First Days
Disclaimer: Batman Begins/The Dark Knight are Christopher Nolan's.
Day One
I don't know why the people sent me here after a rather quick recovery, I'm not a criminal. But they reassured me that this was by no means permanent, only temporary until they found a home to place me in. The walls were gray and the staff looked at me with eyes of pity; I guess I would have to get used to that. I looked at all the teenagers there and only wondered why they did what they did. Was it to get attention? Was it because they grew up in a hellish environment? I knew I was here because death had forced me here. A woman wearing a gray suit walked towards the person behind me, they left and the woman had taken their place. She lead me down vast halls to an isolated spot where no one could hear or see me. She said that she was, during my stay here, my guardian. Because of my status, she took as an extremely serious task. That's what I hated more than anything, even at my school. I was among the same spoon-fed bunch who whined that a Prada bag was cheap. My dad raised me in a normal house and life, saying that I did have an inheritance but I had to work for it. I didn't mind that now, that's what I wanted. Normal. Not this damn situation.
"Amanda, you'll be safe here; I guarantee you that." She said, warmly. "No one will hurt you. I'll be providing everything you need."
I only nodded, ever since being in the hospital I didn't want to talk. As kind and warm as this woman was, I figured that she wouldn't understand how I felt and if I said a word, all my anger towards him would pour out. The man with the red smile and malicious black eyes. At the same time, I feared him more. I had nearly died then. I remember what the doctor said, I'd carry the scar on the side of my face the rest of my life. She knew that too but didn't stare as the long, gray hallway ended into a set of rooms. The one on the left was where I'd be sleeping while the other two would serve as classroom and therapy. Two things I didn't want. The room with the cot was stark gray and the bed had sterile white sheets which made the room fit for anyone to go mad. The only noise in the room was the tick-tock of a clock. It was only nine p.m. but I felt the day draining me already.
"Amanda I'll leave you to get some rest." She said. "I'll be here in the morning."
I nodded again and laid down on the cot. The mattress was like stone and the sheets were stiff; I hated it here. It wasn't home. I stared at the ceiling now, just listening to the clock. The sound of it was calming and the effect of it was sleep-inducing. As soon I did sleep, that's when the nightmares would start. Gunshots. The Joker's laugh. Blood. Lots of blood. I bolted up, feeling the sweat fall down my face and my heart racing. I looked at the clock, it was about three a.m and sleep had eluded me now. For those four long painful hours, I stared at the walls feeling every emotion. Fear. Anger. Sorrow. Emotions that I got to know all too well. The woman came in now.
"Good Morning, Amanda, I have some good news." She said. "You get to leave tomorrow, we found someone that's willing to take you in."
That was the only time I smiled there. I got to leave this stark hell they called Gotham Juvenile Detention Center tomorrow. That day I spent time with the woman who tried to get me to talk but she knew that her attempt was futile. But I didn't mind her that much, it was just the environment. If I had met her under different circumstances, then maybe things would've been better. Now, I was scared that when I left here, I would be vulnerable.
Author's Note: It's not much of a chapter but it'll set up the rest of the story. Happy Holidays!