Ch. 1

Sam had always been the more out-there and crazy person at her school, especially among her close friends, the few people that could actually stand her, namely her best friend Carly and possibly Freddie, and as the years went by it only seemed more and more likely that she was just going to become more of an erratic individual, following along in the footsteps of her crazy mother but no-one saw what kind of storm that was really going to come upon them.

The day that changed everything…

It seemed like it was an ordinary day, like any other, the three close friends rising from their slumber, getting ready and on to school. Carly was her content and happy self, Sam a hailstorm for everyone and poor Freddie just tagged along but they had to come home sometime, and Sam and Carly, after Freddie was nabbed by his mother, were all-set on hanging out and most likely not doing any homework.

"Hang on, Sam… I feel so out of it from school, entertain yourself while I take a shower… 'Kay?" Without waiting for a response, Carly left her friend, seemingly intent on a hot shower.

Sam stood there alone, somewhat miffed at Carly hasty exit but she just shrugged to herself and went about the process of foraging for food from her friends kitchen. After several minutes of fruitless searching, she finally came upon a gold mine.

"Ham… Come to Momma', " As she took her tasty treat, she finally set down upon the comfy couch, snagging the TV remote in hand, intent on seeing some outrageous comedy or a violent and often confusing action film but she came across something entirely different when she switched the TV to life…

"…certain audience's be aware, the image is disturbing…"

Curiosity piqued, Sam set aside her treasure trove of ham, and she shifted herself closer to the screen, intent on what it had to show her.

The image opened with a man tied down to a chair, his body covered in a poorly put together costume of a…rat? 'No… That can't be right', was Sam's thought but before she could ponder it further, the video continued.

"Tell them your name…" Was the soft command, obviously from the person holding the camera.

The bruised and bloody man, his face shielded by the makeshift mask he had obviously made himself, hesitated only for a second before responding.

"Brian… Douglas." His voice meek and subdued.

Giggling to himself the cameraman, clearly holding a crappy and used camera, the video shaking as he giggled, asked the hostage. "Are you the real Bat-man?"

Goosebumps spread furiously along her body from the sound of his voice; high and sensual, chipped and low sounding. Rising up and then down in random sequences.

The hostage, Brian, seemed to start tearing up as he answered. "No…"

"No?" Was the cameraman's mocking response, chucking to himself as he moved forward, swiftly taking the mask from Brian's head, swirling it around as he angrily asked him. "Then why do you dress up like him?"

Moving it in front of the camera, childishly brandishing it before all, showcasing just how ridiculous this man's actions were. As if fed up with it, he dropped it carelessly, having lost interest in it entirely, moving back to the main source of entertainment.

Brian finally responded, at first hesitant and scared but soon gaining in strength, held up by foolhardy courage. "He's a symbol that we don't have to be afraid of scum like you…"

Sighing to himself, the cameraman did not hesitate in his counterpoint. "Yeah, you do, Brian…" Gripping Brian's face tightly in his fist, his hands covered in purple leather gloves, the cameraman continued. "You really do…"

His hand continuing upward to grip Brian hair tightly, all Brian could do was whimper as he was manhandled. Stopping suddenly his aggressive motions, the cameraman pulled back slightly to almost pet his hostage, "Oh, shhh, shhh, shhh, shhh, shhh…"

His continued on with his speech, slapping Brian softly, almost taunting him in his gentleness, "So you think, that Bat-man has made Gotham a better place? Hmmm…"

"Do you?" His voice playful. He then moved back, showing any and all how pathetic this man had now become.

Grasping the camera tightly in his grip, the cameraman continued his interrogation. "Look at me." He commanded softly.

Brian sat silent, whimpering softly to himself, obviously wishing to be anywhere else than where he was, no response forthcoming.

"LOOK AT ME!" He almost roared at his hostage, startling Sam so much that she dropped her ham to the floor, but she was so captivated by what she was watching that she made no move to pick it up.

Meekly Brian turned his gaze toward the camera, almost overcome with fear at this point, and for a moment there was only silence as all around the world we watched this pathetic man come undone.

Turning away his hostage, Sam finally gazed upon the man whose voice and actions had enthralled her so…

Shock and awe was the only way to fully describe what Sam was feeling as she looked into those dark black eyes, black face paint coating around them, a face of pure white with a drawn on red smile, with a dash of green tint to his hair. As he smiled into the camera Sam, to her shock, noticed the Glasgow smile that lay almost hidden under the red face paint, showcasing that he will always be smiling.

Wonder and admiration filled her so completely as she stared stargazed at his handsome vainer, and a bulldozer of a fact was the only thought that occurred to her, 'I've never been more attracted and entranced to anything in my whole life…'

The Clown continued his speech, his sensual voice passionate in it's vigor. "You see this is how crazy Bat-man has made Gotham…" The camera shaking in his excitement, he proceeded, calmly. "If you want order in Gotham, Bat-man must take off his mask and turn himself in…"

His voice dropping a decimal or two, a husky tone that made Sam's toes curl in excitement, caught up with the Clown's crazed perfection, she scrambled over the table to sit before the screen, needing to be closer to him in anyway possible as he went on, adding this last bit almost as an afterthought. "Oh, and every day that he doesn't, people will die, starting tonight..."

Moving toward the camera, his crimson and red scared mouth encompassed the entirety of the television screen and Sam was struck with awe as he finished, his voice deep and hoarse. "I'm a man of my word…"

Breaking away from the camera, hysterical laughter overcame the Clown to an extreme degree, causing goose bumps to cover her whole body once again, her toes wiggling in tantalizing wonder.

'He looks so carefree and happy…', was Sam's only thought as the video ended, the camera obviously being tossed aside as the Clown's laughter continued to ring out, followed swiftly by the frantic screams of the unfortunate Brian Douglas.

As the video ended and it became apparent that no others were forthcoming, Sam shakingly rose from where she sat, moving to the cozy couch to await Carlys return, holding herself tightly as her thoughts were all consumed by the brightly painted Clown of her dreams.

A good fifteen minutes passed before Carly finally returned to her, in fresh clothes, drying her hair slowly with a towel, she came to an abrupt stop where Sam shakingly sat. Turning to see what her friend was watching, only to turn back to her in confusion when she saw it was on the news channel.

Touching Sam's shoulder softly, she asked her silent friend in confusion. "Why are you watching the news?"

It took a full minute before Sam even registered that Carly was there, let alone fully grasping what she was asking her. Turning her worship-filled green eyes to gaze into Carly's confused light brown ones, an almost crazed smile colored her pretty face as she told her firmly something that shocked Carly into a complete stupor.

"I think I'm in love…"