“But I did Jonathan! I-I broke Bruce's no kill rule during my reconnaissance mission. Oswald's men caught me. Last thing I saw they overwhelmed me before I blacked out. I woke up and there was so much blood.” Cassandra cried. “The Miller Harbor Massacre? That was you?!” I rhetorically stated. How could anyone forget, The Miller Harbor Massacre, the biggest bloodbath in decades was on every news media platform known to man. Last I heard it went international. More than a couple of dozen of Oswald's men slaughtered. Pressured and frightened out of his wits, Oswald laid low. The GCPD spent months struggling to figure out what happened, but the trail went ice-cold with no leads. Turned out Bruce knew who the perpetrator was and could have told them. “Does Roman know?” I asked. It took Cassandra a couple of minutes before she could answer. “Y-yes. Roman's knows e-everything.” Cassandra stuttered. Now for the real question. “What do you fear will happen if you keep killing?” I asked. “I fear turning into David. His life revolves around killing, and I do not want to kill anymore. Oh Jonathan, I remember all the lives he had me steal. Men, women, children, the elderly…" Cassandra sobbed in her hands. The professional barrier between Doctor and patient vanished, and I sat next to Cassandra who continued, “Charles was just as cruel you know? The thing is, when I told Roman what David did to me it revived his memories of Charles tormenting him. Lorenza did nothing to protect Roman. The only reason why she stayed with Charles was the wealth Janus Cosmetics brought in. She sacrificed Roman, exposing him to Charles's abuse. Falcone's men mistreating Roman did not help his circumstances either.” Cassandra mumbled. The two bonded with one another through traumatic events and experiences. The same way Jason and I opened up. Could I possibly open up to Cassandra? “I had a feeling Roman's feud with David was far more personal than he lets on. He is not fighting to keep you out of greedy possessiveness. He is protecting you from a brute who was meant to be your Father. A flawed person, but Roman's heart is in the right place. Roman is not alone. Many of us understand the position you are in.” I said. “Yeah, I know. Harvey, Jason, and I were talking about that the other day. Harvey and Roman share a tight-knit relationship because they see eye to eye. How was your Father?” Cassandra asked. I pushed through my second thoughts. “I did not have a Father. He left my hometown, Arlen, before I was born. The woman who gave birth to me, Karen Keeny, abandoned me right after my birth.” I said. “My God, that is awful. If neither raised you who did?” Cassandra asked. “Great-Grandmother Mary Keeny. Merely flesh and blood. Mary never showed herself to be the grandmotherly type. To be accurate Mary, a wicked religious zealot, was the opposite of Dr. Thompkins in every way possible. She hardly raised me. Instead, for as long as I can remember I grew up in poverty taking care of her. Doing all the housework, while I slaved away on the Old Keeny Plantation. If you were not good in Mary's eyes she locked you up in the Keeny Aviary Chapel coated with her fear potion.” I said. “Then what?” Cassandra asked sitting on the edge of her seat. “Provoked by the fear potion the crows attacked. As a child I suffered from corvidophobia, the fear of crows, until I discovered it was not their fault.” I said. I then unbuttoned my tattered dress shirt unveiling my scars, claw marks and pieces of my flesh missing, across my back and slender limbs.
Gotham City Stadium, neighboring Gotham University and home of The Gotham Knights. Since the beginning of their existence The Gotham Knights were bitter rivals with The Boston Colonials. The same city David originated from. “Nah, I fuckin' hate sports. This is the first time I've set foot in Gotham City Stadium. My parents failed pressurin' me to become a jock like Chip Shreck. I stuck to my leather. To tell you the truth Red, you remind me a'my younger punk self.” Roman laughed. Roman, Jason, and I prepared behind closed doors. “That makes three of us.” I said. “Targetin' this place on top a'your fear for sale stunt, you obviously have a grudge against sports. Did the jocks bully you for bein' a bookworm in school or somethin'?” Roman asked. “Yes along with their girlfriends. They got theirs when the time came. Do not tell me, Chip was your childhood bully.” I said. “Just below my Father. Until I knocked that douchebag's teeth out hospitalizin' him. Well worth gettin' expelled for it. I had zero desire to be at that damned school anyway. All the fucktards at Gotham Heights High School hated me for penetratin' their masks.” Roman said. “Yes, Dr. Blood's Face Reader theory is spreading. Do you believe it?” I asked. “I don't know.” Roman said and shrugged it off. “Anyone who kicked Chip Shreck's ass is good in my book. Who knows, at the end of the day, we can be good friends.” Jason chuckled. Roman jerked at the word friends. “How sweet a'you Red. Last week you wanted to blow my brains out. My irresistible qualities durin' my drunken babble must've grown on you.” Roman bantered. I sensed Jason's disappointment. “I'm being serious. If you pull through this I want us to start over. No matter what, rich or poor, a neglected child in Gotham is a neglected child in Gotham. I know you're aware that you were coerced and exploited as a adolescent.” Jason said. Oh Jason, you make room in your heart for everyone you view as a victim. “What did you do to your roughneck Johnny Boy?” Roman asked, evading Jason. Caught in the middle I glanced at the two of them back and forth. “I… dressed in my first Scarecrow uniform. I jumped on his car causing it to crash. Paralyzed him and killed his girlfriend. Not the smartest idea, but the risk was worthwhile.” I said. “No shit, I hope that'll be the only time you go hoppin' on cars. Glad to see you didn't cripple yourself.” Roman joked. Roman finished preparing wearing nothing but trousers. I slipped my syringe of the fear removing toxin out of my trench coat. “Please allow me to inject it.” I said. I grasped the arm Roman held out and felt his median cubital vein. Locating the best spot the syringe went in. “Because this formula is less potent, It will take a few extra moments for the toxin to take effect.” I said. “Alright, let's rock and roll and kick another roughneck's ass.” Jason said. When the three of us walked outside Rogues, except for Harley, Lady Shiva, False Facers, Vigilantes, Gordon, Dr. Blood, Dr. Thompkins, and Mordred himself were there to greet us on the stadium's seating. Montoya and the GCPD stayed behind to guard our territory. Still no signs of Morgaine le Fey. Roman froze at the sight of Bruce who met eye contact with him. Selina sat next to Bruce. Alfred must have stayed with their daughter, Helena, back at the Batcave. “Please do not let him bother you.” Cassandra said, dressed in a magnificent beaded black flapper gown with elbow length black gloves, heels, long black onyx necklace, and fully done 1920s cosmetics. The feathered headband around Cassandra's bob cut made her look like a juvenile crow. Cassandra stood between Carlo and Anastasia. “I know you dislike me wearing makeup, but Anastasia insisted.” Cassandra said. “No, I like it. You look beautiful.” Roman breathed spellbound. “Black onyx, for strength and protection against evil.” Anastasia added as she pointed to the necklace. “We need to go Sorellina.” Carlo said, who's arm Cassandra held. “Not yet, there is something I have to do.” Cassandra said. Cassandra released Carlo's arm and threw herself on Roman.
