the foliage that they were driving past-it was looking deader by the second. Then the car passed through a large ornate metal arch, and he could have sworn he heard some bats squeaking off in the distance. Then, the car stopped in front of...a building straight out of a horror novel. Arkham.

"Don't worry, kid. You're just gonna get evaluated, and then we'll give you your cell. We don't know yet if you really are going here." said one of the cops as he pulled Cliff out of the car. The words were intended to reassure him, but failed. The mere fact that he is stepping inside the toughest insane asylum in the world registered in Cliff's mind as 'they're giving up on me.'

Within minutes, they walked through the halls, strait-jacketed people lining the edges. The Scarecrow, the Mad Hatter, the Riddler, and a few other unfortunate people were recognizable from the news. And now, Cliff Meisters, a.k.a. the Music Meister, is one of them.

He sat down in a room lined with foam padding, while police brought psychiatrist Dr. Harleen Quinzel in to evaluate him. After locking the door behind her, the preppy girl in a lab coat sat down, pulled out her clipboard, and started asking him yes-or-no questions. He nodded or shook his head in response.

After a few minutes, she grew tired of hearing only herself. "Why the hell do you have a gag on? In all my years of pshychiatry, I've never met a person who needed to be gagged. And I don't want to have to guess at your backstory!" And with that, she walked over and pulled the gag off of his face.

"Now what's your name, sweetie?"

"...Music Meister."

After a second, Cliff repeated it again: "I'm the Music Meister."

"...That's you're nickname, right? I figured it had something to do with music. Would you mind singing a song for me?"

Cliff considered it, and then noticed something: she wasn't wearing earplugs! Even though he had tunnel vision during his fight with the Dynamic Duo, he did manage to remember seeing earplugs in Robin's ears when he got him.

A train of thought started in his mind upon this revalation, one involving revenge against those who put him here. Then, the details finalized in his mind, he started singing a few minutes later.

Tonight, my head is spinning;
I need..something to pick me up.
I've tried, but nothing is working;
I won't stop, I won't say I've had enough

Tonight, I start the fire...
Tonight, I break away-

BREAK!!

Suddenly, Harleen's mind went blank, and her body started moving against her will.

Away from everybody-

BREAK!

She reached behind Cliff, and started using her pen as a lockpick.

Away from everything!

If you can't stand the way this place is,
Take!
Yourself!
To higher places!

He was surprised with her skill-her improvised lockpick got him out of his handcuffs in no time at all! And immediately after, he ordered her to use her keys again and unlock the door. When that was done, he walked out into the crowded hallways, and continued singing...

At night, I feel like a vampire-
It's not right; But I Just Can't Get Enough!
I'll try to get myself higher,
Let's go-We're Gonna Light It Up!

Guards in his path suddenly pulled out their keys and released any prisoners they could. As soon as they were released, all of the inmates fell under the Music Meister's spell as well. They moved through the hallways with a coordination that only a master strategist could dream of.

Tonight, We start the Fire!
Tonight, We break away-

BREAK!

All of the prison doors in the neighboring hallway suddenly sprang open as the warden inserted the master key.

Away from everyobody-

BREAK!

The inmates all got out and started dancing along.

Away from everything!

If you can't stand the way this place is,
Take!
Yourself!
To higher places!

Things seemed to go on very well for a little bit of time, and it looked like the Music Meister would have his plan work after all…until a bunch of guards with earplugs blocked the exit. Appearantly, they wore them to drown out the incessant ramblings of the inmates, and were now drowning out the hypnotic song. Cliff might have even considered surrendering-had he not remembered that an army was under his command.

The guards were overwhelmed in a matter of minutes, and promptly had their earplugs removed. Their allen wrenches were immediately used to unlock the doors leading to freedom, and the Music Meister breathed it all in with satisfaction. At least his encounter with the law taught him something: he is now no longer Cliff Meisters.

If you can't stand the way this place is,
Take!
Yourself!
To higher places!

BREAK!

Cliff was a weakling who let himself get pushed around.

Away from everybody

BREAK!

Now it was the Music Meister's turn to push back. And he was going to milk it for every advantage he could.

Away from everything!

If you can't stand the way this place is,
Take!
Yourself!
To higher places!

He let the madmen loose to run riot in the city, which they gladly did.

Higher Places!

Before he went, he had his enslaved Arkham-staff-members construct him a few things from the evidence cabinet's junk: A motorcycle that looked like a pair of eighth notes, a conductor's wand that could shoot a type of modified laser (one that looked like sheet-music), and an assortment of costumes that resembled various musical genres & artists (a Viking suit, a marching-band outfit, a zoot-suit, an Elvis-jumpsuit, and many others).

Higher places!

After packing his new equipment into a large suitcase, the engine of his new ride hummed to life, and he was off.

Higher Places!

Take!Yourself!
To higher places!

As for poor Dr. Harleen Quinzel, since her mistake caused one of the biggest breakouts in Arkham's history, she was all but stripped of her job at the asylum. In a desperate attempt to rebuild her reputation, she tried to rehabilitate the Joker all by herself-only to fall in love with him, and become the supervillainess known as Harley Quinn.

Even here, there's more story to come! I had one more chapter planned at least.

P.S. What did you think about my inclusion of Harley Quinn? do you hardcore bat-fans out there approve

And again, sorry for the update-gap.