p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px 0px 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Back in his clown makeup and regular purple and green attire, the Joker led me through a set of alleys behind the Italian-American club, humming something as he went, caught up in the excitement of the moment. We were followed closely by his usual group of clown faced goons. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The puncture in my side had mostly clotted, but I was adamant to keep myself together until the moment came. I resented the Joker for not letting me do what I wanted tonight. I wanted to end my father's life and be done with it. I didn't enjoy torture. My whole life had been torture. I didn't need him to show me how to do things. It reminded me of how John could be… /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; clear: none !important;"John…/em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"As much as he could bug me, I realized with a single ping in my heart that I actually missed him... his smile… his touch… his kindness. He had been so good to me and I had thrown it away. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Instantly appalled by how my feelings had shifted so suddenly, I tried to stuff those selfish thoughts away. No emotional weaknesses. Not tonight. It was so close to being all over. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Kill Carmine Falcone. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Avenge my mother. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"That was all that mattered. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"As we made our way towards the back of the building, I stifled the urge to gag at the stench of rotting garbage. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Why are we going around the back if we could have snuck in the front with disguises?" I asked, slightly annoyed. He wasn't making this easy, but then again, things never were logical with him./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The Joker answered me as if he were talking quietly to himself./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""You're em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; clear: none !important;"scheming /emagainem style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; clear: none !important;", /emLuce... Stop em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; clear: none !important;"scheming/em. Just try and have fun… yanno… em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; clear: none !important;"fun?/em"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"One of his men kicked open the back doors and began shooting blindly inside. Instinctively covering my head, I was pushed into the back entrance to the club's kitchen. I felt humiliated and unprepared. How was I supposed to face my father this way? /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"As the kitchen staff scattered, we made our way into a hallway connecting the kitchen to the main ballroom. Using only quick hand gestures, the Joker directed his men to split up and cover the exits. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"My adrenaline had diminished in his shadow. I needed an advantage. I needed to know his plan. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"I thought about using my gift again and hesitated. His hands were protected by his usual purple leather gloves. That wouldn't do./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"I glanced behind at his painted face… there was always option number two./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Behind his scarred cheeks was a surprisingly handsome jawline. I shivered. The thought of what I was about to do made my stomach churn. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Show time" he said with a snarl, his eyes locked on mine./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Wait-" I said, nervously. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"He spun me fully around to face him. "Oh, don't tell me you're getting cold feet now, sweetheart."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"This was my chance. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"My whole body shook as I used my free hand to pull his face towards mine. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"As my lips met his I suddenly realized how bad of an idea this had been. Wrapping his hand tightly behind my neck, he pulled me in. I lost what I thought had been my upper hand in an instant. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"With him, my insight was useless. He couldn't be read. He had no plan. This man truly did what he wanted, when he wanted, for the sake of anarchy. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"My confidence was quickly replaced with what had overtaken me at the hospital. Pure, numb, em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; clear: none !important;"apathy/em. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"He finally released me as the sound of gunshots could be heard from the ballroom./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""We'll finish this later" he growled, pushing me forward. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"As he led me into the ballroom, I wiped away some of the red and white stage makeup from my face. I looked more like one of his clowns now than a vengeful daughter. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;". . . . . . . . . ./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Lucious spoke through the intercom of John's batsuit. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Eight entering through the back entrance. All armed. Lucy is with them." /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Hacking CCTV was coming in handy. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Revving his motorcycle's engine, John headed towards the club. Tonight he had one true motive: stop Lucy from crossing the final line. Stop her from becoming just like her father… the Joker… A murderer. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Parking alongside the building, he quickly climbed to the top of the clubhouse. Despite the concrete covered rooftop, he could hear muffled shooting coming from below. John kicked open the rooftop entrance, and flew down the staircase into the backstage hallway. Slipping behind the shadow of a curtain, he observed the developing scene./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Guests ran towards the exits, only to find them guarded by armed clowns. Pandemonium ensued. Finally, the crowds parted from the dancefloor as the remaining group of intruders took center stage./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"John searched for Lucy and at first he couldn't find her among them. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"But then, he spotted her, and his heart sank./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; clear: none !important;"Lucy…/em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Pale, thin, with white and red makeup smeared across her face. em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; clear: none !important;"His/em makeup. He almost didn't recognize her. She looked so different. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; clear: none !important;"Was it already too late?/em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Ladies and gentle-man" the Joker sang, holding Lucy in front of him like a rag doll. Despite the amount of firearms carried by the onlookers, there were too many relatives and loved ones at stake to chance a full on gunfight. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Sorry to uhh… interrupt the em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; clear: none !important;"party/em …but we have a veryyyy special guest here with us tonight."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The Joker cleared his throat and pulled Lucy closer to him./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""From myyyyy understanding, I thought this was a em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; clear: none !important;"family/em affair…" He licked his scars, as his eyes scanned the room. There was no hint of humor in words. "Not very nice to leave out such an important guest..."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Letting Lucy go, she stepped forward, snatching a gun from the surrounding henchmen. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Where is Carmine Falcone? Where is my father?" the small but fierce voice projected into the crowd./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Hushed murmuring filled the room as guests began looking frantically around for the wanted man. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"John spotted her father the same time Lucy did. He had slowly made his way to the back of the hall, ducking into the stairwell leading up. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Shooting into the air to form a path forward, Lucy ran after him as the crowds erupted into screams. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Lucious, now. Do it now." John whispered into the intercom./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Roger that."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"In an instant, the power went out./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;". . . . . . . . . ./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"I almost tripped over a chair as the room was instantly engulfed in darkness. Through the chaos, I kept firing above me, lighting my path forward with flashes of gunpowder. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Entering the staircase, I heard a door slam shut above me. Climbing upwards, my heart pumped with adrenaline. He had nowhere to go. This was it./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"As I pushed open a heavy set of doors, I shielded my face a gust of icy cold wind bit through my exposed skin. For a few agonizing seconds it was silent. Only distant cars and the sound of muted cries rang from below./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"As I took another step forward, I felt a white hot pain sear the back of my head. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Stumbling forward, I fired blindly behind me. The clank of a metal pipe hit the floor as I turned to see him limping towards the edge of the building. Trailing him were puddles of glimmering crimson./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Waves of nausea came over me and the world shook violently. I stifled the urge to vomit as I stalked after him. I could barely hear him speak as he managed to lean against the ledge of the building. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Oh Lucille", he spat, "Did you come to get your revenge?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Steadying himself, he let out a pained laugh as he held his bloodied side. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The Joker's words lingered in my mind:/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; clear: none !important;"Death only happens once Luce… but suffering… oh, suffering can last so much longer…./em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Yes, I had suffered long enough. I didn't care about how this ended for my father. I wanted em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; clear: none !important;"my/em suffering to end. No more delays. No more waiting. I wanted freedom from his continued existence as a free man. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"He was panting heavily as he looked down the two stories to the concrete sidewalk. The red and blue police lights of GCPD had already begun to surround the building. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"He met my gaze./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Before you do anything rash, there's something I want you to know..."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; clear: none !important;"Shoot him,/em I told myself,em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; clear: none !important;" do it now. /em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"I positioned the gun for a headshot, but his face was blurring into twos and threes. The pain was becoming unbearable. If I was to do this, I needed to do it now./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Your mother kept many secrets from you… despite your gifts."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"I held pressure on the trigger, lowering the gun to aim directly at his heart./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; clear: none !important;"You have the shot. KILL HIM./em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Lucille… You're not a Falcone. You're not my daughter."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"…./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"…/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"../p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Thick silence enveloped me as I felt my legs ready to collapse. The world shook beneath my feet. I held up the gun and fired a single bullet./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The sound rang in my ears as the bullet flew through the air./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Then, all I saw was a black blur./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Staring blankly, I lowered my gun. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"John stood in front of me… Nightwing. Taking a bullet for my… for that man. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The moment ended with a scream of frustration. I collapsed to my knees. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"John stood over me with a hand on his stomach. His armor had taken most of the damage, but it pained him nonetheless. He stood his ground, looking fiercely down at me, he growled in a deep, masked voice:/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Killing Falcone won't bring your mother back."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Leaning forward onto my hands, I balanced myself as tears began to stream down my face./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""You don't know what it's like to live like this! Don't fucking tell me how to live my life! Move!"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"I tried my best to stand, but was defeated as gravity pulled me backwards./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"I noticed Falcone preparing himself to jump to the safety of the GCPD. I had one last chance to do this. Scrambling for the gun at my side, his foot quickly crushed my arm as I let out a scream./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Lucy…"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""GET THE FUCK OFF OF ME!" /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"I was screaming and crying./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Lucy…/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"He kicked the gun away, pinning my shoulders down against the cool concrete. By the time I had looked back towards Falcone, he was gone./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Lucy… you're better than this. Think about what your mother would want…"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"My body shook uncontrollably, the wound on my side had reopened and my head was splitting./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"John retrieved something from his suit and placed it into one of my limp hands. It was cool to the touch as I felt the familiar smoothness of the stone./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; clear: none !important;"My mother's necklace. /em/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"It had been on my bedside table at the hospital. During the abruptness of my escape, I had forgotten it. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"I stopped struggling and closed my eyes as my body shook with a thousand emotions. I felt stuck between multiple worlds, multiple realities of existence./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""I can't let you throw your life away. You deserve more than this, Lucy. Remember who you are, how much you have to live for… I need you too, Luce." John whispered to me. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"A pool of tears had collected on the ground below my face. John placed a hand on my cheek wiping away the tears and clown makeup./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Clapping slowly, emerging from the darkness of the rooftop entrance, a figure walked towards us. John stood to meet him. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""How very touching… I hope I can be the first man at the wedding," sang a familiar voice. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"All I could do was lie there, listening, sensing the impending intensity of what was to come./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The two locked eyes, only feet remaining between them. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Joker…" John growled./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Officer Blake" the Joker sang, grinning darkly. His clowns emerged from the stairwell behind him, encircling John and I./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""I'm retired," John said coolly, stepping between me and the Joker. My eyes were closing as I was clinging to consciousness. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Johnny Boyyyy, retired cop, heroically throwing on the mask and cap." with his hands behind him, the Joker began walking back and forth. "Maybeee… I should put you on tv like the em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; clear: none !important;"last/em Batman wannabe." he said, licking his scars. "You must remember that broadcast as a young and strapping officer?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""You're not escaping this, Joker. You're surrounded by the GCPD."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The Joker let out a wheezing laugh, removing a knife from his pocket and pointing it at John as he spoke./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Ah… a hero's favorite line! 'em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; clear: none !important;"We've got you this time! There's no escape now!' … /emTell me, Johnny Boy, does saying it make you feel like the Batman?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"John made a move towards his utility belt./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""Ah tah-tah-tah I wouldn't do that… if I were you" the Joker said, pulling out a remote from his pocket with his free hand. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"John froze, looking at the device. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""You didn't think I'd crash this party just for the little lady, did you?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The Joker wiggled his finger back and forth. John's brow furrowed under his mask. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""So, how much did the Penguin pay you to do his dirty work?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""If you're good at something, Johnny, never do it for free. This city was in need of a good tilling… somebody's gotta get their hands dirty."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"He caressed the button as he talked./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""I am… cultivating the land… for a new season of em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; clear: none !important;"chaos/em in Gotham" /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"John faintly heard the sound of GCPD's helicopters approaching from the bayside. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""I won't let you do this," he growled, clenching his jaw. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"A clown kicked John's legs out from behind him, causing him to drop to his knees. Joker held his knife to John's neck. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""In your pre-dic-a-ment, I wouldn't make empty threats. You're not in the best position to stop me…"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; clear: none !important;"I am"/em said a voice from behind the Joker. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"With impressive speed, a dark figure knocked the Joker to the ground, allowing the detonator to fly out of his gloved hand. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"A black, otherworldly shadow moved through the crowd of clowns, dodging bullets and punches as he took them all out one by one. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"John was in shock. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"It was him. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"em style="line-height: 1.7em; white-space: inherit; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; clear: none !important;"Batman/em. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"The Joker whooped with laughter on the ground, louder than he ever had before. An energetic type of teethy laugh that could only be attributed to mania. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""And here he isss… The one and only!" the Joker sang hysterically./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Batman fought with a sense of urgency and swiftness that was beyond what John had ever seen. The Joker had bruised what ego John had left. And he was right - he wasn't anything like Batman. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"In the midst of the chaos, the Joker crawled quickly towards the detonator, pausing to admire me on the way./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;""See you soon, dollface" he said, grabbing my mother's necklace from my open palm as he continued towards the device./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Once the detonator was in his grasp, he clicked a single, red button and a muted boom shook the roof beneath us. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Clambering to his feet, the Joker stumbled towards the fire escape at the back of the building, laughing as he jumped into the shadows. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Quickly losing interest in the fight, his clowns followed suit, scrambling off the roof to safety. One by one, bombs detonated around the building. John ran towards me and threw me on his back. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Turning to Batman, he steadied himself on the crumbling ground./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Without saying a word, Batman reached up to catch hold of a dangling cord. There above him, hovering silently, was a stealth fighter that must have been stationed there the entire time. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; margin: 1.7em 0px; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; caret-color: #222222; clear: none !important;"Batman motioned for John to take the rope as well. Holding on to me tightly, the three of us were lifted off the ground just as the roof collapsed in on itself./p