Hell had come to the orphanage.

Bane: Arghhhhh!

Y/N: Inside!

Slade: Stay away from mirrors and windows!

You all rushed in with everyone as Grundy lunged forward towards the undead Bane.

Bane was strong. Inhumanly so.

Grundy: Bane no hurt children!

Solomon Grundy was a whole other thing. He proved that when he tore Bane's head clean off. He clenched it in his hand before he sent it flying across the way and into the horde where it completely obliterated the head of another zombie.

Creeper: Oh, wow. That has got to be the first ever headbutt I've seen without a body behind it.

Grundy held back the horde that slowly began to over take him. He wasn't going to let these monsters get to his precious kids. Honestly, faced with a scene like this, most kids would fall apart.

Our kids were different.

Letitia: Let go of our Uncle Grundy!

Letitia. 14 years old. Likes ponies. Knows how to kill a man six different ways with her bare hands.

Gareth. 7 years old. Likes the Tree Lobsters. Can survive a harsh environment, and can carry a heavy pack for four hours straight.

Zaid. 12 years old. Likes seeing things blow up. Can crush a skull with a slingshot at fifty paces.

Matilda. 8 years old. Likes Cheetah. Has trained to strangle an amazon with her own lasso.

Letitia: Attack!!

They were young and they felt immortal. They were willing take on death for a friend. No. For their family. Fortunately, their two dads weren't having any of it.

Y/N: Damnit, kids! The hell are you doing?! Fall back!

Slade: Don't risk your life for a dead man!

You pulled Letitia back and threw a batarang at the crowd growing behind Grundy which erupted and blew away several zombies. Slade opened fire at the horde as he pushed back the kids.

Creeper: It's okay. I've got him, kiddos!

Creeper leaped into the fray and grabbed Grundy's arm and pulled him away from the attacking horde.

Creeper: Come here, you big, caring Deadman! You can't die on a Monday. It'll ruin your whole poem!

Grundy: Creeper save Grundy?

Creeper: Of course! Tree Lobsters have to stick together! Let's move!

Jim: Get to the end of the corridor. We can use this as a kill box.

Slade: Planning a kill box? I like this side of you.

A kill box? That wasn't a bad idea. At least, in theory.

Slade: A corridor of bodies is only an effective barrier for so long. Believe me, I've tried. What's our next step?

Y/N: We get everyone on the busses. Open fire!

You dove behind the gunners as they opened fire at the horde to start making their killbox.

Rose: We'll be sitting ducks out on the road. And where are we going to head?

Debra: Gotham's jungle.

Jason: The heroes left, Debra. You honestly think the sanctuary's still there?

Y/N: You have another option?

No one did. And just like that, the worst roadtrip of all time began.

One Batmobile. Two busses. Forty-One children. Six super villains. Four anti-heroes. Three actual heroes. One police commissioner. One dog. All out in the open in the middle of an unloving armageddon.

Leading the charge was the batmobile being driven by Jason and who was with Rose and Debra. The first bus was driven by Slade with Cheetah, Creeper, Jim, Grundy, and Ace. The second bus was driven by Shiva with Cassandra, you, and Hel.

It was 33 minutes from Bludhaven to Gotham. 18 if society fell and the speed limits fell with it. But you also have to add at least 10 minutes to allow for plowing through abandoned vehicles. Maybe another 5 minutes if you're stopping for the undead. You weren't stopping for the undead. Honestly, you were making good time.

Until Slade noticed the mirror above him shift ever so slightly.

Slade: Hey. What...Oh shit!

Mirror Master reached out and scratched Slade's face which caused the bus to serve before Jim jumped forward and grabbed the wheel while Slade fell over.

Jim: Slade!

Slade: Hrrrr...I'm okay. I'm okay!

Slade stood up and turned back to the kids.

Slade: Where is he?! Where is the Mirror Master?! Knock out the windows! Kick out the damn...

Mirror Master suddenly appeared from one of the windows and grabbed one of the kids. A 12 year old girl named Tyra. She screamed as she was pulled through the mirror.

Grundy: No!

He punched the window with tears in his eyes before another child was taken on the other side.

Letitia: Justin! Give him back!

She smashed the window with her bat. Mirror Master reached through another window and grabbed a hold of Matilda which caused her to scream. Cheetah moved faster than anyone could really see. Ace was already bitting the attacker's arm, but he could only do so much.

Cheetah: Matilda!

Mirror Master clearly never saw her coming.

Cheetah: You don't take this one!

With a powerful punch, her claws drove right through the head of Mirror Master who fell to the ground, cut in half. Cheetah hugged the little girl and checked her over for any injuries.

Cheetah: Are you alright, Matilda?

Matilda: He...he pulled my hair.

Cheetah: I know. I'm sorry. I won't let anyone touch you again.

Matilda smiled as she petted both Cheetah and Ace.

Matilda: Good dog. Good kitty.

Cheetah smiled before she shoot a look at the other adults on the bus.

Cheetah: Only she gets to call me that!

Y/N: Everyone okay in the bus?

Slade: It was Mirror Master. He's down.

Y/N: Good.

Jim: But we....we lost a couple of kids.

Your grip on the radio tightened. You lost kids.

Y/N: Damnit.

Rose: Oh, Jim.

Jason: Jim, I'm sorry, but we're almost home. I can see it. I can see a garden.

You and Cassandra looked out the window at Gotham. Your eyes grew wide at the sight. Millions of Blighted Ones in the streets trying to get into the Garden. Some were even trying to get on the bridge to attack the busses.

Debra: That many Blighted Ones, there are definitely people alive in the Garden.

Rose: How are we going to get to it?

Jason: Nothing else for it. We go through them.

Jason hit the thrusters and rammed through the horde of the undead as the busses followed. Suddenly, beeping was heard in the Batmobile.

Rose: What's that?

Jason: An alarm.

Rose: Maybe it's a good alarm?

Debra: Batman would never install a good alarm.

Jason activated the monitor which showed the display which was blood red.

Jason: It's radar. Something low. Something fast.

Rose's eye went wide.

Rose: Jason. I can see the future. I know what's coming! Seat belt!

Jason looked at her confused.

Jason: Rose. A missle isn't even going to dent this car.

Rose: SEAT BELT!

Debra didn't even argue. Jason eventually gave in and buckled up. And then, the sky fell. You and Cassandra watched as a streak of blue slammed into the Batmobile. The attack sent the car flipping and flying through the sky before it landed in a middle of a mass of Blightend Ones.

From the crater, rose the undead Wonder Woman.

Super-powered death had come for you all. That could've been it. The end.

But you had Cheetah with you.

Cheetah: Diana.

Cheetah leaped out of the bus and charged at the undead amazon while Matilda cheered her on.

Matilda: Yeah! Kick her princess ass!

You see, Cheetah was a very good kitty.

Slade: Cheetah can't stop the amazon by herself.

Creeper: Okay...

He then stepped off the bus and stretched as he sighed.

Creeper: I guess I'm taking on an undead goddess.

Suddenly, he found a large hand on his shoulder.

Grundy: Not by self. Tree Lobsters.

Creeper smiled at his large friend. The two shook hands and leaped into the fight.

They were all powerful. Determined and tenacious. And strong. Very strong. They were never going to be able to stand against her forever. But they bought you time.

Slade: Alright, everyone off!

Jim: What?!

Slade: Everyone get on the second bus. I'm taking this one.

Jim: Where?

Slade: To clear a path for all of you. And to get Rose. She may not like me all that much, but that's entirely my fault.

Jim looked at the old man and shook his head.

Jim: I'm coming with you.

Slade: Why?

Jim: Batman's son and daughter are in there. And you need help with your girl. We've lost enough kids, Slade.

Meanwhile, in your bus, Shiva held the radio.

Shiva: Deathstroke? Why aren't we moving?

Slade: We have amazon trouble. I'm sending passengers your way and going after my kid.

Shiva: Don't be idiotic! You can't risk everything for one person!

Slade didn't respond. Shiva looked in the mirror and saw the horde approaching as you and Cassandra rushes to the front of the bus.

Shiva: Damn it! Cassandra, Y/N! Get all those kids on the bus! Hurry! We got a lot of anti-living coming!

The door opened and Cassandra ran out with you behind her. Before you could get out, Shiva grabbed your wrist. You looked back at her.

Shiva: Protect her.

You looked at her and nodded.

Y/N: With my life.

Shiva let go and you leaped out of the bus. You threw explosive batarangs at the horde quickly approaching while Cassandra ushered the kids into the bus.

Cassandra: Quickly! Move! Go!

The horde was getting closer and you knew it was only a matter of time. So, without thinking, you pushed Cassandra back into the bus as one of the Blighted Ones grabbed your shoulder.

Mary: Batman!

Shiva: Stay on the bus!

Shiva looked at her granddaughter.

Shiva: Drive the bus. Follow the other.

Hel: Qhat are you going to do?

Shiva looked out of the bus and saw you fighting off the zombies.

Shiva: Something idiotic.

Hel hesitated but nodded. Shiva then leaped out of the bus as Hel began to drive off. Cassandra got to her feet and looked out the window at you and her mother.

You punched the Blighted One away before you stabbed another in the neck with a batarang. Then, one came from behind. You didn't see it. And it's fingers brushed against your back. Suddenly, a long metal blade stabbed through it.

You turned around at the noise to find Shiva standing there with her sword.

Shiva: Keep fighting.

So you did. Together, side by side with your mother in law.

Y/N: You came back? I thought you said risking everything for one person...

Shiva: Don't make a big deal of it. Accept that I love you like a son and shut up.

You smiled and kicked away the last zombie before you and Shiva made a sprint for the bus.

Mary: Batman and Shiva got free! Slow down!

Hel slowed the bus down enough for you and Shiva to reach the doors. Since you were ahead, Shiva forced you in first. Shiva had her hand on the door, when a zombie slashed her back. Shiva cried out in pain and the world seemed to have slowed down.

Cassandra: Mother?

Shiva: It's over, Cassandra.

When you saw the wound, you knew. Cassandra knew. Hel knew.

Cassandra: I'll...

Shiva: No! A daughter shouldn't have to. I love you.

Her eyes then landed to you.

Shiva: Take care of her, Batman.

Lady Shiva. The deadliest hands on Earth. Before the Anti-Life Equation could take hold, she used those hands and tore out her own heart.

Cassandra watched her body fall from the bus as Hel hit the gas to get away from the horde. The doors closed and Cassandra dropped to her knees with tears in her eyes. You kneeled down and held her as she cried.

Y/N: I know you're hurting, but we can't break yet. We're almost there. When we get to the Garden, we'll cry together. I promise.

Jim: Rose! You okay?

Jim looked at the two antiheroes through the cracked glass of the batmobile as they hung upside down.

Rose: Jason's out cold. A few pretty integral bits of my body are broken. Debra is bleeding pretty badly.

Debra: I'm fine.

Jim: Can you walk?

Rose: Not quickly.

Debra: I can manage.

Jim kicked out the window and started to pull Jason out as Rose climbed out on her side. She then reached in and helped Debra out. Her stomach completely red. On top of the car was Slade, firing off his guns to keep the undead at bay.

Jim: Come on! We're getting out of here.

Slade: Get to the bus! Start driving!

Jim led a barely conscious Jason and an injured Rose and Debra to the bus, only for Solomon Grundy to come crashing into it. The bus folded from the impact but luckily, Jim and the others weren't hurt.

Jim: Our bus just folded in half. We're not driving it anywhere, and we can't make it to the next one.

Slade: Yes you can! I'll keep them off you!

Slade then grabbed Jason and quickly whispered into his ear.

Slade: Jason. I like you, kid. Rose can glimpse into the future, so don't even think of hurting her or she'll kill you. Remember that.

Jason: I'll...remember.

Slade nodded and pushed Jason back toward the others.

Slade: Go!

Jim carried Debra away while Jason followed. Rose turned back to her father.

Rose: Slade!

Slade: Busy destroying death over here!

Rose: Dad? You'll be right behind us, yeah?

Slade chuckled: That's definitely the plan. But in case I'm not, you survive this apocalypse and build something out of the mess, yeah?

Rose didn't say anything. She just hugged her father from behind. Slade wasn't a hugger. Rose wasn't much of one either. It was awkward.

But she couldn't see a future where they both survived. And she wasn't going to miss the chance to say goodbye.

Unfortunately, not everyone had a chance to say goodbye.

Not good kittens who had their heads crushed.

Not...whatever Creeper was who were decapitated by a punch.

Not even Solomon Grundy.

Grundy: No take kids!

Crunch!

He just died on a Monday.

And Deathstroke...well, he could survive most things. His body could repair itself. But if his organs were taken, he was done for.

There was a moment. A moment where he single handedly held back the Anti-Life horde. Where he looked untouchable. Where he looked unkillable. And then, Deathstroke was just gone. She left nothing of him to repair.

Everyone made it back to the bus, but Wonder Woman was already targeting you. She grabbed the front of the bus, and flew into the sky.

And it was all over.

All that sacrifice for nothing.

The end has come.

There was no one to stop it.

No one.....

Mary: Shhhhhhhh...SHAZAM!

Lighting hit the bus quick and a light blinded you all. When you could see again, you saw her.

Mary Marvel.

She kept the bus in the air and slowly lowered it to the street where you were safer.

Letitia: Mary, you're the hero who helped us?! Why did you stop?

Mary: I'll explain later. Keep driving. Get to the Garden. I'm heading out there.

Indeed, she did tell you.

She couldn't let SHAZAM's powers be taken by the Anti-Life equation. And, away she flew. She flew into the skies above.

Her powers didn't matter in that moment as she faced down Wonder Woman. She would have just been a well-intentioned kid instantly taken out by the virus and turned on her friends.

But she had something beyond the powers of SHAZAM. She had three months of training with Cassandra. She had the ruthless efficiency of Lady Shiva. And she had enough for being scared.

Everyone watched as she fought Wonder Woman. The fight itself wasn't what you were watching. You were watching the lighting strike of hope. Hope for your futures.

When Mary struck Wonder Woman down, you all stayed silent. Mary flew down and grabbed the top of the bus and began to fly with it.

You'd all had been so caused on reaching the Garden. You don't know why. You don't know why you thought it could protect you all from the might of the undead Wonder Woman. You don't know why you even thought you could get through the Garden walls.

But then, a miracle happened.

Hel: It's opening.

All of the survivors looked out the front window to the vines opening. Mary flew through them and landed the bus as the vines returned to their original state. It was much brighter on the inside. Mary landed and you stepped out with the others in tow.

Y/N: Get ready. Wonder Woman will be here soon.

???: No. She won't.

You all looked ahead and found Posion Ivy standing ontop of a large vine. Next to her, Harley Quinn sat.

Ivy: She can't breach the garden.

Looking around, you spotted some more familiar faces. Ones that made you smile.

Dr. Fate: It is magically protected against her and all her kind.

Zatara: Welcome to post-apocalyptic Eden.

Constantine: It's pretty if you can ignore all the dead people scratching at the walls.

Ivy and Harley reached the ground and approached the children.

Harley: Oh! Ivy, look! Our granddaughter is here.

Debra smiled at the sight of her grandmas as she held her wound.

Debra: Hey. Got any bandages?

While Zatara got to work with fixing her, Ivy walked over to Letitia.

Letitia: We're safe here?

Ivy: You're safe here. You are children of the Garden. Nothing will hurt you.

Harley: Ivy! Look at all these kids we get to corrupt!

You chuckled as you stepped forward.

Y/N: Too late, Harley. Sorry.

Rose: These ones come precorrupted by the best.

In the months that followed, you all settled in and did your part around the Garden. You and Cassandra watched over the kids, Debra recovered, Jason and Rose finally kissed, and everyone found the peace they were looking for. In the end, you made it.

It wasn't long before a memoriam was built in memory of those you lost along the way.

A zombie with a big heart.

The man who never missed.

The mind soul in a strong body.

The creepiest friend to ever live.

The best kitty.

A mother who learned to love.

And the father who knew what family meant.

They were the best. No matter what they'd been before. No matter what the world thought of them. No matter what they thought of themselves. They gave their lives for you all. You could never see them as evil.

Villians.

Savors.

Family.

Tree Lobsters.

They were your heroes.

Happy Halloween
-Uncle Ivan