Disclaimer: I don't own Batman or any character/plot associated with him. That would be amazing, but it's not going to happen. So this is as close as I'll get. Ashley Beringer is a made up character; she is not based on anyone I know nor was she created based on a real person. Please review; my first fanfic, so please don't criticize me too hard.

Author's Note: Alright, this is the final chapter for this fanfiction. I've been putting it off for too long. I guess I just really didn't want it to end. Oh well, the ending is a little different, but I hope you guys like the direction I took it. Thank you horsewhisper3 for the fanart that you made me. It's awesome!

Ashley was shoved into a car once more, but this time it was Riddler who slid in after her. It took only a few seconds for Scarecrow to join them in the car; he was going to drive. This fact terrified Ashley. A crazy person behind the wheel never turned out well, and she was stuck in the car with two of them. Ashley sighed at the idea, knowing that it would be better just to accept whatever fate awaited her on the road. If they were to get hit by another car, it might kill her or even save her. She could be free either way.

Bags of money flew into the backseat where Riddler and Ashley were sitting. Ashley looked out the window and saw a small group of men carrying some of the money bags. Scarecrow must have spared some to help carry out the loot. Each man handed Scarecrow the bags. In turn, Scarecrow tossed the money into the back. After a few moments, Ashley was sure that the men were actually robots rather than men; ever action was so systematic.

When all the bags were loaded into the back – in which Riddler was already grinning at the pile of money that separated him and Ashley – the men spoke to Scarecrow with unease. Ashley watched through the tinted glass as they conversed. The men looking terrified and Scarecrow looking sly. Ashley already knew what was going to happen before it even did, just by the way the Scarecrow held out his hand.

In seconds, the men were writhing on the ground, screaming at some imaginary creature that threatened to destroy them. They cried out to heavens they could not see, for help that could not come. Ashley understood their pain; had she not experienced it herself? It pained her to watch Scarecrow turn away from the men's agonizing screams. Scarecrow slipped into the car, slamming the door behind him. Without a word, they pulled away from the ancient house and from the cries of the weak. All Ashley could see in Scarecrow's reflection in the rearview mirror was sheer bliss. There was no empathy in sight.

Riddler was already counting the money by the time the car pulled into a paved road. His hands shook with excitement and his grin stretched from ear-to-ear. It was revolting to Ashley how childish the criminal looked. He acted as though Santa had given him all the money. As if he had earned it fair and square. Riddler's fingers flipped through each dollar bill, twitching with excitement.

"What do you think?" Scarecrow look at Ashley in the mirror, his grin nearly as wide as Riddler's.

Ashley's face was emotionless as she spoke evenly, "How did I know to do all that stuff?"

There was silence in the car. Riddler stopped thumbing through the bills, his eyes cast downward so as not to look at Ashley. Scarecrow continued to drive, although his hands were gripping the wheel fairly tight. He glanced into the mirror and sighed, debating mentally whether to talk about the issue or not. When the battle inside was over, Scarecrow decided to explain to Ashley what she wanted to know.

"You see, my dear… Riddler and I have been planning this for a while, but couldn't decide which of us should go in and open the vault. If we both went, chances were that we could both get caught. But we had our own knowledge and ideas of how to do things that we would need each other's minds for this plan to work. You see, Riddler cracked the vault code while I hired the minions and supplied them with weapons of fear. Together, we planned it out. Without each other, this would never have worked.

"So, in order for this plan to work, we would need someone else to go in to do the dirty work. We were interviewing all Asylum psychologists and workers, trying to find the right one. And then… you came along," Scarecrow smiled, remembering their first day. Ashley cringed as it came to her mind as a vision, "We asked the Mad Hatter to do some dirty work for us. We would break him and a few other inmates out of Arkham if they did particular things for us. Mad Hatter was the one who put that precious chip in your beautiful skull,"

Ashley's head throbbed, as though it knew that there was an invader inside.

"This chip would allow myself and Riddler to send images and urges into your head. We would be able to command you to do our work for us… all in the safety of our hideouts. Were you to disobey, you, my dear, would be writhing in pain and suffering from the most severe headache in history," his eyes flashed dangerously as he watched Ashley's face.

Ashley had remained silent this whole time. Everything was sinking in. It killed her slowly to know that these villains had control over her so easily. It made her sick to think about it.

Scarecrow continued, "It has worked like a charm. But this is where we say our goodbyes, Ms. Beringer," the car slowly stopped in front of Arkham Asylum's entrance. It was eerie in the daylight as much as it was at night. The black gates rose from the ground like spikes from hell. The bricks were covered with age and vines, darkening the stones. Passed these gates, the Asylum rose to spear the brightening sky. This place sent chills down Ashley's spine.

"You mean… that's it?" Ashley looked at Scarecrow, then to Riddler in disbelief, "That's all I had to do? What about me being wanted? I'm considered a criminal because of you two!"

Riddler held his cane upright between his legs and drummed his fingers on the metal. Scarecrow was smiling at Ashley's anger. They both watched her in some way. Riddler spoke up, "That seems to be one of your problems, not ours. But, best of luck eluding the police!" His voice was cheerful, and his eyes twinkled.

Scarecrow opened his door and stepped out of the car, opening the door for Ashley. She stepped out cautiously, glaring at the Scarecrow. She hated him more than ever and she hoped he knew it.

"I do know it," Scarecrow remarked plainly, gently grabbing Ashley by the arm and guiding her to the gates of the asylum, "But I will find it difficult to forget you. You are one of the bravest people I have ever met…" Scarecrow pulled Ashley to the iron without a fuss, and pulled out something. It glinted in the morning sun as he snapped it over Ashley's wrist. Handcuffs. He attached her to the gates with a smile, watching Ashley's face as it changed from fury to panic.

Scarecrow loved and hated her feeling fear. He wanted her to be fearless. Crane could see so much potential in the girl, yet Riddler would have no more of her presence. A partnership always comes with a price, the Scarecrow supposed.

"And you, Dr. Crane? How brave is it to leave someone behind like this?" Ashley spat back, her eyes watching his carefully. He was analyzing her again, as he always did when they were in the same vicinity as each other.

Scarecrow smirked and brushed a strand of hair from Ashley's eyes and gently placed a note in her free hand, whispering into her ear, "Tell me doctor… what frightens you?" He stepped away from the girl, and watched as she remembered their first day together. About his promise that working at the Asylum would be different, easier. He had kept that promise. Now no one was allowed to harm her. No one in Arkham Asylum would harm her, fearing the wrath of Scarecrow would be placed upon them. Jonathan Crane had kept his promise.

With that, he turned away from the girl's helpless face. This man of fear walked back to his car, slamming Ashley's door shut before sliding into the vehicle and closing his own. He waved once to the girl, an evil smile playing across his lips. Riddler waved as well, but it was more dismissive. The car pulled away and drove down the aged road, flinging dirt and dust into the air. Ashley watched the vehicle until it turned out of sight behind a group of trees. They were gone forever.

Ashley soon realized that she was crying. They had left her with nothing. Jonathan Crane had stripped her of everything and all she achieved from the experience was being handcuffed to the gates where it all happened. Where it all started. Her tears rolled down her face and onto her chin, where they fell like rain onto the dead leaves under her feet. She clenched her fists, then felt the note in her right hand. Ashley had almost forgotten about it with all the thoughts clashing inside her head.

Carefully, she unfolded it using her free and handcuffed hands. It read as follows:

"My dear precious Ashley,

If you have received this letter, do know that all has been taken care of. I had sworn to you that none should harm you, and I plan to make sure of that. The police have been informed that you had no play in our little plan and that you are currently handcuffed to the Arkham Asylum gate. They know nothing of your chip and I hope it stays that way. In fact, tell no one about it.

The inmates of Arkham will treat you as a friend, and any person that harms you will be reported missing thereafter. They have ways of contacting me, so, if you should ever need me, talk to either the Mad Hatter or Two-Face. They will be more than happy to oblige. Or else I'll… well, never mind about that.

I can't tell you where I'll be, but, if our paths should choose to reunite at the Arkham Asylum, I will have only one question to ask: what frightens you? Although you and I both know the answer to that riddle…

Loneliness.

From your guardian angel of terror,

Jonathan Crane

P.S. You were right, by the way… I am deathly afraid of the Batman.

P.S.S. I command you to eat this letter at once!

Ashley obeyed the last command of the letter with a grin as wide as the Riddler's. Even as the police showed up, Ashley Beringer couldn't help but think about Scarecrow and how much he truly amazed her. His story was a mystery that even the bravest psychologists would never understand. Ashley Beringer was proof of this, and, even as she interviewed countless inmates at Arkham Asylum years later, she would never find a story quite like Jonathan Crane's.

Even though their paths never physically crossed, Ashley always swore that she felt like she was being watched over even when there was no one around. Scarecrow had helped Ashley overcome her greatest fear and, in return, she stayed silent about the incident. Whenever Gotham Police wanted to interview her, Ashley only answered with the same reply each time:

"When you have me, you feel like sharing me. But, if you do share me, you don't have me. What am I?"

"It's a secret," the cop interviewing her always replied.

"Exactly."