Nightmare in Arkham
Chapter 7A: Victims (Part 1)
-"Why didn't you call me?" Batman asked sternly.
-"Because I thought I could handle it" Barbara responded defensively, "I would have had them if Catwoman hadn't gotten in the way."
-"And yet you managed to lose her as well."
-"Hey come on, Bruce," Dick chimed in, "It was an honest mistake. I probably would have done the same thing."
-"That is inexcusable" Batman retorted, "As the protectors of the city you need to be able to think on your feet instead of making rash decisions and jumping into confrontation on your own. That's how you underestimate your opponent, as you've clearly demonstrated," Batman said turning an eye to Barbara.
-Barbara looked away feeling hurt, embarrassed, frustrated, and ashamed. She knew Batman was right. She had been doing fine protecting the city up until tonight and after all that time she allowed herself to be toyed with by Catwoman and out gunned by a rookie Arkham doctor. She could not muster any confidence to look her mentor in the face.
-Batman walked over to Barbara and placed a hand on her shoulder.
-"Remember what you told me your worst fear was, Barbara?" Batman asked calmly.
-"Of course: that I would die before my dad ever found out about us. I could never forgive myself if he turned on you because of me."
-"And that's understandable. But what I'm trying to make you realize is that acting on impulses in a line of work like this can very easily turn that fear into a reality. But the plus side is that's something that can also be avoided, so long as you follow my instructions."
-"Yes sir," Barbara responded.
-"Good. You're both free to go. Get some rest and we'll deal with Catwoman and this Arkham doctor later."
-Barbara and Dick both nodded and headed up the stone staircase that led out of the Batcave and up to Wayne Manor. As they reached the top, the door opened and Alfred stepped in after them. As Barbara and Dick started walking away from the door, Alfred heard Robin say to Barbara "Hey don't sweat it. You know Bruce: he likes playing the protective parent."
-Alfred started down the staircase. "Was I late for another disciplinary lecture?" Alfred asked in his usual sophisticated, laid back tone.
-"More or less," Batman replied, "From what Barbara's told me, it sounds like our newest Arkham intern has a some what temperamental side."
-"Oh?"
-Batman walked over to the Bat-computer and pulled up a file containing Alice's background. On the cover was a picture of Alice in her mid 30s-early 40s.
-"It says she's from a town in Ohio called Springwood. She developed psychological trauma in early adulthood after the death of her friends and most of her family, which led to extreme bouts of anger. She did some time for a series of assault and battery charges in her late 20s before self-counseling herself. She's has a black belt in taijutsu and karate and specializes in post-traumatic stress, depression, anger, addiction, and early age trauma."
-"My, my. that's quite an impressive work ethic."
-"That's what worries me. Based on Barbara's story it seems like she's already made the same mistake as Harley."
-"And that would be?"
-"Charging in to defend the wrong person whom she assumes is the victim. If she has a record with so much violence and psychological trauma I can't even imagine how much greater a threat she could become than Harley. And who better to trick her than the victim of the same manipulation?"
-Alfred and Batman stared at Alice's photo. She was smiling in the picture, but just underneath it, Batman could see anger, resentment, and pain shining in her eyes like a beam from a lighthouse. She looked like she was masking her anger with a smile and was ready to kill anyone who dared cross her.
-"I see your point sir," Alfred said, "I suppose it would take a victim to create a victim."
LATER THAT NIGHT…
-Barbara had returned to campus. She had decided to blow off some steam by doing some gymnastics in the campus gymnasium. She had not been able to think clearly all night due to her run in with Alice and Batman's words. Dick Grayson sat close by in the bleachers watching her flip through the air on the horizontal bar before leaping off into frontal and horizontal somersaults 42 feet off the ground and sticking a perfect landing. She had been at this for almost and hour now and her body was covered in sweat that started to seep through her leotard.
-"Aren't you the least bit tired yet?" Dick asked.
-"Are you kidding? I feel like I could do this for two weeks straight". Barbara responded.
-"B-Man got to ya that much, huh?"
-"It's not just that. It's that Alice woman. She had to at least have been in her late 40s and yet she managed to take out 2 thugs and get the drop on me. And on top of that she's probably housing Harley as a pet even as we speak."
-"So?"
-"So, I've advanced physically far beyond any girl my age in this city and I end up losing to one more than twice my age and I let 2 criminals get away".
-"Hey, come on Babs-"
-"Dick, please", Barbara interrupted agitated.
-"Sorry Barbara, I'm just saying we all have our off days. Hell, I've probably underestimated more of my opponents in one week. You've only underestimated one, as far as I know".
-"I know, I guess Bruce's fear of failure is starting rub off on me."
-"I don't think it's just fear of failure," Dick responded questionably.
-Barbara lowered her head with a worried look on her face.
-Dick placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. You and I have done this for long time now. As long as we have Bruce I don't think either of us have to worry about ourselves. He's never steered us wrong before".
-"Yeah, I guess" Barbara said as she looked up at Dick and smiled. Their lips met and they kissed for a solid 30 seconds.
-"You ready to head back?" Dick asked.
-Barbara paused for a moment, reluctantly. "I…no" she finally said "You can head back if you want, I might be here for a while".
-"You seem to be trying to dodge sleep quite a lot lately. Is something else wrong?" Dick asked, curious.
-"Well, it's just that…for the past few days I've been having these really strange dreams. At first they didn't seem too out of the ordinary but they just keep getting worse and worse every time I fall asleep".
-"What about?" Dick asked giving Barbara his undivided attention.
-"Well, at first they started out with a little girl dressed in white just showing up out of no where. She just stood there like a statue while I tried to talk to her and then, eventually, she told me 'he's coming for you Barbara'. Then she just ran off giggling".
-"And then what?"
-"That was it for that dream. But in the dreams that followed more and more children started showing up. I would see them skipping rope or throwing a ball and they all started singing this very odd, and very disturbing, nursery rhyme about someone coming for me and that I need to 'never sleep again'."
-"Who's 'coming for you'?"
-"They did give a name," Barbara paused, trying to remember.
-"I think it was…Frankie, or Freddy or something along those lines. Then I hear this deep, demonic voice telling me 'Send the message'. It's gotten to the point now where it's actually starting to scare me a little."
-"Why haven't you told anyone about this?"
-"Well, this is kinda silly but… I didn't want to listen to the dreams. I thought if I just ignored the dreams and didn't say a word to anyone they would just go away but they keep coming back. And the next dream is always creepier than the previous".
-"Sounds to me like you're working yourself to the brink of insanity", Dick responded
-"Gee, thanks", Barbara responded sarcastically.
-"No, seriously Barb. Give yourself a break. You're probably having these nightmares because you keep riling yourself up".
-Barbara was about to say something but stopped. "Maybe you're right", Barbara responded.
-"If you want…", Dick said seductively, "I'll sleep with you tonight. Ya know, in case you get scared."
-"Oh yeah?", Barbara asked hinting interest, "You sure you wouldn't mind the snoring and talking in my sleep?"
-"You should hear me when I sleep" Dick responded.
-"Weeeell…" Barbara pondered.
-Ten minutes later Dick and Barbara were lying in a bed in one of the dorms. Dick was on top of Barbara, shirtless, and Barbara had her arms tightly wrapped around Dick's muscular frame as they locked lips and shifted their bodies in response to the vigorous movement of each other's bodies on top of one another. After an intensified make-out session the lovers broke their embrace painting heavily.
-"Wow!", Barbara exclaimed as she breathed heavily, "did they teach you that in the circus or was that just a natural talent?"
-"I learned it from you."
-Barbara chuckled at the remark and playfully hit Dick on the side of the head. "You are such a goofball".
-"And hey," Dick continued, "Don't feel too embarrassed about the Hello Kitty underwear thing with Catwoman. I actually think they look really sexy on you".
-Barbara smiled with her mouth closed at Dick. Without breaking eye contact she reached under the covers, pulled the underwear out, and tossed them over Dick's head.
-"Sorry Dick, I can't really say the same thing about you".
-They both laughed and after a moment of silence Dick asked, "So, you feeling better now".
-"Probably the best I've felt in a long time," she said as she snuggled over Dick, her right arm crossed over his abdomen. Dick placed his right arm over Barbara's shoulders and she lifted her head and rested it on his forearm as he edged her closer. They stayed that way for about 10 minutes before Dick felt the need to use the restroom. The dorm that Barbara stayed in did not have individual bathrooms but one public restroom in the hallway. He slowly got up from the bed and kissed Barbara on the side of her cheek before exiting the room in nothing but a pair of boxer shorts.
-Barbara was completely relaxed as she lay on her mattress facing the wall. She did not even realize Dick had left the room, for her eyes were closed and she had begun to drift off. Suddenly, the sound of scraping filled the air in the room. Barbara did not open her eyes immediately thinking the noise would go away; it didn't. She slowly opened her eyes and saw that a message was somehow carving itself on her wall right in front of her face. Barbara sprung awake and sat up. When the scraping ceased it had spelled out "SPREAD THE MESSAGE".
-"Oh no, not again!" Barbara said with fear in her voice. As she rose off of her bed she was startled by a tiny voice "Hi".
-Barbara spun around with a startled scream and saw a little girl in a white dress with long blonde hair tied up in a ponytail.
-"Who are you?!" Barbara demanded. She had had enough of these ridiculous run ins with the little girl. The little girl started crying. Barbara thought she had snapped at her too harshly.
-"I'm sorry" she said calmer, "I didn't mean to snap. I just want to know what's going on."
-The girl covered her eyes and continued to sob. Large tear droplets rolled off her cheeks and onto the floor. "Please don't cry. I didn't mean to yell at you. Please, look at me" Barbara pleaded as she stooped to her knees so she could talk to the little girl down on her level. The girl removed her hands and Barbara was horrified to see that the girl's eyeballs were now removed from her skull. As she backed away in horror blood spilled from the girl's eyes and gathered in a large puddle around her feet. The little girl, still crying, melted into the puddle as if she were standing in a giant pool of acid. As Barbara looked on the puddle suddenly began to slither out of the room. Barbara quickly rose to her feet and chased it to the door.
-The puddle slithered under the closed door into the hall and when Barbara opened the door her surroundings had changed completely. She was still in the dorm but it seemed as if it had been abandoned for 30 years. A single dim light that flickered from a weak circuit lighted the hallway, the walls were all cracked and covered in mold and graffiti and some of them had giant holes in them. There were puddles of water on the floor and water dripping from the ceiling making tiny droplet noises when they fell. All of the doors to the rooms in the hallway were either missing, broken, or hanging off by the hinges and there was not a single, solitary one in any of the rooms.
-Barbara felt vulnerable, even scared. She had no idea where she was and was wandering these decrepit surroundings alone and almost completely naked. Barbara turned back to her room but was shocked to see that now it was just as ruined as the rest of the building.
-"Dick! Anyone! Where are you?!" Barbara's screams echoed through the halls but the only sound that responded was the dripping from the ceiling and the spark buzz from the dim light. Barbara began to slowly make her way down the halls, her eyes wandering in every direction. As Barbara neared the end of the hall, she stopped right under the light and slowly turned to one of the walls. On the wall was a series of crude drawings that looked like children had done them. They showed a man engulfed flames, a dead cat with 4 bloody scratches down one side of its body, a little blonde girl crying blood, and a frightened girl with long red hair starring at the person looking at the picture. Upon closer inspection Barbara noticed that these 4 drawing were taped to the wall right next to a piece of graffiti. The drawings had been placed right below 4 dripping streams of blood that were falling off of the fingers of a hand with knife like tips and the hand was attached to the red and green arm of a silhouetted figure painted as a shadow on the wall.
-As Barbara began to walk away the shadow on the wall leaned out behind her and watched her walk away. Barbara did not notice it. As she continued to walk through the dark hallway she began to hear very low, faint voices from far away. It was hard to make them out but they sounded like children singing. But as she listened the singing grew louder: "7, 8 Better stay up late, 9, 10 Never sleep again. 1, 2 Freddy's coming for you". The voices sounded like they were just around the next corner now. Barbara was frozen with fear. She could not move or speak and so she decided to wait until whatever the source of the noise was turned the corner while she stayed hidden in the shadows.
-Right behind Barbara, a low, male voice whispered directly into her ear "Bo". Before Barbara even had a chance to scream a giant pool of blood came rushing down the hallway like a river that had overflown its banks. The blood pool carried what sounded like a million screams coming from children which grew louder as the river raced toward Barbara threatening to drown her. Barbara screamed and sprinted to the far end of the hall. Barbara turned a corner hoping to make it to the stairs before the rapid blood swept her away but as Barbara's foot struck the floor it sunk into it like quicksand. Barbara pulled her foot free but when she placed her foot on the ground again it sunk even deeper, this time up to her knee. The more Barbara struggled the deeper she sank into the loose ground. As Barbara frantically tried to free herself the blood river crashed into the wall and swept over her. Under the pool Barbara felt that her lower body had been freed and she swam to the surface where she gasped for air. When she opened her eyes she saw that she was inside of what looked like a giant boiler. It was extremely hot and Barbara knew she had to get out fast. She spotted an open door a few feet away and swam toward it. As Barbara climbed out she felt something grab her foot and when she turned around she saw a burned skeleton of what appeared to be a teenage girl grasping her leg. Barbara screamed and frantically kicked at the skeleton. The sharp, bony fingers scratched Barbara's leg as she struggled. Eventually Barbara managed to break free from the skeleton's grasp and it fell backward into the water just as a mass of flames filled the boiler and spewed out of the open door. A wave of heat rushed past Barbara before the door slammed shut.
-Barbara began to study her surroundings. She was in a dark, red-lighted room with chains hanging from the ceiling, steam clouding the air, and fire burning inside of various furnaces that were scattered about the room.
-"What is this place?" Barbara asked herself.
-"The place where dreams come to die", said a voice from behind her. Barbara spun around and saw Freddy standing only a few feet away from her sneering at her. "Hello, Barbara," he said.
-Barbara had no idea what to make of this. She did not know if she should be scared, confused, or even amused. Who the hell is this clown, some failed make-up artist? Barbara thought to herself. I'll bet he set this whole thing up. He's probably using some kind of illusion trick to psyche me out. There's no way this guy's expecting me to take him seriously.
-"Okay, 2 questions: how do you know my name, and who the hell picked out your Halloween costume" Barbara asked amusingly.
-Freddy smiled at her and said, "I was just about to ask the same question about your costume, Batgirl."
"What? How do you-"
-"Well, for one, the red hair makes you stick out like a sore thumb, and you were the easiest person in this God damned city for me to mind probe," Freddy said as he raised his index knife. "And let me take a wild guess: that little Dick boyfriend of yours' is the little Superboy, right?"
-Now Barbara was getting nervous.
-"Like I said: if the hair sticks out of the mask, it's not a mask. Course…his feeble like mind wasn't that hard to hack either. How ironic: when I came here I thought the asylum freaks were gonna be the easiest targets, but it looks like the real fresh meat comes from the little children trying to play superhero."
-Freddy turned to the wall and the screen opened up. On the screen were profile pictures of all of the people Freddy had singled out. They included Scarecrow, whose profile had an X burned over it, Catwoman, Two-Face, Mr. Freeze, Riddler, Killer Croc, Mad Hatter, Poison Ivy, Penguin, Bane, Harley Quinn, and, much to Barbara's horror, at the bottom of the screen were profiles of herself, Robin, and Batman. Freddy walked over to the wall and pointed his finger over Batman.
-"Now this…this is my prize target. Thing is, he's the only one whose secret identity I just can't figure out. That's why I need you, my pretty. I need you to send the message: Freddy's coming for them."
-"Why me?" Barbara asked anxiously.
-Freddy chuckled at her and slowly began to make his way toward her. Barbara backed up against a wall and Freddy walked right up to her. He placed his hand on the wall beside her and slowly scraped his claws down the wall. "I need someone weak, someone who I wouldn't have to beat into submission (thinking of Catwoman) or the other way around. And who better than a little, naïve, wannabe superhero who only put on the cape to serve as a mascot to keep her daddy from going to jail?"
-Barbara angrily kicked Freddy in the crotch but it had absolutely no effect. He simply laughed and asked, "May I have another?" Barbara growled through teeth and violently began striking Freddy harder and harder. Freddy grabbed Barbara by the throat and used his other hand to run his claws gently down her cheek.
-"You wanna know the secret of pain?" he asked, "If you just stop feeling it, you can start using it". He then threw Barbara against a metal pipe, which made a loud Bang from the impact. As Barbara lay on the ground Freddy walked up beside her. "The secret of fear is a bit more complicated. It's based on size: the bigger it is the bigger you are", Freddy then leaned down until his face was practically touching Barbara's "The smaller it is, the smaller you are".
-Freddy's tone turned angry "Now spread the message you little bitch. Make me large".
-"No" Barbara stated.
-"What was that?"
-"I said NO!" Barbara sprung to her feet and pushed Freddy back.
-"You just made a huge mistake you spaghetti faced Halloween reject. You just told me what you really are. You're nothing but a pathetic, spineless bully who's completely helpless without the use of intimidation. And that's all this is, isn't it? Intimidation? Did Mad Hatter put you up to this? Did you put some kind of mind chip behind my head that only activates when I'm asleep? And is that make-up or did you burn yourself to make people look past that stupid fedora hat and Christmas sweater combo?"
-Freddy angrily bared his teeth.
-"What's wrong? Is the 'weak, naïve wannabe' getting to you?"
-Freddy's angry expression turned to one of amusement.
-"Hardly."
-Freddy then vanished right before Barbara's eyes leaving her shocked. Barbara looked around to see where he had gone but could not find any trace of him. "The second secret of fear…" Freddy's voice called out from nowhere. Barbara then felt something with sharp points grip around the top of her head. "…Everyone has it." Freddy stated from behind her. Then images began to flash before Freddy's eyes. They were images of Barbara, dressed as Batgirl, getting knocked off the side of a building and plummeting to her death right in front of her father. Once the heartbroken commissioner learned the truth he turned on Batman, tearing up nearly the entire city, releasing inmates from Arkham, arresting Dick Grason, turning Gotham into a battlefield, all to avenge her death because he never knew her secret.
-"Typical teenage drama: you're worst fear is that 'daddy wouldn't approve'. I can very easily make that fear a reality if you don't spread the message. So how about it?"
-Barbara spun around and kicked Freddy in the stomach. This time if had an effect and Freddy bent over in pain.
-"And then what? You'll just kill me anyway?"
-"I'll kill you last…"
-"Hmmm…" Barbara put her hand on her chin in a manner of consideration "No thanks". She then cartwheeled toward Freddy and delivered a powerful kick to his head and sideswiped his legs with her outstretched leg, tripping him. Once Freddy was on the ground Barbara leapt on top of him and started pounding his face. Freddy vanished from under her and reappeared behind her again. Freddy grabbed Barbara's head in his claw but, before he had a chance to dig the blades in her skull, another image flashed before his eyes: the image of her confrontation with Alice.
-Freddy froze in place and loosened his hold on Barbara's head. Barbara jerked her head away and smacked Freddy's hand sending his glove flying across the room. She then proceeded to land blows on Freddy's face and torso but he didn't even notice. He simply bitch-slapped Barbara with the back of his hand sending her to the ground. He then walked toward the wall where the screen was still displaying his victims. Freddy then brought up "New Arrivals in Gotham" on the screen and, sure enough, there was an image of Alice Johnson. Freddy stared at the screen as if he had just found a friend that he had not seen in decades. Barbara stared at him confused.
-"Alice", Freddy exclaimed with joy in his voice. Freddy then let out a sinister laugh that gave Barbara goose bumps. "It's been a long time, Alice. You and I have a lot of catching up to do".
-Barbara rose to her feet.
-"Good news, little one: you're off the hook."
-Barbara ran at Freddy but he spun around and grabbed her by the throat and lifted her off the ground. Freddy brought Barbara closer to him and she grabbed the collar of his sweater as she gasped for air.
-"The bad news...you're off the hook."
Back in the real world Dick returned from the restroom to find Barbara lying under the covers. She looked like she was sleeping peacefully and Dick smiled at her. He leaned over to kiss Barbara on the side of the head but as he began to lean down Barbara abruptly shot up and let out and agonized gasp. Blood was gushing from her back. Dick stumbled backward in shock. The last thing that went through Barbara's mind was Batman's words about underestimating her opponent and the realization that Barbara had failed him. Barbara only had time to say "Warn Al..Al…", before her eyes drifted shut and her body collapsed off the side of her bed revealing four giant holes in her back, one of which was directly over her spine. Dick was terrified; he could not speak, move, or look away from Barbara's motionless body slumped over like a store mannequin. All he was able to do was try and fight back the vomit threatening to emerge from his throat. Eventually, he lost the battle and fell to his knees beside Barbara and spilled his guts on the floor. When he looked back at Barbara he noticed, for a second, that her tightly clenched fist was grasping what appeared to be a red and green cloth.
Back in the dream world, Freddy had attacked Barbara while her guard was down. As she held onto Freddy, he forced his glove to shoot up from the spot where Barbara had knocked it off and it slammed into her back like a mini-rocket, severing her spinal cord just a few inches above her pelvis while the other claws dug through her back, through her muscle, and into her body. The impact did not kill her but rather put her in a comatose state. In the dream world, however, she was awake and fully aware of her surroundings but had lost the ability to move. With the blades still embedded in Barbara's back, Freddy slipped his hand back into his glove and yanked the them out causing blood to pour from the wounds. He looked at the collar of his sweater.
-"Damn bitch! You ruined my favorite sweater!" He turned Barbara onto her back and was about to bring his glove down on Barbara's chest but stopped right before they made impact. Freddy looked as if an idea had struck him at the last second and he gently brushed his blades along Barbara's forehead, covering it in her own blood as he chuckled sinisterly.
-"I told you I'd kill you last. I'm a man of my word."