Chapter 19:

The Dark Knight led us across some really ill-kept grass paths, for god's sake someone fire the janitors and gardeners for this place, towards a really secure looking door that I'm sure could withstand nearly anything including a bomb, several idiotic henchmen running headfirst into it and us. It was being guarded by some very butch looking guards that were obviously scared shitless. Gee, Arkham really is a crap facility. Bad security. Bad gardeners. Bad cleaning crew. Seriously, how has this place still running?

"Batman, thank-god you're here! It's a massacre in there; one of the senior officers went back in there with a couple of guys and ordered us to remain here till reinforcements arrive. We haven't heard from them since!" So why haven't you gone in yet? Seriously, do we have to do everything around here? We're not superman! Or are we … after all Batman is supposedly friends with Superman according to the rumours. However, remember the bombs Hailey that Joker has planted all over the city. Superman would never risk the bombs going off and killing people so it's certain that we're without backup here. Great, think happy thoughts Hailey. Really happy thoughts.

Inside the tunnel, a fire fight was being waged and won by the inmates of Arkham Asylum.

Bodies littered the floor, scattered without respect or honour given to them. Blood spilled from their open wounds, swirling and mixing with the dirt around them. Their frightened expressions captured forever as they felt the life leave them and became scared of the prospects of leaving the world in such a grim place. I empathized with their sacrifice, knowing their fear of the unknown more than anyone, and the threat of tears had to be fought back with a bitter vengeance. No weakness, I can't … I won't be wreak. To be weak would be to die, and I live to be strong. I closed my eyes, and regained my composure before returning myself to a clinical and cold woman to defend myself with whatever I could gain. I observed things around me; an ambulance that was dead and broken, a wounded doctor kneeling near his friend's corpse and the sounds of gunfire with coarse and maniacal laughter mixed in hit my ears with overwhelming force. Animals. The inmates are animals to do this. I hung back as Batman approached the wounded doctor to speak with him out of courtesy and a background feeling of horror as I stared at the hollow eyes of his dead friend. As a human, I reserve the right to pity and morn the dead in my own way. Death is after all, something I am quite at unease with.

"I can't believe it, they killed Jackson!" he spoke, hardly able to stop his grief from showing through his words. I averted my eyes slightly and studied the words on the ambulance, which I know of due to the fact that I was transferred here by one to start my treatment. Ironic really, that beside a object of healing is death and grief. Too ironic for my taste. Too morose for words …

"Stay with your colleague. I'm ending this, now!" the Batman spoke as Catwoman swore like a sailor and headed off beside him like a tamed kitten. God, she needs a boyfriend. How desperate? Anyway, I stayed with the wounded man and after a few seconds of hesitation stretched out my hand to examine the wound on his arm. He snapped his head towards me in fear but I dared him with a single look to test me. He gave in of course, and I managed to see that while the skin was pierced and bleeding greatly, there didn't seem to be any nerve damage. On impulse, I did something completely unlike me which would be to sneak inside the overturned ambulance to get something to secure the wound and help him. I guess it must have been either bravery or stupidity or maybe both in conjunction that caused me to do something that rash but I wanted to help this man who had lost everything. I hardly noticed the bullets flying over my head or the shouts of alarm as the enemy saw me and tried, unsuccessful, to kill me. Inside the ambulance, I regained my senses.

Riddled, ok no more Riddler puns I promise, with holes from bullets; the ambulance was totalled. It was hard to stay on my feet when below me was littered with various medical artefacts and shell casings. I noticed a large green box marked 'first aid', kind of a stupid title since why do you need to number them anyway, which seemed like a good choice to help the guy. I grabbed it; thankfully as the place I had previously stood it now had a bullet hole where my head used to be, before dashing out of there as fast as I could. The box was mildly heavy and slightly inconvenient but I managed to crouch low enough to get towards the guy unharmed.

"Thanks! There should be a roll of bandages in there along with a bottle of Alcohol, a tourniquet and some medical scissors!" I opened the box and rummaged around in it for a little. What's Alcohol and a 'tourniquet' anyway, it sounds painful? Eventually I found the things he wanted and laid them out on a clean piece of fabric. Grunting in pain a little; the man continued "Start by tying the tourniquet, which is the tie thing, around my arm; since I can't do it myself. After that, pour the bottle over the wound to clean it!" I followed his instruction diligently but when he started to cry out in pain when the colourless liquid touched him skin I froze. I've caused pain before don't misunderstand it but this was horrible even for me. When he finally regained his senses and stopped crying out; he spoke again. "Now, wrap the bandage around my arm before cutting it after you've secured it, and you'll be done!" I tried to ignore his grunts of pain while tying the bandage, before blocking it out entirely. Concentrate on the job, Hailey, and block anything else out. Get in the zone … oh great now I'm referring to myself in third person. Maybe I am insane! Yippee! Not!

"Ok, that should be it. There's some guards outside; make a run for it and find somewhere safe. I'm going to help the Bat!" my voice sounded calmer then I felt. Medicine is so not for me. Really, it isn't. I got up and finally noticed the loss of gun fire around me. Ok, eerie … "Bats? You kick those guy's asses yet?" I called in a voice that was far more confident than I was. I crouched around the side of the ambulance, and casually observed the wounded man getting up and hurrying out of here clutching his bandaged arm. Hopefully they can get somewhere safe away from the mad clown's grip … hopefully.

I hopped up on top of the ambulance, before running across and grabbing the side of the ledge before anybody saw me; whether friendly or not friendly. The ledge was slippy a little with the amount of moss growing on it but I managed not to slip over on my butt long enough to reach the other side and have a look whether I was going to drop into a safe zone or drop in to a circle of guys who'd shortly put a twenty-two calibre bullet in my forehead in fright. Nope; the two costumed freak shows were arguing between them both while the floor was littered with the unconscious bodies of the inmates who had started this little piece of chaos:

"I'm just saying; you don't have to wear that mask all the time!" Miss Kitty-cat is so desperate to get laid. For god's sake; she has a whip, a leather outfit and a freaking slutty attitude to make the Queen slut herself; Harley Quinn blush. Get her a boyfriend! Or a girlfriend? Just something!

"Selena, my identity is not up for discussion. Now leave it!" Mr. McGruffin is so dull; like so dull. Boring; so freaking boring. Shoot me please; or him whatever works!

"Oh sure; because everything has to be a mystery with you. Your Mr. anonymous with your fancy technology that either you bought, made or stole I might add. You could at least trust me enough not to reveal that about you batsy!" Hey; that's my idea that he's a rich boy! Get your own.

"Leave it alone!" Oooohhhhh! On the defensive now batty-boy? What's wrong? Not secure enough in your masculine pride to admit a tiny little detail with this chick who'll totally get you laid?

"No!"

"Yes!"

"Oh shut up you two; your giving me a blinding headache!" I shouted over the really immature fuss. I go for a couple of minutes and they start arguing like a pair of infants. How in the world does Gotham exist still? I rolled my eyes dramatically at their angry ass stares at me. Whatever losers!

"The entire island will soon be under my control. That's right, boys and girls. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Just wait till you see my plans for this place. It's going to be glorious!" Yay, the Jokers back with his weird ass but somehow hysterically funny commentary. My life is complete … -ly over!

"You shut it too!" I shouted back; aware that I'm having an argument with a madman who can't even hear me. Oh; my head hurts! It's seriously pounding and I'm really not feeling well. When I got a headache ages ago; some Questioner prescribed me some white pills to help me. Maybe I can find some around here somewhere?