My name is Anna. Since I can remember I was thrown from one foster family to another, each one the same, two junked up low life's hoping to make a few bucks by taking in some kids, sucking whatever money they can get from the state before long the kid goes to some other deadbeat. This was my life before I decided that the street provided a better living then under someone's roof.
Before I turned 15, I had been living on the streets of New York, Chicago, LA, one city after another, going wherever I felt like going until for some reason, I ended up in Gotham.
At first, Gotham was just like anywhere else. Beneath its tall skyscrapers, the rich selection of expensive luxury stores it had on offer, the fancy looking decor of its buildings, greed and corruption was on every corner of this city. Suits were yelling into their cell phones, women with faces pulled back so far, you could barely see their lips wearing thousand dollar coats as they clicked one foot in front of the other.
"People with too much money on their hands" I wondered as I watched one suit scream down the end of his phone, telling someone called Jim to open the door. "Money which I'm sure they wouldn't miss"
I decided to take advantage of this while I was here in Gotham. These suits were just like the rest, didn't care about a few dollars going missing from their wallets. All I needed was to take my time, follow one and then another until I had enough cash to go on my way.
It was getting dark, the crowded streets were beginning to fall quiet as people made their way home after a busy day at the office. By 6, I had already made or should I say stolen, 300 bucks from some guy who was having an affair with his secretary.
"A good day's work"
As I counted the bills, stuffing the collection in my jean pocket, I knew I had to find somewhere to sleep for the night. Thanks to my nice earnings, I thought I would treat myself to a motel room, when suddenly something caught my eye.
"The circus is in town" I muttered, staring at the bright orange florescent poster that had a large overweight man dressed in a red suit smiling as 4 elephants danced around him while a creepy looking clown laughed. The circus was having its grand opening tonight, with 4 shows every day until Monday.
"Well, I guess it could be fun?" I thought, looking at the fat guy in the suit to the clown, wondering which one looked the worst. I had never been to the circus before and it wasn't as if I had anything else to do or anywhere else to rush off to, for the moment that is.
I was walking for almost an hour before I finally could see the outline of the white tent. The circus seemed to go on and on. Just like the poster, the place was filled with bright lights, loud music played over the screaming voices of excited children as they ran through one path to the next, trying to find their way to the big tent that stood within the centre.
As I made my way, I couldn't keep myself from smiling. For the first time in a long time, I felt happy. Tonight, I didn't have to worry about where I was going to sleep or how I was going to eat. There were enough people here who had their wallets just easy enough to slip out of their pockets and enough food to steal, all I needed was to choose the right moment.
That moment had arrived when my eyes fell on a young couple who seemed to be more interested in touching one another then the delicious hotdogs they were buying.
"Perfect" I smiled. The easiest trick of them all. Slowly, walking towards them, I edged forward, using the noise and the distractions of the crowds as my cover. In and out, grab and go. It was all going to plan, I could see the brown outline of his wallet, the light green of the bills just screaming to be taken.
I was close, so close now. This moron wouldn't even know his wallet was missing until it was too late.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you"
I jumped, the shock of the unexpected voice causing my leg to slip over the other until I could feel myself falling onto the ground. My elbows got the worst of it, the pain shooting through my body, my lips cursing one word, causing one face and then another to look my way until I forced myself back onto my feet.
"Nice fall"
It was the same voice, the voice that had made me lose my meal ticket. I got a good look at him now. He was unlike anyone I had ever met or seen before. For starters, he dressed like a bible sales men. His blue sweater with red lining in the collar stuck to his slim frame, the shirt he was wearing was buttoned all the way up to his pale neck. The guy looked as if he had just jumped out of the 1950's. Despite his awful dress sense, it was his hair that stood out the most. Even in the dark I could see the light orange colour of his hair.
"Thanks a lot!" I replied angrily, wiping the traces of mud from my clothes.
"Got a name gorgeous?" He smiled, a bright set of white teeth escaping from his thin pale lips. I wanted to punch those perfect teeth until there was nothing for this jerk to grin about.
"Get out of my face ginger" I snarled, pushing my way past him, the anger building up inside of me as I made my way towards the exit. I had wanted to see the show, I had been looking forward to it, dinner and a show but thanks to that creep, I was going to spend the evening without both.
"Leaving so soon and when the evening had begun so well!" I could feel his high pitch voice following me, getting closer and closer until I could feel his breath against the back of my neck.
I clenched my hands, the blood rushing through them as I turned around, ready to follow through with my intention to wipe that smile off that pale face of his.
"You know I'm starting to love the back of your head"
"Look, I don't know what psycho ward or crazy hour you escaped from pal but…"
"Crazy?" he said, his whole persona changing as his green eyes looked straight into mine "Look at me, you can see I'm not crazy"
For a minute, I couldn't speak, couldn't look away from his glaring eyes. There was something in those eyes, something dangerous, something evil. I knew I had to get away from this guy. I hadn't realised how far I had walked either. The busy crowds of the circus were gone, I was alone with this guy, even if I screamed no one would hear me. There was only one thing I could do. Despite the pain I could still feel in my arms, I pulled back, hitting his stomach hard, a punch that made him gasp as he feel to the ground. I didn't wait around to see him get back up again. I ran, ran as fast as I could, back towards Gotham, the sound of uncontrollably laughter ringing in my ears.
"You got me!" Jerome laughed as he got back to his feet, his imagination running wild as he watched her disappear "My turn!"
