Chapter 1 – Park Row
The night was cold and wet as the rain poured down on Park Row, a dark alley near the Gotham Theater. Dr. Thomas Wayne, his wife Martha and eight year old son Bruce had just finished watching the opening night of the latest play that all of Gotham's society had turned out for. They were on their way home, using secluded backstreets to avoid the usual crush of paparazzi and social climbers looking for photo opportunities who attended social events like these.
Thomas is an athletic man, though years of long hours working and running Gotham General have left him out of shape with a worn look about his face.
Martha is beautiful in a way only the sacrifices of Motherhood can bestow on a woman. The glamorous looks of her youth replaced by the glow of confidence and acceptance only a woman who has gone through the trials of pregnancy and birth can give you.
Out of the shadows, Thomas sees movement and the sound of footsteps. As Thomas puts an arm to the back of his two people most precious to him, he sees the figure stalking them. A gaunt looking man with eyes that showed he meant no good intentions is stalking them. He is shorter than Thomas and looks as though his most recent meal had been days ago.
Thomas begins to look for escape while trying to keep his family from noticing the danger they are in. If we can only make it to the end of the alley, there are people there. He thinks as he nudges his son forward.
Thomas states in a calm tone "Bruce, why don't you run ahead and see where Alfred is parked." His eyes keeping track of the gaunt man in tattered and torn clothes following them.
Bruce looks up at his dad, smiles and starts to pull ahead looking for Alfred, when he hears the shaky and raspy voice from behind.
"Stop moving and give me your money"
As Bruce turns he sees his father positioning himself between his mother and the man pointing a large revolver at them. Bruce is frozen with fear. If I run he may shoot, if I stay still he may let us go. Bruce's legs are locked and his eyes fixated on the gun pointed at his father. Then he hears the calm low voice of his father.
"Everything is OK" Thomas pulls a wallet from his jacket and holds it out. "Here take my it all."
The gaunt man rips the wallet from Thomas's hand. "And your jewelry… NOW" The agitation in the gaunt man's voice worries Thomas. He thinks to himself, that this may not end well, I need to get Bruce and Martha out of this.
Thomas starts to undo his watch "Stay calm, everything is fine, we won't fight you" he removes the cuff-links and tie clip, and hopes that Martha is listing through her tears and quiet panic.
The Gaunt man thrusts the gun into Thomas's face "you think I was talking about cuff-links and tie clips?" His eyes shift over to Martha. "I said jewelry." Thomas can feel the warmth and smells the rot from the breath of the gaunt man.
Martha's hands go to her throat as if trying to hide the pearl necklaces that her mother gave her on the day she married Thomas. The words "No" escape her quivering lips as tears stream down her face.
The sick grin on the gaunt man's face convinces Thomas that this man means to do us harm even if they do everything they are told. Why isn't Bruce moving, I have to do something to give Bruce and Martha a chance to get away.
Thomas isn't sure if the thought happened before his body moved, as he reaches for the gun while throwing his body into the gaunt man, with an impact and force that surprises them both.
"Run, get out of here" Thomas yells as he struggles for control of the gun.
Martha is frozen, watching her love struggle when she hears a cry from down the alley "MOM!" That one word breaks her out of her fear and is running after Bruce.
Martha is running, just steps behind Bruce. Somewhere behind them her heals lay in a puddle as where she ran out of them. Her eyes are fixated on Bruce's back as she breathlessly yells to him. "Run Bruce, don't look just run".
The sound of a gunshot in the confined space of the alley deafens them and freezes them in place. As they turn to see what has happened, Thomas falls to his knees. Thomas's screams of pain cannot be heard over the ring in their ears.
Thomas is staring at his burned hands, holding them outstretched as if hoping the rain will cool the powder burns from them. The outline of the barrel of the revolver burned into the palms of his hands.
The gaunt man lowers his gun to Thomas's forehead and cocks the hammer back.
Bruce screams out "FAAATTHHEERR" just as he sees a shadow move.
The Gaunt man's head explodes with another defining crack. This time it is the flash in the darkness of the alley that blinds them.
As the nigh blindness fads away, Bruce and Martha run to Thomas and a second man kneeling next to what had been the gaunt man intent on robbing and killing them.
Bruce fills his arms with his father, hugging him so tightly he may smother him. His mother joins the crushing embrace, her tears falling on the back of his neck. The man from the shadows is wrapping a scarf around the burns on Thomas's hands as he states. "That was a brave thing you did for your family Dr. Wayne."
Thomas is confused over the events of the last few seconds, who is this man and where did he come from "You know me, who are you?"
The shadow man smiles and puts an arm on Thomas's shoulder. "Everyone knows you Mr. Wayne." He looks at Bruce. "My name is Dr. Karl Hellfern, and I was on my way home from the Gotham Theater when I saw you being robbed." He smiles at Martha. "Luckily I was packing my own revolver tonight." He pats his coat just under his left armpit. "Now let's get you to Gotham General and have your hands looked at."
The drive to Gotham General seems to take hours to Bruce, even though Alfred is driving like a mad man. Bruce listens to Dr. Hellfern and his Father tells Alfred everything that happened in the alley.
In a private room at the hospital Bruce hears the story retold again, this time to a patrol officer named Gordon. Gordon informs them that the man who Dr. Hellfern killed was named Joe Chill. He describes Joe Chill as a small time mugger and crook, known to the Gotham Police Department.
"Joe has a long rap sheet, with dozens of arrests for petty crimes" Officer Gordon informs them. "You were lucky Dr. Hellfern came along when he did." Gordon packs up his paperwork and makes his way out of the room.
Bruce's admiration for his father builds with every retelling of the altercation, realizing his father was willing to die for them. His disgust with himself also grows with every word, realizing that he was frozen with fear while his father acted so heroically.
As Bruce stares out the window into the raining night as dark as his mood he thinks to himself. Will I ever be heroic like him or just a scared little boy running from danger?