I do not own anything related to Batman either thru television, written books, comics or film. Everything belongs to DC Comics, Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Jon and Chis Nolan. I do own all the created characters. I do not own any songs, or literature mentioned. They are included to enhance the written words. Please read, review, and enjoy!
Chapter Twelve
Song(s): Various Storms & Saints (Florence + The Machine)
Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, Charlotte spit once more into the dirty sink as the prostitute chuckled from the doorway.
"Sounds like you need to practice more if you are always coughing and choking."
"Fuck you."
"Alright, grab your shit, I'm not waiting around for you anymore tonight" Barsad spat as he turned on his heel. Walking over to the wall where she had thrown her clothing, she gave a fleeting look to the unused shower and gathered everything up in her arms.
You need to find out how long Bane is going to be gone for
Would Barsad tell you?
Rushing out into the dark damp sewer, she caught up easily to the man's lengthy strides as he ripped the privacy curtain of Bane's private quarters aside.
"We need to talk."
Moving past him, she tossed her clothing onto the bed and immediately strode over to the dying fire before bending down.
"What did you discuss with Jade?"
Jade…
Was that the prostitute's name?
"Girl stuff."
Hearing his boots thumping across the floor, she had just enough time to quickly rise to her feet as he slammed a hand against the wall next to her head.
"THIS ISN'T A FUCKING JOKE!"
Wincing as she felt his hot breath against her face, Charlotte steeled her eyes as she straightened her backbone.
"He will kill you without hesitation."
"Who was the woman on the other side of the gate?"
Blinking his eyes in confusion, Barsad refused to move as he stared down into the young woman's face.
"What gate?"
"It was a woman that led the Batman…"
"A wannabe superhero in a poor cat costume. Just so you understand, she is afraid of Bane as well."
Feeling her jaw aching as she refused to break his stare, she pushed against his arm as it fell back to his side. Tending to the small pieces of sticks as she tried to build up the fire to stave off her chill, she felt her head spinning as she threw a hand out to steady herself.
"I've been down here for over a month at least, and all he's done is break my arm" she challenged, catching Bane's Second in Command coming to stand near the fire, beside one of the chairs.
"I watch you as does everyone else, and you lick your lips if you think there might be a chance for you to run and get out of the sewers."
Swallowing hard as she listened to his words, Charlotte stabbed at the growing fire as she watched it roar to life.
"I can't tell you how stupid, those thoughts are."
Why do you even care?
"He has warned and threatened me enough" she growled, feeling Barsad's eyes on the back of her head.
"Then you know, that you if you do run and he catches you, he will kill you."
…
Gotham City Police Department, Prescient 113, 1 Police Plaza, Gotham City…
Taping the ballpoint tip of his pen against the lined page of his notebook, John Blake breathed in deep before shaking his head.
If I went down at all, I'd have to have some fucking idea of where to start
"Thousands of miles of pipes and closed down rail lines" he muttered, flipping to a new page as he read the list of items he had jotted down to carry in a backpack.
I would need updated maps, a compass, and section every area into hours which could take weeks…
"And if I do find her alive and in the company of…the fuck knows who?"
"What are you babbling about Blake?"
Closing his book over his pen, the young Officer leaned back in his chair and tucked two fingers down into the turtleneck collar of his issued GCPD black shirt.
"Tell me you are still not hung up on that dead Rookie? It's really getting fucking old."
Meeting the training Sargent's eye as he watched him sit uncomfortably on the edge of his desk, Blake held his breath as it took every ounce of self-control to not tell the man to leave.
"It's been over a month since the explosion. Now that the Commissioner is awake, Foley will do what he does best and meet for a final time with her parents, give a sad speech, and her name will go on the wall of Fallen Officers. If she is alive down there, then she's been living on a diet of rats and whatever else has been flushed down the fucking toilet."
Unless someone is keeping her alive down there
"Seriously Sargent? Why don't you just fuck off."
"What did you say to me boy?"
Rising to his booted feet as he grabbed his notebook, Blake threw his hands onto his belted hips as he stared the senior Officer down.
"You heard me loud and clear, fuck…you."
…
Five hours later…
Sitting in the chair next to the fireplace, Charlotte stared into the flames as a stick rolled off the others.
You're not desperate enough to kill yourself
Breathing deeply, her ears picked up the sound of footsteps as she sunk more into the fabric of the chair allowing the book that had been resting on her lap to fall to the floor with a thud.
"Your dinner."
Hearing the unfamiliar female voice, Charlotte slowly turned her head and felt her mouth falling open as she spied a young woman standing just inside the curtain holding a plate of steaming food.
A woman? No…she's a teenager
"I've never seen you before" Charlotte spoke as she rose to her feet.
Holding out the plate in her hand, the woman shrugged her shoulders as she felt the chill leaving her shoulders with the enclosed warmth provided by the fire.
"I've…only been down here three times."
"Bane lets you leave the sewers?"
"I've only seen him from a distance. John, is the one who dismisses us when we are no longer needed."
John?
"Who is John? Barsad?"
Nodding her head as she gestured for Charlotte to take the plate, the young woman walked over and noticed the woman's avoiding gaze.
She's another prostitute
"Are you hungry? There's more than enough here. I can share."
Catching the woman swallowing at the mention of hunger, Charlotte took the plate and offered a hand towards the fire.
Could Barsad be testing me?
Waiting to see if this woman reports anything back?
Would he report to Bane?
"Why did Barsad send you? No one but him as ever brought me food here."
Watching the woman remain silent as she asked her question, Charlotte felt her anger rising as she sat the plate on the empty chair.
Fuck it
Fuck it all
"You could help me." Watching the woman turning back around, Charlotte roughly grabbed her arm and dug her nails into her skin before slamming a hand down against her mouth before she could cry out.
"You don't understand…I am a Police Officer and sooner or later, a whole shit load of other Officers are going to be combing these sewers looking for my charred body. If you are down here…they will arrest you if you are not shot in the crossfire. If you help me, I can vouch for you that you are not one of their accomplices" she spat, holding the woman tight as she felt her breathing starting to quicken.
Let's hope you accept this lie
"I'm not going to ask you to guide me out of the sewer, but I am going to ask you to get me a map of how to get the hell out of here. Get me a map, and I will pay you five thousand dollars." All she could do after whispering her speech was to release the woman, praying that she would not scream for help.
"Do, do you have the money on you?"
Stepping backwards, Charlotte steadied her hands on her hips as she gave a slight shake of her head. "My bank account. I swear to you, that if I get out of here, I will give you the money. All, of my savings" she added, keeping her voice low as bootsteps approached the other side of the curtain.
"Believe me. Five thousand dollars, all I want is a map."
"I can't get you a map, but I have a pen, you could write someone a note?"
A pen? Holy shit!
Striding over to a stack of books that sat on the desk in the corner, Charlotte fumbled with the first before flipping a second hardcover over to tear a blank page out of the back. Hearing the woman coming to stand beside her, she took the pen with shaky fingers and hovered over the page.
Jesus, what do I write?
Who do I write to?
"Blake…"
Scribbling down a quick message, Charlotte folded the paper into four and with shaky fingers held it out. Watching the young girl take it, she watched as she pushed it down into her shirt and bra before nodding her head.
"I'm not scheduled to leave the tunnels until tomorrow morning…"
"Ok. Please…please give that note to the first police officer you see…"
It was all she could say as she held back her emotion.
It could take a few days for officers to make a plan before coming down here. Days….just a few days…I'll be home in a few days and Bane will be…
Watching the girl walking away and back towards the curtain, Charlotte took a quick step forward and held out a hand.
"Hey wait…what is your name?"
"Ashley."
"I'm Charlotte."
Giving a quick look over her shoulder, the young girl said nothing as she pushed the curtain aside and disappeared into the darkness of the tunnel.
…
Three hours later…
Pulling the edges of the blanket tighter around her shoulders, Charlotte started at her plate of untouched dinner before returning to the flames of the fireplace. Sinking down into Bane's leather chair, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes as she breathed in deep.
"Your precious armories, we will need it!"
"We were beneath Wayne Enterprises," she whispered to herself as she thought back to the man hole that she had entered with SWAT and the Commissioner.
"But how the fuck deep in the sewers am I right now?"
Feeling her eyes growing heavy, she glanced at the bed in the darkened corner of the room and pursed her lips.
"He's not here. I could sleep…" she whispered to herself as she rose from the chair. Tossing the blanket over the high back, Charlotte pulled her ponytail from the black elastic and had just pulled off her black longsleeve top when her ears picked up the distant sound of metallic breathing. Turning to stare at the closed curtain, her blood froze as she strained to hear.
You're just hearing…
Hearing the unmistakable masked breathing getting closer, Charlotte froze in place beside the bed just as Bane pushed the curtain aside. Clenching her hands into fists against her thighs, she said nothing as he unzipped a black leather jacket she had never seen before. Letting the jacket fall over the back of a chair behind the desk, he turned his eyes and took in the young woman's loose brown hair that had fallen over her shoulders to rest along the straps of her black bra. Rolling his shoulders back, Bane reached for the hem of his black shirt and as he pulled it up carefully over his head, he heard Charlotte's gasp.
"Jesus…"
Tossing his shirt onto his jacket, he could feel her eyes running over his bare chest and shoulders, as the steady stream of blood made its way down the side of his torso, covering his bruises.
"What…what the hell happened?"
"Are you generally curious and concerned Officer Teller?" he questioned, turning around as Barsad appeared at the threshold with a military green fabric sewing kit.
"You are the only thing standing in the way of me and your men" she offered, catching Barsad's dark eyes before he turned and exited the room, pulling the curtain closed.
"Build up the fire, then come here."
Breathing deeply as she did what she was told, Charlotte turned away from the bed and watched as Bane carried a second wooden chair across the room, setting it down to the left of the fireplace. Holding out the military issued sewing kit, he took a seat on the chair and let out a low groan.
"A part of your training, you will sew up my wounds."
Staring with wide eyes at the fabric kit in his outstretched hand, Charlotte shifted her stare onto his face as she listened to his breathing.
"I have no experience sewing up human skin" she whispered, reaching out for the kit.
"Time to learn."
Threading a needle with stiff black thread, her eyes fell on a few packets of rubbing wipes. Opening one with the side of her teeth, she slowly cleaned one of the wounds and held her breath as she watched blood dripping down his chest bicep, landing on the fabric of his camo pants.
"Why did you not eat your dinner?"
"I wasn't hungry."
I haven't been very hungry as of late
Taking a deep breath, Charlotte bit the end of her tongue to steady her nerves as she pushed Bane's torn skin together before pushing the needle head through.
"What did you talk to the whore about?"
Swallowing hard as she kept her eyes on the needle head piercing his skin, she felt Bane's warm hand coming to rest against her hip as he curled his fingers along the fabric of her pants.
He is testing me
"She said, that she was jealous."
"Jealous of what?"
"Jealous that I seem to be your favorite bed companion at the moment."
Feeling his grip around the fabric of her pants loosening slightly, she continued to concentrate on her work as Bane offered no response at first.
"You, offered yourself to me Charlotte Teller. Or have you forgotten?"
To save my life
"I have not forgotten. You remind every night…" she whispered as she narrowed her eyes on her work.
Feeling his inner thigh moving against her leg, she heard his sharp intake of breath as blood coated the tips of her fingers. Grabbing more cotton and rubbing alcohol, she felt his fingers tightening once more against her hip as she tried to step back.
"Finish your job."
Threading the needle and dark thread for a final time, Charlotte swallowed the bile that had been sitting in the back of her throat as she worked her fingers along a second cut less deep. Leaning close, she held her breath as she felt Bane's fingers moving along her collar bone. Looking into his dark eyes, she felt his fingers in her hair as he gathered the strains before moving them to settle over her other shoulder.
He smells like earth and soil and….sandalwood
"I think I am done."
Lowering his eyes down onto his stitched-up skin that would pucker in time, he ran the edge of his thumb along the neatly tied skin with a steady breath.
"Impressive, if you are truthful that you have never done this before."
"I told you that I hadn't sewed up human flesh before" Charlotte repeated as Bane turned to look at her, squaring his shoulders.
"But what you haven't told me Charlotte is that your freedom at the hands of a whore would only cost five thousand dollars."
Oh my God…
Attempting to take a step backwards, Charlotte cried out as Bane quickly threw a hand out, grabbing her wrist with such brute strength that she immediately fell hard to her knees in pain. Feeling the instant dryness in her throat, she could only watch as Bane, still seated, reached into his cargo pant pocket with bloody fingers and pulled out her folded piece of white paper.
No…No…No…
She gave him my note
Feeling her chest starting to heave, she watched as the paper became smeared with his blood as he opened the note easily with his fingers.
"My name is Charlotte Teller. I am a Gotham City Police Officer being held hostage in the sewers by a Mercenary named Bane. I came down with Commissioner Gordon…shall I read the rest?"
Avoiding his dark eyes, she cried out again as he yanked her hard against him, growling as she slammed against his chest. Hearing the paper note crumpling in his hand, she heard him toss it onto the concreate floor as he breathed in deep from above her.
"Breaking your arm has obviously not dampened your spirits…"
Resting her forearm against his thigh, she spied his blood smeared against the plaster of her cast as her knees screamed from scraping against the floor.
You have to try Charlotte
You have to try and run
He's going to kill you
Holding her breath, she felt the edge of his hand against her cheek as she moistened her lips.
You could get a shot in
A clean shot to his jugular notch might allow you to run past him and out into the sewer
A palm heel strike to the front of his mask might…
Swallowing hard as she felt his strong bloody fingers tightening around her jaw, she knew her jawbone would snap if he applied just the slightest amount of pressure.
DO IT!
"AHHHHHHH!"
Throwing out the heel of her palm, Charlotte felt the hard-cool metal of the mask cutting sharply into the flesh of her hand as she threw her other hand out and struck Bane's throat with all her strength. Watching him fall back as he gasped and threw a hand up against the broken tubes of his breathing apparatus, Charlotte scrambled to her feet and ran towards the curtained doorway as she flung the fabric aside. Pumping her arms as fast as she could, she ducked into the darkness to her immediate right as she felt herself running through pooled water.
Don't stop…DON'T FUCKING STOP!
Feeling the vomit in her throat, she dared not slow down as muffled voices rang out from the bowels of the tunnel behind her.
The hunt, was now on.
…
Please read, review, subscribe, and enjoy!
AmandaM01 - Thank you so much for your review! I actually started this story years ago and removed it. But I am re-writing the chapters, so continue to enjoy!