Author's Note: I'd like to thank the wonderful Lord Grise for giving me some writing suggestions. They pointed out some problems in this chapter, and I fixed a few of them and will be addressing the others shortly. Thanks again!

By the time I left campus, it was past noon. I was hungry and was excited to talk about my new job, so I headed over to Adam's Street to pay Bright Skies Cafe a visit.

"Hey Sable!" I heard Clarity say over the entry bell's tinkle. She grinned at me and pointed to a two-seater right by the window. "Go ahead and sit there. I'll be with you in a sec,"

I just smiled and sat down. I watched out the window for any activity in the streets, but saw nothing but the faceless crowd ambling past.

Why did everyone look down at the sidewalk? The weather is lovely today! I thought, smiling ever brighter. I was in a good mood.

"What can I getcha?" Clarity said, making me jump.

I had been daydreaming!

"Umm… just a grilled cheese sandwich," I said, giving her a little smile.

"Okee dokee. I'll let Glen know, and we'll get that to you right away," she said, waltzing off, humming. I always loved how happy Clarity was. She loved the most simple things, and always smiled because of it.

I just looked back out the window, content to wait to tell the good news.

I was brought back to reality after a few minutes by a familiar voice.

"Is this seat taken?" I looked up, and smiled at Rick.

"Nope. Go ahead." He grinned and slid in across from me.

"So you frequent this cafe as well? It's my favorite. The foods great," He said, playing with his napkin.

"Well, my siblings own the place. It's admittedly my first time, but so far I'm enjoying myself."

"Wait… your family owns the place? Wow…" He leaned back in his chair, grinning.

"Eh. My brother cooks and my sister is the waitress. Nothing special." I said, blushing. He was making a big deal about it.

"Why didn't you come here before?" He asked, raising his eyebrows. "You did say it was your first time, right?"

"Yup. I wan in the Galapagos up until yesterday," I said, huddling my shoulders in self-consciously. He was about to ask a lot of questions.

"Wait… run that by me again. You were in the Galapagos Islands… up until yesterday? Wow…" He just chuckled a little.

"Yup. Studied Volcaonology there," I said, feeling my face heat up. I didn't like talking about, myself so much.

"Well, tell me about it! What was the weather like? Who was there? Which Volcano is your favorite?"

He looked way too excited now. Kinda like a puppy. His blue eyes were beginning to bug out of his head a little.

"The weather was really nice. It was always really warm, so Gotham is a bit of a shock. The people were all really nice, but I didn't talk with many people. As for my favorite volcano..." I suddenly stopped, thinking. "I dunno. I don't really have a favorite. Wolf is the most active, if that is what you're looking for," I offered, smiling a little on the end.

Rick gave a whistle and grinned. "Still can't believe it! That's amazing!"

"Here you are Sable!" I heard Clarity say. She handed me a platter and turned towards Rick. "Hello, Rick. Can I get you anything?"

"Just a frappe, please. Thank you."

"Alrighty. If you don't mind me asking, How do you know my sister?" She said, giving an all-knowing sidelong glance at me.

"We met at the store earlier today, and she happens to also frequent my favorite cafe," he answered, glancing at me as well. "I remembered her from before so I came to talk. She certainly is an interesting person, isn't she?" He smiled as I felt my face heating up. I didn't do well with compliments.

"Alright you two. I'll be back in just a minute," she said, giving me a smug smile.

"Alright, Rick. Enough about me. What about you?" I said, picking at the crust of my sandwich nervously.

"Well, I enjoy movies and TV shows. I watch a lot of old classics in my free time. As you probably figured out, I work as a simple sales clerk for now, but I'm working towards being a movie script writer one day. I'm writing the script for a TV show right now, and one studio has responded positively!" His excited puppy-face came back right then.

"That's great! I said, smiling. He looked so happy…

"Yeah! I was wondering if you'd like to read it... I trust you quite a bit, so I'd love it if you'd check it over..." he smiled shyly at me. "Could I call you about it? Maybe we could meet up and I'll give you the transcript."

Did he just ask me out? I thought, my mind boggling at the events.

I had gone on exactly two dates in high school. Neither one had gone well. One ended with Catwoman breaking into a jewelry store nearby, so we were questioned by the police on everything, while the other one was just with a creep. He had insisted on holding my hand the entire time, much to my discomfort.

"Sure," I said after a moments pause. Rick seemed like a great guy, and I loved to hang out with him. I didn't like him in that way, but love's a funny thing, so they say. I might as well try it out. I wrote my cell phone number on a napkin and handed it to him.

"I'll call you tonight, okay?" He said, awkwardly folding the napkin and placing it into his coat pocket. "Yeah... I'll call you."

"Okay. I'm not open Saturday. Just warning you," I said, before taking a little nibble from the corner of my lunch. Clarity came by with his coffee a few moments after.

"What's on Saturday?" He asked absentmindedly.

"Black dress," I said simply, not wanting to make a big fuss.

"Oh. I'm still really, really sorry about that..."

"It's alright, Rick. I'm happy he was my father, and he's in a better place. His lungs don't bother him anymore," I said, smiling a little to show it didn't hurt too bad. "I see funerals as celebrations of life, not rituals of death."

"That's a nice way to think about it... that really is. Mind if I use that in my script?" He asked, seemingly taking mental notes.

"Go ahead." He grinned and looked down at his watch, his expression falling.

"Aye, I'd better run. Shift two starts soon," he got up, finishing his coffee and leaving the mug on the table. "I'll call you tonight, when I get my schedule fixed up."

"Okay. Have a nice day, Rick!" I said, waving a little.

I grinned, finishing off my sandwich until Clarity came to clear the dishes away.

"How'd it go?" She asked slyly, elbowing me.

"Owch! He asked me out, if that's what you want to know," I said, giving her my best glare back. She just giggled and took the dishes from my arms.

"Glen and I'll head home in a few hours. We close at four, and dinner's on at five thirty normally. Enjoy yourself out there, kay?" She said, waving me off.

"Bye Clarity. See you tonight!" I said, completely forgetting to mention my job.

Today had just been exceptionally good.

Next I should look for my own apartment, I thought as I walked down the streets, in an even better mood than before. Everything was on the upside today, and nothing could change that as far as I was concerned.

There were a few options around to look into. I was close to the University now, so one close to here was optimal. I spotted three prospects around, and navigated towards the closest one.

This one turned out to simply be an office building. I started to walk towards the next, just three blocks or so away.

I was about to enter the building when Sirens blared all around me. There was a huge crash next to me as one of the stores was attacked.

Run! My mind thought frantically.

I, stupidly, obeyed. I ducked back into an alleyway and leaned against the wall, trying to calm my nerves.

"Hello," a voice said from above me. I jumped up, my calming heart quickening again immediately.

A man wearing a green suit stood there, staring at me with a giant smirk on his face. Two muscular thugs stood behind him, holding pistols. I then noticed the theme of question marks, and gasped. This was The Riddler, one of the most wanted criminals out our Arkham right now.

The Riddler twirled his question-mark cane and smirked. "I've been known to be hot tempered, and should I blow, I'll make a mess of everything," he recited eloquently. He looked incredibly smug. It made me a little mad.

My heart sank. I'd never been good at riddles. At all. Father had helped us memorize a bunch of them, in case this happened, nut now I stood there without a clue in the world.

I'd heard somewhere that The Riddler killed the people who couldn't solve his Riddles. Something along the lines of "weeding out the ignorant and useless."

I just bowed my head, and waited to be shot.

I'm going to miss dinner tonight, I thought. I'm going to miss my first day of work tomorrow. I'm going to miss a prospect of a good date- maybe even my first boyfriend. All because I decided to hide in an alleyway. Stupid.

I took my mind to my happy place. My lovely Galapagos Islands. I thought back on my times with Kyle and all of my lovely... volcanoes.

My head shot up at the speed of light. "V-volcano!" I gasped out, shrinking against the wall under the Riddler's stare.

"Took you long enough," he said begrudgingly, backing off a little. I saw my opportunity and bolted away, trying to escape.

"I don't think so," he said sticking out his cane, tripping me. I fell hard onto the pavement, my chin grazing on the rough surface.

I just focused on breathing for several moments after hat. I finally opened my mouth to scream, only for it to be covered by gloved fingers.

"Now now, we don't want the police to come here yet," he said in my ear.

I felt myself beginning to panic again. I forced the wave of adrenaline down, trying desperately to remain calm.

"You interest me," he said, releasing me. I fell down on the pavement again in shock. "What is your name?" He asked, positioning the tip of his cane directly beneath my chin.

If he was trying to scare me, it was working.

I felt a twinge of something among the panic. Something that made me think I was absolutely crazy.

"As if I'd tell you!" I lashed out, obviously at a disadvantage.

"Oh well. I'll find out anyways," he said, steepling his fingers. "I have a mouth but do not eat. I have a bed but do not sleep. I can run, but never walk. I have a bank, but I have no money. What am I?" He asked.

I sighed in relief. Everyone knew that riddle. He wasn't even trying.

"A river." I sighed, glad that I was still alive.

"Very good," he said, smirking and clapping his hands mockingly. I scowled at him, and huddled into a little ball on the ground, waiting for him to leave.

I looked up after a few moments to find that the mysterious criminal had disappeared, leaving nothing but a green envelope behind.

I got up, dusted myself off, tucked the envelope into my pants pocket, and strolled away, my heart still racing.

Author's Note: Hee hee hee! Finally some villain action! Hope I wrote The Riddler somewhat in character. Please tell me if you have any advice!

Next up, we'll have some of the Master of Fear!