Darkness of the soul

The ride through the circles was taken in complete silence. Bruce was questioning why he would agree to drag his kids into this, he knew it’d be hell to try and get them to stay back however that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to try.

“I’m on my own from here on out, do you understand?” The bat said sternly as the dragon landed just outside the woods of suicide.

Dick’s gaze shifted up to the male as he silently hopped off the dragon, making his way towards the dark misty forest.

Bruce grit his teeth slightly and followed, grabbing his son’s arm firmly before pulling him back though he didn’t have to pull hard since Dick moved into an attack swinging his fist at Bruce. The older male stumbled back before glaring coldly at his son who didn’t hesitate to speak his mind, “No! You don’t get to pull this bullshit again, Bruce! I am so f*****g done with it!” The male growled, “I’m twenty five! I’m not a damn child anymore…. You don’t get to stick me on the sidelines because it’s ‘too dangerous’.. Because you’re scared.” The raven haired went silent as his stern glare eased slightly, “They have Tim, Bruce…. They’re threatening to hurt a lot of innocent people…..I’d rather bite a bullet than to stay on the sidelines and… Not try.” Dick softly winced.

Bruce sighed as his gaze shifted down, a heavy sigh escaping his lips as he pinched the bridge of his nose, “Fine….” was all the male could muster before pushing forward into the woods.

Damian gave a soft, bored huff as he hopped off the dragon and began following his family. He had his doubts however he wasn’t one to quit either.

The three walked the woods of suicide, looking over the souls trapped in the clutches of their selfish act. Their souls tangled in the sharp cold clutches of the trees where the insects used their ‘bodies’ as homes and pathways. Where the tree’s sucked them of every ounce of nutrience they had to offer. The souls in a constant state of reliving the wretched pain that had them take their lives to begin with. The trio could most certainly feel the gloom and despair in the air and as though that wasn’t enough the soft sobs of the souls acted like a forlorn choir reminding those who hear  its melody that deep dejected emotions follow one in death.

This melancholy atmosphere weighed heavily on Dick’s heart. As happy and positive of a person he was, depression had a way of creeping up on him. He couldn’t help but to wonder if he’d feel the same constant pain that these other spirits feel. His thoughts of gloom were soon broken by the sound of a shrill scream and like a thief in the night Dick sprinted without hesitation to find the source of the scream. He didn’t get far before he vanished from view behind the dense fog, Batman was next to follow in pursuit of his son not wanting to split up. Not wanting to lose him.

Damian followed for the sake of back up, whatever caused that scream may not be human and if that was the case then his ‘idiot’ brother surely couldn’t fight it alone.

The boy ran with haste trying to keep his father in sight however, within several paces the boy found himself being pulled under the ground. His eyes widened as he released a gasp but before he could release a scream he vanished into darkness.

Dick stopped and looked around searching for any signs of life, his heart was pounding in his ears while the sounds of weeping surrounded and echoed all around. He spun around searching for movement however only found himself to be lost, “Bruce!” He called out though his voice was taken away by the trees. He had made a grave mistake.

Bruce stopped and growled, the sonar on his mask unable to pick up Dicks heat signature due to whatever the hell was in the smoke, “Dick!” he called out, twirling around to find that he had lost both children. “Damn it!” The bat growled as his fist slammed into a tree, the only thing he could do was to keep moving, which he did.

Batman walked through the godforsaken woods though came to find that the fog was slowly fading. Up ahead his blue eyes were able to make out a figure.

“How are you liking my domain?” The voice inquired, the English accent being sweet as honey compared to the groans coming from the souls.

Batman approached the fallen angel with sheer anger and rage in his heart, he attempted to grab Ezekiel to lift him from the ground however soon discovered Ezekiel was nothing more than an apparition. “What the hell do you want!” Bruce snarled harshly as the brit gave a soft smile.

“I want you to call off your foolish mission… I was hoping to strike up a deal. Peace and the freedom to accomplish my great master plan in trade for your kids.” The angel spoke with a sinister smile.

Bruce growled as his eyes showed a hate they’ve never bore before, “You can take your deal and shove it up your-”

“Are you seriously willing to throw your kids away for the goodness of mankind!” Ezekiel growled harshly, “For what?! What is there that’s worth saving!?” The man asked before raising his hand causing the fog to swirl into images that showed examples of what the fallen angel was to say, “war, genocide, murder, rape, kidnappings, torture, hate, violence!” He yelled in a booming angry voice, his crystal blue eyes shifting to a deep fiery purple, “That’s the world you’re killing your bloody kids for.”

“....My kids are the only things that show me the flip side of the darkness I live within.” The bat spoke in a surprisingly calm tone, “They’re the ones that show me peace, amity, healing, respect, compassion, mercy, love, tranquility.”

Ezekiel gave an awed yet disgusted look as he stared at the bat, almost as though he were peering directly into his heart. Soon a smile crept across his face as he let out a soft laugh, “So you need your kids so you won’t snap and kill every living thing in your path…. All the more reason you should trade me.”

“I can’t… Because making this deal will strip away every ounce of divinity they have and I refuse to do that to them.”

Ezekiel growled, “Then I’ll strip away their godliness myself.” He spoke in a growl before his unholy aspiration dissipated just as Dick stepped out of the woods.

“Bruce?” He  asked as he approached, looking at the man whom had a clenched fist, “Where’s Damian?”

“They have him…”

“....How?” Dick winced.

“I don’t know…” The male responded as he began walking, the only way he deduced that Damian was gone was because of Ezekiel’s use of the word, ‘kids’ as in plural. Thank god Dick was still with him, he saved Bruce from the darkness and without him the man just may break down here and become the monster he always feared he was.

The two walked in silence through the dreaded woods, until they crossed the river of blood, styx. It wasn’t long after before the sound of an all too familiar cackle peirced the air. Bruce instantly felt hatred in him grow, the feeling so intense he felt as though he’d barely have the ability to control himself.
Dick felt this too… Only it wasn’t as intense for him.

“Batsy! Batsy! Batsy!” The voice called out before another spurt of laughter rung through the air.

“Dick, go hide.” Bruce ordered as Dick glared though before he could protest Bruce looked at him and spoke sternly, “I’m not losing you too.” He stated.

Before Dick could move away The Joker jumped down in front of them after doing a graceful front flip. He slowly stood, that sinister smile spread across his lips as usual, “Now now now! You can’t send this bird away! I didn’t get to hear him scream in agony yet! Ahahahaha!” He cackled, pulling a gun from his jacket before firing at the two.

Bruce used his cape to protect himself and Dick from the bullets soon throwing a batarang at the mad mans hand. Joker moved his hand and moved towards Batman, a knife in hand as he swung at him.
Batman easily caught the blade and punched the Joker in the stomach before throwing him to the ground. Joker rolled into the throw and shot Dick, hitting him in the side. As Dick went down Bruce felt something within him snap. Vivid images of Jason being beaten to death with a crowbar soon filled Bruce’s mind. The blood spraying across the floor, the hard thuds of the steel meeting flesh, the soft whimpers and yelps. This wasn’t the only filling the air. The sound of gunfire and the smell of fresh gunpowder filled Bruce’s nostrils as the violent images of Barbara being shot and… touched by the madman. Those layers of violence only got thicker and thicker as Bruce watched all the horrible things the clown did come into view, and now… to top it off he gazed upon his son, lying on the ground bleeding out.

Joker let out a laugh as he approached Dick, squatting over him with his long spider-like limbs.

“Now now now! Why aren’t you smiling pretty bird? Hehehe Don’t you know you’re on the verge of something grand here!?” The Joker laughed before cocking his head to the side, “tsk tsk tsk, you can’t die looking so...pained.” The Joker snickered as he tossed his knife between each of his hands, “Let’s make you smile.” He said with a sickening purr before grabbing Dick’s hair and forcing his face to gaze upon him.

This was the very moment The Batman had enough. With a sprint Bruce was quick to tackle the Joker causing both of them to roll along the platform. When they had stopped rolling Bruce was on top of the other male repeatedly punching him in the face. The sound of bone cracking and blood spurting out only fueled Batman’s maddened state, this circle of violence finally getting the best of him.

“I should’ve killed you a long time ago!” Bruce yelled out with hatred heavy in his voice, more punches following the previous ones.

Joker winced and growled struggling beneath the male, each punch revealing a less Joker like creature. A spider demon with many limbs, taking the form of the clown to induce the others madness, finally came into view. It’s task fully succeeding.
Bruce didn’t stop his blows even seeing that this creature wasn’t the man it was pretending to be.
Dick slowly stumbled to his feet, a pained groan escaping him as he yelled out for Bruce to stop but to no avail. Dick grit his teeth and ran at the male grabbing his fist. Bruce elbowed his son to get him off however Dick proved his resilience by not letting go.

“Bruce! You have to stop!” He yelled out, soon being knocked back by another hard blow.

Dick grunted and grabbed one of his grappling wires wrapping it around Bruce’s wrist before finally yanking him back, the spider demon laughing madly and demonically.
Bruce grunted and looked back at it coming to terms with how violent and out of control he had become. The male shook his head and stood up slowly backing away before looking down at Dick who was on his knees holding his side.

“Bruce.” Dick winced softly as his father figure knelt down beside him.

“Sh.” Bruce said softly, picking Dick up as he began carrying him out of the circle. His teeth grinding against one another hard as he tried to look towards the light. Focus on the things his son had once taught him. Focus on who he truly was instead of the man others were trying to mold him into being.
The walk, appearing to be an easy stroll was really an intense internal battle. A battle between two wolves. The good wolf and the bad wolf. A battle of heaven and hell happening within a single mortal. The pressure was almost too much to bare however the moment Bruce’s foot stepped over the line leading him into the eighth circle, the pressure let up. Dicks wound fully healed and the pain within Bruce’s soul finally went numb.