OK, apparently this chapter wasn't showing so here goes again.
Last chapter folks! Don't worry, I'm working on a sequel.
Disclaimer: I do not own Batman or any affiliated properties. Why else would I resort to fanfiction?
The Scarecrow Letters II
Dear Jonathan,
I'm sorry. I won't ask any more questions. I don't want to think I don't appreciate you. You're the only one who appreciates me. You know what, I'll prove I'm gonna do this. I'll try to get to Gotham. That way I can meet you. I don't want you to get sick of me or anything. If you do, does that mean you'll stop writing to me? I don't know. I know you love me and want to help me and I love you too. I know you think I'm good enough and that should be good enough for me. I trust you. I really want to see you. Mom's with Jimmy all the time and she won't hardly notice. I hate it here. I hate it. I hate it I hate it I hate it. Madison's boyfriend told her I tried to make out with him to keep her away from me. She was the closest thing I had to a friend and she's gone. I want to hurt him. He's a liar and everyone at school thinks I'm going to be just like Mom. I can't stand it. I hate them all and I want them to die and I want to get out of here and be with you. Please help me. I can't take it anymore! Make them go away!
Dear Hester-Mae,
My poor girl. My poor dear little girl. I understand how hard it can be. I'm here. I know you trust me over everyone else. Worms such as those in Arlen crawl over people like us. Abuse us. Sweet girl. I'm flattered that you want to come to Gotham City to see me, but I'm sorry that you'll have to wait. I know, I know. You want to get out of Arlen as soon as possible. I did as well. I am sorry, but wait. I want to see you, but it will have to wait for a little while.
However, being the caring brother I am, I will not leave you with nothing. Notice those two vials in the envelope? Courtesy of the watchful eye of Gotham's finest, I was able to sneak them out. And the public wonders how we keep breaking out. They are samples of my fear toxin. Before you scuttle off to drench Madison's boyfriend with my toxin (and I cannot say I blame you), I want to you try one of them yourself. You'll notice that they marked with sticker dots. The vial with the blue dot is for you. This specimen of my toxin will reveal your deepest fears. In order to become a true disciple of fear, you must know your fear intimately. I know it may be scary, but that is the point, no?
Find an open space where no one can see you and there is nothing to hurt yourself with. One of the many abandoned fields around ought to do nicely. Open your vial and inhale deeply. Keep breathing deeply until your terror consumes you. This toxin is comparatively mild compared to what I normally use, so you should hallucinate for about an hour. You will not hallucinate tactile sensations, but you should be able to both see and hear your fears. Write everything you experience to me. Everything, leave nothing out. I need to know your fear. This will be good for you. Your first step into knowing the ecstasy fear can bring. I would never have you do anything that wasn't for the best.
After you have known your fear, it is high time we confront Madison's boyfriend with his. The vial with the yellow dot is intended for him. I developed it from the same variety of seed we used on your old friend Jake when you were a beginner. Remember that? You felt guilty at the time, but I think you are a wiser girl now. You know everything I have you do is completely justified. As you can see, the toxin is powdered. Just like the old days, I need you to get him to consume it. His hidden aggression and fear about his relationship with Madison will come out to the fore. Hopefully, this will be triggered in public where he cannot hide. I assume you know how that will end. The boyfriend will be punished severely and Madison will learn her lesson for not trusting someone who trusted her.
I need to see that you can use my toxin effectively. Can you cause fear with no remorse or regret, as I can? Will you prove that you are as I am? If you impress me, I will get you to Gotham. You must prove yourself, sister. I'm counting on you.
Yours,
Jonathan
Dear Jonathan,
I did it. Everything. Madison's boyfriend is in juvie and she's in the hospital. She blames me. She doesn't know what I did, but she thinks I was trying to steal him and he hit her out of confusion and that he's "misunderstood." I don't feel sorry. I also inhaled your fear toxin. I did NOT like it. I heard voices telling me I was just like Mom and that I was a slut like her. Everyone from school was surrounding me and yelling at me. I saw a snake climbing up me and hissing and I didn't feel it but I kinda did. Mom and her boyfriend were you-knowing in front of everyone and she was telling me that I was just like her and I should just get over it. You were there too. You told me how much you hated me. You said I was like Mom too and you never wanted to look at me again. Then you and everyone else left because I was so gross and I was alone. Not just alone-in-the-field alone, but all alone.
How am I supposed to learn to like that? Do you hate me?
From,
Hester-Mae
Dear Hester-Mae,
Sweet girl, you know I love you. Fear can be wondrous, if you only have the right fear. Being mocked is painful, but it is not a great phobia. Focus on your fear of me. Use your fear of me leaving you to motivate you. Think on how you felt when I was mocking you and turning from you. Use that to adjust yourself to never make me doubt you. Let it motivate you to be the perfect student I know you can be. In order to truly appreciate fear, you must have a great phobia. I have the Bat. He terrifies me down to my bones and I enjoy our clashes utterly. I would suggest trying to make me into your great phobia. Fear and love me. Let your fear of me motivate you. Let your love for me keep you going. Machiavelli argued that one must choose whether to be feared or loved. Why not both?
I think you are ready, sister. I will arrange for you and our mother to have full-paid room and board at the Old Gotham Hotel for a week starting May 10th, the day after your school year ends, yes? I will also send plane tickets. There will be a false certificate and the story will be that you won a short-story contest and a vacation to Gotham with it. While you are in Gotham, I will slip out and threaten a guard to keep quiet about it. There will be an acquaintance of mine at the hotel who will give you an excuse to leave with our mother's permission. I have been planning this for some time. I look forward to meeting you face to face, sister.
Yours,
Jonathan
To be continued in Scarecrow Kin. Which will likely take some time to come out…
Screw real life so hard…