BIRTH OF THE DARK
In the suburbs of Gotham, a family whose spirit lighted the dark night walked through the popularly - and rather rightly - called "Crime Alley"; it was no place for such an exemplary father, his careful wife and their passionate little son. They could still see the shining lights of the theatre a few hundred meters behind them, but its brightness was gradually involved and dissipated by the city's shadows.
"Thomas, are you sure we shouldn't have taken a cab?" asked the woman. There was something definitely wrong with her voice tone - perhaps something between pure concern and growing fear.
Realizing his wife's discomfort, Thomas responded gently, "Don't worry, Martha. Just look at how brave Bruce is, entering the dark ahead of us! Besides, he needs to know that our city isn't limited to the what we know. This is Gotham City too."
Unfortunately, what was meant to be reassuring simply made Martha Wayne more anxious. After all, she knew how evil that city could be. One chance was all it took for it to take away everything one loved the most.
"Bruce, come here, sweetheart. Don't walk that far from us!", she yelled.
A couple meters ahead, a young boy was swaying his imaginary sword in the air. The fight against invisible enemies was so intense that he almost ignored his mother.
"Who's this Bruce you keep calling, lady? I am the incredible Zorro, and I'm here to save you from crime and corruption!", he said valiantly.
Suddenly, Thoma's and Martha's eyes were petrified. Bruce didn't even had the time to react when a heavy hand pulled him towards someone.
"Wallet and jewels! Now!", shouted a ragged man; a gun shaking violently in his skinny hands. "I said now, or the boy dies!"
"Dad, what's happening?", moaned Bruce. But even his childhood innocence immediately figured what was happening - and he couldn't help but shiver.
"It's okay, Bruce. I'll give you everything you want, mister. Just let him go", mediated Thomas. He looked to his beloved wife, crying in despair... It was all his fault.
"Don't try anything or I kill the three of you! Now, give me the money," ordered the thug as they started to approach each other.
Thomas handed his wallet and Martha's pearl necklace. Thanks God, the robber was about to about to return the most precious good a parent can have... When something went terribly wrong.
A gunshot echoed in the deserted alley. It was such a common sound that no one even bothered to open their windows in the buildings above. But to that family, it meant everything. Why? What went wrong? Perhaps it was something Thomas had done, something that made the shooter think he would react. Perhaps it was out of pure pleasure.
"Bruce..." he tried to say, but fell dead in the dirty pavement before he could finish. I'm sorry...
Another shot. This time, Martha was the one to fall, but a young boy became the city's newest victim. The murderer ran away, leaving the necklace behind along with an orphan and two dead bodies bleeding on the ground. The poor boy couldn't even see his face.