Batman: Black or White, Chapter One

BATMAN: BLACK OR WHITE

CHAPTER ONE

9:11 p.m.

Alone, in the middle of a dark and filthy alley stands the Batman. With his eyes nailed to the floor, he stares at the lifeless body lying in front of him.

Batman (to himself): HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO WITNESS THE SAME SCENE?
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From a distance, commissioner Gordon and his policemen struggle to keep away the curious citizens. The area is isolated with police tape.
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Crouching next to the body, the Batman examines the corpse without touching it.

Batman (to himself): NO. IT’S NOT THE SAME, IT’S ALWAYS DIFFERENT. THE NEXT BEING MORE TERRIFYING THAN THE LATTER.
Batman (to himself): THIS TIME, A GIRL NO OLDER THAN THIRTEEN OR FOURTEEN YEARS OLD, STRANGLED. THE MARKS IN HER NECK SUGGEST A LEATHER BELT WITH SOME KIND OF ENGRAVINGS ON IT.
Batman (to himself): FURTHER STUDIES ARE NECESSARY TO CONFIRM THIS FIRST HYPOTHESIS.
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Commissioner Gordon comes to his encounter.

Gordon: HOW BAD IS IT THIS TIME?
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The Batman disappears into the night, without turning back.

Batman: NOT BAD…
Batman: EVIL.
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Batman: I’LL TAKE HER WITH ME.
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Commissioner Gordon tries in vain to repress a feeling of both exhaustion and annoyance.
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Later on that night, the corpse of the young girl lies on a metal surface of what seems to be the Batman’s personal forensics room. All necessary instruments lie perfectly ordered at hand.
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First, he takes photographs of the marks on her neck.
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Then he proceeds to remove the clothes from the body, discovering new marks all over it resembling the ones on the neck, especially near her tiny breasts.
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Batman: A MOUTH MADE THESE.
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He takes more photographs.
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Last, he holds a scalpel in his hand and buries it deep behind each of the girl’s ears. The two incisions meet at the sternum. From there he continues to cut a line running through her body, ending in the pubic bone.
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He takes the skin and peels it back.
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Batman: THE AUTOPSY EFFECTIVELY CONFIRMED THE CAUSE OF DEATH AS OF ASPHYXIA; CONTRARY TO MY FIRST HYPOTHESIS, IT WAS NOT BECAUSE A BELT WAS USED TO STRANGLE HER: SOMEONE WITH A GREAT STRENGTH HELD HIS HAND AGAINST HER MOUTH.
Batman: THE EXAMINATION REVEALED THE MARKS WERE DONE A WHILE BEFORE HER DEATH.
Batman: TIME RANGES FROM TWO TO THREE DAYS.
Batman: ALSO, THERE ARE NO EVIDENT SIGNS OF RAPE,
Batman: THOUGH THE GIRL IS NOT A VIRGIN.
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Walking around the room, he continues:

Batman: THE BELT WASN’T FOUND NEAR THE CRIME SCENE.
Batman: NEITHER A CLUE OF WHO COMMITTED THE ASSASINATION.
Batman: ABOUT HER IDENTITY: NO IDENTIFICATION OR WALLET WERE FOUND.
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The Batman leaves the room and walks down a hallway leading to the Main Computer. While staring at the bats above him, he keeps talking:

Batman: DATE: APRIL THE 1ST.
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His eyes widen with surprise.

Batman: WAIT!
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…as he lowers his head, showing defeat.

Batman: THIS CAN’T BE A JOKE…
Batman: APRIL’S FOOL…
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The Batman removes his cowl.
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He sits down and takes a deep breath.
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Utterly alone, he leans against the back of his chair in the deep underground, dark Batcave.

Batman: STOP RECORDING.