Chapter 1
First Impressions
The time was about three o'clock in the morning. I was spending my time on the internet browsing random websites, watching funny videos, anything that would keep me awake. I always enjoyed the dark night time. It gave me a peaceful state of mind and, I always found it beautiful. The mesmerising colour of the night sky, the shimmering stars; mostly clouds here in Arkham, thought.
After many long tedious nights, staring into my computer screen, I finally found something that would keep me wide awake. All these news, these newspaper articles. They all displayed something that I wish I could have. Something which I could never achieve. This chaos, this madness, this never ending…excitement. This man had it all. He had everything that I wanted. He was not afraid, not even of the Batman. To be more precise, they were like two sides of the same coin. They both deserved each other. I had always loved Batman, for he was someone who stood out from this rotten society, but this man, he had intoxicated me. Everything about him was like a dream, like an adventure that you always wanted to have. Every time I even heard his name it made my blood boil.
Thinking back on it now, I think that was why I had lost many of my relationships with people. I still obviously had my family; my mother and stepfather. I did have a couple of friends left from my school days but I didn't keep in touch with them very much. I loved them all, but I always knew I disappointed them. Everyone around me always had high expectations of me, of who I would become, but all I wanted was to find what made me happy. This man, has revealed to me what I wanted in life. I wanted to meet him. I had to meet him.
During this time, I had no idea of what my life was to become. The overwhelming sensations, the pain, the guilt, the glory, the chaos; they all gave me meaning to my once empty life. And you know what they say? 'When the mind wants, the heart follows', or something like that. Ha. I don't even know.
"Luna…" I could faintly heard my voice being called out. "Luna wake up!"
I quickly opened my eyes out of shock. Surprised, I saw my mother standing next to my bed. She seemed worried.
"Ughh...what time is it?" I said, mumbling under my breath.
"It's 2pm. You've been awake all night again? Haven't you?"
"Not really...no."
"Yh, yh."
I wasn't really in the mood for lectures when I woke up. I had a massive headache again. Maybe this not sleeping at night thing was really getting to me. That was only because I had to wake up during the daytime. I would gladly sleep all day if it was my choice.
My mother has always been like this. I know she wants the best for me, but I, don't want the best for me. To avoid her lectures and dissatisfied stares towards me, I told her I was off job hunting, as they call it. I did it mostly just to calm my mother's nerves because her daughter was such a failure.
Wearing the same old black trainers, jeans and a random red, tight t-shirt I found, I left the house. I'm not really one to have a full wake up routine with breakfast, jogging and all that bullshit. Honestly, I just wanted to leave the house for a while. I may be a night owl, but I never said I was a shut in.
I had wondered on the alleys of Arkham City many times. I spent most of my days here since I was a child. Never really got into any trouble thought. Today, however I had a sullen mood. I was getting sick and tired of the same routine which I lived through all my life up to now. I thought to myself when will I be able to do something worthwhile. If not today, then when?
I walked down the scruffy ally behind the once extravagant bar around my area. This place was where I could be alone to myself. It was an empty and abandoned building with broken windows, walls covered in graffiti, officially making it now a part of Arkham. I slowly opened the rusty iron doors which led to the inside. When you walk in you can smell the stench of tramps and their repulsive alcohol which they drink. I always felt disgusted to walk past them when they would stay here, but in my luck, I was there alone. To my luck the bar had two floors. The first for the scum of Arkham, and the second, for the not so scum of Arkham, but the scum of Gotham. I always chose to rather sit at the top, than the bottom. I wandered, drowsily, still from my headache, to the third private VIP booth. It was the only one which was still in tack and the curtains were still in satisfactory condition to close them while all the other booths had either been broken with the chairs and tables stolen.
When I spent my time here I always felt as though I had an infinite amount of it. To think and to wonder of how my life has been going and where it's leading to and all the things I could do to change it, yet none of them seemed to be what I wanted. It's a really strange thing this life. You're born to live and achieve something to leave behind as long as it benefits everyone, even if it doesn't benefit you.
As I sat there, alone thinking, I didn't even realise what was happening for the past half hour or so. Although I had thought I was alone then, it seems that I was mistaken. I was hearing voices coming from the ground floor, mostly near the bar area. It sounded like at least ten, maybe more men. I didn't quite make out what they were talking about, only that they seemed to be enjoying themselves.
I slowly opened the curtains from the corner, just to be safe and looked to see. I could barely see them from this angle, as the railings on the second floor were blocking my view. I could faintly make out their appearance. Most wore white masks. They seemed to look like clown masks.
Wait? No… How can that even be possible? Could HE be here? Of course he could be, I thought. I mean this is Arkham and I did sneak myself into an abandoned building. At that moment I could feel the thrill starting to rush through me. I could hear my heartbeat ringing in my eardrums. It was as if I was waiting for a present to be given to me on Christmas. I couldn't stop myself. I had to keep looking. My mind was telling me to hide, to stay quiet or I'll be dead in under a minute. My heart, however was in a completely different state. It just kept on beating faster and faster. I wasn't even sure if he was here but something inside me made me want to find out. I slowly started to open the curtains more, expanding my view of the downstairs bar. The men were all just chatting to each other, not noticing me yet. I simply stayed in that position now, trying to listen in to what they were talking and hopefully see if he was here. Suddenly, I felt a rush. I stopped like ice. I hadn't realised what had happened.
Before I could move another inch I felt something against my head. It felt hard and cold, something you never want to feel against the side of your head. My whole body had frozen in place. I became a lifeless doll. My heart was bursting with adrenalin and fear, while my mind was completely blank. I slowly moved my eyes upwards only to see a faint shadow or a sculpture. I was so petrified my vision had become blurred. I had never been in this situation. All these emotions running through in a matter of seconds. I could see purple shades standing over me, and when my vision had managed to give itself to me, I managed to see the frightening eyes of a demon.
"Well…'ello there sweetheart."
