I wake up with a jolt.
"No!"
I hate having that dream.
Thanks loads Big Boss.
Note the sarcasm.
As a teenager I'm fluent in it.
My Dad pokes his head in my room.
"The dream again Hope?" "Yes." "Well, it's O.K. You're safe."
He hugs me.
"Now, if memory serves a certain somebody just so happens to have school today." "What makes you think I'm not ready?" "The fact that you're still in bed?"
I throw my pillow at him.
My Dad, the comedian.
He leaves, closing the door behind him.
I get dressed in a black shirt and blue jeans.
Both of the front pockets have pictures that I drew in them.
Old habits are hard to break.
After pulling on socks and shoes, I grab my dark blue backpack and head to the living room.
A smile comes to my face when I notice that my Mom's there.
"The bus isn't here yet so do you want to talk?" "Sure." "Dick told me that you had the dream again." "I'm pretty sure I know why I had it. As of today it's been 7 years since..."
I can't seem to bring myself to say it.
She puts her hand over mine.
"I know."
I smile.
Then I see the bus pull up.
"Bye, you guys!"
"Bye Hope!"
I get on the bus.
As soon as I sit down I unzip my backpack and pull out the book I'm currently reading which is The Book of Dreams by O.R. Melling.
A couple of kids whistle.
It's a big book but I like it.
Once my bus arrives at school I (somewhat reluctantly) put the book back in my backpack.
I get off the bus and sigh.
Looks like it's going to be another long day at school.
If it wasn't for art class I doubt I'd make it through the day.
It feels like forever before I finally get to go home.
Once I'm home (finally), I turn invisible and tag my Dad.
"You're it!"
He whirls around to find a visible me with a broad grin.
"So how was school?" "Fine."
After dinner, I ask my Dad the question I've been asking him for some time.
Maybe this time I'll get a different answer.
"Dad, can I please fight crime with you as Ghost?" "No." "But I've got a costume and..." "No."
So much for that.
"Dick..." "Babs..."
I roll my eyes.
They're ging to talk about why I should or shouldn't be Ghost.
I decide to head to my room since I don't want to hear this conversation again.
That way I can also finish my book.
Right now it sounds more comforting.
But while I read it a question races through my mind.
When will Dad let me fight crime with him?
I know I'd be good at it.
Not only do I have an awesome costume (Thanks Alfred!), I'm also (according to Mom and her friends*) a really good fighter.
Of course when the answer finally comes to me, a bit of fear comes with it.
Why does Big Boss have to haunt me?
Nobody believes anything he says.
Well, almost nobody.
A select few know that some of his words are true.
The only reason he knows anything about me is because he kidnapped me 7 years ago.
That would be the reason I had, as Dad put it, the dream.
He's really well spoken for a police officer/superhero.
Yeah, I said superhero.
My Dad is the Dark Knight of Bludhaven, A.K.A Nightwing.
*the Birds of Prey