Chapter 2

"This way," he whispered. He was speaking very fast, for some reason. "I memorized Arkham's floor plans and ventilation system ages ago. We can get to where they hold confiscated items, things we came in with, take what we need, and get out."

Yes, just think about that. Think about the plan. Think about navigating, where we're going. That's easy. Don't think about...

He turned to look back at the Scarecrow.

"Jonathan," Edward's voice shook very slightly. "What... was that?"

Jonathan looked at Edward as he was moving in front of him, but turning towards him had slowed him down. "Keep moving, and keep quiet!" Jonathan hissed quietly. Nigma's voice was far to loud and echoed through the ventilation shaft. Jonathan paused and as he felt a shudder under them. "Keep moving ... keep-" Jonathan was cut off as the ventilation shaft was jolted hard enough Jonathan shot up against the top of it before landing back down on the metal ground. "Go!" Jonathan said a bit louder as he crawled through the ventilation shaft. He felt the thud again, though this time a few feet behind him. He heard the creaking of metal and the pop of bolts. Jonathan felt himself sliding backwards slowly as light filled the ventilation shaft. He gripped the sides, using force to press himself against each side of the square tube, stopping his drop downwards. Jonathan looked up at Nigma who was already safely on the other shaft ... Jonathan looked around, assessing his situation as he heard groans and thunks as whatever they were climbed up the vent towards him, though none of them seemed to be able to get purchase as Jonathan had.

Jonathan moved his hand up slowly, inching his way up the shaft towards Nigma. "Don't concentrate on him ..." He heard Scarecrow yell inside his mind. "Get yourself out of this Johnny! It's what you're good at! They're just bullies Johnny! Bullies, nothing more!"

Jonathan cleared his mind as he focused on what he was doing, calming his pounding heart as he attempted to climb further up the shaft. Jonathan squeeked as the shaft was jostled again and he slipped down closer to the ... things ... at the bottom. He looked up at Nigma unsure of what to do. There was no way he was going to be able to climb up. He could hear the groaning of metal and knew it wouldn't be long before it completely broke off.

He was as good as dead ... Nigma never cared for anyone but himself ... he'd save himself and leave Jonathan there to ... to what? Jonathan looked down at the things at the bottom, the entire bottom of the shaft covered in red and black blood, hands clawing and scratching at the metal trying to reach him. Jonathan reached his hand up against to try to pull himself back up again but the shaft jumped again causing him to fall yet another foot, barely inches away from the pawing hands. This was it ...

At the massive shudder and jolt in the ventilation shaft, Nigma scrambled further along down the dark metal tunnel as fast as his hands and knees could propel him. Metal creaked and groaned, jarring him down to his bones, and bolts popped out as sudden light shone down from below. No. No, they couldn't be that strong. There's no way they were...

Edward turned.

They were pulling the ventilation shaft down out of the ceiling.

And Crane was caught on a slope right down toward them.

Edward looked on in horror at the bloody hands, somehow powerful enough to do this, vacant, thoughtless eyes, gaping mouths and wordless groaning...

Go, already! He told himself. He'll either follow or he won't.

There was a moment when the Scarecrow could have feasibly pulled himself back up.

Then the metal ventilation shaft jostled further, bringing Crane that much closer to...to them. He was practically on a slide now. Physics was against him. There was no way he was going to make it back up.

'Go, dammit! Before you're next!'

But the Riddler was frozen in place.

He could have the answer. In just a moment, the mystery would be solved. He would know, once and for all, what these things were, what they did, what he was up against. All he had to do was watch.

It wasn't as if he owed Crane anything. It wasn't as if Crane hadn't known what he was getting into. All this had ever been was an alliance of convenience, mutual self-interest, to be dissolved as soon as either party ceased his usefulness to the other. It wasn't as if Crane would have done any differently.

The man knew better than to ask him for help. It was written right there in those wide eyes looking up at him: Crane fully expected Nigma to let him die.

The ventilation shaft lurched again, Jonathan slipped another foot, and Edward leapt forward, grasping Jonathan's outstretched hand in both of his. With all the strength he had, he hauled Crane back up onto the level surface. He didn't stop to catch his breath. He didn't say a word, or look behind him. Edward just kept going, quickly and quietly as possible, and turned the next corner.

From that point, the Riddler confined his questions to his own head, barely daring to breathe, no matter how much his lungs burned or his heart pounded.

How had those things gone unchecked so long that Arkham had started to run out of supplies? Surely Batman should have made it his self-righteous little mission to put a stop to it? Unless... there were just too many of them. All of Gotham must be overrun. Maybe even beyond Gotham. Okay, then. The plan. Would the plan still work? Maybe. He doubted any guards would be hanging around near Confiscated Items, not with this madness breaking out. So there would be no one there for the...things to attack. Assuming they were mainly motivated to attack people.

He and Crane would have to be much, much more careful. But they should still be able to arm themselves and get out.

And... and then what? If this... outbreak was really that widespread? They'd have to come up with a new plan. He could feel the beginnings of panic starting to rise in his chest. He hadn't planned for this, hadn't thought that far ahead, what was he going to do without a plan? He needed to have a plan.

Focus! He could worry about that later.

A few twists and turns later, they were right above the room they needed. Before even going near the opening in the vent, Nigma stopped, listened intently, and motioned for Crane to do the same.

Jonathan moved his hand up on the vent subconsciously trying to find something to pull himself up with. He whimpered as one of the things reached his foot, gripping onto his ankle in a deathly grip. Jonathan wouldn't scream, no matter what happened the master of fear would not submit to screaming. Though as he looked down at the thing holding him, clacking its teeth at him, Jonathan wasn't sure how long that thought would last out.

Jonathan tried to shake off the thing that held him as he felt Nigma grab onto his hand and pull him up. The thing didn't let go of him as he was pulled up, it's lower half pinned by others trying to scramble up the shaft over top of it. Jonathan felt pain in his ankle as it was pulled up, it's upper body tearing away from its lower half under the weight of the other things.

The thing didn't even seem fazed by the separation from its lower half. As Jonathan landed safely on the other vent he kicked at the thing he could only describe as a zombie. The zombie continued tryig to bite him as Nigma crawled away from him. The vent around him once again started groaning as Jonathan gave it one more swift hard kick, the zombie falling down the shaft as the already broken vent snapped and fell to the ground with a soft thud as it landed on a pile of moving squirming bloody bodies.

The vent around him shuttered and he crawled after Nigma, moving quickly through the vent. The farther he got the quieter the moans and groans and angry hisses became. But that was no indication of safety Jonathan knew they would have to move quickly. He caught up with Nigma and crept past him as the man listened. There was no time to hesitate. As he said before ... He didn't know what was in there, but he knew what was back there. And what was back there was sure to follow them.

Jonathan kicked out the grate and poked his head out cautiously before sliding from the vent and landing softly on the table underneath. Jonathan thought back to when they'd even attacked. They hadn't known they were there until Nigma started talking. If they stayed quiet, and out of sight, they should be able to make it out alright.

Jonathan didn't look back at Nigma to see if he was coming as he ran for the box that security always kept in the same place. The box contained what little he'd come to the asylum with, his costume complete with mask and hat, a pen and some crumpled paper, and a ripped ten dollar bill. Jonathan grabbed a small duffle bag from the other side of the room, emptying its contents onto the floor before shoving what he owned into the bag, minus the bill. He began riffling through other bags, looking for anything of use. There wasn't anything in here he could use as a weapon.

((A/N – And there's chapter 2, I hope you all enjoyed and as always- please R&R))