October 25
It is night in Gotham City outside a small curio shop called 'La Olla Negro,' the Black Pot. Inside, a lone customer is being attended to by a tall man with long stringy hair who wears dark round glasses. His name is Enoch Cavazos, and he is the owner of the shop whose walls are covered with shelves containing various accouterments of the black arts, such as: potions, candles, incense, herbs, charms, bottles and jars containing all sorts of ingredients. The woman is buying a love potion. She thanks him and he follows her to the door. After she leaves, Enoch turns the 'Closed' sign over and locks the door, when he suddenly hears a voice coming from the back room.
The voice asked, "Why didn't you pick her?"
Enoch replied, "Are you serious? She was too old."
"The day is getting closer."
"I know," Enoch said with a weary sigh as he passed through a curtain to the back room, which was a small living room with an old chair and a television. An iguana lizard sat on the back of the sofa.
"There are many things we have to do to prepare."
"You're telling me things I already know," Enoch replied with a hiss.
"We need money."
"I'll take care of it. Now be quiet!"
It appears that Enoch was speaking to the lizard. He turned on the television as he removed his glasses and lay them on a lamp table by his chair.
"Why do you watch so much?"
"It relaxes me. Now be quiet, you're giving me a headache, Pasqual."
Pasqual reminded Enoch, "Did I mention we are short of supplies."
Exasperated now, Enoch said through gritted teeth, " I said I'll take care of it!"
"When?"
"Soon. Now give it a rest," Enoch answered as he zoned out in front of the television. The beautiful television news anchor Carla Fuentes was reading the news.
"Now there's a possibility. What about her?"
Enoch replied, "What?"
"You heard me, Enoch. She looks a lot like her."
"Carla Fuentes?"
"Why not?"
"She's...famous," Enoch answered, trying to fathom the possibility of Pasqual's idea.
"Your point being...?"
"Don't you think people will miss her?"
"I think you are afraid of her."
Perturbed, Enoch shot back, "Don't play your mind games with me you...lizard."
"Just a suggestion."
"I'll take it under advisement," Enoch said, trying to ignore Pasqual.
"Don't wait too long. It's only a few days until El Dia De Los Muertos."
Enoch's face contorted into a grimace as if he was in sudden pain when he heard the words.
"All right my friend. I'll leave you alone. Good night."
The lizard disappeared into the darkness behind the couch. He left Enoch alone, rubbing his temples with his eyes pinched shut.
October 30
It is the opening of a new exhibit at the Ixtlan Gallery. Barbara Gordon and her father, Police Commissioner Gordon, were making some rare time for each other by attending the show together. The occasion was an installation of altars by a Mexican artist celebrating El Dia De Los Muertos, the Mexican Day of the Dead holiday near the time of Halloween. The artist walked into the main gallery and bowed before introducing himself to the gathered crowd.
He then began explaining the exhibit. "El Dia De Los Muertos is a celebration, not a mourning, of the dead. The holiday itself runs from October 31st to November 2nd and dates back hundreds of years. In Mexican culture, there has always been a fascination with death and dying. The afterlife and what happens to our souls are imbedded into our brains by years of Catholic school teaching and church. Altars such as these are made up by loved ones to honor the deceased. Favorite items such as cigarettes, foods, drinks and personal items are placed there so when the soul of the departed returns, they will find them there.
"Then flowers, marigolds, are placed on a path from the altar to the graves of the dead, particularly children, so they will not lose their way. At the cemetery, there is an air of mystery and celebration. Hundreds of people gather, some wearing skull masks, to clean the grave sites. They stay for awhile and have an evening picnic. Tamales and pan dulce are eaten along with chocolate. Candy skulls such as these are a favorite with the children. Many light candles and incense and leave photos behind. All this is done so that the dead will never be forgotten. The future will always be connected to those that came before them."
The artist took a bow as the crowd applauded and then dispersed to view the altars.
“Barbara, are you going to make an altar for me when I'm gone?” Commissioner Gordon asked his daughter in jest as they strolled around the gallery arm in arm.
“Sure, Daddy,” Barbara replied. “What do you want me to put on it? A television remote control?”
“Barbara!” exclaimed Gordon in mock dismay.
“I’m just kidding, Daddy. So where do you want to go after this…Coffee?”
“Not tonight, Barbara, I’m beat.”
“Daddy, so soon?” Barbara whined. “The night is still young.”
“I have to help coordinate extra patrols for this holiday event coming up.”
Barbara sighed, and then told her father, “We need to get together again. I had a wonderful time tonight.”
“Yes, we’ll definitely have to do this more often,” Commissioner Gordon agreed.
“All right, I’ll let you go home and get some rest. Good night, Daddy,” Barbara said as she gave her father a peck on the cheek and a hug.
“Good night, Princess. Are you going home, too?”
“In a little bit,” Barbara answered. “I want to look at more of these altars.”
Barbara watched as Commissioner Gordon left the gallery, and thought to herself, 'I'm too excited to go straight home. I think I'll go out on patrol.'
2:30 A.M. the next morning
At a nightclub called "King's X," a dark figure stood on the roof of the club, dressed in black, with a glow-in-the-dark skeleton painted on the black leather tunic and pants. He wore heavy black boots and a skull mask with elaborate designs on it in the style of the Mexican sugar candy skulls.
He called himself ‘La Calavera,’ The Skeleton.
La Calavera stared down into the skylight watching the manager of the club counting the nightly receipts while his girl friend was leaning over a mahogany table, where cash was stacked all over, snorting a line of cocaine. In a corner of the room two bodyguards were playing pool. The Skeleton jumped down through the skylight and glass rained down in the office. As the manager dove for cover and his girlfriend screamed, the bodyguards cringed from the sound of the crash and then slowly turned to see what had come down from the skylight. The figure rose up ominously from a crouched position and faced them.
“Who the freak are you?” the manager asked in anger.
“I am the one who has come to collect for your sins,” La Calavera replied in a whispered voice.
“You're freaking crazy!” the manager said and then screamed to his bodyguards, “What are you two waiting for? Waste him!”
The two bodyguards approached La Calavera with their pool cues. The first one came at him swinging and La Calavera caught the stick with one hand and cracked it in two with the other. He then made a half turn as the bodyguard stumbled past him and struck him on the back of the head, causing the bodyguard to crash into the corner of a desk. The second swung wildly as La Calavera backed up and barely missed each time.
When La Calavera was backed into a wall, the bodyguard grinned and brought the cue stick back to strike. La Calavera brought his hand up at that moment and blinded the bodyguard with a flash of fire, making the bodyguard stumble backward and trip over the first bodyguard. He banged his head on the same desk as he went down.
Finally, La Calavera turned to face the manager and walked up to him slowly and menacingly.
“Go get help! Now!” the manager ordered the girl, who exited quickly, frightened out of her mind.
The manager pulled a silver automatic out and snarled, “O.K. you psycho, you're mine! Turn around before I pop a cap in you!”
“I want to show you something,” La Calavera said as he slowly drew his hand up, palm out. In the middle of his palm was a moving eye.
“What is that thing?” The Manager asked in disgust.
“Haven't you ever heard of El Ojo?
“What are you talking about, you freak?”
La Calavera threw a cloud of dust over the manager's face, which blinded him. As the manager screamed in pain and crumbled to his knees, La Calavera knelt close to him.
“Sleep well, my friend,” La Calavera said as he opened his mouth and smoke came out, causing the manager to pass out cold.
Meanwhile, outside, the girlfriend was running out into the middle of the street. Batgirl nearly ran over her on her motorcycle, as she screamed and cringed. Batgirl jumped off the Batgirlcycle and rushed to the hysterical girl.
“Are you O.K.?” Batgirl asked. “What happened?”
“Somebody...in a mask...attacked us,” the girl sobbed in fright.
“Calm down. Who attacked you? Where?”
“A skeleton. Up there,” the girl answered as she pointed to the second floor of the King's X nightclub with a shaking finger. “I need to get away. He'll... kill me!”
“Stay here. I'll be back,” Batgirl ordered the terrified girl.
“No, don't!” the girl squealed in terror.
Batgirl ignored the warning and headed toward the club. She entered the side exit door left open by the girl and bounded up the steps two at a time until she entered a hallway. Ahead was an open door to an office. There was no sound.
Batgirl entered and found three men unconscious on the floor arranged to where their heads were touching and arms folded across their chest. She noticed that each of them had something in their mouth. Batgirl looked around the room once, deciding that whoever was here was now gone, out through the skylight from which they had come.
Batgirl bent down and took the objects from the victim’s mouths and discovered they were sugar candy skulls. One was wrapped in paper. Batgirl carefully unwrapped it and found some writing in Spanish. It was a poem, which translated into:
This is the first of my three deeds,
The second takes place tomorrow.
If you want to know where and when,
Start with the name, which means sorrow.
This is your secret number: 13.
Batgirl pocketed the note and searched for more clues until she heard sirens approaching in the night. As the two stunned bodyguards began to wake, Batgirl leapt up and out through the broken skylight. Batgirl looked around for the girl, but she was nowhere to be seen. Across the street in a dark alley, La Calavera waited and watched as Batgirl disappeared on her motorcycle.
La Calavera thought to himself, 'So Batgirl is the one who accepts my invitation… perfect.'
October 31
Halloween
Later that day, Batgirl contacted her friend Alfred, the butler of stately Wayne Manor. Since Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson were in Metropolis attending a fund-raiser sponsored by the Daily Planet, Barbara invited Alfred to her apartment to assist Batgirl. Alfred, although not Barbara, knew that the Dynamic Duo would not be around to help this time.
After translating the note into English, Batgirl and Alfred were trying to figure out the clue in the poem left at the scene of the crime. Alfred stared at the results of his search in a pocket thesaurus to find all the meanings of sorrow.
“Let's see...sorrow. Grief...sadness...remorse...distress...”
“None of those sounds like someone's name,” Batgirl commented.
“Maybe it's none of these,” Alfred said glumly. “Someone who has sorrow has...”
“Pain?” Batgirl suggested.
“Hmmm…Pain.”
“Wait a minute. What day is this?” Batgirl asked suddenly.
“October 31st. Halloween. You know that.”
“…and who has a super-exclusive party every year on this night?”
“Ah, yes…Jason Payne… the eccentric millionaire. Every Halloween he invites twelve of his closest and richest associates to his mansion for a costume party. The rumors about what they do are very…unusual,” Alfred said with an arched eyebrow.
“And he makes thirteen,” Batgirl continued.
“The secret number,” Alfred replied as he recognized the puzzle.
“This is where I jump onto my Batgirlcycle and head for the scene of the crime.”
“…and fall into a trap. Be careful, Batgirl,” Alfred warned.
“Don't worry, Alfred. This super heroine won't get caught in a sling this Halloween.”
Halloween night
In an exclusive area of Gotham City where mansions were lined up one by one, outside the estate of eccentric millionaire Jason Payne, La Calavera walked up boldly to the front door of the mansion and rang the bell.
A butler opened the door and seemingly confused, he asked, “Are you here for the occasion?”
“Of course,” La Calavera answered pleasantly.
“May I see your invitation?” the doorman inquired.
“Here you are, my good man,” La Calavera said as he held up his hand, palm outward. The doorman gasped at the moving eye in his palm and shuddered and then came under the mind-controlling spell of the eye.
“Come right in. I'll show you the way,” La Calavera said calmly.
“Come right in. I'll show you the way,” the doorman repeated in a monotone voice.
The doorman led La Calavera through the hall to a huge living area, where all the other guests had gathered. There were six couples dressed in a variety of costumes. One couple was dressed in Victorian era clothes, while another couple was in Egyptian attire. One black couple was attired in African garb and one man in full samurai battle dress with his mate in a Japanese kimono. The last couple was dressed in an Aztec warrior and maiden costume with feather headdresses.
All their costumes were authentic to every detail. Jason Payne himself was dressed in full Nazi storm trooper regalia complete with shiny black boots and swastika armband. He had a confused look on his face as the unexpected guest entered. La Calavera looked over the room and noticed the elaborate decorations and array of food on several tables.
“Daniel, would you be so kind as to introduce this...guest?” Payne inquired of his doorman.
“He...he did not give his name, Mr. Payne,” Daniel answered blankly.
“Perhaps you would like to introduce yourself, then,” Payne insisted, somewhat amused.
“You may call me La Calavera.”
“I must say, that is a striking costume.”
“Thank you,” La Calavera replied as he moved through the room.
“This is a private party. Are you sure you are in the right place?” Payne asked as his guests looked on.
“Quite sure.”
“What can I do for you, then?”
“I've come to collect for your sins,” La Calavera said simply, his tone changing.
“Excuse me?” Payne asked with a confused expression.
“I brought you a gift,” La Calavera announced as he stepped into the middle of the group and set an object down in the center of a table.
It was an old Mexican spinning top and the group watched fascinated as it righted itself and began to spin.
"Oh my!"
"Wow!"
"Look at that!"
The object continued to gain speed until it was spinning unbelievably fast. The group looked on enthralled as the top began to rise slowly off the table. When it was at eye level, they were completely hypnotized and immobile.
“This is where the fun begins,” La Calavera said as he walked around and helped himself to some food before he began to remove the most expensive pieces of jewelry from the guests.
“Now let me see…,” La Calavera said amusingly as he filled his pouch with treasures. “Something old… Something new. Something borrowed… and something blue.”
After he took all the pieces and dropped them delicately into a black velvet pouch, he then went around to each guest and whispered a command into their ear. The first man; he told to act like a monkey. His wife; he told to stand on her head. The next couple; he told to start slapping each other. Another woman; he told to purr and act like a cat while her husband scratched her back. The Aztec couple he posed in the classic painting of the Aztec warrior crying over the dead maiden, while another pair was told to pretend they were a horse and rider. The last couple was commanded to throw food at each other.
“And last, but not least,” La Calavera said, “since you are so enamored of the Third Reich, I think it would be appropriate if you were to goose step around the room shouting ‘Heil Hitler.’”
Jason Payne immediately began marching around the room, thrusting his arm out in the Nazi salute and shouting "Heil Hitler!" at the top of his lungs.
“Now this is a party!” La Calavera laughed maniacally as he set a candy skull wrapped in paper on the table and took the top from its mid-air spin. “I hate to eat and run...”
La Calavera took one more look around and laughed at the scene before him before he left. He then patted the frozen doorman on the head as he passed and exited out the front door. As he disappeared into the night, he noticed a motorcycle coming up the driveway.
“Just in time, my friend,” he whispered to himself as he watched Batgirl approach the mansion.
Batgirl pulled her motorcycle up the to the front of the immaculate estate. The front door was wide open, which was not a good sign. She climbed off her bike and cautiously entered the front door, when she heard a commotion from down the hall and headed toward the noise. She entered the main living room and found a very unusual scene.
The groups of costumed guests were all doing odd things, as if they were performing a scene from some farcical play. Batgirl then noticed the doorman standing stock-still. She waved a gloved hand in front of his face, but there was not even a blink of an eye. She then searched the room and her attention was suddenly drawn to a familiar object on a table in the middle of the room.
Batgirl walked over, picked it up and unwrapped the paper. It is another poem, which read:
The second of my deeds is done,
I'm sorry you were so late.
Perhaps another chance to catch me,
When I purloin my future mate.
Your lucky number is 9.
“It's him again...”Batgirl muttered to herself as she looked around the room to survey the situation. “…and he is sicker than I thought.”
November 1
All Saints Day
Barbara and Alfred were at her apartment once again, trying to figure out the second clue.
“This clue is even more ambiguous than the last,” Alfred surmised.
“All we really have to work with is the last line and the number nine,” Batgirl said.
“‘Purloin my future mate.’ Is he actually going to kidnap someone or is it a metaphor?” Alfred asked.
“I don't think he really wants us to solve this clue until it happens. I think I got too close the last time.”
“All we can do then is listen to the scanners and watch the news,” Alfred sighed.
“What channel should we watch?” Batgirl asked as she picked up her television remote control.
“Nine, of course. My favorite news source…Miss Carla Fuentes,” Alfred said with a sheepish grin.
Barbara turned on the television with the remote and something struck her as she punched the nine button to change the channel. Coincidentally, Carla Fuentes was doing a remote from an area of Gotham City known as The Village, with revelers in costume making a lot of noise behind her.
Carla Fuentes began her news remote, “I'm here on Old Elm Street in the heart of The Village, where thousands of revelers are crowding the streets on the second day of El Dia De Los Muertos. This celebration has grown bigger and bigger every year and this year, city officials decided to close off the streets to avoid the traffic jam and other problems of a year ago when over a hundred youths were arrested on various charges.
"This has taken on the atmosphere of the annual Halloween parade and added a more Spanish flavor. It almost like Mardi Gras and Cinco de Mayo all rolled into one. Tomorrow is November 2nd and it’s the grand finale, where even more are expected to join in the festivities. Police Chief O’Hara has assured us that the police presence will be felt here and the curfew of 11:00 p.m. will be enforced, so there will not be a repeat of last year's incidents.
I'm going to see if I can talk to one of the participants. Excuse me, can I talk to you a second?” Carla called out and waved over a costumed celebrant. It was La Calavera, who faced the camera.
“Look at this guy,” Batgirl told Alfred.
“My. He looks very intense,” Alfred responded with a stunned look.
“That is a very scary mask, I must say. What's your name?” Carla Fuentes asked her interviewee.
“Some would call me La Calavera,” he responded from behind the mask.
With an amused smile and a look at the camera, Carla Fuentes asked, “How long have you been out here?”
“For centuries,” La Calavera responded.
“I see...uh...” Carla stammered, perplexed by his response.
“I have a message for a friend…Batgirl,” La Calavera suddenly announced.
“Batgirl?” Carla asked.
La Calavera held up his hand to Carla Fuentes, who froze suddenly.
“What the devil…?” Batgirl said as she watched the scene, enthralled.
La Calavera began speaking to the camera, “A poem, if I may.
Tonight is the night of all souls,
An evening for madness and fun.
Now, my friend, you can watch me,
As the third of my deeds is done.
Your lucky number is 7.”
“My heavens! It's him!” Alfred exclaimed.
“What's he going to do?” Batgirl asked as she watched the scene helplessly.
La Calavera laughed and swept Carla up in his arms, as her body seemed to go limp. The camera began to jump around erratically, and the last thing Barbara and Alfred saw was La Calavera laughing, while rising up the side of a building, as if being pulled by an invisible string.
“Did I just see what I thought I saw?” Alfred asked in shock and then turned to Batgirl, who had already left the apartment to pursue The Skeleton.
***
La Calavera was carrying Carla Fuentes' unconscious body into the night.
“Finally, I will have you back again, Marisa. It is time we renewed our vows,” La Calavera whispered to his unconscious victim.
***
Batgirl searched for clues on the roof of the building where Carla was abducted. She found another candy skull perched on top of an air conditioning unit. Batgirl took the skull and what was sure to be another poem and disappeared when police came up to investigate.
Back at her apartment, Batgirl came in the secret passageway, where Alfred was waiting up for her.
“Don't tell me, he left another poem,” Alfred said as he brought Batgirl a hot cup of tea.
“He's playing me like a violin. This is the weirdest one I've ever come across.”
“Let's have a look,” Alfred said as Batgirl handed him the skull. Alfred unwrapped the paper and began to read.
“A special invitation is given you,
For tomorrow I will wed.
This will be a double celebration,
For it falls on the Day of the Dead.
The event begins promptly at ten,
It will be a wondrous occasion.
Your special numbers will tell you,
Where to find the location.
Your last number is 18.”
“O.K.. What are all the numbers we have?” Batgirl asked.
Alfred grabbed all the other clue notes off the dining room table and spread them out.
“Let's see...13...9...7...” Batgirl began reading.
“...and now 18. What in heaven’s name do all these numbers mean?”
“I think I may have the answer,” Batgirl replied. “Get the official Gotham City map!”
“Well!” Alfred exclaimed. “Grid numbers. Why didn't I think of that? Let's see now...13...9...7...18...Here it is...Oh, my!”
“Where is it?” Batgirl asked as Alfred shook his head ominously.
“This is strange.”
“What?”
“Maple Lawn Cemetery in Old Gotham City,” Alfred answered.
Batgirl groaned and shook her head, “Are you serious?”
“Quite so, I’m afraid,” Alfred responded with a sigh.
“Oh, well. I've got to go. Carla Fuentes' life is in danger,” Batgirl said in resignation.
“Batgirl...after you get this psycho...could you get Carla Fuentes' autograph for me?”
“Alfred!” Batgirl said in open-mouthed dismay.
Alfred shrugged his shoulders in embarrassment as Batgirl left the apartment.
Within minutes, Batgirl was fast on her way to the Oak Lawn Cemetery. She roared through an open gate into the heart of the cemetery, where an old abandoned chapel sat eerily in the fog.
Batgirl noticed a glow coming from within and she entered the front doors of the church. There she found Carla Fuentes, bound and gagged on the altar.
Batgirl rushed to the beautiful Hispanic woman and when she got to her, noticed Carla looking off to the side. Before Batgirl realized she had fallen into a trap, a cloud of gas fell upon Batgirl and Carla, knocking them both unconscious.
November 2
The Day of the Dead
When Batgirl came to, she found herself bound to the huge wooden cross on the altar of the church. Around her feet were an elaborate display of candles, flowers, food, candy, liquor bottles and an assortment of pottery. She looked up and noticed La Calavera standing in the aisle with Carla Fuentes, who seemed to be in a trance-like state.
“Welcome back to the land of the living,” La Calavera spoke from behind his eerie skull mask.
“Who are you?” Batgirl inquired as she strained at her tight wrist bonds.
“Allow me to introduce myself,” La Calavera began as he removed his hat and bowed. “I am La Calavera . . . and this... is my fiancée.”
“What...is this?” Batgirl asked as she looked around her feet at the various objects.
“An altar, of course. Don't you know your Mexican anthropology, Batgirl? It's after midnight. This is El Dia De Los Muertos, the Day of the Dead.”
“You have me now. Let her go,” Batgirl demanded.
“I'm afraid I can't do that, Batgirl. I'm already late to my wedding. I have many guests waiting and my soon-to-be blushing bride is anxious to start the honeymoon,” La Calavera informed her as he winked and grinned.
“You're insane!” Batgirl shot back as she pulled desperately at her bonds.
“Insanity is in the eye of the beholder,” La Calavera responded simply. “Before I leave, I'd like to leave you with a small token of my appreciation in honor of your appearance at my nuptials. Buenos noches, Batgirl.”
Batgirl watched with horror as La Calavera opened a black bag. Inside it was filled with poisonous black adders. The Skeleton shook them out at the foot of Batgirl's altar. He then exited with the zombie-like Carla Fuentes, laughing like a maniac.
Once the doors shut at the back of the church, Batgirl twisted her ankle and foot, until she was able to put one toe at one heel. This triggered a switch that sprung a blade out of the tip of her boot. As she watched the deadly snakes slither closer and closer, Batgirl cut away the ropes binding her feet.
One snake struck at her ankle, but Batgirl lifted her legs up in the nick of time. She brought her knife-tipped boot back down to slice the snake's head clean off. Then, she bent her body lithely at the waist, bringing her feet up to cut away the ropes at her right wrist. While keeping away from the dangerous snakes, she freed herself from the cross.
Once loose, Batgirl surveyed the situation and found that the snakes were spread around the altar and coming from all directions. Batgirl quickly took a bottle of tequila, smashed the top and poured it around the altar, dousing the snakes. She then nimbly kicked a candle over and the flame lit up the alcohol, burning some snakes and turning away others. She jumped off the altar to a clear space and, in an instant; she was out the door into the night, searching for La Calavera.
In the distance, Batgirl heard eerie music and headed in that direction. Ahead of her, she saw the glow of light and soon came upon the scene of La Calavera's "wedding." La Calavera was standing before a mock altar, where a hooded priest was performing the ceremony, using a crypt as the altar. "Guests", which were actually colorfully costumed mannequins, were seated on various grave markers and his ‘bride,’ Carla Fuentes, still appeared to be in a trance.
The priest continued the wedding vows. “If there is anyone here who feels that these two should not be bonded in holy matrimony, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”
“This is far from holy matrimony!” Batgirl shouted as she entered the area.
“You! How?” La Calavera asked, incensed.
“Trade secret. Now... step away from the girl,” Batgirl demanded.
La Calavera clutched Carla Fuentes close with a skull-decorated dagger at her throat, while the hooded priest disappeared into the darkness of the cemetery.
“You won't stop this. She's mine now,” La Calavera informed Batgirl.
“Look...Calavera...I can get you some help,” Batgirl tried to reason.
“You think I'm sick?” La Calavera laughed. “In a world that allows wholesale slaughter, wars for profit and pollution? He-he. I'm the only sane person here, Batgirl!”
“We'll let the doctors at Arkham Asylum determine that,” Batgirl said with her hands on her hips.
“And how do you propose to get me there?” La Calavera said, amused by her cockiness.
“Let the girl go and I'll show you,” Batgirl said defiantly.
“Now you challenge my manhood. I hope you have the nerve to back up your threat.”
“Try me,” Batgirl replied, as she stood ready in a fighting stance.
The two of them did fierce hand to hand battle. Batgirl and La Calavera fought ferociously in the cemetery, tumbling over old tombstones. Finally, Batgirl was about to overcome La Calavera, when the villain used an old magician's trick and disappeared in an explosion of fire and smoke.
In the dark distance, Batgirl heard La Calavera’s voice, taunting her, “I will see you again, Batgirl. Reserve a place on your calendar next year on El Dia De Los Muertos. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!”
The eerie laugh trailed off into the night, as Batgirl checked on Carla Fuentes, who was coming out of her trance.
“Where...where am I?” Carla stuttered, groggy and confused.
“You're safe now. Don't worry,” Batgirl said as she comforted the confused woman.
Batgirl tended to her while a sudden wind blew and chilled Batgirl to the bone.
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