Chapter 2

"Bruce Wayne returns! That's the headline of our story tonight. The billionaire who was presumed dead returned from obscurity over a week ago. Mister Wayne wasn't available for comment. But the question that all of us have is where he was all this time and what is he planning to do now that he is back …" the news presenter on the television continued with her story but Bruce didn't pay much attention. He was waiting for the elevator to take him to what had once been his dad's office. He felt a knot in his stomach but none could tell, he had put on his mask, the face that never felt anything, the face of a man determined to do what's necessary, the face that accompanied him all these years during the bad times he had to endure. The elevator door opened and he entered the small chamber, a few seconds later he reached the top floor. Everything was exactly as he remembered. The secretary was at the phone when he reached her desk. "Excuse me can I see Mr. Earle?" The secretary without looking at him got off the phone and asked for his name.

"Wayne, Bruce Wayne." He answered and couldn't help a smile. The secretary astounded looked up at him with half her mouth open.

"One minute Mr. Wayne, I'll inform him." She said at the end. She picked up the second line and informed the active CEO of Wayne Industries of Bruce's presence. Bruce saw her move her head to what Mr. Earle was saying to her, before she allow him to enter his office. The door next to them opened with a thump. "Mr. Wayne! What a nice surprise! Please come in." Mr Earle came out of his office, on his wrinkly face was pinned a smile that Bruce could easy see behind it. One thing was certain Mr. Earle wasn't very happy to see him.

"How are you son?" Mr Earle asked as he urged Bruce to enter his office. Bruce entered the room with a smile and said "Now I'm very good." He sat on the chair in front of the desk and waited for his host to do the same. Mr Earle offered his guest some coffee and continued with his questions.

"Bruce Wayne... in the flesh! After so many years with not so much as a sign of life. If i may ask where were you?"

"Nowhere specific. You could say I enjoyed the full of life and now that I've return I want to continue doing it." Bruce said. Mr Earle let a smile slip his lips. "Well I am happy you returned! You will find that Wayne Industries are in a very good place right now. My colleges and I are doing our best to take care of this empire."

"And I thank you for it! I couldn't dream of having done a better job myself. Frankly this line of work never was my style. But I would like to get more familiar with the company my family built."

"That is great! In what division are you interested?"

"I was thinking applied science..."

"Fox's division. I'll inform him to expect company." He said and stood up. "Now if you excuse me I need to be in a meeting, the company's business never stops!" He concluded and reached his hand to greed Bruce. "It was a pleasure to see you again Bruce."

"Mr. Earle the pleasure was all mine!" Bruce said then stood up and headed for the door. Mr. Earle smiled and opened the door for Bruce, then he addressed his assistant "Please take Mr. Wayne to the Applied Science offices.

The way to Mr. Fox office was very simple to remember, you simply had to enter the elevator and push the button for the second basement of the building. When the elevator stopped, the woman led Bruce through a wide area filled with drawers and huge objects covered with large black sheets. Mr. Fox was sitting in a small white desk at the corner of the vast room. The scene was a bit depressing. The middle aged man was all alone in a room filled with inventions, that Bruce knew had never seen the light of day, it was a shame.

"Here we are! Mr. Fox will see you now." The woman said in a thin voice.

"Thank you!" Bruce said and walked towards the man, who had stopped whatever he was doing and was looking directly at him. Bruce reached Mr. Fox and gave him his hand. "Hallo Mr. Fox, I understand you are the manager of Applied Science division?"

"Bruce Wayne. Welcome back. We are really glad that the rumours of your death weren't true." Fox said and a smile intensified the wrinkles on his dark skin. Bruce could see the sincerity of his words.

"Thank you Mr. Fox. It took me a while but now I'm back…" Bruce said and started to look around.

"Indeed." Fox answered with a scepticism colouring his voice. "May I ask, what are you doing here sir? I mean you are back to the city after a long time, I can't understand what interest you may have in this junk."

"I hardly consider as junk the investments of my family's company" Bruce answered.

"I'm sure you don't Mr. Wayne, but I'm interested to know, did Earle told you what this division is in reality?"

"No, what is it?" Bruce replied and his words made Fox smile.

"A dead end."

Meantime at the Clocktower…

Little Anna loved the way the chocolate melted in her mouth. She put another peace in her mouth and offered her mother half of her bar. Her mother was nervous for the entire road and she believed with her innocent mind that a little chocolate was enough to cheer her up. Madeline refused her daughter's offer and kept her mind focused on the person behind them. He or she, Madeline couldn't make out the deference, was following them for the past three blocks always kipping his or her face hidden. Little did she know that the person wasn't following them but the man at the opposite side of the road. He was wearing a leather jacket and his ears were covered in piercing.

The person in the trench coat, who Madeline so much feared, followed with his or her eyes the man in the leather jacket as he was crossing the road and headed directly for the mother and her daughter. The face under the hood tightened and its owner started running. The man with the piercings took out a knife and had his attention fixed at the terrified mother, who reacted by hugging the child tightly. The person in the trench coat had reached the thief without him expecting it and with a kick knocked the knife off his hand. Pissed off, the criminal responded with a punch, aiming at the persons face. The punch was avoided by the person with a graceful evasive move, which made the hood slide, revealing the long dark brown hair of a woman. Immediately after she evaded her attackers punch, she responded in kind. First she hit him with her elbow, a blow quickly followed by a right punch. The criminal was down. She looked the mother and her child, both were scared to death. "Call the police." The woman said and Madeline manage to move her head in response. The woman took the knife from the ground put it on the back pocket of her jeans and after she put her hood back on, she run towards Wayne Tower. She may was already too late. They couldn't succeed.

That was Chapter two of Black Night! Hope you've enjoyed it! I'm looking forward for your thoughts! :)