The True Fear of Bruce Wayne

Chapter 4: Departure

Gotham was a dark city. Its streets filled with gangs and rioters, drug dealers and muderers. But it had gotten so much worse since the vanishing of the Batman.

Alfred's death drove Bruce nearly to madness. That had been the one person that had been there for him throughout his life, and he promised to never let anything happen to him. Bruce arranged for his funeral, in which close friends from the military came to see their fallen friend. Barbara, Jim, and Tim were all in company as Bruce watched his best friend go six feet under. Immediately following the funeral, he ventured through the secret wall to the Batcave. He looked around at what he had. All of this was possible because of Alfred. After a long and deep look at his secret hideout, he walked to the Batcomputer. Typed in a message and shut off the lights. This was the last time he would ever let someone get hurt again.

There was a temple, a temple led by the Order of St. Dumas in the Mairukuno Mountains in Central Asia. Bruce knew he had to do this, it was the only way. How could he protect Gotham as the Batman?He couldn't even protect his own home.

He traveled to the temple the next morning. He knew to allow his friends to truly be safe, he had to leave and not put them in any more danger. He had trained Tim well, and at this point in time Bruce believed he could protect Gotham better than Bruce could.

Bruce walked up to the temple, and pushed its large red doors open. The inside was quiet, the floors lit by candles and hanging lanterns.

"Strange to see you here Wayne," a familiar voice said. Azrael, a disciple of The Order approached him. "Why are you here?"

Bruce told them the story and his secret. The Order knew the value of what he was doing and sought to help him.

Azrael led him to a room down a series of hallways.

"You will stay here during your visit." He pointed as he opened a door for Bruce. "We will start your fear conquest at dawn."

Bruce tried to sleep. But he couldn't get Alfred of his mind. His brain filled with the images of his dead butler's eyes. How he had failed to stop Scarecrow. But how could he have? Scarecrow had been dormant for months, and he had started to creep into the back of Bruce's mind. But that didn't matter. Crane had still killed Alfred, figured out his secret, and burned down half of his home. These are the things hat constantly tormented Bruce, and he worried he would not be able to escape these memories. He did not know if he would return to Gotham, but he vowed to never let fear take advantage of him of his life again.

Back in Gotham, Tim opened up the doors to Bruce's room to see him not there. His fancy suits, his books everything still there. Tom figured he was in the Batcave, slaving over the computer to find Scarecrow. He entered to Batcave to find it almost completely dark, the only light coming from the screen of the Batcomputer. He walked to it with both caution and curiosity. He typed in his access code, and a message appeared:

"Tim. Protect Gotham. I won't be endangering you as well. You have complete access to my funds. Please Robin, don't try to find me.
Bruce"

Tim didn't know what to think. Bruce had never even hinted that he would leave, let alone vanish without a trace. He left the Batcave both stunned and depressed.

Robin walked around his home in the Industrial District of Gotham City. His home was filled with pictures of his family, Bruce, and Alfred. His had a tan tile floor, only covered by a single red rug in his bedroom.

The emotions Tim felt were confusing to him. He didnt know why Batman left, and why he wouldn't warn Tim or Oracle or anyone.

The next day, he tried to enter the Batcave under the Wayne Mansion. But he couldn't. His fingerprint I.D. wasn't working. He remembered of another option. The Batcave on Arkham Island. Tim Drake got on his bike, revved up his engine, and headed for Arkham.