No more portions would come, but Batman was there. In his high-five voice, he said, ‘Well, Josie, you went to bed without a story. So instead of reading a Batman comic to you, I thought we’d play a game like that.’

‘A Batman game?’ The distress was leaving Josie’s tone, which was beautiful to hear. ‘So this is Blacky Prison? Are we prisoners?’

‘We are. Oh no, we’re captured. Just a couple of visitors who got caught up in it. You remember, lots of prisoners escaped in the comic when Blackgate Prison was in the earthquake? Like Joker and Riddler.’

‘Is that the noise and the shaking? Is this an earthquake? Is the prison broken?’

He felt his head swim and for a second he forgot what he was in the middle of, but it came back quickly, like an old TV’s signal after a burst of thunder. ‘Prison. Yes, the prison. It’s broken. We’re trapped prisoners under rubble. But we’ll get out soon.’

‘I want out now. I don’t like this game.’

He heard sniffling. ‘But it’s a good game, Josie. Please play it with me. Daddy loves this game. There will be a reward if you get out. You can ride a horse. I’ll take you on a horse every day for a week. No, a bouncy castle, I’ll buy a bouncy castle. And the game will be over soon.’

Josie’s sniffling stopped. ‘When Batman rescues us? It’s stopped quaking. Listen, Dad.’

The next part was hard to say, not least because his head was beginning to cloud again. He knew he wouldn’t have the strength to stop whoever came to open the van doors. He had weakly failed to help his daughter earlier, and soon he’d be forced to watch again as dangerous people took Josie for a second time. And soon it would be, because the ceased noise and vibration meant the vehicle had stopped.

‘Josie, listen quick. Batman can’t get through all this rubble to rescue us just yet. So some men are going to take us out. They’ve been gassed with Scarecrow’s Fear Gas, so they might be a bit rough and shouting. Just close your eyes and try not to let it worry you. And they’ll take us to another place. No matter how bad they shout, or even if it hurts a little, just remember it’s a game and soon it will be all over. Soon we’ll be rescued. Can you do that?’

‘And Batman will find us there? He’ll put these baddies in Arkham Asylum?’

This Batman is going to kill them, he wanted to shout.

A grinding metal noise, and bright light stung his eyes––