Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from The Dark Knight. I can only take credit for my own characters.
Chapter 1
A woman wearing too much hair-spray and too little makeup smiled brightly off screen as she rattled off news in a cheery soprano voice. The cameraman on camera three yawned, having worked a double shift from 4:30 that morning until almost midnight. When the segment concluded, he would clock out and stumble home for some needed sleep.
"…and our final story of the night, Arkham Asylums announcement that a resident escaped has been confirmed by our very own George Windhem. We have been informed that the escapee is none other than the Joker, a dangerous criminal who was admitted only three months ago…"
As the woman continued to list the information on the joker, the man at camera three was distracted by a low clanking noise coming from behind. At first he paid no attention, but as the seconds seemed to slow around him, he held his breath. Instinct told him to get out, and get out fast. His heart sped up and he slowly moved away from the equipment in front of him.
"Mick, where are you going," his manager hissed angrily into his headset as an explosion rocked the room. The doors burst open and at least ten men jogged into the room with guns, clown masks visible on their faces.
Mick trembled on the floor, barley risking a glance. He had kids at home; twin boys. A low chuckle built as the tension in the room rose. The anchorwoman whimpered pathetically from under her desk, papers littering the floor.
A shadow fell over Mick before a kick sent him into the fetal position, cradling his hurt stomach.
Old scuffed shoes strode past him at an awkward gait, faded striped pants brushing his face. The laughing reached a crescendo before erupting into giggles.
"Why hello-ah, Gotham, didja miss me?"
Rebecca Minerva Argonne hated Gotham. The Narrows smelled of smoke tasted of death; a winning combination for a girl who had never seen poverty so close up before. Her sneakers scuffed the cracked pavement as she walked briskly towards the bus stop.
She checked her watch; 8:27. The bus would arrive in three minutes and not wait for even two. Quickening her pace, she kept her eyes down. Bad neighborhoods remained a sketchy place in her imagination, thugs on every corner and babies carrying knives.
Her fear propelled her and soon she came in view of the hooded platform marking the arrival of the bus. Unfortunately, the bus was disappearing as was the light from the sky.
"Shoot." She would have sworn but being slightly worn from a long day, nothing more creative came to mind. One dramatic drop onto the dilapidated bench later, and Rebecca was digging in her bag for her cell phone.
She had few friends, even fewer friends who would answer a call from her this time of night. After two attempts and one awkward message later, Rebecca decided to take the odds of a mugging and scurry home.
She made certain her pepper spray was handy before trudging her way through the dimly lit streets towards her house; ten blocks away. The activity on the streets lessened the closer she got to her destination. With only about 20 yards to go and shaking hands, she barely exhaled as she saw the porch light of her shabby home.
"Excuse me Miss," a sudden and loud voice asked behind her, jarring her back to reality. "Do you have some spare change? I really would like some water." A decrepit woman shuffled from foot to foot on the sidewalk besides her, appearing from nowhere, asking for a meager handout.
"I'm really sorry, I am actually about to go home, and I don't have my wallet today. Again, I am terribly sorry and I hope you find someone to help." Rebecca lamely excused herself before returning to her mission of reaching her homestead.
A whistle rang out and Rebecca sprinted forward. Rapid footfalls sounded loudly from behind her. Spraying wildly behind her in an attempt to save her life, the brunette suddenly wished she had attempted a sport in her childhood.
Her key out of her pocket in fewer than five seconds, the door was opened in ten, and the heavy breathing of her pursuers approached quickly. The spinning and slamming the door ended the ordeal and with a 'click' of the lock.
Rebecca leaped over her couch, and hid behind the gray piece of furniture, not daring to breathe loudly. Her cell phone had crept into her hand and was a key-press away from calling the police, not that they would respond to such a trivial matter, but it comforted her all the less.
She was unsure of how long she crouched there, minutes stretching to hours until suddenly she awoke, sunlight streaming through the windows. The clock read 7:39. Rebecca was late for work.
Hey guys. I am new to fanfiction and I'm starting this with little experience. Please review and tell me what you think! Ideas for the plot are welcome because at the moment, I have no idea what I'm writing next.