{Chapter 23 : Unlocked}
{Wayne Manor}
Selina was sitting on the top step of the staircase, knees close to her chest as the rumble of her heartbeat rippled her ribs. For the last 24 hours she had found herself to be in a restless state of mind. Her shoulder wound the Joker gave her was mending, Alfred was keeping himself preoccupied with the average chores and preparing the three square meals in the kitchen.
The rest of Wayne Manor felt empty; a cold presence blanketed the egg shell painted walls, sunlight was frail to the shadows that engulfed the doorway of the bedroom. It felt like days - an eternity to her graying spirit since she felt his warm arms wrap around her rigid shell. He was a man that no heart, no matter how icy, could resist. But now he was only a haunting memory to her drifting thoughts.
Was the once skilled cat burglar's heart - that allowed the formation of icy bitterness, vexation and anger from all those dark days of roaming the rooftops - starting to melt?
She always thought men were slime and every guy she met had proved her right until she met the charming prince of Gotham. Just when she figured that life was a game that you could not win, he came in and changed all the rules. What she had been taught from hardships was that life and love were never just and if you trusted than you were just one of the fools.
Her coffee-colored eyes fell to the glimmer of the dimming light streaming from the arched window. A hand pressed against her chest as she felt her heart surrender to the truth. She quickly arose with a surge of anger gushing into her veins as her falsehood of believing that life was full of disappointments she hadn't seen one reason until she looked into the trusting chasms of hazel.
She realized that there were none like him on this earth. He saw the woman she longed to be, even making her believe in herself. Now that the fences that kept her well guarded were tearing down, it helped her to see that he was everything she ever wanted and more in the form of man named Bruce Wayne.
Selina leaned her body against the railing, trying to regain her stiff composure back from the weak woman she hated to become. She was not a weak human being; she was a tough, sexy and strong woman that kept her tenderness concealed in a vault as the impermanent world builds all around her.
"What's wrong with me?" She questioned, clenching her fist as warm tears were composing in her eyes. The side of her hand swiped the lines of water off her cheeks as images of him flowed into the unsteady pools of her mind.
"Don't tell me that you're becoming... soft?"
Her skin prickled as every fiber of her skin burned when she heard his rich voice in the caverns over her shut-in thoughts.
She sees him in whirls of darkness, cowl tucked under his arm, memory cloth draped over his broad plated shoulders, dark bangs hanging off his temples from the waves of groom locks. His handsome face captured the softness of light, fine lips curled as he played an infectious smile. Dark eyes having hope entwine with a shimmer of a world that they would create on their own.
Selina's brow furrowed. "No, this is a dream... a delusion. Trick of the mind." She hesitated slightly as there was a falter rattling within her voice. "Snap out of it, Selina."
He pulled in close and looked directly into her unsure brown eyes. His lips clasped into a thin line as indents formed around the edges of his mouth. His head tilted as he lifted one glove hand and gently brushed a few strands of her hair off her forehead.
Selina closed her eyes, it felt so real to doubt.
"I exist in you," He says as the warmth of his body faded into the cold realization that burst through. She opened her eyes and stared at her own shadow.
Darkness crept over the walls. Night was nearing.
She scowled to herself as a bitter laugh erupted from her curled lips knowing that the approaching night was calling her to endure another venture of roaming the streets, keeping herself one step ahead of the game and the idiots in the blue uniforms.
Straightening her spine, her crimson blades parted. "Time to kick some witch's **," she muttered descending down the stairs. Alfred stood at the foot of the last step with a withered look on his aging features.
"Miss Kyle," he said in a lesser cheery tone. "Where are you heading off too?"
Selina folded her arms and narrowed a gaze at the butler. "I'm not going to remain a shut in," she shook her head. "Not when Bruce is out there. I have to do what I can to save him." She promised.
Alfred walked up two steps and placed his hand on her shoulder. "I miss Bruce too, Selina." He finally called her by her first name. His voice was very audible as she watched his torn countenance become visual; the mask he wore to show his strength was peeling off. "We both know that there is not much time for him. The bloody curse will make the man we both love fade within that animal." Tears started to stream down his wrinkled cheeks. "When that happens... all we can do is remember the great man he was before..."
Selina mashed her teeth into her bottom lip. "He's not gone. Not yet." She stormed down the steps and headed into the main hall. "I will give everything to bring him back!"
{Vedette's Penthouse}
Harvest copper moon eyes darted opened to an audible rumble. It had been hours since he last tasted the cool stream of watery milk. He lifted his neck, a jiggling sound made his ears tilt. There was a tightness was around his neck. He moved to the bowl of water and stared into his reflection. All that stared back was a twelve pound jet-black cat wearing a tie-dye collar of purple and green with a silver bell hanging in the center.
Bruce's felt his soul aching to escape. "What if Batman doesn't exist anymore?" he thought feeling the emptiness of his belly. His body lowered, paws curled under his chest as he drifted into a restless slumber.
A horrid laughter broke the silence . "Ha Ha Ha." The Joker made his entrance staring at the floor cage. "Hi-i there, Brucie-cat." He strutted to the cage and rattled the steel, making the cat almost jump from the sudden disturbance. "Wakey, Wakey Brucie. It's time that we have some fun."
Bruce lifted his head, feeling feverish and weak as he met the soulless eyes of his archenemy. "Get away from me, scum!" He growled making his whole body quake.
The Joker shook his head. "Not very nice words to say to your master." He pulled out a switchblade. "I think I'm going to have to teach you a lesson in obedience." His tongue grazed over his yellow-stained teeth. "Or maybe I'll cut off that familiar place of yours so you can't have any little Bat-kittens with your sweet Selina."
Bruce scrunched his nose. "I'll scratch your eyes out if you touch me!"
The Joker wheezed an eerie laugh. "Just another scar to had to the collection. Unlike the one I gave your sexy Selina."
Bruce drew out his claws. "What did you do?" He demanded as the cage opened and the Joker's hand grasped his neck, hauling him up and out of the confinement. Bruce tried to bite down but the clown's grasp was choking him.
"I had a little dance with her. She was so worried about you, Brucie. So I decided to give her something to take away her distress. A quick cut to the shoulder. A perfect scar to enjoy."
He licked his smeared lips.
"Say do you know how I got these scars, Brucie?"
"No," Bruce hissed, tail swaying and fur arched as the switchblade closed in on his neck. "But I know how you got theses." He lashed his front paw and the sharp claws slashed into the arm and Bruce was free as he grabbed the knife from the Joker's cold grasp. The Joker licked the seeping blood from his infliction as he gazed at the cat with a huge smile.
"You just couldn't resist, could you?" The Joker whined in a mocking tone. "I guess this is what happens when a sickly pet finally betrays his master. You are truly a strong willed feline, aren't you? That won't last. Vedette says your self-righteous soul will soon die... and I will have you all to myself because you're just too much fun, Brucie." He taunted and stared down at the black cat showing his needle pointed fangs.
Bruce's ears became pushed back as he released an enraged hiss. He was preparing to attack at any second. "You'll be in Arkham forever, you sick psychopath."
"Maybe we'll both spend the rest of our lives in cages. At the rate you're going, I give you a few hours until all you think about is dead mice."
The cat scowled. "I'd rather-" His voice was thinning as the humanity he preserved was fading. He choked up a few words. "Die."
"Aw... don't tell that I finally broke the bat?" The Joker laughed. "Now we're going to be together forever, little Batcat...You've got nothing left. Gotham city will soon be my stage and your beautiful Selina will be my leading lady for the greatest show on earth."
The Joker laughed, and continued laughing as his gloved hands scooped up the Bombay to place him securely into a cage that had a red cloth for the bottom. The cat curled into a ball and started to purr - whatever was left of his former self was vanishing into a ball of fur.
"I thought you'd never quit the fight, Bats." The Joker bellowed, pulling out a tissue from his jacket's inner pocket. "Maybe this will change your catty mood." He unraveled the tissue to reveal a dead white mouse. "These bastards are not so easy to kill... unless you trick them into a trap. Use what they love the most and then go for the kill."
The Joker continued. "Are you hungry, Brucie?" Bruce stiffened his body and hissed instantly. "Why do I hear that stomach of yours rumbling? Come on, you really need to eat . You really do." He waved the dead mouse in the cat's face. "All cats love the taste of mice. Its what they live for." He sneered pulling out a plastic bag that contained a alive mouse. "I think you prefer your dinner fresh."
He opened the bag and patted the rodent on the head. "Tender and juicy. Free for the taking. It'll be like eating chicken. Ha ha ha ha!"
The cat became entranced with the white furred creature; golden-copper eyes widened as he crept out of his cage and sniffed the aroma the mouse was reeking. The Joker held the mouse upside down by its tail and swayed it into the air following the cats shifting eyes.
"Tonight you're going to break your one rule..."
Bruce stared at the mouse, he stood on his hind legs and starting swiping his claws at the frightened creature. His feline instincts were kicking inwardly as a claw slice a tuff of fur off the mouse.
Joker grinned sadistically.
"Look at you go, Brucie. You're truly a cat with a one set mind." He chimed as he lowered the squealing animal. Bruce opened his mouth and grabbed the mouse, teeth were holding it into place as he tasted the flavors of the store bought creature seep down his throat. He was ready to bite down into the body of his prey until he looked at the relishing clown waiting for him to make his first kill.
Bruce narrowed his eyes. He was about to break his one rule. He was going to be an executioner to this rodent. Take a life. All the famous psychos started small - first animals then people. Realizing his feline driven action, Bruce dropped the mouse to the floor and glared at the Joker. "I'd rather starve," He manged to say. "I'm no killer-"
He glanced over at the flickering candle on the table. It was all too familiar.
"Now I will have to punish you, for refusing to eat." The Joker wheezed out, hands were reaching for the cat but Bruce was quick with his reflexes and he jumped onto the table. He pushed the burning candle to the carpet and watched the flames ignite.
"What the hell are you doing!" Vedette burst into the room as she smelt the smoke rise.
Bruce smiled inwardly. "What's necessary." He answered, feeling his soul embracing back his humanity.
She shook in anger as she reached for the vase of dead flowers and poured it over the carpet. She glared daggers at the cat. "You thought you could escape, didn't you?" She laughed. "There is no escape, Bruce. You are a prisoner in your own body. A worthless creature that will soon perish if he doesn't follow the rules."
The Joker grabbed him from behind and pressed against his side, crushing his ribs. Bruce grimaced as he felt the pressure.
"I will never follow your rules, witch!" Bruce snarled, biting into the Joker's hand. "Never!"
Vedette marveled at his determination. "You're going to have to play by our rules if you want to see your beloved Selina Kyle alive." She circled him, lightly clutching her stomach. "Does it pain you to know that you can never touch those lips of hers? Never wrap your arms around her?"
Bruce lowered his head. He never felt so defeated.
Vedette mused at her captive's posture. She looked at the Joker. "Its time to begin another performance."
The Joker gave a wide smile as he stroke the fuming cat's head.
{Batcave}
Selina was pulling on her thigh length boots, a hard look etched on her face as Alfred sat at the desk observing the screens and listening to the evening newscast of Gotham Tonight. "Anything good on?" She asked in a sarcastic tone, adjusting the goggles over her thick hair. She had been out on the streets earlier conversing with feverish redhead Barbara Gordon after her youngest sister Emily had never returned home from a friend's house.
"Just a regular newscast. Nothing important at the moment."
Selina snorted. "News changes every minute, Alfred."
"Quite so, Miss Kyle." Alfred replied. "I'm guessing that you're heading back out there tonight?"
Selina clenched her jaw. "The graveyard shift isn't something to get used too. Not when there are no spoils to take..." She trailed off looking at one of the screens with reporter Mike Engel sitting at his desk with a grim look on his face.
"We've just learned that Emily Gordon, 10 year old daughter of our police Commisioner James Gordon, has been confirmed to have been abducted almost three hours ago by Gotham's most notorious menace - The Joker. Footage was sent to the studio. We'd like to advise our viewers the images are disturbing."
Selina jumped to her feet and moved towards the screen, eyes ablazed with silent fury as footage of a clearly distraught and helpless 10 year old was aired for the entire city to see. The first Selina noticed were the tears on Emily's cheeks, and the way her body was shaking as she sat huddled in a corner in a fetal position crying.
The images were too familiar to Selina. Too relatable. The voice that came through, if anything made her blood run colder. "Oh now there there, don't cry pumpkin. The whole city is watching. Why don't look up and give them a nice big smillleee!" He chimed. "And tell them your name too while your at it."
"That sick son of a bitch!" Selina seethed as she continued watching.
The girl whimpered as she raised her head and sniffed. "Emily... Gordon."
"Are you the daughter of the famous police Commissioner Jim Gordon?"
"...Yes. Please let me go." The girl sobbed.
"I thought it dream of all little girls to one day be on television. Buck up kiddo. You're the star of the show! Ha ha ha ha!"
Emily shook her head desperately.
"No? Heh he he. Do you love your daddy, pumpkin? WELL DO YOU!" Joker's voice suddenly took on a louder tone. Emily shook and quickly nodded. "Is your daddy your hero? Hmm? Do you look up to him?"
Emily nodded wet tears dripping off her chin. Selina studied the footage intently, hoping to get a clue on where Emily was being held. The boxes and crates indicated a warehouse. It was then that the camera turned and the Joker's painted face came into view.
"Gotham is running short on its share heroes of late, Jimmy! Unless you want your little kiddo to wind up on the back of a milk-carton, you'll have to step up and into the game. Don't count on the Bat to sweep in a share on the fun, he's on an... extended vacation. Ha ha ha ha!"
Before the footage cut off, Selina noticed a familiar object the child was bound to. She'd seen it before. Thinking quick, she grabbed a pad and pen and wrote down the address.
"Miss Kyle, what are you doing?"
"I know where he's keeping her." She placed the pad in Alfred's hands. "Send this to Gordon. I'll get the kid," Catwoman erupted as she gazed at the flushed butler holding her utility belt. She quickly snapped it around her trim waist. "I expect that Vedette will have a party waiting for me."
Alfred followed her onto the platform as the temperamental woman set her eyes on the coolest and sexiest high-tech motorcycle in the world: The Bat-pod. Every time she gazed at the parked vehicle her eyes always lit up with driven fire.
"Gotham's Finest idiots will be at the warehouse site within ten minutes." She said. "Midtown tunnel is the fastest way to the warehouse district," she hopped onto the the saddle of the cycle. She stretched, running her gloved fingers onto the controls.
"I'll keep you informed from my end." Alfred said.
"This bike is really the only form of weaponry I find attractive," She marveled at the machine guns, canons, grappling hooks and cables - everything that a girl of her tastes loved. It also reminded her of Bruce; sexy and dangerous to anyone who crosses it's path.
"I sent Gordon the location by text message," Alfred called out as the Bat-pods engines roared, making the restless bats above flutter in the darkness. Selina smiled, feeling the power of this wild steel beast pulse through her bones. "Do be careful, Miss Kyle."
Selina flipped her goggles over her dark eyes. Her shoulders nestled the steering shields, her back arched and settled down, heels were in place at the sides. "Now where's the fun in that?"
She took a breath deep and gunned the engines.
The Bat-pod sped off the platform and through the gushing waterfall down the graveled road. She raced to the ramp of the overpass trying to outrun the cops as doubts of failing to save Emily Gordon lodged into her mind. Failure was not an option in her books. With the evening wind rushing past her face, the untamed speed of the cycle drowned her rippled thoughts that she augured in the back of her mind. How dare that son of ** put her in another spot of life and death? What was occultist's game plan?
Why does everything always happen to her? Bad luck?
Zooming through the traffic of the overpass at breakneck speed, she reached the Midtown tunnel entrance and zipped past Gotham transit buses and yellow Taxi cabs breaking the side mirrors off. She did care about property damage, she could care less at the moment. She was ready to fire the canons at the waiting vehicles blocking her path.
Her eyes scanned the obstruction - a flaming school bus; Joker playing cards were falling to the ground. "Why am I not surprised?" She muttered as firetrucks blocked the exit. She observed her surroundings with a mindful glare and saw an unoccupied Honda. "When the going gets tough," she quoted, shifting the Bat-pod into the direction of the car.
She activated the side-wheeled canons. The front weapons unleashed the firepower at the car, shooting the vehicle into the air as the powerful blast caused it to roll onto its side next to a pickup truck. The Bat-pod raced out of the tunnel, jumping over another parked car, heavy wheels crushing the metal and shattering glass as it pancaked the vehicle using it like a ramp.
Catwoman weaved through the stalled traffic, zooming to the warehouse district, GCPD sirens were blaring in the distance.
Moments after...
Selina blasted the Bat-pod's canons through the steel and raced through the garage door of the warehouse. She slid off the saddle and sprinted down the hall to the basement stairs, heels dug into the cement steps as she reached the locked door.
"Like that is going to stop me," she muttered, pulling out a skeleton key from a compartment in her belt. She unlocked the door, lifted her leg and kicked it with frustration etched across her features. The door gave and she smashed it opened with other forceful kick. She entered the dark supply room, flipping her infrared goggles in place over her domino mask. She scanned the room for the heat signature of the captive. Her lips parted as she whispered out the child's name.
"Emily," Her voice was calm as she moved in between the piled crates. "It's okay, Emily. I'm not going to hurt you." She paused in her tracks as the sound of a faint whimper broke through the silence.
Selina lifted her goggles and advanced to the corner where the ten year old Commissioner's daughter was bound to a cement pole, similar to the one that the Joker chained her to when he held her captive for Batman to rescue.
She glanced around for any sign of a threat or danger. A cold chill raced down her spine as she heard something aside from the clashing storm outside. Her lips curled into an unnerving scowl towards the forms closing in. Her masked eyes displayed a flicker of anger as she dared them to make the first move.
This was a dangerous situation, she attained the thrill of danger. She loved the full rush of octane pumping in her veins as the barrel of the silenced pistols aimed at her chest.
Selina gazed at the child. She had to treat the ten year old as one of her possessions. She had to break these armed deadbeats before they claimed Emily as another victim for Vedette to waste.
"Sorry boys, but this little girl needs to return home before the streets lights turn on." She leaned her back against one of the crates, one hand behind her back as her gloved fingers gripped the cold metal of her handgun that was snugged on a hostler attached to her belt. She knew that her masked aggressors - the Jackals - would not take lightly to a female, but the malevolence that reeked through her pores gave her power to control this situation.
"Wistful remarks won't save you, Selina Kyle." A familiar cryptic voice blared from the doorway. Selina peered at the sharp suited figure with a burlap mask covering his ashen features. He moved to Emily and lifted his sleeve, revealing the bladder of fear toxin.
"Oh I don't know about that, Crow." She whipped out her weapon and aimed it directly at his head. "Step away from the girl unless you want me to make you the headless horsemen." She threatened wittily.
"Pull the trigger, Miss Kyle," Crane returned. "But that won't save Emily Gordon. You see she's been laced with a highly concentrated dose of my newest batch of toxin. Only I hold the key to her recovery."
Emily screamed, burying her head as her body jolted.
Selina looked at one of the Jackals who gave her a nervous glance. He was blocking her path and needed to be removed. She smirked. "Ever dance, handsome?"
The Jackal peered into her eyes with his gun aimed.
"Didn't think so." Selina quickly hit him with a side-kick to his gut then twisted her body around struck him to the ground from behind the skull with a powerful blow, knocking him unconscious.
Sirens wailed outside, they were closing in on the location.
The second Jackal attacked. Selina with her feline grace lifted one leg and allowed her stiletto heel to slice his cheek. Then she knocked the weapon out of his hands and spun clockwise, jabbing her elbow into his jaw. He tumbled backwards, his body smacking into a crate.
Selina regained her breath and looked at Emily. She charged for the child as Crane lunged at her from the shadows, arm high aimed for her face. Selina clenched her jaw and grabbed his wrist, ducking away from the cloud of toxin that blew out of his sleeve... She remembered Bruce explaining to her once in a sparring session they had that Crane can be easily taken down if your reflexes are fast and you outwit him before he reacts. She twisted Crane's arm and spun him into the wall.
Her hand ripped off his mask and threw it to the ground. She dug a sharp heel into his throat. " Cats don't fear crows, Crane." She growled, pressing harder into his Adams apple.
Crane's blue eyes widened as he felt a warm sticky blood stream down his neck. "You think I'm afraid of you, Miss Kyle." He sneered. "All you are is a woman who likes to play dress up to entice the nightly prowler." He laughed. "There is nothing scary about you, kitten."
Selina withdrew her heel and crouched down to his level. Eying the bladder in his jacket, she ripped the suit open. "How does this work again?"
"What the hell are you doing?!" Crane snarled. "Get your claws off of that."
"Sorry, doctor. But I'm not one for following rules." Her hand squeezed the bladder, releasing a choking cloud of white powder into Crane's face. "I only break them."
Crane coughed as he breathed in his own formula. He rolled onto his back, choking. Selina turned him over and grabbed his neck. "Now about that antitoxin?"
"Alright," Crane gulped down as he reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a vial. "Make the brat drink it. The effects will wear down in a few hours." He rolled it to the her boots.
Selina scooped up the vial and pressed her fingers harder into his wound. "What is the witch planning?" She growled. "I know that a snake like you hears things. Spill it, doctor."
Crane stared at her with his glazed eyes. "Total city cleansing," He managed to say. "Toxin effects children's body chemistry." He formed a snaky grin. "Children die and parents resort to madness causing a bloodbath on the streets."
"Damn it!" Selina cursed. The voice of Commissioner Gordon sounded through the blow-horn as Selina turned to Emily and scooped her off the floor. "Come on, big girl. Lets get you away from the party." She bolted to the stairs and raced passed the parked Bat-pod and outside were she was greeted by SWAT vans and patrol cars. A searchlight was blinding her vision.
Jim Gordon raced to Selina's position with a worried look on his face. Teary blue eyes gazed at his youngest child cradled in Selina's arms. "What happened to her?" He asked in a breathless tone.
"She was poisoned by Crane's fear toxin." Selina explained. "I have the antidote. You need get it into her blood system fast before the real damage starts." She handed the quivering child into the Commissioner's arms.
Gordon stroked his youngest daughter's hair and nodded. "Thank you."
Selina shrugged as she handed him the vial. "I did what I had to, Commissioner." She paused as an army of officers invaded the warehouse to seize Crane. She smiled slightly. "See you around."
Gordon called out to her, he had to know why Batman had vanished. "Miss Kyle?" He said in a gentle tone. She turned around with a look of annoyance. "I need to know what happened to Batman? Why is he missing?"
She paced her breath, deciding upon a half-truth. "He's been wounded." She answered. "Right now he is in no condition to take to the streets."
Gordon felt his heart sink. "Wounded?" His voice faltered as his daughter grasped her arms around his neck tightly. "How?"
"The pale faced bastard." Selina growled, gritting her teeth. "The Joker and his witch of a girlfriend set a trap and our powerful friend fell right into it, Commissioner."
Gordon expressed a disheartened look. "We were in this together. He has to come back before this evil consumes Gotham." He shook his head. "He must come back."
Selina bit her bottom lip. "I'll see if I can get him to fly out of his cave," In saying, that she slipped into the umbra of the warehouse and slid herself back onto the Bat-pod. She started the throttle to ignite the roaring engine and zoomed out of sight.