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chapter thirty-seven ━ the monster arrives at midnight

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BRUCE WAS GETTING antsy. Every night he would fall asleep peacefully, only to be awoken by nightmares of Skylar being killed or tortured or sometimes both. And when he'd burst out from under the covers, head in his hands, he would remember every little detail until the next nightmare came and plagued him. Each morning he'd stumble into the kitchen where Alfred was making breakfast, the billionaire boy practically dragging his feet over to the bar, sitting down on a stool, dark bags underneath his eyes. The butler would say nothing about it, letting him deal with his issues alone. And he supposed he should have to deal with them alone because it was all his fault. He broke her heart, he broke her trust, and now she was gone. She was missing. Still.

Selina searched the streets while he sat at his desk, his leg bouncing up and down at a rapid pace. Every night around five, she would text him for updates, even though she was under the impression that he didn't care. But he did care. He cared too goddamn much, that was the issue. He had to make a choice: his work or her. He chose his work. And yet, he stayed up late regretting all the words that spewed from his mouth that night. Her expression haunted him. He'd give anything to go back but that just wasn't an option. So, he decided that he would conduct his own search.

For months Skylar stuck by Selina, which meant she would know every single hideout their mutual friend had. Bruce knew for a fact that Selina would have already checked each one, and still, he went to the address, searched the place for any evidence, only to come up empty. He attempted to get in contact with Penguin, Riddler, Charlotte, and Barbara, only to get no results. The strange thing was, Barbara, didn't seem to notice her daughter's lack of presence. She seemed rather content. Damon had expressed his concern about it, stating that ever since she was declared sane, she had been acting strangely.

So that left him with nothing. However, late one night, while he was staring at the wall in the study, replaying the memory over in his head, he was struck with a realization. After their argument, Skylar left. He asked himself where she could have gone. The answer came easily: she went to see Barbara. The next question popped in his head: where was Barbara at that time? Arkham Asylum. The only thing was, she had been discharged that morning, and yet Skylar hadn't appeared to have known that because she didn't go to Damon's apartment. That meant she went to Arkham.

A book slamming down in front of him is what jolted him out of his thoughts. Bruce jumped slightly, eyes glancing up to meet Selina's. When he turned his head, he noticed the balcony doors were open. His eyes dimmed slightly. He never realized how much she meant to him until she was gone. And now that she was, he felt like his heart was being torn from his chest slowly.

"What the hell do you want?" Selina snapped, looking incredibly annoyed with him. "You called me five times and texted me seven times. This better be important because in case you forgot, I was busy tracking down my best friend."

"This is about Skylar," he replied, turning back to face her. He stood up and then tossed a file on top of the book she had thrown. With a simple gesture of his head, she grabbed it, opening it. After a few moments, she rose a brow, looking confused.

"And how is this about Skylar? This is a file on Hugo Strange."

Bruce placed his hands on the desk in front of him, leaning forward. "Hugo Strange was involved with my parents, he knew them. When I delved deeper, I found some accusations saying that Strange was found with equipment that he should have had no point in owning. Despite it, he was never found guilty of anything. The night. . .the night Skylar left she went to Arkham to see Barbara."

"And how do you know that?"

"She was upset, Selina," he pointed out. "Where else would she have gone? She was upset so she went to the one person she knew would comfort her, the one person she missed." He glanced down at the wooden desk, sighing heavily. "Damon mentioned how Barbara has been acting different, different than how Skylar described her as. And Barbara has barely even mentioned Skylar which we both know is unlike her."

Selina shook her head, setting down the file. "I'm not understanding how any of this is going to help us find her. Just get to the point." Her agitation was expected, but he wanted her to understand the situation so she could piece things together and figure out what he was trying to say. His theory may be a stretch but it was something. That's all that mattered.

"Hugo Strange runs Arkham. He's in charge of rehabilitating patients. What if he did something to Barbara?"

"Or maybe she's just trying to recover from being crazy."

"You don't get it!" He slammed his hands down onto the surface, causing her to flinch back in shock. Quickly, he got a hold on himself, exhaling deeply to calm down. He closed his eyes, his shoulders sagging. "What if he did something to her?"

"Why would he? Skylar isn't insane, she was never committed."

"The equipment he was found using all had the same name on it. Indian Hill. According to every single database I checked, Indian Hill doesn't exist. It means it's a company he created off the records. But why would he need Indian Hill when he has Arkham? What if it's a secret operation of his. What if—"

"Are you even listening to yourself?" Selina asked, shaking her head, her expression morphing into one of worry. Worry for him now. "Bruce, I get, you want her back, I do too. But this theory is insane."

Maybe it was. Maybe she was right. Either way, he was determined to look further into it, he was determined to find out what was going on. He had a gut feeling, one that he could not ignore no matter how many times he shoved it down and told it to shut up and leave him alone. Skylar was in trouble. He knew it. He could feel it. And Hugo Strange may have something to do with that. Or maybe he wasn't. All he knew was that he was going to pursue any lead he got. Even the crazy ones.

Bruce nodded. "Fine, maybe it is. But we have to try. He could have done something to her or he could know where she is. We don't know unless we try."

Selina stared at him for a long and hard moment before she visibly relaxed, her silent sign that she was willing to try. "Alright, fine. What's the plan then?"

He crossed over to the coffee table in the middle of the two couches, taking out a piece of paper hidden in the book that was lying there, seemingly forgotten. Once he got over to her, he opened it, revealing it to her. "This is a map of Arkham." He pointed. "There are vents that run through the entire faculty here and here. You are going to make your way through them, all the way to his office. I'll keep Strange busy on the ground by asking for a tour to ensure that everything is running smoothly. When you get into his office, find his files, see if you can find one about Skylar." After he finished explaining, he noticed she didn't say anything. When he glanced over, she was trying to hide a grin.

"I have no idea what she saw in you," she laughed, shaking her head. Bruce blushed, looking away. "Okay, I'm in."

———

Skylar's admiration for Strange died pretty quickly. At first, she was grateful, forever in his debt after he gave her her abilities and her new identity. Now she could not look at him without resisting the urge to claw his face off or tear his throat out with her sharp teeth. He continuously made her go through tests that were pointless and repetitive. Lucky for her, he decided not to do any more adjustments, which meant no more experiment, which meant the number of scars she obtained from the experiments would no longer increase in number. She also was getting more and more bored. Lounging around her cell was getting dull. She never even bothered to visit Bridgit, seeing as she was off-put by their last interaction. However, she was given more freedom to travel around the place, going down to only one guard. That gave her the opportunity to chase the countless questions that were floating in her head.

And all her questions had to deal with Charlotte.

She purposefully asked to wander the halls more often and for longer, because she was trying to find her. After several days, she still hadn't seen a single indication that she was in Indian Hill with her. When they had seen each other, Charlotte had left quickly, as if she hadn't wanted her to know that she was there, which meant the woman was hiding something. Was she working with Strange? Was she funding him? Her trust in her had dwindled fast, but then it occurred to her that she never truly knew Charlotte that well anyway.

Her curiosity remained unstated for a few days and still, she didn't quit. The old Skylar probably would have just brought up the topic to Strange or let it go altogether. The new Skylar however, wanted to get the information on her own, possibly use it as leverage. Thankfully, as another day arrived, she got the answers to her endless amount of questions.

As she turned the corner, ready to walk down another hallway, she stopped, her eyes catching the guard standing at a door at the very end of the corridor. With a subtle tip of her head, she tried to listen, using her heightened hearing to try and hear what was going on behind the door that. She still hadn't quite gotten the hang of it. There were always so many other noises like heartbeats, casual conversations, and the screaming of patients. And she had to sift through each one and try to block it out. It was the only sense of hers she still struggled with.

By the time she got halfway down the hallway, her guard trailing behind her, not paying much attention, she was focused on what was going on within. All she had to do now was figure out a way she could stay in that hallway so she could keep listening. Ideas popped into her head instantly but none were ideal. So she simply plopped down onto the floor and sat criss-cross, looking up at the guard who stopped upon her actions.

"Wanna play cards with me?"

He frowned in confusion, thought for a moment, and then narrowed his eyes. "Why don't you play cards with another patient?"

"I don't want to," she sighed fakely, putting her head on her hand, pouting cutely before looking back up at him, smiling sweetly. "I wanna play with you. Won't you play with me?"

The guard swallowed thickly. It took a few moments of deliberation, but then he nodded and turned around, telling her that he would go find some cards for her. Once he went around the corner, she smirked to herself and turned her head back to the other guard who was stationed at the door, watching her.

She got up and walked over to him, her movements graceful. "Excuse me, but I believe I just heard two patients get into a fight with each other. . ." Her words trailed off as she pretended to move her head in a random direction, acting like she was listening. "Oh dear, one of them is choking the other. Their heartbeat is slowing."

The guard moved quickly, going in the direction her head had been pointed in. And soon, he was gone too. Skylar smirked, pleased with herself. She sat down in front of the door, closing her eyes, and then focused.

"I'm afraid that all of your offers have been rejected, Ms. Cobblepot," Strange hummed.

"How much money do you need?" Charlotte scoffed, sounding angry without her tone changing at all, but it did sound as if she were holding back. "I offered more money than you can imagine and you still won't take it. Why? What is it you want, if not money?"

"The money is not the issue. I do not take volunteers. All my patients are people who would not be missed. I took them in, changed them, made them my children. No one has approached me and offered themselves, let alone find out about my work. So tell me, how did you find out?"

"I believe that's none of your concern. What should be is what I'll do with the information I have on you now." Tap. She was tapping her nails on the chair she was sitting it. It was a tick she had noticed while staying with her at her penthouse, but now that the fox could hear the way her heart rate picked up, it became clear that it was a nervous tick. "I can expose this operation of yours and you would be done for."

Strange chuckled darkly. "You wouldn't dare."

Charlotte laughed with him, but it lacked of humor. "Oh, Hugo." She shifted in her chair. "I would indeed dare." She paused for effect. "If you do not take up my offer I will expose you. You can certainly try holding me here but I can assure you that I could do so much damage within these walls and before you can even blink, your career and life will be over. So I suggest that you take my latest offer and make me—"

The sound of footsteps intercepted. The sound did not come from within the room. Someone was coming.

By the time her guard rounded the corner, holding a stack of cards, Skylar was back in her place on the floor where he had left her. She got up when she saw him, trying to listen in on the rest of the conversion but couldn't now. She was too far away. Or maybe she could only focus on one sound at a time.

"Here," he said, extending the cards to her, going to sit in front of her but then she stood, an upset look on her features.

"I am suddenly not feeling well," she told him, tucking a piece of hair behind her ears. "Will you take me back to my room?"

"Of course." He put a hand on her shoulders, guiding her away. As they got farther away, she turned around and saw the guard from the door appear, sweating, panting a little. Huh. Maybe there had been a fight somewhere after all. Still, she successfully managed to get some answers, meaning she now had leverage. All she had to do now was wait.

That wait had lasted five hours. All of which she had spent her time shuffling the cards her guard had ended up giving her anyway. He was nice. It made her wonder how he ended up working for a man like Strange, in a place where people became creations instead of human beings. She had sat on the floor, the cards rushing through the air being the only sound in the cell. That was until someone approached the door and opened it roughly thirty seconds later.

Charlotte entered the room, looking as professional as ever. She wore a crimson red dress that hugged every single curve of hers, her heel a dark as the midnight sky. She walked over to her slowly, the door shutting behind her, her heels clicking against the cold cement. Skylar didn't look up at her, still shuffling away, staring blankly at the floor. A minute passed and she was under the impression that the woman was not going to say anything. But then, she did.

"Skylar," she greeted casually, getting no response in return. She sighed and then sat down, stretching her legs to the side so she didn't flash the girl. "Skylar." No reply. "Stop being a child, it's unbecoming."

The fox let out a tiny, amused laugh, tilting her head to the side and then up, finally meeting her eyes. She watched the brief flash of shock pass over the woman's face when she saw it. Her orange eyes. "Don't gape, Charlotte." She leaned closer, speaking slowly, the words falling off her tongue like honey. "It's unbecoming."

In an instant, the shock was gone, replaced with a blank one. "Look, I don't know the extent of the things you've been through but I have seen your file. I know what he did to you, merging your DNA with an animal. And I know that you aren't the only one of his subjects. But, you are his favorite."

"Your point?" She went back to shuffling, looking away from her.

"My point is that I can get you out."

Her eyes met hers again and she was unable to stop her curiosity from showing. "Really?" She lolled her head to the side, looking up at the ceiling. "Hm. . .I could have sworn that you were more interested in becoming one of his creations yourself instead of rescuing me from my tower." She grinned and then laughed, letting her body fall until she saw laying on her back.

Charlotte was disturbed, a little surprised that she knew, but Skylar was not fooled. She could see the twinge of fascination. Everyone had a similar expression whenever they were in the fox's presence. She had changed completely. Before, people either laughed at her or ran from her. Now everyone wanted to stay, talk to her more. Anything to listen to her elegant voice for longer, anything to see her smile one more time. It was nice to see people vying for her attention. The guards did it all the time, fighting over who got to follow her on her daily adventures.

"Listen to me carefully," Charlotte started, her tone quiet but soft. "The camera right now is on a loop. Strange can't see or hear anything that's happening right now. I can get you out, you just have to trust me."

"Well, I don't, so that's a problem, now isn't it?"

"All of the guards are busy elsewhere. If you leave now—"

"What are you getting out of this?" Skylar purred, moving to sit in a similar position to the woman, only hers almost had an inhuman style to it, with the way her legs were slightly curled and the way her head was tilted back in a position that would be undoubtedly uncomfortable for any normal person and yet the fox was completely at ease.

Charlotte shook her head. "I don't know what you mean."

Skylar's eyes flicked back over to look at her. She listened to her heartbeat but heard no blip. She was telling the truth. Or, she was just a really good liar. With a hum, she moved to stand, shuffling her cards in her hands. "Mm, fine. How can I get out?"

"There's a ventilation system that runs through here and then up to Arkham which is right above us. The vent right there—" She pointed up and Skylar followed to see that there was indeed a vent. "Is the one you must enter. Then, immediately turn left and then go straight all the way until you reach another vent that goes down into the visitor's center. Right now, the lady who runs the counter is gone because it is roughly one in the morning. All you have to do is break the vent, jump down, walk out the doors which are unlocked thanks to me, and then you're free."

It seemed too easy, too simple. Strange was not a stupid man, though she hated to admit it. He would know about the vent, he would know where it would lead, otherwise, he would have blocked it off ages ago. However, she could not help the hope that came to the surface. She wanted out. She wanted to be free. She wanted to see her mom, to see her friends, to show them all how amazing she had become.

She wanted to show Bruce that she didn't need him anymore.

"Why are you helping me?" she finally asked.

Charlotte stood up and clasped her hands in front of her. "Let's just say. . .that I like you, I want to help you, whether you believe that or not is your choice. But you better go before the camera starts working again."

Skylar didn't need to be told twice, though she did ask for one more favor. When it was fulfilled, she let Charlotte, who was remarkably strong, pick her up until she got the screws loose from the vent. Then, she climbed up inside, taking one last look down at the woman before making her way through the system, taking a left like she was told, and then went straight. She sneezed several times while up there, the dust getting to her, the sound echoing.

She had to be traveling for at least fifteen minutes before something happened. She hadn't yet reached the end up but was approaching a part where there were four directions she could go in. Ahead of her was the way she was heading. The problem was a heartbeat was coming from the left and right directions, two separate ones, one quick, the other relaxed.

On instinct, her eyes glowed and she reached for the knife Charlotte had given her. It was probably just two inmates also looking to escape. If she had to go through them to obtain her freedom, then so be it. She stopped right before the place where the four directions met, her knife raised. The person from the left appeared first. The person from the right appeared last.

And then they bumped heads.

Skylar's eyes went back to normal when she saw who it was, her breath escaping her. "Selina? Ed?" The two instantly looked over at her, ready to yell at each other, until they sat her. They both gasped and then Selina smiled so wide it looked as if her cheeks were about to split.

"Skylar! You're okay! Oh thank goodness, now Bruce can finally shut up."

"Excuse me, am I missing something here?" Ed questioned, pushing his glasses up his nose, looking between the two females.

The fox looked at him and then at Selina, torn between relived or confused. "Look, there's no time for chitchat, I have to get the fuck outta here."

"Great! Do you know where the exit is?"

Skylar stared at him for a long time, to the point where he started to get uncomfortable, clearing his throat. "Why are you in Arkham?" He sighed which gave her her answer. "You stupid fuck. You got caught didn't you?"

"You know, for a girl your age, you curse too much."

"Who are you? My mommy?" She moved towards him, ignoring his taken aback expression. She stopped when she reached the two, close enough to kiss them both. "The way out is where Selina just came from. Keep going and you should find the way out. I'm going to Strange's office."

Selina went to correct her but one look from Skylar silenced her. "Yeah, Sky's right. The access to the roof is behind me. I'm gonna go with her to his office, steal some stuff."

"Okay, great, cool." He fixed his glasses again as Skylar shuffled ahead, continuing her journey without saying goodbye or looking back. Selina followed after her. "See you later friends!" He went in the direction the feline had come from and once he was out of earshot, the first words between them were spoken.

"Why did you lie to him?" No answer. "Skylar—"

"We will talk later. Right now, I want out of these damn vents. I feel like I'm suffocating."

They traveled in silence beside her sneezes which Selina had laughed at, nearly getting a kick in the face for it. Eventually, they got to the vent and Skylar broke the vent with ease, grabbing it so it didn't fall to the ground and cause a loud sound. She placed it in front of her and then jumped down, landing swiftly. Selina followed behind her. Together they walked to the double doors, shoved it open, and stepped outside into the night.

Skylar walked down the steps and stopped before breathing in the fresh air. Her senses were immediately overwhelmed. Her ears caught many different noises. Cars driving, animals scattering, birds cawing. So many heartbeats too. Her eyes couldn't find one thing to focus on. Should she look up at the glowing moon? The stars that suddenly looked closer to Earth? The bird's nest that was in a nearby tree? Her sense of smell picked up the scent of other animals but also. . .cinnamon? It smelt familiar. Then it hit her. It was one of the candles that Alfred used to light during meals. The smell was coming from Selina.

A hand pressed on her shoulder. A soft voice.

"Hey." Her heightened senses ceased to exist as her attention completely focused on her best friend who looked incredibly worried. "Sky. . .are you alright? What happened to you?"

Skylar looked at her without saying anything before she shook her head. "We have to go before he notices I'm gone." But when she turned around to look up at the building, she saw the man standing on the steps behind them, smiling like a proud father. Selina spun around and saw him as well.

"Go on," Strange encouraged, making her eyebrows furrow. "Go on, my child." His smile turned sinister. "He is out there."

Her features darkened. She knew who he was talking about. He had told her he would be free one day. This was her chance to get revenge.

"You stay the hell away from her you freak!" Selina snapped, putting herself in front of Skylar but Strange did not appear to be worried. Several guards appeared behind him, as well as Ms. Peabody. "Sky, run." But she didn't, all she did was stand there. Her friend turned to her with confusion. "Sky, run!" She still didn't.

"You're just going to let me walk away?" Skylar questioned him, looking right past Selina and at the man who turned her into the person she now was. "Just like that?" Then she looked back over at her friend and noticed that the skin on the back of her skin was oddly discolored. Her features darkened further. "You aren't Selina."

The girl turned to her and then dropped the act. Before her eyes, her best friend dissolved and then morphed into a creature with light gray skin, and black eyes with white iris. She took a step back, her eyes flashing orange.

"I told you, my child," Strange grinned. "Everything is a test. I knew Ms. Cobblepot would try to break you free so I made a deal with her. She helps you escape to see what your reaction would be and in return, she gets what she wants." Skylar didn't even bother asking because she knew already. Charlotte wanted to become an experiment too. "I wanted to see if you would remain loyal to me or if you would escape. I intended on taking you back when you did try to leave but I have changed my mind. You are now free to leave."

She took another step back, fists clenching. "They never found me. Bruce and Selina. . ."

"Oh, your friends arrived hours ago. Mr. Wayne asked for a tour of the place and I found nothing odd about the situation, but your feline friend was found in the vents and captured." He held up a hand. "Do not fret. She is perfectly safe as we speak. Mr. Wayne went on his way but I am aware that he is onto us." He was too calm. Way too calm. "Do not try to retrieve your friend or I am afraid I will have to take you back and put you in a very unpleasant cell. Now, I suggest you get going to Wayne Manor. He'll be expecting you."

And with that, he turned around and walked back into the building. The odd creature walked away from her. It looked like a man and yet it had the ability to shift into different appearances. Skylar watched them all walk away, unsure of what to do. If she went to the Manor now, got her revenge, she could come back for Selina. But if she went to save Selina, she'd be thrown into a cell. At least this way she could be free to expose Strange and his operation.

Skylar spun on her heel and then sprinted, her feet carrying her the whole way while her mind ran a thousand miles per hour. And as she ran, she felt free, truly free. The wind rushed past her face, her feet never grew sore. She felt incredible. But her mind was completely focused on one thing and one thing only. Her pace increased, her strides got wider. She ran through the woods, passing by tree after tree, the moon hanging above her.

Wayne Manor loomed in the distance. Her ears picked up the sound of gunshots. No. No. No. This was her revenge. She would not lose it, not now, not ever. Before, she used to be horrified by dead bodies. She threw up when she first saw someone die. She never imagined that she could take a life herself, only watching others do so and carry it around with them without a care in the world. Well, that was the old Skylar. The new Skylar was ready to do anything.

Four figures were in the distance near the gate. Bruce was the smaller one. He stood, holding a hand to his throat, coughing. Jim was helping him, holding a gun. Alfred appeared as well, looking over Bruce like a concerned parent. Behind them, a body rose from the ground. Jim rose his gun, ready to fire again. She ran faster, appearing at the gate, her knife gleaming in the moonlight.

"Oh good," she purred. They all looked over at her and the fourth figure turned around. She smirked at him. "I was hoping I'd be the one to do this."

"I don't even know who you are," Theo Galavan admitted.

She laughed darkly, her eyes flashing orange. "Allow me to remind you."

And then she lunged for him right as he raised his own knife, but she was quicker, slicing his throat cleanly, the blood splattering onto her face. She heard someone scream her name but she didn't listen. As he fell to the ground, she got on top of him, bringing the knife down onto his chest, stabbing him over and over again, blood getting everywhere. He didn't fight back, almost like he was programmed not to. Then he seemed to remember her because he got a certain look in his eyes. He was scared. His lips parted, ready to say a name but she didn't wait to hear it. She kept stabbing and stabbing until she finally heard his heart stop. Then she stopped her chest heaving, hands, face, and body soaked in his blood.

"Skylar," someone breathed.

She turned her head to see the three men staring at her, horrified. Bruce was the one who had spoken. He tried to walk towards her but Jim held an arm out to stop him. She laughed again, this time it sounded bitter and cold.

"Congratulations, dad," she purred, moving to stand, walking towards him, watching him take a step back, listening to his heart race. She dropped the knife, stretching her arms above her head, feeling lighter already, not even acknowledging the look of pure terror on all of their faces. Her voice came out so sweet, despite the blood of the man she had just murdered brutally, covering her once innocent skin. Then, slowly, a sadistic smile appeared on her face as she leaned her head forward ever so lightly, her bloody knife winking at them.

"I've finally become the monster you always thought I was."

———

Dark!Skylar is finally here everyone! This would have been the perfect ending to act two, but we still have two more chapters to go. This is one of the moments this book has been building up towards, aka, the moment when Skylar finally kills someone. I knew from the getgo that her first kill would be Theo. And now she's going to go on a very dark path. For a while, she won't be the Skylar you guys are all used to but don't worry, that Skylar will come back sometime in season three, once she gets a hang of her abilities and such.

There are three other huge moments in this book that has yet to happen so buckle up guys. The misery has just begun.

Also, the video I included above is a ship edit I made for Bruce and Skylar so please check it out!

I hope you guys have a great day/night and don't forget to vote on this chapter, comment your thoughts, and follow me for updates!

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