The Death knell

The nights in Gotham never seem to change. In the heart of the city, high-end restaurants and nightclubs are always buzzing with customers who spend lavishly for fleeting moments of pleasure—be it a meal that costs as much as a poor man's life savings or the company of youthful companions.

Yet, just a few alleys away from these glamorous establishments, the sounds of gunshots and screams echo through the darkness. In Gotham, evil is always close by.

Every conceivable crime can be found here, no matter how bizarre or twisted. Gotham is a living museum of modern crime, where chaos and order are constantly at odds, and the lines between good and evil blur into shades of gray.

Nights in Gotham never change, at least not for the better.

James Gordon knows this better than anyone else. After working in Gotham for thirty years, he understands the city's darkness all too well.

Starting as a rookie homicide detective, he climbed the ranks to sergeant and now serves as police chief. But his journey hasn't been easy. Not only has he faced discrimination as a man in a harsh world, but his reputation as an honest cop in a corrupt city has also made his life difficult. Here, almost no one is truly innocent—everyone is entangled in Gotham's web of shadows.

The mayor dines at Penguin's Iceberg Lounge, the senator smuggles drugs from Arkham to Scarecrow, the justice is a former ally of Two-Face, and Black Mask hides his drug empire behind the facade of a chemical factory linked to the Gotham Institute.

In a city like this, Gordon sometimes marvels that he's survived long enough to become police chief. But deep down, he knows it isn't luck. It's because he's protected by a shadow that lurks in the darkness.

A shadow that strikes fear into the hearts of the wicked.

She is swift, clever, and merciless—a figure in a Bat costume who deals with matters beyond the reach of the law. Many have tried to kill Gordon, but this Bat-woman always intervened, ensuring their plans never succeeded.

Anyone with darkness in their heart fears her. She moves like a ghost, punishing the guilty without hesitation.

When Gordon was still a captain, Batgirl first appeared. Initially, he was wary of her vigilantism. How could he allow someone, masked and unaccountable, to roam the city dishing out justice? He needed to know if she truly helped or just made things worse.

At that time, Gotham was ruled by crime families led by Falcone, whose influence ran so deep that even half the police force was corrupt. Drugs, arms, and human trafficking were commonplace, protected by complicit officials.

Gordon tried to fight back, but his efforts were always thwarted. Then Batgirl stepped in. Using unconventional methods, she obtained evidence that Gordon couldn't get through legal means. She helped him expose corrupt officials and dismantle Falcone's empire.

When Gordon finally confronted Falcone, Batgirl shattered the mob boss's confidence, ending his reign and letting hope shine on Gotham once more.

After that, Gordon turned a blind eye to Batgirl's activities. He realized she was a force for good, even if her methods were unconventional. Besides, if she wanted to dress like a bat, who was he to judge her personal tastes?

He often played dumb in public, denying her existence to the press. But privately, he'd contact her on the rooftop, complaining about the mess she left behind or asking her to be more careful next time.

In those days, Batgirl was more restrained. But as news of a bat-like vigilante spread, others began to imitate her, and not all of them were heroes. Some were criminals or lunatics, worsening Gotham's crime rate.

Eventually, Gotham's crimes escalated to catastrophic levels—madmen hiding nuclear warheads, mass hostage situations—all designed to challenge Batgirl.

She always prevailed, but her victories came at a price. The criminals became more deranged, convinced that she was the reason evil converged on Gotham. Yet, Batgirl never offered any explanations. She simply fought harder, becoming more ruthless.

During this turbulent time, Gordon became police chief. He installed the Bat-Signal on the roof, no longer hiding his alliance with Batgirl. Whenever it lit up, it meant another maniac was in town, and only Batgirl could handle it.

The police became backup, left to clean up the mess after Batgirl subdued the villains—usually unconscious or severely injured.

But at least back then, people still had hope.

Everything changed when Batgirl's greatest enemy appeared.

No one knew where she came from. She had long green hair, pale skin, and an unnerving, perpetual smile. She carved that same grin onto her victims' faces.

She wanted Gotham to embrace madness, to laugh away their fears, pain, and poverty. She planted seeds of insanity in their hearts, waiting for them to grow. She caused chaos just for fun.

She became Batgirl's nemesis, escaping from Arkham countless times, as if Gotham was merely a stage for their twisted dance. She wanted Batgirl's full attention.

Half a year ago, she played a cruel game involving Gordon. During a kidnapping attempt, his daughter Barbara was shot in the spine, leaving her paralyzed.

Batgirl caught the maniac again. Gordon wanted revenge but was stopped by Batgirl, who urged him not to succumb to madness. Reluctantly, Gordon let the law decide her fate, which meant sending her back to Arkham, where she soon escaped.

Since then, Gordon's nightmares have been haunted by Barbara's blood and that maniac's laughter. His first wife had left him, his second was killed by the same villain, and now Barbara was disabled.

He had more reasons to lose his sanity than anyone, but he held on, clinging to justice and the law.

One night, he awoke from another nightmare to find Batgirl in his kitchen, warning him of a new danger. She urged him to leave Gotham, fearing his life would be used as bait to draw her out.

Gordon refused. He wouldn't abandon Gotham, even if it meant dying. Barbara, overhearing their conversation, also chose to stay, wanting to fight in her own way using her computer skills.

Batgirl was moved by their determination but knew she had to leave. A mysterious source had warned her that if she stayed, not only Gotham but the entire world would be in danger.

Without another word, she disappeared into the night, leaving Gordon to protect his city alone.

As she vanished, Gordon muttered, "She never listens to the end..."

Barbara smiled, knowing her father wouldn't have it any other way. "Because that's what Batgirl does. Now, can you take me back to my room, Dad?"

Gordon sighed, pushing her wheelchair back to her room, his heart heavy yet unwavering. No matter what darkness threatened Gotham, he would stand his ground.

Because in Gotham, hope is the rarest currency, and James Gordon is one of the few who still believes in it.