So
a few things happened since I first picked up the pen.Some good some
bad and others that just left me confused…like that New Years party in
Gotham…and when I went to Nick’s place.
The
Voice had given me the address to Nick’s place and told me to leave the
lighters there before cryptically telling me”I’d find out what I needed
to know there”.It also said I’d have to figure out how to get into that
rather exclusive party hosted by Bruce Wayne himself because apparently
I’m good at that sort of thing.
This is the nice picture of Gotham City on their website....
...and this is what the place actually looks like...lovely,isn't it?
Beyond that,I swear on my soul I could feel eyes on me,eyes that seemed one with Gotham City.
I let my feet carry me down the streets until I reached an alley near some abandoned apartments and quite literally heard the sound of something metal hitting the ground,feet scamper.Shook up,I took a peek to see if I was alone--Yes,and no. No one was there now,but I could feel the souls that got lost in Crime Alley and continued to haunt the place--I wanted to go in,find out more,but that wasn’t my mission now,another time perhaps …I just knew I’d be returning there,it was inevitable.
Anyway…Nick’s place.
The Voice was right when it said I’d find the answers I needed there,because Nick was a peculiar and paranoid man,and a very smart one.His apartment was set upon by a lock spell that only those he allowed in could or even would want to enter.And for some unknown reason,I’m one of those people.But I’m not an idiot and I wanted myself to be as obscure as possible,s I conjured up a spell that I somehow remember,that would temporarily allow me to become a ghost for a limited time--so I needed to work fast,which was hardly easy.
When I said that Nick was paranoid,well,this is why....
I found out a few things there,like the fact that super humans called ‘metahumans’ exist,that there are superheroes out there--yes,like you read in those little books as a kid,it’s a thing now and there are a shitload of mystics,mages,demons,conjurers and other dark beings that haunt this world.And to combat that,he found ways to protect himself from these people-him and “Johnny”.
I flipped through his notes for a bit,see what was there,tooks some pictures,even busted out a spell to cop it down,because this was good shit,like a survival guide really.
(Funny note...Batman the protector of Gotham City is in the unknown box with a bloody question mark over his head because according to Nick he's equally smart ,equally paranoid if not more so than Nick himself.He also marked Nightwing,who's identity is Dick Grayson--Zatanna's ex and one of the people Nick personally knows-- he will likely be there at the party--and it says "Do Not Engage" and to "Avoid Suspect Behavior"--that tells me that he's going to be watching me the moment I set foot in the place.)
(There's also an unknown new face in Gotham known as the Red Hood...and let's just say I hope I don't have a run in with him.While most supers play nice and villains gloat,this bastard shoots first and maybe ask questions if you survive it.Also ,under "Do Not Engage"....useful because it looks like I'll be here for a while.)
I found out a few things there,like the fact that super humans called ‘metahumans’ exist,that there are superheroes out there--yes,like you read in those little books as a kid,it’s a thing now and there are a shitload of mystics,mages,demons,conjurers and other dark beings that haunt this world.And to combat that,he found ways to protect himself from these people-him and “Johnny”.
I flipped through his notes for a bit,see what was there,tooks some pictures,even busted out a spell to cop it down,because this was good shit,like a survival guide really.
(Funny note...Batman the protector of Gotham City is in the unknown box with a bloody question mark over his head because according to Nick he's equally smart ,equally paranoid if not more so than Nick himself.He also marked Nightwing,who's identity is Dick Grayson--Zatanna's ex and one of the people Nick personally knows-- he will likely be there at the party--and it says "Do Not Engage" and to "Avoid Suspect Behavior"--that tells me that he's going to be watching me the moment I set foot in the place.)
(There's also an unknown new face in Gotham known as the Red Hood...and let's just say I hope I don't have a run in with him.While most supers play nice and villains gloat,this bastard shoots first and maybe ask questions if you survive it.Also ,under "Do Not Engage"....useful because it looks like I'll be here for a while.)
It was all fascinating really...Nick and this "Johnny" had managed to work out the likely identities of most of the crazies masquerading 'round in costumes,the alleged heroes and villains...some seemed legit,others farfetched but still--those two blokes managed to pin down so much information on these people and whatnot that it was insanity.
And I thought I was paranoid!
But it was only after I went through one of the particular notebooks that I came to a startling revelation...
I'm Johnny...the guy helping Nick with all this was ME.
The handwriting,the diction and I remember sitting n the desk and bitching about the coffee he gave me and Nick’s voice saying--
“So what if they've got super powers,we got magic that can do em’ all in Johnny.Hell…I think I’ve actually found something on kryptonian magic,so you know what that means…It’s a dangerous world, out there .You gotta protect yourself,right?”…I remember his voice,his smile,hand on my shoulder,a shrug and myself saying
“Fine…but we better hide it from Zee,she’ll throw a bloody fit”….
And I thought I was paranoid!
But it was only after I went through one of the particular notebooks that I came to a startling revelation...
I'm Johnny...the guy helping Nick with all this was ME.
The handwriting,the diction and I remember sitting n the desk and bitching about the coffee he gave me and Nick’s voice saying--
“So what if they've got super powers,we got magic that can do em’ all in Johnny.Hell…I think I’ve actually found something on kryptonian magic,so you know what that means…It’s a dangerous world, out there .You gotta protect yourself,right?”…I remember his voice,his smile,hand on my shoulder,a shrug and myself saying
“Fine…but we better hide it from Zee,she’ll throw a bloody fit”….
And I realized then that Nick and I were friends…Nick and I were friends ,like brothers maybe for how close we were.
We even worked on projects and experiments,invented spells and wrote a grimoire together (not that I found said book…it’s mentioned in Nick’s notes,but he likely has it wherever he is) .
I also know Zee was Zatanna,so it's utterly confirmed that we knew each other too… we were all close…I have clothes that were still in Nick’s (so does Zatanna) and this coat…it’s Nick’s coat.I had one like this I think,but the one I wear most of the time now is his…his bloody name’s on the tag,why I didn’t check I don’t know,why I feel so at home in it I don’t know…I left with just as man questions as answers,the biggest question being,if I had friends and people close to me,if I was in caring hands,why would I try to kill myself? What happened to me that was so bad that I’d throw my life away like this,when I had Nick in my corner? And conversely…why didn’t he stop me? Why didn’t anyone stop me? Did he know? Did he and I have a falling out?
The suicidal teenager in me tells me that nobody ever knows when you’re ready to go…but some other voice tells me Nick would know and Nick would care maybe…did something happen to him?
And this place seems to have been deserted for some time…there’s a cup of stale coffee on the table,roaches stated to show up,and I could drag my finger through dust…where was Nick?
I left his place and left the lighter right there in a place he could find.I also wrote a note telling him I’d been there and telling him that I needed his help,hoping maybe,something would come of it.
I left his place and left the lighter right there in a place he could find.I also wrote a note telling him I’d been there and telling him that I needed his help,hoping maybe,something would come of it.
The only person who knew these answers would have to be Zatanna whom I would meet soon.
But I never got to get everything out of her see,because of course it couldn’t just be a regular bloody New Years Party,no,demon had to show up and spoil the fun.
Just as well though,it wouldn’t be the first or last time I fought the forces of darkness,that was one thing I knew for sure.
