Light The Shadows

Gotham: 1:27am, May 29th, 2009:

P.O.V: Ghost Rider

"...please, don't kill me. I have a family!" The woman screams as she tries to crawl away. He leg is bent and her face has a handprint burn. "The man you killed had a family too. The double standard with you criminals sickens me." I growl in anger as I wrap my chain around her throat and send hellfire down it. The woman screams as the fire burns through her throat. I pull the chain and her head rolls off while her body burns to ash. I grab her by the hair and look into her horror filled eyes. I send hellfire down her hair and face, leaving nothing but a charred skull. Dropping said skull, I walk back to the car and hop in. Driving away from the woman, I listen for any wrong being down. The entire city is being heard. The city is quiet tonight...it's never quiet, something is always going on.

I sense a presence nearby, a girl, young and angry. Strange. I pulled into an abandoned alley and got out of the car. The presence had a deep hatred for something...no, someone. I walk down the alley with one of my chains loose, dragging along the ground, leaving an ashen trail. I hear shuffling and look up. Whoever she is, she is elusive. I detect something familiar about this individual. I hear a whistle and without looking catch an arrow aimed for my head. I turn and see the trail of the arrow and see the girl from months ago. She stares wide eyed at my catch. I burned the arrow before swinging my chain, hoping to catch her.

She jumps and fires an arrow at the opposing building. My chain misses her and cuts through the fire escape that she was perched in. She fires another arrow but I intercept it with my chain. I release my other chain at the new fire escape and wrap it around one of its holdings. She stares wide eyed at the chain, as I pull it. The fire escape gives way as it falls to the ground. I see her firing another arrow to the roof. Creating a grapple point to pull herself up. She's really starting to get on my nerves. I walk to the building side and stare up. She stares back at me. I grit my teeth and throw both chains up to the roof. The force of my throw lodges them in. I pull myself up and start climbing. She panics and moves back.

I jump up and pull the chains out before gripping the side of the ledge. I pull myself up and see across the roof. I pull my chains back in as they wrap around my arms. "You're skilled...but stupid." I growl at her and she just narrows her eyes. "No need to be rude. You have been causing problems for some people in this city and I'm here to correct it." She says as I just stare aimlessly. "You're an assassin? He...he he...ha ha ha ha he he.!" I just started laughing. The laugh is scaring the shit out of the girl. "You think that some arrows will stop me...you're not very smart, are you?" I say as I get control of myself. She growls in anger and fires an arrow towards me. I move out of the way and walk slowly towards her. She fires two shots in quick succession but I dodge again. She fires four shots followed by two more. I dodge the first four and catch the next two. I didn't exact the little explosion to come from the arrows but I pay them no mind. "Maybe we should introduce ourselves. I'm Artemis." She says as she loads four arrows on her bow. I growl in frustration at her arrogance. "I don't care." She fires but I had enough, I swing both my chains out, hellfire incasing them. The girl, Artemis, dodges. Her reflexes are impressive, but mine are honed after millennia of fighting. I swing one chain to her legs and one to her torso. She gets caught and I slam her to the ground. She groans under the tightness of the chains as I march over and stare at her. Reading her soul in the process. A daughter of two criminals. Trained from a young age from her father. Suffered abuse from father, especially after her mother took the fall for him and came paralyzed. She has a sister, who hated their father and walked out when her mother went to prison. I see now that she is a girl that has been through a lot of shit. Has suffered heartbreak and pain from someone who was supposed to protect her.

"Well...what are you waiting for? I saw you last year kill those men. I heard that you kill those that have done wrong. Kill me then...I deserve it." She tells me as I continue to gaze at her soul. She didn't come here on the behalf of someone that I pissed off, she came because she wanted to fight me...and lose. She wanted to die. She has a good heart and a stronger spirit. She has done wrong and she has split innocent blood. But it wasn't out of greed, lust, or joy. It was to survive. I stand up and pull the chains off of her, however I do leave a burn mark across her stomach which she winces at. "Not today." I say as I walk away from her and jump down from the roof. Something about that girl had caught my interest. She insisted on me killing her, technically I don't kill anyone by burning them, their souls are damned to Hell, but that doesn't mean that I don't kill from time to time, just not the way she is thinking. Reading her soul, I found out that she is Artemis Crock, daughter of Lawrence and Paula Crock. Lawrence Crock, that I know, the Sportsmaster, mercenary for hire. Had a few run-ins with him, always escapes but I sense that he has a deep fear of me, which I relish every time I see him. Paula Crock...not a name I recognize but from reading Artemis's soul, I'll found out that she is currently in Blackgate Prison under observation because of her paralysis. Maybe I should pay a visit...just to get a read on this girl.

Blackgate Prison: 02:33am, May 29th:

P.O.V: Matthew

I enter the prison under the dead of night. Prisons are designed to keep people in rather than out. And with the help of the Rider, I was able to scale the walls alright. I enter the secluded wing of the prison. Where special cases or people with disabilities are housed for their sentences. The guards are completely lax when it comes to security, no wonder, many prisoners escape. I found a security room with a guard sleeping with a sandwich in his hand. Like honestly. I moved him out of the way and found that Paula Crock is currently in the common room, apparently with good behaviour she was able to get certain privileges. A single guard is stationed near here. I guess with an experienced criminal, you would want precautions even if she is paralyzed. I find the code for the door and unlock it, I see the guard is confused on the camera as I wake in. "What are you doing here? You can't be here." He says as I just walk over and backhand him into the adjacent wall, knocking him out. I'm in no mood for games tonight. The wheelchair bound woman turns to me with zero expression. I turn to her and stand in front. "Have you come to kill me?" She says as I shake my head. "No...to talk." I say as I pull out a chair and sit. "Talk? I don't know you so why would we talk?" She questions.

"Because your daughter tried to kill herself tonight." I say simply as her eyes widen. I see her hand reach into her pocket. "What did you do?" She says with anger. My eyes glow in warning as to who she's dealing with. The Rider laughs at the terrified expression on her face. "Your daughter is fine. But I would still like to talk to you. Let's not pull out shanks because the other guy might not be as kind as I am." I say as she nods and pulls her hand back out. "So...you are the Ghost Rider. I was expecting someone older." She says as I smirk. "Yeah me too." I say jokingly. "What do you want to know about my daughter?" She asks while hesitant. "Tonight was the second time I saw your daughter and the first time interacting with her. She was very adamant about me killing her. I know that your situation with your husband is not the best but I need to know where he is." I ask her and I see the hidden anger at the mention of her husband. "You know nothing about my situation." She says with anger. "I know more than you would care to say but this isn't about you. I know that he is hurting your daughter, forcing her to commit acts that could end up here or worse...dead. She said that she was hired to take me out for the same people here in Gotham. I know it to be a lie but she still tried to engage me even when she knew she couldn't win." I explain to her as she just sighs and strolls herself to the window.

"I wish I could take it back...taking the fall for him. I was certain that he would care for them like he did me...but I guess I was wrong. Have you ever felt that? That you trusted someone and they turned out to be nothing more than a liar?" She asks me. "Sorry but no." I reply as she nods. "My daughters are everything to me. I wish I could have spent more time with them, but I couldn't be the mother that they deserved. And now they are paying for my mistakes." She says. I know that Artemis has a sister that abandoned her. "I had a sister...she died a few months ago...I tried everything to care for her...even when I didn't know how." I say to her as I walk up next to her chair. "I'm sorry for your loss." She says which I shake off. "Your daughter needs help. Mentally and emotionally. Any more time she spends with that man is more time that brings her closer to death. Either by someone else or herself. So help me." I plead with her. She sits there and just stares out the window. "I'm sorry but I can't help you. I don't know where his safehouse is in Gotham, I know that he changes it every time he comes here. I wish I could help you but I can't. " She says as I narrow my eyes. "You either don't know the man you married or you are lying. If I find out that it's the latter..." I start as I lean down to her level. In the Rider's voice, I speak. "I'll be back to make sure you regret it." I say in anger as I see her eyes widen in fear. I walk out of the common room and make my way out of the prison.

In an abandoned warehouse where I made a base of operations. The Rider was pissed at Paula's unhelpfulness. I agree with him, she was married to a man that she claims to love...how can you not know where his safehouse or possible safehouse are. "Can you find her? If we can find her then we can find him." I ask him. "I have a familiar feel of her soul. Give me time and I can find her."

The Rider had sensed Artemis's soul to the rich side of Gotham. A lot of Gotham's elite owned this part of town. The Rider rarely came here but when he did, it always ended in bloodshed. Tonight was a gala night for the upper class. I had spotted a few names that had graced the gala. Salvatore Maroni, The Penguin etc, I had even seen Bruce Wayne and his ward Dick Grayson. Must be important if the great Bruce Wayne is here. "We'll never get in." I say to the Rider who stares back from the side mirror. "We go in, chains blazing. What's so wrong about that?" He asks which makes my eyes roll. "You are the Spirit of Vengeance. You have been in existence for thousands of years and in that time you haven't learnt subtlety?" I ask in disbelief. The Rider scoffs like a child at my accusation. "So what's the plan then, genius?" He sarcastically mocks me but I spot a man not far from me in a rich three piece suit. "No...no way." Oh yes. I get out and make my way across and pull the man onto an alley. "He-!" He goes to shout but I cover his mouth and hold him in a choke hold. Using my strength, I was able to make him pass out a little quicker than usual.

Changing into these clothes was surprisingly easier than expected. The guy, by chance, was my size. Driving my Charger up to the valet lane. I hop out and chuck the keys to the valet. "Watch the paint." I warn the man who cowers slightly. I entered the lavish hall and immediately noticed the vast wealth all around the place. "This is ridiculous. I would rather be tortured for an eternity by Hell's worst demons than be here." I hear the Riser complain and I silently laugh at his antics. "You're not the one that has to find her. You just sit back and let me handle this." I say as he grumbles in annoyance. I sit by the bar and pick up a martini. The bartender gave me a look which I returned tenfold. This is Gotham...no one is asking for ID. "Sense her yet?" I ask him which he just growls. "Not yet. Too many souls." Touché. "Baby...baby...try not to drink it too quickly." I hear a woman's voice and see a beautiful woman stroll up to my side. I look at her and damn, very beautiful. Olive skin, black hair. Short stature but very feminine but still has signs of honed muscle. Gray eyes that just scream seductive. "I'll try not to." I say to her as I place a gentleman kiss on her hand. "I'm Matt." I say to her as she smiles. "Jade." She replies. "That's a very beautiful name." I say, just speaking without thinking. "Well thank you. No one to keep you company?" She asks as she gestures to the bar. "No unfortunately. Just me." I say as she smirks. "Well now you do...come, I want to dance." She says as she pulls me onto the dance floor. I stutter but shallow my nerves. "We don't have time for this." The Rider says but I ignore him. We have time.

Slow waltz music starts to play as I hold Jade's hand and rest my other on her hip. "I didn't think you would be good at this...glad to see that I was wrong." She says as I just smile. "To be honest, this is my first time actually." I say as she goes wide eyed. "Really? Well...you are a natural." She says seductively as she leans into me. I twirl her around before bringing her back in. "I aim to please." As I say that, I hear the Rider fake a gag. "So what are you really doing here?" She says as her tone goes from seductive to serious. "What do you mean?" I ask, oblivious. "You're not stupid. You know exactly what I mean. I know everyone here but you...you don't belong but I did notice you're eyes, shifting around...like you're looking for something. Or someone, so I'll ask again. What are you doing here?" I stare into her eyes and see that all playfulness has left. I see her hand go from my shoulder to my neck, I feel a slight prick of a hidden blade pressing against my jugular. "You don't want to do that." I say in warning, the Rider is becoming increasingly agitated. "Tell me why you are here and maybe...I'll let you live." She says threateningly as the blade presses harder. I glow my eyes in warning as her own widens in fear. When I do that, a massive headache blasts me. "The League of Shadows...they are here! You have to let me out! They deserve punishment! Ra's Al Ghul is here! Let me out now!" I groan in pain as I feel the Rider forcing himself out. I push away from Jade as the music stops as everyone stares at me. I see the elite, Bruce Wayne and his ward. I see Sportsmaster in his civilian attire...but the old man behind him...is someone that the Rider growls at. "You!" The Rider screams as I groan and steam starts to come from my face. I roar in agony as the Rider takes control.

P.O.V Change: Ghost Rider

I burst through Matthew's control as I focus on Ra's Al Ghul. The clothes par Matthews's shirt and pants are burnt away. Many people are screaming in fear. I point at Ra's as he approaches. "You...guilty." I growl in rage, to make me angrier, he smirks. "Hello old friend." He says as I hear many blades being unsheathed. I see many shadows coming into focus as the elite mob makes a run for it. "Is that all you brought?" I mock him as I feel a blade pierce my back. I turn and see the girl that Matthew was speaking with. She goes wide eyed at my unflinching gaze. I reach back and pull out the melted Sai. I throw it away before turning my attention back to Ra's. He unsheathes his katana as I hold a chain at the ready. "Take him!" Ra's shouts as the ninjas charge me. I roar as I spin and twirl my chain in a wide arc. Some of the unlucky ones are incinerated as my chain cuts through them. I stop and flick the chain at a shadow, killing him instantly. Someone tries to shoot me but I dodge and swing the chain to wrap around her, I pull and incinerate her.

Ra's swings his blade but I avoid it and swing my chains, Ra's dodges and swipes at me but I wrap my chains around his sword as I pull it from his grasp. Ra's dodges my swings as more ninjas come pouring from every which direction. I swing my chains in wild patterns as many dodge but more are caught by the hellfire chains. I see Sportsmaster pull a javelin of some kind and throws it at me. A soon as I catch the pole it explodes. Sending me across the hall into the flights of stairs. I get up and wipe the dust off my shoulder. I roar and charge him, flailing my chains around to swipe at him but he expertly dodges. I send one chain at his feet while the other at his chest. Sportsmaster weaves through the chains and throws a chair at me which I cut through with a chain. I feel a punch connect with my face. I slowly reel around at the woman from before. Now reading her soul, my eyes narrow at finding out that she is the sister to the girl that we are looking for and the first born of Sportsmaster. Very interesting.

The girl backs up from me as I breath fire out my cheeks before turning back to Ra's. I notice that he is heading up the skylight above me. I growl and swing my chain at him but he deflects it away with his katana. Sportsmaster is also running, now with the girl and the one that we were looking for. I growl and pull the chains back. I chase after them, out into the street where everyone from the gala and wherever else can see me but I don't care less. The three of them get in a fast looking car and drive off. Amateurs.

I whistle for the Charger which comes speeding down the road. I open the door and chase after Sportsmaster, the car changing along the way. Now in full pursuit I weave between the cars on the road and get closer to my target. Sportsmaster is speeding up but speed is no match for Hellfire. I race up closer and almost level with them, if not for the machine gun that Jade is shooting at me. I growl and move to the side away the gunfire before accelerating back in. I control the car to drive automatic as I climb out of the window and stand on-top of the car. I growl as I fling my chain at the axle of their car. I pull and rip the axle out as the car is sent crashing, tumbling down into the crossroads. I mentally order the car to stop as I jump down. I walk over to the car and rip the door off and fling it across the street. Sirens are wailing in the distance as I kneel down and come face to face with all three occupants.

Sportsmaster has a look of fear on his face. Artemis is terrified and Jade more so. I grab Sportsmaster and pull him out of the vehicle before throwing him to the ground away from me. I twirl my chains around as they leave streaks of molten rock on the road. I hear a chopper's blades going as I look up and see a chopper coming. It's door opens as I see Ra's seating there. The ninja opposite him opens fire onto me with his Minigun. While impervious to gunfire, I can still feel the impact. I growl as I shield myself. I glance through my fingers and see a missile coming right at me. And I'm too late to dodge. The missile hits me and as it explodes I'm sent a hundred metres into a large semi truck.

I come too and see that the chopper is gone and so are the Crock's. I pull myself from the wreck of the truck and shake my head of the dizziness. I look up and send hundreds of cops pointing their guns at me. I growl and light my chains on fire as I exert hellfire from my skull. The exertion makes the smaller fires on the ground and on the truck grow in size. The scene makes everyone present shit themselves in fear. I snort and twirl the chains back onto my arms as I make my way back to the Charger. I hop in and drive away, not before smashing into two cop cars that are in my way. I growl in annoyance at the failure tonight. I let my anger and hate get the better of me and two targets on my 'to damn to Hell' list hot away. Not happy...not happy at all.

Next morning:

P.O.V: Matthew

I walk up in pain as I climb out of the makeshift bed. I groan as all my muscles ache and I can still feel the pain of that Minigun. "What the fuck did you do?" I demand as I wash my face in the sink. I look up and see the Rider staring back. "I got angry...I made a mistake." He says in monotone as I scoff. "A mistake is leaving the eggs out overnight. A mistake is not watering the plants after a few days. No...last night was the baddest fuck up that you have ever done since I've known you." I say I'm anger. "You jeopardized everything." I say as the Rider scoffs. "You jeopardized everything when you were pulled by your cock by that woman. Who by the way is the sister of Artemis and the daughter of Sportsmaster. You nearly got yourself killed because of your damn hormones." He rips into me but I just don't even bother. I'm a fucking eighteen-year-old kid, give me a fucking break will ya. "We were suppose to look for that girl...we both got distracted...we can do better." He says as I just nod and sit back on the bed. I hang my head in my hands as I just shake off what happened. "Someone is coming." The Rider says as I perk up. I hear footsteps, I grab a nearby chain and hug the wall. "Who is it?" I ask. Before he can answer, a whistling sound is heard as I duck under a sharp object that lodges in the wall. I see that it's a bat shaped boomerang. I turn and see Batman and Robin standing before me. "Ok...I get the feeling that we are going to fight...just to warn you...I'm not in a good mood." I say as my eyes glow. "If we wanted to fight you...you wouldn't see us coming." Robin says cockily as I scoff. "Doubt it." I say as the chain starts glowing hotter. "We want to talk...that's all." Batman says in monotone as he stares at me. My eyes stop glowing as I drop the chain on the bench next to me. "Come on then." I say as I gesture them to follow.

"Let me guess...you know everything about me?" I ask as I notice Batman narrows his eyes. While he doesn't answer, I already know the true answer. "You're Matthew Nygma, son of Edward Nygma and Claire Hall, born 1991." Robin says which makes me scoff. "Impressive, bit that's not anymore who I am anymore. It's just Matthew, nothing else." I say as I grab a soda out of the fridge. "After last night...we figured you were the one that killed your father at Arkham." Batman says as I chuckle. "Bastard had it coming. He sent the bomb that killed my mother and sister...glad that the fucker screamed before he burned." I say as Batman narrows his eyes at me. "So you admit to being the one that killed him? Are you also the one that has done these killings over the past few months?" He says and I see the game that he is trying to play. "I did...but before you get high and mighty, they deserved it." I say but Batman returns fire. "Deserved or not, you don't get to decide who gets to die." I smile at the irony. "I'm not the one who decides...plus...it's vengeance. Those men and women split innocent blood. They deserved their fate...Mr Wayne." I say as I stare into the eyes of the Batman whose own eyes go wide with surprise. I notice Robin off to the side with a look of shock on his face. "How did you...?" Batman goes to question but I hold up my hand. "Let's just say that you're an open book." I say sarcastically as I walk over to the bench and hop up onto it.

"Ok...so if you know who we are, then we don't have anything to really hide, so...can you tell us about your powers? Like how do they work? How did you get them?" Robin asks really quickly. "Slow down...and to answer your questions. Sure I can...no, I do not know how they work...and I made a deal with the devil." I say which makes Robin and Batman's eyes wide at the last sentence. "Look...I'm still going to do what I'm doing...no prison can hold me and you don't have the power nor ability to stop me. So let's go our separate ways and we won't be none the wiser." I say to them but Batman narrows his eyes. "What's to stop you from killing innocents yourself? What if you lose control?" Batman questions as I feel the Rider's rage. My eyes glow with fiery rage. "Watch your tongue boy!" The Rider speaks through me as I reel him back in. I am able to calm him down as I turn my attention back to Batman. I sense Robin's unease and trepidation and also, Batman's slight shock. "Sorry...but trust me when I say that I know the difference between the guilty and the innocent. Now if you don't mind...can you please leave?" I ask as politely as possible. Batman grumbles before walking out. Robin goes to follow but turns back to me. "If you ever want to meet up, just call. It's never a bad idea to have friends." He says as he leaves a phone, possibly a burner on the bench next to him before walking out, following Batman. I pick up the phone and place it in my back pocket. Maybe...and that's a hard maybe. But a maybe, nonetheless.