I train Batman in a horror world

Chapter 1: Bats

Gotham, rainy night, alleyway.

The pouring rain pounded on the ground, washing away the bloodstains and leaving behind a string of scattered, round white pearls.

A boy knelt before the two corpses, his expression numb.

The torrential rain seemed to extinguish the flame of his life.

He remained kneeling motionless.

Watching.

then.

Police sirens and urgent voices filled the air.

"Young Master Wayne!"

"..."

……

For Gotham, tonight was just another ordinary night.

A gunshot rang out, and a life was lost.

It has seen far too many scenes like this.

late at night.

Butler Alfred led his young master Bruce Wayne by the hand back to the desolate manor.

Alfred had long since handled those tedious and necessary notes on his own; it wasn't a problem for him.

The only thing that I find troublesome is...

Alfred looked down at Bruce, whose expression remained numb.

Bruce looked as if his soul had been ripped out; his eyes were vacant, and he resembled a corpse.

The smiles of yesterday stand in stark contrast to the silence of today.

The sudden loss of both parents was a devastating blow to an eight-year-old child.

Alfred sighed softly and prepared to take the young master's hand and lead him to the bathroom.

When I arrived at the scene, the young master had already been soaked in the rain for some time, and he could easily catch a cold if he wasn't careful.

He had barely taken a step when he felt a slight resistance.

Alfred turned his head and saw Bruce gripping his hand, his legs feeling like lead, completely still.

"Alfred..." Bruce finally spoke.

"I'm here, Master Bruce." Alfred crouched down, ready to listen to what his young master had to say next.

Perhaps because he hadn't spoken for a long time, or perhaps because he couldn't bring himself to say the words he had prepared, Bruce's voice was extremely weak.

"It's all my fault."

Bruce lowered his head, his voice trembling, "If I hadn't been afraid and let them leave the theater early..."

"That's not how it is, Master Bruce!"

Alfred quickly interrupted, firmly placing his hands on Bruce's shoulders.

"You didn't do anything wrong, really! The culprit behind all this is that fugitive criminal. It's his problem, it has nothing to do with you, do you understand?"

After he finished speaking, Bruce's body trembled even more violently.

"But if I weren't afraid... I wouldn't..."

"Oh no no no..."

Alfred was heartbroken to see his young master in this state.

He first gently put one arm around the crying Bruce in front of him, and then gently stroked Bruce's back with the other hand.

"It's not your fault, my young master, it's alright...it's alright, everything will be alright..."

"..."

The pent-up grief finally erupted at this moment.

Bruce, like a fledgling bird, huddled in the arms of the butler Alfred and cried loudly.

"I don't want to be afraid anymore."

"You will, young master, I believe you will."

......

Time slips away quietly.

Wayne Manor seemed to have returned to its former glory, with many dignitaries appearing in various areas of the manor.

Bruce hid behind the curtain, silently watching these people.

In the past, at this time, these people would specifically ask their parents for favors.

However, today they are here to mourn their parents.

Thinking about this, Bruce felt even more disappointed.

If he could, he would rather believe he was in a nightmare.

The kind of nightmare where you watch a horror movie and then have nightmares about the movie's content while trying to fall asleep.

Unfortunately, the deaths of his parents were real.

It's true that he lost his parents.

Bruce was lost in thought when he suddenly heard Alfred's voice from behind him.

"Young Master Bruce, it's time. They're waiting for us... to send Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Martha off on their final journey."

"..."

Bruce turned away, wanting to tell Alfred that he didn't want to go.

Not wanting to go doesn't mean he doesn't love his father and mother.

On the contrary, he loved them deeply.

only......

He is afraid.

Bruce suddenly lowered his head in shame at his terrible thoughts.

I just said that not long ago.

I'm not afraid.

But why is it just like that...?

Before he knew it, Alfred had taken Bruce's little hand and led him outside.

"It's alright, I'll stay with you, Master Bruce, always."

"..."

The funeral procession for the Wayne couple was very long, resembling a slender black snake slowly moving across the green grass.

Bruce and Alfred walked at the front of the procession.

The more Bruce was led by the butler's large hand, the more uncomfortable he felt.

He started to feel scared again.

Because once this journey is completed, it will be the time for the parents' burial.

From that time on, he could never see his parents again.

Just as they were about to enter the cemetery, Bruce took advantage of Alfred's inattention, broke free from his grasp, and ran towards the desolate woods beside the road.

"Young Master Bruce!"

"..."

With tears in his eyes, Bruce ran through the haystacks, ignoring Alfred's shouts, and continued running deeper into the woods.

He hated his weakness at that moment.

The only way to avoid fear is through escape.

I already said that.

Don't...

"Aaaaaaah!"

Bruce was completely unaware that his foot had landed on a rotten wooden plank covered by leaves.

With a splash, he fell straight into a well.

It's hard to say whether it's lucky or unlucky.

There was no water in the well, so Bruce didn't choke on the spot.

But the injuries from the fall are very real.

Of course, none of these things really matter.

Importantly, a large group of bats were resting at the bottom of the well!

The bats were awakened by the noise of Bruce's fall and began to howl wildly, flapping their wings and flying away in a frenzy.

Bruce was in the thick of it, and his heart was in his throat!

He used to be afraid of bats, and now when he sees a large group of bats, he naturally closes his eyes tightly, raises his aching arms, and curls up into a ball.

"Chirp chirp chirp—"

"..."

After a few minutes, all the bats at the bottom of the well left.

Bruce then opened his eyes.

The sky outside the well was gray and hazy.

Just like his mood right now.

Very depressed.

He had no idea how many times he had thought this way.

We promised not to be afraid anymore...

"Oi!"

「!?」

The sudden, eerie noise startled Bruce!