Chapter 1
If someone in high school had asked me where I was going to be in ten years I would have answered that I was going to work for the Daily Planet or something along those lines. Instead I had ended up working with the Justice League and I thought it would never end or at leased I hoped. I would have never imagined ending up in a city on the other side of the country alone, hiding from the world.
After I had lost Jimmy my life had changed but the JL was there for me. They gave me hope and I ended up falling for Oliver.
Lex was officially dead but I suspected he was just hiding. A few month ago I discovered a new 33.1 lab. The Justice League made it their new target. After researching and planning we were ready to go in.
I was supposed to be their eyes and ears but I didn't figure it out until it was already too late. It was a trap.
I was Lex target. While everyone was at the facility his men stormed the watchtower. I was fighting as hard as I could when suddenly one of them pulled out a gun.
Before I registered what was happening a crushing weight pushed me to the floor. The gunman was down, shot by an arrow. Oliver had taken the bullet that was supposed to kill me. He died in my arms like Jimmy had.
Everything became blurry after that. Without looking back I ran as far as I could. I emptied my bank account but left everything else behind. I avoided airports since Lex could easily survey them. Taking busses and trains I travelled for two month never staying longer than a few days in one place. I purchased a ticket to Gotham with the last of my money. I learned the hard way that Gotham could be a dangerous city.
An hour upon arriving I got mugged. Not that they got a fortune but I lost the last things I had. It was getting dark while I wandered around aimless. What else could I do?
I had no where to go. I couldn't pay for a motel. I didn't have a change of clothes so getting a job was nearly impossible. Who would employ me looking like a homeless person? Smiling sadly I realised that I was indeed homeless now. It started raining heavily. I entered the first building trying to escape the wet drops but changed my mind when two security guards came towards me.
Around the corner I found shelter at a side entrance. I had never felt so lost before. When the rain lessened I started walking again. Gotham was a dark and depressing city and it got even more so when I came to a district where it was mostly old, empty, run-down buildings. It seemed that I found my way to the slums of the city.
There were just a few people on the streets. One half consisted of homeless people and the other half looked like criminal gang members. Trying not to draw attention to myself I hoped to pass this district without incidents and surprisingly I did. I ended up at some sort of construction grounds at the outskirts of the city.
The wind had picked up and I was soaked. I needed to find a shelter from the cold if I didn't want to get sick. Behind a fence I saw some shipping containers. Better than nothing I thought and climbed over the fence ignoring the warning sign. I picked the lock and entered the first container.
It seemed to be empty. I jumped at the loud noise when the door closed due to the wind. It wouldn't open from the inside. I was trapped. At least it was warm. Cautiously I walked around searching the wall with my hands since it was too dark to see. I touched something and suddenly the ground was moving.
The motion stopped and suddenly lights came on blinding me momentary. When my eyes adjusted I realised that I had found a hidden room.
The room was white and relatively empty. A set of computers were on the right side. To my left was a medical cabinet, a bed and some spare clothes on a bedside table. After further investigation I found a little bathroom.
Not thinking twice I took a long hot shower to get rid of the chilling cold and borrowed a rather expensive looking shirt. I hoped that who ever owned this secret area wouldn't show up in the middle of the night. The bed looked too tempting. I took the opportunity to catch some sleep. I would be gone in the morning and hopefully no one would know that I had been here.
I woke up when the lights went on and the roar of an engine echoed from the walls. Even with sleep clouding my mind I realised the danger. There was no time for an escape when a black tank stopped at the far end of the room.
I hid under the bed hoping the driver hadn't seen me. My view was limited but I heard a mechanical sound and then I saw black combat boots moving around. I crawled further to the wall when the person came towards the bed. I held my breath when the person stopped mere inches of my face. I relaxed slightly when the feet moved away again.
"Slept well?" a deep masculine voice echoed. I stiffened. "You can come out. I know you are under the bed" he stated.
Having no other option I did as requested. I couldn't suppress my laughter when I faced a guy in a bat costume.
"What's so funny?" he wanted to know.
"Please tell me you were on your way to a costume party because I couldn't possibly have crashed into the hide out of some hero." I said and silently added "again"
"You are not from around here are you?"
"No, I am not"
"Who are you?" he wanted to know.
In the past I would have told him but now I couldn't risk it. I knew he expected me to be afraid of him. He was surrounded by a dark aura but I wasn't scared. "I don't know who you are why should I let you know who I am?"
"I am Batman."
"Well, hello Batman. I am Minnie Mouse. Nice to meet you." I said smiling.
I could see that he was struggling not to laugh. " What are you doing here, Minnie" he asked.
I got serious again. I knew I needed help but he was endangered enough I didn't want to add my problems. Lex was a dangerous enemy and he wasn't aware of Batman's existence. It was better this way.
"I promise that I will never come back and no one will ever find out that I know of this place. It is better if I leave now." I told him and picked up my still wet clothes to change in the bathroom.
"Keep the shirt."
Turning around I gave him a questioning look. "It's dry. Keep it so you don't catch a cold" he explained.
I nodded and hurriedly put on my skirt. He offered me a ride when I walked out of the bathroom. I declined his offer since I didn't want him to know about my situation.
"I don't want you to walk around in the Narrows. It's not safe," he said walking to the car. He turned around realising I hadn't followed him. I didn't know what to say.
"Tell me." he ordered sensing that I kept some important information from him.
"It's better that I don't tell you." I simply said.
"Where are you staying?" he asked. I kept my mouth shut. "Then stay" he said surprising me.
"Thanks for the offer but you can't do that." I told him.
"Why not? You don't have anywhere to go and I don't live here."
"What if I find out who you really are? Letting me stay would make it an easy task."
"Explain."
"I could use your computers that would give me a good head start. Besides I know already that such a system costs a fortune and that car is remarkable. The military doesn't have a model that looks even remotely like your vehicle. I assume someone designed it for you meaning you are rich. Your suit lets me know that you are not some crazy dude. You use protection to avoid getting killed. I could continue if you want me to."
"I could have a rich sponsor."
"Possible but unlikely."
"Why do you think so?"
"Why would that person buy you designer clothes?"
"If I'm rich why risk getting killed? I could just enjoy my life."
"Do you really want me to answer that question? I may not have studied psychology but I have some experience in the hero business."
"Want to elaborate?"
"I already told you too much."
"Promise me not to snoop around and stay here."
"How can you trust me to keep my promise? You don't know me."
"Stay and get some sleep. I will see you tomorrow." he said and left. I couldn't believe it. Despite basically telling him what I could do he let me stay. I should be grateful but I was too busy thinking of Batman's mistakes concerning his security. I was still tired so I went to bed.
