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Cannibalism

It’s only after a few more minutes, although it felt like hours, of sobbing everything out of my system, I finally get to my feet and start to walk for Arkham North.

I’ve come this far, and I’m not going to stop here. I can’t stop now. It’s all so close. The tunnel is just like the rest except for a small stone archway with a gate on the one side of it. It’s already open, making it easier to get through. I reach the other door and it opens, making me see Arkham North, as it is after the riot.

For the most part everything’s the same, expect for an abandoned medical van a few feet in front of the Intensive Treatment building. There’s also a two dead drivers outside of the van. I walk over and see neither of them have weapons. Of course they wouldn’t...what am I thinking? I look over to the security booths, one is broken into while the other is on fire. It figures that the rioting would’ve spread from here. As I look back towards the gates leading off Arkham island, I can see the bodies of more guards and even some patients near it along the path. I guess no one even reached the gate. Even I know I shouldn’t bother right now, since I wouldn’t be able to get the gates open and the cops might think I’m just some escaped patient. But then again....technically....

Never mind that. I just need to get to the people inside the building. I walk over towards the door and I’m lucky it’s still open. Half of me was worried some kind of lock system might have activated once the riot started. I walk through and am exposed to the familiar sight of the hallway leading to the Transfer Loop of the building.

I look and see how much has changed since the riot. From the edge of the drop where the lift is I can see that some of the windows were broken or completely destroyed on the security booth, empty bullets are all over the ground on some places, and the room is littered with bode of guards, doctors, orderlies and patients. But as I look, memories of what it was like the first time arrived slowly start to come back and I remember how it used to be. Only hours ago...and yet it feels like another life....

The lift it stuck at the bottom, meaning I need a new way down. There’s a ladder on both sides of the lift. I use the one on the right to get down to the lower level. Once there I look and see the scanner tunnel I’d come through before. But now, without any guards to escort me, I walk around it through one of the other passages on the left. I’m not sure why, but I feel like if I went through the scanner tunnel that it might suddenly close on me and trap me. Call it paranoia if you want. In this place, that’s considered a mild illness.

I see how odd it is walking under the metal supports and beams that keep the walkways and the booth itself up. I can see the door leading to the rooms on each side of the scanner tunnel, thinking I could use that as a hiding spot if worse comes to worse. I reach the doors and try to open the left one. For some reason I doesn’t open. I guess that was one of the few doors to have an auto lock or something. I worry if the other door has the same.

Thankfully I’m wrong. The one door on the right opens and I manage to reach the hallway leading to the elevators. I walk down it, passing Cash’s office again. That reminds me of the fact this is the same hallway I walked down when I first came here. Feeling more and more déjà vu as I walk down towards the other door. The memories of walking with the orderlies, the doctor checking on me before passing by, the frightened feeling I had the whole time from not knowing what would come next. Only so long ago...and yet oh so long ago....

Finally at the end where I reach the elevators. Both are all the way down at the bottom floors. I remember the guard talking to Cash over the walkie-talkies saying how he and the others with him were in one of the booths overlooking the elevators. I look up to the booth above me and hope they’re in that one.

I walk up the stairs leading inside and, to my rotten luck, no one’s there. At least I know now. I can assume they’re inside the one on the lower level. But there are signs someone had been here. The chair overlooking some of the computer equipment is on its back on the floor, there’s a pack of cigarettes lying on the desk nearby and a lab coat on the floor.

I walk out and am about to push for the elevator on the right to come up, but to my surprise it’s already on its way before I push any buttons. I look down to see the box slowly coming up and a small part of me is anxious to see who it is. Maybe it’s one of the guards or the other survivors coming up. If that’s the case then I’m already in the clear. But then another part of me thinks....what if it’s not them? A 50/50 chance on this, and given what I’ve been through tonight, that’s not good enough for me to stand and wait.

I need to hide to wait and see. It’s coming closer now. I can see a spot: on one of the sides of the elevator where whoever’s inside won’t be able to see me. I keep watching the steel cord holding the elevator up keeps moving, bringing the box further and further up towards this level. I keep hoping and hoping that it’s someone who can help me. Someone I’ll be safe with. Closer now. I can see the top of the box slowly come up. This is it. The moment of truth. But now I can smell the faint stench of....sewer water...
.....oh no....

Once the elevator stops and I hear the door to it open, I see it....a large scaly green hand, with large black nails...or claws...grab the top of the elevator. And a second later...the rest of it steps out and stands as tall as it can.

He stands about ten or twelve feet tall, his head nearly high enough to look into the booth above. His entire body covered in scales of dark green, probably like the water he would swim in. All down his back are small bumps like spikes or thrones you’d see on an alligator. When I can see them, around his wrists are what’s left of giant cuffs that were used to bind his hands; the small links of chain hanging down from each of them. The most clothing he has on are his large pants with the Arkham logo on them, making me think these are either what’s left, or all that was given, as his inmate clothing. Then, when his face is in view, I can see his inhuman features; his very small holes that were his nose, his large under bite, the fact it was a little hunch over from the back of the neck, the sharp scales coming from his chin, the small yellow eyes looking about, and the large jagged razor teeth sticking out from his mouth.....Killer Croc....I’m in the same room....with Killer Croc.....

Once he’s fully out and standing he cracks his neck twice, giving a low growling sound liked you’d hear from a crocodile. He then walks over to the other elevator shaft and looks down. I can see him examining it, the whole time I’m holding my breath and trying not to make the slightest noise. I look closer at his mouth as he’s looking down...and there’s a red stain on his bottom jaw....and some on his teeth...

I hear his horrible voice when he says “Heh. Guess I lost him.” Before starting to walk towards the door.

I start to feel a bit reveled at the fact that he’s leaving...but then he stops right in front of it...and starts sniffing the air. Oh god...does he know I’m here? Can he smell something off of me? Maybe it’s the dirt from my clothes? Maybe it’s just some human stink that someone like him can sense. But then I look at myself and then at what it’s mist likely he’s smelling....

...the cut on my hand....the damp bandage around it....he smells my blood....

I sneak around to the other side of the elevator, just as Croc is coming towards where am I. Got to keep out of sight. Maybe he’ll give up if he never spots me. I can’t tell what he’s doing while I’m hiding. Maybe leaning down and trying to look around the spot I was before. I can see as his body’s moving from where I can see, meaning I need to move again to the next side.

Just need to keep out of sight. I could run, but then he might be able to catch me that way. I can hear him sniffing more and more as he looks around. I manage to see his bulk of the body above the elevator. He’s moving in the opposite direction, trying to trick me. Two can play at this, gator face.

I move back to where I was, hearing him growl a little when he looks over again and nothing’s there. At this point I can hear him moving again and start to move to another side, finding myself back behind the elevator side opposite the doors. I can hear more movement but I can’t tell what’s happening. Then I hear the door open and close. I hesitate before slowly moving to the right to peek out. I peek my eye out, slow as possible. Nothing. Over to the left. Nothing still. I’m starting to think it worked and he’s moved on. I move slowly to the front, still keeping my back to the elevator in case. No sign again.

I take a deep breath before walking out in front of the elevator. I did it. I avoided being Croc’s next snack. I’ve heard enough stories of people who’ve crossed him and ended up missing, only to be found a few weeks later....but not all the pieces. I wipe my head from the sweat I’d made from all the hiding and worrying.

But just as I turn towards the door, it opens...and he’s there....him seeing me...me seeing him....he tricked me.

He give a loud roar, making me scream. I run towards the other door leading out, just as he pokes his body out of the door entrance, trying as hard as I can to run. Once the door opens however, and I run as fast as I did, I trip over a dead guard who was left lying there. I fall face-first to the floor before turning and seeing Croc towering over me and laughing.

“Looks like this little fish couldn’t swim away fast enough.” He says, coming slowly closer towards me.

I back away while still on the ground, pulling my body with me as I look up at the monster that’s licking his chops for me. More and more I do, but he keeps coming closer, with that hungry look in his eyes.

“Don’t bother running, girly. You wouldn’t make five feet.” He keeps saying.

I just keep mumbling to myself “No....no...” while still backing up.

“Here’s the thing, precious, I’m a big guy who needs a lot to eat. I just had a run in with Zebra Man and well....let’s just say he was a little scrawny to fill me up.” He chuckles.

I hear this and keep thinking......oh god....he’s already eaten someone...and he’s not done...

“So let’s just make this nice and easy....well for me anyway.” He says before reaching down for me.

“No! No!” I yell, trying to get to my feet.

By the time I turn to see the door still way down the hall, I feel as Croc’s hand wraps around my chest and waist. I then feel my feet leave the ground and my body being turned around to come face-to-face with Killer Croc’s tooth filled smile. I struggle, trying to push away one of his fingers, all the time give brief but sharp screams, looking at him. It can’t end like this. I’ve come too far. I’ve avoided being, shot, stab, frozen solid, burned alive, and ripped to pieces by a giant bat....I don’t want to be eaten alive....

The whole time this happens, neither me or Croc notice the other elevator coming up.

“That’s right, lady, keep struggling!” he says. “Keep screaming! It makes it all the better when I take that first bite!” I see him examining my body before saying “I think I’ll start with a leg first. Tends to be the most juicy!”

I feel his free hand grip around my leg, just above my knee, and I scream more. He’s going to kill me. No one’s around to save me. He’s going to break me into pieces and eat what’s left. They’ll never find me whole. Only pieces. Pieces left God knows where. I feel him slowly start to pull my leg. It’s can’t end like this.

“Solomon Grundy....”

I don’t want to die like this. I can’t.....wait....

I look as Croc hears it too. By the time her turns around to see what made the sound, he’s met with a giant punch to the face.

“...Born on a Monday!”

Croc falls to the ground, dropping me in the process. I shake my head to relive the sensation before looking up to see Croc still recovering. He drop me a little bit behind where he landed. But then I look to see what hit him, and am not sure if I should be relived or more worried.

A giant hulking pale skinned brute, about as tall as Croc, is standing there. I can see his bare feet and hands, both having gnarly looking nails that have gone black. His only clothes a large black shirt, with its front open exposing his chest, and pants, with a large thick rope around his waist acting as a belt, that are short that they barely cover his knees. Are certain areas of his body, like across his chest, on one of his knees, around the forearm, are large scars that look like they’ve been stitched over with giant tools. And then I look and see his face, short white hair on top, a very mangled looking face with a moth filled with yellow teeth, and eyes that seem dead white and yet still animated. I can’t tell if I’m looking at Solomon Grundy or something related to Frankenstein’s monster.

I hear Croc standing up before looking and saying “You again? I thought I kicked your zombie ass and left you to die...again!”

“Christened on Tuesday.” Grundy says. “Grundy not lose to lizard man! Grundy crush lizard man!”

I realizing I’m standing in the middle of a sideline between two giant brutes about to duke it out here. I don’t know where to turn or who to root for or even what to do. All I know is I need to stay out of the way as much as possible or else be crushed in the middle.

Grundy and Croc walk up towards each other, Grundy rearing his fist for another punch. But Croc manages to catch his fist before he can, making me realize I’m in for on hell of a show.

“Alright, worm food.” Croc says. “Let’s DANCE!”

He punches Grundy back before charging towards him. Grundy catches him and his pushed back a bit before holding his ground. He then throws his body against the nearby wall, making a large crack in it. Croc recovers, roars, and then punches Grundy in the stomach before taking his arm and throwing him against the wall again.

I stand where I am, watching this clash of titans, too afraid that f I move the wrong way I could end up being crushed. I then see as Croc is pushing Grundy back towards where I am and I need to move. I jump out of the way as he lands on the ground, Croc above him and trying to bite him.

Grundy holds him back by pushing against his lower jaw before kicking him in the chest and sending him back. Croc lands against the iron bars that separated the two hallways, taking the entire thing down once he lands against it. By the time he recovers, Grundy walks over and kicks him in the face.

I watch as Grundy lifts Croc up and then slams him against the wall on the other side of the hallway and then tosses him. I move away again as Croc lands towards me, only to see him get up and roar again before charging towards him again. I need to find somewhere else to stay out of it.

I walk out the door nearest me and see I’m back in the elevator shaft. The one elevator on the right, the one Croc had come up in, has gone down again. I assume it went down automatically for some reason. I look back to the open doors and still watch the fight.

Croc is wailing his fist against Grundy’s face over and over. It’s only in a brief moment that Grundy finds an opening and grabs his fist before pushing it back to hit him. He then gives Croc another good punch to the right side of his face before giving another to his jaw. Croc stumbles back before Grundy charges and picks Croc up.

I stay to the left as I see Grundy slam Croc through the doorway, as the door was closing, breaking it, an leaving Croc on the ground. He then picks Croc up by the neck and slams his fists into his face over and over. I can see blood starting to come from Croc’s nose, and even one of his teeth fall out.

Finally Grundy see’s Croc is out and drops him on the ground. He then turns to me and I can see there’s large claw marks across his chest, possibly from something that happened when I wasn’t looking. He starts to walk towards me and I only stand there, too scared and anxious to move. He just saved me from Croc, but I don’t know if that’s just because he wanted me to himself.

“Married on Wednesday.” He says. “Grundy not let Lizard man eat pretty lady.”

I relax a bit, still intimidated by Grundy, before saying “Th-thank... thank you.”

Suddenly he reaches down and I close my eyes, afraid he’s going to crush me. But then I don’t feel the killing crush of a giant palm and open my eyes. Instead he’s brushing his finger against my hair. With it so close I can smell the dead smell of decay and rot from his skin. I half choke, trying not to gag from it.

“Took ill on a Thursday.” He continues, rubbing my hair. “Pretty lady.” he says, giving a very gross looking smile.

I give a slight one back before lightly pushing his finger away with both of my hands. Now I know how Faye Ray felt with the giant gorilla. But a part of me is glad Grundy’s being so nice. Who knows. I might be able to convince him to help me. Someone like that to help could keep anyone away from me. If not that, at least he saved me from Killer Croc.

“Worse on a Frida-AAHH!” He screams.

I see Croc had recovered and managed to jump on his back. He sunk his teeth into Grundy’s neck, right where it meets the shoulder. Both struggle as Grundy tries to throw him off while Croc keeps digging his teeth into him.

“Died on a...Saturday!” Grundy yells, still struggling.

I then see that all the struggling and stumbling Grundy’s doing is leading him and croc closer and closer to the elevator shaft. The one that’s empty.

“Watch out!” I cry out.

But it doesn’t work. Grundy goes further and further back until both of them start to fall off the side.

“BURIED ON SUNDAAAAAAAaaaaaaaayyyy.” I hear him yell all the way down.

I listen before I hear a loud crash all the way down at the bottom of the shaft. I run over and look down, getting on my knees so I don’t accidentally fall off. I can’t see anything from here, only a cloud of dust or smoke from where they fell. I needed to go down to the lower level anyway.

I take the other elevator still up, the one Grundy used, and ride it down to the lower level. The whole time I’m hoping that Grundy may still be alive...sort of. But then I realize the whole time I’ve been forgetting what I came here for to begin with: the other survivors. They’re still down there too. But at the same time I still want to check for Grundy.

I finally reach the bottom, wait for the door to open, and then run over to the shaft again. I still can’t see anything because of how dark it is down there, but I can see the vague shape of the broken elevator cart. Nothing of Grundy, or even Croc. I can’t help but feel sorry for the big zombie....I mean he did save my life. I can only take comfort in knowing that his sacrifice means I’m closer to safety, and that he may just still be alive somewhere.

I then look up to the booth overlooking elevators, trying to see if anyone’s inside.

“Hello?” I call out. “Anyone up there?”

I can’t tell from the way the windows are designed. I keep thinking, and hoping, that they didn’t answer because they didn’t hear me. I run up the stairs to it. Please god, let them be there. I finally reach the room, and they’re there....but not as I’d hoped they’d be.

There are five bodies in the room, two guards, three doctors, and one orderly...the other one who escorted me before, Will. All of them have horrified looks on their faces. One of them has what looks like foam coming from their mouth, another looks like he was trying to claw his own skin off or something, given how the scars on his arm looks.

I fall to me knees and shake my head. Dammit, this can’t be happening. I’ve come all this way...survived one thing after another...escaped near death so many times....only to fail? I can’t believe it.....it was all for nothing. I start to cry again.....it’s all be for nothing.....Emily and Jason are probably dead....Grundy’s gone....these survivors are dead...I doubt anybody else is probably alive....I’m all alone on this island...

Dad....this is all your damn curse’s fault....and it had to happen to me didn’t it? Every single thing in my poor excuse for a life all stems from that damn curse.....why? What did I, or my father....my mother....Jason....Emily....anybody do to deserve feeling it’s effect? Maybe I should bother anymore....should just lay down, with the rest of these bodies...and wait...wait till rescue...wail till another psycho comes along....wait for death...just wait.

But then I see something, something on one of the monitors in the booth. I can tell they’re hooked up to a bunch of cameras all over the building because some of the rooms and images they show are familiar to me. I walk over and look, thinking I’d see something walk by one of them.

So far nothing. My eyes are darting back-and-forth between each of the six different screens. Finally I see it. Inside the holding cells room I was in before. There’s someone in there. I know, I can see someone in a lab coat walking around in the room. I can’t tell who it is, but I know it must be a doctor from the lab coat they’re wearing. There’s someone still alive out there. I need to get to them.

I rush out of the booth and towards the doorway to the lobby. I need to get to them before it’s too late, before they’re gone or dead. Please let me reach them in time. Please let me be safe.