Chapter 8: The ache of the blade

Authors Note: Thank you to everyone who reviewed, alerted and added my story to their favorites list. So let's get this chapter started.

Disclaimer: I do not own Arkham Asylum.

After walking through the doors I lost my child like look and gained an older appearance but was still a child.

"I recognize this," I said as I looked around to see that I was outside a courthouse. "I was thirteen and…the guy who murdered my father was stepping out of the courthouse and into a cab. I was going to kill him."

I got on my bike and followed him ignoring the switchblade rubbing against my leg in my jean pocket as I chased after him. I don't know how long I was ridding and I didn't care but when I finally followed him to the top of rooftop of an abandoned building in a crime infested neighborhood where cops are even afraid to come here. It was a gift from god it had to be. I could kill him and no one would ever suspect me. It was a sign from god that I had to do this.

I needed to do this.

The man was handling some guy over a loan he had given him and was now hanging him from the edge of a roof.

"You got my money now punk?" he asked in his cheesy Italian accent. "What you think that just because I was behind bars you could skip on Mr. Falcone's loan?"

"No, no, no, no Pauli," The skinny man whimpered. "I got your money I'll pay with interest."

"You damn well better." He said as he lifted the man up and threw him over on the ground. He didn't see me run at him.

Before he knew what hit him I had stabbed my switch blade into his stomach. He let out a groan as he slumped down on the ground. I quickly made a grab for his pistol that was holstered in the waist band of his pants and pointed it shakily at his head. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I held the gun at him.

"Do you remember me?" I asked as he looked at me. It took him a few seconds before his eyes widened and he let out a chuckle.

"Yeah, I remember you…" He gasped as he tried to get to his feet. "You're the son of that research guy who worked at Wayne Tech. Well, before I stabbed his dumbass."

"Why did you do it," I yelled. "Why did you kill my father!" At that he laughed.

"Well you see, when I was young I used to steal money from rich boys for a living," He explained. "But then I became an enforcer for the Falcone family and I that ended that gig. But later I missed the thrill of stealing money and from time to time I would dress up like a bum and rob people for fun." He finished. "So yeah if your dad hadn't been so stubborn and just handed over his money he'd still be alive."

I didn't even realize it but we were being watched the whole time. The gun went off but when I fired the gun was knocked out of my hands and a big man with pointy ears stood between me and Pauli. He knocked Pauli out and turned to me after letting out a growl. He grabbed me by the collar of my coat and lifted me off my feet as he looked me in the eyes.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!" He shouted. "Are you crazy, did you think it would be so easy that you could just kill a man without remorse? Do you know what this would have done to you?"

While he was yelling at me I was struggling to break free from his grip. I unzipped my coat and fell to the ground and ran away as fast as I could.

"Jayden wait!" he yelled as I ran away not knowing where I was gonna go.

I ran across the rooftops with the cold wind blowing in my face and tears streaming down my face and spilling behind me. I couldn't look back I was afraid. Afraid of what I had almost done, afraid of how he could just do all those things for fun, afraid of the Batman who was now right behind me. I heard his cape flapping from behind me as I ran, but I tripped on my shoelace and fell on the ground as I looked he descended down on me and I turned my head and shielded myself from his scary form.

When I woke up I was back to normal and floating in the middle of nowhere. That's when I heard a low chuckle from behind. I looked up to see Scarecrow towering over me as I stood in the palm of his hand. He looked down on me as if he were a god with his glowing orange eyes as mist blew out of his silver teeth.

"Welcome Shadow," He said in his demonic voice. "Now you know, I'm getting closer to your subconscious and soon I will know your deepest fears." He raised his needle covered hand and held it over me. "Now show me your deepest fears."

I felt something surge through my body and started glowing amber. His orange gaze shined down on me but my power surpassed his as he dropped me.

"What was that?" He screamed. "You should be on the ground screaming in horror."

"You will never hear me scream," I grunted. "And you will never know my fears." I drew my sword which turned into my image of Excalibur. "And you will know true fear!" I yelled as I threw the sword at his face. He let out a scream as light coded over our bodies.

My vision cleared and I saw that I was in a morgue and in my left hand was the Scarecrows throat. He was whimpering as he stuck my arm with his syringe glove.

"Your mind should be twisted beyond repair," He gasped his voice no longer holding that fearless demonic voice. "What are you?"

"Better than you," I said as I ripped his arm out of mine and slammed against into the wall. "Where's Dr. Young?" I demanded as I pushed my elbow into his throat.

"I-I don't know," He gasped. "J-Joker wanted me to keep you and Batman busy while he searched for Young. That's all I know I swear."

He was lying and he knew it, he was just too dumb to admit it. So I grabbed one of his syringes and stabbed it into his neck. He grunted in pain as the orange liquid pumped into him. I ripped his mask off and looked him in the eyes. I saw a reflection of myself on one of the metal drawers in the morgue that my veins were glowing bright yellow as were my eyes.

"Crane," I snarled. "Where's Dr. Young!" He looked at me with his eyes that were now widened in horror, his mouth hung open as he tried to speak.

"Z-Zsasz has her in the study," He whimpered.

That got my attention faster than the thug's fist to my face. I flew over to the wall landed on the ground with a thud. I looked up to see Crane running away as three thugs with a pipe, a stun rod and a knife.

"Well lookie here the boss will-"

Before he could finish his sentence my boot smashed into his face and he went flying into the wall. The one with the knife tried to land a cut across my head, but I ducked and landed an uppercut on his chin. I felt the bones and teeth crack and shatter through his chin as he flew up into the air. The laast armed with the stun rod tried to run away but didn't get far as I fired my stun gun at him. The spikes struck his back cackling blue sparks as he fell to the ground.

I wasted no time running out of the morgue and towards the study tearing through the doors and stomping hard on the ground as the Adonis formula burned in my veins. Those dreams Crane showed me were not just memories but reminders. Reminders of how weak I was to save dad, how cowardly I was to get my revenge and how I was actually afraid of Batman at one point in my life.

Never again.

I finally made it to the study as I saw Zsasz hold a knife up to Young's throat.

"You come near me Shadow and she dies!" He yelled as he dragged Young into another room.

"Help me, Shadow please!" Young shrieked.

"ZSASZ!" I shouted as I ran after them.

I confronted him in a small lounge as the tallied covered man pressed his knife to the poor doctor's throat. Her mascara stained her face as it poured down her face. I drew my sword as we started circling each other.

"So we meet at last," He said breaking the silence. "I've long awaited this moment."

"What the hell are you talking about you freak?" I asked my gaze never leaving Young.

"You and I have the same passion you see. We both take pleasure in killing."

"I kill to rid this world of sick twisted freaks like you!"

"Yes, but you kill none the less," He stated matter-o-factly. "When you're covered in your victims' blood or holding their severed head, do you see people looking at you like a savior of the people."

"I don't do this kind of work to be loved I do it to save the people."

"So do I, I free them from their pain. You see like Dr. Crane say's everyone always has something to fear. One man is afraid to be in debt or another man is afraid to be killed in his sleep I set them free."

"Bullshit," I spat out. "You do it because it's your drug whenever your skin starts to itch you just go out and kill someone so you can cut your flesh."

"What about you?" He asked as he cocked his head to the right. "I've seen your work as well, the cuts across most of the inmates flesh your sword stained with the blood of others you enjoy cutting as much as I do."

"You're wrong I kill for justice not pleasure."

"You're lying your blade is aching to cut my flesh," He noticed my glowing veins and looked at me with pleasure. "I'm admiring your flesh, I can't wait to place a nice long cut across your throat."

Just then another T.V came on with Joker's face on it.

"Zsasz what are you doing just kill her she's useless to me now," He ordered. "He won't kill you he hasn't killed anyone."

"Your wrong if I kill her he'll rip me to tear me to shreds." He whimpered as Joker chuckled.

"Aww, is someone afraid of alittle boy?" He said in a false sad tone.

His knife started shaking and he started chuckling with anxiety. I was about to make a move when something flew pass my ear and struck Zsasz in the center of his head. I turned to see a fist fly towards my face.

(Batman's POV)

Zsasz and Jayden have been exchanging comebacks for a few minutes while Jayden was trying to find a way to save Dr. Young. Joker came on shortly after and as expected made things worse. Zsasz stood in front of the doorway as Jayden's back faced me. I pulled out a batarang and carefully aimed it at Zsasz's head. I threw it and hit Zsasz in the face and ran towards Jayden who didn't have enough time to react as I punched him in the face. They were both on the ground as I looked over Jayden's body I noticed his vein's glowing yellow.

"What is this," I kneeled down ready to take a sample when I heard Dr. Young hitting Zsasz's unconscious body.

"You monster," She shrieked as she pounded her fist into his chest. "You evil, evil, evil monster!"

"He's not going anywhere you can stop now." I reassured as I helped her up. She wiped her eyes as she got to her feat.

"Sorry…I'm so sorry," She whispered.

She was scared but that didn't change the fact that she kidnapped Bane and experimented on him.

"I saw Bane," I told her bluntly.

"I know, I-I joker threatened me I wanted to stop the experiment I tried to give him his money back!"

"Joker doesn't take no for an answer." I told her.

"He wants an army," She explained. "A horrible twisted force to destroy Gotham, but he couldn't do it without the formula so I hid it and…" I cut her off.

"He has Venom and your formula." I stated bluntly.

Before Young could say anything she let out a gasp and covered her mouth with her hands. I didn't have time to turn as I was tackled to the ground. I looked over my shoulder to see a ferocious Jayden attacking me as his veins glowed even brighter. I flipped him off my back and readied for another fight.

He picked up his sword and brought it down on me but I blocked it with the edges of my gauntlets. We locked for a moment and started into each other's eyes before Young came over and tried to break us up.

"Jayden stop, it's alright he's going to help us," She said and to my surprise he let up. "What's happening to you? Your face is glowing through your mask and glasses."

"My Adonis formula is building up due to my stress levels." He said.

"Adonis?" I asked. "Is that something of yours Dr. Young?" I asked. Jayden just scoffed.

"No the Adonis formula was my father's formula," He explained. "And it's far superior compared to the crap that Joker's brewing. Speaking of which where is he making this crap?" They both walked over to a plaque.

"There's a lab," She explained. "Hidden in the garden's it's locked off but the security key codes for the entire island are in the wardens safe."

"What else is Joker planning?" I asked. Jayden just scoffed again.

"Who gives a shit what that psycho wants. In the end my sword will pierce his heart before he can accomplish anything."

"No, Jayden we've been over this if you kill him all of Gotham will be just like him." Young pleaded.

"She's right, killing Joker won't solve anything," I explained. "If you kill him you won't be any different from him."

He growled in frustration and moved over to the golden plaque on the wall.

"I'm sick of this bullshit Gotham," He snarled. "Gotham will heal eventually, people will be able to live peacefully and all honesty what I do with my life and my soul is my business not yours," He said pointing at Young and then he glared at me. "And sure as shit not yours, if you failed to save my father what good are you."

"Jayden…" I sighed, before I could get a word out I heard a noise and saw confetti fly out at Jayden. I then saw a green smiling face on the safe.

"Oh shit!" He screamed as he grabbed Dr. Young and jumped out of the way. "Oh my god!" She exclaimed. "Get out of the way!" I yelled. But it was too late as I we were all knocked back by the explosion.

When my vision started to come back I saw the familiar face of Harley Quinn standing over me.

"Poor Dr. Young," She falsely expressed. "Still you know how Mr. J hates a squealer." She then walked over to Warden Sharp. "Speaking of squealers," She snarled as she ripped the tape from his mouth and jabbed the diamond end of his cane into his stomach. He gasped in pain as he whimpered for help which caused Harley to smack the end of the cane across his head and break it off. "That old loony actually thinks he runs this place talk about crazy. Well Bats places to go. Get him boys if he gets up knock back down. But not too rough, Mr. J needs him at the party."

Her men surrounded me and cracked their knuckles as they were about to abduct me.

As if.

I jumped to my feet as they all jumped back and raised their fists while another man raised a stun rod. There were four in total I could take theses guy's in my sleep. The one with the stun rod tried to jab me with his weapon but I easily flipped over him and delivered a few punches to his stomach and finished him off with a kick to his head. Another one tried to punch me but I swatted his hand away and landed a hard punch to his face knocking him out. I moved around the remaining two with ease landing a kick in one guys face while the other tried to kick me. I grabbed his boot and flipped him onto his back and reached down grabbed him by his throat and landed a punch to his face finishing off the remaining thugs.

When it was over I walked over to Jayden and Dr. Young. I saw Jayden with Dr. Young wrapped in his arms as she stared at me with lifeless eyes as I reached down and checked her pulse.

Nothing.

"I'm sorry Young," I walked over and checked Jayden's pulse, nothing. "Jayden…"

(Flash Back)

I had just stopped Jayden from killing Pauli and he broke free of my grasp and started running away. He had speed for someone his age but I was faster, I glided down to him and saw him trip over his feet and shield his face with his arms. I stood over him as he looked up at me with tear stained eyes which rapidly changed from fear to anger as he charged at me. His fist hit my chest in anger as he shouted out at me.

"You bastard, you cost me my one chance," he yelled. "If you actually were the man you say you were then he would still be alive!"

I grabbed his fists as he started panting as he looked me in the eyes as I stared right back at him.

"If I could give my life to save your father I would." I told him. "But how do you think he would feel that his only son was nothing but a lowly murderer." That got him riled up again.

"Shut up, you know nothing about my father." He then started to look tired as he fell back.

I caught him and held him in my arms as I carried him to my car and buckled him in. I got in the driver's seat as I started the car and drive back into the bat cave. I looked over at him and sighed.

"I won't let you become a monster like him Jayden, I promised your father and I'll die to keep it." I said as we drove off into the night.

(Flashback end)

I had just positioned Young and Jayden on the floor with their arms crossed and made my way out of the study. I had just finished going over my plans with Oracle but first I would go inform Cash about the bodies so he could make sure that they could get a proper burial once this was all over. I may have failed to protect Jayden but I would not rest until Joker was back in his cell where he belongs.

(Normal POV)

In the glow of the fire of the study Jayden and Dr. Young's bodies remained still in the center of the room. As they lied there Jayden's veins started glowing yellow. His eyes shot open as he gasped for air. A few cracks were heard as he staggered to his feet and spat out blood. In a few minutes his bones were mended and his breathing was much steadier as his veins slowly started to dim down.

Shadow had just come back from the dead.