The Greatest Fear Is Fear Itself Part 2 [Scarecrow

[Deleted]

Edward leaned back in his black rolling chair studying the cameras in front of him. They were all in place in the many locations he wanted them to be. Robby and Allen had already left to go to there position. Edward was ready.

He pulled out the girl’s cell phone. He flipped it open revealing an old screen. Obviously the girl had difficulties adapting to technological change. He scanned through the contact until reading Professor Crane. The name was done so formally he once again wondered what their true relationship was. He had at first taken it as a schoolgirl crush until he saw Crane’s strange reactions, but now he wasn’t certain if the girl had any mutual feelings for the teacher. Edward only shrugged off the slight irritation of the unknown. If Crane decided not to play along then the girl would die. He didn’t particularly care, she failed to figure out her own riddle.

He pressed the call button and brought the phone up to his ear. He listened to the ringing on the other end. Until finally the ringing stopped and Crane greeted him on the other end.

“Hello Crane, I feel like our last conversation was cut short. I do not take kindly to people rudely running away from me, but I digress. I have a riddle for you Crane,” he began and waited for the Professor to respond. He wanted to make the phone call quick and then destroy it before Batman or someone else involved caught the signal.

(OOC: Sorry this is short, but I can't really expand in details when it comes to a phone call lol)

[Jonathan Crane - Scarecrow]

Crane had to excuse himself from his class that morning to run back to his office, due to the fact that his student assistant had not showed up with his folders that morning, as he requested the previous day. A light mixture of frustration, and concern covered his emotions. This was very unlike her, she was also on time, and had her stuff together. Oddly, this wasn’t too long after his confrontation with the Riddler, and thus gave him a reason to fear for her safety.

He came to the door of his office, and went in. He dug around various desks trying to find his folders containing important information in them for his lecture. All the while wondering where she was. He quickly dug into his pocket and found his cell phone, of course he had no missed calls or text messages.

He grabbed his documents and went back to his classroom. He walked quickly down the hall ways, dodging traffic waves of students. He finally made it to his door to the classroom. As he began to walk in, his phone went off. It was Natalie. He answered it.

“Hello Crane, I feel like our last conversation was cut short. I do not take kindly to people rudely running away from me, but I digress. I have a riddle for you Crane,”

It was obviously the Riddler. And even worse, he had Natalie.. Just as what he expected would happen did.

“I’m not going to play your games, Nigma! What is it you want?!”

He knew deep down inside the only way to ensure her safety was to play into his game. Only thing was.. what would be the riddle?

[Deleted]

Edward frowned on the other end of the phone. Was it to difficult for people to offer a polite greeting before jumping down his throat? Answer: Obviously yes. He tapped his finger on his desk, glancing at the one screen that showed Natalie leaning against the wall. There was a timer above her screen telling him how much longer the girl had to live. If Crane continued to act this way Edward had very little hope that the girl would walk out alive. He didn’t even hesitate at the thought. The girl was a burden on society. Edward would be doing everyone a favor.

“Play games? I don’t play games as you so brutishly put it. I give riddles, challenging riddles, but if you believe the challenge is to difficult for you,” he paused letting out a fake sigh, “It looks like Natalie will die. You see, she’s is quite a puzzle herself. Riddle me this, how can you live if you only have seven hours of oxygen left?”

Edward smirked as he shifted in his chair to look at the other cameras. Crane would be lead to two different locations before finally being lead to Natalie’s location. Each screen showed the location from a different angle. Edward was too much of a perfectionist to leave any blind spots. He would have waited for a response from Crane, but again he was on a time limit. He wanted to make this phone call as short as possible. “I have a riddle, you can do what you will with it,” he paused for only a moment before giving it, “Seven means many things, but only seven can represent the perfection and imperfection at the same time.”

It was a simple. There were seven archangels and seven great demons in the Catholic religion. Seven represented hell and heaven in one simple number. It meant that Crane would have to go to the old abandoned Cathedral on 7th street in the East side. The Cathedral was large and had windows with broken stain glass. There were holes in the roof, and parts where the roof actually had collapsed. It was the perfect site for the first part of this riddle.

"Good day," he said his farewell knowing he would be seeing Crane soon.

(OOC; I'm giving you the answer for most of these riddles because they're impossible to solve. I know for certain though that the last riddle I give I will not give you the answer. That one will determine your fate)

[Jonathan Crane - Scarecrow]

Jonathon Crane couldn’t even speak. One of his very few fears had became reality. He knew the Riddlers motive had to have been his fear gas. There would be no other reason he would want to lure him into his sick and twisted games. Even worse, it was obvious he had deduced his identity, and knew Crane was in fact the Scarecrow. He underestimated his competition. He had no choice, he had to get Natalie back. He trapped her into the situation, and he refused to live with her well being weighing down his conscious mind.

Crane then suddenly remembered his class. Time was valuable not only to him, but his students as well.

Crane poked his head through the door

“Class dismissed!!!”

He yelled then ran back to his lab. The riddle “Seven means many things, but only seven can represent the perfection and imperfection at the same time.” That was the obstacle laid before him. His grandmother who took care of him was a religious crazy woman, so of course he knew that it represented the seven archangels, and the seven demons. An obvious reference to a church.. Fortunately, this narrowed it down. The only possible one would be the cathedral that was abandoned on 7th street in the east side of town. Crane ran to his lab at full speed.

He dropped off his folders on his desk, and ripped open his drawer, and pulled out his scarecrow mask. This wasn’t a job for the ordinary Crane..

It was only a matter of minutes before Crane was suited up, and armed with his syringes, as well as gas. A bunch of tactics ran through his mind. Of course this was something he couldn’t solve on his own. If Natalies life weren’t at stake, he may attempt it. But he had to be sure he would come out victorious. The Riddler was a genius such as himself, but he was a different breed of genius. There minds may not exactly play the same notes. But one mans mind, he understood the music all of them played. That would be his only hope at putting this man away forever, but it would come at a huge cost, but thats what it would take to get her back..

Crane didn’t even think twice about it, and before he knew it, he stood before a bank. There was only one way to lure this being out. Crane slowly made his way to the entrance, with the absence of his scythe, He stormed into the banks lobby. In each hand, he held a smoke bomb filled with his toxins. He tossed them both into the air. They slammed down, and immediately impact, shot out a white gas, filling the banks air. Around him the people were screaming, and crawling around in fear. Across the corner, a man was cowering before a plastic tree. Crane found this slightly funny, but kept moving. He jumped over the banks counter, and filled a bag up. He threw the bag over his shoulders, and ran out through the door. A cop car had just pulled up to a screeching halt. Crane ran towards the drivers seat, and by the time the cop got out to draw his pistol, he was greeted with a syringe to the shoulder, causing his fears to come alive.

Crane hopped into the drivers seat, and got on the radio

“We have a bank robbery, chase in progress, suspect headed to the church on 7th in the east, I repeat, he is headed to the church on 7th in the east side.”
Crane slammed the car into drive, and began to take off towards the church. He knew for sure now that his guest heard the broadcast, and would most likely beat him there. Crane would take the alternate route, in case of road blocks. None of the witnesses would be in the proper mentality to notice him get in the cop car, or for that matter let the cops know. It was almost as easy as stealing candy from a baby.

Crane pulled up to the church. It looked like the place was holding on by a thread. Broken windows, run down paint.. The door was split in two.

Crane’s ears focused on the distance. He couldnt hear the sound of sirens, it wouldnt matter anyhow. His guest would beat them to the church, and business would be done far before they could even figure out what was going on.

Crane approached the steps with the bag over his shoulder, and kicked the door in. He walked into the church, and was surrounded by darkness... Now, he played the waiting game...

[simba]

If 'know thine enemies' is the first rule of effective warfare, then it seems that both Scarecrow and Batman have followed it to a t.

Within moments of the bank robbery, alarm, and subsequent call to police across the police radio frequencies, Batman was on his way to the church in question. Having foregone the Batmobile and its handy trunk storage capacity for the time being (he didn't predict having to throw any crazed feline-lovers or wanna-be-gangsters in his trunk, after all), the Batman has chosen a very different means of conveyance: his Batcycle. The beefed-up motorcycle roared through alleyways and side streets as his satellite directional signals posted a big yellow dot right on top of his destination. "Robin, I might be a while," he says into the personal communication device in his gauntlet.

He swung into the decrepit old alley to the side of the cathedral before looking up to its ancient, cracking roof. Pulling out his grappling hook, he shot it up to an exposed beam before soaring up to it, catching the support and immediately flipping up to it. He braced his feet along the heavy old beam before stepping across the decaying old roof ever so carefully. Finally making it over to a hole in the ancient stone and tin roof, he swung himself down into it and immediately jumped down to an ancient brass chandelier swinging from the ceiling. Somehow, it managed to hold his weight, and the Batman waited there, watching for the criminal in question.

And when the criminal arrived, the Batman wasn't surprised at all. "Robbing banks doesn't seem like your style," his gruff, dark voice called out to the Scarecrow as he climbed down from the chandelier, dangling from it for a moment before leaping down to the ancient, chipped stone floor.

[Jonathan Crane - Scarecrow]

He turned to the dark knight who dropped from overhead. Scarecrow unslung his bag, and threw it before Batmans feet. From the opening of the bag, pamphlets, deposit slips, pins, and cups poured from the bag. At first, it would seem like a joker that only the Joker would find funny.

"Don't you ever use the doors? And of course not, Batman.. Truth is, I actually need your help.."

This information may render the batman temporarily speechless. What could someone such as the Scarecrow need Batmans help with? Well, he was about to get his deal.

"The Riddler has been a thorn in both our sides for awhile.. I offer you a deal... You help me put this man away, and save my research from his eyes, and in turn, i'll reveal my identity to you, and turn myself over to the proper authorities.. AKA, you..."

He could see the controversy in the bats apathetic eyes. But still, a shot to take in two villains. How could he not resist?

"I dont want to ask for your help, but intelligence comes before pride, and in this case I have no choice... What do you say?"

Scarecrow extended his non syringe hand out to shake Batmans hand for a truce, and to close a deal.

[simba]

The Batman glanced down just to see the bag spill out to find nothing of importance at all stolen from the bank. Then again, that's not a surprise in the slightest. Bank robbery wasn't Scarecrow's style, after all... at least, not willy-nilly bank robbery. Light thievery, that was Catwoman's gig. Heists for money, that was the Ventriloquist's gig. But Scarecrow? No, no, he was a different story altogether. As was their mutual friend, it seems...

As for this little explanation, well, Batman wasn't truly surprised at all. Fortuitous? Absolutely. Out of the ordinary? Not at all.

"Deal," the Batman said simply in response as he extended a black-gloved hand to shake the Scarecrow's own in a sharp, sudden movement. Implied in that agreement, of course, was the consequences if Scarecrow didn't follow through...

[Deleted]

When Edward finished his riddle he clicked the girl’s phone off. Then with intense force slammed the phone against his desk. He heard some of the plastic break and did it again and again until the chip came out. He took the chip and with his purple-gloved hand broke it in half. Just for extra precaution he slammed the phone one more time against the wood then tossed it in the trash basket.

His many dealings with the Batman and other vigilante taught him to never have something with a traceable signal. It was the easiest way to get caught. It was the very reason every one of his cameras and his personal phone went through so many external receivers before finally coming back to his location. He would not be traced. No, that would mean getting caught. Edward would not get caught again. He hated Arkham. He hated the food. He hated the unintelligent doctors talking to him as if he were a child. When all the pieces of the phone were deposited to the trashcan he looked back up at his screens. Crane had yet to show up. He assumed the man was putting on costume and all the wonderful theatrics that came with being a rogue. Edward smirked, just as he planned. Bring all the fear toxin with you as you want Crane. I won’t protest, he thought to himself as he pulled out a lollipop.

Just as he put the lollipop into his mouth he noticed a police car drive up to the Cathedral. Edward blinked for a moment. Police car? Did that bastard seriously just call the police? No, if he did there would be more then one car. He watched as the door opened and a man dressed a Scarecrow stepped out.

…

It clicked. It only took a few seconds for Crane’s entire plan to reveal itself to Edward. Why would a rogue be in a police car? He stole it obviously. Why would he want to steal it? To catch attention….of

Batman.

As the thought popped into his head the Dark Knight appeared. Edward’s frown deepened. It was the same plan, he planned to take if business with Lex Luthor went sour. When your odds are outnumbered call the Bat, he’ll save you.

“Damn it,” Edward cursed to himself biting hard on the candy in his mouth. Seriously? Crane didn’t believe he could handle a simple riddle. Pathetic. Just pathetic. Edward couldn’t even appreciate the man’s intelligent to figure out the first riddle, his respect for the man with straw was declining fast. He leaned in on his desk studying the screen. He wished the outside cameras had hidden mikes, but he hadn’t seen a point for it. He only put those in the inside cameras. Foolish. Always be more prepared then your challenger. Edward saw the handshake between the men. They made a deal. A deal that Edward assumed would be Crane’s first entrance to Arkham, though he doubt the man would stick around long enough to be captured.

Edward tapped his fingers against the desk as he watched the men enter the church. While Batman’s intrusion was annoying it wasn’t unexpected. Edward always assumed the man might make an appearance. He never quite understood how Batman was able to foil his plans on many occasion using clues and riddles he never intended to leave, but he did, so Edward always prepared.

He watched as the men entered and took note to their reading of his riddle on the cross of Jesus that hanged on a flyer. It read, “Where do the death go to sleep?” It meant the crypt in the basement. Of course, the crypt was no longer a crypt. Edward had completely gutted the place and created his own personal work of art.

The basement now had three rooms. The stairs lead into the first that looked the most like the old crypt. The bricks still moldy and the smell of death clung to them all. There was a wooden table off in the corner right at the bottom of the stairs. There was a currently open doorway that led to another room. This room was made of impenetrable iron to prevent any escape. The open doorway also had a metal detector on it to warn Edward if anyone enters with something their not suppose to. At the other end of the room was a closed door made of the same metal. It would only open when he told it to open, and what was in there was a riddle he only knew.

When they walked down the stair into the basement he moved his mouse on his computer screen to connect his video to the three television screens in the basement. The green question mark disappearing to reveal him. “So you already decided the riddle was too much of a challenge for you, my friend? How…disappointing. For some strange reason I expected more. But I must say I’m glad to see you Batman. How long has it been? Months. I thought my riddles were above the GCPD, but I only assumed you would be able to handle them. I’ll make them easier on you next time,” he stated leaning into the camera as he waved his hand causally.

“Now if you would like to save poor little Natalie from a horrible death of suffocation, I’ve read that’s quite painful by the way, my rules are still in place. You have to get through that door at the other end to get into the next room with the key. Trust me you will need the key and also the riddle. However, to open that door you have to leave all of your fancy equipment on that table in this room. If you don’t then the door stays locked. Equipment goes for both of you,” he repeated the last statement a bit darker. His goal of this riddle was not to torture the Scarecrow, but to acquire his toxin. He had a few ideas for this if the first happened to fail, but he didn’t expect them all to fail. “Ican’t have you cheating with all your fancy toys, Batman.”

[Jonathan Crane - Scarecrow]

The riddle put before them was a simple one. “where do the dead go to sleep?” Obvious answer, a crypt.. Where was the crypt located? Beneath the church in a basement. Cranes eyes glanced over to the Batman, and they met in a moment of mutual agreement. They both nodded their heads to each other, and started walking into the basement. Scarecrow took the lead with Batman closely behind him. He waved his hand up to knock down some spider webs that were before him. Each step was louder than the next. The stairs were made of wood, and were hanging on by a thread. They made it to the bottom of the stairs. It had obviously been remodeled by someone with way too much money and time on their hands. The hallway had 3 television screens at different points at the end. Next to them on the right was a table, and before them a door leading into another room, with a metal detector in front of it. The screens came to life and Crane was greeted with the same man who he had met at the cafe weeks before. He talked of the rules to his game, and demanded they put their equipment on the table. Crane turned his head to Batman, and wondered how he was taking this.

“Alright fine...”

He shouted at the monitor. Crane took off his glove with the syringes, revealing a Caucasian hand. He reached into his pockets, and pulled out 5 smoke grenades, and dropped them on the table as well. Scarecrow stood off to the side, and watched the dark knight. Surely he had a plan to counter this, but what would it be?