She froze. The air in her house became stiff and the atmosphere unwelcoming. Silence between two people looking at each other as it was their first time but at the same time it felt as they knew each other forever.
-So… - said Evan quietly. - You are the Batman's helper, hah. It wasn't a question Justice and don't bother to open your mouth. You've said enough but unfortunately to the wrong people. Khm-khm-khm.
-You sick. What is it… cancer? - a young man she knew before wasn't there anymore. Evan was pale and sickly skinny. His eyes became white as of a dead fish as well as his gray hair. Skin was so thin she could see tissue and veins under it.
-That's the price of salvation.
-Salvation of whom? Us orphans, people of Gotham, the humanity? Why would you do it to yourself, and I know that you know that nobody would never say thank you. They never thank us.
-Salvation of a soul. I don't care about humans not anymore. People are weak and very easy to break, at this point I think people are not supposed to live and be part of ecosystem, period.
-Is this chemicals you worked with did it to you? Poisoned you and now… how long it left for you to live? Couple of month?
-Enough to bring this city to its knees, Justice. Just enough to see the city burn in its own flames.
Evan stood up from the couch and walked up to Justice so close that she could smell the weirdest aroma coming from him. It was sickening smell but with a dent of strawberries and something else.
-And you know the funny thing? - he whispered to Justice looking dead eye in her face. - You want to see it as much as I do. - he started to cough very hard. Justice could hear whistling sound in his chest every time he tried to breath some air.
-So, what's you plan Evan?
-Oh, oh, oh! Do you really think I'm about to tell you that - betrayer?
-So you just came here for a cup of tea then? - she stepped aside because the sent of sickening strawberries was very strong.
-Mmm… no. I came here with only one purpose to take you with me.
Suddenly, the sound upstairs rose up and Justice counted at least five people and there were more behind the back door. It got shot open when one of the man kicked it and the house filled with at least ten men. There was zero chance that Justice could fight them all.
She was on the back of a bus when the vehicle stoped. Justice flew couple feet to the front because she was already on the floor and her hands were tied up behind her back with a rope. When all men left the bus running and couple shots got fired she stood up.
-It's not the time yet. - said Evan. He was seating on the first row of chairs.
-Where are we? - Justice knew she was on the main land again because their ride was pretty long. But the bus's windows were covered with dark paint so she got lost in her guess.
-Don't worry soon you will be far from here.
He stood up and walked to the back of the bus and opened the back door. Evan pulled Justice down and she tried not to fell when he pushed her out. They were in front of the hospital and Justice could hear screams of people and sound of shooting guns. Her arms still were tied behind her back but she felt as the rope was long and when she walked couple steps she realized she was on a leash. The end of the rope was somewhere inside the bus tied to something it rose some suspicion about Evan's plan.
-Follow me. -said Evan
-If I refuse. - Justice stood straight.
-Well I will kill everyone in the hospital including James Gordon and every patient. Oh, yes, I will also kill your Bat friend. He is in there fighting with my people.
-What do you need from this hospital! Leave them you almost have the city!
-Mmm… almost, you are right! - Evan walked towards sliding doors. - Follow. You don't want to miss anything. - Justice followed the insane man.
The hospital hall was covered with blood and some of Evan's people were knocked down on the ground but that wasn't their blood it was blood of the people they shot. Medical stuff, some patients and police officers were laying dead around the main lobby. Justice heard a sound fight somewhere in the left wing of the hospital but they didn't have to go far. The fight was seen from the main lobby. She saw Batman fighting with five people and behind him was James Gordon with his people trying to save some patients and medics.
-Enough! - roared Evan. Where he found so much strength for such a loud scream was a surprise for Justice. His people stopped and retreated. Batman wanted to follow them but then he saw Evan and Justice behind him.
-Well played Batman but I need you out of this building.
-Take people outside through the back door. - Batman said quietly to Gordon.
-People have to leave this building! - he screamed back to Evan. - They need time.
-Well they will have as much time as I would allow but you… I need you out.
Gordon and what left of his fifty officers were evacuating people, taking all medical vehicles and driving people away but yet there were too many people in the hospital.
-I know about your chemicals and what they did to people of Gotham. We can recover people and they will turn against you.
-Oh, I have no doubt they will but not before I let them… So, this is your friend who helped you to decipher my little notes and mess up my plan but don't flatter yourself both of you. You didn't do much damage but you really annoying to me.
For a second Justice felt how rope behind her back got stronger and pulled her but just a little bit.
-I can arrest you right now. You don't have so many people left and who left won't make any difference in stopping me.
-I am sure of it but what you going to do if you need to save your friend? Are you still going to arrest me or save her because even you, Batman, can't catch two rabbits in one hand.
Suddenly, Justice felt excruciating pain in her arms. The rope pulled her and knocked her of her feet and dragged her on the bloody floor of the hospital. Everything happened so fast that she didn't even realize what was happening.
-No! - Batman let out the only word from his mouth when he saw a woman behind Evan's back pulled away and disappeared crushing the corner of the hospital hall.
-Right. I decided it's time for you both to take some fresh air. She is strapped by her arms to the rope and that rope tied to the bus which is now on its way to the one of the fallen bridges. - these words Evan was screaming to Batman when the black cloak rushed out of the building.
He saw her pulled away on the concrete ground of the street and long red spot of blood was following her.
To be continued