Chapter 4: Carmen's Secret

Dr. Crane walked out to the lobby to find her waiting there for him. Carmen then turned to him with a smile that made her emerald eyes shine underneath her black eye shadow. "Ready to go?" she asked.

"Let's go," he said, annoyed. They walked to her car.

Once they were both seated, she turned to him, "you know, I can make better coffee than any coffee shop. Want to just go back to my place?"

"Are you sure you actually want me there after...after last night?" Jonathan asked, hesitantly.

"Nothing really happened" said Carmen.

"Alright, fine Miss Killy. But, I warn you; I'm dangerous," he said.

Carmen then reached for his hand, but he pulled it away. She sighed and took her hand back. "That's okay, so am I," she said. She then took out a Backstreet Boy CD. The song, "I Want it That Way" filled up the car.

Crane then picked up the case. "Backstreet Boys, huh? Going old school."

"Hey, they are really good," she said as they stopped in front of the apartment building. "So, let's go in," she said as they both stepped out of the car. They then walked in and Carmen unlocked the door. Sable came up to them as they walked in. "Hey kitty," she said, picking up the cat and turning to Crane. "Alright, just make yourself comfortable and I'll be back."

Crane then looked around the place. Almost everything was either red or black. He then took a place on the couch. On the table beside him, he could see some books with a gothic girl on them titled "Emily the Strange." He took a look through one of them and saw that they were graphic novels. He placed it back down. As Carmen came back, he noticed that she changed clothes. This time, she had on black and white leggings with her skirt. She then removed her jacket and he could see she had on a black shirt. Her arms were as white as her face. "Sorry about that, I had to feed my cat," she said.

"That's fine."

"So how do you take your coffee?"

"Black, if you don't mind."

Carmen began to get the coffee out of the cabinet and started the coffee pot.

"So, what did you want to tell me?" Crane asked.

Carmen sighed, "well, it's a little complicated, but I will tell you. But, I"m not sure how you are going to take it."

"Oh, I think I can handle it," said Crane.

She handed him his coffee and took a seat next to him. "Okay, well here it goes – do you see that vase," she said as she pointed to the vase on the table.

"Yes," said Crane.

"Well..." Carmen waved her hand and the vase moved across the table.

Crane took his glasses off and cleaned them on his shirt and put them back on. "Did you just do that?"

"Yeah."

"But, how? That's impossible."

"Not for witches. Which is what I amk," said Carmen.

Crane just stood there, astonished. "Please tell me you're not serious."

"I wish I wasn't," said Carmen.

"Well, it's extrordinary. Does anyone else know?" he asked.

Carmen looked at him, "you mean, you're okay with this?"

"I'm the Scarecrow, and in this city, we have come to expect the weird stuff," he said.

"Well, thank you then," she said.

Crane looked at his watch, "well, I have to go now, but nice to officially meet you." He then got up.

"Wait...can I see you again?" Carmen asked.

"Yes, how about dinner, 8:00 PM, tomorrow night?"

"That sounds great. Do you want me to drive you home?" she asked.

"No need, I will take the bus. See you then," he said as he walked out the door.

Carmen shut it with a smile. "Ha! Guess what Sable...I've got a date with one of Batman's enemies!" she shreiked.