3 With Great Power comes Great Rampage #1
Gotham City (Years ago)
The saying of 'time heals all wounds' simply doesn't mean shit to me - time had never healed mine as I've still never forgotten that day. Both my mind and heart still remembers and it aches in a way that one can't even begin to imagine.
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"Here's 1 big size hamburger and cola for my little Princess."
"But what about you, Ezekiel? You haven't eaten all day."
"Thanks for the concern. But I've already had my own meal."
"But~"
"No, buts, Princess. Just eat and get that cute tummy filled right up."
"Hmm... ... Ok~ thanks, Ezekiel!"
"No probs."
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If there is one thing Gotham city is good at, it's maturing its inhabitants.
Take that from a 6 years old mendicant.
Gotham is like a jungle. One made out of concrete. It is a place where the Survival of Fittest truly comes in play. In this jungle, the strongest and ruthless thrive while the weakest and powerless suffer - there is no need for me to say which stratum I belong to now, is there.
My sob story is just another cliché amongst the hundreds of thousands causalities in Gotham. It is a sequential loss that built up but never stopped.
My home. My parents. My big brother...
They were bygone casualties in the Predator's scuffles.
Anna, my younger sister was the only one I had left...
Cute, lovely, and a warm ball of sunshine…
She was the one that kept me - a kid who couldn't really tell his left from his right, moving forward. It was because of her that I held on to the hope that so long as I had her; I can survive whatever this fucked up city tosses at me.
Hah!
Let's be serious. What do I know about the Evils of Gotham? I really was a naïve little prick...
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This story begins with a raucous crowd...
A scared raucous crowd.
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"Ezekiel, what's happening?"
"I don't know, but stay here. I'll go ahead and check things out."
"But… What if something bad happens to you?"
"Don't worry, Princess, I'll be fine. If nothing else, I'm confident in my ability to get away."
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Ladies and gentlemen, you see 'That' right there is definitely not the right course of action to take - especially in a place like Gotham.
When people start running and screaming their ass out, you join them and run. Not as the forerunner to save yourself from any unwanted surprises nor as the last to serve yourself as the sacrifice. Place yourself in the middle of hive and flee as one…
But what did I do?
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*Boom*
"Is that… Batman and Bane? Also why are the other super-villains also here? Don't tell me they all escaped Arkham?"
*Boom*
"Jesus Christ! This is bad! Very bad! I've gotta' get Anna out of here!"
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From now till my dying breath, I still can't help but curse the fact that I had told Anna to wait for me back at the alley in our cardboard hideout.
Maybe, if Anna had just this once, disobeyed me and ran away with the crowd. She would have lived - I would be cross, of course. But most of all, I would be relived for safety…
For that meant the entire world to me.
But no. Anna, my Princess was a saint. A loveable child that couldn't, nor wouldn't, want her piece of shit of a brother to worry. So she waited for me to come back and take her away. To tell her that everything's alright. To make sure that the boogieman doesn't come get her...
That I'll be the damn knight I'd always promised her I would be!
For all the effing good my promises did.
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"Princess, let's get ready to go… Princess?"
"Keh... Hehehehe... Don't you know that the alley ain't a good place to be in?"
"... Wh-Who are you? Where is my Sister?"
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It... It was on that day I'd meet him.
Standing deep in the alley was a bare-chested man. He appeared to be quite shaggy, but at the same vein, possessed lithe-corded muscles - like that of a lightweight fighter.
Honestly, it wasn't his physique that scared me... It was the rather horrid 'contents' of his physique. Tally lines were etched across his bare flesh and bald head giving him appearance of a mad man - a psychopathic mad man.
But most horrifying was the blood soaked knife the mad man held on his hand, and the bleeding line carved at the side of his face. At that time, I didn't know the significance of that... No, actually I did had a suspicion.
However it was one I didn't want confirmed.
I could remember my heart thumping so... So loud.
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"Hmm~ do you mean the girl with the ponytail? Why didn't you start with that? And as for where she is... I've granted her peace."
"Pe-Peace?"
"Hehehe. Do you want to see?"
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Was it possible for a 6 years old to have hypertension? Because there was no other word to describe the errant thumping of my heart, the incising pain, and sudden vertigo that came with it.
The despair incarnate shifted while indicating towards the side of the wall that my eyes had been unconsciously glancing over.
'Don't look.' I remember telling myself. 'That is just... Some red paint I didn't recall seeing before. Yes, that's it. That's all it is. Please, let it just be that.'
A sudden feverish sensation bloomed as my eyes looked down.
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"Anna...?"
"See. Doesn't she appear to be at peace? Don't worry, I don't need your thanks... How about I sent do you another favor by sending you to go join her."
"Ann—Grk!"
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I could faintly recall the hot and painful sensation of his knife piercing through my chest. His maniacal laughter that accompanied me while I fell. The pool of blood that painted the side of my face...
But that could only be vaguely recalled - I couldn't give a damn.
Anna, my Princess looked ever peaceful with the lines of tears streaming down her face as she too was taken away from me... And I was powerlessness do anything about it.
It's like I said; Just another cliché story amongst the hundreds of thousands out there.
But it is my story…
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Whether by some miracle or fucked up providence, I had survived the stab - they said it'd mysteriously missed my vital organs. But then again, it isn't really an exaggeration to say that I'd died that day…
Ezekiel buried his sister along with the rest of his family, and all that was left of the broken husk... Was Ekko.
So yes, the saying of 'time heals all wounds' is simply bullshit. It certainly didn't heal mine nor would I let it... Not when each and every one of them still runs around free like fucking birds.
But at least, I'll be starting with him... Victor Zsasz.
ᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥ
Coventry District
(James Jim Gordon P.O.V)
Bang!*
At the familiar bark of gunfire, James Jim Gordon hastily ducked beneath the cover of his police's car. Returning the lethal discharge with leaden barks of his own.
Bang!*Bang!*Bang!*
With the volley of bullets passing overhead, the Commissioner reloaded his cartridges before taking a deep breath and joined his fellow officers in the dangerous shootout.
"What's up with Villains and nights?" Gordon muttered gruffly, ducking as he narrowly avoided a bullet whizzing pass his face. "It's like they have an eerie fascination of committing crime underneath the moonlight."
"It's their logical recourse, Sir." Renee Montoya, a GCPD Detective responded, while totting her gun. "The night gives them an avenue to safely commit actions which can't be committed in the day… Things like this for example."
"… Just a rhetorical question, Montoya. No need to go all glibly on me." Jim Gordon said with a sigh. "… I know about the ongoing gang war between the Penguin and Joker. Still, why would the Joker target a mall in Coventry of all places?"
"Beats me." Renee Montoya replied with a shrug. "No one knows what the hell is going on in that Clown's head anyway... The last that tried became just as psychopathic as he is."
It wasn't long before the barrage from Villain's henchmen stopped. But the officers weren't fooled by that. They knew the henchmen would soon come again, barraging with their leaden hails - the policeman currently being tended to by the medical unit was all they needed to understand with what they are dealing with.
However, that doesn't mean they wouldn't take the reprieve - only that it would be taken with one eye opened and peeled for any unfavorable surprises.
Leaning against the side of the police car, Jim Gordon narrowed his eyes in contemplation.
"Victor Zsasz and the Joker... That's one disgusting combination. Almost as bad as when Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy's team up… Montoya, got any idea why they're attacking here… Apart from it being such an obvious distraction."
There is no need for a genius to guess that there is something more to this. To make things even more befuddling, the Joker wasn't putting any effort in hiding it - though with the way the Clown thinks this shouldn't be of any surprise.
This attack on the mall makes it the 7th place that had been attacked by Joker's henchmen - however, it was only here that had a Victor Zsasz attached to it.
Nevertheless, as a result of these 'incursions', Batman and his associates were unable to attend to each and everywhere in time. Last Jim Gordon heard from the receiver, the Batman is currently in a fight with Clayface.
Thankfully, Red Robin and Batgirl are on their way here with E.T.A being at most 10 minutes… The only problem now is if they and the hostages inside could last that long.
"Unfortunately, Sir. I am as stumped as you are…" Renee Montoya replied self-deridingly.
"If it were any other Villain, I could at least guess a motive. But with Zsasz? His just as enigmatic as the Joker. A madman with an uncontrollable bloodlust."
"Humph! Enigmatic? I think you mean crazy, Montoya." Jim Gordon corrected with a scoff. "... From the building's blueprint, there is no alternate entry apart from one backdoor currently rigged with bombs and Joker Venom… We're basically sitting ducks, here!"
Tactlessly, while there was truth in Jim Gordon's words, the Commissioner knew that in the end, that is all there is to it. They were just words and nothing more.
Words that will help no one in the end.
Gritting his teeth, Gordon was just about to call for an impromptu meeting when he saw something in the night sky.
"Huh."
At first Jim Gordon had assumed it to be a flock of bats - their kind flapping around is quite a common sight in Gotham. But then again, something didn't seem right with this one.
Narrowing his eyes, Jim Gordon realized that they were too big and some were of strange shapes, especially the one in the lead. It almost appeared to be... Humanoid.
"The hell..." Jim Gordon muttered in befuddlement. "Is this another outbreak of Manbats?"
"Manbats?!" Renee Montoya questioned, while gripping her gun in trepidation.
But upon turning backwards towards where Jim Gordon was watching, Renee Montoya was meet with an empty sky devoid of stars. There was nothing in the smoke tainted sky.
Shoulders sagging, Renee Montoya said. "Please spare me the cruel jokes, Sir. I just might end up with a B.P and I'll make sure that you'll be paying for my meds."
"What are you talking about, Montoya? They're right behind you— Huh."
Jim Gordon blinked flummoxed. Just right where he pointed was a pitch black sky devoid of the oddities he had just spotted. Looking around, Gordon couldn't find the bizarre creatures from before.
"Where'd they go?"
"No offence when I say this, Sir." Renee Montoya said, resting a hand on Jim Gordon's shoulder.
"But why don't you go get some rest... Yes, we can't function properly without a hale Commissioner, but we'll be muddled with a stressed one. We can hold out for a while."
With lips opening and closing, Jim Gordon couldn't get any meaningful words out of his mouth. Taking a deep breath, he raised his glasses and rubbed the edge of his eyes.
"May-Maybe, you're right. I'll go grab a coffee and be right back."
"No worries, Sir. I'm sure we can hold the line for at least that much time."
Jim Gordon shook his head while leaving... Wholly unaware of the beady green eyes staring at him from his own shadow.
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Standing at the edge of a building opposite the structure surrounded by police cars. I looked down at the array of Gotham's expendable meat bags - especially at the mustache man in the brown long coat.
"That's way too close for comfort."
After I had my Darklings discover the Location of Victor Zsasz. I'd sent them to discretely scout out the area in case of any unwanted conveniences - like the Bat and his costumed troupers.
But it's not like I'll let even them stop me from doing what I came here to do...
Thankfully, none of them were here. But now, I'm left with the GCPD. The man in the brown long coat had clearly seen me, but the fact that the ruckus down there hasn't escalated means that I have nothing to worry about... Until I truly begin to act.
"The fact that the GCPD are still parading outside like idiots rather than taking the fight to the thugs, means only one thing... Hostages." I noted sourly. "Hostages that might even be dead."
A chill coursed through my body as 'that image' from a seemingly life time ago resurfaced once again.
This might sound morbid, but I am quite sure that someone has already died inside of that mall. It could be anyone... A father. A mother. A son. A daughter.
Gone because the Villain felt like it...
By tomorrow, they would be burying that someone, filled with a sense of hopelessness - like the world was literally crashing on them and they are too powerless to stop... Just like Ezekiel.
But no more.
Tonight, I'll be getting the recompense that this city has been denying me for so long...
If the law won't be the one to end Victor Zsasz - saying that everything's fucking alright because the bastard ain't right in the head. Then I'll be the one to do it. I'll be the fucking law – only that my sentencing will be done with interest.
My tucked wings dispersed in a dark inky splash slipping into my shadow which promptly expanded and consumed me whole.
I once again, literally fell into a dark domain.
This was an ability of Victor Valente from The Darkness II which he used as a means of travel. Shadow travel to be exact.
Normally, I would have to Upload Victor Valente in order to use such an ability, but then I remembered from the game that Victor's powers were naught but an application of the Darkness power - and I am the Darkness.
Just like the first time I'd entered, I was meet with a kind of blackness that felt thick, heavy, and fucking cold - like I was a frigid pool.
The gleaming red and green orbs of my Darklings numbered in their hundreds guided me towards my destination - though I am quite sure that I hadn't created that much Darklings.
Sometimes, I would hear ghastly screams and screeches - some I recognized to be my Darklings, the others sounded a tad-bit too human-like.
Like that ain't spooky...
Honestly, I thought I would be freaking out when I'd first entered this place. It was dark, the eerie noise, and the beady gleaming eyes were down right bone-chilling as hell.
But I felt none of that.
If there was a word that could describe what I'm feeling in sum. It would be; normality. Like this facet of my powers is to be expected. I suspect that this is probably part of that 15% Character Trait influencing my emotions - but for now, I'll take it.
Soon enough, the cold frigid blackness vanished, welcoming back the familiar chill of Gotham. And I find myself behind the mall in an unsuspecting corner away from prying eyes.
Dark tendrils bloomed out from my armor, fashioning into blades which I would use to cut my way in. But then, my Darklings began to cackle as they would begin to project their thoughts into me.
(Beware. Inside. Light. Darkness. Weak.)
"Oh... Oh! How could I forget?!"
Apart from the savoir-faire granted to me due to having Jackie's Character Traits. There is also the game to consider.
In both The Darkness games, I normally would have to switch off the lights in order to utilize the Darkness to its fullest capacity, because the Darkness is weak to light... Which is in line with the knowledge provided to me by Jackie Estacado's Avatar.
Smacking my cheeks painfully, I muttered. "Get yourself fucking together, Ekko. Just because you now have powers doesn't mean that you're invulnerable to bullets... All it takes is one lucky shot."
I am getting too excited... Too jumpy, and jumpy in Gotham gets you killed... I need to be cool about this. The fact that Victor Zasasz is inside this building means that there is no way he's getting out without me knowing.
The bastard is essentially trapped.
Then there are the hostages to consider. With what I'm about to do in there, the civilians are going to get caught in the crossfires - damn, sounds weird saying it, considering that I was one of them just a day ago.
If it were before, I really wouldn't care as it is every one for their self. But I'm the one initiating the bloodbath. And when I fully unleash the Darklings, I'm not sure if they would be able to truly differentiate between friend and foe.
This required careful planning... Although I know that I'm on a timer. The costumed 'Heroes' might as well be on their way here, and I really don't want to meet with them posers.
Sighing, I close my eyes, sinking into that 15% Character Trait of Jackie Estacado. I might not be a professional killer...
"But the body I'm rockin' sure as hell is."
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(Unnamed woman P.O.V)
'He's gone...'
The bounded lady thought, staring at the body of her fiancé with eyes devoid of light.
As residents of Oklahoma, both she and her fiancé have seen their fair share of unnatural happenings - heck, everyone on this planet has. But even that hadn't stopped her trepidation at the prospect of coming to Gotham.
After all, it's a place known across the States as the City of Death.
Staying in Gotham was only temporary. The company where her fiancé worked had a big deal to seal in with Wayne Tech, and the company had chosen her fiancé as its representative.
Initially, she was against coming here. But unfortunately, her fiancé couldn't just say no the company's directive, so she decided to come with him.
It was supposed to be a 2 day trip. Coming here on day 1, sealing the deal and heading back home the very next day...
So why... Why did it come to this?!
Tears welled in her already swollen eyes as she cursed herself for allowing her fiancé to come to this death ridden place.
She should have been more stubborn, more persistent... The company doesn't matter - her husband means a whole lot to her than that. She never had the opportunity to tell her husband of the coming bundle of joy.
'My baby will be without a father...' Her eye pupils abruptly constricted in fear. 'My baby!'
A chill rattled her bones as the reality of the precarious situation hit her like a ton of bricks.
Looking at the grinning bare chested monster who had killed her husband. The woman trembled in fear concerning the safety of her unborn child.
'God... I don't know if you're listening or not. But if you are, then please... Please have mercy on my innocent baby. He is his father's only legacy... I-I don't think I can take it if anything happens to my baby.'
Alas, it wasn't God who responded her plea.
To the lady, it all happened suddenly. With a squelching sound, she felt herself sinking to the ground as reality turned dark.
The lady wasn't given time to process what was happening as the scenery abruptly changed - finding herself and the other captives still bounded and sited on the floor, but encircled by bright police lights and piercing sirens.
'W-What?!' The lady thought as she turned to look around with thoroughly baffled eyes. 'How did I get here?!'
She was outside and most importantly... Safe.
The lady didn't pay attention to the approaching GCPD. No, her eyes was focused on the building that was slowly being surrounded by a literal mass of Darkness.
Growing, the dark eldritch mass encased the whole building, changing its structure into a black gargantuan ball. Occasionally, it thrummed, while distinct monstrous appearances could be spotted, growling at the bright lights before dissipating into ash...
Closing her eyes. The lady ignored the loud 'See, my eyes weren't playing tricks on me, Montoya,' and prayed.
"I don't know if you're God or the Devil... Honestly, I don't care. But if you're willing to answer me one more time, then please... Kill that son of a bitch who took my husband away from me and my baby."
There was no response of the fiends except their ghastly snarls. But somehow... It was more than enough.
"Amen."
ᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥ
My plan is quite simple...
Using the available shadows within the mall, I'd sent in the Darklings to be on the lookout with two objectives in mind. Finding the hostages and the mall's power circuit. With hostages being found, I can quickly send them away using my shadows, and the power circuits, I could switch off the lights.
In the course of scouting, some of Zsasz's henchmen had caught my Darklings scurrying around, but I had the Darklings silence them before they could raise any alarm.
.
.
.
This wasn't the first time I'd done something like this - killing that is. But my initial kill had been done in desperate circumstances - it was an either kill or be killed kind of situation.
Do I like killing? No.
I had initially been the one begging them to leave me alone, despite the fact that 'begging' is one way to ruin your street creed. But I'd done it because I want to survive and I didn't want the situation to escalate.
Unfortunately in Crime Alley, that only incites the aggravating party to do more.
So when killing becomes the only option, I swallowed the rising bile in my stomach and performed the gruesome deed. My facial scar being my memento.
But this... This I'm so going to enjoy. This bastards are all cut from the same cloth. I'd caught some of them 'toying' with a woman's corpse, which speaks a lot about how they see the value of human life.
But I suppose it shouldn't have been much of a surprise considering the kind of masks they wore.
They were the Joker's minions.
Spiting on one of the thug's corpse, I ignore the last mortally wounded henchmen that was currently begging for his life as he was surrounded by the torn up bodies of his fellow bitches.
"Darklings. You can have him."
Some helluva agonizing screams later, my Darklings communicated to me once again.
(Hostages. Found. Power Circuit. Found.)
I grin wolfishly.
"Perfect."
ᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥ
'He's here...! He's really, really here!'
In the complete darkness surrounded by panicking thugs who were either panicking, aiming their guns all over the place, or plainly scared shitless. I calmly sat on a desk some meters away from the group, observing the main reason that brought me here.
Victor Zsasz.
'Time's really done the fucker good.'
He looked totally different from the last time I'd seen him. Bigger, meaner, more fucking badass... Guess the rumors of Arkham being a fucking spar motel kinda' hold some weight.
Still even as Victor Zsasz looked as confounded as he's henchmen, I can still see the madness in his eyes, the numerous tally lines that covered up his entire body.
Sniffing, I perceived the familiar smell of murky iron, which perfectly explains the bloody line on his chest.
Zsasz had already killed someone.
'I want to kill him... I want to kill him so, so bad. It's actually starting to hurt.'
(Kill... Execute... Slaughter... Devour)
I can hear their whispers. No, calling it a whisper is an understatement. A ghastly wail. It was a war cry bellowed out by my numerous Darklings - like an uncomfortable fire in my stomach that's slowly getting hotter...
'Yes, I'm gonna' kill him. But I ain't gonna be makin' his death peaceful. He's gonna be squealin' like the damn pig he is.'
My eyes burned red just like the last time as I stood up from the table which creaked announcing my ominous presence.
"Shit, is it the Batman?!"
"He's over there!"
"Light him up!"
Bang!*Bang!*Bang!*Bang!*Bang!*
Numerous amount of bullets unloaded en route for where I stood, but it never touched me. I was already gone from my previous spot thanks to my teleportation abilities, and with the abundant amount of Darkness in the mall. I can be anywhere I want.
Thankfully for me, the idiots didn't bother to bring a torch in their bloody outing. Probably would have been a pain in the ass to deal with if they'd played it smartly.
I could see Victor Zsasz looking around nervously in the dark – huh, honestly didn't expect such an expression from the fucker. Well this only makes it sweeter as I've got literally the entire night to deal with him.
That was the main reason I'd enclosed the building with my Darkness to prevent any form of outside distractions.
Smiling at the irony of the situation, a song bloomed out of my lips. It was the last song Ezekiel had sang to his Princess before she was taken away from him.
'Ring around the rosie,
A pocket full of posies,
Ashes! Ashes!
We all fall down!'
"Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!"
My hysterical laughter frightened the thugs with such intensity that some of them began pushing their fellow goons in a bid to run away – not like it will help them much.
"Darklings." My voice was like that of a demon. "Leave no one alive... With the exception of Victor Zsasz."
(Reap! Maim! Sunder! Slaughter!)
With a ravenous reverberation that rattled the entire building, my Darklings pounced on the lowlifes descending into a bloody fest.
It was truly a macabre scene.
Flesh were ripped off either by chunks or layers. Bones broke, contouring the human body in ways unimaginable. Guts spilled open while they still lived. Shredded, eaten, grinded... The floor literally became a pool of blood.
But that was just a passing observation.
My eyes were glued on Victor Zsasz who stood stock-still while his arm robotically waved his dagger around like a madman. The look of terror on his face was absolutely cathartic.
"Victor Zsasz. Victor Zsasz... Honestly never thought we would ever meet again."
Zsasz whirled towards my direction.
"Wh-Who the hell are you?!"
"Me..." Bearing a melancholic smile, I replied. "I'm one of those scars hanging on your body."
"The fuck are you talking about... Scars..." Zsasz retreated back touching his body, before his eyes dilated.
"Y-You're one of them... Someone you love lives in these scars, and you want revenge. But don't you see that I'm helping them? I've granted them peace!"
"Peace?!" Shadows trembled and the entire mall shook as I stomped towards Zsasz who backpedaled. " You call shoving a fuckin' knife in a 4 year old kid's body, peace?! No-no-no, that ain't peace, puto. It's murder ..."
"S-So you're just gonna' kill me?" Zsasz muttered - unexpectedly bolted towards where I stood thrusting his knife.
"Like that'll happen! I'm Victor Zsasz! I've tango with the likes of Batman. Who the fuck do you think you are?!"
Smirking, I snap my fingers, and a small pike of shadow instantly shot out behind Zsasz piercing through his thigh.
"Gah!"
"Who the fuck I am is not important, Zsasz. What's most important now is that you are gonna die..." I crouched towards Zsasz clamping his shoulders giving him a painful squeeze. "Although, that doesn't mean I won't give you a chance to get out of this place alive..."
"Ch-Chance?" Zsasz wheezed, cradling his injured leg.
I can see it. The desperate hope that shone in his shrunk eyes – it shows Victor Zsasz fiery desire to live. Of course the bastard doesn't want to die. I've gotten that much from observing him this past minutes.
But it's that same fiery desire that stirs up my anger even more.
What of Anna? What of all the people he had callously slaughtered? Was he so self-serving that he is willing to do anything to live, but in the same vein, murder the next person without any form of hesitation?
Well fuck that, and fuck him!
"Yep. I'm willing to grant you a chance of survival, if, you agree to play this little game with me."
"What... Kind of game?"
"Ain't telling. Where's the fun in that? Though if you don't want to play then..."
The Darkling's growls spurred Victor Zsasz into answering hysterically.
"Fuck, I'll play! I'll play your game! So call those... Freaks off!"
"Good, good... Now that you've decided to play, I ain't gonna' be acceptin' cold feet, ya hear. So I'm basing this little game of mine on three video games. Agony, Dead by Daylight, and Here I Come. Sounds excitin' doesn't it!"
Seeing that Zsasz slowly nodded, I beamed standing up with a clap. Moving towards the nearest chair, I kicked a mangled leg off it and promptly made myself comfy.
Extending my hand, a shadow scalpel manifested on it.
"For the duration of... 4 hours. We're gonna be havin' a game of hide and seek. No need for me to say who's the one that's gonna be hidin', eh."
If you're able to escape my sight.
"The rules are simple. If for the duration of 4 hours, you're capable of escaping from us - you live. But if we catch you before that 4 hour mark ends... There's still hope for you! You'll live. But you're gonna' face the punishment of being caught so early~"
Waving around the scapel that I'm sure he couldn't see, I said.
"For every single time you get caught. I'm gonna' be usin' this sharp guy here to carve a piece of flesh off your body... But I'm sure that an esteemed tattoo body carver like yourself is capable of taking some little cut. Though if 4 hour mark has passed and you're in my clutches... Hehehehe... Well, we both know what's gonna happen."
"F-Fuck the rules. How do you expect me to run around like this?" Zsasz said, waving his injured leg. "That's just torture and you know it."
"Like you're one to talk about torture..." Creasing my eyes, I replied.
"And come on. You're the great serial killer who's tangoed with the likes of Gotham's Black Knight. Just rub spit on it and you'll be fine... But if you're gonna' whine about it. then I'll have to be the bigger man and give myself a handicap."
For whose benefit remains yet to be seen.
"I'll be hummin' a little song, that'll make me be reminiscin' for a while. For that period of time, I won't give chase... But when the hummin' stops. Heh, well you'll know when the humming stops."
"How the fuck is that even fair?!" Zsasz gasped, but immediately froze as he realized that I'd already begun singing.
"Ring around the rosie... A pocket full of posies..."
My smile widened as I watched Victor Zsasz stumble away in a full sprint - well what do you know, his little leg injuring doesn't really appear to be impairing him at all.
Not like Zsasz is gonna' be getting out of here alive anyway.
The mall is completely blanketed under my shadows, and during the course of speaking to Zsasz, I have been planting my Darklings at every single corner - For all intent and purpose I'm omnipresent within this mall.
Even then, I never said that I would be the only one looking for him - it was 'we'.
Standing up, I gave some light stretches as my Darklings bayed at my radiating malevolence.
"Ashes... Ashes... We all fall down. Welcome Zsasz, to your Hell before Hell."
The non-descript mall in Coventry District shook once more as otherworldly howl spilled outside.
