THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS
xxii. AS THE WORLD CAVES IN
❝WE'RE NOT IN GOTHAM ANYMORE.❞

"I THINK THAT WAS THE WORST MOVIE I HAVE EVER SEEN," Anastasia Lovejoy commented, walking hand-in-hand with her fiancé, Bruce Wayne, as they made their way down a busy street in Gotham. Despite the dull two-hour movie they had sat through, the two had found a way to keep themselves entertained as they made fun of everything that happened on screen. And, of course, Bruce had predicted the plot twist before they could even introduce the horrendous villain. Their laughter had rung through the theater, but it didn't matter much when they were the only ones in the private showing.

Bruce chuckled, shaking his head. "If I remember correctly, you picked out the movie, darling."

"Monique recommended it," Anastasia mumbled, remembering how two of her assistants Anya and Monique doted on one of the actors in the movie. He was handsome, sure. But, Anastasia didn't see the appeal since his character was stuck-up most of the movie. Perhaps, she should have listened to Laura's criticism about the movie before dragging Bruce to go watch it. She frowned at him, shrugging her shoulders. "Sorry for making you sit through that."

"Don't apologize," Bruce said, kissing the top of her head. It caused the two of them to step awkwardly, almost stumbling as they weaved their way through the people gathered on the street. It caused the two of them to share a laugh, giddy off all the sugar consumed during the movie. But, it still warmed Anastasia's heart as she looked up at him. "I spent the night with you, Ana," he continued. "That's all that matters to me. I don't care what we end up doing."

Anastasia hummed. "So, you weren't bored?"

He clicked his tongue, shaking his head. When that didn't convince her, he offered her a playful smile and gave her hand a squeeze as they came to a stop. He leaned down, placing a gentle yet brief kiss against her lips. "Not at all."

It had been a chilly day on March fifteen, 2009 and the two had taken a night to themselves to escape the constant preparations at the manor. In two weeks' time, it would be Anastasia's twenty-second birthday and Bruce was adamant about having a huge celebration. On top of that, their wedding was only a few months away and the preparation for that alone was enough to stress her out. It was then Bruce decided they were going to take the night to themselves and spend it out in Gotham. She didn't recognize the street, seeing the names of the stores and restaurants mix and match as they walked. But, her attention was focused on Bruce's amused expression as he held her close.

"Should we head home?" Bruce suggested, unsure whether Anastasia wanted to stay out or turn in for the night. It wasn't too late, only a few minutes past ten o'clock.

"N-No," Anastasia stammered, shaking her head as she remained planted in her spot.

She didn't want to return home, knowing her father would be waiting for them back at the manor. Bruce had allowed them to move into the manor a few months ago, deciding that staying at the Charlotte Hotel wasn't the most convenient. Though, her father was rarely around since he spent most of his time working. He had become too overbearing since the engagement, constantly feeding her his frazzled nerves as he kept reminding her that everything needed to go according to plan. It was becoming too much for her to handle and it was getting harder to hide things from Bruce. Somehow, he always knew when she was lying.

She cleared her throat, shrugging her shoulders as she forced a smile upon her lips. "I'm not tired, Bruce. And, Gotham never sleeps. I think we can find something to do."

Bruce smiled, nodding his head. "As you wish."

They continued the trek down the street, subconsciously following the echo of music that filled the street. It was coming from a bar at the corner of the street, having people poured into the street as they danced without any regard for others. Anastasia continued to hold Bruce's hand, walking a step ahead of him. Anastasia chewed the inside of her cheek, tasting blood as she tried to find something to distract them for a little while longer. Her mind continued to wander to her father, William Lovejoy. He would want every detail of what happened during their outing. His eyes were constantly on Bruce, having nefarious intentions when it came to her marriage and the future of their companies. These days, he refused to let her out of his sight as he feared the same betrayal he had once received from her mother, Charlotte. But, even he couldn't deny Bruce. He had been silent when Bruce had announced they were taking the night to themselves, but she could see the anger that burned in his eyes. She hoped Bruce hadn't noticed her change in mood, keeping her eyes ahead instead. But, his thumb caressed gentle circles on the top of her hand in an attempt to comfort her. He had noticed.

"Look, Bruce!" Anastasia said, pointing toward the bar that flooded the street with warm lighting. She could get drunk off the air, feeling the excitement that buzzed. She grinned at him, dragging him toward one of the windows. A few turned to look in their direction, prepared to scold them since they had bumped into them. However, their words died in their throats with one glance at Bruce Wayne. However, Anastasia hadn't noticed as she peeked inside to see a band playing on the stage. Diamonds Eight was written on the drum set, making her smile. "Come on! Let's go in and dance."

"I never took you as a fan of rock music," Bruce teased, placing a few hundred-dollar bills in the bouncer's hand before they were allowed entrance.

The music was louder inside, causing her fiancé's words to disappear within the lyrics. They looked out of place, being dressed for a high society party instead of a night out. At least, Bruce did in his designer suit that was probably more expensive than the whole bar combined. She wore a reddish-orange dress, something she had bought recently in a small boutique near Wayne Tower. People seemed to notice how different they appeared, but Anastasia didn't care. It was less crowded inside compared to the street, but the bar was still packed as everyone sang along to the song. Somehow, Anastasia recognized the song as flickers of a memory came to her mind. She sat across a blurred face, watching as he wrote a few words down into a journal. But, the memory faded as quickly as it had come.

Anastasia faced Bruce, taking both of his hands. They followed the beat, dancing with the same high-strung energy as everyone else in the room. His laughter mixed with her own, holding each other close as they moved around in the small area designated as their own. It was a love song, one that the vocalist screamed into the microphone. The electric guitars echoed through the bar, filling the crowd with unrivaled vitality. The drums mirrored their heartbeats, fast yet steady. A few songs would pass, intoxicated by the music.

"Ana, is that you!?"

A voice shouted over the music, inches away from their swaying bodies. Her arm was grabbed, forcing her to turn around to face the woman. She hissed, feeling pain shoot through her arm as she pushed the person away. It wasn't as if the young woman had grabbed her hard enough, but her long sleeves hid injuries she didn't dare reveal. Bruce was immediately beside his fiancée, holding her close as he glared at the girl. She held her hands up in defense, realizing she shouldn't have grabbed Anastasia.

Still, the young girl offered a warm smile.

"It's me, Ana! Simone?" she shouted over the thundering music, tilting her head as her loose curls fell into her eyes. Anastasia stared at her in confusion, trying to place her familiar face. Her brown eyes were wide yet playful, giving off a youthful appearance. The girl, Simone, looked younger than Anastasia's twenty-one years and it made her wonder how she could have made her way into a bar setting. As if Simone had read her thoughts, she pointed to the lead singer on stage as she grinned. "I'm Scott's sister? I know it's been three years, but I don't look that unrecognizable."

Anastasia shared a look with Bruce, shrugging her shoulders as she continued to rub the spot where Simone had grabbed her. Her old bruises were nothing compared to the newfound headache that gnawed at her brain. The music had died down and instead, the lead vocalist, Scott, was addressing everyone as he spoke about the inspiration behind the song. He mentioned how the song had been written by someone named Edward Astor, a member of the band who had died a few years ago. But, Anastasia wasn't paying attention to what he was saying as she kept her eyes trained on Simone. "I'm sorry, but I think you have me confused with someone else."

"Seriously, Ana?" Simone muttered, hurt flashed across her features as a scoff left her red lips. Her brown eyes flickered to Bruce, shaking her head as she took a step back. It was obvious Anastasia had offended the young woman, but she wasn't sure how. She pointed an accusing finger in her direction. "You're just going to pretend as if you don't know me? As if you don't know us?"

"I... Uh... I'm sorry, but━━"

Simone's anger shook the walls, making Anastasia frown as she shrunk back into Bruce. The multi-colored lights began to flicker till only one color remained, red. Yet, no one seemed to notice as she looked around the bar. The walls began to crack, oozing a black substance she couldn't pinpoint.

This isn't right, Anastasia. Pay attention. Focus!

"Is the sudden amnesia because you're dating a billionaire now? You're going to let him speak for you now, too?" Simone asked, snapping her fingers in Anastasia's face which caused her to return to reality. She had missed most of what Simone had said, wondering what argument she and Bruce had gotten into. She stood behind Bruce, peeking around him to look at the girl. "Don't forget where you've come from, Anastasia."

"I... I don't know who you are," Anastasia muttered, frowning at the young woman. She held Bruce's hand, subconsciously tugging on it as she silently told him she wanted to leave. A few people around them turned in their direction, curious about their conversation.

"Let's go, Ana," Bruce said softly, listening to her silent plea as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder. His voice was gentle, barely audible over the band answering questions their fans had.

"Yeah, run away again," Simone spat out, eyes welling with unshed tears as glared at the two of them. Her anger wasn't out of nowhere, Anastasia realized. She wondered if she had wronged the young girl or if it had been something Lovejoy Corp had done. But, she couldn't place the young woman despite how much her heart told her that she did know Simone. "Don't you dare show your face around here again, especially not after what you've done!"

"Enough," Bruce snapped, shaking his head at the young girl. It caused her to scoff, rolling her eyes before she disappeared into the crowd. People near them began to return to their conversations, giving their attention back to the band. Bruce took Anastasia's hand, holding her close before he led her toward the exit. She was silent, lost in her broken memories and misplaced thoughts.

Anastasia followed Bruce out, ignoring the music that had begun to play again. It was as if the conversation had never happened, everyone returning to how they had first been when they had gotten there. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to pinpoint Simone in her memory. But, her mind was drawing a blank. She winced, feeling her migraine start to worsen as the world began to sway around.

"Your nose is bleeding," Bruce whispered, pulling out a handkerchief from his pocket to gently dab against her nose. She could barely process what he was doing, keeping her eyes in the distance as she watched some kind of creature crawl vertically up a brick building. Bruce blocked her view, wearing a soft gaze as he met her green eyes. "Did you know that woman, Ana?"

She shook her head, taking the handkerchief from him. "No... I don't think so."

Bruce sighed, nodding his head. She wasn't sure if he believed her or not, feeling a familiar dread burn within her chest. It was difficult for her to breathe, trying to keep her hands from trembling as her vision came in and out. But, Bruce seemed oblivious to her distress as he continued to stare at her. "I'm sure it's nothing," Bruce said, voice stuttering as if she was listening to a broken record. Something wasn't right. "Things like that happen, especially when everyone in Gotham knows who you are. I'm sure she was lying, Ana. They probably want to ask for money or some other kind of favor, nothing to stress about."

"Yeah," Anastasia mumbled, sniffling.

She wasn't paying attention to Bruce, looking around the street instead. She couldn't see further than a block, noting how there was a dark wall that surrounded them. It wasn't the only thing that was strange, considering she couldn't make out any of the words on the surrounding signs. The people around them, their faces blurred as they continued to dance haphazardly. It was as if she wasn't in reality, making her frown as she faced Bruce again. He watched her carefully, almost as if he was waiting for something to happen.

"Bruce..." she said softly, keeping her distance from him. Her eyes continued to study her surroundings, digging her nails into her arm as she tried to get herself to snap back to reality. The last thing she remembered was being at the Charlotte Hotel when she and Laura had been attacked by an unknown creature. Then, a rift had opened from the cracks in the wall before... Anastasia didn't remember what happened afterward, but this wasn't right. She looked at Bruce again. "What's going on? Where are we?"

He didn't reply. Instead, he frowned as he remained in his spot. He continued to wait, as if he couldn't speak until she said the right set of words. But, Anastasia only created more space between the two of them. Everyone else had faded, becoming nonexistent as the music echoed into the empty street. It was just her and... Bruce.

She remembered this memory, knowing she and Bruce had a discussion about Simone and then, he had seen the needle marks and bruises that lined her arms. He had continuously asked about them, but she never gave in. Eventually, she walked away from him in a fit of tears. It was a sad ending to a happy memory, Anastasia thought. She couldn't remember how she had gotten hurt or who had hurt her. But, a part of her already knew. Her father had lost his mind in the last few years of his life, consumed by his need for revenge. And... somehow her blood had been the key. Well, her DNA was the closest he could find to Charlotte's. Charlotte Lovejoy had always been the answer, but he had killed her many years ago in a fit of rage. So, the closest person was Anastasia. It was only snippets Anastasia could remember, having her present memories blend with the 2009 version of herself. But, it was getting too much for her to handle as her vision blurred.

She turned, starting to walk away from Bruce. But then, he spoke and his voice barely sounded like Bruce's. She didn't dare look back at him, feeling her eyes widen as she gulped.

"Ana, wait..."

"Just drop it, Bruce. You wouldn't understand." The words left her lips before she could think, making her frown. She was stuck in some sort of memory, some kind of dream. The feeling of deja vu hit her, struggling to fight the portrayal of Anastasia from 2009 to the present one.

She kept walking, trying to keep the tears at bay. This wasn't how she wanted to end the night, wishing things had gone differently. Bruce called out her name from behind her, but his voice had morphed into something different. It wasn't Bruce anymore.

No, it was someone else. Someone she couldn't face.

"Anastasia, stop! Come back!" They shouted, voice thundering throughout the void as the world cracked around them. The memory was broken, tainted. It was as if she could feel the ground shake underneath her feet, having angered someone watching from beyond. They shouted again, warning her from taking another step.

But, Anastasia did exactly that. She ran, not caring if she couldn't see where she was going. All the artificial lights from the neon signs, the street lamps, and the buildings had gone out. The only thing that illuminated her path was the thundering clouds above, striking lightning down below in the far distance. The Gotham around her had begun to deteriorate, walls of the buildings cracked as windows shattered into a million pieces. Vines erupted from the ground and sewer system, tangling around the buildings on the street. The distant music began to fade in and out as the lights flickered back in; the world around her trying its best to repair the damage she had done to the memory. But, Anastasia kept running, unable to catch her breath as the screams of the monsters filled the air instead. Then, everything went black.

Yet, she was still awake. Her eyes snapped open, sucking in a deep breath as she tried to figure out where she was in the darkness. One thing she could be sure of was that she was lying on her back, facing upward. There was a barrier above her, brushing against her nose whenever she moved. But, she could barely move. Her arms were pinned down by what felt like ropes, but she still struggled against them. Immediately, it caused panic to set in and she took shaky breaths with the limited air she had. She ripped at what was holding her down, still unable to see. She pushed against the barrier, pounding her fists against it as panicked cries left her chapped lips. It felt as if she had been buried alive in a coffin, lost to the rest of the world, and left to rot deep within the ground.

"Help!" Anastasia screamed, pushing against the wall as her fingernails dug into it. She could feel the tears stream down the sides of her head, settling behind her ears."Somebody, please!"

Anastasia continued to rip at it, unwilling to lay there and give up. It tore away, made out of some kind of organic material as a thick slime covered her hands and began to drip down her arms. She kept her lips sealed shut, not wanting to get whatever she was chipping away into her mouth. But, she kept pushing at the barrier till her hand shot through.

Some light came through the cracks in the barrier, causing her to push more of the barrier away before she was able to look up at the dark clouds that loomed overhead. She gasped for air, crawling out onto the concrete floor as she lay down. For a few moments, she took deep breaths to calm herself down as she trembled from the cold. Her vision wasn't any better outside, making her wonder where she was. It was nighttime, but she couldn't see the moon or stars behind the heavy clouds. She looked back to what she was in, gagging when she noticed the strange cocoon she had been resting in. Her clothing was covered in a black liquid substance, making her sick to her stomach. She pushed the nausea down, closing her eyes as she tried to compose herself.

She looked around. The world had changed, making her feel as if she had stepped into a horror movie. It looked exactly like the underground lab at Arkham Asylum and the Gotham they had seen from the photographs in the documents. It was void of people, having only darkness and the monsters screaming in the distance as company. Visible spores surrounded her, making her feel as if she was sitting on top of a dust-infested cabinet in a haunted house. She looked at the buildings around, trying to recognize where she was but her attention was caught by the black vines that moved endlessly. It continued to crush what was in its path, creating heavy cracks in the brick. This was the place. The place she had always seen in her nightmares... her hallucinations... and the photographs in the files.

But, if she was here... Then, where was Laura...?

"Laura!" Anastasia called out, hearing her voice echo down the empty street. It was too quiet, as if the whole world had gone silent as it listened. She called out the woman's name again, slowly standing to her feet as her eyes blurred with unshed tears. "Laura, where are you?!"

Anastasia took slow steps, feeling pain shoot throughout her body as she slowly got used to walking again. She wasn't sure how long she had been stuck in the cocoon or how she had gotten into it to begin with, but she tried not to think of the possibilities. Pain shot through her stomach, earning another wave of nausea as she took a deep breath. She whispered Laura's name again, hoping the woman could hear her in the endless void.

A shaky breath left her lips, leaning against one of the cars. The tires were rotted into the concrete ground and the windows were shattered, glass all over the leather seats inside. She pinched against her skin, hoping it would snap her out of whatever hallucination she was in. "This is a dream. It's not real," Anastasia mumbled, suspicious of what was real or not. The memory before had felt real, but it had turned out to be some kind of twisted dream. And, now this? "Please, wake up, Ana. Just wake up!"

But, nothing worked. She was still trapped in the other world, causing a different kind of dread to settle within her heart. The beat of her heart echoed in her ears, louder than the whistle of the wind and the creatures in the distance. She tugged the jacket closer, shivering at the chilly breeze. She tried not to panic, yet. If there was a way into the dimension she was in, then there had to be a way out. She needed to find an exit, some kind of similar rift that would take her back to her Gotham. Perhaps, heading back to the Charlotte Hotel would be the best course of action. It was where the rift that brought them here had been. So perhaps, it could lead them out too.

Yet, she knew she couldn't just leave even if there was a way out. She needed to look for Laura, but Gotham was a big city and she couldn't cover all the ground herself. She shivered, feeling the cold seep through her thin jacket. Still, she prevailed and began her slow walk. Her limbs ached and the back of her head pounded, but her fingers traced over the wound and the dried blood in her hair. She was fine, for now. All she could think about was Laura, knowing how badly she had been hurt. Laura had almost bled out, desperately needing to go to the hospital for a blood transfusion if she wanted to survive.

"I'm so sorry, Laura," Anastasia whispered, mostly to herself as she sniffled. She felt too tired to cry, numb from everything that had happened in a short amount of time. If Laura had died, it would all be her fault. There was no denying it. The pain that pleaded to be felt scratched at Anastasia's heart, making her gasp for air as her throat tightened. She needed to find Laura.

Step one, find Laura Moretti. Step two, return home. Step three, never mess with anything from the past again. At least, not with anyone else. She should have taken the investigation into her own hands, and refused to let anyone else get involved. She had involved Eric and Laura. Now, they were both gone.

Anastasia paused in her tracks, hearing a shrill screech from behind her. It sounded too close, making her look back to see a strange humanoid creature scaling one of the brick buildings. It looked exactly like the monster that had attacked them, pale white with thin limbs. But, that wasn't the first time she had seen it. She remembered the creature from all of her hallucinations, still remembering the phantom pain from when it had sunk its teeth into her skin back at the hospital. It crawled the walls effortlessly, clicking as it moved. It hadn't noticed her, causing Anastasia to hide behind the nearby car as she watched it with wide eyes. Was it the same creature that had attacked them? If so, it meant Laura could be nearby too.

Just when she thought she was safe, Anastasia heard clicking coming from the other end of the street. She looked to her right, seeing another one of the creatures wandering the streets. It had its head lowered to the ground, sniffing as it moved with the occasional click leaving its razored mouth. Its behavior was similar to one of a wolf, but it looked as if it had crawled out of Hell. Some kind of... demon. She wasn't sure what else to call them. Perhaps, she was in Hell. For Anastasia, it felt as if she was with one glance at her surroundings. Though, she had never been much of a believer. This was something else, something that had to do with the experiments held a long time ago. Secrets that only remained in a few minds, considering most of the people involved were long dead.

She ducked lower, not wanting to be spotted by the demons. If she was caught by both of them, she would surely be torn to shreds and that was the last thing she wanted. She took slow and steady breaths, hearing the demon's feet hit the asphalt. It was just on the other side of the car, still sniffing the ground. Anastasia held her breath, trembling as she squeezed her eyes shut. Despite being a nonbeliever, she found herself praying for what seemed like forever. Eventually, the footsteps became distant and Anastasia found the courage to open her eyes as she watched the demon continue down the street.

She let out a breath, slowly rising to her feet. Pain shot through her abdomen, but she ignored it as she pressed forward. But, she hadn't been watching where she was walking as she stepped on something alive. Her eyes shot down, staring at the thick vine that slinked back in pain. The sounds that the creatures made rattled the world around her, making her jump as she looked back to see them turned in her direction. The two bared their teeth, a mixture of saliva and blood dripping from their open mouths as they began to inch toward her. A blend of a hiss and snarl echoed in the air before the creatures charged.

Anastasia bolted down the street, running as fast as she could. Her lungs burned, pleading for her to stop before she collapsed. However, she kept running. Her feet pounded against the sidewalk, not caring if she continued to stomp on vines in her path. It caused some delay as the creatures felt the same pain the plants did. But, they were still gaining fast.

One of the creatures tackled her down, causing her to collide with the concrete but her hands broke the fall. It scratched deep into the back of her leg, ripping through her jeans as it reached the middle of her thigh. It screamed into her ear, making Anastasia let out a terrified scream of her own. She reached for something, feeling her hand curl around a discarded piece of glass from another broken car. As hard as she could muster, Anastasia stabbed the piece of glass into the creature's skin. It screeched in pain, haphazardly stumbling backward into the other creature. They struggled amongst themselves for a moment, limbs scratching at one another as they mistook each other for the enemy.

She stumbled upward, running down the street to the best of her ability. However, the sound of her movement was picked up by the creatures as they continued on her tail. She made a hard right, running into the open doors of a café. Running into the back, she found herself in a small office. The creatures snarled, prepared to attack but Anastasia slammed the door shut and locked it.

They pounded on the closed door, screaming in frustration as they tried their best to get to Anastasia. She feared that the door wouldn't hold, looking around the room for something to barricade herself in. Eventually, she made do with one of the two desks in the room. She pushed it in front of the door, feeling some kind of relief to have a barrier between herself and the creatures. Anastasia sank to her knees, listening to them still pound on the door. A distressed laugh left her lips as she wiped away the tears that streamed down her face.

Note to self, do not step on the vines. Her mind still tried to notate what had happened, knowing the creatures had felt the pain when she had crushed the vine underneath her feet. Perhaps, they were all linked together by some sort of hive mind? Anastasia mused, trying to make sense of the situation. Despite wanting to curl up in a ball and cry, Anastasia knew that tears wouldn't get her anywhere if she wanted to live.

She sat on the floor against the wall, knees pulled to her chest as she listened to the two demons outside. There wasn't a way out of the office, no back door she could escape from. She needed to wait till they were gone, but for now, she was safe. She let out a shaky breath, looking down at her right leg. It had left three deep scratches from the back of her thigh to the middle of her calf. Blood was smeared against the floor and stained her jeans, making Anastasia wrinkle her nose. She hesitated, not knowing what to do as it burned.

Her eyes trailed upward, staring at the skylight that allowed some light to enter the enclosed space. It was dark, but she could still make out the things around the office. She looked around, trying to ignore the heavy footprints outside the door. There was a corkboard on the wall, having a list of schedules for the employees that seemingly worked in the café. But, it was difficult to make out the pencil markings in the darkness. She kept searching for a first aid kit, but her attention was caught by an old computer sitting on the desk. It took up most of the desk space, having a desktop attached to a bulky monitor. It had been ages since she had seen a computer like that.

Eventually, Anastasia found a first aid kit on the top shelf. She pulled it down, placing it on the ground. Taking a seat on the ground, a shaky breath left her lips. She was starting to feel the pain, having the adrenaline wear off. Even the creatures outside had quieted down, but she could still hear their breathing rumble the ground. She opened the kit, ignoring how her blood transferred from her hands to the plastic. Picking up the first aid manual, she began to flip through the pages till she found the one about dealing with cuts and stitches.

Steps to take when dealing with a heavy cut, Anastasia read in her mind. She assumed the book was talking about a cut a barista would get while cutting up fruit or using a boxcutter to unpack stock. The book was definitely not talking about what to do when attacked by a vicious monster. Still, it provided Anastasia with useful information as she skimmed through it. She had taken off her jacket, pressing it against the scratches to slow down the bleeding as much as she could.

After reading through the manual, Anastasia had a decent grasp of what to do. She had never attempted to do her own stitches before, considering only doctors had ever treated her injuries. And, Bruce a few times if she remembered correctly. But, she couldn't wait around and have someone else help her. She needed to do this herself.

She cleaned the wound first, trying to wipe away as much of the blood as she could with fresh rags. They were in one of the cupboards, covered in a thin layer of dust but she wasn't going to find anything cleaner. As for stitches, she opted for the zig-zag pattern since it looked to be the most helpful in her situation. She moved slowly, clenching her jaw shut every time the needle entered her skin. She was unsure how much time had passed since she had started, considering the only thing she could think about was the pain. But, around the time she had been treating the third scratch, her calf had gone numb. She dropped the needle on the ground, cutting the medical thread before she knotted it. She wrapped a fresh bandage around her calf and thigh, laying on her side when she finished.

Despite the blood and black substance from the cocoon that covered it, Anastasia shrugged her jacket back on. She tried not to let her injured leg touch the ground, knowing it would hurt to put pressure on it. A soft hum left her lips, a melody from a lullaby her mother used to sing. Inside the first aid kit, she found an emergency blanket made out of some kind of foil. It was better than nothing, Anastasia decided. She laid down, resting her head on a couple of textbooks before she wrapped herself in the foil. She shivered at the cold, watching as rain hit the skylight above. The pitter-patter echoed throughout the small office, lulling Anastasia to sleep.

Anastasia closed her eyes, still hearing the clicks of the creatures outside. Hopefully, they would leave before she starved to death in that room. But, she couldn't think about that yet. She was too tired. Her eyes felt heavy, unable to stay open any longer as she drifted into a dreamless slumber.

━━ ━━ ━━

IT WAS QUIET WHEN ANASTASIA CAME TO. Her first instinct was to reach to her side for Bruce, but her hand banged against the metal leg of the desk. She hissed, pulling her hand back to her body as she placed her lips against the tender skin of her fingertips. A sniffle left her lips, having a stuffy nose from sleeping in a dust-infested room for a few hours. She was cold yet felt as if she was on fire, causing her to shudder as she sat up. The first thing she felt was the ache in her leg, causing her to look down at her leg. She pushed aside the ripped denim, studying the bandages and peeking at the wounds underneath. Her skin had turned a dark purple and hurt when she touched it, but it looked... fine. It was similar to what her stitches looked like when she had come home from the hospital.

Anastasia looked around, still realizing it was nighttime outside as she stared out the skylight. But, she knew hours had passed. Though, she wasn't sure what time it was exactly. But, it wasn't like it mattered.

The sun never rose here.

She felt dizzy, watching as the room swayed before it settled when she leaned against the table leg for support. Her stomach growled, reminding her that she still needed to worry about her basic needs. She couldn't remember the last time she had eaten or drank any water. She recalled the fact that a person could only survive roughly three days without water, but that depended on a myriad of circumstances. Food... It was a different story, but it wasn't as if she could live long without it. Though, she was in a café and might be able to scrounge up something.

Anastasia slowly stood, careful not to put too much weight on her injured leg. She used the table as support, noticing how much of her blood covered the room. It had dried during her sleep, but it was still too much. It would take her some time and rest to recover, things she could not spare. She, also, noticed more things on the desk she hadn't noticed before, taking in the photographs of an older couple and then another picture of a few teenagers. She leaned closer, trying to make out their faces. But, it was too dark to see the details. She needed a flashlight or anything of the sort. Perhaps, she should make a detour to a hardware store to get the things she needed. And, find a gun shop to arm herself with some weapons. She needed to prepare for the journey, knowing this world could very well be the death of her if she wasn't careful.

When the office provided nothing else worthwhile, she decided it was time to leave. She listened, trying to figure out if the creatures were still outside. Moving the table out of the way was a feat, feeling every cell in her body scream at her to stop. But, she managed. Anastasia placed her ear against the door, listening. She knocked a few times, trying to earn a reaction from anything that might be outside. But, still...

Nothing.

She unlocked the door, hearing the click echo throughout the rundown café. Vines covered the walls and ceilings, but they didn't move. Still, Anastasia was wary as she feared their wrath. The creatures had caused damage, knocking over tables and breaking glass cabinets where rotten pastries sat on their ceramic displays. Anastasia was hungry, but not enough to eat those.

Her steps were slow and painful, but she kept walking as she looked around the café for anything that might help. Her first stop to search was behind the counter, taking note of how there were a hundred and sixty-eight dollars and twenty-two cents in the cash register. Then, she searched the small fridges disguised as cabinets. The smell hit her first, causing her to gag as she took a step back. Spoiled milk cartridges and rotten meat were in the fridge, attracting bugs as a few lingered on her hand. She shook them off, wrinkling her nose in disgust. Great, just great.

Despite her mild annoyance, the world decided to be generous. She found three bottles of water in the back of the fridge, still screwed shut and clean. Anastasia grabbed one, unscrewing the cap before she gulped down the water with ease. An ache grew in her stomach, but she ignored it as she opened a second water bottle. But this time, she used it to rinse off the blood on her hands. She saved half of the water, wanting to clean her wounds later when she redid her bandages. There was one more water bottle in the back and Anastasia took it with her, carrying it close to her body as she wandered further into the back of the café.

In the back near the office, there was a space designated to employees where they could leave their personal belongings during their shifts. She looked at the names written above the cabinets: Kaitlin, Devi, Lily, Jenny, and Hannah. Perhaps, they were the same girls from the photograph she found in the office. She decided to steal a backpack from one of the lockers, knowing it was the best way to carry her supplies.

"Sorry, Jenny," Anastasia mumbled, sighing. "But, I think I need this more."

She dumped out most of Jenny's belongings on the ground. She kept a few things. Some things she found useful were a pocket knife, pepper spray, chewing gum, hair ties, a romance novel, and some painkillers. In fact, she took two pills at the same moment she had seen them. Next, she had stolen a trench coat from Devi's cabinet. It was a lot warmer than what she had been wearing. The others, they didn't have anything except for a few work items. She put on Jenny's backpack, limping toward the glass doors with a pocket knife tight in her hands.

The streets were empty. For now.

She still needed to find Laura. A part of her had a feeling she would find Laura near the Charlotte Hotel and perhaps, the way back to the real Gotham. But, it was a shot in the dark since she had woken up somewhere completely different. She had trouble pinpointing where she was, unable to recognize the street. There were cars parked on the road, but the models were similar to ones you would find in the 80s. If Bruce wasn't such a car fanatic, she wouldn't have known the specifics. She always paid attention when Bruce talked, but she struggled to remember. All she could tell was that the cars were vintage. Anastasia looked around the city, noticing Wayne Tower in the horizon line. It was the only landmark she recognized, starting to head toward it.

Anastasia realized she needed to keep heading north. Past Wayne Tower, the Charlotte Hotel would just take crossing the bridge into Founders' Island and then several more blocks of walking. She hoped to avoid any more creatures that lingered on the streets, but as far as she could see, there weren't any. But, she wouldn't be surprised if they lingered in the buildings and were around every corner. She was careful to not step on any more vines, not wanting to provoke its wrath. At the rate she was walking, it might take her some time. It would take hours and with her injured leg, perhaps even all day. But, she was determined. Her feet dragged. But, she did her best to look out for the demons. She didn't want another run-in. At least, not without any weapons to defend herself with.

Eventually, she came across a pay phone. For a few minutes, she stared at it quietly as she fought her thoughts. It was a long shot, but she still entered the booth. In her backpack, she found a quarter and put it into the machine. It clicked and a light came on, causing a soft breath to leave her lips. She picked up the phone, putting it against her ear. However, she didn't hear a sound. There was no dial tone that greeted her. Still, she put in Bruce's phone number and pretended she could hear it ring.

And, she pretended he had picked up.

"Bruce..." She whispered softly, speaking to no one on the other side. Still, she hoped the message would somehow reach him. Even if it was just a feeling. She wanted him to know she was still alive. "I'm still here, my love."

Her eyes welled with unshed tears, leaning against the wall of the pay phone. She continued to hold the phone close to her ear, sniffling.

"I know I've kept a lot of secrets from you as of late, but I only did so because I wanted to protect you, Bruce," Anastasia whispered, closing her eyes as a few tears escaped. "But, I'm glad I didn't get you involved in this mess. Look what I've done to Laura. I... I hope she's still alive. But..." she sobbed, shaking her head as she covered her mouth. "I'm so sorry. I've gotten so many people killed because of this dumb investigation and... Maybe, I deserve to be here. I just... I don't know what to do anymore. I need to find Laura. I need to find a way out of here."

She let out a shaky breath.

"Please, don't give up on me," she pleaded, tightening her grip on the phone. "I'll find my way back to you, I promise. I'll be home soon."

She put the phone back on its hook, crying softly to herself.

It took her several minutes to calm down, heading out of the phone booth. She scanned the area first, looking for the creatures. Again, the street was desolate. She moved slowly, walking down the block. Staring up at the clouds, noticing the thunder had died down. At some points, Anastasia noticed that the street lights flickered in and out. But, the light wasn't bright enough to illuminate the path. It was a soft glow, barely visible unless you were looking right at it. The only constant was the darkness. She should look for a flashlight, keeping her attention out for a store. But, she only passed by restaurants and boutiques.

Her stomach continued to growl, but everywhere she went, the food was rotten. She needed to find something preserved, something that might survive these conditions. She kept moving, shivering when the breeze picked up. Red lightning flashed across the skies before the sky settled into a midnight blue again. It had been a few hours of nonstop walking and she was a block away from Wayne Tower. She stared up at the massive building, feeling some sort of comfort. It made her think of Bruce.

Did he know she was missing yet?

Anastasia wondered what he was doing, hopefully resting since he never seemed to get any sleep. She hoped he had eaten, taken a shower, and gotten ready for the day. He was never the best at taking care of himself. And, it was usually up to Anastasia and Alfred to watch over him. The last block was filled with more energized steps than when she first started. The final stretch, Anastasia mused. Or, at least, she could take a break. She needed to make it back to the Charlotte Hotel and that was still miles away. She was only halfway to her goal.

She reached Wayne Tower, standing before it. Somewhere high above, she could see more of the creatures crawling around the buildings. They looked terrifying, moving faster than Anastasia could keep track of them. But, they hadn't noticed her and she wanted to keep it that way.

Something was very wrong, Anastasia quickly realized. She stared up at Wayne Tower, looking the same as ever as it looked over Gotham with watchful eyes. However, there was something missing against the skyline. She looked across the street where the Anastasia Hotel should have been. But, there was a small apartment complex in its place instead. She frowned, shaking her head as a breath left her lips.

No... No... No.

This didn't make sense. Anastasia moved slowly in her confusion, spotting a lot of creatures in the area. But, they continued to crawl on the skyscrapers as they remained distracted by their own musings. Still, she was careful not to step on the moving vines underneath her feet. She made her way toward a small newspaper box, pulling open the door before she took out a newspaper. She read over the paper, quickly finding the date on top.

MARCH 29TH, 1987.

It was her birthday. More than that, it was the day she had been born. She didn't understand, holding the newspaper close to her chest as she let out a shaky breath. Her surroundings made sense. The outdated technology, the vintage cars, the unfamiliar streets and buildings. It made sense why Wayne Tower was present, considering it had been built in 1888. But, the hotels didn't exist yet. There was no Charlotte Hotel to return to, Anastasia realized. Her plan had been foiled.

"What am I supposed to do?" Anastasia whispered softly, trying to control her emotions. Her hands shook, crying as she wrapped her arms around herself. She was trapped... There was no way out of this world.

But, it was as if the world had been listening. It gave her an answer. Soft music filled the air, something you would hear from a music box as a ballerina spun in mechanical circles. She looked up, searching for the distant sound. Then, she saw it. A glow in the distance. A light against the darkness. It was several blocks away, but it stood out against the darkness. It glowed like nothing else and Anastasia felt drawn to it. A moth to a bright light, feeling it beckon her.

Perhaps, she was dead. She was meant to follow the light, right? But, she hesitated. She didn't trust this world.

A frown appeared on her lips, staying glued to her spot.

She heard another soft sound nearby, looking behind her at the car parked on the street. She watched as something burned into the car, bright orange as sparks filled the air. Anastasia stumbled back, watching with wide eyes. It was a message, one that faded as quickly as it had come. But, the message remained ingrained in her mind.

Follow the light. Trust me.

♡

I AM SO GLAD I DECIDED TO ALTERNATE CHAPTERS BETWEEN ANA AND BRUCE'S POVS or else, this chapter would have not come for a while. But, it was so much fun to write and I think that's why I got it done so fast. I still don't know what to call this place since I have been calling it the Upside Down this whole time. So, maybe, that's what we will call it too? Though there will be some differences from the Upside Down in Stranger Things but the overall vibe and look are the same. As for the creatures / demons, I have them looking like a mix of the demogorgons, clickers from TLOU, wendigos from Until Down, and the lickers from Resident Evil. So, this creature is just a mix of all those monsters and the end result of the virus going around Gotham. So, Eric was lucky he managed to get caught by Batman and was frozen before it could get worse.

So, a lot of this chapter and most of the "Upside Down" is inspired by the Shadows of Rose DLC from Resident Evil. I haven't played it yet since I never finished Village. But, I do plan to soon since I love Resident Evil a lot. But, we will see inspiration from it and we can see it at the end of the chapter with the notes from a certain someone. :)

I wish I could portray how excited I am for this era in the book. It has slowly been building up to this and I am finally here! I am so excited to write it and to share it with the rest of you guys! I hope you guys liked this chapter because I had a blast writing it hehe! We will be seeing the Upside Down a lot more in this book. Sadly, the next chapter is in Bruce's POV but I have most of it planned out and it should hopefully be out within the next two weeks (if nothing comes up in my personal life). And, I want to say this book will become a lot darker and tackle a lot of serious topics in upcoming chapters! It might be really sad and tough to read for a while, but I do believe in happy endings.

ALSO, I HAVE A QUESTION TO ASK. How would you guys feel if we brought the Batkids into the book? I want to bring them in because I want to post their books too! But, I couldn't yet because I didn't want to risk spoilers for this book. I will say that Bruce and Ana have three biological children throughout all my DC fics and I think it would be good to bring them in! But, I also know people hate the pregnancy trope and children in books. I honestly do like them and I think it would be a lot of fun! But, I still wanted to ask and see what everyone's thoughts are! For now, I am leaning toward the pregnancy trope since I have lowkey set it up in the past few chapters. But, it is still early and we can have the book go in a lot of different directions.

AMARA.
[ PUBLISH DATE ━━ 11.24.2022 ]