Marvel's The Caped Crusader

Chapter 3

Gotham Shipping Yard, November 2, 2003

The night air was cold and crisp, its rowing thunder signaling another fearful night. Fear was the word, fear and terror spread through the streets of Gotham city's criminal underworld. Rumor of a giant bat demon prowling the rooftops at night, putting down anyone praying on the innocent. They say he can fly, walk through walls, and vanish into thin air. No one was safe, not from his clutches. Not many believed he was real, but those that did will never feel safe in the dark again. We come across two mobsters clad in black with M4's strapped and loaded.

"Man- you need to stop believing everything you hear. I mean, come on. A giant freakin bat? Seriously, Danny? What's next alias coming down from the sky?" Mobster one sarcastically asked, not believing what he was hearing. Falcone's men were guarding the shipping yard. Tonights there's a new shipment of drugs that has out. The Roman wanted everything to go according to plane.

"Im tellin ya Andy. Mickey hasn't been the same since yesterday's deal got busted up. He freaks out every time he walks by his own shadow. Keeps mumbling about bats and to stay away from dark alleys." Danny explained, slight fear laced into his tone.

Mobster one, who's real name is Andy, shakes his head. "Mickey also a fuckin lier. Just last week he told the hole crew that he slept with that hot dame over by the Iceberg Lounge. The one with the nose piercing and fine legs."

"Isn't she Penguin's handler?" Danny asked. Shock writer across his face with a slide shiver going down his spine.

Andy rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah— lets just say she found out and- he ain't bin walking normal since." Shaking his head. "How is it you ain't here'd any of this?"

Danny just shrugs his shoulders, not knowing how to respond. They continue to patrol around the long row of shipping containers. Andy just signs after a few minutes, spotting the fear across his partner's face, eyes darting left and right, making sure to stay clear from any dark corners. "Look man, let me educate you on something here. My lineage goes all the way back to the colonial times, when Gotham was nothing more then hurdles of sheep and farmers with pitchforks. Even back then there was always some kind of superstitions. Witches, Owls, none of them are real, and neither is there some giant bat creature...Thing...Whatever. Leaping off roof tops every night fighting crime. You understand how absurd that sounds right, Danny?" Silents was his only responds. Andy looked left and right, but no one was there. His friend had just vanished. "Danny!" His voice echoed out. "Where the hell dye run off ta?" He said to himself.

"AAAAAAAAA!"

"What the?" Andy followed the source of the screaming. Rifle cocked up. Now on alert. "Ay guys! What the hell is going on over there? Ya better not be screwing around." He shouted out, approaching the end of the long row of shipping containers. Just then one of his fellow crew members runs out into into the spotlight. The look of fear and panic showed on his face, beads of sweat leak from the top of his forehead. His rifle held up ready for an attack. He didn't notice Andy was there.

"Y-your not supposed to be real. NO! DON'T COME ANY CLOSAAAAAAAAA!" Poor bastard spoke his last words as a giant cloaked demon shrouded in shadow, takes the tariffed thug and ascends up with him kicking and screaming. Nothing but empty light where the victim was carried away. Andy starts sprinting in the opposite direction, determined to escape and call for reinforcements. He turns left then right then left again, but everything seems like a maze to him. Sounds of gunfire and screams are the only thing occupying his hearing. The screams of his fellow crew members, taken out one after the other causing his heart to pound even harder, knowing he was next. Just then a dark shadow with horns looms past him, causing Andy to almost trip on his own feet.