Alrighty, here's the first chapter of "Into the Darkness." I'm hoping this story will be somewhat of a success...Again, I do not any of the characters involved in this except for my own. The "Dark Knight" story isn't mine either.
Chapter 1: Threats on Gotham
"Taxi! Hey, taxi!"
A long-legged, long-haired teenaged girl shoved her way through the crowd of people, attempting to snag a taxi ride. Her backpack bounced against her slender back as she ran desperately for the yellow vehicle. Just when she was about to hop into one, someone else dived in and slammed the door shut. The girl stared at her disgruntled face in the reflection of the window before the car drove away.
The teen sighed heavily and slid her fingers through her dark chocolate brown hair, rolling her bright blue eyes irritably. "Great," she muttered. "Now I have to walk." She didn't like taxis anyway.
Kali Maguire was your typical teenager – loved music, hated writing, wished she had her own car – but that was about it as far as "typical" goes. Kali was the track champion of her high school and excelled in math and science, which really wasn't normal for any teenager these days. Not only that, but she wore nothing but worn denim jeans and tee shirts, maybe every once in a while a nice long-sleeved shirt. She always wore her black white-trimmed skate shoes no matter what. Not exactly the girl next door.
Kali was known for her brains, but also for her natural beauty, which, of course, she didn't see. Her complexion was clear and glowing while her blue eyes were framed by long dark eyelashes. She was a healthy thin with a muscular build on her arms and legs; being an athlete had it's perks.
It was a nicer day and Kali was grateful for the warm breeze in the air. She had graduated high school a few weeks back and wasted no time to strike out on her own. She made her own money and had her own apartment, absolutely no help whatsoever from her parents. Kali ventured to this city, Gotham, in hopes of a better future, but all she found was a dark, dank town with criminal problems.
Kali finally walked up to her apartment building, actually grateful she hadn't taken the taxi. It probably would have taken longer, she figured. Kali was about to take the elevator to her floor when a loud, gruff voice called her name.
"Kali Maguire!"
Kali sighed yet again, knowing where this conversation was heading before it even started. She turned around and found her land lord, Mr. Hopkins. He was a strange little man, slightly shorter than Kali by a few inches, and he was balding. Kali had to try not to laugh when he got mad; his whole head turned red.
"Hey there, Larry," Kali greeted casually.
"That's Mr. Hopkins to you, young lady," Mr. Hopkins scolded. He put his hands on his hips. "Do you have something for me?"
"No, I – " Kali then realized what Mr. Hopkins was talking about. "Oh...oh, that, well..."
"Yes, Miss Maguire?"
"Well, I haven't gotten my payment yet so I can't really pay you."
Mr. Hopkins was starting to fluster a little bit.
"B-But I'll pay you as soon as I get my check, I swear!" Kali stammered, waving her arms frantically in front of her. Same excuse every time, she told herself.
"That had better be the case, Kali," Mr. Hopkins said through clenched teeth. "If you don't get that payment in to me as soon as possible, I swear by the heavens I will throw you out for good!" With that, the little man turned on his heel and stalked away.
Kali frowned as she watched him walk away. She had been lucky so far, but if she kept this up – Kali didn't want to think about it.
Kali entered her apartment, tossing her backpack on her tiny couch. She had been fortunate her grandparents had bothered to send her money to get her life started, but they could only help so much. Kali had told them that she could take care of herself and provide everything else on her own. Even so, she continued to get a check in the mail every Friday. Today was only Monday – a long week ahead.
Kali swiped up the remote to the TV and switched it on before walking to the kitchen to fix up a snack. While she was focused on that, an eerie voice came from the television, making the teen stiffen at the very sound. Kali slowly turned her head to sneak a glance at the screen.
A man, dressed in black hockey pads, was sitting on the floor, his face hidden by a black mask and his arms tied behind his back. The cameraman wasn't very still as he talked to the whimpering hostage.
Kali walked into the living room, abandoning her snack, and lowered herself onto her couch. Her eyes were fixated to the TV. The cameraman's voice sent shivers trickling down Kali's spine.
"What's your name?" the voice asked.
"B-Brian...Douglas," the hostage muttered, hanging his head.
"Are you the real Batman?"
Kali leaned forward in her seat.
"No."
"No? No!" A maniacal laugh rang out. "Then why do you dress up like him?" A hand reached out from the side and pulled off the man's mask, dangling in front of the camera tauntingly. "Woo hoo! Woo hoo hoo!" More laughing.
"'Cause he's a symbol that we don't have to be afraid of scum like you," the man bravely tried to state.
Kali nodded in agreement with the poor man. Who was doing this to him?
"Yeah...you do, Brian. You REALLY do," the cameraman hissed.
When the man cringed at the words, the hand appeared again and stroked his face with the back of it.
"Aw, shh, shh, shh, shh." The hand gently slapped the man's face. "So you think Batman's made Gotham a better place? Hm?"
The man continued to hang his head, not answering.
"Look at me...LOOK AT ME!"
The man lifted his head unwillingly. Suddenly, the camera turned around to the face of the cameraman. Kali's hand automatically flew to her mouth.
The cameraman's face was white-powdered with black around the eyes and red on the lips – forming a sinister smile. Wild, green hair, mangled and greasy, hung in his face. Kali didn't know anyone in Gotham who didn't hadn't seen or heard about this clown: the Joker.
"You see, this is how crazy Batman's made Gotham," the Joker said into the camera. "You want order in Gotham? Batman must take off his mask and turn himself in."
"No," Kali breathed, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Oh, and everyday he doesn't, people will die...starting tonight." The Joker licked his lips. "I'm a man of my word..." The laughter started again and the man started screaming.
Kali turned the TV off, her heart pounding. The Joker had just made a threat on Gotham –and he was demanding Batman reveal himself. Otherwise, innocent people would die...every single day he didn't show his face.
How can the Batman live with all of this on his shoulders? Kali thought, still staring at the black screen. There's no way he can take this guy alone...and he can't give up his identity! The city needs him! We need a hero...we need Batman...
Kali folded her arms and closed her eyes.
And someone needs to help him...
