{Chapter 26: Entering the Valley of Death: Part 1}
The afternoon sun was low in the sky when a black tinted SUV made a sharp turn on the last freeway exit of Lower Gotham. It drove through a narrow urban area of cobblestone streets until it reached the tip of the city; a dense area untouched by architectural renewal and a haunting warren of abandon buildings with broken windows and fragments of yellow police line tapes in the dirty ground. The SUV parked in front of a rotting red tinged brick walled building.
Doctor Weston Pryce, a former medical supervisor at Gotham's children's hospital, emerged and quickly moved to the trunk of the vehicle. He opened it and peered down at an unconscious girl with pieces of duck tape around her wrists and ankles. He wrapped his arms around her ashen body, and carried her to the entrance doors where he found Vedette Countess leaning against the doorway, dressed in a black leather overcoat.
Vedette rubbed her fingertips over her stomach while inside, the Joker stood in the hallway putting a few finishing touches on an off-duty cop's corpse with a vial of acid and his switchblade. Several bulky men in jackal masks were positioned throughout the hall.
"Everything you asked for, Countess," Doctor Pryce addressed, looking down at the nine year-old girl cradled in his arms. "This sweetheart was easy to get... poor thing was already on her death bed."
Vedette sneered at the girl, "Children in this city are either victims of the dying or just dying." The cackle of the Joker's laugh echoed in the darkness. "Bring her inside while she is still sedated. I want to make it quick and painless."
"You said on the phone that you needed one more child?" Doctor Pryce asked. "I have someone in mind."
"There is only one little life left to complete the cleansing progress." she said. "I will give you your pavement in full. Your loyalty to me is no longer required." She snapped her fingers; two of her Black Jackals entered her presence. "Take the child inside," she ordered, her eyes glared at Doctor Pryce. "I have a final business deal to close."
Doctor Pryce handed the girl over to an armed mercenary, his voice faltered. "I don't know what your plan is Vedette..." he threw at her; the Joker's white makeup became visible to the sunlight. "I still can't believe that you're working with a freak like this... All he's good at is blowing up hospitals and slicing a few corpses open."
"No... no I have many tricks of the trade," the Joker chimed, watching the lines of sweat rolling down Doctor Pryce's cheek. He licked his bloody scars and twirled the switchblade in his hand. "The work I do can be very simple." he smiled. "I use tools like gunpowder and dynamite to get things done... mainly because they're cheap."
The Joker drew closer; he angled his shoulder as his dark eyes stared at the doctor and scuffed in his overcoat pocket. "Another cheap expense... that I use to clean up blood stains..." he pulled out a capped vial of acid. "Hydrocyanic acid. One whiff of this and you'll be in Gotham's obituary."
Doctor Pryce swallowed a large knot in his throat; his eyes shifted at Vedette sinking further into the darkness. "What about my payment?" He yelled. She twisted around to meet his gaze.
"The Joker will grant you the full amount," she answered.
The Joker twisted the cap of the vial off; Dr. Pryce backed away. "Don't be shy..." He grinned maniacally before putting on a mock-pout. "There, there doc, why don't you take whiff of my poesy here and you'll feel a lot better."
Joker revealed a new orange flower pinned to the lapel of his purple overcoat. Without delaying, he grabbed Doctor Pryce by the throat then squeezed the stem of the flower. "It was a pleasure doing business with you Pryce." Instantly a small cloud flew directly into the doctor's face.
"Vedette!" he hollered as the highly corrosive liquid lifted to the tip of his nose.
"Breathe in your reward doctor..." The Joker laughed. 'Your eternal reward." He squeezed his hand tighter, crushing the windpipe as Doctor Pryce inhaled the deadly acid...within ten seconds... his eyes rolled back and his pulse faded.
The Joker released his hold and watched the lifeless body crash to his shoes. "Acid… never leave home without it." He teased, looking at the hidden vial inside his coat that connected to the flower on the outside. He backed away from the body and into opened doorway.
Joker entered the enclosed room, with black tarps covering the wooden frames on the walls. He watched Vedette stroking the blonde hair of the lifeless little girl's body. He noticed a deep slash across the child's throat.
"I trust that you took care of Doctor Pryce," she said, lifting up the blood stained dagger. "He couldn't be trusted... not when the Batman is back on the streets." She seethed. "I should have left him as that damned cat."
Vedette wrapped her hand around her waist. "No matter... There are more ways to get to someone." She took out a mobile from her pocket. "What good is a bat when he's got broken wings?"
Alfred Pennyworth entered the kitchen with a crestfallen look on his wrinkled face. He looked at Bruce and Selina perched on stools, sitting and enjoying an afternoon snack on the island marble counter top. He sighed before breaking his silence. "Master Wayne, you need to see this Newsflash."
Bruce arched his eyebrow and pulled out his Blackberry. He typed in GNN and then pressed live video coverage. He watched the familiar face of Mike Engel, the TV reporter that he saved along with a number of hostages at the Pewitt building. He listened the reporter's words as Selina became glued to the tiny screen held in his hand.
"Body of Doctor Weston Pryce was discovered at the steps of GNN station. Pinned to the body was this important message. It says that 'billionaire Bruce Wayne must go to City Hall and wait... unless he wants to see the precious kiddies at Gotham's Children Hospital hold their breaths.' Stay with us..." Engel's voice trailed as an incoming call came on the air. "Excuse me, we have a caller to address."
Selina felt Bruce's muscles tense; his jaw clenched and his right hand squeezed into a fist.
"Caller, you're on the air," Engel said with a nervous look.
The caller, a woman with a false accent: "Children mean everything to this city...I wonder how much they mean to the Prince of Gotham. You think that the billionaire playboy will give in to these demands... What has he shown to improve this city? He has more speeding tickets than thank you notes for all those he's offered compassion. He is no Thomas Wayne."
As he listened, Bruce felt a stabbing in his heart. He slammed his eyes shut for a moment.
"Bruce Wayne has improved Gotham through his charities and donations." Engel shot back to the caller. "Who is this?" he demanded.
"Just a concerned citizen, Mr. Engel," the voice dropped a few octaves and became familiar to Bruce and Selina. "And a woman that values the essence of humanity. Imagine this city without a future generations of monsters... Imagine all the streets cleansed by the guilty parents; savaged day after day. All the children forgotten in the shelters free from the sin and lies you glorify... Bruce Wayne has a chance to be the hero of this city... If he refuses all those poor kids at the hospital will die quick and painless."
Bruce rose from the bar stool, his blood was boiling. "Vedette," he growled.
"If Bruce Wayne isn't present at City Hall in one hour... then I will release this poison and the people of Gotham will watch all those bedridden children become names on gravestones."
The was a aloud click and the hum of a disconnected ringtone.
The officers in the Major Crimes Unit had been gearing up with bulletproof vests and visors just in case the Joker had a few lethal surprises. They weren't going to hit the streets unprepared. Detective Bryce Markson - a twenty year old transferred from Metropolis City - had been sipping coffee, while on monitor duty, when a cryptic voice began its threat. He immediately called the rest of the squad, including a half-dozen SWAT officers, to join him. Gordon quickly addressed the commander of GCPD SWAT.
"Call in every officer - tell them to head to the Gotham's Children Hospital and start an evac and search. Call the transit authorities and emergency services. Get every available mode of transportation at the hospital. Wilson, you're in charge of that. The priority is the children. Get all of them out of that building now. My hunch is the Joker filled the air ducts with poisonous gas."
Gordon scuffled in his coat's pocket and pulled out his mobile and text messaged Bruce Wayne.
"Commissioner," the young rookie addressed. Gordon looked at the youthful officer that looked like he just graduated from Gotham High. "Do you need me to drive you to the hospital?"
The other officers finished gearing up and hurried away. Gordon turned to the rookie. "You can come with me, officer."
"Where are we going?" he asked.
"City Hall."
The officer nodded. "Yes sir."
Commissioner Gordon sat in the passenger's seat , with the rookie at the wheel. He checked a few of the messages that Detective Megan Games sent from the hospital parking lot - stating that all the children and staff at the hospital had been safely cleared out. His blue eyes shifted to the driver.
"I don't believe you've told me your name, officer?" He implied.
The rookie gave a smile. "John Blake." He answered, looked out the window. "So why is Bruce Wayne the sudden target?" He asked. "I've read articles on him... nothing stated that he has a bad rep." His dark brown eyes caught the view of Wayne Tower gleaming blocks away. "I think there's more to him."
Gordon shrugged his shoulders and released a deep sigh. "Let's just say that Bruce Wayne has done more than enough for helping out this city than most people think..."
Bruce, a half a block from City Hall, glanced at Gordon's pick up slowing down at the yellow light. "We're almost at the vantage point." He spoke through the comm-radio, fingers tapping against the leather of the steering wheel. "Gordon is here."
Selina weaved her way through the traffic; her brown eyes were stared directly at the back of Bruce's Lamborghini. She braked and waited for the Honda in front of her to move. "Come on move your ass," she spat.
"Have patience, Selina," Bruce said, looking up at the traffic light when he heard the sound of tires screeching against the pavement.
"Patience is not a word to be thrown around in this city."
The sound of a furiously honking horn drew his attention to the side mirror, but the traffic light was still red. Bruce looked at the white faced driver waving to him... His eyes widened as the SUV smashed into the Lamborghini at a threatening high speed. Bruce felt the jolt as his car rammed broadside into Gordon's unmarked pickup, sending chrome pieces onto the street.
Tires squealed and Bruce flew forward but was stopped by his seat belt which prevented him from cracking his head into the windshield. The airbag deployed and forced him back into his seat. His lower back collided with the leather seat and a fiery burst of pain, in the groves of his spine, made his vision foggy.
The back of his head hit the seat hard, making his skull pound. He saw red flashes but he could only focus on the searing pain flowing through his nervous system. He opened his eyes and listened to Selina's voice echo in his pounding ears.
"Bruce!" Selina cried out, watching the Lamborghini sliding further into the right lane. The windshield wipers were moving back and forth, along with the flickers of the signal lights. She dismounted off the bike, whipping her helmet off then bolted to the crash site. She caught a glimpse of the SUV's driver emerging out of the twisted metal of the vehicle and slowly regaining his composure as a sordid laugh escaped his scarred lips.
"Joker," she enraged.
A black tinted window van pulled up and the door slid open. The Joker hopped inside then looked at the mass of metal pieces from all three vehicles. He turned his deadly gaze at the unconscious billionaire... then secured his body into the backseat as the van before it sped rapidly down the street.
Selina darted to the smashed Lamborghini. She was restrained as tears flowed down her cheeks. "Let me go!" She demanded, looking at the dark haired rookie holding her back. "Damn it, let me go!"
Commissioner Gordon walked to the fancy sports door, wrenched open the door and reached in to help out Bruce. "Mr. Wayne, are you okay? Bruce?" He gently touched the young man's shoulder. "It's going to be okay... I've called in for medical assistance."
Bruce focused his sight on Gordon, and the first thing that came to his mind was that the whole thing was a set up. Vedette planned to get him out in the open and fatally injure him. "Commissioner," he groaned with a throaty wheeze. "Are the children safe?"
"Everyone was evacuated in time." Gordon assured him, looking into his watery hazel eyes. "Are you experiencing any pain?"
"Nothing I can't handle," Bruce answered with a small smirk; Gordon undid the seat-belt. He felt the pain in his back growing each time he took an intake of breath. He dropped his head back into the seat. "I'll manage." He slowly climbed out of the Lamborghini, now a bulk of contorted metal, and swayed. Gordon placed his hand on his arm to steady him and guided him to the curb.
Gordon turned to the rookie. "Blake, you can release Miss Kyle," he instructed. Selina instantly raced over to Bruce and bent down to his level and wrapped her arms around him as sirens started blaring in the distance.
"That was a brave thing you did, Mr. Wayne," Gordon said, steadying his breath, looking at his mobile phone's screen.
Bruce rubbed his eye. His lips were formed into a sulky expression as he looked up at Gordon. "I do what I can to help this city," he replied, feeling Selina's soft touch against his warm skin.
He stared heavily into Selina's swirling pools of coffee lavishness. "The Joker was behind the wheel..." he breathed out, feeling lightheaded."Wasn't he?" Before Selina could answer his question, a young paramedic bent down.
"Mr. Wayne, you need to go to Gotham General. You might have suffered a concussion and severe whiplash."
Bruce scoffed. "I don't need to go to the hospital." he growled gruffly. "I'm fine."
Selina looked at the paramedic.
"Don't mind him... He was born stubborn." she relayed, watching the other paramedics unload a stretcher from the back of the ambulance. He felt Selina's grip as he was guided to the waiting ambulance. He rolled his eyes thinking it was a bit overboard for them to strap a neck brace then secure him down to the stretcher. It was so tight that he felt like he was in a straightjacket. He couldn't move an inch.
"Get this stuff off of me!" The fuming billionaire demanded.
"Mr. Wayne, easy... This is strictly protocol." The paramedic said, gently. "You've just been in a car crash."
"I don't need all of this!" He said flatly, feeling a slight numbness in his shoulder as they loaded him into the back of the ambulance. "Selina!" he yelled out, as the back doors of the emergency vehicle slammed shut.
Selina stood on the curb feeling like she living in a never ending nightmare. First Vedette poisoned him... then transformed him into a cat and now he's the newest addition to Gotham General's patient list. They only had a set amount of time to stop Vedette from murdering all the children in the city with her homemade batch of toxin.
Flashing her eyes angrily, Selina clutched her hands into a fist. If there was one thing that she learned through all the years of surviving on the streets... wounds to the body were a sign of weakness. The predator would become the exposed, and needy prey in the concrete jungle.
She cringed defensively, feeling the warmth of human comfort enter her right shoulder.
"He's going to be okay, Miss Kyle."
Gordon stood beside her and they both watched the ambulance drive off into the traffic, sirens blaring.