Okay, next chapter will be a bit more intense… I mean this one I think is intense too, but it's short. Enjoy.
Kayla sat in the back; she could clearly see Bruce in the sea of reporters and officials. There was a constant quiet murmur in the crowd, which settled when Harvey Dent took the podium. A feeling of unrest settled over the girl, big aviators covering her eyes and a hat to cover some of her fiery locks.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I've called this press conference for two reasons," the man announced, "Firstly, to assure the citizens of Gotham that everything that can be done over the Joker killings is being done."
A man next to Kayla tried to insult the police, but she kicked his shoe and glared over her sunglasses at the idiot.
"Secondly, because the Batman has offered to turn himself in. But let's consider the situation," the DA tried desperately to be heard, "should we give in to this terrorist's demands? Do we really think he's gonna-?"
But a woman in behind Bruce stood up, "you'd rather protect an outlaw vigilante than the lives of citizens?"
This caused decent among the crowd, everyone speaking out against the hero. Kayla looked around, one of these men was Batman and it was obvious these people cared more about themselves than the greater good.
"That's not why we demand he turn himself in, we're doing it because we're scared," Kayla was shocked his presence commanded silence, "we've been happy to let Batman clean up our streets till now." When Dent paused the crowd spoke out more.
"Batman is better than all of you," Kayla silenced the people around her, though a din continued closer to the front; "at least he does something. What good do you do? How have you helped anybody? If you are so concerned about the citizens then you wouldn't demand the only one protecting them sacrifice himself."
Dent silenced the crowd completely when a man claimed things were worse, "yes they are. But the night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming. One day Batman will have to answer for laws he's broken. But to us, not to this madman."
The cops finally spoke out, all cheering for no more dead cops. The crowd became one big mob, all moving blindly against a decent person. Sure Batman would throw her in jail if he'd ever find out about her, but he only did what he thought was right. Kayla and Batman were one in the same. She watched as Dent tried to maintain some semblance of order.
"So be it, take the Batman into custody," Dent stepped from the podium, ignoring all the shouts from the audience, "I am the Batman."
Everyone yelled over each other and police officers arrested the blond man. Kayla frowned as she stood, trying to see over the people in front of her. This was wrong; she looked around for Bruce. There was no way Harvey Dent could be Batman, she saw the two in the same place the night before. She ran out when she couldn't find the man who she trusted most in the fucked up city. What sort of lemmings would let the only person protecting them be put in danger? She was glad the real Batman was still out there, she ignored the stitch in her side as she made her way back to her house. She had preparations to make; she'd figure this whole thing out once and for all.
It wasn't long before she rushed into the penthouse, clutching a large purse to her chest. She greeted Alfred with a strained smile, though she knew it didn't look any different than her usual smile that the kind old man saw.
"Where's Bruce?" Kayla tried to seem happy go lucky, "I need his help with something."
Alfred looked behind the girl, to Bruce who just entered himself, "here he is, would you like my help as well?"
Kayla shook her head, "no, just the two of us should be enough. Thank you though." With that she approached the distracted man, trying her best not to back down now that she knew.
"Kayla," Bruce barely gave her a glance, "where's Rachael?"
"I'm not sure, she was still here before I left," she followed his frantic line of vision, "can I ask a favor from you?"
"I'm busy at the moment, Kayla," Bruce began but Kayla stopped him.
"I was at my apartment," she glanced back towards Alfred before continuing quietly, "I didn't know who to ask… most of my family is dead or estranged. I think the Joker left me a message, I wanted to go to the police but I can't do this alone. Come to my apartment just to check, tell me what to do, I'm scared."
Bruce looked conflicted for a moment, but Kayla knew she had him, the Bruce part of him wanted to help her and the Batman wanted to catch Joker, "I'll drive us, I'll see what he's left."
Kayla mentally gave herself a pat on the back before following after Bruce, ready for her plan.
Done, next chapter will be Kayla's plan.