Memories Lost (The One They Know)

Chapter Three: They All Fall Down

"I don't understand." I said.

Rha came from behind and placed his hands on my shoulders. Him smiling at me while I looked at the computer screen.

"What's there to understand?"

I subconsciously touched the bandage around my head. The 'last minute changes' to the microchip were giving me headaches.

"Why like this? I thought we were supposed to bring Gotham down from the sidelines. Bomb the bridges and work our way in... But this? This is toying with them. Unnessacery and slow." I caught the look he was giving me. "Sir."

"I understand, but there's no harm in having a little fun. Is there?"

"I guess not." I bit my lip. "But why make me give them all personal deaths? Can the destruction of evil be postponed like this?"

He patted my shoulder and walked away from me. "I know that you're memories are foggy so I'll let you get away with this insolence." I bowed my head. "But when you were there they tormented you. I'm sure you remember the pain?"

I nodded.

"So this is just revenge for what they did to you. It's unfortunate that you're the one they know so they'll know what to look for, but you knew all of them and you know all of their sins. It's only fitting that I allow you to cleanse them."

I looked down and rubbed my temples. He sensed my discomfort and swiveled my chair to face him. "Listen to me, I know you'd rather kill them all at once but this way is better. Do you not want revenge? Do you not want to feel the satisfaction?"

I cautiously looked into his eyes. "I can't feel anything."

"A side effect of your latest surgery, I know. But surely you remember what happened to you? Why we needed to save you and do the surgery in the first place."

Then I did feel something, cold. "Bane shot me."

Rha nodded, his eyes never left mine. "You don't feel it now, but you remember the pain. Let it help you, Lily. Make them feel the pain that you did."

I let that sink in. I remembered the feel of the bullet. I grinned.

"With pleasure."

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Bane woke up with the sound of gunfire ringing in his ears. He had killed Lily in his dream again. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. The haziness didn't fade and neither did the image. He stood up and walked into the bathroom, slapping water on the small part of his face that wasn't covered in metal.

A guest waited for him back in his room.

"Hello Bane."

Bane froze for a moment before ignoring him. "Nigma."

Eddie leaned against the wall. "How is she alive?"

"How did you find me?"

Eddie grinned. "It's amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it." His smile melted away. "You went to Rha, didn't you?"

"I had no choice."

"Do you have any idea what you've done? This is not what's meant to happen, she died! This could have horrible consequences... What's worse is that you gave her back to Rha! He tormented her, he ruined her life, and you gave her back to him. Don't you understand-"

"No, you don't understand. If any of us deserve to die... It's definitely not her. You weren't there when it happened. You didn't have to pull the trigger. I- we owe her our lives. This was the least we could do."

Eddie pinched the bridge of his nose. "I know. But she chose it. You saw what happened- who knows what's going through her head right now."

"It doesn't matter. She's alive."

"But at what cost?"

It was silent. Bane looked down at the marble in his hands. Eddie decided to defuse the tension. "Do you remember when she gave you the marble? She had been kinda nervous all day and none of us could figure out why."

Bane closed his fist and looked out at Gotham from his window.

"Then she got everyone dinner, and even desert to butter us up. To be honest: I thought she was leaving. I think we all did."

Bane allowed a smile and continued the story. "She asked me if I trusted her and before I could answer she gave me the pouch. It was the first time she was scared around me."

Eddie laughed. "She had gone red. We were sure something was wrong. Then she asked if you liked her enough to do her a favour."

"She told me about the marble's importance. I was unsure of whether she was telling me the truth- or if it was some kind of psychological test. But she was right. I trusted her and took the marble. After that, she acted as if she had known me her whole life. And I didn't try to scare her anymore."

"But you should've seen it Bane. Her face after you took it. She really did like you from the beginning. She looked as if everything had fallen into place."

"It had though, hadn't it?"

Edie looked up at his large friend. "She knew us. Enough to save us. And you accepting the marble meant that she could."

Bane finally looked at him. "Yet she never trusted us enough to tell us."

"I thought that too. But then I figured: did she not trust us, or did she know we never would've done anything like we should've? You know her the best, what do you think?"

Bane sighed. "She shouldn't trust us. We hurt her remember? We hurt her and ultimately left her too die. I still question why she ever had faith in us but I don't regret what I did."

"Talking about me?"

Both men's heads snapped in the direction of the door, where Lily casually stood, arms crossed.

"Sorry, I was gonna awkwardly shuffle away when I intruded on your... bromance?" She straightened up and stretched her arms. "Buuut." She yawned. "I need you Riddler. So let's go, into the boot of my car, big boy."

She whistled and threw something at Eddie. He was out cold. Bane finally found his voice.

"Lily, you're-"

"Don't talk to me." She said, examining her nails. "I deal with you later."

"But-"

"I thought I told you not to talk." She yelled and Bane hit the floor before she was done speaking. He looked up at her to find that she had hardly moved.

"But don't worry, I'll see you soon."
Then everything went dark.