Chapter 1

"Bennett…..please… don't do this…." Karen started to plead. "It's three o'clock in the morning, can't this wait till tomorrow?" Karen quickly grabbed a pan to defend herself, she was stumbling and backed up to a corner in the small apartment kitchen. Nothing can save her from what's going to happen. An angry voice ripped the pan out of her hand and smacked her with it.

"Can it, woman, I need to think!" Bennett lit a cigarette and started smoking. "Is this what you do all day!?" snarled Bennett. "I work all day to support you and the kid, and all you just do is whine and complain! Get up NOW." Karen started stumbling back on her feet, begging and pleading for him to stop.

Under the kitchen table Gale was hiding from her father, clutching her stuffed rabbit, she watched helplessly as her mother started to bleed. Bennett pounded his wife relentlessly, ignoring all of her crying. Bennett heard whimpering from under the table. He slowly made his way towards the table, he ripped the table cloth off. Forcfully, grabbed Gale by the hair and started pulling her out. "Look what we have here," He taunted "Come to join your mother?" Bennett started to beat his daughter; he hit mercilessly at the unhealed bruises, created by his previous beatings.

"Daddy! Please stop, it hurts! Please..." Gale tried to get away but failed to escape.

Karen started to speak faintly, her voice was hoarse from all the screaming. "Bennett…please she's only a child."

Using a chair for support, Karen slowly made her way back up. She started charging towards her husband, with all her force she pushed Bennett in the nearest room. Karen slammed the closet door shut, holding the knob, she tried preventing him from coming out.

"Take the phone Gale; get out of here. Run! Please get help!" Karen yelled.

Bennett started banging on the door. "Open the door you f**king c*nt! Just you f**king wait till I get out of here you b*tch!

Karen started to loose hold of the door. "Gale, run now!" Gale took the home phone and started running. She opened the window and went down the fire escape. "Bennett stop, that's enough." Gale then heard her mother scream. Then there was silence. Gale ran as fast as she could and didn't stop until she felt safe. She hid in an alleyway between two apartments a block away from hers. She start to dialing 911:

911, what's your emergency?

They're fighting, make them stop.

Who's fighting? Hello? Where are you?

I'm Gale, my mommy and daddy is fighting. There is a lot of blood, mommy said to find help. Can you help me?

Yes sweetie we will help, what's your address?

Oh! My mommy tells me it all the time! It's 5..5..1 Wayne Lane, um, apartment E!

Oh darling, you sound so young! How old are you?

I'm 5!

Okay darling, stay on the phone with me, can you do that?

Yes ma'am

Gale remained hidden, waiting for the officer that was promised her. In the mean while, Gale and the 911 operator made small talk of Gale's most favorite thing in the world- kittens.

"Hello? Gale, this is Officer Hecox, I'm here to help you."

Gale peeked out to see a woman officer holding a flashlight.

"Gale if you can hear me come out, no one is going to hurt you, not anymore."

Gale walked towards the officer. Officer Hecox stared at the girl, her ponytail was messy and her face full of bruises, pajamas covered in dirt and she was clutching the phone.

"I'm Gale" she said in a faint whisper, her eyes started to water. "My mommy needs help."

Officer Hecox bent down to reach Gale's height, "Come on Gale let's take you home." Officer Hecox reached for Gale's hand but Gale pulled away.

"No! I will not go back, he's there!" Gale started to cry. "Please don't take me back, please."

The officer took off her jacket and placed it on Gale's shoulders. "The police are already there, nothing bad is going to happen, I promise." Officer Hecox offered her hand to Gale once again, and she took it.

Back at the apartment two squad cars where there, as Officer Hecox promised. Her mother being taken away in a stretcher; a stab wound is on her shoulder and leg, she is unconscious. Officer Hecox covered Gale's eyes with her hand, but Gale had seen it all and hid her face in Officer Hecox's pants. Seconds later, Bennett is being escorted out by two officers in hand cuffs, is face boiling with hatred. Commissioner Gordon slowly walked to Gale and went down on one knee.

"Hello young lady, I'm Commissioner Gordon, I understand you've been through a rough night, but would you consider answering a couple of questions?"

Gale slowly nodded her head "I'm Gale Royce, sir."

"You were such a brave young girl for calling for help, how old are you?"

"I'm six years old, sir." Gale felt her cheeks grow red with embarrassment.

The commissioner looked down at Gale sympathetically. Sadly, he's seen this kind of situation one too many times in his line of work.

"Are the two adults your parents?" He said gently

Gale nodded "they are my mommy and daddy."

"And the bruises-"

"Daddy hits me and mommy" Gale's emotions flared up inside with her, anger and frustration starting pouring out. "Mommy didn't do anything! Why does he hit her?! Why can't he put her in time out instead?"

The commissioner looked at Gale, his blank, but his sad expression made the atmosphere thin. "You're right sweetheart, she didn't deserve it."

He slowly got up and went to talked with other officers. Officer Hecox told Gale to stay put and joined the commissioner. Gale's body felt like lead, her dark green eyes fell to the floor and she started to weep. The officer ran back to Gale, and started hugging her tightly.

"It's alright honey, let it all out, it's okay to cry"

Gale was now sobbing in the officer's chest, no one dared to make another sound.

"Gale.. do you have any relatives you can stay with for the night?" Officer Hecox asked softly.

Gale wiped her nose on her sleeve and thought for a moment. "Daddy's family lives far away and mommy can't talk to her family anymore."

Commissioner Gordon gave Gale a concerned look. "Gale, who told her that?"

Gale thought and let out a twisted face, "Daddy told her she couldn't anymore."

The commissioner sighed and starting whispering to Officer Hecox.

"Does your mother have any family in Gotham?" said Officer Hecox.

"I think she does, mommy said something about an aunt once."

They continue to whisper to one another:

"Where can you sleep for the night?" the commissioner asked rhetorically.

"Commissioner, she can stay with me for the night." Officer Hecox piped in.

"Megan, don't get attach-"Officer Hecox scoffed "It will be fine, it's just for one night."

The commissioner took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "Fine, fine, but I warned you, don't get attached, it will only get in the way of your work."

"I guess you will be sleeping at my place tonight." Officer Hecox told Gale. "It will be fun, just like a sleepover."

Gale kept staring at the officer and started to cry.

"Hey Gale, what's wrong?" She bend down and gave Gale her sleeve to blow on.

"I'm tired and scared; I don't want him to hurt me anymore."

Officer Hecox hugged Gale once again. "As long as I'm here I will protect you."

Gale sniffled and croaked "Really, pinky promise?" Gale put out her pinky, Officer Hecox returned the gesture.

AN:- So what do you think? The story will take place more in the future. This chapter is post Batman (no this does not take place in the trilogy's movies.) Batman will appear in later chapters. Please comment and review, all types of comments are welcome.