I finally post! This chapter is so long and honestly was gonna be longer! I'm annoyed I'm going have to make an extra chapter but it's fine :)
Might change some things in the future (as I feel it was rushed) but oh well :)
Batman finished taking down another man in the distasteful mask. He looked towards Flash who had just returned from taking two students to safety. Though the progress was good there was still no sign of Scarlet..... or the Joker.
"I never knew these fancy schools had so many uncessary doors" Flash slightly joked. The Batman tried to reach Oracle but they were still busy trying to hack the system. "Have you seen the girl" Batman tried to be subtle. Flash shook "I've been trying to zoom around but doors keep shutting at different points" Soon they heard footsteps and turned seeing a massive group of teens.
"No way" one said surprised looking between the heros. Others began piping up their thoughts as well until they realised they were going to be saved. Some began to tear and others asked where they should go next. "We're not too far from one of the exists" The Flash mentioned "You all still got enough energy to run?" The group nodded hearing the plan. They would soon be following the hero as he would make sure no harm entered their way. Batman glanced at the teenagers and noticed Wendy. He remembered her friendship with Scarlet. As Flash discussed his plans the Bat went over to the girl. She stood in awe for a second wondering why he was targetting her. "Have you seen anyone called Scarlet Wayne or Wendy - Alice Hopper? Some loved ones are worried about their where they are and we still haven't tracked them down" The girl stuttered a little before speaking "Well.. I'm Wendy... and Scarlet is with Raidan just-" Wendy turned and noticed there was no sign of her two close friends.
"They were here just a moment ago" She held her hand to her mouth. Turning on on the spot she repeated "They were just..." The Batman quickly responded "We shall find them. Go with the Flash" He signalled the other members that Scarlet and Raidan were lost from their initial group and to keep an extra eye out for them.
———----------------
Raidan and Scarlet kept on running. After Scarlet had to stop, because her leg began to get sore, they had realised they lost the group. However, their thoughts just kept on thinking about the plan on escaping out. Though she was concentrating, her mind went back to her brothers. She hoped they were outside safe. That they had Alfred next to them ready to go home or calling everyone for help. She wondered if the Justice League had arrived? If so, they better stop all of this.
Passing through a corridor, her eyes glanced onto someone. Damian? She thought thinking he resembled her younger brother. Radian looked back with his heart pounding faster of Scarlet going a different way. Her legs had stopped down the corridor and noticed that the boy had been someone else. She nearly broke down realising that her mind was playing tricks on her.
"Scarlet! Come on, we need to -"
Radian's voice was cut off when the door slammed in his face. A couple of steps away, Scarlet's eyes filled with tears as she began hitting the door. "No use" Radian said quickly "Just keep going downstairs" Scarlet shook her head trying once more. "Please" Radian slowly walked away as he bit his lip. Scarlet did the same until the two friends turned away from each other and began to run.
—-
For some reason, it was a lot quieter. Which Scarlet quickly didn't like. It was difficult trying to be silent and yet be fast. Though her throat became cold and exhausted and her feet began to blister, her mind went back to her runs with Bruce.
It would be during the summer breaks before school. Nine o'clock on a Sunday would always be their time to run. It would start in the garden for stretches before heading out back to a little made pathway. They use to go other various ways but bumping into Bruce friends or employees,and worst of all paparazzi, made them decide to keep their running a secret.
When Scarlet first starting the running she always lost her breath. Making her stop and her cheeks flush from the exercise and from Bruce stopping as well. Through her pants she asked how he could do it so fluently.
Bruce thought and mentioned "I just don't think about it"
"Thanks"
He had chuckled and explained further that he breathed through his nose and out his mouth. And with his thoughts, he thought about other things, happier things, that would distract him from the run.
"It's like flight mode" Bruce voice rung in Scarlet's head as she began to think of things. What Alfred was going to cook that night, if Jason was finally done being annoying, would Damian let her play video games with him tonight. However her thoughts stopped and so did her movements.
There was no reason why. She needed to keep on moving. The more she stayed still the more tired she would get. However, it felt like eyes were digging into her. Scarlet breathed in slowly before turning around to run again. However, this time a small scream came from her as she was met with one of the men. Before getting any chance to escape, she was gripped onto tightly and was pulled close. She tried pulling away, avoiding any eye contact to the clown face. "What should we do with her" the man turned towards the other clown. A taller man a couple steps away groaned walking towards the other guy. "The Joker said a million times. Don't actually hurt them. That's the gas job if the Bat doesn't get here. You're on thin ice messing with these kids" Scarlet was pulled towards the clown more. His hand grabbed her chin tightly to ensure she was looking directly at him "You know who this is?" Scarlet's capture turned with a hidden smirk behind his mask "This is the Wayne girl. You know how much money we would-" "You want us to be killed?" The taller one pushed him a little. His mask had an expression of a sad clown on his face.
"You know how much she could be worth? Bruce Wayne would pay fifteen,no. thirty , no, probably fifty million to get her back" His mask slowly turned back to Scarlet who began to tear up a little. Her eyes were hoping to catch onto anyone passing by. The shorter one continued "It's not like the Joker is here anyways"
"Well I'm not going to mess with the clown" the other one said trying to get them to back to working. He started walking up the corridor "Take her if you want but not in my name". Hearing those words, Scarlet started to shout and scream to get help calling for anyone near by.
"Shut it you!" She let out a cry as her hair was pulled.
"Just let her go your causing a scene- ah" the taller one fell to the floor grabbing his knee.
Scarlet was pushed to the side, hitting against the wall, before she turned and saw the shorter man on the floor groaning as he held his head. Scarlet looked to the side again and saw Jake's face. His hand holding a metal crowbar with his shaking hands. He ran over and said "Are you okay?"
"Yeah" she spoke out holding her head "We better go quickly in case they they get better" Jake nodded and they began running side by side together. They were getting closer to the exit and Scarlet breathed heavily "Where did you go? Did you bump into anymore?"
Jake spoke about after they had lost him he hid in a classroom for a while. "It sounds pathetic. I was scared and thought if the crowd calmed down it would be easier to navigate. But seeing as these guys are everywhere it was such a bad idea" He was gripping the crowbar and spoke how he had found it in the janitors cupboard.
"Is Gotham always like this?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Always"
Suddenly they had ran into a fight scene. Guys were being thrown across or knocked out on the floor. The two teenagers both looked around and Scarlet jaw dropped a little in the process. In front of her was Nightwing, Starfire and Green Arrow. An arrow passed Scarlet'a face which quickly hit a clown. They didn't know if it was safer to try and escape or just to stay very still.
"This city is insane" Jake said with wide eyes.
After another goon was thrown by Nightwing he looked up. His whole body filled with relief seeing his sister in front of him.
"You kids! Go to the entrance now!" He pointed towards the massive doors. Ignoring how their bodies were frozen a second ago they both began making their way over. However on the journey guy, who must've forgotten the selected rules Joker had earlier on, came forward and forcefully pushed Scarlet to the floor. She called out as her hand landed in a weird position.
Nightwing witnessed the whole thing. He ran over dodging the other members before he took down the guy who hurt Scarlet. As he tried not to fully beat him up, Jake had lifted Scarlet carefully and they had finally made it outside. The sun had made their eyes water and the screeching police cars filled their ears. Jake and Scarlet were both at the top of the stairs and slowly were coming down.
And all of a sudden, Scarlet started to cry.