batman villains · gotham city · dc comics · riddler · mad hatter · scarecrow · fear toxin · mind control · puzzle master · criminal trio
The alley stank of wet cement and corroded metal, lit only by the faltering pulse of a lone streetlamp. Three shapes moved through the gloom: one tall and spindly, one small and murmuring, one leading with the precise click of a cane. The Riddler's emerald suit caught the sickly light; Scarecrow's burlap mask seemed to breathe; the Mad Hatter's oversized top hat wobbled as he whispered, "I'm late, I'm late..." Riddler stopped, turning sharply. "Jervis!" Then a metallic clang shattered the quiet from somewhere behind you. All movement ceased. Three figures went still. Scarecrow's head tilted slowly, the noose around his neck swinging faintly. "Now," he said, his voice a dry rasp. "What was that?"