Christmas Eve in Gotham City.
Heavy snow began falling again. The thick layer on the ground looked pale under moonlight, like burnt ashes.
Arkham Asylum towered dark against the night sky. Dim lights scattered across its facade made it look almost alive. Guards patrolled. Iron railings surrounded the entire complex. The building's blurred shadow blended into darkness, enormous and predatory, like a beast from strange legends lurking in wait.
Tonight was Christmas Eve. After midnight, Christmas Day.
Commissioner Gordon had a serious expression as he hurried after Batman. Tonight should have been ordinary Christmas Eve. Instead, he'd rushed here from the soup kitchen to this maximum-security prison that specialized in detaining super criminals and lunatics.
Exhausting work days. Frequent crimes in Gotham. The Holiday Killer still at large. Everything made him tense.
Fortunately, the small soup kitchen in the East End had eased his mood lately. Every time he visited to see the children, he felt his energy return.
Of course, that could also be because he drank porridge there.
"The Joker's loose again. He's already attacked several families." Gordon recited the facts. "For God's sake, he didn't kill anyone. Just took all their Christmas presents."
Batman, walking ahead, gave a brief reply.
"I know."
Commissioner Gordon raised his eyebrows, staring at the pointed ears on Batman's cowl. He started to ask, then stopped. "You know? How did you—we just received the news—forget it."
After working with Batman for years, he'd learned that when Batman did something beyond expectations, there was no point marveling or questioning.
He shook his head and looked back at the densely packed cell doors of the massive prison. "There are too many criminals here. Almost twice as many as when you first appeared in Gotham. I'm not saying there's a direct connection between the two, but do you have any thoughts?"
Facing Gordon's loaded question, Batman's expression remained unchanged. A short, low reply.
"No."
Batman knew exactly what Gordon was implying. A phenomenon neither of them wanted to acknowledge.
Batman's existence somehow attracted them. These murderers. These perverts. These psychopaths and super criminals. Brought them to this city. To Gotham.
Jim Gordon is a good man, Batman thought. Gordon and the GCPD officers did everything possible with limited resources. Worked hard to maintain order in Gotham.
But Gotham City needed Batman to protect her from criminals like Julian Day.
So Batman couldn't disappear. Not now. Not for Gotham's sake.
Julian Day was a super criminal known as Calendar Man.
The prison cell behind bulletproof glass was spotless. Only a bed, a calendar, and torn calendar pages scattered across the floor. Pure white light flooded the entire space, bright as day.
A figure in a white prison robe pressed against the smooth glass door. His spotless bald head reflected the harsh light, gleaming. He muttered to himself.
"Months of thirty days are September, April, June, and—"
"I've spoken to the District Attorney, Julian." Gordon interrupted Calendar Man's mumbling. "They'd be happy to commute your sentence if you helped us with these murders."
He paused for effect.
"We thought, with your interest in combining crime and calendars, perhaps you could see something we're missing?"
Calendar Man's response was immediate.
"Tomorrow is a big day. She will strike again."
Batman's voice cut through the cell's white brightness. Still low. Without fluctuation.
"What makes you think the killer is a woman?"
Julian stopped his nonsense and entered full oracle mode. Continued muttering in a way that sounded like answers but wasn't entirely coherent.
"Because he likes it. Likes to draw attention to himself."
"No one knows who she is. And he's made a name for himself. Or she has."
The pronouns shifted deliberately. Confusing. Misleading.
"You've all been lucky so far. In February, there will be Lincoln's Birthday, Washington's Birthday, and Presidents' Day."
Gordon understood immediately.
November had Halloween and Thanksgiving. Two murders. December had fewer holidays. So far just Christmas. Maybe one more murder. Maybe two.
But February next year had three major holidays. Which could mean three homicides.
He reflexively rejected the possibility. "February? By then we'll have caught the killer."
Calendar Man ignored the rebuttal. Spoke faster instead.
"Groundhog Day. Ash Wednesday. Secretary's Day. Earth Day. Flag Day. Boxing Day. Hanukkah."
His voice accelerated. A litany of death.
"Valentine's Day. Saint Patrick's Day. Easter. Mother's Day. Father's Day. Independence Day. Labor Day. Columbus Day. Veterans Day. New Year's Eve."
Gordon stood frozen before the glass door, watching Julian Day spit out festivals one after another. Running from the beginning of the year to the end. From the end back to the beginning. A creepy chill hit his entire body.
If the Holiday Killer's knowledge of festivals matched Calendar Man's expertise, if their killing behavior followed the same pattern, plus the crimes already committed this year...
This person would kill from January to December like a bloody butcher.
Especially during Lent. A killing spree lasting forty days.
How many people would die then?
"Gordon."
Batman's voice startled him awake. He turned and found the Dark Knight still wearing that stern expression, as if he hadn't heard Calendar Man's creepy murder menu at all. Batman turned and left with steady steps.
This bat seemed to be made of iron.
On the other side of Gotham, Jude opened his task interface.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
Mission: Christmas Crystal Ball
Task Introduction: You're familiar with the process, so no need to explain extensively. This time the requirement is to craft a silent snowman crystal ball music box.
Note: Sweet dreams.
Status: To Be Completed (0/1)
Reward: A small snowman crystal ball music box that doesn't need winding. It will sing when someone nearby needs a good night's sleep.