Recalled to Life by Reya Wild

Disclaimer: I do not own Batman or any creaters associated with the franchise. They all belong to their respective owners. I only own the original character created soley for this story.

Summary, RATED M: As Gotham falls into a state of dystopia, citizens try to survive and get by without inciting the wrath of the rogues and mobs. While Commisioner Gordon leads a resistance, a woman uses all her abilities to make some kind of difference in the lives of those the rest of the nation forgot, that is until she catches the attention of Bane himself.

WARNING: This chapter contains attempted rape.

Chapter Two: It Was the Season of Darkness


Several months prior to the fall of Gotham

"Have a good night, Ms. Watson," Eddie, the evening security guard at Wayne Enterprises, called out.

Riley gave him a small smile and a little wave of her fingers as she stepped out of the building. She was tucking in one of her earbuds to tune into her MP3 player as she made her walk home. She only lived a few blocks from work, but she quickened her pace regardless. Night had already descended over the city of Gotham much her to chagrin. It'd been another late night for her.

Her superiors often told her that she went above and beyond what was required of her. She did work that wasn't due for days at a time, and she always brushed it off by modestly saying that she preferred staying on top of things. Work kept her mind busy even if it was mind-numbing at times. The work she had to do didn't challenge her, but Wayne Enterprises paid a comfortable salary. She didn't need to hijack ATMs or hack into prominent companies to Robin Hood their funds for her own gain anymore. She was doing decent, honest work, and at the very end of the day, it felt satisfying.

Outside of work, Riley had her share of social engagements to keep her busy. During college, she'd drowned herself in school work to get through her heartache and loss, but it was building up new friendships and connections, at times against her will, that was a healing salve for her soul. She did her best to keep up with those friendships even after they all graduated. Many stayed in Gotham. There was something about the town that seemed to trap people there.

It had been difficult at first to function as a normal person again. Spending her formative young adult years with an anarchy group had skewed her perception on society, and she had to learn to adapt herself to be one of the people again instead of someone who looked down upon them. Slowly, she came to enjoy her life despite its tedium. She would never stop missing Michael, but she had put him to rest. Revenge was never something she took to. It was self-destructive, burning through and through, and at the time when everything had fallen apart, she felt finished. She was so angry and hurt, but most of all she'd been lonely. Spending four years so entwined with someone meant that she had to relearn had to live on her own again. It was a difficult transition, but one she learned to manage nonetheless.

Even if she had been hell bent on revenge, there wasn't much to be had once the Dent Act passed. The more dangerous criminals were picked up and locked away in Blackgate. The only ones really out on the street now were the lowlifes that wanted to be a much bigger deal than they actually were. It meant having a state of vigilance walking through the streets of Gotham at night. She wasn't sure how long she'd been walking when a man behind her vied for her attention.

A quick observation of her surroundings told her that the streets were empty, save for her and her new friend.

"Hey, little girl, didn't your mother tell you not to play outside at night?" a rough, cajoling voice called to her. Riley stiffened, reminding herself that she should learn to be more conscious about time when it came to leaving work. Although she spent her time with Retribution, she never learned anything offensive aside from learning her way around a simple handgun. She had a tendency to shoot high, but it wasn't like she carried a piece on her on a regular basis.

She ignored him, deciding to keep on walking home, in the hopes that if she ignored him, he would get bored and let her be. Taking deep and even breaths to slowly her stuttering heartbeat, she shoved her hands in the pockets of her coat.

"Little girl, I'm talking to you," the voice said again, this time with a little bit of irritation at being ignored. Riley felt a stab of ire on her own. Despite being twenty eight years of age, she was always mistaken for someone much younger. Her features over the years had retained a childish fullness that made it difficult for her to be taken seriously as a woman at times.

Footsteps pounded heavily behind her as the man trailed after her, and she tried not to let herself give in to panic. Panic made people clumsy and useless. How many movies had she seen that she scoffed and snorted whenever the girl became a damsel instead of thinking the situation through?

The man made another comment about her, this time more vulgar and referred to her as a little girl once more.

Whipping around, Riley took in his features and glowered at him best as she could. There was a mixture of fear and anger on her face. It was a risky thing she was doing, engaging a possible attacker, but the news was always full of tips for women not to get mugged or worse, raped. She paid attention at times, often sardonically pointing out to her friends that it was always the women's job not to get raped instead of telling men not to rape at all.

One of the tips that stood in the forefront of her mind was to get a good look at them. Sometimes they were scared off at the possibility of being identified by their victim, making her more trouble than she was worth.

"You got a thing for little girls, you sick asshole?" she bit out acidly, cringing inwardly. It was hard for her to be intimidating when her voice was tight and shaky. She stared him down and studied his features, trying to find any discerning traits about him that she could remember later. This gambit might have guaranteed a rape, but at least she would have something to give the police later.

The man was wearing a hoodie with the top up, trying to obscure most of his features. From what she could figure, he was something of a thicker build, standing at about six feet tall. In the dim street lights, she could make out that his hoodie were the color of the Gotham Rogues teams with the logo emblazoned on the front. He faltered when she turned to address him, but he hauled himself up to stand at his full height.

"You're a feisty little bitch," he said appreciatively. Riley wasn't sure if he was just that determined to come after her or he put more confidence into his hoodie hiding his features. There was a gleam of silver in the light by his hands, and it made her take an unconscious step back. The situation was escalating, and she was beginning to get in over her head.

"You're about six feet tall, right? Maybe two hundred forty five pounds? Not all of it is muscle either," she began to babble, trying to keep a level headed. He was slowly beginning to advance even with all of her talking. He stepped a little more into the light, and she caught a quick flash at his face. "Tanned complexion. And a scar! A scar on your right cheek."

Her words didn't have the effect she wanted on him. Riley hoped that her ability to identify him would deter him from his attack, but it only elicited a laugh out of him. The laugh made her blood run cold as she began to back away even more. "I can identify you," she said bravely though it felt like her teeth were chattering.

"Little girl, you can't do shit if you're dead," he countered, and she could hear the smug grin in his tone. Panic overtook her, and she turned her back to make a run for it. Turning her back was the worst possible decision because she hadn't even made it a few steps before she felt thick fingers lace through her hair to yank her closer.

One moment, she was standing on her own accord, and the next, she was being tossed roughly into an alleyway. Riley landed in a graceless heap among the garbage and forgotten refuse. The pavement was unmerciful, and she let out a soft groan of pain from her landing. He was advancing towards her as she tried to gather her wits to make another attempt at escaping.

The moment she gave up on trying to get away was the moment she lost.

Dazedly, she began to scramble away, but his meaty hand wrapped around her ankle to tug her towards him until her body was flushed with his. He settled his weight on top of her, resting between her legs. The putrid air of his breath filled her senses, and she turned away to avoid. She felt his dry, roughened lips skim along the flesh beneath her ear.

"Smell so good," he groaned into her skin, unashamedly rubbing himself against her. Riley hated the way tears pricked at her eyes. Moving and shifting beneath him, she pressed a hand flat on his chest to shove him away, but he responded by pushing the blade against her throat until it bit at the delicate flesh.

"I'll scream," she threatened, looking up at him. She could see his face with ease now since he was so close, so she was able to see the way his lips curved into a smirk.

"I hope so," he answered. His other hand trailed down her body, groping her wherever he fancied, until he reached the hem of her shirt. His hand was chilly as it slid beneath the fabric to touch her more intimately. Riley could feel him harden against her, eliciting a whimper. "Yeah, little girl, we're only getting started."

His hand moved once more to toy with her pants, fumbling with the button and zipper. She could feel her agency beginning to slip through her fingertips, and desperation forced her to buck and struggle against him even as the knife coaxed a thin line of blood out of her. Kicking and flailing, she refused to make this easy for him. There was a wildness that burned through her, and she reacted like an animal that had been cornered.

"Fucking hell. Stay still, you stupid bitch or I swear I will slit you from ear to ear," he snarled against her as he tried to settle her hips into a state of stillness to finish undressing her. He added more pressure to the blade, and though it cut into her, it pressed more against her windpipe than anything else. Riley was conscious of the pain, but it didn't stop her brazen struggling.

"You can't fuck me if I'm dead," she grounded out, her voice throaty and sore. Her words sank deep into her mind, and it made her laugh. Hysteria was fully setting in, overriding her fear and panic. Her knee jerked, catching her assailant between his legs. He didn't like that very much, rolling off of her with a pained groan.

He rolled side to side next to her as he tried to regain composure. Riley laid there, trying to put the whole situation into a perspective that made sense. Her eyes were wide and wild, and she sat up. She stared at her freedom down the alley where the street was. It sank in that this was her chance to get out of there and run to the police. Sitting up and scrambling forward, she moved towards her the street desperately. Her bag and personal items were left forgotten in the alley. Her main priority right now was to save herself.

Again, she felt that hand around her leg. "I don't think so, cunt. It's going to be so worth it to put a dumb bitch like you down."

Riley practically groaned out her frustration, and she felt like this was never going to end. He dragged her back, turning her body over so that she was laying down and looking at him. She watched as he lifted his knife high in the air, bringing it down in a harsh arc to sink into her body.

Her eyes closed instinctively, and she raised her arms to defend herself best as she could. She mentally prepared herself for the inevitable pain although she was sure there wasn't enough preparation for being stabbed. Her breath was held tight in her chest, waiting for it.

Only it never came.

She heard a grunt of pain, and she was positive that it hadn't come from her. Opening her eyes, she saw the man curled up in the fetal position some distance away from her. Confusion colored her features as she tried to piece together how this came to be, but she didn't have to wait long.

A looming form stood before her. He was tall and quite frankly massive. Where her attacker was meaty and heavy from fat, this man was broad and hulking with a formidable musculature. Riley wasn't even sure if she could call him a man thanks to the contraption around his face. She was reminded of a spider or predatory teeth grinning down at her. There was a strange hissing in the air, and it took her a moment to realize it was coming from him. The only other sound in the alley was her harsh pants as the air whistled in and out of her.

The new man-monster extended his hand out for her to take, and she stared at it dubiously, wondering if she had stepped out of the frying pan and into the fire. She'd barely managed to hold her own against the first guy, and by the looks of things, she would never be able to handle this one. She must have stared at his hand a little too long because he finally spoke.

"If I wanted to kill you, my dear, I would have already done so."

His voice was different. Odd. It was mechanical from what she assumed was his mask, but beneath it there was an accented lilt to the way he formed his words. She could hardly make out his facial expression, but she could hear the amusement coloring his tone. Hesitantly, she took his hand, and his massive paw wrapped around hers to haul her to her feet with surprising gentleness.

Riley continued to stare at him uncertainly, but he paid no mind. He simply moved closer to begin righting her messy clothing until she was neat and decent again. Moving to grab her things, he handed it to her which she took silently.

"A young woman such as yourself should be more mindful at this time of night," he chided her, pinning her with an intense stare. "There are many things to be frightened of in the dark, and it would do you well if chose to remain in the light where it is safe."

There were no words on her part. None that she could formulate anyway. The situation had become so surreal, and she was already beginning to wonder if this was really happening. She stood there stock-still, and he gave her a look as if wondering if she'd suddenly gone dumb. He pressed forward again, resting his hand at the small of her back to steer her back towards the streets. The impromptu touch had her jerking violently against him, the uninvited touch of the man groaning on the alley floor still fresh in her mind.

Her companion looked down at her with an unreadable expression, but said nothing until he pushed her gently into the streetlight.

"Now run along, little one. Keep to the lights and be mindful. You will not always be so fortunate," he warned her before turning away. Riley stared at him as he stepped back into the alleyway, seemingly blending into the shadow.

It wasn't until she heard the agonized screams from the man that attacked her that she scampered off to get as far away as possible. Renewed fear clutched her heart in a vice, and she didn't stop running until she was in the safe sanctuary of her apartment.


Author's Notes: And there's the second chapter. I was actually hesitant to keep going to be honest. As I said previously, this is my first attempt at an original character, and I received a less than stellar review about Riley that I found discouraging. I reminded myself that criticism is there for a reason, and I want toe explore where this story and Riley will go. I kept the criticism in mind as I continued to flesh her out in this chapter, so I hope she's more enjoyable and easier to swallow this time around. I've begun outlining the next chapter already, and I hope the story is to everyone's liking!

I'm very grateful to all those who favorited, followed and review this story. All of you are wonderful people, and I hope this update did not disappoint. Remember to review and leave me with your thoughts.