The Dark Knight: Fallen Son #13

Another three hours pass by and the clock strikes 9pm exact. Still nothing. Where can he be? Come on you spineless coward. Show yourself and face your punishment. Sure enough no sooner does the thought cross my mind that I get an alert. He’s been spotted. Where?

 

I quickly race to the computer and trace his position. He’s at the county fair. Of course. The perfect place he could hide himself, in the middle of a fun fair. No ordinary person would ever think that he’s in the middle of such a public event, but I know this monster. It’s his way of mocking both me and the GCPD. His gloating will cost him dearly.

 

I hear the elevator coming down from the house. Alfred’s on his way down. No doubt he heard the alert as well, I need to get gone before he tries to stop me. Given that he had Clark try to talk me down he’s clearly against this vendetta campaign. Hypocrite. He had a vendetta against Uncle Marcus for trying to change my Father’s will and was more than willing to kill him when he had the chance to do so. Now the situation arises for me to confront the man I hold a strong vendetta against and he tells me to ignore it. Such a hypocrite.

 

I’ve been preparing the new suit for this moment, and now it’s time to put it to use. After a couple of minutes I’m ready and I walk towards the batmobile. But of course Alfred blocks my path.

 

“Get out of the way Alfred.”

 

“No. I can't let you do this.”

 

“Get out of my way.”

 

“I won’t just sit by and let you make a decision that you shall live with the rest of your life.”

 

“He has to pay for what he’s done. Jason deserves no less.”

 

“This has nothing to do with Jason! This is you wanting a reason to justify what you plan to do!”

 

“Stand aside Alfred, I won’t ask again.”

 

“And I still won’t move. Trust me. I know from experience. Taking a man’s life, that sticks with you for the rest of yours and I won’t let you add that to the burden you already carry.”

 

I have no choice. Alfred won’t move willingly. As much as it pains me to do so, I push him out the way and continue to walk towards the batmobile. Alfred knows he can’t physically stop me, I’m too strong for him to hold back so he’s forced to keep pleading with me to not go.

 

“Bruce please. Think about what you’re doing!”

 

I ignore him. It pains me to do so, but it’s the only choice. If I even stop to acknowledge him he’s got the advantage and will use it to try and stop me going out there. But I cannot let that happen.

 

“This man is a monster yes, but let Gordon know where he is! He can have the fair evacuated and the Joker in chains! This time he can be put in Blackgate where he’ll rot for the rest of his life!”

 

Sorry Alfred. I know you’re trying your best to try and persuade me to not go through with it, but I must. Jason deserves that much from me at least. I climb into the batmobile and lock it. Alfred presses himself against the window.

 

“If you take his life tonight, you’ll be destroying all that you’ve worked so hard for!”

 

I turn on the ignition and prepare the booster for departure. But then Alfred says it. The words of that deliver a punch to my chest.

 

“It’s not what your parents would want of you.”

 

It’s a painful comment. Telling me blatantly how far I’m straying from my parents wishes. I've never wanted to do such a thing since they were taken from me. But I have no choice.

 

“I know Alfred. They would never approve of this. But I will not allow Jason’s sacrifice to go unpunished.”

 

With that I roar the engine to life and race out of the cave. Mother. Father. I’m sorry. But tonight I must avenge my son.

Done