Riddle 009: A Riddler's Return

[puzzlerprince]

[Edward wakes up in a bedroom. He sits up, rubs his eyes and quickly realizes... this isn't his bed.]

Oh no.

[He shoots out of bed, checks the photos in the room. A white-haired woman, a small boy, and... him?!]

Oh no!

[He dashes to the window and spies a very familiar cul-de-sac.]

DAMN IT! NOT AGAIN!
[He dashes out of the bedroom to find a telephone and

Comments

[deaths_heritor]

[White-haired, actually. For some reason, the Riddler may not have noticed her sitting in the corner reading as he made his call, but she'll drop her cloak soon enough.]

I find that life is really only unfair when you keep your expectations too high.

[puzzlerprince]

[My bad. He whips around, shocked to find her. He puts a hand over the receiver and shoots her an annoyed look.]

Let's just say coming back here was never an expectation of mine.

[deaths_heritor]

I doubt it is for anyone. Nor coming here in the first place.

[puzzlerprince]

True enough.

[He sighs, placing the phone back down on the receiver for now.]

I'd been here once before. The last thing I remember was... a party at the Smiths. How much time has passed since then?

[leavesofthree]

Welcome back.

[puzzlerprince]

I suppose this place just couldn't get enough of me. I doubt I've missed much.

[leavesofthree]

Not much at all. A Russian madman went about giving away free clues and those in charge didn't take it well.

And then everybody became a superhero for a day.

[puzzlerprince]

You, Harley, and the Joker must have had a ball with that one.

[glowing_science]

[That voice!]

Mr. Nigma? You're back!

[puzzlerprince]

[And he remembers hers, as well!]

Ms. Skye! [He sighs.] Unfortunately.

[glowing_science]

Yeah, there really isn't much celebration to be had over it, is there?

At least you missed the horror that was the past few weeks. It's been... well, terrible.

[puzzlerprince]

Oh? Please, explain.

[strike_you_out]

[The line is abruptly disconnected.

It's because the kid in the photo has his finger on the hook switch. He's appeared as if from the wall itself and is staring steadily at the intruder from beneath his cap. At 12, he isn't very impressive in size, but the way he's holding that baseball bat suggests he knows how to use it.]

[puzzlerprince]

[Edward hears only a click and a dial tone.]

Damned thing.

[He moves to place the phone down but drops it at the sudden appearance of the boy in the photograph.]

Gyahh! Y-y-you little---! It's rude to sneak up on someone like that!

[strike_you_out]

[Both hands are on the bat now as he takes a slow step closer.]

It's rude to use someone else's phone without permission.

[puzzlerprince]

[Edward backs away, both hands raised defensively.]

H-hey now, I'm not happy about it either! This place brought me here!

placeholder, i gotta go to bed! T_T

[freakinblur]

...Ed? that you, man?

Night!

[puzzlerprince]

Scout!

It is, indeed. Have you been holding up well? No more severed ears, I'd hope.

[freakinblur]

Ha! Yeah man, all limbs 'r intact fer tha moment. Geez, they dragged ya back huh? That sucks. It happens more often than ya think, too.

[puzzlerprince]

A shame, that.

Ms. Skye told me a bit about what's happened since I left. I suppose your intact limbs are indicative that you survived it well enough?