Extracts from the journal of Bruce Wayne, October 23rd, 1887

The carriage stopped early in the morning outside of my old home in Westminster (*just after Bruce left London, he gave his home in Westminster to Alfred Pennyworth and Evie and Henry Green). I got out and picked up my suitcase and gave the driver the money owed.

I walked to the front door and knocked. Several moments later, the doors drew open. Alfred (*one year after Bruce moved in with Evie and Henry Green, Alfred returned to London and took on his late father's job as Bruce's butler) was standing there, and I noticed tears forming in his eyes. He embraced me.

'Master Bruce!' he said. 'It's been seven years!'

'Yes it has, old friend. I've missed you.' I said.

'As have I you.' he said, studying me. 'Do come in.' he said, stepping to one side to let me pass.

I heard a familiar voice yell, 'Is someone here?' from up the stairs. She walked down the stairs to peek and saw me there. She ran down and, like Alfred, gave me a warm embrace. 'Bruce! You're back!'

Henry walked down too, a baby girl in his hands.

'You've had a child!' I yelled in excitement. 'What's her name?'

'Sarah.' Henry said.

'Sarah Green,' I said to myself. 'She's beautiful.'

We walked upstairs into my old room. I laid down my suitcase on my bed. I looked around the room. It was cleaner than when I left it. It's good to be home, I thought.

I walked down stairs and Alfred had made us all a cup of tea. A fifth cup was on the table.

'I didn't know Sarah drank tea.' I said sarcastically, looking at the cup.

'Oh, haha, no, that's Jacob's.' Evie told me.

'Uncle Jacob's joining us?' I asked.

'Indeed, with his wife Violet.' Henry answered.

'Jacob's married? That's something I never saw coming.' I said.

'Neither did we.' Evie commented.

'What's she like?' I inquired.

'She's quite nice, really.' Alfred answered.

'Jacob wants to take you and me out for a few drinks, apparently.' Henry said.

'I could use a bit of rum.' I said.

Twenty minutes later, Jacob and Violet walked in. Violet was beautiful. Jacob gave me a firm handshake with a blank face, then laughed and hugged me.

'Ah, Brucey, I've missed you.' he said.

'As I have you, Jacob.' I replied.

'Jacob,' Violet whispered.

'Ah, right; Violet, meet Bruce Wayne. Bruce, meet Violet, my wife.' Jacob introduced us.

'Hello, Bruce. Jacob's told me a lot about you.' she said.

'Hopefully just the good things.' I said.

'Are you kidding? Like I'd keep the time you almost fainted of freight of those bats in that cave quiet.' he said laughing.

Tonight, we went to a tavern and Jacob and I had a few drinks. Henry almost threw up after we introduced him to scotch.

'How do you drink that!?' he asked.

'I don't, hate the stuff.' I said. Jacob laughed.

November 3rd, 1887

'Sionis is one of the big players in London right now. He's not affiliated with the Templars, at least not that we know. But he is looking for power over London. He's repeating Rupert Ferris' mistakes: child labor, and all that ghastly sort.' Jacob said to me.

'What's my mission?' I asked him.

'You're not a kid anymore, Bruce. Prove it. Cease his control.' Jacob said.

'Alright then.'

I walked up to my room and opened up the wooden chest that contained the things I had brought back from my travels. Among them was a uniform. A shirt with the symbol of a bat on it, a belt with several pouches - containing smoke bombs and voltaic bombs, and several shurikens - and a cowl.

I put this uniform on and heard a knock on the door. I opened it and saw Jacob standing there with his old leather long coat.

'I thought you might want this.' he said. He looked at the uniform I wore. 'Why are you dressed like a bat?' he asked.

'Bats have frightened me since I was a boy, it's time I become my fear.' I explained.

'Well, you'll look far better with this on.' he said, handing me the coat. I put it on. 'Now you look frightening.' he said.

The chimneys of the factory had smoke coming out of them, and the light from inside was coming out too. I looked for weaknesses. There were several ways in, but I chose the easiest. I used my rope launcher to come across to the roof of the factory. I then walked across it and saw below me a balcony where two snipers were stationed.

I jumped down and knocked them both out.

I stepped in and studied the factory. All I saw were people working the machines, if they weren't sprawled across the floor.

Then I saw my target - Roman Sionis. He wore a black mask.

I saw him enter his office on the top floor. That's where I made my way. It was on the opposite side of the warehouse so I walked back out to the balcony and then back on the roof, where I dashed across the tiles. I jumped down on an unaccompanied rooftop just outside of Sionis' office.

I looked through a hole in the wood and saw Sionis standing at his door.

'I told you last time that the Rooks will be no more.' Sionis said.

'The Court believe you aren't to be trusted.' said another man in the room. His voice husky and gravelly.

'And why would they think that?' asked Sionis, a hint of fear in his voice.

'Transactions between yourself and the Chief of Police. You've told him that you've made a deal with a higher power. You know the rule, and the consequences if you break it.' said the unknown man.

'No-No you can't! I'm still valuable to the Court!' he pleaded.

'The Court of Owls has sentenced you to die.' said the second man. I burst in the room, and attacked the second man. He was dressed in all black, and armed with several throwing knives and a cain sword.

'What the hell are you!' Sionis yelled. 'Some kind of bat?'

The man in black kicked me back out the door, and I smashed onto the railing of the balcony.

'Owls prey on bats.' said the assailant.

I tried to get back up, but the man's strength was overwhelmingly powerful, he'd broken two ribs with a single hit.

The man darted to throwing knives at Sionis legs and Sionis fell to the floor. He got back up on his kneels, and the black robed killer pulled a sword from it's cain and beheaded Sionis.

He looked back at me. I quickly threw a smoke pellet at the ground and used my rope launcher to escape.

The other man jumped over the balcony and onto a passing ship.

"The Court of Owls", they do exist. I knew it. Tonight was proof of that.