Hands strum against a desk in a collected pattern. A constant. Said hands belong to a teenage boy. Average build. Average height. Light red hair, deep blue eyes. Fair skin.
This is Elias Crowe. Gotham academy's golden boy. Orphan, club leader. A+ student.
His face is blank as the teacher at the front of the class rambles. His eyes Remain focused up front. Giving the impression of focus. But behind that he's everything but.
******
(Elias Crowe Pov)
As the final bell rings. I take calculated steps to my locker. Dodging groups of students in the hall. The same practiced warm smile on my face.
I wave to some clubmates. Offering them a nod as well. Keeping up the facade of a friend.
"Elias!"
Turning slowly. I spit a blonde girl practically gliding towards me. Angelina Groves. Daughter of one of Gotham City's richest families. Heir to a multi-billion dollar fortune.
Her father is a business tycoon. Running a company only dwarfed by Wayne Corp. Her mother is a housewife. Both are clean from my assessments and investigation. Unlike most Gotham rich folk.
I've been 'friends' with her since middle school. Due to my assessments of her, she has a barely hidden crush on me. I'm not interested in that stuff though.
If I didn't have friends I wouldn't blend in. So she and some others will do, all so I don't stand out any more than I need to. Not that it matters if I do. I'm invisible.
"Hey, Angelina. How are you?" I offer a charming smile. Making Angelina blink before she smiles back
"Today was so boring! Sophomore years almost over. Aren't you excited? What do you plan to do over the summer?" Her question makes me mentally pause for a second before I shrug.
"Probably get a job. It won't be soon before I'm kicked out of the orphanage due to no longer being a minor. I have 3 years left." I mentally file looking for a job during the summer.
"Aww, you don't have to worry about that! Daddy said he could get you someplace to live when the time comes, he even offered you a place now if you want." Angelina offers as I shift into a flattered expression.
"Thanks for the offer. But I'd like to get on my feet through hard work. But I might take you up on the offer some other time." I reject her offer. But I also added that I might look for her dad's help so she doesn't pester.
"Awww."
I rub my hand through her head as a show of affection. Mimicking others I've seen, like those big brothers in TV shows.
She leans into my touch before I back up slowly. Grabbing my bookbag I wave her goodbye before exiting the school.
The walk to the orphanage will take me about 20 minutes. Going from the relatively wealthy and somewhat clean parts of Gotham to the more crime-ridden parts is quite the change.
The walk home Is quiet as usual. When I said I was invisible I meant it. I'd like to think it's some awe-inspiring skill of mine. A natural talent. But I know it's supernatural.
I'm a metahuman. If I don't want anyone to see me, they'll mentally file me out. Basically, their minds would skim over me.
Cameras flicker when I activate my power. I learned this when I was 10, but that's a story for another time. It also makes me deceptively good at what I do.
My mouth twitches as I spot some local police taking cash from some thugs. The one thing that genuinely and really irks me is the scum that takes bribes from other scum.
My eyes linger a few more seconds than I'd like. I silently remember the police officers' faces. Filing it in my head mentally for later. They'll get their dues. But tonight I have a different target.
The thugs can be ignored. They come a dime a dozen. Removing one of them won't change anything in the grand scheme of things. They'll be replaced in a day.
Batman's crusade to fight crime in Gotham proves this. No matter how scary you are. Crime remains in Gotham especially when you're scared to take the lethal options.
X-X-X-X-X
"Elias!
Miss Wilson yells my name. As I turn away from my homework briefly. Offering a kind smile to my patron.
"Yes, Miss Wilson?" I ask intently. As she sighs.
"Why haven't you greeted the others? They wish to play with you! You don't have to slave over your homework all the time!" Miss Wilson chides me as rub the back of my head in embarrassment.
"I just want to maintain my grades, Miss Wilson," I answer with an awkward chuckle. Miss Wilson shakes her head with a chuckle.
"You're gonna go places, Elias. I know it. Such a pure boy you are, come on. Dinners ready." I smile and follow her out of the room
But beneath my mask, I grimace. If only she knew. It doesn't matter because I have a goal in mind. A target.
'Tonight's the night'
X-X-X-X-X
At the dead of the night. When everyone in the orphanage is asleep. I remain wide awake. Staring silently out of my shared bedroom window.
The darkness of the room doesn't bother me in the slightest. The moon's illuminating glow cascading through the window is all the light I need.
I sigh. Checking the clock. 12:30. Gotham city police is now at its most active. In an attempt to aid Batman in any way they can.
The bat gives law enforcement hope. Makes them bolder. But he operates at night. So they've adjusted to his schedule.
And luckily. That works to my benefit. Dressed in all black. I open my bedroom windows. The rusty ladder hanging outside of it is my way down as I slowly climb out.
I move through the streets with a practiced motion. Each step is calculated. Not a single ounce of wasted energy. My target patrolling this area at night.
To the Gotham City police. Alexander Amari is an upstanding officer. Police captain. Kind hearted. And clean. But I know the truth.
He turns a blind eye to human trafficking, drug deals. And muggings for a quick buck. He fits my code. So he dies.
He patrols by himself. Many assume it's because he has balls of steel, I know it's because he wants to hide that he doesn't do anything during his patrols. He drives around. But that's it.
Good thing I have a plan. Flipping open my burner phone. I breathe out to mentally prepare myself and dial 9-1-1
"Gotham city police. State your emergency." A voice draws on lazily on the other side of the line.
"Help! I've just seen three men carrying a screaming woman into their van!" My voice is perfect. Concerned, scared. The perfect mimic of a distraught civilian.
"Can you give us a location of where the crime happened?" The voice on the other side questions somewhat serious now.
"Yes, on the corner of 5th Street and Newark Avenue," I state my targets local area of patrol. The closest cruisers besides him are all about 10 minutes away, good. He's the only one available.
"We're sending in an officer now. Please stay where you are." The voice softly commands me as I feel my face blank.
Hanging up the call. I immediately move away from the street corner. Heading into a nearby alleyway. My vision adjusts to the darkness with considerable ease.
The sound of police sirens sends the majority of the prostitutes scrambling away, thugs grumble and leave eyesight as well. Good, we have the streets to ourselves.
A Gotham City police cruiser parks on the corner. And a man steps out. His face in a scowl. Clearly not happy to be forced to investigate.
My eyes track him with the precision of a hot knife. I monitor his breathing. His every step. He favors his left leg, likely an injury sustained on his right within the last 5 years or so.
My hand clutches the syringe in my hand. My form moves with the dark as Alexander stands under a street light. Looking around in confusion now.
With a flick of my hand. I send a small pebble into a nearby garbage can.
*Thunk!*
Alexander's attention is now elsewhere. I move. My foot falls silent. It doesn't take any more than 5 strides to reach my target.
"Hey..." I speak in a low voice.
Low enough for just Alexander to hear as he turns in my direction freaked out. Just to have a full syringe of M99 or Etorphine injected into his bloodstream through his neck.
The effect is immediate. The man faints as I catch his falling form, the few who remain on the streets look away as I heft up the man's dead weight easily.
I do not need to worry about snitches or anything. I'm 'invisible'. So even if someone blabbers they wouldn't be able to properly describe me unless I wanted them to truly see me.
Placing the unconscious corrupt cop in the back of the Police cruiser. I immediately take the driver's seat and drive off. I turn off the sirens and the headlights. I'm a man of many talents. Afterall.
X-X-X-X-X
(Unknown location)
"*GASP*"
"Good, you're awake. Just in time." I mutter as I silently sharpen a scalpel.
My target is currently restrained on an upturn operation table. Naked. The preferable circumstance for what I'm going to do with him
"What the hell is this? Who are you!?" Alexander demands fearfully as I step into the light. His eyes widen as he takes in my appearance.
"You're just a kid! What the fuck is going on!?" He practically squeals as in a single motion I take one of his fingers.
Grabbing the dismembered appendage. I silently place it onto a nearby table. My trophy. One of many, and certainly not the last.
"My age is irrelevant Alexander. What is relevant is what I'm going to do with you." I speak blankly. The cop's breathing quickens as blood spurts from his wound.
"I-Im a cop! You can't do this to me! I'm a good guy!" Alexander tries to convince me as I snort. A genuine real snort.
"Is that so? I've been stalking you for quite some time, Alex. I'd say you're quite the opposite. Taking bribes from blackmasks men. Turning a blind eye to their operations. Ignoring the penguin's drug shipments?" I list off a few things he's done as his eyes widen in panic.
"How do you know that!?"
The man demands as I flick a butchering knife a small smile on my face as his already widened eyes widen even more. Any more and they'll be bulging out of their sockets.
"This can't be happening! Who the fuck are you!? What did I do to you!?" Alexander begins to hyperventilate as I sigh.
"To me? Nothing. Honestly, but to Gotham? You've done more than enough. Gotham City police doesn't need corrupt assholes like you in their midst." I answer truthfully.
"Please! My wife's pregnant! I have a daughter! I won't tell anyone you did this to me! I'll retire from being a cop! I'll do anything!" The man begs for his life as I school my expression.
"A wife and daughter huh? How would they feel to know that their husband or father is a corrupt piece of shit? Someone who's let human trafficking operations go on uncontested. Numerous young women and men were kidnapped and forcefully relocated under your eyes and u don't even bother." I pace a bit with a small smile on my face.
"You'll do anything for me? Then die."
"No! wait! please!"
His screams go ignored as I get to work.
X-X-X-X-X
Holding the dismembered body of the now-deceased Alexander Amari in a heavy-duty garbage bag. I engrave a coin with Gotham City's logo attaching it to the garbage bag with a pin. Leaving my Mark.
Throwing the bag into the back of the Police cruiser. I drive it to the Gotham City River and park it nearby. Making sure to silently tip the police on the location of the cruiser I head home.
I still have about 2 hours before everyone wakes up. A small genuine smile on my face after having had taken out the trash.
Making sure I remain 'invisible'. I make my way home in a small hurry. Good thing it's Saturday. So I can sleep In.
X-X-X-X-X
"Breaking news! Captain police officer found deceased in his police cruiser near the Gotham City river!" The reporter on the TV rambles on as the TV cuts to Commissioner Gordon making a public speech.
His face is grim as he stares forward at the screen. His hands cleaned hard on the podium. Almost unnoticeable but I could tell he was furious due to his expression.
A smirk finds its way onto my face before it vanishes. Good, looks like he's found the evidence. Alexander Amari was a dirt cop. And I provided proof along with his corpse.
"It is with a heavy heart that I admit one of my police captains has been murdered. Captain Alexander Amari, my heart lays with his family and friends." Commissioner Gordon speaks grisly as I pay deep attention.
"When we found him. His body was dismembered. And left in a trash bag, we currently have no rye witnesses. And a lack of evidence to suggest the murderer was anybody. But we do know this wasn't gang-oriented. But rather an individual we've known about for some time now." Commissioner Gordon admits heavily. He was then bombarded with questions by the press as I shake my head.
Is he not going to spill the beans about Alexander being corrupt? Guess he doesn't wanna ruin the man's former image. No matter. The trash has already been taken out.
"Oh my! Such a tragedy. I heard he was one of the good ones!" Miss Wilson holds a hand above her chest as I offer a sad smile.
"That's Gotham for you."
X-X-X-X-X
(Commissioner Gordon)
This isn't the first time a murder like this has happened. The coin with the Gotham logo inscribed into it. A dismembered body in a garbage bag, it's been going on for about a year now.
But this is the first time one of my men was the subject of it. Alex was a good man. At least I wish he were. The evidence provided by who we call the Gotham City phantom told the true story.
Alexander Amari, one of my closest friends. A trusted member of my force. Was corrupt. He took bribes regularly. Never reported on serious operations.
If someone like him could be corrupt then I have a lot of digging to do. Looks like my police force isn't as clean as previously thought.
My thoughts are interrupted by the familiar flutter of a cape. Turning around I come face to face with him. Batman.
"Do you have any idea of who could be behind the killings?" I question seriously as my ally of many years shakes his head slightly.
Normally he wouldn't be so involved in a murder case. There a dime a dozen in Gotham. But this is serious. A high-ranking officer was killed. By a killer who hasn't given even a small lead in a full year. 15 kills later.
We know each one of the kills was made by the same person due to the signature coin they leave behind. Like they're gloating. There's also a common amongst the victims. Each missing a finger. Like they're collecting a trophy or something.
"The Phantom is good. No fingerprints. No eyewitnesses, my only lead is that they operate the most during weekends. 9 out of the 15 confirmed kills were during the weekend. In turn. The other 6 were during the summer months I have a hunch it could be someone working a set of very specific jobs based on the killings frequency." That gets me to sigh. I've never met someone as intuitive as Batman is. Yet the most he could do was narrow it down to what. A few thousand people?
"Yeah, he's tricky. We have no video footage of the killer. Not even a speck. We have had eye witnesses but they've never been able to give an accurate description. Only describing them as average build, average height. And blue eyes." I admit. The only time we've gotten an eye witness they either had poor memories. Or something was seriously off. Something feels wrong about this. Almost supernatural.
We asked about facial characteristics. But they never could give any. Admitting they couldn't recall anything at all. Just a few small things that wouldn't help even a bit.
"The killer is a meta." Batman. As if reading my thoughts states easily. As I grimace. The possibility is there
"You think so?" I question worriedly as batman's eyes narrow.
"I do, I managed to recover traphic light footage of when the killer took Alexander's police cruiser and kidnapped him simultaneously." Batman taps a few buttons on his belt and a projection shoots out.
My eyes scan the footage. Alexander exiting his vehicle. Surveying the area. Then a nearby garbage can is hit by a small pebble. Making him turn.
That's when it happens. The traffic light camera begins to violently flicker as a dark silhouette emerges from a nerby alleyway. The figures steps are measured and calculating.
I scowl as I watch Alexander get carried into the back of his own police cruiser before it drives off. The car itself now holding the same flickering effect the silhouette held as it becomes hard to track it in general.
"Have you tried to track where the cruiser went? So we can atleast find their base of operations?" I ask seriously as Batman nods.
"I tried. But couldn't accurately track where the vehicle was driven. Not enough cameras. And whatever the phantoms powers are messed up most of them. I suspect he can control electronic devices. But that wouldn't explain why he's a blank slate. Why it's so hard for eye witnesses to describe him after the event."
I rub my eyes in annoyance. Looks like we won't be catching this guy anytime soon.
"This is going to be a headache..."