[CENTER][COLOR=GRAY][SUB][sub][h3][I]We all wear masks, and the time comes when we cannot remove them without removing some of our own skin.[/I][/h3][/sub][/SUB][/COLOR]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/vtNDce0.jpg?1[/img][/CENTER]
[COLOR=black][indent][sub][B]Location:[/B] [COLOR=#FF3B2D][I]Robbinsville[/I] - [I]Miagani Island, Gotham City[/I][/COLOR][/sub][sup][right][b]Welcome to the Masquerade #1.10:[/b] [COLOR=#FF3B2D][I]And What Alice Found There[/I][/COLOR][/right][/sup][/indent][/color][sub][hr][/sub][INDENT][color=black][sub][B]Interaction(s):[/B] [COLOR=#FF3B2D][I]None[/I][/COLOR][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][b]Previously:[/b] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4909859][COLOR=#FF3B2D][I]Through The Looking Glass[/I][/COLOR][/url][/right][/SUP][/color]
[SUP][b][i][color=#44688C]1977[/color][/i][/b][/SUP]
[INDENT][COLOR=#808080][I]A resounding slap echoed through the barren space, reverberating off the walls before it was drowned beneath a shriek of pain. Roy Blout took a step forward, raising his hand before delivering the back of his knuckles across the young woman’s face, again and again. Pushing her to the floor, the Peter Pan Killer ran a hand through his hair, rapidly scratching at the back of his head while pacing back and forth across the floor.

Timidly watching the man, Jervis sat on the floor, obediently several feet away. His entire body was shaking with fear while the larger man continued to assault his sister. With each subsequent hit, Jervis winced while his small hands balled into fists. The tears in his eyes slowly fell down his face as the pouting lips twisted into a snarl.

[color=white]“Stay where you are, boy!”[/color] Roy ordered taking hold of the girl by her hair.

[color=#38761d]“Stop hurting her!”[/color] Jervis yelled, moving to stand before halting as Roy dropped the girl roughly and took a step forward. Raising a hand defensively, Jervis sat back down. Nodding his approval, Roy took hold of the girl again as he laughed.

[color=white]“That’s it, be a good boy and wait your time. You and I will have some play time after I deal with your bitch of a sister.”[/color] Roy added as he aggressively took ahold of the girl’s collar, lifting her again.

Suddenly the girl lashed out, driving her sharp elbows into either side of the man’s abdomen repeatedly. The air left Roy’s lungs, his hand loosening as the girl took her chance. 

[color=white]“Run Jervis!”[/color] She screamed, pushing off of the Peter Pan Killer and running towards the nearest exit. Following his sister’s lead, Jervis ran after her, his bare feet slapping against the pavement as he urged his legs to carry him further with each step. Behind him came Roy’s thundering footsteps. His nostrils were flared, his anger practically seething off of him as he closed the gap. 

Overtaking Jervis, Roy swung a hand outward, knocking the small boy to the ground. Crying out as his knees and palms scraped against the rough floor, Jervis looked up in time to see Roy overtake his sister. Taking hold of the girl by both of her shoulders, Roy heaved her into the air, tossing her back in the direction she had run from. 

A large hunting knife suddenly appeared in his hand as he approached the girl, standing over her before slashing her.

[color=white]“I should have left you dead in the bedroom.”[/color] He roared, swinging the knife over and over again. Blood sprayed across his enraged face, mixing with sweat as frenzied saliva flew out of his mouth. [color=white]“You stupid little cu-”[/color]

[color=#38761d]“Argh!”[/color] Jervis’ cry caused Roy to pause, turning towards the source of the nose only to be set upon by the small boy.

[COLOR=WHITE]“Get off you little fucker!”[/COLOR] 

[color=#38761d]“Stop hurting her!”[/color] Jervis yelled, his small fingers digging into Roy’s skin whenever they could find a grip. Biting down on the first piece of exposed skin he could find, Jervis forced his jaw tighter and tighter, the iron-laden taste of blood pouring into his mouth until finally he was removed. Spitting the warm, salty liquid onto the cold floor, Jervis swung a foot upwards, connecting with Roy’s groin. A loud groan was nearly concealed by the clatter of metal as Jervis turned his head towards the source of the noise, the light reflecting off of the blade as Jervis made a grab for the knife. 

Suddenly the lone window above the building exploded as a dark figure fell from the skylight.  Scrambling to his feet, Roy felt fear for the first time as he turned around to face Gotham’s Batman. In desperation, he swung a fist only to be countered as the larger vigilante raised a forearm. The three scalloped blades along the edge of the gauntlet tore into Blout’s flesh as he yelled out in agony. For a second, he could have sworn a smile appeared on the Batman’s face before an armoured fist knocked Roy to the floor.

Slipping a plastic tie around Roy’s wrists, Batman pulled the restraint tight. The sharp material cut into the Peter Pan Killer’s skin as he tried in vain to struggle. Suddenly Blout’s face was roughly pressed down onto the cold concrete as the Batman placed a boot on the back of Roy’s head. The heel twisting against his hair and scalp as Roy could only grit his teeth and bear the pain. 

[b][color=#44688C]“Stay down.”[/color][/b]  The vigilante growled, his warning clear as Roy could only whimper his response. Lifting his boot, the Batman took a step back before moving to secure the children. Walking towards Jervis, he extended a hand to the boy who simply shook his head, his eyes wide with fear as he looked towards the masked vigilante. 

[b][color=#44688C]“It’s over. You’re safe now.”[/color][/b] He said as Jervis turned his tear-stained face away from the Dark Knight, looking towards the Peter Pan Killer as he continued to shake his head back and forth in silent protest. Giving the boy his space, the vigilante moved towards the injured girl. Kneeling down beside the girl, he placed a pair of fingers to her neck, desperately searching for a pulse. 

But there wasn’t one to be found. 

Suddenly Roy let out a painful gasp prompting the Batman to his feet as he spun around. Standing above the man was the boy who slowly let go of the knife that was now driven into the Peter Pan Killer’s neck. Batman could only watch in shock as the boy slowly stepped back from his abductor’s now dead body before ambling towards his deceased sister. Tears began to fall down his face as he sat down beside the girl, lifting her head before cradling it in his lap. Taking a step forward, the vigilante knelt down beside the sobbing boy, placing a hand on his shoulder.

[color=#38761d]“He killed her, so I killed him.”[/color] The boy muttered, his eyes were directed towards the Batman, but the caped crusader couldn’t help but feel they weren’t seeing him.

[color=#38761d]“He made my heart so full of malice all because he killed my sister.."[/color] He paused, taking a moment to breathe between sobs before whispering in a chilling tone.  

[color=#38761d]".. My Alice.”[/color][/I][/COLOR][/INDENT]
[SUP][b][i][color=#FF3B2D]2019[/color][/i][/b][/SUP]
[INDENT][COLOR=#808080][b][color=#44688C]"[sub][sub]McGin-[/sub] Terry![/sub] Terry!"[/color][/b] Bruce’s voice sounded like it was a hundred miles away as Terry fought back to consciousness. His ribs felt like they were about to explode as the arms wrapped around him continued to squeeze tighter and tighter. Suddenly Terry’s eyes shot open as the cowl’s heads up display illuminated with a message.

[i][code]Painkillers Administered. Adrenaline Injected.[/code][/i]

Fighting against Tweedledee’s hold, Terry stretched two free fingers towards his belt buckle before giving it an anguished tap. The man’s grip suddenly loosened as the suit expelled fifty thousand volts of electricity, delivering a taser-like blow to him. 

[color=#38761d]“How?”[/color] Came Jervis’ surprised cry as Terry hit the ground before rolling back onto his feet.

[b][color=#FF3B2D]“Shocking.”[/color][/b] Terry coughed, [b][color=#FF3B2D]“I know.”[/color][/b]

Watching Tweedledee reel in pain from the suit’s attack, the Batman re-evaluated his plan of attack. Reaching towards his belt, Terry swapped the batarang cartridge in his wrist launchers as he switched to electrified weapons. Dispensing the bat-shaped weapon into either hand, Terry let them loose as both Tweedledee and Tweedledum gasped from the shock. 

Repeating the action, Terry followed it up with a snare around either man’s legs as he dropped them to the ground. The room practically shook as both men hit the floor, but neither one was going to stay down for long. Moving a hand along his belt, Tery stopped as he came to the correct cartridge. Slipping it into his wrist launcher, he turned towards the twins before flashing a smug smirk.

[b][color=#FF3B2D]“Lights out, bozos.”[/color][/b] Firing a tranquillizer dart into either man, the Batman watched with satisfaction as their eyes rolled back before closing completely as they laid subdued before. Turning around to where he had left Tetch, Terry let out a sigh as he watched the small man scamper out the nearest exit.

[b][color=#FF3B2D]“Tetch is on the move.”[/color][/b] Terry informed Bruce as he tapped the side of his cowl.

[b][color=#44688C]“Not for long.”[/color][/b] Came the stoic response. The lights of the batmobile illuminated outside of the building as the cloak was disengaged. Over the communications channel, Terry could hear Bruce opening the vehicle’s entry hatch. Suddenly there was a scream outside followed by a growl as Terry smiled.

[b][color=#FF3B2D]“Always good to have an [i]Ace[/i] up your sleeve.”[/color][/b] Terry smirked as he walked outside in time to watch the large black dog begin to drag the screaming man back towards the warehouse.

[b][color=#44688C]“Agreed, McGinnis, agreed.”[/color][/b] Bruce responded before continuing. [b][color=#44688C]“Emergency services have been dispatched, secure the scene and get out of there.”[/color][/b] He ordered as Terry picked Tetch up, carrying the small man back towards the twins.

[b][color=#FF3B2D]“Happy to oblige.”[/color][/b]  Terry replied as he bound all three men together before taking another look at Chelsea. She was still breathing, but it was faint, her body looked as though it had been torn apart and sewn back together again. Looking back towards Tetch, Terry took a step forward before being stopped by a slight growl as he looked back towards Ace.

[b][color=#FF3B2D]“You’re right boy,”[/color][/b] Terry growled, [b][color=#FF3B2D]“He’s not worth it.”[/color][/b][/COLOR][/INDENT][/INDENT][sub][hr][/sub][INDENT][COLOR=BLACK][sub][COLOR=#2c2c2c]Placeholder[/color][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][b]Next Issue:[/b] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4913103][COLOR=#FF3B2D][I]A Little Spark of Madness[/I][/COLOR][/url][/right][/SUP][/color][/INDENT]