Gotham Knight (TWO)

The Beginning

Bruce Anthony Wayne, The Batman

I looked to my left, and then right. Empty. The whole city. Barely a soul to inhabit it. I walked through the streets, half naked in my completely torn up suit. I continued to limp all the way to the base of Wayne Tower. I noticed three or four men outside standing by an oil-barrel fire. I pushed the door open and walked into the void lobby.

Where had everyone gone? How long have I been dead? The receptionist was gone and the lobby had a cold tone to it. I decided to take the steps. I needed the exercise, and at this point I don't trust the elevators.

I reached the top floor of Wayne Tower. The unfinished roof. I walked to the edge and looked upon Gotham City. What happened? The sun slowly moved down, shining a bright light over the city's skyline. A beautiful city, with beautiful buildings. I turned around, looking at the huge table with a small sized Gotham on it. All the white buildings symbolized all the work Wayne Enterprises were going to do in Gotham. A new Gotham.

I heard someone land behind me. I spun around and swung my fist at the man. He rolled under and kicked me to the ground. I jumped up and got a good look at him. Nightwing. My mouth dropped. "Dick?" his eyes fixated on me and my bloody body.

"Y-y-you're alive?" he could barely speak, his hands trembling. I wrapped my arms around him, embracing him. "You're alive?" I asked him the same question. I pulled my mask down and threw it to the ground.

"W-w-what h-h-happened?"

"I could ask you the same." I gestured towards the empty city. He looked at his feet.

"The Court of the Owls. They captured me. Had me in a maze for God knows how long," I paused. "The Talon is dead, but the Court is still alive and well. They're out there, somewhere."

"Well, they'll have to wait. You've been gone for three months, Bruce. There's a new guy. He came in after The Riddler was taken out, about three weeks ago. Started murdering drug lords and crime bosses, along with any cop standing in his way. Everyone waited for The Great Batman to save them, but he never came." Dick stopped.

"The Red Hood." he said. "He claims that he was going to exterminate the whole city of Gotham if The Joker's head wasn't on his doorstep. All the residents of Gotham fled. The only people left are criminal scum, people trying to find The Joker and cops. Oh, and us." he looked out into the city.

"What do you mean exter-"

A loud boom sound stopped my sentence. I looked out into the city. An explosion at Ace Chemicals. One of the tallest buildings in Gotham was engulfed in flames. The building started falling, collapsing towards the ground. Dick stepped forward and looked back at me. "It's happening. Extermination."

More buildings across the city starting exploding, glass and debris falling everywhere. Flames creeped up upon the tallest buildings, cries and screams coming from the ground. Nearly every building in Gotham was ashes or on fire. Wayne Tower stood tall, one of the few still standing. Dick looked at the ground. Three large APC tanks pulled up right to Wayne Tower.

"What are they doing?" Dick called.

"The tallest building in Gotham. They're using it as a base." I clenched my fist and looked back.

The table sat, the imaginary buildings shining in the sunset. A dream. An extraordinary dream.

A new Gotham.

I looked back at the real city. Engulfed in flames and made up of ashes. A nightmare. A terrifying nightmare.

A new Gotham.