ARKHAM FILES: ORACLE

CHAPTER THREE: DETERMINATION

Barbara walked down the dark corridor of the Batcave, her footsteps echoing off the stone walls. She felt a sense of emptiness wash over her as she made her way to her bedroom. She had been trying to push through the emotions that had been building up inside her, but she couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had been growing in her chest.

As she entered her bedroom, she shut the door behind her, feeling like she was trying to escape from the darkness that had been closing in around her. She slid down the door, her back against the cold metal, and let out a sob.

She couldn't believe what she had done. She had made a deal with the Joker, and now she was trapped in this nightmare. She felt like she was losing herself, losing the

people she loved, and losing everything that was important to her.

She buried her face in her hands and let out a muffled cry. She was scared, so scared. She didn't know how to get out of this situation, or how to make it right. She felt like she was drowning in her own fears and doubts.

As she sat there, tears streaming down her face, she couldn't help but think about Jason. He was the reason she had made this deal, and now she was afraid that she would lose him too. She didn't know how to protect him from the Joker's games, or how to keep him safe from the danger that surrounded them.

She felt like she was trapped in a never-ending cycle of fear and despair, and she didn't know how to escape. She just sat there, crying and crying, as the darkness closed in around her.

something inside of her began to stir. A spark of determination ignited within her, and she knew that she couldn't give up. She couldn't let the Joker win, and she couldn't let herself be consumed by fear.

She took a deep breath, wiped away her tears, and stood up. She knew that she had to find a way to break free from this nightmare, and to find a way to save herself and those she loved. She was ready to fight back, no matter what it took.

Barbara slipped into the warm bathwater, feeling the tension in her body begin to unwind. She closed her eyes, letting the soothing water envelop her, and let out a deep sigh. She had been carrying the weight of what happened at the harbor with her for days, and she was desperate for a moment of peace.

As she floated there, the warmth and silence began to lull her into a state of relaxation. Her mind began to drift, and she found herself lost in a haze of memories.

Suddenly, she was transported to a vivid dream. She was standing in the streets of Gotham, surrounded by the sounds of chaos and destruction. But it wasn't just any ordinary night - it was the night that Jason Todd had died.

She saw herself standing in front of the Arkham Asylum, her eyes scanning the rooftops for any sign of movement. And then, she saw him. Jason Todd, standing on the rooftop, his eyes locked on hers.

But as she reached out to him, he vanished into thin air. Barbara's heart racing, she turned to see the Joker standing behind her, his maniacal laughter echoing through the night.

"Did you really think you could save him, Barbara?" the Joker sneered, his eyes glinting with madness. "He was always meant to be mine."

Barbara's eyes flew open, and she sat up in bed, her heart racing with fear. She looked around her darkened room, trying to shake off the remnants of the nightmare.

But even as she sat there, trying to catch her breath, Barbara couldn't shake off the feeling that she was still trapped in his world. She could still hear the Joker's laughter echoing through her mind, and she could still see Jason Todd's eyes staring back at her.