A.N - Yes. I know I said 'More replies, faster posts'. And yes, there have been more replies (and to those of you who reply- Thanks you sooo much! Love it. Love all you! and to those of you who wait for updates but don't reply- Aw c'mon, pretty, pretty, please?). But not so quick updates... I had actually wrote the first half of this chapter quite some time ago... But couldn't think of a good way to continue on. And school was busy too, with it being the end of first quarter...

But, I think that this should make up for my lacking. I hope. Review and tell me if it does? Hope it does. I tried. Hard.

Oh yes, and also: Warning- Violence in this chapter.

Chapter 5:

Panic Attack

'She's still just a girl. Only a child.' Jonathan said hesitantly.

"It would be good to test on a new group. See how those react differently to it."

'I don't know.'

"You had it in mind before. At the Asylum. You had it planned when you first met the girl. Now do it." The Scarecrow commanded.

'She's already panicking enough. Something more could push her over the edge. Then I'd have to find someone else at Arkham.'

Jonathan licked his lips, as he tore his fascinated eyes away from Melissa, looking down to his hands. He let out a slow steady breath as he eyes turned to his black, leather, Italian-made briefcase set next to his desk. It held his valuables. His trusty pens that seemingly never ran out of ink when all the others did, his folders about the drug, about the backgrounds of those he tested it on, the mask.

The mask was not like the ordinary mask doctors owned. It was not made for protection against whatever bacteria it was that patients had. It didn't tie behind his head, it wasn't a pale blue. It was not, in any way, like the one he just had on while giving Melissa the injection. It was a burlap material. Like the kind that you'd fill with dead leaves in the fall to make the head of a scarecrow. Eyeholes had been cut out of it. The mouth had been cut in a messy, ragged way, then loosely re-sewn with long straps. Other doctors would probably stare at it and call it disturbing.

And it was. That was the point. It enhanced the effects of the drug.

He grabbed the handle of the briefcase, setting in onto the desk. Jonathan lifted his crystal eyes back to Melissa. Well- at least where Melissa had been. He had expected to see her lying in a heap on the floor, curled in a ball with her hands over her face, crying. He didn't see her at all. He took in a deep breath, filling his lungs.

His heart was pounding in his head as he calmly grabbed the mask out of his bed, keeping a steady expression on. If he had any doubts about showing her the mask before, they were erased now. That girl had the nerve to leave her place. To try and get away? Stupid girl. Thoughts were racing through his mind, hundred of thoughts. What if she did get away?

No. No she couldn't. Even if she did get away- he knew the effects of the drugs were still with her. She couldn't last long outside. It was doubtful if she'd even get out of the room. She couldn't have in the short period of time he had looked away. It was quite a large room though. She could hide, for a while. If she was smart, she'd come out though. His blood was rising in anger, frustration, annoyance, and… for what seemed like the first time- panic. But he still held the image of calmness.

In long strides, he walked to the spot that Melissa had just been, pulling the mask over his head.

"Melissa!" He shouted, in the deepest and darkest voice he could. "Oh, Millll-ly!" He took a few steps to the right, walking close to the counter as his eyes darted from one thing to the next. "Come out, come out, where ever you are!"

This was like a horrible game of hide and seek. Each moment that he didn't see Melissa- he felt his anger and frustration rise. His heart pumped louder. He had to find her. Each second that passed, the Scarecrow wanted to do more and more things to her. Wanted to hurt her. Wanted to punish her for doing this. Wanted to give her a high amount of the drug, and stand there with his mask on, his head thrown back in dark laughter as she screamed and screamed. She'd go insane, and before morning- he'd return her back to her room at the Asylum.

'Poor girl.' Jonathan would say with a click of his tongue in pity. 'She was going to get out today'.

"Millie!" He screamed out.

Melissa stared at him in horror. This had been her doctor. Dr. Crane. What was wrong with him? Why wouldn't he help her? Why was scaring her? At least… It was her doctor, right? It didn't look like him. As he screamed her named, she tightly closed her eyes, wishing the be away from this place. She wished that this was a dream and that she would wake up.

She bit her bottom lip, as to not cry out, as he strolled past the low table she was hiding under. When his footsteps had gone past, Melissa turned away, summoning up the courage to leave the hiding place. On her hands and knees, she crawled as quietly and carefully as she could- but still in a hurry. She stopped at his desk, looking around for something to hold onto. Something to use as protection.

Then she saw it- pushed near the wall. It looked like an old crank left over from- well whatever this building was in the past. It was rusted, with a wooden handle that looked weak. But- it also looked large and heavy.

She snatched it in her hand, and pushed herself under Dr. Crane's desk, in the leg space, with her knees pulled close to her chest. She gulped, tightly shutting her eyes, as she tried to hide from her former doctor. Footsteps were getting closer. Swift, yet heavy footsteps. She knew why they sounded that were. Swift because he wanted to find her and heavy with the anger of not seeing her.

The footsteps got closer, and Melissa put a hand over her mouth so her heavy, panicked breathing wouldn't be heard. And then the shadow of his legs fell across the floor in front of her, and to her horror- stopped. He was going to look under the desk. He was going to find her. He'd kill her.

And before she knew what she was doing- she had leaned out from under the temporary shelter of the desk, pulled back the crank in her hands for more power, and as she let out another scream, but now not of fear- she swung. Though it happened too fast for her to realize it- she still swung with all the power that was in her body.

WHAM.

The large crank made contact with the back of Jonathan's leg, in the center of his calf.

In an instant, he fell to the ground in a heavy heap with a shout of pain. Melissa was too blind in the moment to see the mask, as she stood on her knees above him, raising the crank high above her head. He was laying on the ground, on his stomach. She'd give him a good hit in the back. That should be enough.

She slammed down with fury, but it was too late- He had rolled out of the way. His eyes were wide behind the mask. Melissa stared into those piercing blue eyes of his. She had always hated them before. Loathed them. She loathed them because they could see right through her. She hated them because she was infatuated with them. But now- the coolness was gone. Replaced by fear or panic. Maybe both.

The look delighted her.

Again- she swung. It hit him in the ribs. Not as hard as she wanted it to be, but she had hit him.

He gasped in pain as he felt the blow to his side. Clenching his teeth together in pain, he hoped she hadn't broken any of his ribs, but he couldn't check now for she swung the bar at him again. He caught this one though in a flash, violently twisting it from her hands.

Jonathan had wanted to make this easy for Melissa, as peaceful as possible. But she was making it difficult. Unbearable.

In a bolt, he hit her cheek with the back of his fist. It was enough to send her to the cold stone floor. He looked at her as he pulled himself up to his knees, towering over her. Melissa had taken the moment though to thrust her foot into his stomach. The kick knocked him away from her.

With a growl, he then nearly pounced upon her- like a beast on its prey. He dug his knee into her legs so she couldn't kick him. A single hand pinned Melissa's above her head on the floor- but, not before receiving a stinging slap to the face.

Both of them were breathing heavily, in ragged breaths as they stared into each other's eyes heatedly.

Melissa struggled against him, and he tightened his grip on her hands. She wasn't weak. She was putting up a good fight- but her body wasn't the size of Jonathan's. Also, he had done this before- but not like this.

"LET-ME-GO, YOU-SADISTIC SON-OF-A-"

One of his hands clamped around her neck, cutting off her from finishing. His thumb and index finger were squeezing her neck right below the joints of her bottom jaw. His palm was tightly pressed against her windpipe.

"Melissa…" He said through gritted teeth, through the mask, staring down at her. "I outta just kill you now. With my bare hands." And as he said this, his grip only tightened.

Somehow she had managed to pull her hands away from his hand that were holding them down- and now grabbed the hand the was choking her, trying to pull it away and digging her nails into his skin. He didn't stop. He cocked his head to the side, staring down at her. Her lip was bleeding from when he had hit her. The red contrasted to the blue that was now overcoming her face from the lack of air.

"Please." Melissa begged- her lips where only forming the words. She was at a loss for speech. "I'll do anything."

"Hmm? What was that, Millie? I couldn't hear you." He mocked.

"Get you anyone."

He suddenly let go of her, pushing himself away from Melissa. He stared down at her with a crooked smirk beneath the mask. His eyes watched Melissa as she gasped for air, breathing heavy, rubbing her neck.

And as she panted, her eyes closing in the pain from seconds before, he questioned her with that sadistic delight dripping from his voice-

"Anyone?"