Batman Fan Fiction ❯ Seal of Darkness ❯ Unexplainable Demise ( Chapter 2 )

Seal of Darkness

CHP2: Unexplainable Demise

Running a towel over his head Bruce tossed it over the railing bypassing Alfred trough the doorway. Within the hall and down the stairs he made his way to the nearest passageway. Removing a specific book from a shelf his eyes were scanned by a hidden machine. Immediately an adjacent wall slid open which he walked through, the wall closing behind him. With each step he took additional lights flipped on from above brightening the overly dark hall. Every bulb consisted of different variations of blue. Hands in his pockets he continued along, soon finding himself in the core of the cave.

The large waterfall was the first things that came into view. Long nights of patrol sometimes took a huge toll on the mind, spirit and body. It didn't seem like much but after difficult nights of battle served as a way of comforting him. It was something he couldn't explain assuming it might be the soothing sound it gave off, or perhaps the beauty of it. It really didn't matter the secret, just as long as it gave him strength to continue on through the war.

Running his hand against the rocky wall Bruce flipped on a switch that activated all lights and equipment throughout the cave. On his way up the steps the next thing that came into view was a large coin and T-Rex not far from his left.

“Computer initiate.” He said aloud, the massive super computer starting up by the command of his voice, “Username…Gotham highlight City Knight. Password, WayneGC Forty Nine Crypt Blazes.”

The computer loaded to the main screen in no time, Bruce entering a back room not far away. Nearly three minutes later he emerged in silver armor, Gold utility belt, black boots and gloves, bat symbol over the chest, black cape and cowl. Taking a seat in the chair situated in front of the computer and logged into the Arkham criminal files. It had been exactly two weeks since Scarface's escape from Arkham but still nothing.

It was possible could be hiding out somewhere, but Batman didn't see it as Scarface's style. A quick strike and or attack seemed more down the line of how he did things. Only reason he might be staying on the down low was for one reason. Building up and recruiting more members to his organization.

“Sorry to be a bother sir,” Alfred spoke exiting out of the elevator doors in a far corner of the room, “I think you should know Terrance Werlk and Alliya have called for a combined twelve times, don't you think it might be important.”

Taking his eyes off the computer screen he looked over as Alfred approached.

“Interesting,” Batman placed two gloved fingers over his chin, “I'll give them a call soon as I can. I have a feeling Scarface may finally have made a move.” He stood from the computer chair making his way toward the batmobile.

“Don't wait up Alfred.”

Batman jumped inside buckling up, the top closing in the click of a button blasting out of the cave at near top speed.

“Be careful sir…”

Through the main tunnel and waterfall passed the batmobile at top speed, pulling out onto a hidden road which led to the heart of Gotham city. After nearly ten minutes on the road ejected out of the vehicle simultaneously using a grapple gun journeying to the rooftop of GCPD. Too his surprise a note was left. Commissioner James Gordon was nowhere around and on the note was directions.

“It can't be…”

The location was right across the street from Classic Splenda, the entertainment center he'd been at just hours ago. The note gave no details of the circumstance and figured he wouldn't know much until he arrived on scene. Before heading toward the ledge he shut off the bat signal/search light. Leaving behind notes wasn't Gordon's style but felt must have had a good reason for doing so.

Folding and placing the slip of paper away Batman leaped off the ledge gliding into the Batmobile parked below. He wondered what could have happened in the short period following his departure from the newly opened entertainment center. The drive was over fifteen minutes and too no surprise the hotel was surrounded by dozens of police vehicles. He parked in a dark alleyway before heading toward the hotel.

Stepping through the front entrance wasn't an option for obvious reasons. He stuck to the shadows making certain not to be seen. Nothing on the note gave specifics of the event or where he was to meet with the commissioner of police but had his own way of figuring it out. Altering his lenses to a sonar mode gave him the ability to easily peek through the building. He took his time surveying the building starting with the main lobby. From what he could tell wasn't a whole lot going on.

His eyes journeyed to the upper floors and before long a room on the 5th floor grabbed his attention. Through an additional function of his lenses identified weapons carried by several throughout the particular confirming that's where he needed to be. It was undoubtedly the police but from his position had no idea what it was all about.

Eventually he'd know the story behind everything but wanted to first make his way to the crime scene undetected. He crept from outside the alley dashing toward a side door to the hotel. Only guests holding keycards had access. A small gadget from his belt allowed Batman to unlock the door with relative ease.

Lucky for him led to the stairwell, journeying upward to the 5th floor shoving the side door open. Inside the hall stood eight police officers situated in front of a specific room, yellow tape positioned over the entryway.

“It's him!” One officer looked down the hall spotting the Caped Crusader.

Batman bypassed each officer not a single of them getting in his way or saying a word, and stepped under the tape in the doorway. Additional policemen were inside the room, forensics and crime scene investigators as well. Some snapped photos of the body over the bed.

“What happened?”

Gordon peeked over his shoulder at the familiar voice and wasn't surprised to see the dark 6'2 figure standing nearly a foot behind him.

“It's hard to say. But what I can tell you is in all my years on the job have never come across something like this. From what we can tell he's been dead for at least three days, if you went off what they've gathered from examining the body. Problem is someone at the front desk recognized this person entering the elevator no longer than three hours ago.”

Batman took another step positioning beside Gordon and getting a closer look at the body. His eyes widened almost instantly. He didn't realize on first sight due to the pale skin but had no doubt of who the person over the bed was.

“Victim is Luke Roger, a business manager to a small factory uptown.” Batman spoke.

“Impressive we weren't able to identify him until after we went through his pants and wallet over there.” Gordon pointed to a plastic bag in a corner of the room.

Since arrival they collected whatever evidence they could placing what they found into separate bags. When first discovered Luke was completely naked and police had since covered the lower part of his body by a sheet.

“Whoever claimed to have seen this man down in the lobby a couple hours ago is right. Security footage will prove just that. It wouldn't surprise me if he was in attendance for the grand opening across the street for the Classic Splenda. Many other celebrities were scheduled to attend so wouldn't come as a surprise. It's something worth checking out.”

Bruce knew Luke had attended the grand opening but couldn't say anything or show emotions which might give away him knowing the victim on a personal level. If that were to happen could lead to his identity more easily discovered. What he questioned most was how Luke ended up inside a hotel in the first place. The whole situation made little to no sense.

He'd taken a seat at the bar area while the rest of them were out on the dance floor. At some point left without informing a single of them, and then ended up dead just across the street. Bruce pondered if maybe the various calls he received from Terrance and Alliya had something to do with the situation in front of him, but had doubts. He felt almost certain the victim's name hadn't been reported to the public.

“Let's say he entered the building a little over two hours ago alive who and how was his body discovered so quickly?” Batman inquired.

“That's where it becomes strange. A couple staying in the room just on the other side of that wall sent down a complaint to the front desk. I didn't hear directly but according to the report claimed to have heard a female and male giving off sounds normally heard during intercourse. Those noises quickly turned to screams and cries from the male participant from what they detailed. The body will be more closely examined when taken back to the lab but on hindsight it's safe to assume he was indeed sexually involved with someone.”

“Then our prime suspect's a woman…”

“Looks that way. However we've found nothing left behind that puts anyone else in this room. Whoever she is did a great job of cleaning up before leaving. But that's where things become even weirder.”

“How so?” Batman asked.

“This room isn't officially checked out to anyone. We have guys on the first floor trying to solve the mystery. Security cameras are all over the building so it shouldn't be long before we have a visual of this supposed woman and how our victim got inside this room in the first place.”

Taking another look at the corpse Bruce couldn't believe how gray his body became questioning if some sort of drug was involved. More and more snaps flashed throughout the room, several pictures taken. Others dusted for fingerprints over the countertops and lamps. He couldn't believe any of it was happening thinking back to the dance floor. Part of him believed Luke was lured from the bar and to his eventual death, but didn't remember seeing a woman approach Luke. They were all much too caught up in their own fun to realize when he left. It was a mistake on his part, normally Batman was overly observant of his surroundings.

Oddly veins of the deceased body rose to the forefront taking on an oil black color. The more he thought about it the more he felt might have been something other than a drug. No drug he'd come across resulted in something quite like what was before them.

“Back up we need back up! We've got ten prisoners that have escaped Black Gate prison and have two hostages. Six officers are wounded. Escapees are armed and dangerous! I repeat armed and dangerous!” A voice spoke from Gordon's police radio.

“Stay and keep a lookout on things here,” Batman turned the other way heading for the exit, “I'll take care of the Black Gate criminals.” The Dark Knight again stepped over the yellow tape disappearing down the hall.

In time every detail of what occurred would come out and shed light on a bizarre case even Gotham's greatest detective didn't have answers too. If need be he had no problem kicking off a side investigation of his own.

Before long was back inside the Batmobile darting down the main road. Hacked into the police radio he knew exactly where pursuit of the criminals took place knowing the perfect path to cut them off. Through it all was fixated on what happened with Luke. One minute he was alive and the next deceased.

XXX

Most the first day back passed, Tsukune passing several students on his way down the hall with papers stapled together. All that remained was a single class and the day would officially be in the books. Just as he turned a corner stopped at the sound of someone calling out to him. One hand in his pocket a taller individual approached wearing the same black uniform.

“Good to see you, I never had the chance to express how great a job you've been doing as the headmaster.”

“Gin-senpai!” Tsukune walked the other way shaking hands with one of his closes friends.

“You get around to all the others?”

“I guess you could say that,” Tsukune scratched at his hair leaning against a wall, “Moka-san is the only one I have yet to see but I'm not worried. Other than that it's been an ok day back from my business trip.” Tsukune shrugged his shoulders.

“Newspaper Club starts up again the beginning of next week so hope to see lots of students taking part since I'll be the advisor. Nice talking but I've got some paperwork of my own to go over. If you happen to see Kurumu-chan again before I do, tell her to come and find me. I'll be in the gym at the end of the day helping with preparations for the opening ceremony day after tomorrow.”

“I'll definitely do that if we cross paths. Good talking and appreciate you taking time off from the Seaside Inn to help out for the first couple weeks.” Tsukune waved continuing down the hall.

Less than an hour remained relieved it was almost over. Thus far there hadn't been very many fights, well at least not reported and expected that to change in the upcoming days. He entered into his office taking a seat and getting right to work.

To Be Continued