Scaring The Crows

I watched intently at how he savoured my quivering breaths. How he loomed over the podium and hovered the beaten up gavel over the stand, and how his judge's robes seemed to be tattered and beyond repair, almost like straw poking out of a scarecrow's shredded shirt. I gulped. It was only then did I realise who the man sentencing me was. Doctor Jonathan Crane. Rumour has it that he went insane, became obsessed with fear, and nearly made Gotham tear itself apart under a fear toxin. His ice blue eyes stared down at me but I could see a darkness, hidden behind as if there was something not quite right about this man.

"Miss Rewlett, you simply sit back and watch as innocent people have their money taken away from them through false insurance claims and extortionate prices. So, what will your answer be?" He asked, calmly looking through a file. "Kristie…Death or exile?"

"N-Neither" I stuttered, messing with the end of my shirt. I knew moving to this city was a bad idea. "I know what happens to those you exile. They die. It's a die-die situation" I added, and by the way his face reacted, I knew that maybe I'd said a little too much.

"Pick one Kristie, or I'll let the crowd decide" he sneered. The crowd around me were chanting the word 'DEATH' over and over, as if if would be entertainment to see my last meal be a bullet. Bane had made it so everybody that seemed well off, or involved in corrupt organisations were put in this kangaroo court to be 'sentenced'. The world must be insane for people to think that Scarecrow himself would be a good judge.

"Death then" I sighed, looking down at the floor. The crowd cheered even more, even the shadowy masked figure in the corner.

"DEATH!" Scarecrow smiled, hitting his gavel. Two burly men grabbed me and forced me over to the side of the room where one loaded his gun and placed the end next to my temple. Sweat beaded on my forehead, and I said a little prayer to myself, even though I had never been religious. My family wouldn't even miss me.

"Wait" a loud voice spoke from the side of the room. It sounded like somebody talking into a fan. He took his hood down to reveal a large mask, with several metallic breathing tubes on it. So that's why his voice sounded weird, I thought to myself. "Jonathan, get down here"

Jonathan complied, considerably thinner and lankier than Bane, stepping down from his stand and standing opposite me. The man holding the gun against my head smirked and his finger settled against the trigger, making me cry out for help. Human survival instinct had set in. "Please don't kill me" I sobbed, my mascara running down my face. Bane chuckled, the laugh echoing around the room.

"Your secretarial skills will be useful. We need a new nurse at Arkham, event since our last one went crazy and ran off with an inmate. See, I've released all the prisoners from Blackgate, but not from Arkham. Not just yet. You will work with Dr Crane here because he's the only person left with any knowledge in the field" Bane said, and I could imagine him smiling at the comment.

Jonathan seemed to protest this. "I don't need anyone's help! I work alone. She looks like a weak person anyway, and after Harley blew up my office, I really have a general distaste for blondes"

Bane glared at him. "Do as I say, Dr Crane, or I'll snap you like a twig. Understand?" He spoke, looking at the smaller man who took off the judge's robes to reveal a black suit with a crisp white button down shirt and a deep blue tie that complimented his eyes perfectly, but also suited his brown hair. Oh god, why am I thinking all of this? He fixed his tie and grabbed my wrist hard, dragging me out of the room.

"You will do as I say without talking back. If I tell you to stay out then you stay out. If I'm busy then don't you dare disturb me. Understand?" He spat at me. I could see the Asylum lurking in the background and I gulped and nodded. I guess this man would be the only hope I had of not being shot down.

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters belonging to DC comics. They are the property of the respective owners and the company itself.