Chereads / The Fallen Kryptonian / Chapter 6 - Gates of Hell

Chapter 6 - Gates of Hell

It was a quiet night at Blackgate Penitentiary. The inmates were less rowdy than usual.

The guards were more relaxed, some were even blacked out in the security room from drinking alcohol.

Batman entered the prison unseen, walking right past the front desk and into the cell blocks without a single soul noticing.

As Batman walked past the various cells, he recognized the inhabitants.

Chuck Brown. He hung a dozen bodies on kites and left them flying around Gotham, wanted his 'art' to be seen by the world. Batman apprehended him at the top of Lacey Tower, trying to hang his last victim.

Harvey Dent. Former DA. His face was permanently disfigured from a courthouse fire caused by the late Salvatore Maroni. He went on a revenge streak, murdering some of Maroni's men, sparing others, he would target Maroni's businesses and didn't care about hurting innocents to get what he wanted, even resorting to holding the family of Maroni's henchmen as hostages. He eventually ended up killing Salvatore himself. Strangest part is that there's no pattern between who he killed and who she spared, it's like he'd change his mind at the flip of a dime. He turned himself in after executing Maroni.

Jane Doe. Her identity is completely unknown. She steals the faces of her victims and becomes them. Taking on their personality, their quirks, even their entire life. She once lived with one of her victim's family for two whole years, and they couldn't even tell anything was different. She was eventually caught when, during a dinner with her latest victim's husband, her face completely fell off.

She tried to hold the husband hostage, but Batman apprehended her.

Batman finally stopped in front of a cell, and standing inside was an old man with a full-grown beard, and a tired look in his eyes.

"I'm glad to see you, Batman" the old man stood up. "Hello…Jim"

"You know, they have a visitor center for a reason" Jim pointed out, "…this is where the people's tax money go to…I was able to walk in here without a single person stopping me…or even being awake" Batman stated.

"How is everything?" Jim smiled. "It could be better…Robin has moved on to better things…and Nightwing is operating in Bludhaven now, haven't heard from him in a while" Batman frowned.

"What about…" Jim glanced around, not wanting to say the butler's name out loud

"he's fine…well, that's not exactly true, he's getting old…been forgetting things, sometimes forgetting where he is…he couldn't remember Thomas' face… Cassie is looking after him right now"

"Damn…I'd honestly rather get shanked to death in here than to grow old… do you ever miss the old days?" Jim sat down and sighed.

"Back when the worst threat I've faced was a clown?" Batman reminisced, "before I had to battle aliens and gods"

"I still can't believe you've actually done these things" Jim couldn't help but laugh, Batman cracked a smile.

"Ah well…I'll be fine, Batman. I'm sure you've got some other things to take care of"

"I have time…" Batman told Gordon.

Jim couldn't contain his smile, glad that someone was willing to talk to this old man…