Ok Chapter 10...I marvel at my own writing haha. Anyways...Sort of Harley Quinn these days. Can't have that for my writing, so I prefer Poison Ivy. Now, the first part of Chapter 10 is adapted mainly from Fang! He kindly sent me his version to explain his homosexuality. And guess what? I used it! Ok, cut the crap. A brief summary, viewer discretion advised. I'm going into...forced ejaculation again! Lalala...Oh yeah, gotta get back to being Poison Ivy.

Chapter 10

"Guo Xin...Do you know something about Frank that we don't?" Haruko repeated.

Guo Xin continued staring into space.

"Guo Xin! Guo Xin! They've got Debbie! So wake up!" Si Heng shouted.

Guo Xin awoke with a start.

"Sorry...It's just...Nevermind, what did you say?" Guo Xin asked.

"Do you know something about Frank that we don't?" Haruko asked again.

"Erm...Yeah..." Guo Xin muttered truthfully.

He took a deep breath, and the story about the rejection of Frank tumbled out. He finished, surveying the others who sat in frozen shock.

Si Heng broke the silence.

"Uh huh...So how does that help Debbie?" Si Heng asked in frustration.

"So he's gay? As in born gay or turned gay?" Haruko added, unable to believe the very monster that attacked her was a homosexual.

Guo Xin pondered hard. What had made Frank gay? Was he born gay? Frank had seemed perfectly normal when the two had first met. A scene swam into Guo Xin's mind; the first time he had crossed paths with Frank.

*

2002, 16th June. Guo Xin strolled into Macdonalds after school, planning to meet up with some friends afterwards. He was about to join the outrageously long queue when he noticed something out of the corner out of his eye. There was a boy around his age , situated at a far, isolated corner of the fast food restaurant. His face was in his hands, the tray of food in front of him untouched. He appeared to be weeping. Guo Xin, sociable as he was, went up to the boy and patted him on the shoulder.

"Yo dude! Whatsup? This seat taken yo?"

"Leave me alone" was the abrupt answer.

Shrugging, Guo Xin turned to leave. The boy suddenly called him back.

"Hey! Hey you there! Sorry...Didn't really mean that...It's just...I'm real depressed now...Please, do take a seat." the boy said apologetically.

"I'm Guo Xin." Guo Xin said, offering his hand.

The boy took it, introducing himself as Fang. And a conversation soon followed.

"Fang? Cool name."

"Not cool enough for some people apparently..."

"What?"

"No matter, you wouldn't understand."

"Tell me..." Guo Xin pleaded, starting to feign a kawaii face and tone.

"Ok Ok...As long as you stop acting this way...I'm getting goosebumps already!" Fang said, his glum expression replaced by a smile.

"See? I've made you smile." Guo Xin said, returning to his usual self.

"Well...Long story..."

Fang plunged into a long and complicated story concerning his rejection by a girl. Guo Xin only half listened; he was checking out a photograph of an attractive girl that Fang had thrust onto the table. An attractive girl with long black hair...Waist-length black hair...

*

"Haruko!" Guo Xin yelled, snapping out of his reverie.

"Yea?" Haruko answered laconically, shocked by the sudden sound of her name.

"Did you ever know Frank?" Guo Xin asked.

"Apart from you talking about him...I don't think so..." Haruko replied, taken aback by Guo Xin's seemingly desultory question.

"You never knew him? Probably in school? An online friend or something?" Guo Xin asked persistently.

Haruko shook her head, smiling slightly at the connection Guo Xin was trying to make.

"I-" Haruko started.

Then it struck her. Franklin. Could that thin wiry boy she had once turned down be - Frank? It was all too much. Haruko swayed on the spot, collapsing onto the sofa, head spinning. After much pressing from Guo Xin and Si Heng, her story emerged.

Frank and Haruko were once penpals. Frank writing from Gotham while Haruko wrote from Takachiho. Frank's pen name had been Franklin while Haruko went by the pen name of "Hair-straight" in description of her lustrous locks. Neither of them had known each other's true identity although they had sent pictures of themselves to each other. Frank had been the typical ostracized kid in school; too short, too ugly, not good in sports, only good at studying. Haruko had been his only friend. And as time passed, he developed feelings for her. Haruko was never aware of this however, she had always regarded Frank as a really good friend and confidant, nothing more. Naturally, when Frank's proclamation of his love for her arrived in the form of a letter, she was so taken aback that she threw the letter into the fireplace, swearing never to think of him again. It was a great shock and she did not even have the courage to write back to even declare her preference properly. And so, hundreds of letters came from Frank addressed to "Hair-straight", hundreds of unopened letters went into the fireplace. She had never knew what Frank looked like apart from the photograph of him he had sent her. It seemed more fitting now. Franklin, Frank, Fang. Had the boy she once exchanged letters with changed so much?

"So Frank was rejected by Haruko and was so traumatised that he turned gay?" Si Heng asked skeptically.

Guo Xin struggled to speak, the words seemed stuck in his throat.

"So when I rejected him...He was affected even more?" Guo Xin asked as guilt started to engulf him.

"Actually you don't have to feel so bad. And that would include you Haruko." Howl said reassuringly, finally speaking up after a long period of silent observation.

Guo Xin, Haruko and Si Heng all looked towards Howl, interested in his stand.

"Well, you see. Statistics have shown homosexuality is more of a genetic condition rather than one inflicted by the environment of the homosexual. So there is a larger possibility, though not entirely, that homosexuality is inherent in an individual from the time he takes his first breath, the time he was born that is. So that would mean that the both of you may not necessarily have turned Frank gay." Howl explained.

"But...He took a fancy to girls before he...Liked me..." Guo Xin protested.

"Yes that is true. Individuals who prefer both sexes are classified as bisexual then. But of course, it is not one hundred percent definite. So...Just don't feel too bad." Howl concluded.

"He's bi? Oh my god!" Si Heng asked, apparently disgusted.

Haruko threw him a dirty look.

"Si Heng please...Now's not the time..." Howl said.

"Ok sorry. But still, what about Debbie?" Si Heng asked in fervour.

"Let's look for Lester Gibe then. He used to hang out with Frank after university. I'm certain he can tell us more about Frank. And then from there, Debbie." Howl suggested.

Si Heng plopped into the sofa beside Haruko.

Oh Debbie...I'm so sorry I got you into this mess...

*

The security guard observed a middle-aged bag lady and a lanky teenager heading towards him. He groaned before putting on his cap, scrunching his eyebrows into the most intimidating face he could possibly form. Late-night shifts were always irksome and now there was the added trouble of dealing with two individuals who definitely did not look like they lived in The Horizon. He picked up his flashlight from the table and stood up wearily. Upon closer observation with the help of his flashlight, he noticed that the teenager was wearing some sort of green uniform and was carrying a bag labelled "Pretty Pizzas".

"Pizza delivery. Eighth floor. Mr. Lester Gibe." the delivery boy said in a monotone.

Pizza boys. The security guard snorted mentally.

Only school dropouts ended up as pizza boys. So I ended up as a security guard. Big deal...

"Ok. And the woman?" He questioned.

"I work here." the bag lady rasped, before coughing violently.

Strange, the security guard thought. He had never seen the bag lady before. He shrugged his doubts off mentally.

"I'm afraid you'll have to wait a while, Madam. You'll have to show me identification."

It was standard procedure. The Horizon was no doubt a luxury residence, but it was also one that was equipped with security facilities that were much more impressive than normal apartments. It was the perfect home for the rich who feared theft. Anyone who wanted to enter had to present identification to the security guard at the entrance. There was a fingerprint scanning system for residents and workers and visitors had to be verified first with the residents. Motion sensors were installed at the foot of three-metre tall reinforced-steel gates and the alarms would go off if the sensors detected any movement before clearance was obtained. There was also a team of armed guards situated around the apartment grounds around the clock should the alarms sound. The guards were armed with M-26 Tasers, an electroshock weapon that fired small-dart like electrodes that could penetrate up to Level III body armour. The guards were given specific instructions if they noticed any suspicious individuals - Shoot first, question later. Security cameras were ubiquitous and even the lift was bulletproof.

"Of course. Here." the bag lady said, handing him a laminated identification card.

The security guard raised his eyebrows.

"Are you sure you work here?"

"Positive." the bag lady replied.

"I'm sorry but we use fingerprint identification here. You must be new." the guard commented, scrutinising the bag lady suspiciously.

"That won't be necessary." the bag lady said, voice turning mellow suddenly.

"I'm afraid-" The guard stopped as the bag lady flung her shopping bag at him.

A tangle of vines flew out, binding him in an instant. "Huh" was all he could say before the bag lady kissed him on his lips. The bag lady had removed the shabby robes she had been wearing and was now clad in a skintight green costume that showed off her cleavage and bare legs. She seemed to arrest his attention and he felt elated all out of a sudden.

"Let us in." the bag lady ordered, waving her hand and the vines around the guard slackened before falling off.

"Yes." the guard obeyed, happy to comply.

He typed in a few commands and the system plunged into manual override. The words "Confirmation Code Required" appeared on the monitor. A flicker of doubt crossed his face. He paused, fingers frozen over the keyboard.

"Why?" the guard questioned, as he broke out in a sweat. His head was aching as one side of his mind waged war against the other.

"Hmm...Strong-willed...Give him another shot." the delivery boy said as the bag lady leaned in for another kiss.

The bag lady held the guard's head and drew him in, pressing her lips against his. The guard's breathing slowed and he relaxed. He typed in the confirmation code and the gates opened at once.

"Thank you. Now, forget me darling." the bag lady said before holding up a perfume bottle and spraying a liberal amount of pink mist at the guard.

The guard coughed, flailing his arms vainly for a moment before he passed out. He would wake up in about an hour later unharmed, but with no recollection of anything that happened during the past six hours.

"Benzodiazepines?" the delivery boy asked, inspecting the security guard with clinical interest.

"To be specific Kisho, Lorazepam is the benzodiazepine, with scopolamine from henbane and other chemicals as well. Hurry in, I don't know how long the gates will stay open."

True enough, the gates shut with a resounding thud a few minutes after the duo entered the compound of The Horizon. The bag lady hesitated before stepping into the lift lobby.

"You're sure we're covered?" the bag lady asked, noting the red light of the security camera mounted above that was winking merrily at them.

Kisho yawned as he looked up at the camera. "Don't worry Pamela. All real feed is being intercepted and a looping video is playing as we speak." Kisho answered confidently.

"Good, the last thing we want is hard evidence against us. Ah...Green again..." Pamela said, pulling her hairnet off to release her locks of auburn hair as she swayed them from side to side.

"Miss Debbie doing fine in a shopping bag?" Kisho enquired as he pressed the button for the lift.

Pamela peered into the largest shopping bag and frowned slightly. Debbie was in a foetal position in the shopping bag, bound by many vines, one of which led to a pink flower placed over her mouth.

"I think my plant is dying. She must be dehydrating." Pamela observed, patting the flower lovingly.

"We better hurry then."

There was a tinkling sound as the lift announced its arrival.

*

Lester Gibe was roused from his slumber by the sonorous doorbell. He awoke with a start and glanced up at the grandfather clock instinctively, its face illuminated by the soft light of the bedside lamp beside him.

12.30...Who the hell is that?

He lumbered out of his bedroom to the main door drowsily, still in his pajamas. He opened the door, fatigue keeping from looking through the door hole.

"What is it?" He snapped irritably.

"Pizza delivery!" chirped a teenager in a shirt labelled "Pretty Pizzas" and a matching pair of pants.

"Huh? I didn't order any pizza..."

"Just sign over here..." the delivery boy indicated.

"And you'll leave after that?"

"Uh...That's my job...So just sign already!"

Lester scrawled his name hastily, eager for the nuisance to leave. He looked up, only to see the delivery boy's moist lips before they made contact with his.

"What the fuck!" Lester exclaimed before he started spitting and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"What's the matter? Afraid I have cooties?" the delivery boy asked tauntingly before laughing dementedly.

"You-" Lester said as he raised his arm to punch the delivery boy.

"Nights!" the delivery boy said, blowing him a kiss.

Lester felt numb suddenly as his legs lost all sensation and gave way beneath him. Everything started to spin as things began to discolour and images distorted. He felt like flying, like he could do anything. And yet he had a splitting headache, he felt nauseous and dizzy. The last thing he saw was a young woman waving at him from behind the delivery boy.

"We're in, Pamela." Kisho said, pushing the open door wider.

"What was on your lips?"

"Well...Powdered seeds of Angel's Trumpet...Extract from Kava Kava root...Zolpidem...And a compendium of other deliriants...He should wake up in a few hours unless you want to manually wake him up...And he'll be delirious and high...So?"

"Wonderful. All the better for my aphrodisiacs...But we haven't got a few hours. Fifteen minutes max. We need to be ready. Haruko is extremely efficient..." Pamela warned.

"That I know...Why we share blood after all...But chlorophyll is definitely thicker than blood..." Kisho said with a crooked grin.

*

Guo Xin and Haruko were the first to get out of the ebony limousine, shortly followed by Si Heng and Howl. They walked briskly towards the guardhouse, only to find an unconscious guard.

"They've been here." Haruko stated, gently shaking the guard but receiving no response.

"We'll just go in." Guo Xin said, pressing his thumb against a circular pad that scanned fingerprints.

Gotta make sure I thank Dad for getting me an apartment here...

The pad flashed green as the gates opened and the four of them entered the compound, feet scraping across the asphalt-covered road as they hastened their steps. They ran into the lift lobby, Guo Xin leading the way. The lift was there, doors opened invitingly. They got in, unaware of the tiny pinhole camera that watched them from the light above.

The lift chimed cheerily in the contrast to the tense atmosphere as the group treaded softly on the cement floor, looking around warily as they neared Lester's apartment.

"Hello? Lester?" Howl called out as he pressed the doorbell.

He turned the doorknob in frustration and the whole unlocked door swung inwards. It was completely dark inside the apartment. The only limited light that did little to brighten up the apartment was from the lamps that lit the corridors outside. Howl could make out the shadowy outline of a figure a few feet in front of him. He called out for Lester again but there was no response. He took a step forward. And the lights came on. Lester stood there, wielding a gun aimed at them. He fired.

The bullet missed Howl's head by a few centimeters as Haruko pushed him away. It continued out through the doorway, slicing through the air until it hit the bulletproof lift door. Guo Xin whipped out one of his own guns and shot Lester, the bullet penetrating Lester's arm which held the gun. He cried out and a sickening crunch of bone was heard as the gun spun out of his hand and he collapsed, fainting in agony. There was a deafening roar as Frank leaped from behind a sofa, landing beside Haruko as he locked his muscular arms tightly around her. Just then, Kisho entered the apartment, ambushing Si Heng and Howl from behind.

"Hi!" exclaimed Kisho as Howl and Si Heng turned around.

He raised both his palms perpendicular to his face at mouth level and blew a concentrated powder of mandrake root at both of their faces in succession. The highly narcotic properties of mandrake root made quick work of the both of them. They started entering into a deep stupor as the hyoscyamine and scopolamine wormed their way through their blood vessels.

"Out of the way boys." Kisho said with a laugh pushing both Howl and Si Heng backwards and they fell without much effort. He advanced towards Guo Xin who was unaware of his presence as he watched Haruko and Frank helplessly.

Guo Xin shot Frank in the arm but he did not even flinch as he held his vice-like grip on Haruko. She struggled, assaulting Frank on the legs with her feet and hands futilely. Kisho stepped forward, turning Guo Xin around forcefully and planting a long deep kiss on his lips followed by a vicious kick to the groin. Kisho leaned in towards Guo Xin's ear and whispered.

"So sorry...I've been waiting to do this for so long..."

Guo Xin grimaced and doubled over in agony before passing out. Frank's eyes widened as his body tensed. Haruko sensed this and craned her neck to face Frank.

"Frank...Recognise me? Hair-straight?"

"Hair-straight?" Frank looked at her scornfully.

"You've forgotten? We used to write to each other..." Frank's eyes widened even more.

"You!" Frank snarled.

"I know...I'm sorry but we were so young...And we were fine as friends weren't we?"

"Silence!" Frank roared.

"Yes?" Kisho inquired, inclining his head towards Frank.

"Nothing." Frank muttered.

"Then stop shouting for no reason or rhyme. Miss Isley will be here soon."

Kisho turned back to Guo Xin and slapped his face a few times.

"Wakey wakey!" Kisho said as Guo Xin started to stir.

He caressed Guo Xin face before giving his neck a quick scratch, drawing blood in the process.

"Don't worry...I won't touch your face...As promised..." Kisho whispered as Guo Xin felt a chilling numbness creeping up from his legs.

Kisho's nail had been laced with pancuronium bromide, a fast-acting curare-mimetic muscle relaxant. Guo Xin was paralysed from head to toe in a matter of seconds and all it took was that minute amount on the tip of Kisho's nail. That was the beauty of administering it through nail surfaces. The amount would be too small to cause respiratory failure and kill the subject as a result. However, there would be enough to render the subject motionless almost completely.

Frank continued to stare at Kisho and Guo Xin. Haruko was watching too, every perfectly audible word of Kisho's increasing her anxiety and anger. Kisho replaced a fake nail on his little finger with a different-coloured one he just took out from his pocket. He applied a little pressure to the nail and a transparent fluid oozed out of the tip.

"Now...To torture you in front of my dear sister...What fun!" Kisho quipped as he raised his finger with a flourish before scratching Guo Xin's neck.

The nociceptor stimulus raced through Guo Xin's system, stimulating every single pain receptor in his body. He was overwhelmed by pain in a few seconds. It was excruciating. He felt all sorts of pain everywhere. Mutilation, searing, stabbing, slashing...He felt everything. He screamed and screamed but the most he could do was give a little twitch of his paralysed body. Kisho looked at him with distaste.

"It must hurt..." He said softly.

"Stop! Please..." Guo Xin murmured before he continued screaming. The pain was definitely subsiding but it was definitely still unbearable.

"Let me think about it..." Kisho said as he cocked his head upwards in a mock impression of contemplation.

"Whaddya think sister darling?" Kisho asked brightly, turning his head towards Haruko. He seemed to be enjoying himself thoroughly.

"You've got to stop him...You don't want Guo Xin to be hurt do you? Please, I'm begging you...At least save Guo Xin..." Haruko pleaded with Frank softly.

"Sorry? I didn't seem to catch that." Kisho asked, unaware of what Haruko had said.

Frank struggled to decide. He looked at Haruko's pained expression, Kisho's gleeful face and then to Guo Xin's agonizing screaming. He released Haruko and bounded towards Kisho.

"Hey!" Kisho shouted, sidestepping before Frank's claws mauled him.

"Stop it!" Frank roared as he prepared for another pounce.

Kisho reached into his pocket and got out a few vials.

"What if I refuse?" Kisho asked with a wry smile.

"Then you perish." Frank concluded before launching himself at Kisho.

Kisho launched also, the few vials in his hands. They shattered upon contact with Frank's body; the inner vial containing the growth serum broke, as the serum mingled with the seeds in the outer vial. It took only a second for the seeds to start sprouting shoots and roots and another for leaves to appear. And for the subsequent three, vines snaked around Frank's arms and legs, turning him into ground for a tiny forest of greenery, leaving only the eyes uncovered. Frank was rendered immobile in that mere five seconds and he crashed onto the ground beside Guo Xin, eyes full of regret and sorrow.

"Always thought he was a traitor." Kisho said with a shrug.

"Now just to be safe..." Kisho scratched Frank with several nails that were laced with the pancuronium bromide, "Now, that leaves the matter of you..." He said as he turned towards Haruko.

Haruko now unrestrained, was holding the gun Lester had used. She aimed it at Kisho.

"Let them go." Haruko said, her tone cold and menacing.

"Sister dear...You wouldn't." Kisho said, eyeing the gun as he searched Haruko's face for any psychological clues.

"I will." Haruko said with a tone of finality.

"Oh no you won't..." A female voice came from the doorway.

Haruko's head snapped back and she gasped.

Pamela was standing in the doorway, and she had Debbie by the neck with a venomously-green dagger.

"Haruko." Debbie choked.

Just realised how much of a wreck I am...Good seems so far away now...I'll just embrace SCORPIA then...Can't trust no one...Anymore...

Song: Breakaway

Extract:

Trying hard to reach out
But when I tried to speak out
Felt like no one could hear me
Wanted to belong here
But something felt so wrong here
So I prayed I could break away

Villain mood: Two-Face

Chapter 9

"Another floral lift Pamela? Don't you ever get bored?" Haruko asked acidly.

Pamela rised above the oversized flower, sitting on a greenish mash of leaves and vines.

"On the contrary, I love them. What about you? Still fiddling with knives?" Pamela retorted.

There was tense moment as both women stared at each other, the chill of abhorrence emanating from them.

Pamela sighed and leaned back.

"You know...Now I realise why I have to help Kisho...With the Batman gone...I should be able to promote Mother Nature's floral wonders...But now...I see you meddling fools as a threat that may impede the progress of any future plans...You want to be heroes...It's not as easy as you think...So why not lead normal lives? I'll let you leave in peace if you make sure we don't cross paths in the future." Pamela said ruefully.

Haruko continued her unwavering stare.

"Be that way then." Pamela said with a scowl.

"Masks!" Haruko shouted immediately after as she put on a Japanese traditional white mask that functioned as a gas mask.

Howl started distributing gas masks to the rest of the group as Pamela raised an arm and vines shot up from beneath Kisho, lifting him up towards her. More vines appeared, some bursting out of the floor while others entered through shattering windows or snaking below doors. Haruko wasted no time as she started slicing each plant with her razor-sharp kodachi. The vines moved incredibly fast as they tried to wind around Haruko and the others. Guo Xin was trying to aim at the vines but could not get a proper shot at the slender vines with his pistol. Howl cut the vines easily with his handheld Class 4 laser device but took care not to cut off any body parts of his friends accidentally. Si Heng was wielding a chair in his hands, using it to defend himself from the onslaught of plants.

Pamela grinned sadistically, laughing silently at the stupidity of Haruko. The gas masks would not serve their purpose this time. She did not prepare any gaseous poison of any sort so the gas masks would only impair their senses. It was not long before she noticed Frank frozen on the spot, staring into space.

"Fang! Do something!" Pamela screamed.

*

Recognition. It was the first thing that hit him, hard. He stared. Somehow, his brain had froze over. His heart made a great leap and there was a strange sensation in his stomach and his breathing halted. For a moment, he looked human, all traces of animal lost. He felt passion. He had never felt it for such long time. He felt like, human. His eyes dulled as some white colour returned and the pupils became rounded. His chest constricted. There was a sour taste in his throat. His eyes felt wet.

Guo Xin?

Seeing him again was pain. Pure pain. Unbearable. Heart-wrenching. Sharp. It was a different kind of pain from the kind he disregarded in fights. It was something much worse and he never felt it ever since his genes were altered, never felt it until now. The water in his eyes amassed and a drop fell. Something in his memory stirred.

*

He had to do it. He had to stop running away. And yes, he would do it. He would confess. He strode up to Guo Xin apprehensively.

"Hi Frankie! What's up?" Guo Xin asked as he continued bouncing his basketball.

There he was, forever so cute.

"Oh nothing much. Just wanna tell you something."

"Yeah?"

He took a deep breath, trying not to melt under the pressure.

"I...Um..."

It was hard looking into his eyes. Very hard.

"Uh huh?"

"I...I...like you." He finished with much difficulty, turning away as he blushed.

Guo Xin laughed heartily.

"Glad to know that bro! I like you too! Why do you say it so hesitantly?"

"No...I mean..."

He had to get it straight.

"You mean what? You're acting kinda strange today...Who are you and what have you done to Frank Grey?" Guo Xin joked.

He made an attempt at a weak smile. This was wrong. He had to explain.

"Guo Xin...I...You don't understand..."

Guo Xin snorted as he twirled the basketball on his index finger with an air of complacency.

"Don't understand? Yeah right."

"No...I..."

"What is it Frank?" Guo Xin asked in an exasperated tone.

"I love you."

Guo Xin's face went blank for moment before he started laughing.

"Good one Frank! I thought there for a moment you-"

"Loved you?" He finished as he looked down at his feet. Why was his face so warm?

"Yeah!"

"But I do." He said softly.

"What?" Guo Xin asked in disbelief

"I love you Guo Xin."

Guo Xin looked shocked and then turned and ran, abandoning the basketball.

"Guo Xin!" He shouted. He considered chasing Guo Xin. No, it would only make things worse. He could only stand there and look longingly after him.

The basketball continued bouncing up and down, up and down. Up, down, up, down. It stopped.

Tears started to well up in his eyes, but he blinked them away furiously.

*Three years later*

He was ecstatic. The scholarship to Oxford! It belonged to him! Of course, Howl also got it but that did not matter. He walked to the podium for his speech.

"-And I want to thank my family. My parents who have taught me so much and brought me up. My grandparents who have introduced animals to me. Those friends who have stood by me. Thank you Shawn for all the good times in training! Lester for soccer! Joshua! For treating me I guess haha! G-"

He had almost said his name instinctively.

He dashed down the stage, ignoring all the curious stares and camera flashes as he passed the audience, out of the auditorium.

He was lying on the bed in his room. A photo album was spread open in front him. There were several pictures of Guo Xin and himself having fun, doing schoolwork, performing and about everything they did together. He felt worse with each page he turned.

His parents were banging on his door, asking him what was wrong, begging him to open the door.

But he refused to. He could not. He could not tell anyone. Never, ever.

A teardrop fell on Guo Xin's face in one of the photos, blurring his handsome features.

"I hate you." He whispered, throwing the photo album at the door with all the strength he could muster. He then collapsed on the bed, lying spread-eagled facing the ceiling.

Life never was fair.

But how he wished it was.

*

"Fang! Do something!" Pamela screamed.

And everything came crashing down again. Frank jumped up in shock. Anger started filling him once more. His eyes turned yellow once more and his pupils narrowed to slits. The beast in him awoke.

"Get the girl!" Pamela shouted.

Frank roared and bounded towards Haruko. The vines parted, making way for Frank. Frank had reached Haruko in a second, circling her in a predatory fashion. He snarled and pounced, arms outstretched with unsheathed claws and bared fangs. Haruko barely twisted away in time and managed to give Frank a quick slash at his arm with her kodachi. Frank snarled and pounced again, only to miss Haruko narrowly once more. Haruko took advantage of this and slashed fervently at Frank's back. Warm blood flowed out out but she noticed that the previous gash on Frank's arm was already no more than a faint red mark.

God...This guy is unbeatable...

Frank hissed this time as he collapsed onto the ground, his legs sticking together and making a big sweeping motion as if they were a tail. Haruko gasped as her legs slid under her when Frank's legs made contact with them. She fell to the ground and her kodachi was knocked away. Haruko groaned in pain as Frank moved closer to her slowly, opening his mouth to show his fangs. He leaped and landed, pinning Haruko to the ground, knocking the breath out of her. He bared his fangs once more, ready to to sink them into Haruko's neck.

Frank could only care about blood now. The feeling of warm blood gushing down his throat. Simply tantalising. But then why was he moving backwards. The girl seemed distant to him now. There were two holes in his chest. And some red liquid was flowing out. He was slumped against a wall. Rage coursed through him and he roared, the inhuman sound reverberating through the house. He charged at the assailant, ignoring the subsequent three bullets which planted themselves in his head, arm, and leg. He raised his claws, preparing to strike.

He paused. The beast in him was subsiding. He could think clearer as his mind sharpened.

Isn't that Guo Xin?

He stood there, arms poised, ready to strike. He breathed heavily, massive body rising and falling.

"Frank? Is that you?" Guo Xin asked, the two pistols in his hands still smoking.

Frank did not reply. Haruko was back on her feet, kodachi in her hands.

"Frank? Oh god...Are you ok?" Haruko asked with concern.

Frank stumbled a little.

"I...Do not...Feel pain...I...Felt..Too much of it..." Frank said slowly as he staggered.

"Frank..." Guo Xin started.

"Frank is dead. You killed him. There is only Fang." Frank said.

Two holes in his chest were disappearing as both bullets dropped out. Animal instinct was struggling to take over as he growled.

"Go...Leave...Before I kill you Guo Xin..." Frank muttered, as the two holes in his chest disappeared completely.

He could never hurt Guo Xin. And yet Guo Xin hurt him, far more than anyone else did. He was struggling. One part of him wanted to kill Guo Xin for turning him into a beastly fiend while the other part still coveted Guo Xin. He could not take it anymore. He swayed, blood still flowing out of the hole in his forehead, and crumpled.

"I think we better go." Haruko said as she severed a few more vines that started attacking.

The both of them ran towards Si Heng and Howl, telling them to leave.

Pamela was busy orchestrating the plants' assault when she noticed Frank's body on the ground.

"Urgh. I hate guns." Pamela said with a sigh.

Before she knew it, she started falling. Instinct took over and she executed an aerial somersault. She landed lightly on the ground, looking up wildly. The entire mass of plants she was sitting on had been sliced into two by Howl's laser device. Suddenly, she felt a searing pain on her arm and saw that some of the flesh had been burnt by the laser. She screeched and turned, ready to destroy the one responsible, only to receive a of freezing blast of nitrogen-cooled water. She stood on the spot, rooted to the ground. Si Heng dropped the nozzle of Kisho's gun-like device and bolted with the others. Pamela looked at her frozen legs in horror and anger. She enlisted the help of the remaining vines which started chipping away at the ice.

By the time she was freed from the icy encumbrance, she could only hear faint footsteps and realised that Haruko and the others had escaped. She clenched her fists, seething with anger. She looked outside the window and saw a car turning onto the main road. She then looked back at the unconscious Kisho and Frank. She decided she would attack them later. Besides, all plants were on her side. And she had to get more helpers, both plant and human. She absent-mindedly chose a name on Kisho's list.

"Hmm...Lester Gibe...Should be of quite some use to me..."

*

"You mean that was Frank? He's a monster now?" Si Heng spluttered.

"Technically not. His genes were somehow altered that's all...And pain receptors...Removed...That's incredible..." Howl replied.

"But why is he with Pamela?" Haruko asked.

Guo Xin remained silent throughout.

"No idea. I haven't seen Frank since university. We went separate ways. He was more of a zoologist while I was a physicist." Howl said.

"Hey Guo Xin! Frank was one of your bestest pals wasn't he?" Si Heng asked.

Guo Xin continued to remain silent. How could Frank turn into this? This beast, this animal. It was completely different from the Frank he used to know.

But there was one other thing.

That fateful day. He would never forget it, the end of their friendship. Frank had said he loved him and he ran away, unable to accept the strange fact. And from then, they never communicated. Frank just vanished from his life, as if he never existed. He never saw Frank anywhere in school but the records indicated that he was still enrolled. He never knew Frank loved...Him.

It just seemed wrong. He thought of Frank as a good friend, a very, very good one. He would love to have him as a brother. But a lover? He wasn't gay.

And that always brought him back to the question. What about him? Did he love Frank?

`Finally, Si Heng's back. And I love writing this chapter because of that. I'm so temperamental nowadays.

Well, I just have to reiterate - Touch-me-not for I will retaliate. Hurt-me-not or else you're dead.

Chapter 8

Pamela mused as she pulled down the front of her suit a little to reveal some of her cleavage.

Working with Kisho is one thing...Saving the world is another...I have too much free time helping Kisho anyway...Guess I'll start working on an environmentally-friendly plot to save Mother Nature soon...Oh well...There they are, those sexually-deprived freaks...

The guards at the entrance of Arkham Asylum paced to and fro, cutting off direct access. Pamela sauntered towards them, her green skin-tight suit contrasting ostensibly against the dark surroundings.

"Evening. I'm here to visit." Pamela said.

"Sorry Miss, visiting hours are over." One guard replied, face expressionless.

"Awwww...But this is really important! Would you let me in for a kiss?" Pamela asked naughtily.

"Yeah sure!" The other guard answered eagerly.

The first guard nudged him disapprovingly and then turned to Pamela.

"I'm sorry Miss but you'll have to leave." He said in a tone of finality.

"Fine! I guess playtime's over! I'll give you both a kiss-" Pamela said cheerfully as she grabbed his head and kissed him forcefully.

She then turned around swiftly to face the other guard, whose face was one of evident alacrity, and did the same. One guard looked at her in a daze and the other scowled.

"-whether you like it or not..." Pamela finished.

"Excuse me-" the angry guard started.

"Not now dear. You'll be dead soon anyway." Pamela interrupted.

Both guards looked at her in confusion before they started to have difficulties breathing. The nerve agent sarin that was on Pamela's lips was starting to take effect. The guards gasped and spluttered as they massaged their chests. One of them started to take out his gun before he vomited. The other guard started to drool before the front of his pants became a darker shade of grey as he urinated. Both of them started to twitch and jerk before they collapsed, still in convulsive spasms.

Pamela spat onto the ground and shrugged casually.

"Well, I did ask them nicely didn't I?"

She pushed open the main doors of Arkham Asylum and entered. Everyone looked at her in surprise. There were the doctors, psychiatrists, guards, nurses and janitors. Pamela smiled sweetly at them and scattered a fistful of seeds into the air.

"Ah...It's good to be back!" Pamela exclaimed.

Jeremiah Arkham, head of Arkham Asylum, could not believe his eyes.

"Pamela?"

The seeds germinated in a second as serpentine roots and shoots sprouted. They grew and augmented until they reached their zenith. A single orchid this time towered over the other plants with Pamela standing atop of it.

"Yes Mr. Arkham. I'm back. Now...You can help me...Or die..." Pamela said as she raised both her hands high above head violently.

Pandemonium broke out as a cacophony of screams and gunshots resounded. Pamela scowled and sighed.

"Why must always end this way?" She asked sympathetically. "And with the guns..." She added.

Mammoth wooden spikes burst from the ground from under the guards and their bodies were impaled on them, blood flowing down the spikes to nourish the soil. Thorny vines coiled around the other personnel and the thorns grew to an astounding length of at least a foot, impaling the victims as a result. There was only one inmate present at that time and it was the Joker. Pamela was still placid in the presence of many murders taking place. She glowered at the Joker who was bound in a Velcro suit.

"So Pammy, how have you been? Still as beautiful! But where's Ha-hahahaha-Harley?" he asked jocularly.

"You're next Joker...I'll make you pay for toying with Harley's feelings." Pamela said coldly as she signalled for a few vines to bind Jeremiah Arkham and the Joker.

"Now...Puddin...I've found a way to cure your insanity...Or rather...Your immunity to Joker Venom...A hellish mixture of hydrogen cyanide and strychnodide you said...And that was your mistake. To be immune to hydrogen cyanide and strychnodide...You would need...Let's see...amyl nitrite, sodium nitrite, sodium thiosulphate and active charcoal infusions...But if I neutralise all of those...You won't be immune to Joker Venom...And here I have-" Pamela produced a vial from her inside her glove. "-A mixture of Joker Venom and something to neutralise your immunity..."

That wiped the smile off the Joker's face.

"Come on Pammy...You wouldn't do this...Give me a chance...For the sake of Harley? Will ya? Please? Pammy?" the Joker begged.

"I'm doing this for Harley. You'll be getting a taste of your own medicine..."

The flower descended until the Joker was just in front of her. Pamela took out a syringe and filled it with the contents of the vial and tested it. The vines held the Joker tightly as the menacing liquid spurted out of the tip of the needle. The Joker's face was one of fearful consternation as Pamela's hand which held the syringe that decided his fate inched closer to him.

"Don't worry Jack...You are going to die with a smile...Just like Harley..." Pamela said softly, before she thrust the needle into the Joker's forearm and injected. She then wrenched the syringe out violently and threw it on the ground and turned her attention to Jeremiah Arkham.

"It's ironic isn't it, Jeremiah? The Joker poisoned by his own Joker Venom? But don't worry...It's only a start...I'm helping Batman rid Gotham of its many criminals...Your Arkham will be obsolete by the time I'm finished...But of course...All this is for the sake of Mother Nature...Now...I want to see Fang." Pamela requested as filled the syringe once more with the contents of another vial of Joker Venom.

"F-Fang?" Jeremiah Arkham whimpered.

"Dr. Frank Grey. Animal hybridizations." Pamela said as she smiled at the Joker.

The Joker had begun to grin, albeit nervously.

"This can't be...I'm immune to Joker Venom...MY venom!" The Joker roared in between fits of laughter.

"And you're going to die from it...Just like those who suffered its effects..." Pamela remarked.

The Joker's facial muscles tightened, causing his skin to look paler than ever and as his crazed laughter became louder. He continued laughing manically and uncontrollably and his whole body tensed as his head fell back before he went limp and silent. Pamela motioned for the Joker to be brought closer and the vines withdrew, carrying the Joker's prostrate body towards Pamela.

"Bulging eyes...White skin...Red lips...The same ghastly grin...Yeah...The Joker looks perfectly fine to me...No harm done..." Pamela said as she observed the Joker's face.

"Y-You can't just m-murder a patient like t-that..." Jeremiah stuttered.

"More like prisoner you mean...Now, where is Fang?" Pamela said as she brandished the syringe threateningly.

"Third floor...Having psychotherapy with Dr. Strange..." Jeremiah replied, glancing at the syringe uneasily.

"Thanks!" Pamela said as she chucked the syringe and kissed Jeremiah Arkham.

Jeremiah choked and spat before looking at Pamela.

"What was that?" he shouted.

"Come on my babies...To the third floor! We've got a fang to catch!" Pamela said to the plants.

The vine relinquished Jeremiah and he fell to the ground, gasping and writhing as the sarin flowed through his system. The plants congregated under Pamela and started to walk using their roots as legs. Pamela reached the third floor soon and a thick branch smashed down the door of Frank Grey's cell. Hugo Strange and Frank Grey turned their attention to Pamela.

"Hello Fang. I'm here to get you out." Pamela said laconically.

"Pamela?" Dr. Hugo Strange asked daftly.

"Go die." Pamela replied as a humongous thorn burst into the room from a wall and went through Hugo Strange's chest.

Hugo Strange gave an inarticulate choke of agony before several vines lifted him from his seat and more plants enveloped him.

"Impressive I must say...Poison Ivy?" Frank Grey said as he inspected a pair of spectacles lying on the ground; the remnants of Hugo Strange.

"Well...Kisho said he had to pay...Besides...He had it coming." Pamela said as leaped into the air and executed a front somersault before landing in front of Frank.

"Kisho?" Frank asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Not the point. What matters is we need talents like yours, Dr. Grey. You specialise in animal hybridizations?" Pamela answered.

"Just like you do with plants Ivy. By the way, call me Fang." Frank said as he opened his mouth wide to reveal a pair of fangs.

"Altered DNA?" Pamela asked, noticing Frank's amber pupils.

"Animal hybridization...I have been turned...Into this...But there're the plus sides. I get increased endurance, speed and strength...Enhanced vision, hearing and smell...My wounds heal about ten times faster than humans...I can breathe longer underwater...Yeah...I'm almost animal..." Frank concluded.

"And I'm almost plant. Well, figuratively speaking I suppose...So, interested in working with me?" Pamela asked, twirling a lock of her hair casually.

"What about Kisho? Working on what?" Kisho enquired.

"Details later. Basically, a little kidnapping and of course, greening up Gotham. We want your talents, in exchange for freedom from incarceration here and funding for whatever you want to do. And if you want, make you normal again." Pamela said suggestively.

Frank's reptilian eyes seemed to gaze far away as he thought back to the times when he was normal.

"Well? Interested?" Pamela repeated.

"I can be human again...Fully human...Yes...I can live with kidnapping...Count me in! When do we start?" Frank replied.

"Excellent! We start right away..." Pamela exclaimed gleefully as she clapped her hands together.

*

Haruko rang the doorbell profusely, flanked by Guo Xin and Howl.

A weary-looking Si Heng opened the door, still rubbing his eyes. It was palpable he had just woken up.

"Hi Si Heng. You look beat." Guo Xin remarked.

Si Heng stared at him for a moment with his bloodshot eyes, then erupted.

"What the heck! Freak you! It's 3am in the morning and you wake me up suddenly to say 'hi' and 'you look beat'! Well, DUH!" Si Heng vociferated, clearly exasperated.

"Si Heng, I know you're irritated that we disturbed you but please just listen." Haruko said calmly.

"Ok, sorry for shouting. What is it?" Si Heng asked in a softer tone.

"Kisho's out to get us. As simple as that. Although it's much more complicated. Oh nevermind, that didn't make sense. Anyway, just be on your guard for now. We're going to Debbie's place to pick her up in case anything happens to her." Howl explained quickly.

"What? Debbie? What has she got to do with whatever you're talking about?" Si Heng asked with concern.

"We're all in danger here. And so are the people close to us. Haruko's my girlfriend and she's coming with us so that's fine. Howl basically has no one except for his precious lab...But Debbie is one of your closest friends...So we fear she's in danger too." Guo Xin said as he glanced left and right.

"Uh huh...So you mean Kisho's after all of you...And me?" Si Heng in an amused tone.

Haruko, Guo Xin and Howl nodded simultaneously.

"Him? Ha! He wouldn't even hurt a fly!" Si Heng exclaimed as he gave a contemptuous snort.

Si Heng supressed a laugh and surveyed the faces of the trio. None of them were smiling. Howl's jaw muscle twitched. Si Heng was unnerved by his friend's still placid looks.

"Fine...I'll join you guys...Later...I wanna sleep first. Pick Debbie then come for me." Si Heng said casually as he stifled a yawn.

"If you say so...You sure you don't wanna come with us?" Guo Xin asked.

Si Heng pointed at his eyes and mouthed the word "red" before he waved goodbye and slammed the door in their faces.

"So...Any idea what he does every night?" Guo Xin asked as he turned to face Howl and Haruko.

Haruko shrugged while Howl raised an eyebrow, wondering if there had been an underlying meaning to the question.

*

Guo Xin's car stopped in front of Debbie's house and Haruko alighted immediately. The gates and door were ajar. Haruko had noticed this instantly. She pushed open the gate hastily and entered the house, only to discover a scene of total devastation. There were imprints in the wall, as if something of incredible strength had been punching the walls. The curtains were mauled. They were now a pitiful pile of shreds on the floor below the windows. An entire table had been broken into two parts and chairs were missing legs. A blood-red liquid which sickly resembled blood was splattered on a wall and broken china shards, remnants of a Ming vase, were strewn all over the floor. There were gashes in the sofa and a cupboard had been slashed, leaving five long lines on its surface. The floor it seemed, had also split, resulting in a very visible large jagged crack in the middle of the living room. However, there was one conspicuous object in the middle of all the detritus, something alive. It was a flower, or rather, a flowering plant. It had grown from the crack and shot up six feet before blooming; a pale pink rose. Haruko looked at her surroundings, then at the rose and ran out before boarding Guo Xin's car.

"They've got Debbie. We're too late." Haruko choked.

*

Si Heng trudged back to his room, grumbling about the disturbance a few minutes ago. Then, it occurred to him that Debbie really could be in danger. He pondered for a while before deciding he would go visit Debbie after all, just to make sure she was fine. He reached for his jacket when he heard a voice that chilled his blood.

"Bonjour Monsieur Yeo. Comment allez-vous? Très bien j'espére? I would advise you to not waste your time...Your little girlfriend has been captured." Kisho said condescendingly.

Si Heng turned back slowly, immediately adopting a battle stance with his fists in front of him.

"Kisho! What have you with Debbie?" Si Heng asked anxiously.

"Oh nothing much...Just a little poison, not that it would matter anyway...But I've come for you...Miss Isley has had the pleasure of rounding up quite a few others on my invitation list...And now, it's my turn...I personally came...To see you suffer...Now, let's take a look at today's torture toys shall we?" Kisho said with a demented grin on his face.

Kisho whistled to himself as he opened the backpack he was carrying and took out a gun-like device which was connected to his backpack by a flexible pipe. He aimed the nozzle at Si Heng as he took out another similar gun-like device which was also connected to his backpack the same way. Si Heng watched him apprehensively, gears in his head whirling at top speed as he calculated the distance between him and Kisho and the probability of fleeing. And as if he was clairvoyant, Kisho spoke.

"Pardon the pun, but running won't help..." Kisho said in between fits of giggles.

Kisho then looked up at Si Heng, both nozzles aimed at him.

"So...You toyed with me...Being so warm to me for moment...Before switching to a cold, mocking attitude...And then again...And again...No doubt you played a good game of psychology...I thought I had a friend...But no...I saw through your devious deceit...And now, the tables have turned Si Heng...So which will you choose? You wanna be hot? Or cool?" Kisho said dejectedly before beaming at Si Heng again.

"But you were a friend." Si Heng argued.

Kisho's grip around the nozzles tightened as his smile faltered.

"Don't lie!" He hissed, a shadow of doubt flitting across his face.

"I'm not!" Si Heng protested.

"That...That's fear speaking..." Kisho said slowly, barely audible.

Si Heng glanced at the menacing nozzles. One could project a controllable stream of fire of about ten metres while the other nozzle would project a mixture of liquid nitrogen and water instead, effectively freezing the enemy. Si Heng was not aware of this yet. He observed Kisho; he was muttering to himself, evidently distracted. He weighed his options and waited for the right moment. Kisho' eyes darted from left to right and Si Heng chucked the coat at Kisho before he made a beeline for the door. Kisho shot a stream of ignited napalm at the jacket and then turned the stream towards the door. The 800 degrees Celsius stream of ignited liquid destroyed everything it touched as the flames licked the jacket greedily. Si Heng halted abruptly as what seemed like liquid flame splashed a few metres in front of him, a few drops sizzling on his pants as he yelled in agony. And as soon as it came, the pain was suddenly gone. Si Heng looked downwards at his knee, surprised to find his entire leg coated with a thin layer of ice.

"Napalm and nitrogen. Hot and cold. Choose one Si Heng. Or perhaps...I should let you experience both...Like you did to me..." Kisho said as his thumb moved precariously near the trigger.

"You're mad..." Si Heng said as he grimaced, beginning to feel the frostbite on his leg.

"You're right Si Heng...I'm very, very mad...Now...Prepare yourself...For an experience that will drive you to the brink of insanity..." Kisho said with a maniacal laugh, as the thumbs of both his hands moved down towards the trigger.

And the fiery concoction shot out, searing not Si Heng but the sofa a few feet away from him. The ignited napalm ate through the cloth like acid as the fire spread rapidly to other parts of the sofa from the point of contact. The algid mixture that emerged from the other nozzle hit the ceiling light instead, forming a thin coat of ice around the bulb and miniature icicles that hung from it. Kisho was lying on the floor, both gun-like devices knocked from his hand. He looked up vindictively, seeing Haruko standing a few feet away from him in the very same battle stance Si Heng had adopted, just that Haruko's posture was much more well-defined.

"Oneechan...Ogenki desuka?" Kisho asked with a bitter smile.

"Fine thank you." Haruko replied scathingly.

The door opened and Debbie rushed in, flanked by Guo Xin and Howl. Debbie bent over Si Heng, examining his injuries worriedly. Haruko was momentarily distracted by their entrance and Kisho took advantage of this, firing the mixture of liquid nitrogen and water at the trio that had gathered around Si Heng. The frost crept from their legs to their upper body, literally freezing them in their tracks. Haruko reacted quickly and rammed a heel into Kisho's side, but not before her companions were almost fully frozen. Kisho put down the cumbersome backpack which hid the cylinders of propellant gas, napalm, liquid nitrogen and water and massaged his ribs. He smiled as he advanced towards Haruko.

"You're getting better dear sister. A pity you'll be alone..." Kisho said, shaking his head.

"I'm not getting any better. You're just getting weaker." Haruko replied coldly.

"We'll just have to see won't we?" Kisho said, still smiling, before he leaped at Haruko with a lateral flying kick.

Haruko barely dodged the kick in time before blocking a vicious back kick Kisho executed right after he landed. Kisho then rained a flurry of hand strikes and punches on Haruko as she struggled to parry each blow. Haruko then managed to grab Kisho's arm, and using her foot as a pivot, used Kisho's momentum to throw him towards the ground as she executed a circular kick, throwing Kisho off balance. Kisho broke his fall with a front roll, ending it in front of his backpack.

"Seriously getting better." He said as he opened the backpack and whipped out a dark green whip-like vine coated with wooden thorns at least three inches in length.

He swung the vine at Haruko with incredible force and she jumped aside before there was deafening crack as the vine struck the ground. They side-stepped in a circular motion, intense eyes never leaving each other. Haruko had produced a kodachi, a sword resembling a katana but about two feet in length, wielding it defensively in front of her as Kisho swung the vine round and round above his head. Haruko lunged in an attempt at a stab and Kisho leaped away lightly and lashed out with the vine. The vine had coiled around the kodachi and Kisho pulled, trying to yank it out of Haruko's grip. But Haruko held on to the kodachi like some irritating adhesive and swung the sword downwards, cutting the vine into two. Greenish ichor seeped from the freshly sliced ends of the vine. One part was lying on the ground, now defunct, while the other was still held by Kisho. Kisho scowled and threw the vine on the ground.

"Oh Miss Isley is not going to be very pleased!" Kisho snarled.

Kisho lunged at Haruko with his arms outstretched, fingers claw-like with each black fingernail filed to sharp points. Haruko spun around, aiming a circular kick at Kisho's solar plexus. Kisho scratched Haruko's calf as he blocked the kick, leaving behind five bloody gashes.

"Teflon nails. Much stronger than human. And of course, coated with paralyzants." Kisho said as he admired his false fingernails.

"I'm immune." Haruko said flatly as she advanced with a three-finger strike to Kisho's throat.

Kisho blocked the strike without much effort but broke a few nails in the process.

"Oops. Chipped a nail." Kisho said gleefully as he brazenly took a few steps forward while swinging his arms to scratch air in front of him as Haruko retreated.

Kisho then flicked his wrist at Haruko and a few drops of what seemed like water landed on Haruko's clothing and kodachi, corroding the metal and fabric. Haruko flinched as the acid caused her skin to blister.

"Not immune to acid are you? Chipping my nails releases the acid..." Kisho continued as he attempted to claw at her face with the acid at his fingertips.

There was a gunshot and Kisho flew backwards, slamming into a wall. Haruko turned abruptly towards the source of the sound. Guo Xin was holding a pistol in his hand, a trail of smoke rising from the barrel. He looked at Haruko with a concerned expression.

"I didn't hit you did I? I was so afraid he was going to disfigure you..." Guo Xin said as he kept the pistol, in the pocket of his drenched clothing.

The others had started shaking off the ice. Haruko seemed shocked. She looked the figure at the wall. Kisho was still conscious but he was clutching his shoulder as blood flowed out slowly staining the cloth. He was smiling, though he looked pale.

"Oh my god...Guo Xin...You shot him? You shot?" Haruko shrieked with an expression of disbelief.

She was about to go over to Kisho's side to examine his wounds when he spoke again.

"Ha...So I lose this time...Your dear boyfriend shot me huh? I never was a gun person...But you won't get away...Pamela's on her way here...With a special guest..." He murmured before passing out.

Just then, the ground beneath them rumbled as a fissure appeared in the middle of the ground. A sanguine rose ascended from beneath the ground, opening to reveal Pamela, and Frank.

"Well, well, well...Fang, it's time..." Pamela declared.

Guo Xin's back. Probably go back to Si Heng in the next chapter. Yeah yeah, I know I'm deviating away from Si Heng...I don't think the term "hypocrite" should be used to describe Si Heng...Why bother speaking nicely over MSN and then do an entire 180 degree turn of attitude at school? I wish it would stop...I've had enough...

Chapter 7

"Why are you doing this you milfilicious bitch?"

Pamela stepped down from her floral throne.

"Well because it is Kisho's wish...And partly mine considering your treacheries..."

Joshua Linton looked up, suspended in the air by the many vines coiled around him.

"Without these so-called treacheries...Gotham's economy would be bust!"

"I do not care!" Pamela hissed.

The plants around them reiterated Pamela's displeasure in a form of violent rustling. Pamela pointed at Joshua with a finger.

"You...Lecherous fool...Who have caused the destruction of so many forests for your own selfish gains...Hmph! Sex...Well...I will make you suffer..."

A sinister-looking vine rose beside Joshua and started to twine itself around Joshua's head. The vine had ternate almond-shaped leaflets sprouting all over and clusters of white flowers blooming.

"Wh-What is this?" Joshua asked with trepidation.

"Leaves of three...Let them be...Flowers white...Poisonous sight...Touch-them-not...Or trouble's sought...For you see...Poison Ivy..." Pamela chanted slowly.

"Get it away from me!" Joshua yelled.

"Itch my dear...You know...Poison Ivy's toxic agent urushiol...So clever...It turns the body's immune system against itself...It infiltrates...And then causes the chaos...Nevertheless...The itch is rather unbearable..."

Joshua's shouts were muffled by the vine as it continued twining around Joshua's entire body.

"Tata! I've got more visits to make!" Pamela said laughing with derision.

*

"Hello? Dr. Light?" Guo Xin asked.

"Yes speaking. And you are?"

"Guo Xin. As in high school Guo Xin. I need to meet you urgently."

"Oh Guo Xin! How long has it been? Five years? Wow...And yeah, what's the matter?"

"Can't risk talking on the phone. You're still at your lab?"

"Yeah why?"

"Good. I'll send someone to bring you to my place."

Guo Xin hung up. He wondered if anyone had been listening to the conversation. That was why he did not go into specifics.

Haruko appeared in the doorway of the room.

"So? You contacted him?"

Guo Xin nodded.

"Yes. He's coming. But...I don't know if he'll be safe..."

Haruko walked to Guo Xin's side and held his head, turning his face to face hers.

"He will be." Haruko said as she kissed Guo Xin gently on the lips.

*

Kisho's brow creased with worry as he surveyed the feed his supercomputer received.

So...Guo Xin's enlisting the help of Howl...Now this is a problem...

"Phone. Dial Isley."

"Dialing Pamela Isley...Connection established." said the cold, mechanic voice of the computer.

Three floors below, Pamela's cellular phone rang.

"Hello? Kisho...I was just getting dressed!"

"Sorry Pamela. But there seems to be a problem."

"What problem?" Pamela asked as she wielded the miniature crossbow and loaded it.

"Haruko and Guo Xin."

"Yes? What about them?"

Pamela put on her dark green boots with stiletto heels and sprayed herself with some Atlas.

"Apparently, they've invited Dr. Howl Light over for tea."

"And?"

"Well Dr. Light is an old classmate of mine. Just that he's not on the list because we haven't...crossed paths. But that doesn't mean he can interfere with our plans. Check your compact. I've just sent you information him. He can be dangerous so be prepared."

Pamela picked up her handheld compact and pressed a fingerprint-sensitive button in a special compartment below the rouge as she applied some on her face. The mirror seemed to come alive as it flashed once before displaying details of Dr. Light.

"You received the data?"

"Yes yes Kisho...Photonics? He's an expert on photonics?"

"That's why he's dangerous. Recently he's been working on some laser project on teleportation. But apparently it hasn't been much of a success. But still-"

"I get the picture. Lasers aren't exactly beneficial to my plants. But maybe they will in time...Things will still go as planned then. Send me the blueprints of Guo Xin's residence. I'll be there shortly...After my preparations."

*

Howl Light sipped his tea once more. He could hardly believe what he was hearing.

"And so we believe Kisho is working with Poison Ivy now." Guo Xin concluded.

Howl sipped even more tea.

"Wow...This is simply too much for me to digest...I mean...Kisho? He's clever but working with this...this Poison Ivy?"

"Pamela Isley. That's Poison's Ivy real name." Haruko added.

"Pamela Isley...That sounds familiar...Oh! That graduate from Yale! I saw her at the "Brilliant Minds" convention. That was years ago...She specialised in...Cellular Biology I think...Biochemistry...She was working for some pharmaceutical company..." Howl said as he tried to recall more about Pamela Isley.

"Goodness...Don't you even know who's Poison Ivy? That prominent eco-terrorist? You must really stop being so nerdy...She uses poisons to commit her crimes. And quite dangerous...She was the one who murdered Batman with a fatal kiss." Guo Xin said.

Haruko filled her cup with more tea.

"Tea for you?" Haruko offered.

"Er...No thanks." Howl answered.

"Anyway, back to the focus. Haruko thinks nothing good will come out of a partnership between her brother and Poison Ivy-"

"Half-brother!" Haruko shrieked.

"Yes and that's because?" Howl asked.

"Well...My dear half-brother specialises in plant genetics and toxicology. He's also well-versed in a few forms of martial arts...Plus the added fact the he has an abundance of technological and financial resources..."

"As for Poison Ivy, she probably knows more about plants than anyone in the world. And like you mentioned, cellular biology and biochemistry. A deadly duo if you ask me." Guo Xin said.

"So?"

"Well we suspect that my half-brother, Kisho, somehow acquired Pamela Isley's cell implant technology and helped her escape from Arkham Asylum. I've checked with Arkham. They found that the items belonging to Poison Ivy in the 'Confiscated highly dangerous items' section missing. This means that Poison Ivy's back on track with her toxins and they're probably up to no good now..."

"Kisho? Kisho from high school?" Howl asked.

"Yes, that's him." Guo Xin said in a sullen tone.

"But how does all this concern me?" Howl asked.

"What's the main reason of Kisho's vindictiveness in school? Can you remember?" Guo Xin asked, a scowl marring his handsome face.

Howl paused for a moment and poured himself another cup of tea.

"Joshua I suppose...And there was Shawn...Si Heng? I'm not sure about Lester..." Howl said, ticking names off his fingers.

"Exactly. So if he's with Poison Ivy...Who knows what he will do to all of us?"

Haruko stood up.

"I'll go take a bath." Haruko said.

"But...It's been so long...I don't really remember much...We were young...We didn't think..." Howl said slowly.

"And Kisho was younger. He was the youngest."

"And so now he's back for revenge?"

"That's Haruko's presumption."

The phone rang, the shrill ringing puncturing the stillness of the conversation. Guo Xin answered the phone, expression grave as he continued listening. He nodded a few times before ending the call.

"Joshua Linton's missing." Guo Xin said.

"What?"

"Joshua Linton. Affectionately known as Josh in high school."

"Josh? I'd never forget him! He was the only one that made our lessons alive!" Howl exclaimed with recognition, a smile forming slowly as he remembered how Joshua Linton used to make teachers' lives hell.

"And he's gone." Guo Xin cut in.

Howl looked at Guo Xin, expression a blend of seriousness and curiosity.

"The authorities only found two dead prostitutes and a gun with Josh's fingerprints. Josh and his bodyguards were nowhere to to be found." Guo Xin said.

"Is Josh the only one? What about the others? Si Heng? Shawn? Lester?" Howl asked anxiously.

Haruko entered the room, donning a traditional kimono with her hair in a coiffured style and decorated with kanzashi, hair ornaments that accompanied a kimono.

Guo Xin seem dazzled by Haruko for a moment before he returned his gaze to Howl.

"Josh's the only one so far thankfully...But anyone of us could be next. So I propose we unite for the time being until Poison Ivy and Kisho is apprehended. You know...Safety in numbers."

"I hope we're all prepared." Haruko said suddenly.

"I'll need to go back to the lab then. I can't abandon my research." Howl said.

"I can set up a lab here in my house. Would you mind moving in?" Guo Xin asked.

There was a soft thunk behind them.

"I'd love to." said a female voice.

Haruko recognised the voice instantly.

"Did I spoil your little tea-party?" Pamela asked in a babyish voice.

By that time, Guo Xin and Howl had also turned to face Pamela.

"Ivy." Guo Xin muttered.

"Isley." Howl said with fear.

"Pamela." Haruko said with determination.

Pamela moved closer towards the trio, predatory stare never leaving them.

"Don't come any closer." Haruko said coldly.

Pamela gave her a mock sympathetic look.

"Awww...Afraid of your previous mentor?" Pamela asked as she took another step towards them.

Haruko's eyes lit up as she inhaled sharply.

"I told you. Stop." Haruko said warningly.

Pamela's laughter resounded across the room before she smirked at Haruko.

"And what're you going to do? Run away like the last time? The only reason I never hunted you down was because I didn't have the time. I had to complete my research before Mother Nature completely faded away." Pamela answered hatefully.

Pamela took a step forward.

And with one swift, fluid and well-practised move, Haruko removed both of her kogai from her hair, holding each in one hand and threw them at Pamela.

Pamela's eyes widened with surprise but reacted almost instantly. She bended backwards, executing a bridge as the lethally-sharp ornamental hairpins flew over her, missing her narrowly. She then swung her legs upwards and over her body before they landed behind her, raising her body then as she assumed normal standing posture once more.

"Shuriken-jutsu?" Pamela asked.

"Gymnastics?" Haruko asked too.

"I never knew." Pamela said.

"Neither did I." Haruko said as well.

Haruko then ripped off the outer covering of her obi, the sash worn with her kimono, to reveal a set of several shining star-shaped metal plates with a hole in the center and sharpened edges, the four point hira-shuriken.

"More? It doesn't matter. I have literally, razor leaves..." Pamela said.

As if they heard Pamela, several leafy plants with pods burst into the room, shattering the glass windows. A shoot punctured the carpet floor below Pamela and lifted her up whilst growing taller and taller.

Haruko's hand moved to the deadly star-shaped blades as she unsheathed a katana that was also concealed in the obi with her other hand.

"Take cover. Someone's about to get hurt." Haruko said to Guo Xin and Howl.

"So it's just you my dear Haruko against the explosive action of my plants?" Pamela asked as Guo Xin and Howl got behind the sofa.

Haruko did not reply but just continued glaring at Pamela.

"So be it then. Fire away my dears!" Pamela instructed as the plants under her grew a protective layer of leaves and branches around Pamela.

The other plants with pods shuddered for a moment before the topmost pods exploded. Hundreds of seeds with razor-sharp wing-like structures made of wood flew in every direction. Some got stuck in the walls while most were standing rigid in the carpet floor. The chandelier crashed to the ground as a few seeds sliced its supporting cables and the crystal shattered into smithereens. Guo Xin and Howl were safe behind the sofa but the sofa had been impaled with many seeds. Haruko was still standing, breathing heavily as her body rose and fell in succession. She wielded the katana in front of her and appeared to be fine apart from some minor cuts.

Pamela eyes burned with rage. She had witnessed Haruko's prowess. Haruko had single-handedly deflected the deadly seeds with the impressive display of swordplay using her katana. Pamela looked at the protective layer of plants in front of her. Seven flat, thin plates had impaled the layer. Haruko had even managed to throw the hira-shuriken at her. The protective layer parted as pink petals took its place. Pamela stood atop the engorged blossom.

"You dare throw those cold, grey creations of Man at my plants?" Pamela asked agitatedly.

Haruko smiled as a drop of sweat trickled down her brow.

"Not so tough now huh?" Haruko said in between heavy breaths.

Pamela gave a contumelious snort.

"Who's not so tough? Take this!" Pamela screamed.

Pamela raised an arm and swung it at Haruko. In sync, several vines burst out of the ground and lashed out at Haruko. Haruko held her katana with both hands, ready to combat the fiendish vines.

There was a loud beep and the vines fell to the ground, severed from the main plant. Pamela stared at the fallen vines whose ends were still smoking.

"What?" Pamela exclaimed with surprise.

The severed ends of the main plant were still smoking as Pamela looked at them. She soon made the connection.

"Dr. Howl Light. Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...I should have known..." Pamela said.

Howl stood behind the sofa, holding a small black cylindrical device of some sort with his outstretched hand. He aimed it threatening at Pamela.

"Class 4 lasers Dr. Isley. You're no fool. I don't need to explain them to you." Howl said breathlessly.

Pamela fluffed a hand through her hair.

"Incidentally Dr. Light...Do you know about 'blooming'?" Pamela asked.

"Why...Why yes. It's an effect...That causes the laser to defocus. Thus losing energy to the atmosphere..."

"Good. Fumes."

"Fumes? If there's the presence of fumes...The 'blooming' will more severe..."

"Good to know that as well! Toodles!" Pamela said, flashing a smile.

The remaining pods on the plants exploded, releasing opaque amber fumes. At the same time, the flower Pamela was in closed up, swallowing Pamela as the entire plant shrank back into the floor and then the soil, moving back to Kisho's headquarters.

Haruko coughed slightly but was unaffected by the thick fumes of Kolokol-1, a fast-acting incapacitating agent, due to the cell implants in her body. Haruko then dragged the now-unconscious Guo Xin and Howl Light out of the room and shut the doors so as to give them fresh air. She walked over to the wall and pressed a button for ventilation on a control panel.

Haruko removed the cumbersome kimono, now clad in a black ninja outfit. She looked at the unconscious men on the ground and wondered what the outcome would be if Pamela had used a lethal agent such as chlorine gas instead of Kolokol-1. She knew that Pamela had not forgiven her for running away and helping her enemies. She also knew that although Pamela was defeated this time, she would be back, and stronger.

Have been thinking after reassessing some classmates...And I felt like writing so here's Chapter 6.

Chapter 6

The exterior of The Gotham Royale displayed its grandeur in the form of a diverse array of neon lights and gigantic luminous banners. The front of the massive hundred-floor hotel was brightly illuminated by the chandeliers hanging in the hotel lobby. A sleek black limousine pulled in at the hotel entrance and the hotel valet stationed there immediately went over to offer assistance.

"Bonsoir Monsieur, Est-ce que je peux vous aider?"

"Alors...Peut-être...Ma sœur ici...Elle s'est cassé sa jambe...Donc, elle a besoin quelqu'un l'aider rentrer à la chambre...Pouvez-vous, s'il vous plaît?" Kisho replied in fluent French.

"Oui, oui Monsieur...Bien sûr! Et la voiture Monsieur?"

"Oh, c'est pas grave! Ma sœur est plus important que ma voiture! Allez! Depechez-vous!" Kisho answered, faking a worried expression.

"Certainement!"

The valet then left Kisho and the car as he helped Pamela who appeared to be walking with much difficulty with a pair of crutches. Kisho then turned towards the driver beside him, taking an apple out of his pocket.

"Want one?" Kisho offered.

"No thanks sonny. I'm not allowed to accept any food or drink from the clients that I ferry." the driver said flatly.

"Then could you wind up the windows? And then we can leave now. Oooh I love being in limousines! How many does your company have for rent?"

"Er, I'm not sure. And by the way, you're not going to accompany your sister up to her room?" the driver asked.

"Oh she'll do fine by herself. Now drop me off at the mall." Kisho answered.

Kisho started eating his apple as the driver took him to the entertainment centre in the limousine. They soon reached Kisho's destination just as Kisho finished the apple.

"Thank you!"

"Don't mention it."

The driver started driving back to his company to return the limousine. He was late and for that his manager would rant at him again. He could not afford to be fired. He accelerated. But then something went wrong. His breathing hastened. His chest felt constricted. He gasped, he coughed. He could not see clearly. He tried. He tried to drive. But he died.

The vehicle, without the driver's guidance, went out of control; a raging mass of metal going at 120 kilometres per hour. The limousine went on for a distance of about 400 metres before its rampage ended with a deafening crash upon making contact with a truck transporting cylinders of highly flammable gas. A ball of flame erupted as both vehicles were destroyed instantly and their occupants incinerated.

Kisho watched the commotion from the rooftop of the entertainment centre. He grinned as he took out a cellular phone. He dialed a number before putting the phone at his ear.

"Mission accomplished Miss Isley. And the evidence has been taken care of. How're things at your side?"

*

Pamela walked along with the valet in a corridor on the seventh floor of the hotel. They were in the lift when Pamela took off her trench coat and hat, revealing her green skintight suit as the crutches fell onto the ground.

"Merci beaucoup!"

The valet watched in amazement, puzzled by Pamela's seemingly miraculous recovery. Pamela leaned forward and spoke softly.

"Could you help me pretty please?"

The valet experienced a sense of euphoria as Pamela spoke. It was wild, uncontrolled. There was pleasure, exhilaration and lust. And as soon as it came, it was gone. The valet was breathless.

"You speak English? I..."

The valet could only concentrate on Pamela. He craved for her. He craved for that feeling once more.

Pamela leaned closer, giving a little pout.

"You won't help me?"

The valet felt it again. The feeling overwhelmed him. He acquiesced.

"Certainly...How..Can I help you?"

"Now that's a good boy...May I know which room does Joshua Linton stay in?"

The valet hesitated. That was the boss of all bosses, the one who owned the entire Gotham Royale and he had given strict instructions not to be disturbed.

"I..."

And the feeling vanished. It was so precious, so sacred. He needed it. He had to feel it again.

"Aw come on...Just tell me this...Such a small favour..."

The valet felt the sensuous pleasure again. He finally relented.

"Yes yes..."

He took out his PDA and looked through the records. He found the room shortly.

"Room...258...Mademoiselle...Eighth floor..."

"Many thanks!" Pamela said as she flashed a bright smile at the valet.

The valet seemed mesmerised. They reached the eighth floor and exited the lift. The valet continued admiring Pamela whilst fantasising. Pamela smiled and fired a dart from her miniature crossbow on her wrist at the valet's chest. The larger-than-usual dart flew with fearful velocity and planted itself in the valet's heart. The valet grimaced and clutched his chest. This snapped the valet back to his senses. Pamela laughed and fired a few more at the same place. The valet tried to dodge the deadly projectiles but failed. He gave a silent scream of fear and agony before he collapsed. Pamela stepped on the darts in the valet's chest, pushing them further in until they could be seen no more. This resulted in a brief spasm by the valet's body as Pamela stepped over it.

*

Pamela rapped the door.

"Room service!"

There was no response. She repeated the rapping.

"What do you want? I'm busy now! Anymore disturbances and I'll make sure you all get fired!" Someone in the room shouted.

Pamela smiled. She took a handful of seeds from her pocket and scattered them on the ground. She then took out a vial from her boot and emptied the contents on the seeds. The seeds started to grow at an alarming rate. A plethora of shoots, leaves and vines shot upwards as a brownish mass of roots crept across the ground. The plants continued to grow upwards until a gigantic pink bud appeared at the top amongst the giant leaves and thick vines. The bud seemed to turn itself out as it bloomed, becoming a two-metre tall rose. Pamela smiled once more.

"Open," Pamela said.

The petals of the rose curved outwards and a vine slithered downwards beside Pamela. Pamela sat on it.

"Lift me up darling."

The vine snaked upwards into the rose and Pamela got down, landing on the rose. Pamela stroked the petals slowly with one hand as she caressed a vine gently with the other.

"Don't worry my babies...You'll be growing all over Gotham by the time Mummy's done purifying it...But first...We'll have to help Kisho with his plans...After all...He's our benefactor. But this part of Kisho's plan I especially enjoy...The imbecile my dears, behind this door is the one that savagely murders so many of your kind just for his own selfish gains...Your brothers, sisters...Parents even...All your relatives...Poor things...Because of him...But don't fret...I'll avenge all of you...He's public enemy number one on Kisho's list apparently..." Pamela said warmly to her green companions.

"Move closer please."

The flurry of plants, supported by roots, moved closer to the door. Pamela put her ear to her door, listening with anticipation.

"I'm going to make sure I find out who disturbed us and make sure that someone gets fired!" The same person in the room exclaimed.

Pamela gave a girlish giggle and whispered in an undertone to the plants, "I'm right here am I not?"

"Oh yeah...Suck it...Suck it harder..." The voice sounded again.

Pamela's grin widened.

There was a groan. Then another. And another.

"Don't stop...Oh yeah..."

Pamela turned to her plants.

"You think I should let him finish?"

The leaves rustled and the vines swayed from side to side.

"I take that as a no then."

Before Pamela could do anything, the door burst open. Two burly bodyguards armed with rifles stood in the doorway. They were shocked by the apparition in front of them; a red-headed beauty sitting on a flower atop an enormous mass of plants.

"Hello boys, welcome to the green." Pamela said seductively, batting her eyelashes.

"What the heck..." One bodyguard said.

"Get them." Pamela said, eyes flashing dangerously.

A flurry of vines and branches flew at the bodyguards before any of them could react, wrapping around them tightly. More vines snaked towards them and winded around their mouths and eyes before any of them made a sound.

"Let's go in shall we?" Pamela suggested to the plants.

The towering mass of plants moved into the room with astounding speed and silence with Pamela still on the flower. Pamela stared at the figures on the bed.

"My...my...What do we have here?" Pamela said.

There was a man. Not really a man, rather a teenager, that looked only seventeen or eighteen. He had a round face with piggish eyes with an all-rounded figure to match; fats, fats and more fats. He sat at the edge of the king-sized bed. There was a beautiful blonde woman with the right figure kneeling on the floor in front of him while a pulchritudinous Asian woman sat beside him with her legs wide open. And all of them were stark naked. The blonde had her mouth over the male's erected private part, going up and down while the male fondled the breasts of the Asian woman, caressing and licking them. All three turned their attention to Pamela at the sound of voice.

"Only two Mr. Linton? I was told you would be in bed with at least ten prostitutes!" Pamela exclaimed with a derisive laugh.

"And who are you? I thought I didn't want to be disturbed!"

Joshua looked at Pamela's curves and face.

"But then again...Perhaps you came to join us? I would love to know you...Inside out.." Joshua said lecherously, eyeing Pamela's breasts.

Pamela gave him a contemptuous stare.

"I see what Kisho meant...But that's not the principle of the matter...The crux is that you and your company have destroyed countless plants with the continuous deforestation...And you will pay for your heinous crimes."

Joshua's lecherous grin faltered.

"Kisho? What Kisho? Who are you? And where are my bodyguards?"

"You know very well which Kisho I'm talking about. As for your bodyguards, they'll be dead pretty soon."

Joshua started ransacking the drawer beside the bed while the other two women huddled together on the bed in fear.

"What are you looking for Mr. Linton? A condom?" Pamela asked, voice filled with mirth.

Joshua rummaged through numerous packets of condoms and wads of money, before producing a handgun. He aimed it at Pamela.

"Answer me. Who are you? What are you talking about?" Joshua asked threateningly.

Pamela sneered. She then held out her palm.

"I want the gun." Pamela said.

Joshua laughed nervously.

"The gun's with me bitch! So you can fucking say goodbye to your life!"

Joshua aimed at Pamela's chest with the handgun which was equipped with a silencer, and pulled the trigger.

Several thick shoots shot up in front of Pamela, deflecting the bullet. The bullet hit the surface of one of the shoots and ricocheted off it, hitting the wall instead. The shoot had been dented. Pamela frowned while Joshua looked on in fear, gun still in his hand.

"Plants stronger than steel...No excuse for damaging them! Get the gun!"

The vines struck Joshua's hand and he cried out as the gun fell out of his hand. Another vine curled around the gun, bringing it to Pamela while more vines wound around Joshua.

"You'll never get away with this bitch!"

"Watch me. Besides, that'll be the least of your concerns soon...Now...You're a murderer...The evidence, fingerprints on the gun...Darling, could you do the honours?"

The vine with the gun aimed and curled tighter around the trigger, until the gun was fired. The blonde prostitute slumped against the wall, a splash of red behind her head. The Asian started screaming but a few vines subdued her easily, tightening around her neck and causing her to die from strangulation in merely under a minute.

"Make sure his fingerprints are around her neck."

The vines carried Joshua near the Asian and pulled his hands towards the woman's neck. Joshua tried to fight but the plants were too strong. Inch by inch, Joshua's hands got closer to the woman's neck and finally, the fingerprints were on her neck.

"You fucking bitch! Release me!" Joshua yelled.

"Oh what a noisy pig..."

Pamela stepped down from the flower and walked over to Joshua. The vines bound Joshua tightly, forcing him to face Pamela as she planted a kiss on his lips.

"A little something to shut you up...Urgh...That was disgusting..." Pamela said as she wiped her lips with the back of her hand.

Joshua barely blinked before he passed out. Pamela sighed.

"Oh my goodness, what a mess...My dears...Could you go to the lift and collect the valet's body? And the others over there, make sure you still have the two bodyguards with you. The three of them are going to be wonderful fertilizer aren't they?"

Pamela leaned back on the petal of the rose and inhaled the fragrant aroma while the unconscious Joshua Linton was swallowed by the seemingly infinite tendrils. She then took a piece of paper from one of her gloves and a pen from her other.

"Now let's see...Joshua Linton done. Oh yeah, make sure you don't smother him my babies. I want him alive, or rather, Kisho wants him alive...Now that's a tick for his name...Who else? Hmm...Dr. Grey? In Arkham Asylum so I guess I'll go there last...Lester...Later...Guo Xin...Of course! Isn't he Haruko's boyfriend...Ah...Haruko...If you had continued following me...The Earth would be at the mercy of Mother Nature by now...Well...I suppose it's time to visit my old apprentice...Haruko-chan..."

Pamela's cellular phone rang. She answered the call.

"Yes? Kisho." Pamela said.

"Mission accomplished Miss Isley. And the evidence has been taken care of. How're things at your side?" Kisho asked.

"Oh...Thoroughly done with Mr. Linton. Anyway, I shall start with Guo Xin next. Is that fine with you?" Pamela said brightly.

"Anything Pamela...I just want my high school reunion..."

Starting on Chapter 5 thanks to Guo Xin's song "Transylvania". Inspirational trigger! And I used a sentence from Batman TAS episode "Pretty Poison" :).

Chapter 5

"You picked Snow White as a theme?" the boy asked as he picked up an apple and took an enormous bite out of a it.

Pamela gathered the apples on the table and placed them in the basket.

"I guess you could say so Kisho...Does it taste good? I mean they're hollow and filled with hydrogen cyanide gas...That just means that you won't taste much flesh but lots of hydrogen cyanide instead...But with the para-aminopropiophenone cell implants...We're quite immune to it...But not those who will maybe inhibit our next heist." Pamela said with a laugh.

Kisho took another bite, munching with enthusiasm.

"You know, although hydrogen cyanide smells bitter...It's not really bad with apple...Because...Um...The apples you grow taste great and secondly, the taste of hydrogen cyanide blends in quite nicely with the apple juice. Mmm..."

"Ironic haha...And I've to confirm this with you again. You're sure there's a lethal dose of hydrogen cyanide gas in the hollow apples? I don't want anyone to survive you know?"

"I understand Pamela...Don't worry...I tested the levels of Amygdalin in the apples. Very, very high...So that'll mean large amounts of hydrogen cyanide. About 300 parts per million of hydrogen cyanide give or take...That should kill someone in a few minutes...And for the apples...Well basically...The apples are quite safe unless they're subjected to a certain level of impact...But I really must commend you for being able to cultivate apples that contain such a high level of Amygdalin and are hollow! You really are the best horticulturist. But why go to all the trouble when we can just create explosives with hydrogen cyanide?" Kisho asked as he finished the apple.

"Well Kisho...That'll be so not my style and besides...Mother Nature has so much to offer...Apples specially bred will need no resealing, no injecting of hydrogen cyanide...That's more troublesome! With breeding, everything's natural! It was easy to change the Amygdalin's presence to the flesh instead of the seeds and to have hydrogen cyanide produced in the gaseous form...I just tweaked here and there with the enzymes...But the hollow part was rather tricky...But it's all over, and worth it! Now...Help harvest more and fill the basket. We're going to start our little Eden..." Pamela said as her emerald eyes flashed dangerously.

*

Pamela looked stunning in her usual revealing criminal suit, dark green gloves and boots topped off with a simple straw hat. She walked slowly, hips swaying ostensibly from side to side, as the heels of her boots made contact with the ground, resulting in a sharp tap in Pamela's every step. Kisho followed silently behind Pamela, dressed in light black clothing, with soundless footsteps as if he was gliding across the ground. They arrived at the entrance of the Gotham Botanical Gardens. The massive gate towered over them as they stood in its eerie silhouette caused by the rampant vine growth on it. Kisho inspected the gate and smiled.

"The hinges are rusty. The whole structure is in bad condition. A little explosive could bring it down. So-" Kisho said before he was interrupted.

"We'll do something special tonight. None of mankind's mechanical creations...We'll do this the green way. Behold...My growth formula...Ah...Pardon the drama..." Pamela said with amusement.

She took out a small vial from inside one of her dark green gloves and another from beneath her suit at her chest and Kisho grimaced when he saw that.

"Ewww...Must you put it in your bra?" Kisho asked in a disgusted voice.

Pamela just giggled.

"Oh you sound exactly like Harley! I don't wear bra by the way but better safe than sorry! Harley was never very careful...And that's why she..." Pamela said as her voice turned into a whisper.

Pamela dried her moist eyes with her gloves than smoothened out her suit.

"I'm sorry. That was most unprofessional of me." Pamela said as she sniffed.

"You loved her didn't you? Harley?" Kisho asked softly.

"She was my only human friend...Other than plants of course...She didn't deserve to die...She was so young...Oh but Batman just had to meddle..." Pamela said as her eyes narrowed.

A memory tingled in her mind and showed itself.

"Red? Are you sure breaking into Wayne Corporation is such a good idea? I mean you worked here? Quite obvious looking at the stuff you're gonna steal? And what if Batsy comes?"

"Oh Harley...Batman...So insignificant...No match for my perfume..." Pamela said as she gathered a few bottles of cyanide and boxes of ammonium nitrate.

"Harley? Can you load this bottle of cyanide into your gun? We'll be prepared just in case..." Pamela said as she handed the bottle to Harley.

"Aww...Red...I wanna use my extendable boxing glove. Pretty please?" Harley pleaded, a megawatt smile on her face.

Pamela sighed and gave a nod of approval. They finished putting the last of the bottles into Harley's handbag and almost reached the exit when the alarm sounded.

"Drats! Harley! Whatever happened?" Pamela shouted.

"Oopsy? Haha..." Harley said with a weak smile as she held up a tripwire.

Pamela rolled her eyes and took out a bottle of cyanide, wielding it in her hand just as two police officers burst into the room.

"Freeze! Nobody move!" One policed officer shouted.

Pamela threw the bottle at the police officers. One of them raised his arm to deflect the blow and the bottle crashed onto the ground. The bottle smashed into pieces as its contents flowed out. Harley launched the boxing glove and the other police officer was thrown back into a wall as the boxing glove struck her. The other police officer started coughing as he inhaled the cyanide fumes. Pamela gave him a vicious uppercut and a kick in the groin while Harley threw a smoke grenade on the ground. The police officers coughed even more violently in the mixture of chlorosulphuric acid and cyanide as Harley and Pamela made their escape.

A flash of black. A large shadow was cast over them. A soft thud. The Batman narrowed his eyes. Pamela smirked.

"A late-night rendezvous? To what do I owe the honour Batman?" Pamela asked mockingly.

"Harley and Ivy. You'll both soon have the honour of staying in Arkham."

"What makes you so sure Batsy?" Harley shouted as she launched the boxing glove.

The Batman leaped and avoided the attack with ease. Pamela produced a thorny whip from her boot and lashed out at the Batman as he landed behind them. The Batman parried Pamela's lashes with his arm guards and threw a batarang in Pamela's direction. Pamela raised her arm, preparing to strike again but the keen projectile sliced her weapon into half. Harley launched her boxing glove again and this time, it hit. The Batman flew backwards several feet as Pamela took out an abnormally large aerosol.

"You'll pay for doing that to my precious vine Batman!" Pamela said with rage as she squirted a liberal amount of hydrochloric acidic mist at the Batman.

The Batman shielded himself with his cape but the concentrated acidic mist dissolved part of the cape and his suit, searing his flesh. The Batman flinched in agony just as Harley dealt another severe blow to him with her extendable boxing glove, causing him to fall onto the ground. Pamela dropped a bottle of cyanide onto the ground, shattering the glass and causing the lethal cyanide fumes to rise up from the slowly-forming puddle of cyanide. The Batman started coughing violently as he inhaled the fumes. Pamela blew a kiss at him and laughed.

"Ah...The Batman incapacitated...At our mercy...How long have I dreamt of this..." Pamela said, circling the Batman languorously.

The Batman tried to get up and lifted an arm but Pamela put a foot onto his chest.

"Ivy...Police..." The Batman mumbled, looking behind Pamela.

"Oh the police officers? The cyanide and acidic smokescreen should stop them...And don't bother trying to move Batman...The last kiss I blew was a paralyzant. Now...For the coup de grace...A corporeal kiss...To seal your fate..." Pamela said slowly, puckering her lips for a kiss.

Pamela crouched down and leaned forward.

"What perfect physique Batman...Your figure certainly matches mine..." Pamela said with delight as she leaned forward more, lips touching the Batman's.

"Red!"

There was a shout. The sound of a gunshot. Pamela paused, lips still locked with the Batman's.

Harley crumpled, the patch of red stemming from the left side of her chest was slowly spreading wider and wider.

"Red..." Harley said for the second time, the first being a shout.

Pamela watched aghast from the side of her eyes. Her peripheral vision was not excellent but what she she saw was enough to make her blood run cold. Tears started streaming down her face as she broke her kiss with the Batman.

"Harley!" Pamela screamed, running over to her body.

A police officer stood at the entrance to the building of Wayne Corporation, holding a pistol in his hand still aimed in Pamela's direction as smoke drifted from the barrel of the pistol. He coughed and gasped before the effects of cyanide poisoning overwhelmed him, killing him.

Pamela witnessed the police officer's death and her sharp mind deduced what happened.

The shout. The gunshot. Harley.

The bullet had been meant for her, to stop her from planting her deadly kiss on the Batman. But Harley had shielded her, with her own body, and it cost her her life. Harley had tried to warn her but it was too late. And she used the only last resort she could, sacrificing herself.

Pamela clasped Harley's hands in hers. They felt frighteningly icy. Harley looked pale.

"Harley...Hang on...I'll save you...I'll think of something...You said I was the best botanist didn't you? Just don't die yet Harley...I'll find a plant...I'll help you..." Pamela said in between sobs, holding Harley in a tight embrace.

Harley smiled.

"Red...I had gotten over the Joker long ago...I'm no fool...I used to be a psychiatrist...I realised it was just infatuation...The one...I really love...Is you Red...You..." Harley said, with ostensible difficulty as she articulated each word.

"I love you too Harley...I had always loved you...Just wait for me...I'll find a cure...The immunity serum I gave you...I can try to change it...Make it something to give you immortality...Just hang on Harley...I'll do anything...We can go beg Ra's Al Ghul...I'll be his slave...So you can use his Lazarus Pits...Yes...I'll go now...Oh Harley..." Pamela whispered comfortingly.

"Red...Promise you won't forget me..." Harley said, smiling as she closed her eyes and a teardrop rolled down her rosy cheek.

"I won't...Harley...Harley? Harley?" Pamela screamed, tears cascading down literally.

Pamela carried Harley in her arms. She could hear sirens, then another gunshot, a burning sensation in her chest and then everything went black.

"Pamela? Pamela? The growth serum...Do I pour it or what? Pamela?" Kisho asked.

Pamela snapped back to the present. A teardrop fell.

"Yea-Yeah? Pardon? I was reminiscing, sorry."

"I asked how should I use this serum of yours?" Kisho repeated.

Pamela rubbed her reddened eyes.

"Oh just pour them on the vines. On the roots."

"Okey-dokey."

"I'm so sorry Harley...But I'll avenge you...The entire world's population will pay at the expense of your death..." Pamela said in an undertone.

"Sorry?"

"Nothing...Just mumbling to myself about imperfections in the serum..."

A flurry of vines sprouted from the tip of every leaf of the initial vines on the gate. All the vines snaked their way up the gate as their roots planted themselves in the ground firmly. The vines continued to shoot up, lifting the gate into the air, pulling it from its hinges.

Pamela smiled at the phenomenal sight.

"Now...Let me show you something I discovered during my stay in Arkham..." Pamela said, clearly please with herself.

Pamela stroked the plant softly.

"Spread yourselves out...Slowly...We don't anyone suspecting you do we?"

Tne vines curled up and snaked across the gate, spreading out evenly. When the last of the rustling of leaves was heard, the gate was back in its original position held up by the vines that spread across it.

"Good work my babies...This way...When they open the gate the next morning...They'll think the gate just needs maintenance. No suspicion of foul play..."

Kisho watched in awe, mouth agape.

"Oh, my, god...Telepathic plant control..."

"No Kisho silly...I can...communicate with the plants...Not control...Now, let's collect all the species of plants here..."

The both of them went around collecting seeds of plant species ranging from some of the rarest to the most common weeds. In the event whereby there were no seeds, they took the entire plant altogether. They continued throughout the night without fatigue, stamina, strength and agility enhanced by Pamela's plant extracts.

The first rays of sunlight filtered through the clouds, signaling the arrival of dawn. Pamela and Kisho finally finished and they approached the gate. Pamela greeted it.

"Good morning my dears! Now my hands are a little full...So could you open the gate for me and then close it after I leave?" Pamela asked the vines.

The vines responded by moving away from Pamela towards a tree. The vines coiled around the tree at one end and grasped the gate at the other. The vines then started to curl, pulling the gate away from Pamela.

"Thank you." Pamela said sweetly.

Kisho continued watching even after they left the compound as the vines started their work of returning the gate to its original position.

Kisho ran after Pamela.

"Wait up! Now that's something you don't see everyday..."

"Oh don't worry...I promise we'll be seeing much of this in the days to come...Gotham - My Poison Paradise! Now get the plants and seeds into the car..."