Whispers in the Dark: Arkham Asylum

~Eleanor Wayne's POV~
Okay. Let me pick you guys up to speed. Batman and I were able to catch up to Joker, of course without bumping into Victor Zsasz and Harley Quinn.

And Joker set a large mutated human, which I called Titan, on us. The Titan didn't have much luck taking us out and died, due to its size on its heart.

As predictable as Joker can be, he disappeared off again. Batman and I tried to chase after him, but Joker threatened us with a hostage situation with Commissioner Sheamus.

Now, Batman and I have to find Faith's father and get him off this island, before catching up to Joker and stopping his upcoming scheme.

Batman and I made our way to the Holding Cells. We arrived to a hallway with tvs running down it. Joker's face appeared on the screens and he smiled, "I bet you're wondering how I did it. Was it a clue the Great Detective missed?"

He was sitting on a makeshift throne and the screen had 'Joker TV' crudely written on the top right corner, in some child-like or horror movie style font. And a standard camera 'Rec' signal on the bottom left corner. He's filming live, but where is he?

Joker laughed, then answered, "Oh, me and Frankie go way back. I got out of a spot of... Bother a few years ago. So, when I need security codes or an Eponian clubbed to the ground, I know just the man to ask."

Then his face vanished from the screen and it returned to static. Batman and I continued to follow the corridors and bumped into a couple of Blackgate thugs. We easily took them out and made it to the Holding Cells.

Batman and I entered the office and activated the comms, "Oracle, Nightshade and I are at the Holding Cells. I'm setting up a crime scene."

"So what's the plan? Isolate something in that room unique to Boles?" Oracle asked.

"Exactly." Batman answered.

I sniffed the air and covered my nose in disgust, "Ugh! This room stinks!"

Batman sniffed the air, "I don't smell anything."

I looked at him in slight shock, "You don't? It reeks of alcohol in here. Ivy's cell smelled better than here."

Pamela Isley used to be Gotham's most talented botanist. She loved flora and took good care of them, as well as try to help them adapt. However, over a year ago, one of her colleague's experiment has gone wrong and Isley was caught in the experiment.

The accident spliced her with plant DNA and replaced her blood with chlorophyll. Now, she's capable of communicating with any type of flora and command them to do her bidding. Alongside her talent in seduction, she uses pheromones to control the minds of weak-minded men. She calls herself Poison Ivy.

Like Waylon, she and I are good friends. Reason is because, being an empath, I can hear the voices of the plants. They behave more like whispers among each other. And all Ivy wants is to give plants a home again. Which is understandable.

"Alcohol?" He repeated, then he looked around and saw a flask on the ground. It was where the smell was strongest, "Boles dropped his flask."

I folded my arms, "Sloppy much?"

"Let's see what the forensic scanner picks up." He suggested. Batman walked over the flask and activated the detective vision of his cowl.

After a few seconds, Batman stood up and his detective vision started changing colors. He contacted Oracle again, "Oracle, I've got a trail."

Oracle sighed in relief, "That's great. You and Ellie follow it. I'm grabbing every reference to Arkham I can find. May be useful later."

The communication went on stand-by. Batman looked at me, "You sure you're able to keep up?"

I lightly smirked, "Are you kidding?" Then pointed to my nose, "I've had the whiff of alcohol since he started talking. I'm very sure."

With that, my father and I followed Officer Boles whiskey trail down the corridor. It lead straight to the elevator to intensive treatment. Oh boy...

Once we reached the registry, the phone started ringing. After a few rings, a female voice answered from the other side, "Hello! What's happening there? I'm trying to contact Steve. Is he there?"

"Hold one second. I'll see if I can find him." A familiar voice sang in reply. Joker...

The woman's voice sighed in relief, "Oh, thank you."

After a second of silence, Joker answered, "I'm sorry. I've looked everywhere, but I can only find his head. I'll get back to you when I find the rest of him."

Then he burst into a fit of laughter before he hung up the phone. I looked at my father. His eyes turned steely and he balled his hand into a tight fist. Good thing he was wearing his gauntlets. Any tighter and he'd be drawing blood.

Father was angry.

I put my hand over his shoulder. Father gave me a look. "Joker will pay for his crimes soon enough." I assured him, "But, we have to get Jim off this island."

He looked away for a second, then gave me a confident nod. The steel in his eyes was gone. Thank goodness.
The doors opened to the elevator. A guard was fiddling with the controls, "What's wrong with this thing?"

Batman and I entered the room and started looking around. The guard continued to mutter, "Stupid, unreliable..." Then he saw us and asked, "How did Joker get free?"

"Be quiet." Batman told him.

"What's going on?" The guard asked.

Batman and I looked around the room. The trail of alcohol seemed to be flying upward. Officer Boles must've used the elevator and put it on lockdown once he reached the top.

Before any of us could react, Harley Quinn appeared on the support beam of the elevator.

"Uh, uh, uh, uh, you two. Mister J doesn't want you following us just yet." She told us in a tsk. With that, she pressed a button on a trigger.

There was a loud explosion above us and Harley was flew up. There was a sound of metal sliding and it was getting louder rapidly.

Quickly, Batman grabbed me and the guard, "Get down!"

He pushed us down for cover and he jumped out of the way as the elevator crashed down in front of us. Sparks flew and dust clouded the crash.

Once the collision cleared, the guard recovered and asked, "Oww, what the hell happened?"

I got back to my feet and dusted the debris and concrete off my overalls. I looked at Batman and saw the chest area of his suit had a tear.

I gasped, "Dad, your suit!"

"I'm fine. It's just a rip." He assured me.

I nodded and Harley spoke up from above us, "How did ya like that? No way you're following us now. You're trapped down there 'til me and Mister J are ready for you."

She ended with a cocky laugh. I looked up and around. There's always another route. Even if it isn't the most convenient.

Batman looked around, then at me, "Any chance you'll be able to teleport or fly us to the top?"

Yeah, you heard my father right, I have powers. But, I try not to use them often, because the others don't have powers. Batman, Robin, Nightwing, Alfred, not even Mr. Fox.

As I explained before, I'm an empath. Which means I'm able to sense emotions and hear the inner-inner thoughts of anything organic. My other abilities are related to teleportation, magic and astral manipulation.

I know these aren't normal powers for a Bat Eponian. I'm not even sure how I got them, but at least I know how to use them responsibly.

I folded my arms, my eyes not leaving the cliffs, "Unfortunately, it's out of my range." Then I looked at my father with a small smile, "But then again, where's the fun in taking the short route?"

Batman smiled back and grabbed his grapple. He used it climb up the nearest cliff and started climbing from there. I, on the other hand, put my parkour training with Robin and Nightwing to good use.

Once Batman was making his way through the first vent, Joker's voice spoke up from the intercoms, "Hey, Bats. Nellie. I know you two can hear me. I've got a little something for you to listen to. Harely and Frank are nearly out of the building with the old man. How are they going to get past all those guards? Let's have a listen, shall we?"

Me and my father met up on the other side of the vent. Then an audio security feed played.

"Hey Frank. Where you've been?" A voice asked. It sounded like one of the guards.

"Joker's got more men on the way." Officer Boles answered, "They're coming around the front of the asylum. Gotta stop them getting in! Quick! Get over there!"

After a second of silence, Officer Boles shouted, "Dammit! C'mon. Everyone! Cover the main entrance!"

"How many are out there, Boles?" The officer asked. Then he noticed something, "Wait, hang on, how the hell do you know what..."

Suddenly, there was a sound of gunshots.

"Boles!" Another officer shouted, "Frank, what are you doing? No! Put it down!"

Another round of gunshots.

"Frank! What the hell?"

More gunshots.

Then Officer Boles called, "Quinn. It's clear! Get your ass in here."

"You're some piece of work, Frankie." Harley answered, then she sighed, "A girl could fall for someone like you!"

I scoffed, "Yeah right. When she's not right in the head, or sheltered by her parents."

"Stop flirting with the hired help, Harley." Joker told her.

"Don't worry, sweetie. You know I only have eyes for you." Harley assured him.

Then Joker turned his attention to us, "Do you hear that? Sounds like Frankie is working out just fine. Another valuable employee for the organization."

Batman and I continued to climb up the elevator shaft until we found a stone tablet with a scarab attached and circular writing carved into it. I've seen this tablet before. I had one in my cell when I first came to Arkham.

Batman looked at me and asked, "What is it?"

"This tablet is a Chronicle of Arkham." I answered, rubbing my hand against the carving, "There are around twenty-three of these tablets all over the island. Said to have been left behind by Amadeus Arkham himself."

"Can you read it?" He asked me.

I nodded, "Of course." I followed the circular motion of the carvings and found the beginning was closer to the scarab and was written counter-clockwise. I read out loud,

'I am the spirit of Amadeus Arkham.

Through my actions, I have saved this cursed city, though my own curse is to forever remain in the shadows.

My story is carved into the very soul of Arkham and will only be revealed to those dedicated enough to discover it.'

I looked back at my father. He looked a little spaced out for a second. He regained his composure and used his grappler to reach the top. I'm starting to get worried about my father. He's been spacing out a bit since we got here. I've got to ask him about that.

I quickly followed after him. A group of inmates were standing around a dead guard. They were discussing on how easy taking over the facility was compared to just escaping.

Batman wasted no time striking them down. A couple got lucky and were aiming attack him from behind. However, I took them down with a surprise attack of my own.

Once the inmates were taken out, Oracle spoke up from our comms, "Batman. Nightshade. How's it going? Any sign of Dad?"

"Not yet, but we're getting close." Batman answered.

I shrugged, "Harley Quinn tried to slow us down. Dropped an elevator on us."

"Did it work?" Oracle asked.

Batman lightly smirked, "Heh, of course not. We'll get back to you when we've reached the end of the trail."

With that, the comms went back on stand-by. I walked over to the automatic doors, but they didn't move. I placed my hand over the center and sighed, "Dammit! Locked from the other side."

I heard the sound of metal creaking coming from my right. I looked over and saw Batman remove a ventilation grate. He gestured a 'ta-da' and entered the shaft.

I put my hands on my hips and smiled, "Show-off." Then followed after my father into the vent.

One the other end, I heard gunshots and a voice pleading, "Please, I've got a kid. You don't have to-" The voice went silent after another gunshot.

Batman quietly opened the grate and exit the vent. I followed after him and there were two dead guards. Bastards!

"You're right. I don't have to. I just want to." An inmate laughed, then instructed in a clear voice, "Okay, boss says no one gets past. Anything moves, shoot it!"

"You've got it! Anything coming this way is dead." Another inmate answered.

Good thing there was a wall between us and the inmates. Otherwise they would've seen us and shot us down.

Father contacted Oracle, "Oracle, Joker's men have taken control of the Cell Block Transfer corridor."

"That's not good." Oracle grimaced, "I patched into a guard radio. It sounds like Joker's crew have got their hands on weapons."

"Yeah, we know." I answered.

"I'll calibrate the cowl's vision mode to isolate armed henchmen." Batman informed.

I sniffed the air, "By the smell of gunpowder in the air, all of the men in this hallway are armed. It'll be suicide to use the straight-forward approach."

Batman nodded, "Indeed. You wait here, while I find a way to take them out."

I nodded and he used his grappler on a gargoyle above us and disappeared into the ceiling. I sat down with my back against the wall and waited for Batman's signal. I let my mind wander for a bit, until I heard a knock against metal.

I peeked past the wall and saw Batman standing between three out-cold henchmen. Huh. Talk about working fast.

I followed Batman down the corridor the forth man.

He was up a small flight of stairs, in an office, talking to Joker in about three monitors, "No problem, boss. The boys are finishing off. The Arkham chumps never stood a chance."

Both Batman and I crouched down before we were seen.

"Oh, good! Our friendly neighborhood rodent is on his way with his little Wayne friend." Joker smiled, then ordered, "You need to set a trap. They must not leave this building. Do you understand me?"

"...Y-yes, boss. The Bat is good as dead!" The thug replied nervously.

Batman and I looked at each other. He gave me a small smile and motioned to the armed thug. He wanted me to knock him out. I smiled back and silently crept up behind the thug. I didn't think Joker saw me.

"I hope you can keep your promises, boy. I hate that I have to go to punish your family just to teach you a lesson. Now I could promise you, they won't be laughing!" Joker warned and laughed at the bad joke.

"But, Joker..." The thug pleaded, not wanting his family to be killed by this maniac. Can't blame him either.

Joker stuttered mockingly to his comment, then ordered, "Just do it! And have fun. I know I will." He laughed afterwards.

I stood up, punched the thug in back and leaned him over my knee into a headlock. I covered his mouth with my free hand. He tried to fight back, but that only tightened my grip on him. After a few seconds, the thug fell limp and I gently put him down on the ground.

Joker looked at me and smiled, "Oh, look who it is! Are your pointy ears burning?" Batman entered the room behind me. Joker looked over his shoulder, "I suppose I better warn my boys that you're on the way..." Then an idea hit him, "Hey, maybe I won't... It'll be a nice surprise!"

He chuckled, then the screens returned to their normal stand-by mode. Without a doubt, the other doors are locked. Guess we have to take the ventilation again. Oh, well.

I walked over to the ventilation grate and removed it with great strength. Batman entered first, then myself.

Half way through the vents, Joker's voice sang through the intercoms, "Ding, ding, ding, dong. Arkham Asylum is now under new management. Here's a quick update on what's going on." Then he informed, "Attention. We have two escaped patients. One dresses like a bat. The other thinks she's human. What idiots! Should be considered costumed and dangerous."

I sighed and rolled my eyes at the poor report. So much for the element of surprise...

Batman reached the end and opened the other grate quietly, due to a Blackgate inmate in front of us. We reached the main lobby and entrance to Intensive Treatment.

"Personally, I think the best solution is to put the Bat out of his misery, and put the mutant back in her cage. They're the only reliable cure." Joker finished.

I teleported to the gargoyles while Batman took out the three guards with two Silent Takedowns and a gliding Ground Takedown.

Easy... Maybe a bit too easy...

Joker spoke up from the intercoms, "Did you really think it was going to be that easy, Bats? I've sent a few more of my boys your way. Let's see how you deal with these odds!"

Three more of Joker's thugs arrived from the entrance of the lobby.

"Joker wants the Bat and Wayne girl found! Spread out!" The leader ordered.

"They could be anywhere." One shouted in a panicked tone.

"Then keep your eyes open. Now move!" The leader replied.

The three henchmen entered the lobby and started looking around for me and Batman. I raised a brow and an idea hit me.

Batman stayed close to the control room and took out two of the henchmen with Silent Takedowns. He was going for the last, but I shook my head. I teleported behind the boiler near him and faked a cough.

The thug heard me, picked up his gun ready to shoot, and shouted, "Come out where I can see you!"

I raised my hands and walked out of my hiding place. The thug passed Batman without noticing.

"Please don't shoot me. I am unarmed and lost in this house of madness." I spoke in a fake, but genuine sounding, scared tone.

The thug kept his gun aimed at me, "Where's the Bat?"

I shook my head, "I dunno. We got separated along the elevator."

"The elevator?" He tilted his head and lowered his guard.

I twitched my left ear. Batman left his hiding spot and delivered a Silent Takedown. The thug fell limp and was placed on the ground.

Once everything calmed down, Batman looked at me and smirked, "Lost in this house of madness?"

I giggled and shrugged my shoulders, "Most believable thing I could come up with."

Joker spoke up from the intercoms, "Oh, those were the easy ones. I'm just playin' with ya. You'll see."

Batman and I made our way through the lobby and into the entrance. By the door, there was Officer Boles on a gurney. The same gurney that Joker was in before all this. His face was painted with a huge green smile and a clipboard chained to his legs with the words 'Dead End' written in blood.

Did I mention Officer Boles was dead? No? Okay, he's dead.

"Joker must have figured out how we've were tracking Gordon. Officer Boles' trail stops here." Batman noted.

I balled my hands into fists of anger, "So much for hired help."

Before my father could reply, there was a noise of static coming from the comms. Then a familiar voice cleared from the static.

"Can you hear me, Batman? I know you can."

The static cleared and Father started typing on his gauntlet.

The voice continued, "Yes, it is I, Edward Nygma, the Riddler and more importantly your intellectual superior. My genius has allowed me to easily hack into your primitive communications."

I sighed in light annoyance. Here we go again.

Edward Nygma, or Riddler, is a criminal hacker that used to work for GCPD. However, he has a problem; An obsessive compulsive need for attention and to try and finally outsmart Batman or myself. Don't get me wrong, he is a very clever man, but he's insane. And insanity makes things obvious.

"My goal is simple!" Nygma hissed, then explained, "You complete a series of amusingly taxing challenges and, well, you'll see. Ready for your first one? Good. But be careful!"

"Don't CUT yourself for this portrait is quite a CINCH."

"Okay, Nygma. You made that one way to easy." I spoke up.

Father nodded, "Indeed."

He walked over to the portrait of Warden Cinch and his cowl's eyes glowed green for a second.

Nygma spoke up again, "So you did it. Well done. I would have expected a child to work that one out, let alone the World's Greatest Detective."

I shook my head, "Not funny, Nygma."

"He's gone. For now." Batman told me. I sighed.

Then a metal door opened to reveal Officer North. Thank God another good guard still alive.

"I'm over here, Batman." He called.

Batman and I jumped down and joined Officer North in a secret passage.

"It was a massacre. Boles came walking in telling everyone to cover the front entrance. Said something about Joker's army coming through the main gate!" North explained what happened, "Two of my guys moved to the exit and Frank shot 'em dead. Never stood a chance."

"Was Boles alone?" Batman asked.

North shook his head, "Thought he was, then I saw Harley Quinn. She was surrounded by Blackgate prisoners. They were just killing everyone in the room! I ha no choice! I got in here. Locked the door. I could see it on the security feed. They had someone with them, it looked like the Commissioner."

"Boles is dead." I informed him, "They carried on without him. Must have outlived his usefulness."

North lightly smiled and nodded, "Good! He was scum."