Disclaimer: The only character I own is Ragady, so please don't sue me.
(Author's note: I won't give away the ending, but I will tell you that this will not be a story like so many of the others. I appologize if I get any characters warped out of perspective, I can assure it was not deliberate. I'm also using the comic book world characters. Thank you for you time, and please review.)
Chapter 1: Ragady
All I can ever seem to remember is the pain. All my life I've traveled with my brother in search of a place to call home. Everywhere was the same, filled with hate and pain. But my big brother was always there to protect me, to sew my wounds shut as they healed. I'd always ask him,
"When will we find a place where we can live happily, my brother?" and he would always smile down at me and reply,
"Soon, my dear sister, if not here then we'll move on to what's next. There's always hope for what's next." His face would smile gently down on me and all my fears would disappear.
Then one day, around two years ago, his comforting face…faded…my big brother was gone. I didn't know what to do, so I did the only thing I knew of.
"There's always hope for what's next…" When it was clear to me my brother was truly dead, I swallowed the pain and moved on to the next city. He would have wanted that, I'm sure of it. When that city failed me I moved on to the next one, and when that one failed me I went to the next. I was never sure of what I was looking for, but I was sure of what I wasn't looking for and I still held on to the hope.
So it's been all my life, searching but only finding cruelty. Each time it gets harder to remember my brother's face, but I have to continue. Perhaps this time it might be different, the hope is barely a whisper by now. With every cut and every bruise it slowly fades, and I want to give up so badly, but still my brother's words whisper to me. With a heavy heart and a heavy sigh I pass the sign reading off the name of this city. Gotham, perhaps I might find what I'm looking for here…
Chapter One: Ragady
This city doesn't seem too bad so far, at least the people I've run into so far have left me alone. They stare at the stitches covering my skin like all the others, but they don't move towards me. Still, I keep my head low and stare at the ground, just to make sure they know I mean them no harm. Why is it I always have to hide from them? As I look up at one though, my stomach turns in disgust and a vile thought passes through my mind. What gives them the right, but I quickly correct myself and move to where there are less people.
If I want peace I must keep it in my actions, otherwise how can I expect others to do the same? So I turn my thoughts to what I should probably be doing, learning about this city. I'll need to know where things are and what kinds of people live here. Shouldn't be too hard-
"Excuse me, but I couldn't help noticing you look a little…" The well-meaning voice fades as I turn, as the teen sees the stitches running from the corners of my mouth along my jaw. At least he didn't scream.
"…lost, are you alright?"
His face twists into the usual expression of concern, but the concern seems to be for that which helps against the harm rather than the actual harm itself. He's more concerned about the stitches than the cuts themselves, how typical.
"Yes, I'm fine, just new to this city is all…" I answer calmly.
"You just moved here?" he asked, regaining his composure. He did, at least, have a genuine air of kindness around him. I've always been able to read people relatively well, to be able to tell their inner most intentions or feelings. Not that this ability has really done me any good in the past…
"Did you just move here?" he asks again, shaking me from my thoughts.
"You could say that," I reply with a small smile. This person reminded me so much of a curious child, and I can't help but to adopt the slightest motherly tone.
"Don't those hurt?" He asks, obviously referring to the stitches holding me together.
"No, not really, I guess you could say I'm used top them…" Suddenly eyes flash in my mind, eyes holding a look I know all too well. Turning, I can tell from which direction the warning comes. In every city, and every town.
"What's wrong?" the boy asks me.
"Nothing," I tell him, "I've just realized I'm late for something and I really must run."
"Are you sure?" He insists with concern on his face. Those eyes have clearly begun the chase, and I refuse to make this child suffer with me.
"Yes, I'm sure. Thank you for your concern, but I really must go…" I reassure, somehow managing to display a carefree expression before running off.
Those eyes, those haunting cruel eyes, they seem to follow me wherever I go. They chase me down like a pack of wolves, and I know when they catch me the blood will flow. I can't tell where I'm going, it's amazing I'm able to jump over or swing around obstacles in my way with the state I'm in; but then again, the primal state of fear has always produced amazing results. The wolves know their territory too well, and a member of the pack has flown ahead to cut me off, but I'm able to slide just out of his reach. My breath is already running short, every gulp seems to set my lungs on fire, but I have to keep running, I can't let them catch me. If they catch me-
A dead and? No! Quick, it's not too late to turn around, I can find another-
"Where did you think you were running off to?" one of the three wolves asks with a wicked grin. I slowly back up, eyes darting in every direction to try to find an opening somewhere to escape, but I find nothing as I reach the wall forming the dead end.
"What's the matter, you're not scared, are you?" one laughs.
"Don't be stupid, everyone knows rag dolls don't feel…" the other replies.
I hate them, who do they think they are to look down on me like this? Don't feel, I don't feel? They're the one's who don't feel! No, peace, show kindness if I want kindness.
"If you please, could I get by? I'd love to stay, but I'm already running late," I say forcing a smile and trying to step to the side. They move to block the path and one of them pushes me back against the wall.
"I don't think so," it sneers as the others laugh.
"Yah, the last thing we need in this city is another freak to worry about…"
"We figure we'll just do everyone a favor and get rid of you before you can even become a threat…" It's obvious I'm not getting out of this…
The wolves bare their fangs and move in for the kill, all I can do is close my eyes and brace myself for the impact when,
"What the fuck is that thing?" I hear one of the wolves ask. A hissing noise answers its question, and I open my eyes to see a green smoke fill the air.
"Shit, run, we've got to get out of here before he shows up!" the wolves try to run, but I'm guessing they don't get far. It's impossible to see past this smoke, but I can hear a scream. What a perfect opportunity to escape! Even though I can't see much, I can still use the wall beside me as a guide to get out of this mess. I'll take it this smoke isn't a good thing, because the more of it I breathe in the harder it becomes to focus, but it doesn't take me much longer to get past it. What I see makes me stop cold in my tracks. I don't know if I'm just seeing things, but it looks like there's a scarecrow standing not far from me. But that's impossible, right? No, it's definitely a scarecrow, and I'm definitely not seeing things. As the smoke begins to clear I con see it seems to be… watching the wolves with a strange fascination, almost as if trying to determine something.
Is this what caused the smoke, what enabled me to escape, is this what…helped me? I don't understand, why would something help me? No, it must have been after the wolves, and I just happened to be there. Still, I feel compelled to at least thank it. I try to take a step forward, but realize just how dizzy the smoke has made me and wind up leaning back against the wall again. Not only that, but it's seen me now, the scarecrow's looking right at me! There's only a moment of silence before it turns to run off.
"No, Wait!" I try to chase after it, but don't get very far. "Come back!" I call after it, but the world has grown blurry and as I round a corner I lose sight of it. Where'd it go? It couldn't have just disappeared. Who, what, was that? I let myself fall and lay down to catch my breath, but the questions still hang around me. I don't know the answer to my questions, but I intend to find out…