Save...you...(A Mama/Batman Crossover Fiction) DISCONTINUED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Chapter 6

“That guard chased her back into the wing then the lights went out,” Harley said, staring at the ceiling as she spoke. She was positive that if she looked down at the floor she’d pass out. 

“You saw nothing else? No one else?” Batman snapped, his frustration morphing into agitation. 

“No, you idiot. Did you or did you not just hear Harley say the lights went out? Are you now accusing us of having night vision?” Nigma spat, steading a steely glare at Bruce. 

The Bat shook his head, hands clenching into fists. The only person who could possibly know what happened would be Violet, though she was in no state to undergo questioning. He knew their were people inside the asylum capable of committing such an act, but to leave no trace? It bordered humanly impossible. 

“She needs to go to the infirmary,” Batman said, glancing at Ivy as she stood, hauling Violet up with her. The teen leaned heavily into the other woman, legs seeming to liquify on the spot. He moved towards the pair, grimacing as his boots sloshed in the crimson puddles. 

But when he went to pry Violet away her screaming picked up again, skinny arms locking around Ivy in a steely grip. 

“I’ll take her,” Ivy volunteered, patting Violet’s back awkwardly. 

“Not alone,” Batman said, latching onto Ivy’s upper arm. She looked ready to tear him a new one, but remained quiet, glaring a hole through his cowl. The trio slowly made their way back through the wing to the doors, lifting Violet slightly so she wouldn’t be walking through the mess. 

“Why is the girl so important to you?” Scarecrow asked, straightening his glasses as he watched them retreat. 

“None of your business,” the Bat called back, not bothering to look back. He had more important matters to attend to. 

*****

“No broken bones, internal bruising, or internal bleeding. She’s fine,” the nurse assured them, nodding at the Bat before exiting the room. Ivy had been taken back to another cell along with Harley, Crane and Nigma. It would take hours, maybe days, to scrub all the blood from the room. 

Turning off all the cameras in the room with a click of a button, Batman fell heavily into a chair next to Violet’s bedside. The fluorescent lights hummed, casting an eerie glow about the small room. He stared at his cousin as she lay on her side, all traces of blood removed from her person. She donned the usual asylum attire, another pure white uniform with Arkham sown into the sleeve. Before the examination, the nurse had given her a mild sedative to insure that she wouldn’t start screaming again and risk snapping her already tender vocal chords. Violet’s gaze drifted around the room, entirely unfocused. Someone out there dismembered a fully grown man, left Violet untouched, then simply...vanished. It didn’t make any sense, not that much in Gotham ever did. 

“Who killed him, Violet?” Bruce mumbled, head falling into his hands. 

“Mama.” 

His head snapped up at the word, eyes zeroing in a suddenly fully coherent girl. Her gaze held his, blue eyes glowing in the low light.  

“Mama...killed Bryson?” He asked, standing, suddenly on edge. Violet nodded as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. 

“Mama save,” she muttered, pulling her knees up to her chest. 

This Mama character was becoming increasingly suspicious. Dr. Dreyfus had thought it was purely a figment of Violet’s imagination, but could she possibly be...real? 

The broken restraints, the strange sound of a lullaby, the flickering lights, Bryson... 

“Is Mama here? In the asylum?” Bruce asked. 

Violet tensed, eyes drifting to a place just above is left shoulder. Her mouth tightened into a thin, terse line, as she raised a shaking hand to point at a far corner of the room. 

“Yes.”

A guttural groan sounded from behind him him, followed by the sound of nails raking along metal. Heart pounding, Bruce turned, catching a small tendril of something that strangely resembled the raggedy hem of a dress...