“My most successful subordinates, soon, you’ll begin your medical practices, here in Limbo City. Humans will come to you to be made well and I’ll provide the cure for all their ailments. All you have to do, is play your parts, as specialized doctors of many medicines. Of course, there will only be one source, my brother’s harvested blood.

 

Let’s get straight to it.

 

Dante’s success in Riddler’s first maze came from two things, his Angel Trigger and Robin. The demons Dante faced, the spirits Dante freed, those were tied to Robin. Those variables were tied to Killer-Red.

 

We fully expect Dante to escape Riddler’s second maze by invoking his Angel Trigger, to get to Killer-Red. The maze’s purpose is to trap Dante in Fear Toxin and force him to exit right where we want him. 

 

We know he’ll Angel Trigger, we need him to Angel Trigger. Because as soon as he exits that maze, riled up with Fear Toxin and Angel Triggered, Deathstroke will shoot him down with the Icarus Bomb. This won’t kill him. Instead, the Icarus Bomb will destroy Dante’s wings and put him in a coma.

 

Once he’s unable to defend himself, that’s when we can place Dante into the blood harvester. He’ll remain in the machine for the rest of his life, his blood providing a universal cure for all human illnesses. 

 

Of course, the humans won’t know that, and even if they find out, the likelihood of them objecting will be slim. They’re my subjects, not Dante’s. He may be my twin, but he’s also one of my subjects too and I decide his purpose. This is the most useful he can be to my regime.”

 

“What a speech!” hoots Griffon. “And then everybody clapped." 

 

The Demon King receives a round of forced applause from a conglomeration of humanoid devils in expensive suits.

 

“Meeting adjourned,” Vergil pompously declares, tipping his new fedora. He and Griffon then slip out of this demented board meeting as the devils whisper amongst themselves. Despite feeling diminished by Griffon’s command to clap, they’re pleased with their leader’s plan to take his rebellious brother out of the picture. 

 

Meanwhile, Vergil makes his way to Harley’s penthouse, where he runs into his brother.

 

“What the FUCK, Vergil?” Dante demands, his guns raised. “Where’s Harley?!”

 

Smugly, Vergil unlocks the door with a remote.

 

“She’s inside her penthouse, on the bedroom floor, right where I left her. I know, it blows that I had to shoot her-”

 

Griffon squawks, “Watch out, boss!” 

 

Out of nowhere, Killer-Red leaps in front of Vergil, kicking him in the face and knocking him to the floor.

 

“BLARG!”

 

“Suck it, Vergil!”

 

He and Dante rush inside the penthouse, the door shutting on it’s own behind them. Peeved, Vergil lets Griffon lift him to his feet by the arm.

 

“Such an obnoxious child. I blame Dante. I can’t wait until Killer-Red is under my control instead of his.” 

 

BUZZ. He uses the same remote to connect to Riddler while Griffon swoops down and fetches his fedora.

 

“Don’t forget your hat, boss.”

 

Mid-trauma dumping in Harley’s office, Riddler jolts when a buzzer goes off in his patch pocket.

 

“So then I said, Batman, you fiend, how dare you-“ BUZZ. “OH! You know what? It’s dawned on me, how could I have been so blind? Everyone knows psychology isn’t real science. I’ll see myself out, Doctor Quinzel. You’re not a real doctor, by the way.”

 

He strides to the door.

 

“Hey!” She removes her shoe and throws it at him. Barely missing his shoulder, it hits the doorframe, startling him.

 

“Butterfingers!” he yelps. Frazzled, he clumsily twists the doorknob open and takes off down the hall.

 

“Coward!” Harley resents, throwing her other high heel at him, this one flying over his head. “I am SO a real doctor, ya green goon!”

 

She grabs her mallet and runs after him barefoot.

 

“I know that was Vergil paging ya! Get back here!”

 

He tries to lose her via a trapdoor and ends up in the same meeting room that Vergil and Griffon just left.

 

“She’s right behind me!” he warns the demons. When the demons realize that Harley Quinn is about to ambush them, they shut, lock, and block the trapdoor.

 

“You little weasel!” she shouts from the other side of the wall. “Meh-screw it, I’m gonna go change in my office. This outfit’s making me wanna rip my skin off.”

 

They hear her stomp away. Chatting to one another, the demons disregard Riddler’s presence. With their noses turned up, they exit via another trap door.

 

“What an unworthy nuisance,” one grumbles. Offended, Riddler demands…

 

“Make room for me to leave too, I don’t wanna miss my triumphant maze! Make way, make way!”

 

But they ignore him, using their own bodies to barricade him so that he’s unable to leave before the trapdoor closes in his face. 

 

Hellish hiss, “We have another meeting to attend.”

Ghoulish growl, “And you’re not invited.”

 

SWOOP. Shut! He’s locked in, all alone. Exacerbated, he pounds on the trapdoor. 

 

“Wait! No, you can’t do this to me! I’m The Riddler, I’m one of the King’s favorites. Grah, when he hears about this, you’ll be sorry! You’ll all be sorry!”

 

He switches to the wall with the first trapdoor, where he pounds his fists once more.

 

“Doctor Quinzel, I’m sorry I told you the truth about your fake science. Help me! Get me out of here! I don’t wanna miss my big moment! My beautiful maze! Harley Quinn, come back! I need your help!”

 

In the maze…

 

It’s muggy and Dante is by himself, engulfed in yellow smog. A holographic screen switches on in the endless darkness above him. Appearing on the broadcast, Raptor News and Bob Barbas.

 

“Citizens of Gotham, the votes are in!"

 

“Of Gotham? Bob Barbas is in Gotham?”

 

“The votes are in and the fate of Batman’s sidekick, known as Robin, has finally been determined. It was a close call. Now, as many of you know, I’ve been very vocal about my stance on this matter.“

 

Terrified, Dante summons Aquila. Each of these two, three-bladed throwing-stars is huge. They spin and emit angelic energy.

 

“I took you off the air, Bob. I got these when I killed you.” 

 

“I’m pleased to announce that the people have spoken loud and clear, in favor of the death penalty.”

 

“What?!” 

 

In an impulsive outburst, he sends Aguila spinning into the screen. The screen swallows his weapons and spits them out, spinning them back at Dante. He dodges and manages to catch his blades, but out of caution, he mystically conceals them again.

 

“Sorry libtards, but facts don’t care about your feelings.”

 

“You’re not real, you can’t be.” 

 

“As of this morning, Robin’s sentence has been carried out. His execution via electric chair took place one hour ago at Arkham Asylum. The city can sleep peacefully tonight, knowing that a degenerate, violent, and frankly horrible human being is no more.”

 

“No-“

 

“Dante!”

 

“Jason!”

 

“Did you hear Riddler? He sounded prerecorded. You know it’s not true, what he said.”

 

“Where are you?!”

 

“Above you, I think.”

 

“Where’s Harley’s bedroom? What the hell did we walk into?”

 

“I think we’re in another maze. Is Riddler with you?”

 

“No, and it can’t be a maze. I don’t see any walls.”

 

“I see Fear Toxin coming up through the floors behind me. I can avoid it but, are you breathing in that smog, Dante?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Okay, follow my voice, okay?”

 

“Where are you?!”

 

“I think I’m in a hallway above you.”

 

“It’s foggy in here!”

 

“That’s the Fear Toxin. You’re a meta, you can fight it. Stay close to my voice. We got this.”

 

“Alright but I need to know where you are.”

 

Realizing that the poisonous smog is warping Dante’s reality, Killer-Red begins to move forward, hoping his friend will follow.

 

“Killer-Red, answer me!”

 

“I’m here! I’m here and you’re a badass. Nothing to be afraid of, okay?”

 

“Okay.”

 

“What do you see? Any demons?”

 

“I wish! There’s nothing. Just nothing, man. And I don’t see where it ends!”

 

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll find the exit for us.”

 

Becoming more and more upset by the second, Dante asks woefully…

 

“Is Harley really dead?”

 

“No, that was a demon.”

 

“Are you sure?”

 

“I’m positive.”

 

“Damnit, Riddler, send me some enemies to fight! Give me something, ANYTHING! God, there’s nothing here! Nobody, no life, no movement! I hate it, I hate it so much!”

 

“Calm down. When we get out of here, we’re gonna go home. We’ll pig out and practice combat, chill in the church then go to sleep.”

 

“My phone’s not working. Fuck!”

 

Smash! Killer-Red hears something break.

 

“Dante, was that your phone? Did you throw it?”

 

“Busted it on the floor, yeah. I shouldn’t have, that was a bad move. Damnit!”

 

“We can get you another one, it’s just a phone.”

 

“How wide is this place?!”

 

“What you’re seeing, is it an open space outside or indoors?”

 

“Inside but there’s no ceiling, no walls. NOTHING! Killer-Red?!”

 

“I’m still here. Keep moving. You got this.”

 

“Let me kill a demon! Let me fight something! Give me something, please!”

 

“Are you afraid of having no purpose? Is that your biggest fear?”

 

“I don’t wanna end up with nothing, with nobody!”

 

“You’re not alone, my friend, I’m here for you!”

 

“Killer-Red, are we almost done?”

 

“I hope so.”

 

“Are you gonna die too?”

 

“Harley didn’t die, Dante.”

 

“Okay but are you going to? Jason!”

 

“No, I’m not gonna die, Dante. Don’t panic, keep moving.”

 

“I’m gonna Angel Trigger, I can feel it.”

 

“Good! I think that will help.”

 

“God, it’s so dark in here. I’m not afraid of the dark, so why am I freaking out?! Did you die?! Killer-Red, please answer me!”

 

“I’m not gonna die. And I’m not currently dead either. Dead people can’t talk. I’m like, 99.9% positive about this.”

 

Dante chuckles but his voice is shaky.

 

“Heh, yeah, those-those are some good odds. You’re-you’re sure?”

 

“I’m sure. You’re doing great, angel, just keep going and you’ll be fine.”

 

“I don’t want you to die, Robin.”

 

“Dante, I’m not somewhere in the dark, getting messed up by the Joker, Dante. I swear to you.”

 

“It’s not right, it’s not fair.”

 

“Whatever you’re seeing isn’t real. From where I stand, this is nothing but a backstage corridor, somewhere in the Hub. Riddler’s probably watching with some dumb hidden cameras. Vergil’s probably trying to scare you so you’ll think me and Harley are dead.”

 

“Did Robin die? Cause I have this fear that, when I found you near the Wood of Suicides, I have this fear that you were already gone. Maybe in space, like you said. I can’t get to you if you’re on your way to the cosmos, Killer-Red.”

 

“Oh no. I didn’t know you felt that way. When I told you that you put me back with the stars, I meant that, you make me feel like I’m in Heaven. I said that because I love you.”

 

The Nephilim’s voice aches with loneliness.

 

"If you’re in Heaven, I’m never going to see you again.”

 

“Dante! Dante, it’s me! It’s me, Kat! I’m here, I’m here in the Angel Realm!”

 

“Kat?!” 

 

Dante sprints forward with a racing heart, sawtooth waves crashing against his eardrums. In the middle of the abyss, in another heap of smog, he finds his former partner, Kat, on her knees and rocking herself. He gets on one knee and puts his hand on her shoulder. She speaks again, her tone malicious.

 

“What’s the matter big boy?”

 

“Kat, are you possessed?”

 

“You worried your precious kitty-Kat ended up somewhere chaotic and scary?”

 

She jerks her head, gives him eye contact that makes him pull back.

 

“BOO!” 

 

“You’re not her!”

 

“Sure I am! Lasers!” 

 

Her pupils exude a vaporous hot-red that knocks him onto his back.

 

“Stop!”

 

“Ahahahaha! The look on your face! What a fraidy cat!”

 

She crawls on top of him, but he shoves her off and makes a break for it.

 

“Limbo Town sucks! Come back and I’ll open a rift to the Angel Realm! We can set the place on FIRE!!!!”

 

She leaps up. A spinning circle draws itself around her on the ground. It’s filled with flaming symbols of witchery. 

 

“I’m not even part of the maze!”

 

Both she, and the chaotic rift under her feet begin following him!

 

“What’s Killer-Red got that I don’t have?”

 

The snarl of a massive feline familiar joins the chase. 

 

“I thought you said you weren’t into teenagers, Devil Hunter!”

 

Galloping, a thunderous roar!

 

“Besides, Joker killed him with a crowbar! Right, Teekl?”

 

Fireballs manifest from her fingertips, she tosses them his way!

 

“The Legendary Devil Hunter would never run from a fight!”

 

“I’m not fighting Kat!”

 

"I promise I won’t bite your dick off!”

 

“Stop following me, Klarion!” 

 

"Awe, you’re no fun!”

 

Back with Riddler, Harley’s returned.

 

“I hear ya Nigma, but I ain’t gonna help ya unless you help me. Capiche?”

 

“Anything, just get me outta here so I can see my hard work in all it’s splendor!”

 

“I’m gonna break in with my hammer, then you’re gonna unlock that lab with Dracula in it for me.”

 

“Yes yes, I’m more than happy to appease you, just let me out!”

 

BAM! BANG! POW!

 

The trapdoor to the hallway crumbles, Riddler crawls out. Harley pulls him up by his collar and raises her mallet. Clothed in her signature style, Riddler makes a face of displeasure.

 

“Ewww, you looked way better in your doctor cosplay.”

 

“Take me to the lab!”

 

“Okay okay, I heard you the first time. Sheesh, what a clown.”

 

Keeping his word, he promptly guides her to the lab. With an eye scan, he unlocks the door.

 

“There! Leave me out of whatever you’re planning, Doctor Quinzel. Leave me out of it!”

 

He bails. She enters, eyes on the harvester, mallet raised.

 

“Now, let’s see what Dracula looks like with a few CRACKS in its skull!”

 

Back in the maze, Dante’s threshold is shot. He’s managed to outrun Klarion but the Fear Toxin has him short of breath. Killer-Red calls out!

 

“Dante, are you still with me?!”

 

Wheezing, Dante struggles to reply.

 

“Killer-Red, don’t-don’t be dead!”

 

Brightness, so colossal it glows along the floor under Killer-Red’s feet. Straight ahead, an archway appears, leading to the halls of the Hub.

 

“Yes, it’s working! Your Angel Trigger is gonna get us out of here, I know it!”

 

“Killer-Red, I see a tunnel! We’re on the ninth floor!”

 

“I knew we were still in the Hub! I’m seeing an opening too. Yup, that’s the ninth floor!”

 

“Go around the railing so I can meet you on the other side!”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because the only opening I see is over the atrium. I’m gonna fly to you!”

 

“Yes! Great work! I’ll see you on the other side!”