Shadows of Gotham

chapter three

Panic rippled through the crowd as Red Hood's gaze swept the room before settling on Isabella. "You," he said pointing directly at her "Come here."

"What! No. " Dick angrily said while pushing Bella behind him.

"Give her up pretty boy." Red Hood's voice modulator crackled. He scanned the crowd once again and grabbed a petrified man off the floor. "Or else I'll shoot him in the fucking face"

"It's okay." Isabella's heart pounded, but she stepped forward, keeping her expression neutral. "What do you want?" she demanded, her voice steady.

"Just a little demonstration," Red Hood replied, grabbing her arm and pulling her close. "Grab them."

His henchmen, masked and armed, poured into the room, corralling guests and tying them up. The room filled with terrified whispers and the muffled sounds of struggle. Red Hood gripped Bella by the forearm and dragged her with the other hostages. 

Dick was enraged by the scene. He shot up and tried to make a run for them. Immediately he was intercepted and gets jumped by the henchmen.

"Please stop!" Bella yelped at the scene, trying to wrench herself free from the Red Hood's grasp.

Red Hood grabbed her jaw and moved her face to face his. "What? You don't like the view, doll?" Red Hood taunted, and turned her to watch the beating.

"Please." Tears well in her eyes and her lip begins to quiver.

He looks at her for a second then he lets out a bored sigh and holds his right palm up in the air. The series of blows immediately stops. "Tie him up and put him with the others."

Red Hood begins to tie Isabella to the chair when she starts to question him. "Who are you?" she asked, her tone probing. "Why are you doing this?"

Red Hood's grip tightened on her arm, his posture defensive and aggressive. "Keep quiet. " he snapped.

He finishes tying her up and looks down at her one last time. She looks up at him darkly with the tears still in her eyes and says "You won't get away with this."

Suddenly, Batman emerged from the shadows, his presence both commanding and reassuring. "Let her go, Red Hood," he growled, his voice a low, menacing rumble.

Red Hood turned, pulling up Isabella in front of him with a gun to her head like a shield. "Ah, just the man I was looking for."

With a swift motion, Batman launched a Batarang, striking the pistol from Red Hood's hand. The room erupted into chaos as guests scrambled for cover. Isabella used the distraction to elbow Red Hood in the ribs, breaking free from his grasp and diving to the floor.

Batman and Red Hood clashed with a fury, their movements a blur of skill and power. Red Hood fought with a ferocity that matched Batman's, every punch and counter executed with precision. Their combat was intense, a deadly dance that showcased their prowess. Every move Batman pulled on Red Hood, he matched with a quickness.

Bella took the commotion of the fight as a distraction to get herself free. She flips open a secret latch on her ring, which turns it into a knife, and starts clawing at her bindings. Eventually she rips free and makes her way to Dick, doing the same to his bindings.

Batman aimed a powerful kick at Red Hood, who ducked and retaliated with a series of rapid strikes. Each hit was calculated, targeting Batman's weak points with a familiarity that was unsettling. "He's.. actually keeping up with him," Dick shakily said to Bella.

"I've had practice," Red Hood retorted, his tone laced with bitterness. He swung a baton at Batman, who deflected it, sending it clattering across the floor. The two continued their brutal exchange, neither giving an inch.