Chapter 22: Scarecrow Part-Two
Scarecrow had released his experimental fear gas on the students, and no one here could save them from its effects.
Not even Drystan...
Is what would he would say if he wasn't properly prepared.
When he saw the gas coming out of the vent, he immediately pressed an icon on his phone.
While his clone had been observing Johnathan, he had been taking notes.
And while Drystans specialty isn't chemistry, he did study forensic sciences and has a massive knowledge on poisons and toxins.
These two together allowed him to have a decent understanding of what Johnathan was mixing into his Fear Toxin and why.
So while Johnathan was making his Fear Toxin, Drystan was making an antidote as well as a weakening agent.
Unfortunately for the students Drystan used the weakening agent, by putting it in the vents around the school in capsules that could be released by the push of a button, or in this case an icon on his phone.
Which meant that the teachers and students were all going to get hit by a weakened version of the fear toxin.
They would need some therapy, but they wouldn't be driven insane at least.
As the gas rolled in, you could hear the students and teachers quickly lose themselves to fear.
Those who were closer to the vents started to panic. Some ran, some screamed, some froze, some fought, and some pissed.
But nobody was dropping dead, which was expected as the experimental fear toxin was likely to kill at least a few people with how unstable it is, until the weakening agent weakens it and makes it safer.
Drystan quickly got into character and put on a serious face looking at Barbara "Barbara, call for help." he said as he ran out of the room.
She didn't hesitate as she quickly called in the cavalry and started rolling down the hall with her hand covering her mouth and nose.
She didn't get far when Drystan returned with a gas mask that is normally used for chemistry lessons that use more dangerous substances.
He then proceeded to start putting it on her with care "Why is there only one mask?" she asked as she noticed that he didn't have an extra one besides the one he was trying to put on her.
"This is Mr. Thomlinson's personal mask, I went and borrowed it because I remembered that he wasn't here today. The other masks are all in the science building." He explained.
After he was sure that her mask was secure, he started carefully leading the way down the hall.
He wasn't wearing a mask, so he just pulled his shirt up over his nose and carried on as that was all he could do.
As they went down the halls they saw people running hysterically, most trying to leave the building in a hurry and some trying to escape from imaginary demons.
Barbara was talking to someone over the phone describing what was going on as they made their way to the maintenance room.
Because even if they cant do anything else they can at least turn off the AC and prevent the fear toxin from being further released.
But when they turned the corner they saw him.
The Scarecrow, his lanky yet intimidating figure standing in the middle of the hallway with a scythe in hand.
The Scarecrow looked at them causing the stitched smile on his face to become haunting "Oh look who we have here." He said while he starts sauntering towards Drystan and Barbara.
"The hearts of Gotham University they call the two of you. Geniuses like no other that decided to teach instead of work for some large corporation."
He then stopped walking a few meters in front of them. "If you are the heart, then the school is the body." He takes a step closer "Did you know that without the heart providing nutrients, all the other organs and tissues in the human body will die?"
"I wonder how the rest of the teachers would get on without you two weighing them down. Will they die?"
"No, they will thrive. Every teacher in this school would be happy to see you gone because the comparison kills them." He takes another step forward "Your not the heart... your a disease."
"Without you the comparison would never be made, without you they wouldn't have fired me!" He yelled taking yet another step.
This time when he took a step forward Drystan took a step back, bringing Barbara back with him.
Barbara seemed to realize who it was when he said that "Mr. Crane?"
Them knowing his identity seemed to excite the Scarecrow though as his eyes took on a shine as he said "I can smell it you know, your fear. Humans produce a pheromone when they feel fear that has an indistinct smell."
"That's why when one person feels fear, another person nearby also feels it. Its because they can smell the fear and get infected by it"
"You can smell it cant you? Here, take a whiff." He says as he throws a powder at Drystan's face that couldn't be dodged as it spread out around him and mixed with the air.
Drystan immediately started holding his breath while trying to motion for Barbara to flee.
But even with him holding his breath it was too late as he had already inhaled some fumes so he should be affected by the toxin.
Now he was in a tough place.
He had to choose whether or not to let the fear toxin affect him or not.
He had an antidote, a healing factor, a super human physique, and a resistance to poisons and venoms that he has been building for the past several months.
So if he didn't let the toxin affect him it wasn't going to.
On the other hand he is currently with Barbara.
He isn't wearing a mask and has already been breathing in fear toxin for a while, so if he isn't affected then she will likely get suspicious after this is all over.
Looking at Barbara who was currently rolling away, probably to get backup, then back at the Scarecrow that was looking at him excited to see his fear he sighed.
Then Drystan braced himself and breathed in the fear toxin.
Its time to learn what he is truly afraid of.
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