Hunted #3- Black Hearts

====The Iceberg Lounge====

 

"Have you ever considered that life is one cruel joke? That every second, the clock ticks ever closer to death. You might ask what that is, death. What happens at the end? Nothing? Everything? The only people who have seen it, can't come back and tell us, can they? I know what you might think "Superman came back. Batman came back. Green Arrow and a couple of Lanterns have the odd resurrection too." But did they talk? No, It simply can't be comprehended. Nothing more than a "bright light," sometimes we don't even get that. Not all of us are superheroes, not all of us can rely on divine intervention to bring us or our loved ones back. We search and search, but we've found nothing! Zombies exist! Ghosts exist! I've seen them with my own two eyes, but do they talk? Never. No one ever does. It's a conspiracy. I mean what about you? Have you ever died? What do you think?"

 

Len- I think Billy, you've had too much to drink. When I'm saying that, it's best to just go home.

 

*Clock King grumbles something about being unappreciated, then staggers away. It's almost funny. You'd think working with Penguin, these kinds of ramblings would be different. But nope. Same old shit about the people they've killed, the women they've screwed and some novice first year philosophical crap. There are some changes though. The chants. Those are new*

 

Patrons- Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.

 

*Penguin's office overlooks the main bar, sat on top of an enormous fish tank. The black mass within swims about, it's interest piqued. Penguin stands beside the Zebra- an ex-Kobra agent, who dangles a terrified man above the tank*

 

Walton- Please Mr Cobblepot.

 

Penguin- These past weeks have been hard gentlemen, I'll admit it. A sniper attacked here. Here, in the Iceberg Lounge! And yet through that crucible of blood, truces have been made and alliances have been forged. We should be enjoying peace time, sharing laughs over the finest beer, no? Yet, there are some, who don't approve of this peace and quiet! Some who want to stir things up! You remember Mr Walton don't you? Mr Walton's been picking fights, haven't you son? Why he went over to Blackfire's turf and tried to blow the damn place to smithereens! And you know what we do to troublemakers!

 

Patrons- Orca! Orca! Orca!

 

Penguin- Yes. I hope you packed your swim wear son.

 

*Walton screams as the Zebra drops him into the fish tank below. He struggles, trying to gasp for air, but upon reaching the surface, Penguin knocks him back down with the tip of his umbrella. The crazed crowd roar with pleasure, and Oswald Cobblepot feels ten men tall, as the patrons praise his name, as Walton disappears into the murky depths, leaving a trail of blood behind. One Kabuki lights his cigarette, placing it on the holder. As Cobblepot puffs it, he sees his bartender and raises his umbrella in recognition "Leonard! Let's talk"*

 

===Solomon Chapel===

 

*These past weeks I've done things I've never done before. My memory is hazy. I kept having visions of things... orders, like commands from God but I- I don't know what it is, but with everything that happened, I don't want the past repeating itself*

 

Blackfire- Leaving Philip?

 

Ten- Yes, I... um, I appreciate everything you've done for me Deacon, really, but I saw... heard you at the meeting and I just... I'm going to the hotel. Charles has agreed to take me in. I just need to get my belongings and I'll be gone.

 

Blackfire- I'm... disappointed you won't reconsider.

 

Ten- I'm not a violent man father. Maybe once, but not anymore. I can't condone a witch hunt of any kind.

 

Blackfire- A shame. I'd rather hoped you'd continue our journey together. You and I.

 

Ten- And I'm sorry. But this... isn't me.

 

Blackfire- A drink then. For your trouble. I have an unopened bottle of communion wine in the chapel.

 

*I nod. It's only fair. We raise our glasses and I sip. He just watches, peculiarly.*

 

Blackfire- I brought you a gift.

 

Ten- Pardon?

 

*My head... It's thumping... I stagger out of my seat and I try reaching out into the darkness

 

Blackfire- Feeling lightheaded? I'm afraid I can't let you leave just yet. You see, I'd like to reintroduce you to an old friend of yours. Harold Simms. We found him in Chinatown. The GCPD never caught him following his escape from Blackgate, but the new Task Force is much more effective

 

Ten- You... You poisoned me?

 

Blackfire- No. I've enlightened you.

 

*I... Finding it harder to think. I'm surrounded by cloaked figures... Followers... jeering at me all of a sudden*

 

Blackfire- Behold the ten-eyed monster my children! He is a non believer, and a traitor to our holy mission. But watch, as I change his mind!

 

*And then I realise... why I've been having head aches, why I've been acting out*

 

Ten- How many times? How many times have you drugged me?

 

Blackfire- Not enough.

 

Ten- You... you sir, are a fraud. You're no holy man! You're a-

 

Blackfire- Do not preach to me. Your eyes, Philip, were not what failed you, it was your soul. Blackened by your crimes. I speak not of your robberies or your heists, but your "service." Fighting and killing for the rich and corrupt! The same rich who would wall in their problems rather than taking the direct approach as I have done. They are all sinners, and only I can lead the way. And yet, I can fix you, set you right. All it takes is one sip of my cleansing cocktail... All I ask of you, is to kill the photographic fiend before you.

 

====Elliot Heights Hotel====

 

*Batman stopped by a few days ago, leaving Dekker with us. Said Sionis would kill him if he had the chance. Do I like the guy? Honestly, he creeps us all out a bit, and he's completely self serving. But when the alternative is leaving him to Black Mask, I get why Bats left him here. Even if *he* doesn't*

 

Dekker- I need to get out of here. This, my little Peanut, is bollocks, and I won't be sucked dry sir, not today!

 

Rigger- Do I gag him?

 

Chuck- What? No, he might like it. Dekker, you're among friends. Batman left you here for a reason, there isn't a safer place in Arkham.

 

Dekker- And that's just it cupcake. I don't want to be here. I was promised freedom for my cooperation!

 

Chuck- Didn't you think that none of us want to be here? We don't Dekker! We don't! We all want to fly our fucking kites, but we can't! Out of fear that they'll shoot em down!

 

Rigger- I'm sorry. What do kites have to do with this?

 

*There's a knocking at the door. Maybe it's Stingeree, back with Ten? Or, maybe it's Black Mask? Rigger arms himself, and opens the door, where a blue, green and bloody figure runs in*

 

Chuck- Jesus, Mitch, where have you been? I thought-

 

*He grabs Chuck by his uniform and looks up with horror filled eyes*

 

Chuck- Hey, hey it's ok

 

Mitch- I was... I was waiting for the food dumps on Sunday, Easter Sunday, when it went down. I went into the Gazette building and I- I saw *him*

 

Rigger- Wait, who?

 

Dekker- It's the Joker! It's the Joker, I bloody knew it!

 

Chuck- Shut up! Mitch, who... who did it?

 

Mitch- Black... Black Spider...

 

====Iceberg Lounge====

 

Penguin- This is my pride and joy Leonard. My Arctic Roller. Custom built of course, the base model is German. Those patterns, are engravings by a fine Norwegian artist, Stefan Tomlinson. Hidden weaponry, under the hood. It's a good thing the guards never found it. Last thing I'd want is it confiscated, and driven into a tree by some imbecile who never passed his driving test...

You're thinking about Walton aren't you? ... I told you, when we first met, that I valued loyalty above all else. Those who lie, or cheat me deserve nothing less than a swim with Ms Balin.

 

Len- I get it.

 

*Penguin places a pudgy hand on his back*

 

Penguin- You're a good man Leonard. Better than I ever was. Excuse me.

 

*He waddles over to Zebra Man*

 

Penguin- This better be important.

 

Zebra- They say they have witness.

 

Penguin- What?

 

Zebra- Yes, they-

 

Penguin- Sssh, quiet! Who? Who, you idiot?

 

Zebra- Mitchell... Mayo.

 

...

 

Penguin- Who the bloody hell is Mitchell Mayo?

 

Done