The Dark Knight (Apocalypse Weird 2) by Nick Cole Page B

Cory.  Then back down at her child.  “See honey.  It’s okay now. ”
    “It’s okay now, Finn,” said the other little girl who
continued to stroke her little sister’s arm.  “It’s okay now.”
    The tired looking woman looked up at Cory again.  “Are you
okay?” she asked.
    “I’m Batman,” whispered Cory flatly.
    “Bob?” she said.
    “What?” came Bob’s muffled voice from deep inside the engine
compartment at the rear of the vehicle.
    “I think... he’s special.”
    There was a sudden bump and the entire vehicle shook.
    “Owww!” groaned muffled-voiced Bob.
    “Bob, is everything okay?” she asked.
    “Yeah.” Pause.  “I banged my head.”
    “Daddy banged his head,” giggled the older little girl to
her younger sister. 
    “Shhhh,” whispered their mother.  “That’s not funny right
now, Ollie.”
    The tow-headed one on her lap, blond curls, belly sticking
out from under a t-shirt, smiled up at her older sister.
    “Bob, I think we need to take him with us,” said the tired
blond.
    “Okay, whatever,” said Bob matter-of-factly.
    “Do you want to come and get in here? Go with us someplace
safe?” she asked Cory.
    Cory shook his large head slowly.  “No. Hafta go and come
right back with a bag for Mrs. Sheinman.”
    The tired blond bit her lip for a moment.  Thinking.  Then,
“I think you’d better get in and come with us.  It’s not safe out there right
now.  Not tonight.”
    The older little girl, Ollie, rainbow striped heavy knit
sweater and long curly blond hair shook her head at Cory, her punch-stained
lips silently repeating the words, “Not safe.”
    “Because of Stranger Danger,” said Cory.
    “Ummm?” The tired woman looked around, seeing things not
there, seeing recent episodes.  Seeing things one never forgets.  “Yeah...
that’s one way of putting it....” she paused, looking straight at Cory.  The
unconscious signal humans use to communicate when the other human being
communicated with should offer a name by which to identify themselves for the
remainder of the conversation.  Cory, of course missed the signal completely.
    “Batman,” she said softly.
    “I’m Batman,” confirmed Cory.
    Then her eyes widened as she saw something off over Cory’s
left shoulder.  “Bob, they’re coming!” she shrieked.
    Bob banged his head again.  Muttered something lost deep
within the engine compartment.  Then, once his head was out from within, he
groaned an, “Oh, man!”
    Cory turned, following their gaze.  At the far end of the
parking lot, shambling up from the freeway, more strangers were coming, weaving
around a few abandoned cars as they stumbled forward.
    Bob touched Cory’s shoulder and Cory recoiled. 
    “Sorry,” Bob muttered breathlessly.  “What did you say your
name was?”
    “I’m Batman,” said Cory flatly, composing himself with a
heavy breath.
    “Okay...”  Bob ran to the back of the old surf bus, slammed
the engine compartment shut and locked it on a rusty click, then loped back to
Cory, his flip flops flip-flopping in loud slaps against the surface of the
parking lot.  Bob’s eyes were darting everywhere as the little girl whose name
was Ollie shrieked, “Daddy!  They’re coming!” Then, “Don’t look at them, Finn.”
    “Girls, I want you to lay down on the floor,” urged the
tired blond.
    “Hey!” it was Bob staring straight into Cory’s eyes behind
the mask.  “I need your help right now, ok?”
    The strangers were stumbling across the parking lot.  Cory
watched them and felt that Scarecrow fear wanting to get him again.  Just like
the Scarecrow had tried to get Batman.
    “Hey!” said Bob again.
    I’m Batman, thought Cory, pushing the fear off and away from
himself.
    “I need you to help me push this van right now.  Can you
help me?”
    “Bob, maybe we should just all go back inside the store. 
The manager said we’d be safe there.”
    “We’ve got to make it down to the boat.  It’s our