Voices

Chapter II: The Shadow
The bat car raced through the darkness, along the road. It was racing towards the end of the road into a sheer rock face. The car just went through the rock as if were nothing.
"Holograms! So very realistic!" thought McGinnis.
"What do you think, Shrieks up to his old tricks again?"
"No, it's not Shriek. I recognize the voice. It's like a ghost from my past has come back to haunt me again".
"Then who is it?"
Just then the car reached the pad in the cave. McGinnis got out. Taking off his cowl he asked Wayne again," So who is it?"
"He's been dead or inactive for the last 20 years. No one knows who he really is or whether he is even human. You can't see him, but he watches you, knows every move you make. He's present in every closed room always impossible to detect. I ran into him once a long time ago while on a case. There they called him..
" "Ha..haaa..aaaa.haaaa…", laughter filled the bat cave.
Bruce Wayne turned and spoke," The Shadow".
"Bingo!" spoke a voice from the dark." Pretty neat description of me Bruce. I am truly flattered."
"Quick computer turn on the lights", Wayne ordered.
Instantly the lights turned on in every corner of the room. The lights picked out a form, a shadow next to the computer.
"We know where you are, no use hiding now", Wayne called out to the form.
The form began to gradually materialize like a ghost. Standing before them was a tall man. A trench coat covered his body. A muffler covered his face. All you could see was his hawk like nose and fiery eyes. A hat covered the top of his head. McGinnis instantly put the cowl back on and attacked the intruder. The Shadow just sidestepped and dealt one swift blow to Terry, which sent him sprawling to the floor. Bruce Wayne cried, "Enough! I believe you are on business here like the last time. How may we help you?" "Well now that you mention it I came to Gotham on the trail of a hit man, one Thomas Pain a.k.a "The bullet". He got his nickname for his penchant of carving his victims name on the bullet. His signature weapon - an antique PSG-1 sniper rifle. He is wanted for murder of industrialist Lamont Cranston. But I came here for another reason. The bullet hasn't been active for quite some time now, mainly due to age. Actually he's almost as old as you. Lately he finished three assignments successfully. Word is that he has taken on a new assignment."
"Who's the mark?"
" Bruce Wayne!"
Just then the computer screen went on the web. Ian Peek was bringing a live telecast.
"…Speaking from Gotham's new high security prison, where a jailbreak has just taken place. Notorious criminal Shriev a.k.a Shriek has escaped from the prison leaving security guards at the prison dumbfounded.."
Wayne turned down the volume.
"This complicates matters."
"He'll probably show up tomorrow at big reopening of WayneTech. You had better watch out", Terry said.
"Let's analyze the suit", said Wayne, " It seems to coated by some kind of unknown toxin. A complete analysis will take a few hours".
" Let's call it a day, after all I have my speech to prepare for."

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