Ready to Play? Save the Bitch and the Bigger Bitch

"Master Cody? I am afraid he is out doing his normal duties as a police detective."

"I need to speak with Cody, is there anyway you could patch me through to him? I have to know where he is." Gwen did not back down on her request, her eyes still staring at Valen's eyes gleaming with a watery effect under the light of his office. The girl had been asking him the whereabouts of his employer and he didn't like one bit of it, sitting in his office leather chair leaning back on his spin as he cushioned himself on the comforting seat the leather just gave way to his body pressure before he asked his own question at her request.

"Mistress Gwen, Master Cody is right now in a very important assignment and I cannot simply call him up to hear you speak to him. He is a busy man, especially since the bomber's escape he has been tense…" He trailed off on his own words, realizing he had said quite enough for the young woman to figure it all out as he went back to typing on his computer doing his best to find the site where the asylum kept any information there he could use, but the constant interruptions of the goth and the search engine failing to construct any feasible source as far as he and his associates could even grab onto it was useless. The asylum must have not discovered the Internet at all, or something much to it was going on as Cody had suggested to him though he had stumbled blindly into roadblocks unsure of what the name exactly was the detective even said he didn't manage to catch the name or anything pointing to it. Valen closed the laptop down; the search was useless as he turned to the concerned Gwen standing with her fists clenched and her shoulders quivering a little as he stopped in front of her and grabbed her softly by the two joints as though to pause her movement for a while as he tried to reason with her.

"Master Cody is somewhere crucial that depends on the city's own life, even the lives of hundreds living right here. Casteon he…he has an asylum in lockdown right across town but no one is allowed inside at all, for obvious reasons since he entered the building." At those words, Gwen felt her heart leap by a few beats as she heard the distinct words of Cody and the asylum…her mind searched for the broadcast a few hours ago on the television as she packed up, the bomber had challenged someone he considered his superior to the intellectual field. Her mind flicked to only one single name that could fit that very description carefully: Cody, he was always the smartest one who aside from letting his feelings for her take control of his reckless actions had always been the person who was wise enough to figure things out on his own, training from him knowing what's been bothering her in the past who knows…but that kind of intellect could bring her conclusion around to him.

"Cody's fighting Casteon, right? He's the only smart person with a great intellect who went after the bomber's trail, leading to his arrest." She stated, the pieces were starting to collect themselves as the picture formed right in front of her mind's eyes as she glanced at the butler who could only nod solemnly at her guesses, his forehead creased in great worry.

"Yes, my dear…Cody is the detective that is fighting Casteon right now."

"Ahem, attention, attention…is this goddamn thing on? HELLO!" The intercom of the asylum was ringing across the deserted hallways of the main stairwell, Cody and Crane were moving on with Noah in tow still shuddering and constantly muttering out like a blabbering child making the same 'tick tock' words as before in a chant, the psychologist was patient in his stride and treatment towards the poor man. He knew that he was lost, but Cody seemed to think otherwise by insisting they take the man along with him…the doctor couldn't really stand the officer's suggestions much longer, what did he ever not get by the term 'dead weight'? However, the intercom transmission cut off any thoughts he had on the issue as they eyed the loudspeaker booming loudly the bomber's voice that was coughing and hacking somewhat before the bomber could even speak properly addressing his guests.

"WELCOME ALL TO MY MADHOUSE! I'm sure that you'll find all you need, you know…mad patients with guns and knifes running amock in droves, the fact a bomber is hiding in the main greenhouse just south of your position for a big surprise in store for another of your good ol' friends, Cody! If you're still out there and alive, I expect you to make it…if you can make it. HAHHAHAHAH!" The message ended with the loudest maniacal laughter both men ever heard all night, Noah however shrunk back at the very slightest presence of the bomber laughing as he stepped back with whimpers and muttered the chant to himself at an inconceivable faster pace twiddling his thumbs as his eyes shot everywhere for any sign of his hidden tormenter. Cody just grasped his shoulder and gently guided him along down the hall to the next Iron Gate at the other side, Crane armed with his mysterious gun hooked in a holster in his belt alongside mysterious bottles and needles that the detective noticed were filled to the brim and last air breath of space of the strange orange liquid, the doctor had forgotten all about the research as he continued to fiddle with the locks flicking for the key sliding it inside as he started to turn it going against the forces holding the door secure. He eventually heard the click of the lock sliding and giving way to the entrance source, like a building crumbled under an earthquake the security died away before the door creaked open like a groaning man with a sore back swinging itself backwards to the wall as though to straighten the spine of its back on the hard surface grumbling at the three intruders disturbing its rest entering the seemingly empty hallway with glass windows staining black of dust and dirty grit not even removed from their thrones as rain was pouring down its worst, spear-tips of water tried to fling themselves on the slippery wet surface of the window only to disintegrate into tiny harmless droplets. Cody found himself just seething and hatred boiled like a bigger fire in his body, the heat blazing to his head clouding it in a dark haze, as he didn't even notice anything in the surroundings of the deserted corridor a large dark ancient door just ahead…the very notion of the bomber repulsed him, it did make the detective wonder what the hell Casteon had against all of them which drove him to do what he did. Scum of this city were bad and sometimes apathetic towards their acts of crime, but if there was anyone he would add to the top of the list it would definitely be the bomber with his sadistic games of torture for either his pleasure or something much more darker he might not know, but Cody could have sworn if he found him there and then he would not hold back from kill-

"No." It was wrong deep in his heart he knew, the thought of even…getting rid of the bomber was something he couldn't bring himself to do but seeing Noah it ate at him becoming a sort of recurring nightmare of what the bomber could and can do, the words of the chief started swirling in his mind.

"Whatever you do, do not become like him…" Yeah, Cody could say to himself bitterly as he trudged on towards the door of the green house unsure of what he was about to do, the struggle was causing him to lose focus with the outside world. Like that was easy for him to do when all his friends from the show are all going to be killed by Casteon in the role of pawns for the criminal's own twisted game of chess. He looked at Edward Crane who was still walking in front of him the gun raised in the air, the silent bubble of the liquid would alert him to tend to the stash on his improvised utility belt lanky arms would occasionally pick a bottle out with the doctor just muttering under his breath about some improvement to contain the temperature of it, the very stature of the man eluded him to no end with fascination how he manages to stand or even walk properly a chest that was like a tree with a skinny trunk the only thing he could relate to the size of the man. His eyes then fell down to where he was clasping Noah's concerned and trauma-wrecked shoulder as his dark eyes continuously darted around like he was on the lookout for imaginary predators in an imaginary world, his body shook on intervals only to have Cody halt the action with a comforting grasp which seems some sort of recognition of his friend the young man would only flicker a smile of thanks before he went back to stalking the hallway for any sign of Casteon, or his shadow. Cody then looked out the window past the shimmering wave of water towards the moon still shining its light illuminating the floor with the light source he needed, though he could only wonder what will happen if he actually got out of here…if he made it out alive to see Gwen again, he would be glad but the same could never be said about Noah nor the rest of the group captured or worse.

"RARRAAGHHH!" Cody was instinctively on guard this time as he heard the loud war-cry of an insane patient charging to his left snarling and saliva danced from his mouth gaping open like an abyss as he stretched out the long sleeves in an effort to wrangle the detective's throat with it like the last one, but the outcome turned on the pouncing attacker as Cody was caught in the worst mood of hatred right then and the detective could not and never gave a crap what he did to his objects of hate, Cody's blue eyes glared right into the insane man's own and mercilessly swung his fist across taking the jaw of the patient who croaked with horror at his failed attempt but did not have a chance to correct his mistake. Cody gave a final punch on the man's face as hard as his knuckles would allow him, his teeth gritting and gnashed slightly in deep-seated hate before he punched the man again just for confirmation watching the face stir at him for a few moments before the patient slumped to the ground completely. His attention was caught by the screams of other madmen, his head turned as brown hair swirled aside to allow him to look at the doctor who was struggling with five patients on him in a pile while several others gave up their pursuit as they straggled all over the hallways screaming in horror and struck with fear as Cody stared in wonder at them smashing heads against the wall and fists punching away in the air at unknown opponents, but his attention to help the doctor from his predicament was rebuffed as the patients started to disperse suddenly falling on their backs as they started to shiver and quake at Crane who had pulled on a dark black hat sweeping it over his scalp covering his face as he glared at the patients with the gun barrel whirring. Cody found this weird but when he turned to see the patients they had different ideas about the man in the black hat glaring at them before shouts came out, the detective was thrown off from the English they spoke as they pointed in horror at the figure all the while scrambling back.

"Oh GOD! Stay away from me!" One screamed running towards the wall and started to scrape at the tiles, his fingers just ignored the reality of the physical barrier as he continued to scratch away madly. Cody then turned his attention to one of the patients beside him who broke for the door they entered from, sleeves starting to claw his way out of the path through his fellow insane comrades from the walking 'menace' known as Dr. Edward Crane speaking in a low demonic tone muffled by something wrapped around his mouth as he took out another gadget from his pocket which contained another gun but this one had a hook attached right to the barrel width as he aimed it at the escaping man, firing the gadget which soon erupted a yell from the target the wire starting to reel both itself and the huge human load in its grasp. The man screamed and fought the hook, hands clawing his clothed back trying to find a way to escape but he found none as the doctor grappled the man by the scruff of his white uniform, dragging him up to his face as Cody could just watch stupefied when Crane pulled down the scarf that dressed his chin the sight seemingly chilling to the detective as the patient howled and kicked the air uselessly under the iron grip of the doctor who spoke the words in the same demonic tone his eyes were glowing under the light.

"There is nothing to fear…but FEAR itself!" The patient screamed at the top of his lungs one final time rebounding off the walls echoing impending oblivion, his eyes rolled up into the back of his head as he jittered and shivered uncontrollably in pure trauma as foam bubbled in droves from his mouth corners Crane feeling the man weaken in his gaze watching the victim feebly sink down to the ground, releasing him as he stood over him and gave a maddened smile before he spoke the words which chilled the detective once more.

"Sweet Nightmares." Cody was entirely shocked by the effect of the special liquid, the patient deemed insane had just crumpled into a heap uselessly to the floor unable to neither stir nor move at all just by looking at Crane's normal face which still held the scarf in one hand while the hat stayed on its own, his jacket was the same though something else about the doctor's research came flooding back into the depth of his mind. Noah suddenly appeared out of a corner, unsure if the coast was clear though he noticed the two men and walked over to them muttering 'tick, tock' all over again, much to Crane's annoyance as he smiled dumbly at the two before he chewed the imagined fingernails.

"Damn, I've never knew a scarf and a hat had effect on the patients." Cody commented, his eyes just fell to the unconscious man below them lying in a heap of a puddle in his pants and foam spilling itself all over the floor wetting it, Noah however had other ideas as he prodded the body of the man surprised by the non-responsive answer of silence. Crane just shook his head, pointing at the gun filled with the orange liquid with a smile like he was proud of such horror he brought upon the rest of the patients as he looked at it in fascination.

"It didn't. It's all because of Nightmare." The word struck a tune as Cody stared at the liquid, now very interested in the workings or purpose of the formula.

"Nightmare?"

"Yes, Nightmare. This is the first ever terror weapon invented here, besides the other two I haven't tested yet: Hades and a formulated fear-inducing gas from the original liquefied state just like the Scarecrow's. I've been researching this for a while…" Crane instantly knew what he was saying as he zipped his mouth shut, ending the conversation abruptly as he turned to continue on. Cody now had his interest peaked by the mention of it started after him with Noah cautiously following in tow, stopping besides him since he knew a direct approach would result in him probably being a victim of this 'Nightmare' gas as the doctor could stare in question at his interested face.

"So what is Nightmare?" Cody thought to himself that since the doctor was so open with his research of the terror weapon, he wouldn't think it will hurt to tell him some tiny details enough for him to contact Valen about the hints leading to the name of the very asylum he's in and whether it was legalized by the government. However, Crane seemed to catch on to the game a little and answered his question with a less revealing answer, which can throw him off for the moment.

"It's part of a project, nothing more. Anyways, what I can merely say is that this is the revolutionary discovery of the century since…well, I can't think of anything else revolutionary. Let's continue, the greenhouse is past this door." The detective had a deep frown on his face, his blue eyes had an inkling of ire about the doctor's sneaky and elusive answer…okay, I guess that he couldn't get much off it but the names might be enough. He reached for his ear but stopped short, he can talk to Valen later but right now he had to concentrate on freeing his friends before the bomber could do something really horrible his thoughts now cleared of the haze that blotted his focus like dark ink. They reached the door, Crane opening the door with his own identity card as the entrance slid open letting a breeze of air blast them clean of any germs or dust accumulated on their clothing in the struggle back there as Cody eyed the place in great wonder.

The whole place was almost like a huge jungle in itself, the paved road was full of branches that clung onto the concrete with creepers reaching the bottom of the pavement walls that cut the garden into sections. There was a large fountain that sat in the middle towering to the large array of glass that passed the moonlight to the organic plants, the light was gulped greedily by the stretch of plants and a rare number of trees that manage to show themselves above the short patches of plants as the water ran into the bases in a peaceful tranquil sound that resonated around the whole garden, Cody just sighed in some memory when he was sitting in a place like this as he was just trying to get away from all the bullying at school in the past and so he will always feed the birds while his mind flew off to some fantasy often involving Gwen confessing to him and they would kiss under the tree, but the moment was always ruined by Cody waking up from his bed looking around the same old wall color and the same old pieces of furniture before he could realize this was a dream. It was depressing for him, the whole time he woke to see it was a distant dream while the reality slapped the detective right in the face: Gwen was taken already by Duncan, and it pained him deeply though he wanted to see her happy…what a lie he told himself to keep up that smile painted on his face like a puppet, but that image soon crumbled in pieces like the way she rejected him leaving him not only bitter but alone.

"Gwen, should I have confessed? I just don't know anymore…" His mutter was interrupted by the sounds of chuckling as the intercom flared to life with noise and laughter, the detective snapped back into his cold persona glaring around the cover of the treelines as Casteon's voice thundered across ruining the tranquility and replaced it with chaos the plants rustled uneasily.

"Welcome Cody, Noah…and our new player. Such a nice gun you have there, I couldn't help but notice on the cameras but here I am…or should I say we." Cody reacted with words of hate spewed silently into the treelines gun drawn as he watched the shadows eager to shoot the first sight of a bomber lurking nearby but the voice continued on unhindered as Crane just stood in his outfit eyes flickering back and forth for the same target. Noah however started to shrink into the doorway unable to move from his spot, the detective motioned to go forward with them but only to be refused by a spastic shake of his head it nearly blurred much to his disappointment and the doctor's unrest.

"I really appreciate how you all have been so wonderful in playing my game, however we have absolutely no time to waste…tick, tock, tick, tock. So much death in so little time, join me in the aviary just behind the fountain if you dare to go in, detective." The voice spat in disgust before it disappeared as it came, Cody looked at the frightened bookworm who just shook his head again at the invitation to go with them.

"Okay buddy, I get it. We'll go first, you just stay here while we try and stop the bomber once and for all." Cody watched as the bookworm seemed to agree with the arrangement nodding his head, the two then advanced forward taking a separate road of the fountain attempting to cover more ground this way and Noah watching their backs for the sizable water recreation. The two joined up again at the end eyeing the surrounding lush of green and flowers of different colors spreading itself in an array, the men stared right at the very door they were looking for dark black and had medieval designs on the locks securing it. Cody looked worriedly at the doctor as he fished out the card, his body moved forwards though he slid it into the reader a lump in his throat tightened like a vice grip as he struggled to come to terms with what else Casteon might have in store for them behind the barrier, his gun was gripped much securely to disable any hopes of what could be a chance for his opponents to even disarm him. The door merely let out the familiar whirr and the green light flashed in front of the doctor's dark brown coat lighting it dimly as the door hissed open, the two men tensed their muscles as they entered the new section of the block known as the aviary. The place was almost the same as the greenhouse but it was larger by a bigger proportion, the trees extended to the top of the glass with all sorts of branches vying for control over the position best for the moonlight licking against the closed wall of glass as plants crept around untamed and unhindered strangling each other under the light, the two men aimed their weapons at the front as they approached the brighter side of the room away from the shade of the small roof. Cody stopped short as he heard muffled screams clearly originating from the main area of the aviary, Crane nodded in agreement as both men walked still on guard into the large room where a towering structure stood in the very top of the aviary its glass windows shining dully in the reflected light but then the screams alerted them to draw their eyes up forward near the ceiling for Cody to give a slight gasp. There, hanging in the ceiling were a couple of birdcages but it was the two cages at each end of the row that caught their attention, a young dark-skinned woman in a white shirt complete with a orange sweater cut at the shoulders with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows completed the look with black pants, thumping her fists on the entrance of the cage while in the other had another young woman with greyish hair tied in a ponytail with shorts and a tank top shaking the bars in her grip as though choking them.

"Shit! He's got Courtney and Heather!"

"Hehahahhaha…hello, 'Detective'. I was so certain you could make it with some bruises and cuts, or maybe better: DEATH! But then again, I settled with some mad patients instead…so useful in killing guards efficiently as possible." The voice of Casteon boomed through the speaker as the doors to the main aviary were flung open wide, letting the air rush in to sweep the dust off the floor accumulated on the ground as the bomber himself stepped out onto the platform in front of the duo. His arms were spread out wide in warm welcome, his eyes glinting with hate and triumph that the detective could not even understand but he was caught by the sound of rustling grass from both ends of the garden as Crane reacted quickly firing various bullets of the nerve liquid at the bushes of trees and various green life, it took five seconds as several screams were heard from the cover alerting Cody to counter a rushing patient yelling loudly in a war cry his hand clutching into a fist slamming into the man's face sending him skidding into the small wall. The bushes soon rustled and were brought to life with patients slowly approaching out of their hiding places, men armed with pipes and also fists balled into fighting stances as Casteon merely wore a smile on his face.

"Well, isn't that a lovely turnout detective? I managed to acquire some willing…accomplices to do the job for me, however I do miss the whole thing about going lone wolf bombing all those cops and banks…good times isn't it, Cody?" Casteon said as he thumped the cages each with something metallic as Cody aimed his gun quickly at the bomber, the barrel pointing straight at Amos watching the criminal smirk chuckling at the threat hanging at his face. Crane watched the patients with some nervousness, his hands gripping the belt ready to give his opponents hell as they circled them blocking a clear path to the top control room as Courtney yelled first slamming the bars with her fists.

"Cody! Get us out!"

"Yes, Cody…do what she says, try it. Try and stop me from sending them to their makers down in the deep swirling water below, but not before a small insurance is made isn't it!" Casteon yelled in a retort, his arms reaching into his front pocket as Cody pulled the trigger to fire at the criminal but instead he felt a large force on his shoulders tackle him onto the smoothed polished floor his eyes widened at the mad patient standing over the detective smiling wildly as he raised his fist in a downward strike but was thrown off by the doctor firing a canister into the man sending him raging across the room. The other patients apathetic of their comrade's suffering, covered up the hole immediately ready to attack as Cody swore silently while the bomber continued to pace before he held up his palm stopping the patients from even starting the brawl, Cody held his breath even when he saw the bomber started for the edge of the platform where there were no railings but a dark swirling mass of water stretching deep into an abyss as he got up, aiming his gun at him hands shaking at the trigger.

"What are you doing?"

"Isn't it obvious? I'm giving you an opportunity, a chance to give you the outcome you desire." The bomber declared as he stretched his arms out into the air, his eyes shining at the detective's gun. Crane stopped short, eyes just narrowed at Cody while he twirled a small bottle in his fingers as he watched the bomber's facial expression.

"C'mon, do it. Stop me, kill me, end this…I dare you. Pull the trigger, stop the show, and end all of the madness once and for all!" He smiled at the detective contemplating his choice to shoot the bomber fingers still tightening around the trigger, he had a great look of victory at the moment he was waiting for…the part where Cody becomes the hero by murdering him.

But what he doesn't know is that he will become the blacker devil.

End