#chaosgained

Anne hadn’t noticed the lights cut out - sitting on her cot, knees to her chest, head bowed as if in prayer - eyes closed shut against the fluorescent glare from above. But one couldn’t avoid hearing the shrieks that followed it, causing her to lift her head and find herself in the darkness of her room. 

In maximum security, a claxon was wailing and red flashing light bathed the walls - but in general - there was no such urgency to see the inmates. It wasn’t until the jingle that preceded all announcements played that the emergency lights kicked in - dimmer and less headache inducing. 

There was a long pause and then;

        “Good evening Arkham Asylum.         This announcement is for the         doctors, staff, patients, and         prisoners of this care facility.         Or as I like to call you ---                 guests.”

Anne unfolded her body slowly - as if it was stiff, perhaps from sitting on the bed for a long time. Agnes, in the next room hadn’t stopped wailing since the lights went off, but none of the staff were rushing to her aid --- they too were listening to the announcement, in a voice that was familiar to most of them.  

        “All of the exits have been         closed off except for the front         door. You're all free to leave.         But should you decide to stay,         you will be considered a         trespasser, and trespassers         will be hunted and put down.” 

There was a second where nothing happened, Anne swore that even Agnes was silent. A loud buzz told her however that the door to their ward had been unlocked. There was a shriek - Anne dove under her bed, hiding from the anarchy that erupted (mostly among the staff, although some of the patients, those with enough between their ears to understand) outside of her room. 

Anne stayed hidden, considering her options. She could stay - hope this riot blew over - which was mostly what she was planning on doing. Or she could run - her ward had grown quiet very quickly. Try to get out. But that felt like a trap, a test... 

She probably would have stayed had they not came - she heard them enter the ward, loud, as if they hadn’t a care in the world. When she heard them rooting through the rooms (one of the women they found started screaming, and didn’t stop) trashing them, she knew she couldn’t stay. She wiggled her way out from under her cot bed, glanced into the hallway and when the coast was clear - most of the other inmates in rooms - she ran.

One gave chase - but she was faster - and her stamina managed to hold out long enough for his to fail (he was, actually, rather fat - otherwise she wouldn’t have had a hope of out running him). So, escape it was. 

She made her way to the main entrance as best as she could - other patients roamed the halls - none seemed to be bothered by her though - praying she was going the right way. She found it eventually (recognising it from her admission) corpses of doctors and nurses littered the ground however and the door was locked tight. 

Gunshots near by - and screaming drove her away. She couldn’t stay still. Nowhere was safe. She had no plan, but staying on the move seemed to be the only way to stay alive.

Within minutes she was lost, walking down a long corridor.

Arkham was like a rabbit warren and she ended up back tracking so often to avoid people (there were more orange jumpsuits now - and these ones were less friendly) or the sounds of horror from in front of her. 

The battle for Gotham had long since ended, and many thought their city SAFE as they were under the impression that the Joker was dead and buried —— if only they knew the truth. As he stalked the grungy halls of Arkham asylum, treading as if he was being directed to his    death   , when in reality he was about to visit Gotham’s worst nightmare and the MAN who took everything away from him. An officer alerted him that they were near his designated destination, the heart of the asylum. Something Bruce found fitting for the clown, even if he was the only ‘patient’ there. He’d never admit it to himself, let alone anyone else, but he      n e e d e d      to keep a watch over the madman, even if the Batman was now a criminal in the eyes of the people of Gotham.