Scarecrow- Steel Rod

  Scarecrow was gone.

  What the hell is going on?

  He felt a sudden pain to the back of his head, gasped in surprise, and fell to his knees.

  Scarecrow was behind him, a steel rod in his hand, and he hit Batman with it again and again until Batman could barely see him, let alone think.

  “Let me help you, Batman,” Scarecrow said. “You’re afraid of dying, aren’t you? But you’re not dying—even if you wish you were. My toxin is filling your lungs, drowning you in your greatest fears.” He raised the steel bar over his head and slammed it down again.

  The bar hammered Batman’s face, smashing him back to the ground, but he refused to scream. Scarecrow stood over him, placing his foot on his opponent’s throat.

  “What can you see?” he demanded. “A city engulfed in fear? Your life betrayed by those you trust the most? Your darkest secrets revealed? What can you see?”

  The Joker leaned in close to Batman and laughed.

  “He doesn’t know it, but he’s talking about your parents’ deaths. That’s still our little secret. Oh, and your next greatest fear, turning into me. Well, sorry to tell you this, but that ship has sailed. You’re already ninety percent there.”

  “NO!” Batman shouted. “I’m not you. I’ll never be you.”

  “Who are you shouting at, Batman?” Scarecrow asked. “What fears are you experiencing that are agitating you so? Actually, it doesn’t matter if I know—not as long as you do. So as I tear your mind apart, Gotham City will watch. And when everything is ready, I will cut that mask from your face and the whole world will see the fear in your eyes. Then they, too, will understand what I’ve always known. You’re not their savior. There is no savior.

  “And there will never be a savior.”

  He brought the rod down again on Batman’s face and this time Batman was unable to stifle his pain. He screamed, and Scarecrow hit him again.

  “Now we’re making progress, Batman. Pain releases fear. And fear makes you mine.”

- Batman: Arkham Knight, chapter 27