Chapter 5
If previous chapters seemed rushed, fear not. I'm not trying to rush it. It just seems a lot longer when you're writing slower than a snail on a tiny smartphone keyboard. I'll be trying to push it up to 2,000 words.
Harley lay in the alley, Ivy huddled around her. She felt so tired...so tired. It didn't hurt anymore, and it was nice having Ivy with her. It felt so nice. Now she could sleep. She'd wake up next to Ivy, and everything...would be...okay.
Ivy lay next to Harley in the alley, silently sobbing, holding back her tears. She felt Harley's body breathing slowly and heavily. Ivy was afraid of what Harley would feel in the morning. She was only glad that she'd fallen asleep. Ivy would sleep too, but they couldn't get caught again. Ivy was about to get up and carry Harley, but she noticed something odd. Harley's breathing was still slowing down and sounded labored. Ivy quickly pulled Harley up against the wall by her head and when she pulled it back, her hand was covered in blood.
Ivy's heart raced. Why hadn't she noticed before?
"Harley, no. Harley, God, no! Stay with me, Harley. Stay awake."
Ivy picked up Harley and carried her out of the alley. She looked around frantically, looking for something that could help them. An abandoned car or someone walking around the streets.
What was she thinking? No one would be walking around here. Her only option was to try to find a hospital. Harley's wound was still bleeding. Ivy used a nearby leaf of wall vines and used her powers to bind it. She turned a corner, and began looking for a hospital.
She only hoped she would find one in time.
Batman struggled against the ropes again. The Joker had left long ago, and Ambromovici stood watch. All Batman needed to do was get the blades on his arm to hit the rope. That's all it would take. The next step would be to get past Ambromovici. He wanted to take him out, but he definitely wasn't looking to get in a fight with him again. Batman had already regained feeling in his limbs, but he wasn't at full strength. Ambromovici had really landed a solid hit, unfortunately. Batman struggled silently for a few more seconds, and then he felt the blade slice into the blade. Before he cut the blade completely, Batman managed to grab the rope with both hands. He then twisted his arm upwards, and snapped the rope. But since he held the rope in his hands, it gave the illusion that he was still tied up.
Why would they put rope on an electric chair? wondered Batman. He looked down and saw that it wasn't an electric chair, but a hard metal chair hooked up to several car batteries, connected to a generator. It's crude structure and engineering made it a lot more painful than an actual electric chair. It doubled the pain of a real one, but had a much lower risk of any fatalities. The thing that got him was that Joker knew that. If he wanted Batman's pain to last, why would he bind him in rope. This was making less and less sense.
What was he up to?
Ivy realized that she couldn't take Harley to a hospital. As soon as she said "Harleen Quinzel" some dumb bitch orderly would call the cops, regardless of the fact that their records were expunged and their warrants dropped. Ivy was getting so tired. She was strong, but not strong enough to carry Harley around half the city. The only person she knew could help her was...
Batman.
But where was he? Ivy tried to remember where he said he'd been going. But she had been so angry.
"Think, Pamela, think", Ivy told herself. Where was he going? She thought back to what he'd said before he left.
" It's probably a distraction from his real gig down at-"
The docks!
They were in the Diamond District of the city now. Ivy knew the docks were down Main Street, and they were a couple of blocks away from Main. Ivy bolted down the street again, Harley in her arms. Harley stayed in her labored state. Ivy's bandage helped with her situation, but she was still failing. Another half hour and she'd be gone forever. Ivy shook the thought from her head. Ivy wouldn't lose Harley.
She ran down Main Street.
Batman needed a distraction in order to escape. But in his current "bound" state, distractions were non-existent. There was only one distraction that he could use.
Batman sighed. He let go of the rope. Instantly, Ambromovici ran towards him.
"Hey! How did you do that! Come here, you little shit." He advanced towards him, and grabbed him by the neck. He raised his hammer.
Batman quickly thought of a plan, but before he could execute it, a shot rang out, and blood splattered on Batman's suit and face. He and Ambromovici looked down to see that he had taken a shot through the back.
And exited into Batman. Batman's enhanced military grade Kevlar suit was strong, but whatever had shot Ambromovici wasn't low scale.
Cop killer bullets. Strong enough to pass through bullet proof vests. These were enhanced.
Ambromovici dropped Batman and turned towards his shooter. Batman looked up and saw the Joker standing on a ledge near the end of the warehouse, gun pointed at Ambromovici. He had a slightly angry look on his face.
"Nobody kills the Bat but me!," he cried.
Ambromovici roared at Joker and ran towards the short ledge, hammer raised. Joker began giggling and fired several shots at the charging Ambromovici and hit him in the shoulder, stomach, and left rib. Despite the wounds and clear pain, Ambromovici continued and brought his hammer down towards Joker. The hammer destroyed the small scaffolding supporting him, but Joker leapt out of the way with surprising agility, and somehow managed to land on his feet.
Even more surprising.
This caused Batman to come to a shocking conclusion. A copycat.
Batman understood why. Joker was a martyr, the face of crime. To use the Clown Prince of Crime as your new persona was to inspire fear and hope.
But this man, whoever he was, had planned this for a while. You don't convince the criminal underworld that you're the Joker by coming out of the blue and hoping they took your word for it.
Batman was brought back to earth by the sound of Ambromovici hitting the floor. He had taken a round in the head. The whole back of his head was blown apart. Hollow point cop killer bullets. This was the kind of advanced military bullet that you put in attack helicopter firearms, not handguns. This Joker copycat knew how to modify guns to deadly ability. But he was still a copycat
Batman ran after him, throwing a Batarang at the retreating Joker. He dodged it, and delivered a quick shot at Batman. It missed its target and the gun was knocked away by another Batarang. Before Batman could advance towards Joker, Joker pulled another gun from his belt and shot Batman in the chest. Batman fell to the ground with a groan. But this was a regular bullet.
Guess you can't make two of those cop killer guns.
Still hurt, though. Batman looked up at Joker, who was walking away from his injured prey.
"You're not the Joker," said Batman.
The copycat stopped. He turned his head towards Batman. A grin cracked against his porcelain face.
"Oh, Bats. You should know...there's no one else like me." He walked away cackling.
Batman wasn't letting him get away. He forced himself to get up.
Ivy had found the docks. She knew Batman was here, but she didn't think he was doing so well.
Neither was she. She was tired more than ever. The Batmobile sat destroyed on the loading bay. Pity. Ivy had always wanted to destroy that big black machine. She didn't want to do it, but she couldn't carry Harley any longer. She took some crates and made a small alcove between it, the Batmobile, and the wall. She left Harley in it, and ran towards the open warehouse. The first thing she saw was the Joker, firing a shot at Batman. She heard Batman say something, and then the Joker replied.
"There's no one else like me."
The Joker ran out of the warehouse, and was met with Ivy. She was shaking with anger. This was her chance. She was going to end this right now. She used the vine wrapped around her arm and struck at his neck, grabbing him and lifting him in the air, choking him. He struggled for air, grasping at the vine.
"Let...me go...acch..."
"No. You wrecked my life. I'm going to end you, once and for all. I promise you, you won't be coming back."
"Look, lady. I...don't know...acch...what you think you think...I've done...acch..."
Ivy froze. What? How could he forget what he'd done to her? What kind of sadistic bastard was he?
Ivy's distraction cost her. The Joker raised his gun, and fired.
Batman heard a shot ring out near the warehouse's exit. Batman pushed himself on, and turned out of the warehouse. He was met with an unusual sight. Poison Ivy lay on the ground, clutching her arm. Joker had shot her in her upper arm. Batman raced towards her.
"Ivy! Are you all right?" He helped her to her feet.
"I'm fine, get off me."
"What are you doing here?"
"I needed your help. Harley-she.."
"Tell me later. I have a criminal to catch."
Batman ran off.
Ivy picked up Harley again and ran for cover. Joker's goons were firing shots at anything that moved now. She didn't need to get shot again.
She created a small field of ivy (see the pun!) to protect them. She only hoped Batman would catch the Joker and then they could get the hell out of here.
Batman chased Joker up the maintenance stairs to the roof. Joker fired blind shots at Batman with surprising accuracy. Batman actually had to move out of the way a couple of times. Batman fired his grappling line at the Joker and pulled him by his feet. Joker fell with a grunt. He flipped on his back and fired a shot at Batman. He moved, but his shoulder was clipped by the bullet.
Batman lost his balance and fell over the roof. He grabbed the edge and held on. Easier said than done. It had begun to rain, and Batman's grip was already weak. He knew Joker's plan. He tortured Batman and let him escape, so it'd be easier to kill him. Whoever this asshole was, it was a smart asshole. Struggling to get up, he saw Joker cutting at the line with a knife. Batman pulled himself onto his stomach and got up. Blinded for a moment by the ringing in his ears affecting his overall brain function, Joker threw a right hook at Batman. His fist made a solid crunch against Batman's jaw.
Batman struggled around for a few seconds and threw a confused punch at Joker, which he easily dodged. Batman heard something being unsheathed and had no time to react before Joker plunged his knife in his gut. Batman grabbed at the knife and struggled for control as Joker tried to twist the knife around. Overmatched for the moment, Joker took out a pair of brass knuckles and put them on. Batman pulled the knife out of his stomach. Joker walked towards Batman. His face was illuminated by lightning, a grin cracked across it again.
"Come on, Batman. Let's get ready to tango!"
Joker swung a single punch at Batman, which he caught. Batman solidly punched Joker in the face and swung him to the ground by the arm. He punched Joker's head into the hard metal roof, and picked him up by his limbs. He threw him into the roof again. Before Joker could get up, Batman kicked him in the ribs. Joker went careening across the roof. He started breathing heavily.
"What...*cough cough* what are you doing?"
"Fighting dirty. I'm not the calm calculating Batman the Joker once knew."
He approached Joker and lifted him to his feet. He drew his fist back and was about to strike, but Joker was ahead of him. He landed a solid punch to his stomach wound.
Batman staggered back, the pain surprising and, well, painful.
"And I'm not the Joker you once pushed around! I am the Joker, but I'm the Joker that's better than ever. I prepared for this moment for a long time. Our first confrontation in a year, and it's gonna end in your death!"
With a cry, he executed a flying kick at Batman. Shocked beyond comprehension, Batman took the kick in the face and flipped over. He landed with a groan. He struggled to his feet to be met by a straight jab to the face. Joker's brass knuckles dealt a lot of damage.
"Joker, stop. This is insane. Knock me around all you want, I'll always catch you."
"Knock you around? Gladly!"
Joker sent another flying punch his way. Batman moved out of the way and towards the edge of the roof.
"Joker! Stop this! I'm taking you down. Give up! This is insane!"
Joker pondered this for a split second, then grinned and moved towards Batman.
"Insane?" He moved closer and tensed his leg."
"This...is...JOKER!"
He flung his leg at Batman, and Batman felt his boot his wound. Batman flew back, and off the roof.
Ivy heard a shout and then a body hitting the ground with a crack. She huddled closer to Harley, fearing what had happened. She heard a deep groan and heavy breathing. She knew those deep tones. Batman?
"You set yourself up for that one, Bats!" Ivy heard the Joker cackle
She lowered her field of ivy (see the pun again!) to see Batman splayed across the ground. Blood was bubbling up at his mouth.
Great, thought Ivy. A dying Harley and an injured Bat. Could this night get any worse?
Batman was her only hope, and now he was out of the game. Ivy helped the miraculously still conscious Batman to his feet.
"Can you stand?"
"Yes, but I'll need help moving. The fall hurt my leg."
He looked over at Harley.
"I'll carry her over my shoulder, and you help me." Ivy nodded.
They made their way towards the end of the loading bay.
"What's the plan?,"asked Ivy.
"The Batmobile is still operational. We get there and get the hell out of here."
"Sounds like a plan."
They moved on, and heard shots behind them. Joker's dulcet tones rang across the loading bay.
"Why won't you die?! You and your plant bitch girlfriend!"
They ignored him and moved on. Joker started running.
"Turn around," said Ivy. Batman looked at her. "Do it."
They turned, and Ivy raised her arm. A green energy glowed around her hand. Joker slowed. Ivy drew her hand back and thrust it towards Joker. The stream of green light hit his chest and lifted him into the air. He landed with a crunch on the ground. He lay limp.
Ivy smiled, then groaned. Her arm hurt worse because her energy was drained out now.
They reached the Batmobile.
Batman opened the hatch and laid Harley in the backseat. Ivy moved to the back as well. Batman started the car and peeled out of the docks. He looked at the rearview mirror (yes the Batmobile had a rearview mirror) at Harley.
"What happened to her?"
Ivy tensed.
"Some...thugs...attacked her. They..."
Batman nodded.
"They hit her head, too. I patched it up, but she still needs help. She's fading faster now."
Batman drove on.
"I'm going to have you knock you out with some gas. No one can know the location of the Batcave. I'm sorry."
"It's all right, I get it."
Ivy looked at the injured Bat. A busted leg, knife and two gunshot wounds, and probably a couple of fractured vertebrae. And yet he looked like all that happened was that he didn't get enough sleep. Batman slowed down and stopped at a corner.
"All right. I'm going to knock you out now."
He reached for his spray...Bat-Gas...thing.
"Before you do, can I ask you something?"
"No."
He sprayed her face. Ivy talked quickly as possible before she went out.
"How do you...take all that...unfazed...?"
Just before she blacked out, she heard his answer.
"I'm Batman."
Hope you enjoyed this especially long chapter. Damn, I'm good. Also insane, 'cause this was all one flowing thought.
More to come! Review please!