THE DEATH KNELL-Chapter 19: SHADOW BENEATH GOTHAM

The battered vehicle lurched violently from side to side, its wheels struggling against the treacherous, mud-slicked road. Rain poured down in heavy sheets, turning the path into a near-impassable mess of deep grooves and puddles. Every dip and sudden jolt sent the three passengers in the back crashing into each other, their bodies slamming against the interior walls of the cramped space.

From time to time, the burly man, Pete, let out deep, guttural groans of protest.

"Oh—!"

"Ah—!"

Slade Wilson gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to bark at him to stand his ground. Instead, he forced himself to ignore it, adjusting his grip on the overhead handle as the vehicle bounced over another deep rut in the road.

Internally, though, he couldn't help but grumble.

Batman has more money than most small countries. Why hasn't he paved this road yet?

When it rained like this, even the Batmobile had to struggle to get through, right?

Cindy, on the other hand, was completely unfazed. Her hands gripped the wheel with practiced ease, and she maneuvered the vehicle through the twists and turns as if she had driven this path a hundred times before. The road—if it could even be called that—was barely visible, swallowed by dense vegetation and ancient, towering trees that bent under the weight of the downpour. Thick branches scraped against the windshield, and vines, heavy with rainwater, lashed at the sides of the car.

One particularly stubborn vine snaked its way inside through the open window, slapping against Slade's armored shoulder before draping limply over Pete's face.

He recoiled with a muffled curse, batting it away as Cindy smirked.

Slade, however, remained silent. Without a word, he reached up and secured his helmet, the familiar weight settling over his head like a second skin. Cindy said this was the place. That meant there was no mistake.

The path eventually gave way to a steep incline, leading them down into a secluded valley. The storm had swollen the river that cut through the landscape, transforming what was once a shallow stream into a raging torrent of thick, yellow-brown water. The current churned violently, dragging fallen branches and chunks of debris downstream with a relentless force.

Most people wouldn't dare to cross in conditions like this.

One wrong move, and the engine would flood. If the car stalled mid-way, they'd be swept away in an instant—tossed downstream, battered against the jagged rocks, and ultimately dragged out into the sea.

Cindy, of course, had no such concerns.

With a confident shift of gears, she plunged the vehicle forward, sending water spraying in all directions as they powered through the rapids. The tires struggled for traction, the weight of the flood pressing against them, but Cindy never hesitated.

Several tense minutes later, the vehicle finally emerged on the other side, mud-streaked but intact. Without missing a beat, she steered them into the entrance of a hidden cave, guiding them down a winding path that stretched into the underground depths.

The transition was jarring.

One moment, they were surrounded by untamed wilderness, rain hammering against the car roof in an unrelenting rhythm. The next, they were driving on smooth, polished concrete, the cavern walls illuminated by a series of long, overhead lights.

Slade recognized the design immediately.

They were in the Batcave.

At the end of the tunnel, they reached a massive steel gate—one that bore unmistakable signs of forced entry. The heavy metal doors had been blown apart, jagged edges still blackened with scorch marks.

Cindy pulled up alongside a sleek, black silhouette parked near the entrance—the unmistakable shape of the Batmobile.

With a dramatic flourish, she shut off the engine and patted the dashboard.

"All passengers, we've arrived at our final stop! Welcome to your exclusive, all-access tour of Gotham's most mysterious landmark." She grinned, unbuckling her seatbelt. "Now get out before I start charging extra for overtime."

Slade wasted no time, pushing open the door and stepping onto solid ground. The moment he removed his helmet, he took a slow, deep breath, appreciating the dry air.

His gaze immediately fell on the Batmobile.

Up close, it was even more impressive than he had imagined. He reached out, gloveless fingers skimming over the smooth, reinforced plating. The surface was cool to the touch, its obsidian finish untouched by the dust and grime of the cave.

The machine was a masterpiece.

Its rear thrusters—massive and imposing—loomed like the gaping maw of some mechanical beast, while the aerodynamic curves of the chassis spoke of both precision engineering and raw, unfiltered power.

He had seen many variations of the Batmobile across different worlds, but this one... this one was unmistakably built for war.

Cindy leaned against the hood, watching him with amusement. "Don't even think about it," she said, arms crossed. "I already tried. Couldn't even get the hatch open."

"If the cave's security system is in place, that makes sense." Slade tapped the windshield. "Batman and Alfred don't mess around when it comes to locking their toys."

He turned to Cindy, his tone thoughtful. "Of course... if you really want to take it for a spin, we could always bring someone next time who can crack the system."

Cindy raised an eyebrow. "You mean Gordon's kid?"

Slade nodded. "She's one of the best hackers on the planet. If anyone can get past Batman's security, it's her."

Cindy hummed, considering the idea. "She that good in your world too?"

Slade smirked. "Oh, trust me. You don't wanna mess with her there. The second you try anything, half of the Justice League will be on you."

She let out a low whistle. "Noted. Sounds like I should stay on her good side."

Their conversation was interrupted by the rest of their group finally clambering out of the vehicle, eyes widening as they took in the full scale of the Batcave.

Vic Vale, always the opportunist, immediately pulled out a compact mirror, adjusting his appearance with quick, practiced touches. "This is incredible," he breathed. "Pete, get the camera rolling. I'm going live."

Slade rolled his eyes. "You can look, but you know the deal. No footage leaves this place."

Vic nodded absently, though Pete—who had been nervously glancing at the Batmobile—nodded much more enthusiastically. At least one of them had common sense.

Meanwhile, Barbara hesitated, uncertainty flickering across her face.

She hadn't expected to be here. She hadn't expected any of this.

But if there was even a chance of finding her father...

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Cindy gestured for her to follow. "Come on. There's a server here. If you can get through its firewall, you'll have access to every piece of information Gotham has to offer."

Barbara exhaled slowly, then nodded. "Let's do it."

As Cindy led her toward a cluster of monitors, Slade took the opportunity to explore.

His eyes landed on a display case against the far wall—a mannequin, shaped to fit a woman's frame, standing in an empty cylindrical chamber.

Batgirl's suit had once been housed there.

Nearby, a spiral staircase twisted upward, leading to what he knew would be Wayne Manor's study. And in the center of the cave...

A towering dinosaur model.

Slade's gaze lingered. It was supposed to be an elaborate security measure. A mechanical monster, designed to disable intruders.

But something felt... wrong.

His fingers twitched toward his weapon as he called over his shoulder, "Cindy... did you deal with the dinosaur?"

Cindy, still focused on Barbara's screen, responded absentmindedly.

"What dinosaur?"

Slade narrowed his eyes.

That one.

Something shifted.

And then, very slowly...

The dinosaur moved.