Crimson X

Chapter 20: Red Tape

Heels clanked on the floor. Her two pigtails flowed behind her as she walked through the building. A musty smell held an invasion on her nose – of which wasn’t very pleasant. A medical mask covered her mouth to try and stop any dust from entering her lungs. Her eyes darted from the scattered papers on the floor to the cracks in the wall. She sighed; the building was in even worst condition from the time she left. A patient shouldn’t have to live in these conditions.

“If they’re going to rehabilitate they’re going to need a cleaner place,” her voice was muffled behind the mask she wore. “It’ll need to be a brighter and calmer place. With everything scattered, they’re minds will be scattered. Their environment will affect them greatly, and it’ll put the animals on edge as well…If the animal is on edge then there could be a possible bite, which could lead to the animals being killed.”

A chill ran down her spine – one that frightened her. She turned around quickly, her eyes widened. Nothing was there, not that she could see. The woman cursed under her breath and continued walking through the asylum as she inspected it.

“Mister Crane?” She questioned out loud. “It’s not you that’s here, is it?” There was no response. “It’s me, Shar Channing.” Still nothing. She sighed; being in an abandoned asylum at night must just be giving her the creeps.

---Time Skip---

“How has getting Harleen Quinzell out of Arkham City been going?” Shar took a sip of her tea as Bruce Wayne and herself were sitting in a coffee shop – she wasn’t one for coffee.

“It’s been difficult; I almost got myself killed in the process,” he stated in monotone. Something was most definitely wrong with him.

“Bruce,” Shar started cautiously, “Is…Is everything alright?”

“Why does everyone keep on asking me that!?” He snapped.

Shar flinched, “You just haven’t been yourself ever since Arkham City…Look, what happened in there was not your fault.

“You think I don’t know that?”

“Yes, I think that you don’t know that,” Shar argued. “You keep on acting like your blaming yourself. I know you have this whole rule on not killing people, and you didn’t kill The Joker! He did this to himself. And even though you didn’t kill him, it’s a good thing that he’s gone. Look, why don’t I set you up for some therapy, you don’t have to me be your psychia--.”

“I don’t need therapy!” He stood up enraged. People in the shop stared at was going on. “I’m not one of those freaks that will be going to Arkham! I’m perfectly fine!” He stormed out of the shop.

Shar watched him sadly as he left. She wanted to do something for him, but if he was unwilling to let her help him she couldn’t do anything.

“Is everything alright, Miss?” A man questioned. Shar looked up seeing a man with rather dark skin. It was the same person at her press conference.

“Yes,” she nodded warily. “You were at my press conference, weren’t you?”

“Indeed I was, my name is Jean-Michael.”

“Jean-Michael?” Shar stood up and stuck her hand out, “Shar Channing. It’s nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you, too. The man you were talking to, wasn’t he Bruce Wayne? He seemed rather unsteady.”

Shar looked at the door of which Bruce left, “Well, as I’m sure you know he was thrown into Arkham City by Hugo Strange. I’m sure he has posttraumatic stress disorder, as many people will have after something so horrific.”