THE KILLING JOKE

The Finale: Part 3

The city of Gotham was on the edge of collapse, its people scrambling in panic as the Joker's final threat loomed over them. With only hours left until the underground bombs would detonate, sending the city crashing down into chaos, the streets were flooded with desperate citizens, fleeing their homes, businesses, and everything they had ever known.

The authorities, overwhelmed and unable to manage the growing hysteria, had made a single decision: a mass evacuation by sea. Ships and ferries were hastily prepared at Gotham Harbour to carry civilians away from the coming catastrophe. But as the frightened citizens boarded, none could have known the Joker had planned for this moment too.

Inside the control room of the ferry, the captain stood at the helm, his hands gripping the wheel tightly. He glanced nervously at the map, trying to guide the ship toward safety. But just as the ferry reached the middle of the bay, the radio crackled to life, sending a chill through the room.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," the voice said, smooth and cold, like a snake coiling around its prey. "This is your captain speaking."

The captain froze, his eyes wide as the voice continued. It was unmistakable.

The Joker.

"I hope you're all enjoying your little escape from Gotham's imminent doom," Joker's voice echoed over the ferry's PA system, reaching every corner of the ship. "But I'm afraid I've got some bad news for you..."

In the cabin, the passengers froze, their breath catching in their throats as the Joker's voice filled the air. Mothers clutched their children tighter, and the elderly exchanged worried glances. Everyone knew the voice, and they all knew what it meant.

"You see, Gotham isn't the only thing that's going to go boom tonight," Joker continued, his tone playful but sinister. "I was very busy these past few weeks, and I thought, 'Why stop with the city?' After all, what's a grand finale without a little extra chaos?"

A low murmur spread through the crowd, panic rising as people exchanged frantic glances. The Joker's words began to sink in.

Inside the control room, the captain's heart raced as he grabbed the radio, shouting into it. "What are you talking about?! This is a civilian ship!"

The Joker's laugh rang out, shrill and manic. "Oh, I know! And that's the fun part! You see, you're all sitting on top of a little surprise I planted just for you—hidden bombs, rigged to blow. And the best part? There's nothing you can do about it!"

The captain paled, his hand shaking as he slammed the radio down. He quickly turned to the control panel, frantically searching for any sign of the explosives. But there was nothing. No blinking lights, no obvious signs. It was as though the bombs were invisible, waiting in the shadows.

"Now, now," Joker continued, his voice taking on a faux soothing tone, "don't worry! I wouldn't leave you completely helpless. See, there's a little twist to this game. I've got another boat across the bay—the same deal, folks like you, all trying to flee. And guess what? They've got bombs too!"

A horrifying realization began to settle over the passengers. This wasn't just about them. There was another boat, another set of innocent lives caught in Joker's deadly game.

"And here's where things get really fun," Joker said, his voice giddy with excitement. "Each of you has the detonator for the other boat. Yep, that's right. You can blow them up... or you can sit tight and hope they don't blow you up first!"

Gasps filled the ferry, people looking around in confusion and fear. Across the deck, a police officer held up a small, handheld device—the detonator Joker had left for them. It was simple, with a single red button in the centre. The sight of it sent waves of panic through the crowd.

"This... this can't be happening," someone muttered.

"Oh, but it is!" Joker's voice called out gleefully. "So, what's it going to be, Gotham? Will you blow them up to save yourselves? Or will you wait for them to blow you up? Decisions, decisions!"

The boat erupted into chaos. People began shouting, pushing each other, arguing over what to do. Some demanded they press the button, while others screamed for calm, for patience. The air grew thick with tension, everyone's eyes darting between each other, trying to guess who would make the first move.

Inside the control room, the captain's hands trembled as he looked down at the detonator in his lap. His mind raced. What if the other boat was thinking the same thing? What if they pressed their button first?

Far away from the harbor, deep in the heart of Gotham's abandoned amusement park, Batman crouched atop a rusting roller coaster, his cape fluttering in the wind. Below him, the Joker and Two-Face continued to orchestrate their deadly plans, but Batman's focus was elsewhere.

His cowl's communication system crackled to life, Alfred's calm but urgent voice cutting through the chaos. "Sir, we've intercepted the Joker's transmission. The ferries... he's rigged them with explosives. Civilians are caught in a death trap. One wrong move, and both ships could go up in flames."

Batman's jaw tightened as he scanned the amusement park for any sign of Joker's bomb control system. "I'll stop it."

"There isn't much time, Master Wayne. If the civilians panic, they may take matters into their own hands. You need to act fast."

"I know," Batman replied, his voice cold and determined.

As the seconds ticked down, Batman's mind worked faster than ever. He couldn't be in two places at once. He needed to stop the Joker here, at the source, but he also needed to ensure the safety of the people on those boats. It was a gamble, one where the stakes were every life in Gotham.

With one swift motion, Batman fired his grappling hook and soared across the amusement park toward the heart of Joker's lair. The clock was ticking, and Gotham was on the verge of annihilation.

Back on the ferry, the crowd had reached a breaking point. Arguments turned to shouting matches, fingers pointing, accusations flying. Some demanded they press the button to destroy the other boat, while others pleaded for patience, believing that if they waited, no one would die.

The police officer holding the detonator stood frozen, his hand trembling as he looked at the faces around him—children clinging to their parents, elderly couples holding each other tight, people looking at him with desperation in their eyes. They wanted him to make the choice, to be the one to decide life or death.

"We can't just sit here!" someone screamed from the back of the crowd. "What if they press it first?!"

"No!" another voice shouted. "We can't just murder them! We're not like him! We're not like the Joker!"

The tension on the boat was unbearable, every second feeling like an eternity. Sweat dripped from the officer's brow as he stared at the button. The fate of hundreds of lives was in his hands, and no matter what choice he made, there would be blood.

Across the bay, the second ferry faced the same terrifying dilemma, its passengers locked in the same horrific game of survival.

As the clock ticked down, and the Joker's laughter echoed in their ears, Gotham's fate rested in the hands of those who had never asked to be part of this twisted nightmare.

To be Continued...