"Hands where I can see them."

Dirty shackled hands rose to touch the equally filthy head. Soldiers filed around the prisoner, pointing guns of every kind in the prisoner's face. Emerald eyes bored into each of the soldiers', who looked everywhere but at the small figure kneeling on the ground. A rope was tied around the slim waist, yanked to make it tight.

"Stand up."

The prisoner rose to their full height, which wasn't far off the ground-a solid 5'5''. The prisoner was already garbed in the prison wear-a mess of light blue rags, a last name printed on the right breast pocket.

Moltisanti.

"You don't have anything to say? No pleas to try to make us change our minds?" The man who tied the rope asked, "Every man does."

The figure looked this last man in the eye and smiled, "I'm no man."

The soldiers hoisted Hooks Moltisanti to her feet and started dragging her towards the pit. She cleared her throat and said, "I can to it myself." With her head held high and a smile on her face, she stepped up onto the ledge, turned to face them, spread her arms out wide, and fell backwards.

The rope stopped her fall thirty feet off the ground, tightening from her weight, cutting into her ribs. The skin under the rope tore open, hot sticky blood started to drip down her back as a prisoner below started lowering her to the ground.

Hooks eyed the prison as she was gently hauled to the floor. It wasn't much really, besides a huge mass of concrete, metal bars, and stairs that seemed to go on forever. A handful of men watched her descent from the sky in curiosity. The thing that piqued her attention was that there were no women in the facility.

That totally figured.

The prisoner hauling her down swung her feet so they could touch the ground, before untying the rope restraining her. She breathed a sigh of relief when he cut the rope loose from around her.

"What do I do about these?" she asked, holding out her hands to show him the shackles.

A key landed next to her, thrown from above. She bent down to retrieve it and said, "Guess that's the answer." She handed the key to the man and held out her arms. He stared at her blankly before realizing she wanted the shackles off.

They fell to the floor with a loud clash that reverberated through the prison. Her skin was raw and crusted with blood where the shackles used to sit. She knew her wrists would be sore for a while.

Hooks turned to face the men staring at her in curiosity. She didn't really know what to do. Was she supposed to introduce herself? Not introduce herself? Would it be rude not to?

"Hi," she said slowly, her voice small in the cavernous prison, "name's Beck, but you can call me Hooks." She said, using the name the soldiers had deemed her. 'For her fabulous right hooks'.

They continued to stare at her until she decided that it was uncomfortable and walked off the metal platform. The men parted for her as she walked through them, her head held high. She didn't really know where she was heading until she came upon a staircase. Hooks sighed deciding that the only way to go was up.

She felt the prisoners' eyes on her as she ascended the staircase. At the top sat more men, exhausted, soulless. There was no light in the eyes that appraised her. Hooks glided by them looking silently inside each cell until she found one that wasn't occupied. She called to the men sitting at the top of the staircase, "Is this taken?"

They only stared at her stonily, making her wonder if there were drugs down here getting everyone high. That's the only thing anyone down here could do was stare blankly.

"Yes, it is."

Hooks jumped at the voice that came from behind her, startling her. She turned to give them a piece of her mind, but decided it probably wasn't a good idea. The man towered over her by at least a foot and a half, dwarfing her with his bulky frame. His face was covered with a hood, only hard blue-green eyes were what consisted of the giant.

"I'm assuming by you?" she said, thanking the heavens her voice sounded confident.

"Your assumption is correct." The giant said, "But there's a cell right here," he slapped the bars of the cell next to his, "that just became vacant about an hour ago."

"What happened to him?"

"He had an unfortunate accident that broke his neck."

Hooks didn't say anything after that, only watched as the giant ducked through the bars of his cage, slamming them shut. He peered at her through them and said, "I'd get in and lock up if I were you. Something about the night gets these guys excited."

"Right." She said, slipping into the cell. She looked over and saw him lie down on his cot with a sigh, "Hard day?"

He looked over at her and said, "Long day."

"What do you guys do around here?" she asked.

She heard him chuckle, "We climb."

"What does that mean?"

"I'm beginning to think I should have given you a cell somewhere else."

"Then why didn't you?"

He was silent for a long time. Hooks was beginning to think he fell asleep on her when she heard his voice, quiet this time, "What is your name?"

"Beck, but call me Hooks." She said.

"Why are you here, Hooks?"

"I killed some rich guy's son." Hooks said, "What they failed to notice was that he tried to kill me too. So I ran, I figured I was smart enough to get away, and I did. But then for some reason, I wanted to kill somebody else. So I did." She paused, "I've killed eleven people now, and they all deserved it. But the problem is that they're rich and famous, with plenty of alibis surrounding them. I guess I just didn't care."

"You should have," the giant said, "this place is hell on earth."

"So I've heard." She said, "What's your name then?"

"You can call me Bane."

"So what happened to this guy? The one that used to be in my cell?"

"I told you he had an accident."

"Did it involve you breaking his neck?"

"Maybe."

"So I probably shouldn't get you mad."

"Probably not."

They both fell into silence, their breathing the only thing audible. Sometime she must have fallen asleep, because the next thing she knew men were running everywhere screaming and shouting. On the floor below, fights were breaking out; men were beating each other like animals.

"Hey there doll face." Someone slammed up against the bars to her cell, "I can show you a good time, just open up your cell. I won't hurt you." The sick maniacal look on his face told her different.

More men started beating on the bars to her cell, demanding entrance. She was described in clear detail what they wanted with her. She slid against the bars separating her cell with Bane's, feeling tears sting her eyes. She hastily swiped at them, not wanting to show any weakness. After all, she hadn't wept in over eight years.

A hand touched her shoulder, causing her to jump and scream. She threw herself away from the bars, turning to face Bane. He had both his hands held up, "It's okay, I promise."

He had his hood off, revealing his whole face. It wasn't the face she had expected. She had expected a rough ugly face, an old face. But his was young and handsome, it wasn't a face that belonged in hell on earth, and something about it made her calm. He reached through the bars and took hold of her hand, "They can't get through." He said gently, "If they do, they'll have to deal with me."

His words made her relax a little, and she rested her back on the bars again. Her hand was still clasped in his when she fell asleep, and when she woke the next morning.

So that's the first chapter of my story, I hope it was decent. This is the first ever Batman story I've attempted, so try to be gentle with your reviews! I'm horrible with criticism. I went to The Dark Knight Rises the day it came out, fully intending to love Bruce Wayne like always, but left totally head over heels for Bane. Tom Hardy did a magnificent job portraying his character! Anyone who says different is crazy! Anyway, read, review, do what you want! Hopefully you'll give me more inspiration to write another chapter! :D