This is the continuation from the third chapter of this here story into the fourth chapter of this here story.

Now I would normally say that there is nothing else left to say here, but I do have one thing to say.

There will be some full on French near the end of the chapter so have your Google translate open in another tab and ready, people.

Yep, that's all for the top section so now onto the story.

Continuing The Story By Starting Off With Maria's Point Of View:

Since I was pretty much left to think about my demise and how many ways he could devour my limbs, I quickly grew bored. Of course, I was very grateful for the fact that Killer Croc had left me alone and alive, but I was basically suspended in midair with no means of escaping. I mean I couldn't even see the ground below me… well if there was any ground now that I've thought about it.

With that in mind, I knew of no other way to escape other than by some sort of miracle that I somehow manage to trick or defeat Croc. I was no Batman when it came to beating the shit out of people, but I could still manage to give it my best shot.

Still…

On the other hand, I was kept in almost complete darkness without anyone to talk to or the ability to do anything but basically breathe and blink. A thought lingered in the back of my mind and after what seemed like an endless eternity, the thought came to my attention and told me of the fact that boredom tends to take a toll on a person's body and mind.

A long yawn escaped me as I blinked my eyes several times; desperately wishing my hands weren't tied up so that I could rub the sleep out of my eyes. Taking yet another look around the cavern, I tried to find anything that my eyes might've missed the other several hundreds of times that I looked over the place.

Casting my gaze about, I sighed heavily as nothing new popped out of the darkness and dim light. It was the same; the same filthy blankets, same beaten couch, and same little light on the other side of the room that was now starting to flicker off and on every now and again.

Goddamn it all…

Couldn't Killer Croc have left me with a few sewer rats to watch fight over a rotten scrap of food or something? Anything at all? Hell, at least if he did that, then at the very most I would've been able to watch rat carnage for the first two hours he left me all alone.

Regardless of what I wasn't or was left with, sleep was slowly setting into my system.

"When was the last time I slept"? I thought to myself as I attempted to stifle another yawn. "Maybe a night or two ago…" My thoughts concluded before I actually began nodding off to sleep.

At least if I was going to rest upside-down like a bat, then my sense of smell and hearing were keen enough to alert me of any disturbing noises, a skill I that was edged into me when I was training to be a thief a number of years ago.

So not giving a shit if Killer Croc showed back up, I actually managed to shut my eyes and block out the fact that I was trapped within Gotham City's sewer system and was surrounded by squeaking rats and bursting pipes.

A Few Hours Later:

"Wake up," A rough voice thundered in my ears.

Cringing at the sudden pain in my ears, I'd quickly come to realize that ol' lizard man was back from wherever he went. And as much as I wanted to break free of these chains and smack him upside the head for such a rude awakening, I merely smirked.

"That's not the right way to get a lady's attention".

A deep growl was the only response I got.

"You know, I was having a great dream about when I was a little kid," I went on talking, probably just to test boundaries. "Yeah, it involved some glitter, cute puppies, adorable kittens, and other unbelievable shit like that. Then I woke up to you and realized that my life is currently a waking nightmare".

He walked around to my front side and stared me right in the eyes. "Shut. Up. I don't wanna hear whatever you've got to say, little mouse".

"Whatever I've got to…"? I trailed off and then shook my head in a disappointed manner.

He gave me something of a bewildered glare when he saw this. "What's that supposed to mean"?

"Killer Croc, my good man, you have me all wrong. You see, Croc, I don't want to talk, I only want you to give me some answers-"

"Heh, you want answers"?

I mentally wanted to smack him again, but I let my rage go with a sigh. "Yes, I wish to have my questions answered. Now you can tell me where I am, how to get out of here and that's about it".

"How about no for a fuckin' answer"?

"Well then that all depends on how hard you want me to beat the shit out of you when I get out of these chains, you damn son of an insane mother fucking bitch"! I hissed the last part through clenched teeth. To hell with the nice talk, I was sick of this conversation which was obviously not going anywhere anytime soon.

I then swore that I saw stars for a couple of seconds. I then also regretted cursing the hell out of him.

A single scaly fist collided with my jaw and then another one punched the side of my abdomen. One of my bones sounded like it popped out of place, or maybe it actually cracked, but the pain wasn't all that important right now. The only thing that I could focus on right now were the two yellow eyes glaring daggers into me.

Grabbing and then pulling my head forward, Killer Croc continued to stare me down before he spoke. "Usually my victims would've cried the second they woke up upside-down," It almost seemed like he was choosing his words with some thought to them. "So why ain't you started bawling yet, little mouse"?

I remained silent for a moment, like I was trying to find my reason for not crying.

The first choice that popped into my head told me it was because I wasn't scared. Well since that seemed like it would've made him laugh out loud so I tried to think some more.

The second choice didn't help me out any more than the first. None of this which had happened to me actually managed to surprise me whatsoever. Hell, this wasn't the first time I'd been suspended in midair by a person who wanted me dead and sure as hell it wouldn't be the last time either.

Giving up on my train of thought, I just decided to go with whatever I felt in my gut. "You do realize that we're in Gotham City, right"?

"Wha-"

I cut him off and continued, "I was born and raised in this hellhole of a town and have learned to cope with insane situation that would've made any normal person breakdown and take their own life by now. I've gone through tough and impossible times that haven't made sense at times and that have also nearly blown my head off. Now I'm tied up with some chains and some rope without any real means of escaping my own demise. You, Killer Croc, really expected me to react like I've been punished by God and have been sent to suffer whatever hell you could give me? You really are crazy if you expected something like this to work on someone who's just as insane as you are".

He remained silent for a moment, almost as if he was truly taking my words into consideration. However, that still didn't stop him from cocking his head to the side and asking me, "Yet ya still act like this is normal"?

"Yep," I responded to him, giving my head a nod. "It's always felt unusual to feel afraid whenever I've been put under this kinda pressure".

"It's unusual to feel afraid"? Croc laughed at me. "Not if you want to live, cher".

At this point, I had no clue if this conversation was headed in a good direction or a bad one due to the fact that I was still living and breathing in front of a crazed crocodile man.

Nevertheless, I continued the topic. "For me it's just been unheard of to fear and run away from someone because they may be different than the rest of us. Even if they are a thief or a murderer. I, myself, am a thief and a killer who has little respect for a human's life. You, Killer Croc, are certainly one hell of a murderer, so why should I fear you if I kill people just as much as you do"?

He growled deeply. "Cause I can tear you limb from limb, bitch. Also, I don't need no lowlife thug tellin' me that she ain't afraid of me just cause she's slit her fair share of throats as well".

"First off, I'm not a thug". I stated very clearly as I narrowed my eyes at him. "Second, I don't give a rat's ass that you can kill me! That's what I'm trying to tell you, you fool"!

He chuckled darkly. "Well then you really are insane if you don't fear me, you know that"?

"Oy vey…" I groaned in annoyance. This conversation was starting to go nowhere again. "How so, Croco"?

"Look at you, talkin' to me like I'm one of your cohorts in crime. Strung up in midair covered in bruises like everythin' is normal. But I can tell that somewhere in your twisted little mind you're scared to the point that you might consider prayin' for once in your life. Your thoughts are thinkin' of a way out, and I can hear your heart hammerin' in your chest. Yet you choose to ignore your basic instinct to feel fear".

I sighed, "I thought we were past this already…"

"I could just crush ya skull in the palm of my hand," Croc gave me a toothy grin. "Wouldn't take but a second for you to die, little mouse".

"You seem to be lacking in understanding that we've pasted this point in the topic before".

He let go of my head and watched me as I swung back and forth for a couple of seconds. I merely just stared back at him with a slightly pleased expression upon my face. I had said what I had wanted to say and now it was up to him to make the next move.

"Insane, little bitch..." He muttered as he stood there, unmoving.

I didn't know what to say in response to that since he'd insulted me… again. Though, I was thankful I had gotten this far and was still alive and breathing. There was also something about Croc that had changed just a bit from when he first revealed himself to me. It was probably the fact that he found out that I wasn't shitting my pants over finding out that I had been kidnapped by Killer Croc of all people. That or maybe it was because no one else was around and he'd actually taken the time to talk to me and find out a little about the way my thought process ticked. He also knew that in this position I'm of no threat to him in any way, so if I tried to snap back at him enough, he could easily subdue me.

Then my mind came up with a plan on how to get the hell out of here: Pretend to be nice... or nice enough.

I rolled my eyes at my plan but then recalled that even after all of my reasoning, Croc still snapped back at me. He isn't the world's easiest person to talk to either, so that didn't help matters when I tried to talk my way out of this. So what other choice did I have at this rate?

"Hey," I spoke up, hoping to catch his attention.

He just stood there and remained silent.

"Hey," I repeated and then added, "I know you aren't deaf, you heard what I said"!

Suddenly his deep, gruff voice boomed and then echoed all around the cavern. "What"!?

"You got a name"? I asked.

"Killer Croc," He growled. "You so stupid that you forget that, bitch"?!

"I didn't ask for your title"! I snapped back at him but then calmed myself down. "I asked for your name".

"Why the fuck would you want to know that"?

"So I don't have to keep calling you lizard names or by your title all the time". I stated. "It gets annoying repeating the same thing over and over and over again, you know? So you have a name or what"?

Croc went silent again and continued to glare at me. I only stared back at him and said, "No need to rush, I've got all day thanks to being strung up".

He scoffed at my words and rolled his eyes. "My name is Waylon Jones".

"Maria Komori," I told him. "Or at least that's what my parents wrote down on my birth certificate".

"Heh, at least you had parents, cher". He remarked. I caught the hint of spite that was deeply engraved within his words and frowned.

"Hey, if your parents named you than they obviously cared… at least to an extent". I told him even though I felt as if I was overstepping boundaries. "Besides, I think your name fits you very well".

"Hhmp," Croc grunted slightly. "…Thanks… I guess".

After that the two of us quickly grew silent for a moment. Truth be told, I was thankful he wasn't being hostile towards me but I needed to get him to get me down. If I was lowered to the floor then at least I'd have a way better chance of escaping.

Taking one hell of a chance, I did not look away from those crocodile eyes. "Is… Is there any chance that I can be placed on the floor, Waylon"?

"No," He said flatly. "Wait- why"?

"Cause I'm starting to get a head rush," I said, "So any chance that I can be placed on the ground? I mean I won't try anything if you won't try anything".

"That might make me feel better if the ends of your hands weren't sharpened like knives".

"Hey, it's not my fault that I was born a bit defective". I cringed at my own words. For a second there, I could've sworn that I caught a glimpse of Waylon cringing as well. "So like I said, I won't try nothing and you won't try nothing. We got something of a deal"?

"Alright fair point, little mouse". He shrugged slightly and moved his arms around my body, keeping one eye on me, and undid the rope that held me up in the air. He didn't undo my chains however. "So answer me this, why are you down here"?

"I lost…" I trailed off for a second cause this was going to sound too stupid. "I lost a penny somewhere down here".

He pretty much dropped me down on the ground in order to stop himself from laughing out loud. Of course, he did end up laughing and clutching at his sides for a few seconds, but I ignored him as I tried to look around to see where he put my knives. Well, I didn't end up seeing them by the time Waylon picked my body up once more and plopped me down in a chair.

"You kiddin' me, cher"? He chuckled.

"Yeah no…" I said feeling a bit ashamed, not to mention embarrassed, since I told him I was a great thief and now I was telling him that I lost a penny. "I wish I was, but I'm not kidding. My boss is gonna kill me if I don't find that coin, course those gangsters that are after me are probably gonna get to me beforehand".

He peered at me curiously. "Gangsters, you say"?

"Yeah," I sighed. "Some Frenchmen thought they were going to end me. Heheh, well seeing how over half of them are missing half their organs, I'm pretty sure I got the last laugh".

"Frenchmen, huh"? Waylon seemed to think this over. "And you say that you were stealing a coin"?

"Yes, what about it"? I had a feeling that my plan was slowly starting to decline in its progress.

"Just kinda funny considerin' that I sent some guys out the other night," He said. "They were supposed to be back by now".

"Oh…" Was all I could bring myself to say.

"Ya wouldn't happen to know somethin' about that now, would ya, little mouse"? Waylon came closer and gripped the sides of the chair I was placed in with his claws.

I felt his talons start to pierce the material of the clothing on my arms. "No…" I hissed through a bit of pain. "I don't know anything…"

"Eh bien, je sais pertinemment qu'il s'agissait de mes hommes que vous avez tués"! He suddenly growled in my face. Once again his temper was flaring up and I could feel myself ignore my basic instinct to flee the room right now since he forgot to tie both my legs and arms to the chair.

"Quoi"?

"Vous avez entendu ce que j'ai dit, cher"! He moved back into the shadows of the cavern so that all I saw were those harsh, yellow eyes glaring at me.

"A- Attendez une seconde," I tried to calm him down so that he wouldn't feel like ripping out my throat. "Ils auraient pu être des gangsters français. C- Comment savons-nous qu'ils étaient vos homes"?

"Probablement parce que j'ai trouvé cette pièce dans la même région où j'ai trouvé les cadavres de mes hommes et où je vous ai trouvé"! He flicked a coin in my general direction.

When it landed on the floor, I felt like kicking the shit out of myself for being such a screw up. It was one of the first pennies ever made in America, aka the one I was supposed to steal the other night.

"Oy vey…" I grumbled to myself.

I couldn't do anything for a couple of seconds there. Hell, I couldn't even bring myself to breathe, but thankfully a deep growl snapped me back into reality.

Looking upward, I found myself staring into the eyes of a beast. "L- Look I'm sure my boss can easily replace those guys you lost-"

"Yeah," Killer Croc cut me off. "He'll sure as hell do that".

"And you've got the dammed penny to boot". I stated. "I don't even want the fucking thing anymore since look at the hellhole that tiny thing dragged me into. Keep it, sell it, I don't give a flying fuck what you do with it".

"So what"?! Croc snapped at me. "You can keep your worthless, little life"?!

I stared at him with a brow raised, gave his words some thought, and then shrugged my shoulders. "Heh, it ain't much of a life but it's the only one I've got, so might as well live it while I can. Not to mention if I don't get back to my boss…" I paused trying to fathom my father seeing my dead corpse and not breaking down and crying. "…He'll bring me back from the dead and then kill me again".

Waylon shook his head and sauntered over to the entrance to the cavern. I stared at the back of him and hoped to God that he wasn't just about to leave me for another huge chunk of time without anything to do but sit and breathe.

"So let's say I let you go," Croc spoke up out of the blue. "You go runnin' back to your boss man and tell him to send a couple of lackeys ol' Killer Croc's way"?

"I'm honor bound to do such a thing if you agree to release me". I told him.

"Hmm…" He hummed to himself, seeming lost in thought for a few seconds there. After a little while he spoke up once more. "How good of thief didja say ya were again, cher"?

My eyes widened just a bit and I titled my head in confusion. "I'm known as the famous Shadow Thief, remember? I told you that earlier, Waylon".

"So how's about we forget replacin' my men"? He questioned me as he turned back to face me.

"Then what the hell do you want in return for taking those lackeys' lives and trying to steal your heist"? I asked him in annoyance. "My boss can give you one really good man if that's what you're-"

"I ain't lookin' to hire," Waylon told me flat out as he crossed his arms. "I'm lookin' to borrow".

"You want to borrow one man"? I questioned.

"No," Croc sent me one of his devilish grins. "I want to borrow you".

Yeah I'm not going to say much down here either.

Question: why? Answer: because.

Now I must start on the fifth chapter so that this one hell of a cliffhanger can have somewhere to go. So until next time, folks.