Chapter 23 Panic

"Ha. Ha. Ha."

The voice from the PA system was low and condescending. It made everyone's breath stop. The group of friends clung to each other in terror.

Lindsey held onto Damian as he stood stiff. She knew that he would have to go off and fight the man behind the explosion. But right now, she was terrified. More terrified than when she was at the Gala in an armed robbery all those months ago. She needed comfort from Damian in this moment.

"I think we should have some real fun," the voice said. "Bring out the gas, my henchmen."

"EVERYONE RUN!" Damian shouted above the screams. He grabbed Lindsey's hand and pulled her behind him as he ran.

Lindsey let Damian drag her through the crowd of stampeding people. She looked behind her to see her friends not to far behind them. Logan and Giovanni were behind the girls, making sure they were all together. Noah was in the front keeping an eye on Lindsey and Damian, leading the pack.

Damian was in his element, Lindsey noticed. He was trained for situations like this. Except, he was used to running the other way, into the danger. Where was he taking them? Where could they possibly go that would be safe once the gas was released? There were no enclosed buildings anywhere. The gas would seep through any cracks, anywhere.

Damian's mind was racing. The explosion happened towards the front of the fair ground, where the entrance was. They were trying to keep people in the grounds. Most people were running without thinking. Flight mentality. All they were thinking about was getting away.

Batman would be here soon, and he would want Robin's help. But he can't just leave Lindsey and the others. But there was no where for them to go or hide from the gas. And if they did find somewhere to hide, what excuse could he have to leave them.

He knew Lindsey wouldn't like it, but he would need to loose the group. He would find somewhere for Lindsey to hide, then put on the spare mask until he got back to his motorcycle where a spare uniform was hidden. That was the best chance. He just had to make sure she would stay there.

"Damian," Lindsey pulled Damian out of his thoughts. "You need to go. I'll be fine with the others."

Lindsey knew that her friends shouldn't know about Damian's secret. He needed to leave right now. He needed to go fight and save the others here. She could say that they got separated in the crowd when they asked where he went.

"No," Damian snapped. "I have to make sure you're safe first."

"Damian, go," Lindsey cried, tugging her hand from his.

Damian reached for her hand as she went to run for the group not far away. His quick reflexes caught her bicep, pulling her close to him.

"Damian, let me go," Lindsey cried. "You have to go fight."

"Not until you're safe first," Damian said quickly, tightening his grip on her arm. Lindsey let out a yelp of pain.

"Guys, let's head to the circus tent," Kelsey said. The group of friends had reached the arguing couple. "That's our best chance."

"Yeah, come on guys," Blaine said, tugging on the two of them.

Another explosion erupted from behind them. This time it was closer. Lindsey whipped her head around as screams and psychotic laughs called out into the night air. Tears came to her eyes. All these people, they were hurt. Many more were probably going to be hurt as well.

"Let's go!" Logan shouted, pushing them towards the direction of the tent. The group ran together. Damian grinded his teeth together. He held onto Lindsey, refusing to let go. He needed to make sure she was safe and get out there.

The circus tent came into view, relief went through half of the group. The other half was to terrified to do anything but run. From the distance they were they could see most people avoiding the tent in favor of running. Or maybe they were just trying to avoid the clowns inside.

The group tore inside, seeing the circus folk scurrying around. A few other Fair goers had found their way inside and were being taken care of by the circus folk. Haley was giving orders to those not helping the terrified people. He obviously didn't want anyone to be hurt.

"Haley!" Damian shouted. The group ran towards the Ringmaster. Haley saw the group running towards him, fronted by Damian.

"Damian. And friends. We heard the explosion and these people told us what's going on," Haley said. "Is it really-"

"Yeah it is," Damian said. "Can you keep us safe?"

"Course, my people are backstage. We have some gas masks back there," Haley said. "But you'll have to make a choice of who gets one."

"Women and children first," Giovanni spoke up. "Make sure the children and their mothers have them. Then go from there."

"It doesn't matter. Once the gas gets in, there's no hope," Damian shook his head. "For those who don't have masks, they're done for."

"Don't say that!" Abigail screamed. She looked like a mess. Her eyes were overflowing in tears. Snot and spit were coming out of her face. She had her hands covering her ears, nails digging into her head. She was the worse out of everyone. "Please. There has to be hope."

"This is the Joker," Damian said, his voice low and serious. "We're all his hostages. There's little hope once that gas is let loose."

"What about Batman and Robin?" Noah asked. "When they get here, they'll bet his ass back to Arkham."

Lindsey felt her heart clench in her chest. Robin was standing in front of them, telling them the one thing they didn't want to hear. Lindsey looked to Damian. He was completely still, not even his eyes were moving. Lindsey laid a hand on Damian's arm that was still holding her arm. Damian sighed before turning to Lindsey.

"I need to talk to Lindsey," Damian muttered, pulling her away from the group. They walked backstage behind a cabinet with costumes hanging out of it.

Damian let go of Lindsey's arm, before gripping his hair with both his hands. He turned away from Lindsey hissing in a breath.

"Damian you need to get out there," Lindsey was the first to speak.

"I know, but first I need to make sure you're safe," Damian said, turning sharply to Lindsey. "I won't loose you, not to that psychopath."

"Are you that scared of him?" Lindsey asked.

"I'm not scared of him," Damian scoffed. "I'm scared for you. You don't seem to be taking this seriously. He's caused so much harm, Lindsey. He won't think twice about killing you, or Ryeanne, or Giovanni, or that little boy crying into his mom's chest out there. This is all just a game to him. A game no one else but Batman and Robin should play."

"He's a villain, that's what villains do. And I am taking this seriously. Damian, I'm terrified." Lindsey reached for Damian's hand, placing it over her heart. Damian could feel it beating wildly. "But I'm also terrified because Robin isn't out there to knock some bad guys out. The more we fight about this, the less chance there is to save so many others."

"You expect me to just leave you like this?" Damian asked, grabbing Lindsey's shoulders. "You are my Beloved. No one else matters. Not your friends. I was ready to leave them in the crowd to make sure you're safe."

"You were going to leave them?" Lindsey gasped.

"To make you safe, yes," Damian said.

"No. That's too far. I know you don't care for them like I do, but do you honestly think I would just leave them?" Lindsey asked. "They're my friends. I know you want me safe, but there are other people out there. Others that can't protect themselves. So I'm only going to say this once, Damian.

"Get your head out of your ass. Go save lives like I know you can. And when you get back, I'll be here to give you a victory kiss. Go."

Damian stared at Lindsey in disbelief. She looked so sexy telling him off. She stood with confidence, something he'd only seen when they broke up. Just seeing her like this, made Damian fall even more in love with her. Lindsey was the only woman who could make him feel like he needed to bow down and worship her.

Damian took out his wallet, pulling out the mask he had stashed for emergencies like this. He placed it over his eyes. Lindsey was smiling up at him. He leaned down and pressed a heated kiss to her lips. He slipped under the tent and ran.

Lindsey went back to her friends. They were all grouped together with the others who found their way inside.

Giovanni was with some of the circus folk discussing something. Abigail was surrounded by Ryeanne and Kelsey who were comforting her. Juliet was clinging onto Logan who was rubbing her back. Noah and Blaine were playing with a little boy who was lost.

"Lindsey!" Blaine shouted once she noticed she was back. She ran up to Lindsey, leaving the little boy with Noah. "Is everything alright? Where's Damian?"

Lindsey's mind blanked. She should have thought of an excuse of why he was gone before she came out.

"He . . . went to go find . . . stragglers," Lindsey made up. "He wanted to make sure there weren't more people who need help."

"That's nice of him," Blaine said. "To be honest, that's not what I expected from him. Maybe he wants to be your Robin."

Blaine pointed to the Robin plush sticking out of Lindsey's bag. Lindsey looked at it with a knowing smile. Damian was already her Robin. Her hero.

"Maybe. So what did I miss?" Lindsey asked.

"Giovanni, Haley, and some of the others are seeing how many gas masks are here," Blaine said. "There's not going to be enough for everyone, so we can only hope Batman and Robin fix this quickly."

"Giovanni is helping take charge?" Lindsey asked.

"Yeah. Logan said that he wants to go into the police academy when he graduates," Blaine said. "He wants to be an officer. I never expected it from him, to be honest."

"Can I have everyone's attention?" Haley asked. "So we counted the gas masks, we have fifty-two. And we have one hundred thirty-five in here. If we give these to the women and children, eleven will have to go without and so will all the men."

Murmurs ran through the crowd. The men and teenagers with their families clung close. One woman began crying into the shoulder of her husband.

"But The Batman can still stop the Joker before the gas is set off," one of the acrobats said. "This is a last resort."

"Will all the women who have children with them come forward?" Haley asked. "We'll go from there."

"Miss?" the little boy Blaine was playing with tugged on her shirt. "Will you get a mask with me? Since my mom isn't here?"

"Of course, Donte. Let's go, okay?" Blaine said. She took the little boy's hand and walked to the front where they were handing out masks. She looked back at Lindsey with tears in her eyes.

"Lindsey," Ryeanne called, waving her over. She looked worried.

"What's up?" Lindsey asked, kneeling next to her friend.

"We have to make sure that Abigail gets a mask," Ryeanne said. "She's honestly terrified beyond terrified. I'm really worried about her."

"I know. Why are you telling me this?" Lindsey asked.

"Ryeanne isn't going to take a mask," Juliet said from Logan's chest.

"Ryeanne-"

"I made up my mind. If it means saving someone else, I won't take one. I've always wanted to take care of others before thinking of myself. So I won't take a mask. Besides one of the men who has a family need it more than I do," Ryeanne said.

"Don't say that. I know you take care of others, but for once, can you think of yourself?" Lindsey asked. "There has to be others here who won't take a mask."

"Like who?" Ryeanne asked. "Little-miss-sobbing-into-my-boyfriend's-neck? That girl helping the mother take care of her scared children? Most of these people want to save their own necks. And I'm willing to help them."

"If you don't take one, I won't either," Lindsey said.

"Lindsey, you can't be serious," Kelsey said. "What would Damian say if he was here."

"He wouldn't want me to," Lindsey said. "But I don't care. Damian isn't here and he can't force me to do anything. I'm my own person. This is my own choice."

"I won't take one either," Kelsey said.

"Well if you guys aren't, then I'm not either," Juliet said.

"Juliet, come on," Logan said. "You're literally shaking. Take a mask."

"Come on, man. You can't force her to do anything." Noah said.

"Well, I might as well do this," Juliet said. "I wanted to do this on the Ferris Wheel, but I guess since we're about to die . . ."

Juliet brought her hands to Logan's face, pulling him down to put her lips on his. The rest of the group's eyes widened. Logan's eyes widened before closing and wrapping his arms around her waist pulling her closer.

Once they pulled apart, Logan said, "You should have done that a long time ago."

"Seriously? We're about to die and you two finally decide to kiss?" Blaine asked holding the little boy, Donte, in her arms.

"We're not going to die," Lindsey said. "Robin and Batman will save us."

The PA system let out a shrill squeal outside the tent.

"Look who it is!" the Joker's voice came through. "Batsy and the Boy Wonder. Actually, you're not a kid anymore, are you kid? How old are you now?"

"Old enough to beat your ass, Joker," Robin's voice sounded far away.

"Uh, uh, uh. I wouldn't get any closer. This switch, right here next to me. I switch it and the gas caskets that have been buried all throughout the grounds will release enough Joker Venom to kill all the good, innocent people who came to the fair five times over. So, Batsy, what are you gonna do? HahahahaHAHAHAHAHA!"

Then the broadcast cut out.

"Quickly, ladies, come grab a mask. We need to be cautious," Haley said.

The remaining women rushed to grab a mask, Kelsey going and grabbing on for the incapacitated Abigail. After the women grabbed then Haley stood up.

"Ladies, we have three masks left, if any of you want one-"

"Give them to the fathers," Ryeanne called out. "Let them live with their families."

"Yeah, the fathers need them more than we do," another woman called out from the opposite side of the group. The remaining women nodded in agreement.

"You ladies are so brave," Haley said. "Those men with children ca-"

The PA system came on once again. "-AHAHAHAHA! That's it Batsy, struggle. Where'd Boy Wonder go? Who cares. Let's count down shall we? Ten. Nine. -"

The women and children quickly put on the masks. Three lucky dads grabbed the masks before rushing back to their families, slipping on the masks as they went.

"Eight. Seven."

Those without masks looked to their loved ones and friends. Giovanni came over to his friends. The group brought each other into a group hug. Blaine still holding the boy. Abigail was sobbing uncontrollably from underneath her mask.

"Six. Five."

Logan placed a kissed to Juliet's head.

"You guys are the best friends I could ever ask for," Noah said.

"Four. Three."

"I love you guys," Ryeanne whispered.

"Blaine, tell Damian, I'm sorry I couldn't give him that kiss."

"Two. One. Laugh until you die."

Lindsey closed her eyes tightly, holding the group into a tighter hug. Damian couldn't save the day, save her.

I love you, Damian. Lindsey thought as she heard a flick through the PA system.