Author's Note: Hi guys! Welcome to my new story 3CH0 (Echo), this is a story I'm going to be very proud of. Now it's going to be graphic and disturbing in some ways, please feel free to comment and review. Anything words of advice or thoughts are greatly appreciated. Now it is going to be a long story hopefully but bare with me on it if I upload slowly, some of the events in this story are based on some real life experiences for me with a few changes so it's a bit hard to write quickly. I hope you really enjoy this story!
Friday, April 17th, 2015
All Vicky had on her was a bag of clothes and her computer; she had gotten a taxi as fast as she could running out of Metropolis. While sitting in the taxi, the driver was trying to hold a conversation but she ignored him. Her face and side burned under her clothes, if it wasn't so dark in Gotham she was almost positive someone would see she was bleeding. Her sun kissed blonde hair under her grey baseball cap hid her face pretty well.
Grateful for the fact I chose black clothes today, or the blood would be a lot more noticeable.
She stopped the taxi as they made it to a old run down motel, this will do for tonight.
"Thanks." She said to the driver as she handed him the money for his services.
Turning away from the streets she grabbed her two bags, both on one shoulder trying to avoid her ribs. She groaned knowing the pain was more than she was able to feel, she made her way into the motel. It was silent and there was no one at the front desk, only a bell. After hitting the bell Vicky waited a few moments and a elderly woman walked out of the back room.
"How can I help you sweetie?" She said, her voice shaking from old age, who appeared to be blind. Vicky smiled at the old lady, reminded of her grandmother who was the only family member who treated her right.
"Do you have a room available?" Vicky asked softly.
"Yes I do dear. Can I have a name?" The older lady said looking down at the paper book on the other side of the desk.
"V-... Jenny Mason." Vicky stuttered, she couldn't use her real name. If Reese were to come, she needed to hide.
"Well Miss Mason, you don't have to hide here but if you insist I understand. Now I will show you to your room, do you know how long you'd be staying?"
"Just for the night… I'm just moving here so I need to find a place." Vicky replied in a hushed tone as she walked behind the elderly woman, following her through the vintage styled lobby up towards the elevator.
She opened the gates to go into the open elevator, pushing the button for floor five. They stood in silence until Vicky's bags slipped off her right shoulder and onto the elevator floor with a echoed thud.
"You alright sweetie?" The old lady asked softly, Vicky nodded remaining silent to avoid the attention of her crying out in pain. "You'll be in room 503, it's yours for the week. After that let me know if you want to stay longer, there is working kitchen inside but no dishwasher. The laundry room is always open, but bring your own soap. If you need anything there is a list of numbers inside the nightstand. I'm Margaret if you need me." She said as they exited the elevator on floor five, turning to the left Vicky managed to readjust her bags back on her shoulder as they walked into the corridor.
Standing in front if the door, Margaret handed Vicky her room key. It was just a old looking skeleton key, with the room number hanging off a tag through the end. Vicky smiled at Margaret, and sweetly replied "Thank you."
"No problem sweetie." She replied turning away and heading back to the elevator.
Vicky opened the door to her room, the sense that no one had stayed here in quite some time filled the back of her mind. A thin layer of dust danced across the wood furniture. Looking around the room, she sighed knowing she'd be staying in Gotham for a while.
After securing the door she walked into the bathroom and pulled her hat off. Looking at her reflection in the mirror her blonde hair coated with a layer of blood on the right side. Grabbing a wash towel she stuck it under the faucet and began to wash away the dried blood. Wincing in pain every few dabs, she groaned knowing she full well would have scars.
Eight different cut marks danced across her cheek and jaw, down her neck she had smaller cuts. Tearing up she tried to hide her tears, It wasn't my fault, she thought to herself, they were forcing me to be with him. I will never understand why my parents hate me so much. I need to make sure Reese can't get to me. She pushed her thoughts to the side as she lifted up her shirt to clean the stab wounds on her left ribs and waist. Unable to count the amount of cuts on the side she finally starts to cry. The shock taking effect after the last few hours had passed.
"I don't and won't marry you Reese. I don't care what my family does to me but you are NOTHING like they imagined! You're a liar and a alcoholic scumbag!" Vicky screamed at Reese who stood well over four inches taller than her.
Reese was handsome, everyone knew that. He was tall, fit, with short black hair that was always slicked back and grey eyes that could change colors to what he was wearing. He had a long nose with a small forehead, his eyelashes would dance across his high cheekbones when he'd close them and he had a full set of lips to match the strong jawline. He always dressed down button up shirts with the sleeves rolled to his elbows and nice jeans.
But what people didn't know was he lied to manipulate you into everything you didn't want to do, he could make himself charming to everyone and they would believe the facade. He would go out at night and drink himself to the point of no return to sleep with women or he'd come back home to beat you senseless.
Vicky had enough of it, her parents wanted her to marry this prick for social standing instead of love like her grandmother had told her as a child. She had no say in the matter, just out of college as a intelligent teenager. She was in college before she was sixteen, and although her family was proud they weren't proud of who she was really.
"How about you stop being an ungrateful slut? Listen to what I'm telling you're never going to be free of me Victoria. Your parents and mine have agreed this is best for the families! You belong to me. If I tell you to get on your knees and suck my dick, you're going to do it." Reese screamed back reaching forward grabbing Vicky by her neck. Choking her so tightly she started gasping for air, clawing at his hands until her eyes saw black.
She was unconscious but still hyper aware of her situation, Reese pushed her back onto the cold hardwood floor and began to pull her shirt off. She could feel his touch bruising her as his greedy fingers roamed her shirtless body. She heard his belt being undone and his pants clanking to the ground, she felt his hands caressing her skin roughly tugging her tights off her petite pale legs.
She felt like screaming and her anger was rising. She couldn't believe he would stoop to this level and take it from her. Vicky has never remotely been close to a young man like how Reese was right now. I've only ever kissed a boy. How can he do this to me? All I want is my freedom, what is wrong with him. Why can't I scream? Why can't I kick or hit him? Wake up. Wake up. Please wake up! Vicky laid there unconsciously as Reese slid himself deep within her, it was foreign and unnatural. God, it hurts.
He repeats the movements shoving within her, growing rougher as he goes. His breath spread across her collarbone as he nipped along her flesh while his movements caused her to whimper out in pain.
"Oh shut up you whiney brat." He hissed into her ear, "You deserve all of this."
She felt herself being moved, her breasts and chest pressed against the cold floor causing herself to shiver. Her cheek smushed against the floor while his arm was hooked under her waist lifting her up. Vicky knew something was about to change, she could feel it in his grip.
Her butt was held up in the air by his arm, his greedy hands roaming across her cheeks and lower back bruising her skin as he did so. She felt the pain before realizing what was happening, her eyes opened as she started to pull away from him crying out in pain. Trying to pull herself away from him his arm locked under her stomach while his other arm pushed down on her back keeping her chest against the cold floor.
"Bitch stop squirming!" Reese growled, forcing himself deeper inside her backside.
The pain was excruciating, Vicky looked around to find something to help get away from him while he continued to thrust inside her butt. His moans and her cries filled the room, she managed to grab the liquor bottle sitting on the floor by the coffee table leg just in front of her. Although he didn't see, his arms pulled her body upright against his chest while he continued to force himself deeper inside, Vicky knew that if she cried he would make it worse.
Taking a glance down at her hand, she knew what she had to do. She swung her arm around her chest and smashed the bottle into his head shattering the glass all over them. He shoved her away, landing with a thud against the floor.
"You little bitch." He hissed, placing his hand on his forehead, feeling the blood start to drip down his face.
Vicky scrambled to get up, everything hurt. She ran towards her bedroom, slamming the door and locking it. Only to have Reese follow her and bang on her door, she couldn't stop the trembling and tears from controlling her body as she started to grab a bag to pack her clothes into. She grabbed her abnormally large sweatshirts and her work out clothes placing them inside the bag, after grabbing a black long sleeve shirt, her black workout tights and underwear she quickly stepped into the shower. Scrubbing every inch of her body twice she could still feel his hands on her.
Stepping out of the shower she could see the bruises forming on her collarbone from his bites, she couldn't help them at the moment. She had to get away. She dressed quickly and pulled her hair up into a ponytail. Grabbing her computer bag and her bag of clothes, she quietly opened the bedroom door. No longer hearing Reese, she hoped he'd left.
She quietly tiptoed through the hallways and into the living room. Grabbing her running shoes she quickly put them on before two hands wrapped around her throat tightly from behind.
"Did you really think I'd let you go so easily?" His voice echoed off the walls, he turned her to face him with one hand still wrapped tightly around her throat. "You know, I never thought a pretty young girl like you would ever damage a good face like mine. Maybe you should see how it feels." He growled, anger and rage filled his eyes. Vicky knew she was in trouble, his eyes scared her to the core of her body.
His hand picked the broken bottle off the couch beside her as he held her in place with his left hand. His mouth turned to a smirk, as he forcefully shoved the broken glass against the right side of her face, dragging it around cutting her deeply. Dragging it down her neck in slow agonizing torture. Vicky screamed, tears rolling down her face.
Patting her hand around she felt his face, digging her thumb into his eye. Screaming out in pain and shoving her back off of the couch her head smacked the coffee table with a loud thud.
"Ow.." she mumbled.
"Ow? What the hell about me bitch?" He charged at her, scrambling up she grabbed her bags and ran towards the door.
His hand slammed down onto the door, Vicky turned to look at him. "Let me go Reese." She said trying to sound tough, but her voice came out shaking.
He chuckled, leaning in close to her. "Are you afraid? Because you should be."
Vicky thrusted her knee up into his groin, causing him to double over. She leaned down in front of him to pick her bags up off the floor.
"You're not going anywhere you pathetic little bitch." Reese growled before grabbing the neck of the broken liquor bottle out of the back of his jeans, lunging for Vicky again only to stab her in her left hip. Vicky screamed out and bit her lip to muffle the cry, she swung the door open and began running.
Looking back at her reflection she couldn't help but feel miserable, she sighed as she peeled the shredded clothing off of her body looking across her ivory skin decorated with blood, cuts, and bruises. Reaching over she grabbed one of the bath towels and set it on the towel rack and started the shower.
As she stood inside the shower she couldn't feel how hot the water was. How it was turning her red, all she knew was the cuts on her side burned with a passion so she could cry out all of the tears she had to shed. Resting her head against the cold tiles of the shower as the hot water cascaded around her, she knew that she would have to do something.
"He will come for me…" she whispered to herself.
Although Vicky managed to clean up the cuts and go to bed, she didn't get to sleep. Laying there on a uncommon bed while the city outside the windows roared to life by rain and different sounds of people screaming and gunshots, Vicky decided to think of how to keep herself safe.
She was going to go by the name Jenny Mason, a young woman who just moved here after losing her parents in a deadly car crash which was house she got her injuries. Vicky planned to go to the store and buy a bottle of hair dye and some clothes once she took care of Reese. She decided to frame him for theft of his boss's company profits as well as her family's money. Only she would withdraw her financial savings so she had what belonged to her.
Reese can't find me then if he's in trouble for something he did. She thought to herself, nodding at the idea she gathered her computer onto her lap to begin to work on her scheme. Typing away she began to decrypt the locks and servers into LexCorp.
Pulling up the accounts she smirked. Knowing Reese wouldn't be able to get free from his boss, Vicky started depositing small amounts money from the corporate accounts into his personal accounts totalling to fifty one thousand eight hundred and sixty two dollars. Dating theM to months before slowly working its way down to present day. As she hacked into their systems she altered paperwork and files from previous months to show that Reese had been stealing for months to be aware of this situation.
She then turned to her family's account, sending her parents money into Reese's account as well so her family couldn't hold her accountable for leaving. As she logged into her accounts she smiled, over thirty grand she could withdraw. Closing her laptop, she grabbed her grey hoodie and baseball cap. Her black tights and her favorite t-shirt would have to do today, the rain outside hadn't stopped since she had gotten into Gotham.
Heading out of her room she pulled the jacket over her arms and pulled her cap down onto her head. What all do I need to get? I need to withdraw the money, hair dye, scissors, food, bandages, maybe some different clothes… Vicky thought to herself as she walked through the hotel hallways towards the elevator. As she arrived to the elevator, it dinged. Opening the doors was the blind lady who owned the hotel, walking out towards her.
"Good morning Miss Jenny, I was coming to see if you needed anything dear?" Her voice echoed through the empty hallways.
"No ma'am, I was about to head out to the store to pick up some things. Would you like me to pick you up anything while I'm out?" Vicky asked softly trying to be polite considering the old woman's kind nature towards her.
"Now that I think about it, would you be a dear and get me some peppermints? I love peppermint candy." She asked.
"Yes ma'am I'll grab you some."
"You be safe dear, these streets are not always the safest." She replied walking down the hallway leaving Vicky at the elevator alone.
As Vicky makes her way down to the street she starts walking through the streets headed towards the city. Throughout the streets she avoided everyone's eyes, finally looking upon the bank she entered.
The lady at the counter smiled at Vicky, "Hello how can I help you miss?"
"Yes, I would like to withdraw my savings account." Vicky said keeping her head down as she pulled her baseball cap off her head.
"All of it miss?"
"Yes please." Vicky slid her i.d. across the counter for the woman as she replied.
"Miss Anderson, can you please provide me with your your month and date of your birthday and your mother's maiden name?"
"Susan Crawford Anderson and my birthday is April 7th."
"Alright Miss Anderson, it appears that your account has thirty five thousand seven hundred dollars. You wish to withdraw the full amount?" The lady behind the counter asked again, caution in her voice.
"Yes ma'am, I plan to go traveling and the money would be my expenses." Vic replied softly.
"Well in that case it would make sense to withdraw such a large amount. Let me go take care of that with my manager, I'll be momentarily right back." She stood up and walked away from the counter and through the bank desks to the manager's office, speaking with the manager before being handed a key.
Vic remained silent as she patiently waited to remove her funds while feeling as if everyone's eyes were on her back. Rubbing her arms she tried to ignore the sensation upon her back, through the quiet bank the loud pitter patter of rain echoed off the roof.
"Sorry for that Miss Anderson." The bank teller returned holding a tan envelope, "Everything is here however I would ask you to count it as well to verify." She smiled to Vic politely.
Vicky counted the money and nodded, "Thank you so much. I really appreciate this."
"No worries, your family has been a loyal customer with us for years. You have a wonderful trip and be safe."
As Vicky stuffed the envelope into the inside of her jacket she turned to walk back towards the entrance of the bank as she collided into a man's suited chest. Looking at the suit she noticed it was half black and half white , tilting her head back she looked up into the eyes of a half burned man. Shock rolled through her body as he grinned down at her wickedly before grabbing her causing her to spin and have her back against his chest. As he forced her forward his right hand held up a pistol pointing at everyone.
"Alright boys, time to withdraw our funds." The man said.
"Yes, if anyone moves then they will end up dead, got it?" he said in a gruffer voice, walking towards the tellers as he forced Vicky forward.
As she stared into the eyes of the teller who helped her just moments ago, she could see the pure terror in her eyes. Her face was trying to remain calm but frantic movements of her eyes flicking back and forth from Vicky to Two Face caused Vicky to realize this situation was more dire than she had originally thought. Two Face looked down to the girl he was holding close to his chest, pressing the gun to her temple looking back to the teller woman.
"If you don't get the cash, I'll flip the coin. You don't want that do you?" The gruffer voice said towards the woman, who frantically shook her head. "Good, now get the cash. Boys, check the vault." He hollered over his shoulder to his crew running around the bank behind them.
The teller woman turned and ran to the cabinets behind her, pulling open multiple mini doors and grabbing wads of cash out, setting them on the counter in front of Two Face and Vicky. Vicky remained silent as she started to tremble, fearing the fact she may not get out of this.
"What's the matter girl?" The man said looking down at her with a raised eyebrow on his non-burned face.
Vicky didn't move or say anything, she was terrified to respond to the man.
"Well, are you going to speak or remain cowering like a kicked puppy?" The gruffer voice said.
"N-no sir, I-I'm sorry." Vicky stutters out quickly as she shook her head.
"Then why are you so frightened?" His normal voice questioned.
"I'm scared… you're holding me tightly and robbing the bank."
"So you're not scared of me or my face, just the fact that I'm holding you hostage and robbing the bank scares you more. Peculiar." He replied, looking up as if he was processing this information.
"I can't be scared of your face, everyone has something odd about them." She replied softly.
"Well aren't you a smart girl, unafraid of a monster like us. Rather pathetic." His gruffer voice said cockily. "Boys, how's the vault coming?" He yells again over his shoulder.
"Boss we are good to go!" One of his crew members called from behind Vicky, unable to see him.
"Well girl, is it your lucky day or is it unlucky?" He said, pulling his coin out of his trouser pockets. Tossing it up into the air, grabbing it with his gloved hand and slamming it down upon the hand that was wrapped around her. The undamaged side was upright, causing him to release her down onto the tiled floor. "Apparently it's your lucky day girl." He said, as he bowed slightly making a hasty exit from the bank still aiming his pistol at everyone as sirens began to echo down the streets from outside the building.
Vicky pulled her cap back on and ran out the bank doors and far from the bank. Walking through the streets she stuffed the envelope between her arm and ribs under her jacket from people's eyes. She walked into the nearest drug store, shaking the water off of her she groaned, the water was soaking her to the bones.
Grabbing a arm basket she started walking through the aisles in search of what she needed. Grabbing a pair of scissors and bandages and a box of hair dye she smiled. Always wanted black hair. She thought to herself, walking up to the checkout line she noticed a bag of gummy bears. Sliding that into her basket she smiled at the cashier.
Paying for the few items she quickly returned into the pouring rain, sprinting through the streets trying to get back to her hotel room quickly she shook her head once entering the hotel lobby.
"Hello and welcome to Hotel Metro Gotham, how can I help you?" Margaret said loudly upon the bell above the door ringing.
"Miss Margaret it's just me, Jenny."
"Oh welcome back dear, how did it go?"
"Alright, I apologize I didn't get any mints for you. It's pouring cats and dogs outside. I simply made a quick trip to the bank and drug store. Tomorrow I'll go back out and I will get them for you if that's alright."
"That's fine dear, from the sound of your voice it sounds like you are cold. I'll bring you some fresh warm towels to your room for you." She replied before disappearing into the room behind the lobby counter.
As Vicky unlocked her door she sighed, finding a sense of peace if being alone again. Strippig herself of her wet clothing she walked over to the dresser and began pulling out her plaid fleece pants and a black thermal shirt, shivering from the cold. Reaching into her bag she pulled out the envelope setting it on the bed. Looking at all of the cash she sighed a sense of relief.
"Mom and dad can't find me now. They didn't know I had been saving all of their money for college when I had full scholarships. So grateful for saving it right now." She mumbled to herself as she grabbed the box of bandages, and walked into the bathroom.
Taking her wrapped she put a gauze down on her side and wrapped the bandages around the gauze to hold it in place, whimpering softly at the pressure. Looking at her face she groaned, "Can't cover that up as easily. I'll just have to be careful."
Going back to her bed she grabbed her scissors and box of hair dye. As she started mixing the chemicals together she took her brush and ran it through her long blonde locks. Grabbing the scissors she started cutting it off just above her shoulders, locks of hair falling into the sick and onto the floor behind her.
Knocking stopped her from putting the dye on as she walked to the door. Peeking through the peephole she sighed seeing Margaret holding several towels.
"Here you go sweetie, do you need anything else?" She asked Vicky as Vicky opened the door.
"No ma'am, thank you so much."
"No problem sweetheart," she smiled sniffing the air, "Are you dying your hair?"
"Yes ma'am, I hope it's alright."
"Of course it is, it will wash down the drain. Mind if I ask why?"
"I'm starting over so to speak."
"You're not in any trouble are you dear?"
"No not really, I just ran from a extremely bad guy who my family was trying to force me to marry."
"Oh dear." She gasped, a frown set across her features. "No family should do that to their child. So you ran from him?"
"Yes. He hurt me while he was drunk, he threatened to never let me go because based on the agreement with my family I belong to him. I don't want too."
"Don't mind me asking dear, how old are you? How old is the young man?"
"I'm nineteen, he is twenty-five. My parents thought it was a match in heaven because they always wanted me to be like them. All I wanted was to be normal."
"Well sweetie, if he shows up here you call the front desk for me, I keep a bat under the desk in case someone tries something. I won't let him hurt you dear." She patted Vicky on her arm before turning and making her way to the lobby.
Looking back to the bathroom she sighed, as she started to apply the hair dye. Pulling her now short hair up onto the top of her head she groaned not realizing how itchy it would feel.
"Thirty minutes, let's do this." She walked back out and sat on her bed. Pulling her computer into her lap she started hacking into the police radios, for both Gotham and Metropolis.
Batman has been spotted in Gotham.
Joker has escaped Arkham.
Harley Quinn is spotted outside of Arkham.
Threat has been eliminated, Lois Lane is sa-.
Vicky shut off the radio system, walking back into the bathroom to wash out the dye. Leaning over into the sink she let the cool water run as she massaged the dye out of her hair and down the drain. Careful to avoid the cuts framing her face she wrapped the towel around her head squeezing the excess water from her hair.
Rubbing her hair softly with the towel she sat back down on the bed, the rain still falling heavily on the outside window. Reaching over to the edge of the bed where the bag from the drug store remained undisturbed, Vicky grabbed her bag of gummy bears.
Wrapping her hair back up in the towel she laid back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling she stuck a few of the gummy bears into her mouth. She needed to find something to do, but what? That's the hard question.