Madness Is The Key

Chapter 6 - GCMH

"Where is he?"

"WHERE IS HE?" What happend?" Bruce's voice echos through the whole hospital as he and Elena search for the room where Alred is stationed. Still under complete shock and unclear of what to expect the couple finally found the right room. 708. 

And from the look of what section Alfred is stationed, Elena already knew that his condition must be serious. 

Bruce brust through the door and a stifled scream escaped Elenas lips at the sight of Alfred. The friendly, sarcastic buttler is now lying in bed wired up with diffrent tubes all around him. One glance at Bruce and it's clear as daylight that he barley holding it in.

The door behind them opens and Doctor John Cheng enters. "Mr. Wayne. Elena. I'm so sorry that we have to see each other under these circumstances."

"What happend, John?" the Doctor signs as he steps closer looking at his notes. "Mr. Pennyworth was delivered with somke poisoning and sever head trauma. He also had a bullet stuck in his shoulder, but we removed it rather quickly and there should be no damages left in his mobility. By what I was told from our collauges it looks like a robbery gone wrong."

Bruce and Elena both share the same look. Robbery? But who would possibly break into the mansion of Bruce Wayne? 

"Was there a girl with him? My sister Aria?" 

"Mr. Pennyworth was the only patient delievered here. The GCPD said that he was the only one found at the scene." The look on Elenas face breaks Bruces heart. He said that nothing would happen to her. He promissed her that he would protect her sister. Once again he didn't protect the people he deeply cared about. Eventhough he only just met Aria, she has grown to him like a little sister. 

Looking at Alfred, Bruce tries his hardest to put the pieces together. Something was off, he just could quiet figure out what it was. 

As Doctor Cheng leaves the room, leaving Bruce and Elena alone he turns to his girlfriend. "Something isn't right here?" 

"What do you mean?"

"This was a set up. Whoever attacked Alfred has Aria I just don't know why someone would kidnapp her. What does she have to do with any of this?" 

A terrible thought creept up into her head as her eyes widen sligthly in horror. "Crane? After all he does have a motive..." After saving Elena from Scarecrow almost 2 years ago he swore that he would make Batman and Elena pay, but this whole thing just didn't seem like Carne at all. 

"Maybe. I don't want to rule him out just yet, considering that I we came straight to the hospital I still need to take a look myself. Jim Gordon is already investigation, but the whole senario... Breaking in, blowing the kitchen up, hurting Alfred." The whole thing just screamed like pure chaos. 

"Wait. You don't think..."

"Joker."

"But why would he go to such a length and not even steal anything. Why only break in and why would he take Aria? What on earth has she to do with this FREAK?"

"I don't know, but I believe there is more to it." Bruce was frustrated. Nothing about this made any sense. Any logic that Bruce could grasp on and look further into in, but Joker never made sense and that's what was so dangerouse about him. "Whatever he's up to, I think taking Aria wasn't a spontanus decision.

Elena starts to cry even more overwhelmed with fear, now having also lost her sister to a maniac that was capable of doing anything to her and the worst part is she was more mad then anything. 

Had her sister just listend to her! 

"Elena, hey. Look at me." Bruce gently places a finger under her chin. "I'll get her back. I promise you. I will find her."