Chapter I
The Mysterious Stranger
It was
another dark stormy night over Gotham City, much like the day Bruce
Wayne never forgot. At midnight, the date became June 26, and the now
matured, adult Bruce Wayne lay asleep in his bed. It was twenty years
since his parents died, but he still dreams about it and by dreams, I
mean nightmares.
The nightmares leave the burning image in his
mind. He remembers the opera they went to, he remembers feeling ill,
and asking his parents to leave. He remembers the dark alley they had
to leave through, so not to disturb anyone else in the opera house.
He also remembers the face of that man, the mugger who shot down his
mother first, and then shot his father. The mugger would have also
shot Bruce, if it wasn't for new police man James Gordon. This is
where the dream ends, with the mugger getting arrested by Gordon.
Bruce awoke at 4:13am, he could tell by looking at his clock. He saw the date as June 26th, and decides to take an early trip to 'Crime Alley', where his parents were murdered. He got dressed, into a simple black t-shirt, and dark blue jeans. He also wore simple black trainers, which were next to door leading from the main hall into the garage. There he picked up the key for his 'Lamborghini Reventón' and drove off, towards the centre of Gotham City.
Bruce checked his watch, the hands pointed
towards IV and VI, making the time roughly 4:30am. He looked up from
his watch, and looked around the dark, empty city. The city was lit,
only by the street lamps, and the occasional burning drum can. Soon
he reached the end of the alley; he looked down it still in his car.
He turned off the engine and got out of the Reventón. He locked it
and slowly walked down the alley, looking around at the dark walls
and the hardly lit floor. As soon as he reached the spot where his
parents died a mysterious hand, covered with a black leather glove,
clutched the shoulder of Bruce. The millionaire flinches and turns
around quickly, to see a man, dressed in a very formal suit, black in
color with a matching tie, and a white shirt.
"A little early
for a morning walk isn't it Mr. Wayne?" The man's voice sounded
older than expected, considering he looked young.
"Who are you
and how do you know my name?" Bruce asked
"Everyone knows
about you Mr. Wayne, Bruce..."
"Mr. Wayne." Bruce
interrupted
"Mr. Wayne" The man nodded "My name is Henri
Ducard. I am a Martial Arts expert, and I know you wish to avenge
your parents"
"But, how d..."
"I possess many things
Mr. Wayne, now what do you say, will you come with me, so I can train
you?"
Bruce ponders for a moment, he had just bet this Henri
Ducard but he trusted him. Bruce then nods towards Henri. "I'll
do it"
"Perfect" Henri took out a plane ticket and handed it
to Bruce "Meet me in exactly three days, on top of Dôme du
Goûter. The flight leaves in twelve hours from..." He
hesitated for a second, but as he didn't speak, an alarm went off
on Bruce's watch, signaling 4:43. Bruce was still looking down at
his watch, when the word "Now" came out of Henri's mouth, but
by the time Bruce looked up, he was gone. Bruce looked back down at
the ticket. It was a plane ticket leaving that afternoon, from Gotham
City Airport to Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Paris.
Bruce went home immediately to pack, and prepare for a
journey he won't soon forget.
