Madness Is The Key

Chapter 15 - Picking Up The Pieces

Elena was spinning around in her chair, bored out of her mind. Bruce had made sure to store snacks in the Batcave for her, but there wasn't much else he could offer her here. She clicked through the TV but didn't really pay attention to it while continuing to reach for the popcorn, she'd just made. Even though she didn't really like it, Elena decided to eat it anyway since she knew how much Aria loved popcorn.

This girl could have lived on nothing but popcorn and ice cream. Although she had a funny way of eating it. Her sister would always take a handfull of popcorn in her hand and then eat it one by one by picking it up with her tounge like a lizard. A weak smile plays around her lips at the thought of her younger sister.

Ever since Bruce persuaded her to stay in the Batcave three days ago until Joker was caught, she felt like she was in prison. Sure, Bruce was there, and when he wasn't at Wayne Enterprises or out hunting the scum of Gotham, they spent a lot of time together and Elena had to admit that although she had imagined it differently, her relationship with Bruce had actually become a lot closer.

But it still didn't change the fact that she was slowly but surely going insane!

Is this how Aria must be feeling like right now? she thought. No, she could leave whenever she wanted. Bruce had shown her how to open the door, but Aria...

How much did she have to suffer just now, and all because of her? If only she had helped the damn clown, then at least her sister would be safe. Elena was always such a strong and independent woman and she hated nothing more then feeling weak. Powerless. But what else could she do besides to put all of her trust in the GCPD and Bruce?

The lack of sleep was already starting to get to her. Every night when she eventually would fall asleep, she could clearly see Joker's ugly face in front of her, slicing Aria's throat while laughing maniacly at her pain the whole time."Why so serious, Doc? HA! HA! HA!"

"Enough!", Elena screams at the top of her lungs as she puts her hands over her ears to block out the demonic laughter. As she continues to turn in her chair she accidentally knocks over the popcorn. "Oh, great."

However as she bends down to pick the popcorn up off the floor, she hears the program being interrupted by a news report. Quickly lifting her head off the ground and to the screen, the first thing she sees are the words 'BATMAN DEAD?'

Bruce!" she panics, her hand grabbing the remote and turning the volume up.

"Thank you, Donna. I'm here at Robinson Park where another body has been found. A young woman."

Elena's eyes widen in fear. "No. No. No! This can't be happening. This isn't real!" she chanted to herself.

"The victim has black hair and is dressed in black shorts and a white tank top. Same appearance as to when she was abducted. Her mouth has been cut up just like Joker's with her face painted white and her eyes black. Although at this time we can not yet confirm that the body is indeed the abducted girl - Aria Brooks."

Elena started to cry hystericaly, her heart skipping a few beats, feeling like she was going to throw up.'They're wrong! They had to be! This couldn't be her baby sister!'

She had to see for herself. Not able to think straight anymore, all she could think about was her sister. The only family that she has left, now dead. Screw Joker, screw the danger, she needed to see her.Grabbing her cardigan she started running towards the GCPD. Not caring at all that Joker may be waiting for her or that Bruce was going to be pissed that she left without telling him, but she didn't care.

~~~

Bruce enters the GCPD, elegantly dressed as always. It was definitely a good idea to have Lucius build a hidden compartment built into the Batmobile in case he needed to change quickly.

"Gordon! I've got your call. What's going on? Have you found Aria?" he asked hopefully, although he already knew the terrible truth. When he saw her laying there in the water, he almost burst into tears. He was not a man who rarly showed emotion, but when he saw her ... her mouth cut to a wide smile, her clothes torn.