Post Diluvium

4

I roll over, uncovering my face. 

HA!

That was a crazy dream. I drop my head back on my pillow, brushing the hair out of my face. I feel a shiver up my spine. I let out a breath, noticing I can see it. I lift my head again. 

Why is my window open? 

I crawl across my bed, locking the window. I wrap my blanket around me, scooting to the edge of the bed, yawning. I look on the floor seeing my suit laid out across the room. I walk over, blanket hanging off of me, grabbing my suit. Suddenly, I remember everything that happened last night. It wasn't just a nightmare. It was real.

I fall back into my chair at the breakfast table, questioning everything.

Who? 

How? 

Why? 

My suit slips out of my hand. I see the half-eaten sandwich still on the table. My heart starts pounding. I feel a panic attack coming on. I have never in my life been so scared. I've had bad trips with hallucinogenics before. This was not that. This was pure fear.

I walk over to my fridge, with a glass in hand, shaking. I pour a glass of water, gulping it down. I lean on my counter, head in my hands, trying to remember.

It was an old lullaby. Everyone in Gotham knows it. The Court of Owls. It's all fairytales. A children's story. Why would he want me to tell Batman a lullaby?

Is there a secret message? Is this from the Riddler? What is this guy doing with this...I don't even know what it is...this drug?

UGH!

I still have to go to work. Two-week deadline on this Wayne case is insane. If I don't gather something, Harvey's gonna blow a gasket. I need to find something on him. Rather it be good or bad.

___________________________________________________________

I walk into work, completely disheveled. Shirt buttoned unevenly, half untucked. Hair barely brushed. I don't even think I brushed my teeth. Hardly awake and on the brink of a breakdown. I quickly walk past everyone with my head down not wanting to talk to anyone. I get to my office and slam the door. I keep all the blinds closed and the room dark. I don't think my eyes can handle the outside right now.

I sip my cup of coffee standing in the middle of the office staring at the pinboard.

Who is Bruce Wayne?

I look at his tickets. These are from 2019, over 2 years ago. Driving 143 mph in a 45 mph. That by itself is a mandatory court date and a felony charge. Engaging in reckless driving with an exhibition of speed. 

Oooohhhh!

So Mister Wayne likes to street race. I can't seem to find anything with a court date or revoked license or any charges. Must be nice to have zero repercussions for your actions.

Vehicle Make: 1970 Plymouth Barracuda

I check his car registrations. Phantom Rolls Royce. '63 Stingray. Harley Davidson FL Softail. And there it is, a 1970 Plymouth Barracuda. Why have that many cars when you never leave your house?

Any other leads?

His butler, Alfred. I didn't even think people still had personal butlers. I guess if you really want to know someone. Look at who they keep closest to them.

I never bother the interns. I usually just do everything myself, but today I need them to do me this solid. I send them to the Clerk of Courts to gather any public records on Alfred Pennyworth.

They come back with a few boxes. Alfred doesn't have any United States records before 1985, because he's English. But with a quick google search, I find out he was in the Royal Military before moving to America. It doesn't go any further than that. So either he did nothing in the military or he did a lot that isn't public. Super spy turned butler, that is interesting.

He started working for the Wayne's a few years before Bruce was born. After the Wayne's were murdered he took care of Bruce. He was never married. And he doesn't have any kids... besides Bruce. This man pretty much devoted his life to the Wayne's. He's loyal. That makes him a good right-hand man.

He has a bunch of random stuff here and there that doesn't do anything for my case. Citizenship requests, voters registrations, miscellaneous things.

I throw it all to the side. I just don't understand how these people leave no trail. All this money and power and nothing to show for it. What does he do all day? I mean there is absolutely no chance that he just sits in his tower all day.

This brings me to my next question. Why was he not at Wayne tower when the Riddler attacked him? How did he arrive and leave without being seen? What was he doing?

He is obviously not leaving from the top. He's not leaving from the front or backdoor. That only leaves one other option. I go through the box again, finding an old map of the abandoned Wayne subway tracks that pass underneath the city. I tape the map up to the wall, turning on my projector. I pull up a map of Gotham. There it is. The subway passes right under Wayne tower. And you know where else it passes, underneath the Iceberg Lounge, where Penguin and Falcone operate. It passes under the DA's office. Under the mayor's office. It connects all the major players of Gotham together.

Maybe the crown prince of Gotham isn't who we all thought him to be. Maybe he isn't this little sad orphan boy. Maybe he's Gotham's crown prince of crime.

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm in a dark void. Nothingness in every direction. I can't even see my hand in front of my face. I start to hyperventilate. I can faintly hear the buzz of electricity. Streetlamps begin to turn on. One by one imuminating the alleyway. I begin to run as fast as I can. A figure forms out of a liquid on the ground. He's back. His razor-sharp teeth, long tongue, flaming eyes, and the deep orange glow coming from within his face, lights up his mouth and eyes.

His voice distorted, "Shhhh. It's ok to be afraid."

His laugh gets louder and louder, vibrating my bones as he grows taller. He now towers over the buildings, his head in the sky. He takes a giant step towards me. I turn the other way to run but hit what I think is a wall. But... it's Batman.

"I told you to stay out of this" He growled with glowing red eyes, walking forward from the shadows.

His head, was no longer human, more batlike. He hisses at me as a colony of bats dart from the shadows. I try swatting the bats away to no avail. I throw myself on the ground, huddled up, crying.

The giant figure stands over the alleyway, his voice even deeper, "Shhhh. It's ok to be afraid"

I feel multiple hands all over my body, grabbing at me pulling me through the ground. As I'm being pulled down, the alley is getting smaller. I seem to have been pulled through a black hole. I see the giant figure bend over, watching me plummet into darkness. He reaches down, putting his long skeletal hands into the hole stretching it, following me into the darkness. His giant mouth opens, tongue hanging out. Just as he is about to swallow me. 

BAM!

___________________________________________

I jump up, knocking over my lamp, immediately going into a fighting stance, ready for attack. My eyes dart around the room. I quickly realize I'm still in my office.

"Woah, Woah, Woah." A voice trembles behind me.

I quickly turn around to see, Rick, one of the many janitors in Dent's offices. I put my hands down.

"What...What time is it?" I asked

"9:45. You fell asleep" Rick answered.

I look around the office. The map of Gotham is still projecting onto the subway system. I have pages of notes sprawled out all over my desk.

"Yeah, I'm sorry," I said, packing up my notes and turning the projector off.

"No, it's ok. You're fine." He assured

I awkwardly rush out of my office and into the elevator. 

I need to find Batman.