Batman: Hero of Gotham

63- Chaos Part 2

"Vicki!" Batman yelled chasing after her. Vicki stopped at the end of a hall. Cells were on either sides of the walls.

"There's nothing you can do, Batman!" Vicki shouted back. "You underestimate the true Children of Arkham! These souls kept behind bars. Open the doors!" Vicki said into her radio. Every cell in the hallway suddenly opened, releasing the maniacal people trapped in them. "Arkham! Listen to me! Freedom is yours! The only one standing in your way...is Batman!" Vicki ran away and left Batman to fight the ten inmates that were yelling and cursing at him. Batman threw a gurney at them all, knocking them all down. Batman began to run after Vicki when someone familiar stepped in his way.

"Harvey? What are you doing?" Batman asked. "I need to get to Lady Arkham. Let me past you."

"I don't know if I should. Are you going to really stop her?" The two-faced old friend asked.

"You can count on me, Harvey. I'm going to put an end to her masquerade." Batman replied.

"Go get her. For me." Harvey stepped out of the way, letting Batman chase after Vicki once more. Batman passed inmate after inmate who were crying in their cell or simply scared of him. One inmate got a hold of a knife and was repeatedly stabbing an orderly to death. Batman picked up the inmate and threw him to the ground, disarming and stopping him. Batman continued, arriving at the cafeteria. It was a disaster. Inmates punching and kicking helpless orderlies on the floor. Glasses and plates were thrown, orderlies were stabbed with utensils, chairs were being used as weapons to make sure the orderlies stayed down. Lady Arkham walked, without a care down the hall, ignoring Batman's presence. 

"You're not getting away, Vicki." Batman said to himself. Batman pushed through the chaos and saved each orderly that was being attacked. He then confronted Vicki and threw a table at her. Vicki sensed the attack and simply split the table in two with her powerful staff. Batman punched Vicki in the face, forcing her mask off. Vicki reached for it but Batman picked it up and broke it in half. 

"What have you done? That was my symbol!" Vicki screamed.

"Not anymore. Surrender now, Vicki." Batman offered.

"I will never surrender to you!" Vicki got off the floor, ready to leave. Batman went to grab her when an inmate forced Batman onto a table. "Take your time, Zsasz." Vicki exited through another door, leaving the prisoner named Zsasz with Batman. Zsasz took a knife out of his pocket. 

"I am gonna take my time with you! Heh ha." Zsasz said as he raised the blade above Batman. He brought it down on Batman's shoulder, the blade piercing through the suit and into Batman's skin. Batman yelled in pain as Zsasz got ready to stab him again. Suddenly, a shot rang out and Zsasz was groaning in pain as blood sprayed from his hand. Zsasz noticed the hole in his hand. He had dropped the knife and Batman pushed him off of him. Standing there was Comissioner Gordon with his pistol aimed at Zsasz. Zsasz got off the floor. "You're going to die!" He ran towards Gordon but Batman picked Zsasz up and slammed his head onto a table, knocking him unconscious. Batman held his hand on the stab wound that Zsasz had caused. Batman heard clapping coming from behind him and turned around. Sitting on a table, was an inmate with makeup that reminded Batman of a terrifying clown. The prisoner had a disturbing smile on his face.

"Truly inspiring! Such a pleasure to see your work in person!" The inmate held out his pale hand. Batman awkwardly shook it. The inmate laughed hysterically for no reason. Batman pulled his hand away. "Heads up." Batman looked behind him as three inmates with knives approached him. All of a sudden, police officers barged through the doors of the cafeteria and pointed guns at inmates and handcuffed each one, including the clown looking convict. The clown winked at Batman as he was taken into custody along with the other prisoners. Batman thought nothing of it.

"Me and my officers will take care of the rest of them. You go after the leader!" Gordon told Batman. Batman held his shoulder as he continued to go after Vicki. Batman went through the door that Vicki went through to find her standing there as if she had been waiting for his arrival.

"There's no way out now." Batman declared to Vicki.

"There's always another way here, Batman. All the people that Thomas Wayne condemned to this place, unwillingly...they speak through the walls! Their ghosts walk. They know the way." Vicki explained.

"I can't help those people now. But I can help Alfred Pennyworth. Take me to him!"

"My pleasure." Vicki then used her staff to slam the ground, breaking the floor beneath Batman, sending him down and down and down. Vicki jumped in after him, down and down and down.