Authors Note: The Dark Knight Rises has become my favorite movie of all time. Bane was simply…*blushes* well you know…enjoy "The Bane of my Existence"
Chapter 1: Welcome to Gotham
One month…it has been one month since we have all seen or even heard from Batman. The citizens of Gotham were upset, angry, and confused at what the city had become but that was not the worst of it all, they have lost hope. The one thing that every official and person had boasted in the past came crashing down in a matter of a month, our hope was gone. It was like an apocalypse; people will come out during the day for necessary items and scurry back into their homes like mice at night. If you were a man, go back home immediately to protect your loved ones, if you were a woman, there was a slim chance you will come home safe and sound. Murder, burglaries, rape…it was everywhere at night, some were shameless enough to do it in broad daylight. When I lay in bed at night, I can hear it, distinctively but it was still there. The gunshots signaled another death, a scream pertained to another trauma…it was all too much. I cover my eyes ears and shut my eyes as if all the terrors in the world would evaporate but that is naivety at its best. It was that same naivety that landed me in this destitute place.
I was only nineteen when I transferred from a city college in NYC. Many of my close friends were dumbfounded when I announced my acceptance to Gotham University. It was not a bad school but why would I leave the financial center of the world to try and better my chances for internships at Gotham? I had one answer to that question; Wayne Enterprises. I loved the company, I loved its contribution to technology but most of all, and I love its foundation, the family behind the company. They were a fresh of breath air in this otherwise 'rich people idiocy,' that dominated our society, that and the fact they were my father's employers.
Let me start from the beginning. I was born in 1991 to Friedrich and Jamila Rabe and they decided to name me Olivia. My father was a native German studying abroad biotechnology in Lebanon. It was then he casted his eyes on my mother, seemingly she was a true belle. On the many accounts my father told me this story, it started off the same way, a rainy day which immediately turned into cascading rainbows the second my mother stepped out of her ancestral home (I always rolled my eyes at this past.) She had golden hair that fell in ringlets down to the small of her back; however, she always had it tied up in a ponytail. She was a little thing, barely five feet three but her beauty outweighed her height. Her eyes were a sharp green and almond shaped, they were adorned with lashes so long that one could mistake her for wearing extensions. My father fell in love with her on the spot and it was not long until they were married. After my father finished his studies, they shipped to America and started their life immediately in NYC. I was born not to long after and I was the epitome of my father. I had garnered his stark raven hair, his coal black eyes and his roman nose. On the plus side, I had inherited my mother's almond shaped eyes and her golden skin tone. I never met her though, she died during childbirth, her small stature made the labor process extremely difficult and at the end she died from hemorrhaging.
I never felt as though I was missing out from a mothers love, my father gave enough love to fill that void. Needless to say, I was daddy's little girl. It was because of him that I grew up to be in love with Wayne Enterprise. His biotechnology major got him a job at Wayne Biotech, the branch in NYC that is. He was a like a kid in a candy store, the endless amount of funding for his research for medicinal care gave him the opportunities to perfect and change the medicine world. Despite my love for Wayne Enterprise stemmed from bioscience, I opted to major in business and intern for Wayne Enterprise through Gotham University. I was wrapping up junior year when everything went downhill.
Gotham went and got itself a new villain…Bane or whatever his name was and I was unfortunate enough to get a glimpse of him on a news channel. He was huge and judging by the damage he was doing, he was strong as well. That was not what scared me at the time, it was that thing on his face, it made him look monstrous and I was terrified. I had hope, hope that Batman would come back and he did not disappoint but this time…he was up against something different, this Bane was a force to be reckoned for and I shuddered if I had to go up against him. Gotham's hope spiked when the first new of Batman surfaces but just like that, it vanishes, and I felt it in my bones, in my soul as the hope deteriorated around me. It seemed like Batman met the foe which will end him. Then…he disappeared. I cried most nights when the realization set that he was gone, did he abandon us? Was Gotham's constant need for him too much for him? Perhaps it was the fact we used him then stomped on his face after his deed was done.
Regardless, I quit my job down at Starbucks though I do miss that double chocolate Frappuccino with extra whip cream. My stomach gurgled at that thought and I decided it was time to get up and start my day. I snorted at that thought, what a day it will be. I stepped into the shower and relaxed as the hot water hit my tight muscles; I rolled my neck and groaned. After washing my long hair and scrubbing the nastiness off my body, I stepped out and wrapped my hair and body. I left the comforting steamed bathroom for my pathetic excuse for a kitchen and dug into my nearly empty fridge. I almost jumped in triumph when I landed on the bag of bread; I found the peanut butter shortly after. When I finished my meal, I dried my hair and put it up in a ponytail, my father always said I looked like her when I did this and I smiled when I remember the look on his face. I quickly walked to my bedroom and carelessly opened my drawer and fished for underwear and a bra. I tossed that on and headed to my closet. Judging by the frost that ate away my window, I needed warmth. I opted for long-sleeved white V-neck with my favorite jeans. I pulled up my boots and threw on my olive jacket. While I zipped it up, I wrapped a black scarf around my neck and began my search for my shopping bag. It was not exactly a shopping bag; it was a large slouchy purse which I smartly turned into a reusable bag, even though we may die in this crime infested city, I might as well save the planet! I finally found it and threw it across my body.
I was reluctant when I stepped outside my apartment but the image of my barren refrigerator made me set my mind. I shut the door and locked it before I took the alternative route out of my apartment complex; the stairs. It was as if I was an Olympian when I practically ran/jumped down the stairs, I definitely deserved a gold medal or two. I pushed open the door leading to the alleyway and breathed in the cool air despite the mingled aftertaste of rotten garbage overflowing the path. I stepped over a couple of White Castle bags and released my breath when I saw there were some people walking their dogs. However, it did not escape my notice that they faces were etched with fear, the fear I held in me every night. I started my journey down the sidewalk and glanced up at a man walking past me, our eyes briefly met but it was as though I heard his thoughts. I felt in my very core the desperation and fear that transpired through them, like the weak person I am, I started to bite my lip in order to regain some composure. I was going to cry and the sobs were ready to rack my body, thankfully, it stopped. I fingered my dark locks until I made a turn towards the neighborhoods grocery store. There were not as many people as I expected which is a good thing, it will be less likely we will be mugged or attacked. I grabbed a basket and hit the first aisle.
The second I finished throwing in the milk, eggs, and yogurt into my cart, I headed over to the chips aisle. My eyes grazed hungrily over the bags of crispy goodness. I bombarded my poor eggs with everything I could lay my hands on. Packaged food is a must, who knows when will be the next time you can get out? After getting about thirty cans of food and some frozen dinners, I checked out my items and went home.
I prayed and thanked whoever was watching me and unloading everything into my cabinets and fridge, satisfied by my setup, I grabbed a Hungry Man and warmed it up in the microwave. It was after it dinged that I realized I was having country fried steak or a slab of gold meat, who am I to be picky? I turned on the TV and plopped on my psychedelic couch. I started gnawing at the steak, it was not bad actually, happy with my dinner, I flipped through the channel until I landed on Gotham news.
"…I have handed Gotham back to its people…"
"Bullshit."
I pushed the up button a little more forcefully than I should have as I went on a sitcom. I laughed a little and when the show I ended, I shut it off and threw my empty tray out. I stopped momentarily in front of my window and pulled the curtains back, it was turning dark and I needed to start The Process. You may ask, what is The Process? It is ten minute procedure of creating a safe haven. I checked my locks and ensured they were all bolted, all five of them. Then, I started pulling my breakfast table chairs to it and placed the top arch directly under the knob. When that was done, I pulled all the curtains close but not before checking the locks on the windows. When everything was secure, I changed into by thick sweater and grey sweatpants but left my colorful socks on, it gets a bit cold in this apartment. I used the bathroom quickly but took a moment longer to analyze myself in the mirror. I had dark circles under my eyes that are new, I frowned when my tired eyes landed on my unused make-up. I wish I could have a reason to dress up and get dolled up for a night out of town but it would be idiotic to try and look sexy while rapists are prowling the streets. I sighed before picking up my toothbrush. I ran a tongue over my teeth shortly once I was done and relished the minty taste. A distant gunshot signaled my bedtime. I got into my bed and stared idly at my ceiling as I pulled the comforter all the way up to my chin. I closed my eyes and curled into my fetal position and tried to have a pleasant dream. I snorted, yeah right, if you call being chased by a man in an orange jumpsuit a sweet dream.
I jumped out of my bed prepared to make a dash for the fire escape but it was only my phone ringing. I picked up the phone and took a second to calm my nerves before answering.
"Hello."
"Olivia! Are you alright? Has anything happened to you? I'm trying…"
My heart stopped when I heard his voice, I closed my eyes, and they were threatening to spill tears again. "Dad, I'm fine. I am just trying to make it day by day. How are you?"
"You are in no position to ask how I am. You are the one in a forsaken city. If those damn cops were not blocking the bridge, you know I would be there."
"I know you would dad," there was a pregnant pause before I spoke again; "I miss you."
"I love you Olivia, remember that but I have to hang up now. I want to keep these calls short and sweet; in case you are being tapped."
"Dad, why am I-?" The line went dead, I stared at the phone in shock then I placed it back into its charging dock.
That was odd, why would my calls be tapped into? I shrugged and walked into my kitchen, after a week of no cereal, I was gleeful when I poured the cocoa puffs into my bowl. I decided to watch TV again while eating my breakfast, I felt like a true redneck now, I could not consume one meal without TV. This time I made sure I quickly surfed past the news and landed on an old Bugs Bunny cartoon. It was the one where he and Elmer Fudd was acting out an opera, I snorted when I laughed at Bugs entrance with blonde braids. If you have not caught it by now then I will let you know, I snort…a lot. My friends said it was cute but imagine if you were trying to get it on and you snorted like that…yeah, not cute at all. I wonder what my friends are doing now, probably heading to Starbucks for their skinny vanilla latte with four shots of espresso. I turned envy with jealousy. I would kill for a cup about now. I stood up to place my bowl in the sink before setting out to clean my dingy apartment.
I was instantly in serious mode when I started to arrange my accent pillows on my couch. I vacuumed, wiped the dust and fingerprints off my prized TV. Quickly, I washed my bowl and wiped down all the kitchen counters and grimaced when I landed on an unreachable residue on next to my oven. Turned out to be ketchup and it was a bitch to get off. After all the mess available to the naked eye was taken care of, I made myself a cup of hot chocolate; the secret was to double it. I left my cup half full so that rest of the space can be taken up by the abundance of marshmallows I poured in it. I popped a few in my mouth while at it, while gnawing like a flesh-hungry zombie on my marshmallows; I took my cup in one hand and went in my living room. There placed smartly below my tall windows was an elongated bookshelf that stretched from one end of my living room down to the breaking area. I plopped on the floor carefully and sat my cup down next to me. Running an index finger across the row of books I finally landed on the book of the day. It a Harlequin Presents book and arbitrating its title, it was steamy and to the point. Happily, I picked up my cup and made my way to my bed. I took a sip and sighed in content, I love chocolate, and actually I like anything sweet. Wasting no time, I opened the book and delved into the story pretty quickly. Ah…how I love damsels in distress.
Perhaps it was my dream of falling into an endless pit that had woken me up or maybe my dad calling me again but to my horror I was wrong. It was a gunshot and it was coming from within my apartment complex. I jumped out of my bed like man being found by his wife cheating in their bedroom. I nearly flew into my closet trying to detangle myself out of the sheets. When I was standing up like a normal person, I opened the closet doors and grabbed my emergency backpack. It was a large olive backpack my father bought for me eighteenth birthday and it came with an extra surprise, we went to Thailand and hiked through the northern region. As I recall it was the most beautiful thing I had ever experienced in my life. It was actually ironic compared to my current situation that I would be daydreaming. I snapped back into present day and tossed it onto the bed. I rapidly changed into a green long-sleeve and again, my favorite jeans. I put on my boots and jacket and slung my hands through the backpacks straps. I made a dash for the fire escape and was calmed at the sight of a bare alleyway. I tried to make as little as no sound while I went down the ladders but the rickety metal bars was making it sound like I was lighting firecrackers. It was as if I was in one of those dreams where I never met my destination; I kept going on and on until my feet dangled idly on the edge of the ladder. Taking a deep breath, I let go and landed smoothly on the wet path. My heart was not beating as fast before entering the street and making my escape. My quick escape plan worked, I was a clever girl, that 35k a year school paid off…or not.
"Where are you off to, Olivia?"
My body stopped. My bones turned into ice as that familiar distorted voice piercing through my ears. I was shaking uncontrollably, should I make a dash for it or turn around? I turned around like the foolish girl I am and raised my eyes to the towering figure standing in front of me. Good Lord he was tall…and big! He had on a large jacket with its collar flipped up, if anyone else had done it I would probably laughed at their Hamptons inspiration but on him, it was terrifying. The odd mask on his face was glistening in the moonlight and I was sure I could make out my face on it. I gasped when I looked into his eyes. It was pure hatred, maliciousness, evil and worst of all, the fact that he did not care. I muffled a sob.
"I asked where you are off to, Olivia." His voice sobered me up.
"To a friend's house." My eyes looked everywhere but at him.
"Who is your friend?"
"Jillian," I answered. Even I could tell I was lying and by his eyes, he knew too. A muscle spasmed in his right cheek, he was becoming agitated.
"Hmm. Going to a friend's house at three in the morning?"
One of his eyebrows was raised as he looked down questioningly at me. I took a step back but abruptly stopped when he cocked his head. He tutted at me as if I was a misbehaving child and stepped forward.
"Do not run from me. I will get angry and if I get angry I do terrible things. You do not want me to be angry, do you?"
I am sure I turned red; this guy was nuts, perhaps even more cuckoo than the Joker. Well actually, no, the Joker was in a league of his own. I bit my lips before giving his answer.
"Good."
"How do you know my name?" I was flabbergasted that I promptly produced balls vast enough to question him.
He chuckled. "Question is; how do I not know your name, Olivia Rabe? Your father is Frederick Rabe of Wayne Biotech, am I not correct?"
I gulped then nodded my head. "But I do not live with him."
He chuckled once more. "Oh I know Miss Rabe but you are precisely what I need to get him here."
This man or whatever he is had something against my father and I could tell by his eyes that whatever his objectives are, they are not respectable. Those big balls I was talking about earlier? Yeah, they were wreaking havoc again; I established my feet firmly on the ground and held my fists to either side of me.
"Fuck off!"
One second, I was rolling in my glorious bravado and the next I was flying onto the cement sidewalk. Apparently, he was fast too, he had landed a large fast on the left side of my cheek and I was now sprawled on the ground attempting to stand back up. My tears were continuing down my face as I tried to nurse my engorged cheek. I spit out the accumulated fluid in mouth and recoiled at the sight of blood. It was so painful that I could not help but moan in discomfort. I grimaced when I felt a hefty hand pull me up by my collar. Bane was lifting me to his height and I thrashed as I held on to his forearms for support. He pulled my face close to his and grunted in anger.
"That was just a taste of what you will receive if you insult me once more and judging by your futile attempts to relieve yourself of my grasp, I am sure it will not be your last."
He delivered a swift knee into my abdomen and I screamed before I was released on the ground. I wrapped my arms pointlessly around my belly while trying to roll away from him; I was stopped by his boot on my chest. The pain resided enough for me to crack open my eyes and look up weakly at him. I was losing energy as the minutes went by and soon enough I will be unconscious.
"That is for your future rebellious acts. If you move once more, I will crush three of your left ribs." When I stopped, his eyes narrowed into slits and if it was even possible, he grew even more malevolent. "Good girl."
"If your intention is to use my father for your evil ways, I have another two words for you; fuck you!"
His eyes darkened before he pushed down onto my chest. I heard something crack while gazing into his dark eyes; I allowed a small smile to grace my lips before succumbing to darkness. In fact, I welcomed it with open arms.
