Just a quick note:

I realised I should mention that the only characters I own in this chapter are the teachers and Kida.

All the rest belong to DC Comics.

Chapter One

Gotham High is situated near City Hall in the better parts of Gotham, meaning its pretty well off. Big yards, three stories, and plenty of middle class kids. The building itself is not in the best of shape, but it's not falling apart either. And the classes are your simple basic set ups; black board at the front, teachers desk just in front, and all the student desks are all lined up in six or seven neat rows. Gotham High is meant to be the closest one can get to Gotham Prep, which can be cool to the right people, after all not every Old Gotham kid even gets to attend school. Most end up in a gang or working the streets as dealers or prostitutes.

I guess I'm supposed to be a lucky one, I get to attend school, and maybe be more than others, but I really don't feel lucky. Gotham High in my opinion tries a little too hard to be just like its sister school, which would be alright if the students didn't try to act just like the rich kids.

In my eyes I know I can't be like them, not ever. Take the first day of school for example, everyone wants to get to know everyone and discover their clique, people they can trust and count on for the rest of the year. However for the kid who can't really tell anyone who she is, it is the closest thing to hell. No one really wants to be friends with an Old Gotham kid who won't, or should I say can't, tell you a single thing about herself. Some try, they honestly do, but after numerous failed attempts even the honest ones move on and leave you on your own.

Truthfully I understand why I spend every day alone, so I don't blame them. I even prefer to be on my own. I'm never behind in my classes, get top grades, and have grown to love art classes. Learning to draw is most likely the only thing about school I'm really happy to have learnt. It brought to life the world around me and gave me a medium to express a need I didn't even realize I had. It was a need to be a part of Gotham in my own way; even if the only person who found joy in it was myself. Without drawing I'm sure I would have skipped out of school as soon as I could.

Today though is one of those days I wish I was anywhere but at school in History class. Every year they spend a month talking about the recent history of Gotham, which of course is everything and anything about our cities many psychopaths and "bat" vigilante.

They make you sit there and discuss who the best criminal is, which plot to kill the bat was the best and so on. This should be easy for me, after all my dad is one of Gotham most wanted. However I have found the more I pay attention to the discussions the more I want to scream at everyone.

I have learnt that all that my fellow students care about is how much they can outdo each other with their favorites. Not who really has the best chance of winning in a fight against the "bat" or who could possibly take over the city tomorrow. And to top it all off the more you participate in the discussions the higher the teacher marks you. Which means this is about the time that I lose my top mark and fall behind, while others who normally flake out are all raising their hands.

I truly believe this to be the worst way to spend a history class. You don't learn anything and it's really just an excuse for the teachers to take it easy for a month. However that's doesn't mean the teachers don't notice the one student who isn't paying any attention.

"Kida!" Mrs. Enslings voice could travel across the country if she really wanted, the way it boomed you'd think the whole class would crumble. "Do you have anything to add to the discussion?"

I stared at her as blankly as I could and quietly answer, "ugh, no... uh... what was the question exactly?"

Mrs. Enslings glares at me, while the class starts laughing.

"Hear that! "Nobody" doesn't know what's going on!" the student to the right of me says.

"Maybe she got lost in that sketch book of hers!" another snickers.

"Who would have thought "Nobody" could come up blank!" the pot head laughs.

"Quiet down everyone!" booms Mrs. Enslings. "Kida. The question was "Which criminal is the best in your opinion and why?" Think you can handle that?"

Again I go for the blank look, and really hope I'm doing it well. "Well, I really don't think you can choose one when so many have excelled in their own ways."

Again the student to my right just had to put in his two sense. "How the hell can you not have a fav! With so many awesome ones! Like The Joker!"

"Or Poison Ivy!"

"No way! Mr. Freeze!"

"Penguin!"

And off goes the class, shouting at one another till the bell rings. At least it got me out of having to answer the question. Truth is my father is and will always be my favorite and the one I most fear. He has been like a shadow since my birth that will most likely never vanish.

And I wish I could say I mind but he really is all I have left. After my mum died and I was discovered by one of the Arkham doctors I was put into Arkham's care and they made sure I had a home, food, and schooling. All in exchange for testing, psychiatric evaluations, and my compliance to their no contact rule with my father. Not that he knows I exist anyway, not that he ever will.

With History being my last class of the day; I head off to Arkham for my monthly "how are you" sessions with Dr. Leeland. Not my favorite thing to do after a bad finish to my school day, but it's mandatory. So with being completely exhausted by the time I get to Arkham after the two hour long bus ride and my somewhat bad mood from class I'm guessing the doc is going to have a field day and most likely set me up for some new testing they have going on lately. Some days you really just wish you were someone else.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Arkham Asylum to most is the last place in the world they would want to be, and truthfully I understand why. The building looks old enough to fall apart any day, the yard hasn't been properly tended in years (or maybe it's never been tended to at all), and to top it all off most of Gotham's most wanted reside there.

Though if you really wanted my opinion, all of this really stops being important after you have had to visit on a regular basis. You mostly just tune most of it out, and get on with whatever you have to do there.

Today is pretty simple I'm here for my monthly session with Dr. Leeland. She's alright, but not really a person I would talk to outside of Arkham. She's my doctor and nothing more. I'm just really hoping she's got other things on her mind then me today, otherwise I'm bound to end up having to share more than I want to.

Upon entering Arkham, I say my hello to the secretarial staff and head for Officer Cash's office. He's my escort for whenever I visit and is responsible for my protection while within the building. He's also one of the few people I know that I truly admire. It has always surprised me why he's kept his shitty job here at Arkham when he could be anywhere else, possibly surrounded by people who are much nicer. One day I almost got the courage to ask but flaked out.

Cash's office is a pretty cool place, and I always enjoy hanging out there when I have to wait. He's got family pictures and really interesting novels that he lets me read, and ever since I starting coming he set up a candy bowl on his desk; which is always full with candies I could never bring myself to buy with my allowance.

When I enter Cash's office he is talking on the phone with what sounds like someone important. So I quietly sit in the chair in front of his desk, take the candy bowl and start munching down. He's filled the bowl with my favorite, little Hershey's Kisses tm. I could just eat the whole bowl, and I seriously consider it…

"Hey now, don't spoil your dinner." Cash smiles at me as he puts the phone down.

I smile as sweetly as I can at him, "But this is my dinner. I missed the first bus and couldn't stop to buy dinner on the way over." I pout at him hoping he might let me get away with it, maybe.

"Uh nuh, you are not eating just chocolate for dinner. Here." He moves over to the mini fridge hidden in the corner of his office and pulls out a couple of green apples. "This will be much better for your stomach."

"Oh, wow! Cash! How'd you know I love green apples!"

"Saw you eating them last month, you must have had four or more."

"Five, actually! It's was a treat to myself."

"You should treat yourself more often then." He winks at me and I know he's referring to how skinny I am. Cash blames the doctors for not providing me with enough funds for groceries; truth is I've really never eaten much, not even when my mum was alive. "Well, shall we head out?"

"Sure." I hop out of my seat and let him lead me down the hall to the elevators. We have to go down two floors to reach Dr. Leeland's office which she insist on having near the medical ward. Again this is something I don't really understand, she just weird in that way I guess.

Cash as always makes conversation on our way, and I'm always glad for it. My mind would wonder to dark places if he didn't.

"So, how's school been?"

I roll my eyes thinking back to last period. "It's "hell" month at school again. I really wish Leeland would give me a note to skip those lessons."

Cash looks at me with understanding eyes, he knows what I mean all too well cause he hears this every year. "I'm really sorry you have to go through all that. If I were you I wouldn't want to be there either."

"It's nothing to be sorry about. It's not like you can help who you're related to."

"Still, some days I wish there was more I could do for you." The tone of his voice tells me he really means it, and I can't help but smile at how kind his heart is.

I don't want the conversation to get sappy so I laugh, "Are you kidding you're the one that fills me up with candy and green apples! What more could I ask for."

"Oh, you little rascal!" He messes up my hair and we both laugh.

By the time we reach Dr. Leelands office I'm in a much better mood , I say a quick "see ya later" to Cash and walk into the office without so much as a groan.

Upon entering I find Leeland is scribbling away on some documents I can't quite see behind the piles of other papers in front of her. I notice she hasn't noticed me enter and cough loud enough even for her to hear. But still she doesn't stir. I wait for a minute longer in front of her desk, before I venture to move beside her. Being one of the few people I don't want to be any closer to than I have to, I'm normally very careful around her. I get close enough to notice she's got headphones on hidden behind her long hair, and out of spite (or just teenage courage) I tickle her side. She jumps in her chair with a small scream. And I burst out laughing, and keep laughing till it hurts.

"Well, I'm glad someone finds that so funny! Perhaps next we should see if I can scare you!" Leeland is fuming, she not one for surprises I guess. She tries her best to compose herself and take back control of the situation. "Now Kida, if you'll just take your seat and wait awhile. I'll be with you in a couple of minutes."

I sigh at her lack of "hello"s or "how are you"s and move to sit in one of the chairs on the side of the room.

Unlike Cash's office which is friendly, Leeland's is all about work. There are multiple bookshelves with books upon books of psychology texts, and others I don't even know what they are. She doesn't seem to possess any need to keep any photos or anything that might suggest she's got a life outside of work. Simply put her office bores the hell out of me.

She finishes whatever it was she was writing in the next few minutes and walks over.

"Alright, Kida. Let's get started shall we." She sits and stares at me like she always does. I'm pretty sure she looking for something in me that might suggest I'm going to go crazy right in front of her.

I do my best to sound neutral, that is the best way I've found to not get her to send me for MRI's and other brain scans. "Ugh, sure. Where would you like to start."

"You mentioned in our last session, you were having dreams about your mother again. Have you had any since?" And it's down to business; sometimes I think she forgets her courtesies at home.

"No, I'm thinking the dream only came because it was the anniversary of her death."

"Uh huh." She got her pen and pad out now and is writing like a mad person, like every word I say has some deep meaning I'm failing to understand. "Did these dreams of your mother perhaps remind you of something? A past event? Something your mother used to do?"

I know this part all too well; she has been trying to convince me that I know some secret knowledge of my father that my mum may have suggested without my knowing. I think its bull.

"Nope, not really. Just made me feel like I should visit her grave."

Leeland looks disappointed, as always. "And lately have you had any dreams?"

"Um, no, not really. Just normal stuff like dreaming of a favorite place or thing."

"Favorite place?"

I should have known not to say that. "Ugh, yeah."

"And what is this favorite place? If I may ask?" I know she's hoping I don't tell her. Then she'll have her accuse and I'll be headed next door for tests.

"Yeah, it's… the … um….. the roof of the old church."

"The roof?!" she seems genuinely surprised. "Why the roof?"

"Cause I can see all of Old Gotham from up there."

"You find this view comforting?"

"Yes."

"Why?" She pushing, and she knows it.

I sigh deep and cave if only not to end up next door. "I like to see Gotham from a different view and listen to the sounds of the city. It's relaxing."

"So you go there often?"

"Not really. Normally I get home too late to go anywhere. Plus I normally have homework to finish."

"Right, right of course." She writes more in her note book. "So, moving on. Have you had any luck with the task I asked of you last time we met?"

Damn, I was really hoping she had forgot that. "Um, no. I got…..ugh….. caught up in school work."

"Kida, I simply asked you to make a friend. It can't really be too difficult, can it?"

God, if only she knew what the hell she was talking about. "No, you're right. It shouldn't. I just…..I really don't feel like I need a friend at school. After all I got Cash."

"Cash is a good friend, I understand that. However I want you to be able to talk to people outside of the asylum. Do you understand?"

"I guess." And I sigh, because truth is I don't understand at all.

"Alright. I suppose now would be a good time to discuss why your teacher called about your performance in class today."

Double damn. I put on the blank look I used earlier in class and pray it looks really convincing. "Um, my performance?"

"Yes, Kida. Your teacher explained that you were "zoning out", as she put it, and were not contributing to the discussion."

"Oh."

"Kida, this course of action worries me."

"Dr. Leeland, it's just that….I….well you see….."

"Just spit it out Kida."

"It's that time of year again. You know, when they all discuss the villains and heroes of Gotham like they're trading cards." That's the best way I could it explain it to her, but gods knows if she really cares or not.

"I fail to see the issue here Kida." She sounds almost bored, and I just want to hit her or something!

I take a deep breath and try to calmly explain, "I get upset when they all talk like the inmates here are nothing more than a source for the latest gossip. Plus it's not like I can answer any of the questions without someone jeering at what I have to say. Which would only make me want to yell at them for their pure blind stupidity; they think they can just say whatever they want. They don't think anything of what their words really mean." By the end of my little speech I know I'm fuming and my anger is getting through my voice. Which means Dr. Leeland wins, and I get another MRI.

"I see." Is all she says, and I'm a bit shell shocked. What happened to the MRI I should be heading to right now?

"Uh, doc."

"Yes, Kida."

"Is everything okay?"

"Yes."

"Right…." I'm trying to study her face the way she always seems to be always studying mine and I come up with nothing. I've got no idea why I'm not headed next door, but at this point I'm not going to question it.

She twirls her pen and closes up her notebook.

"Alright then." She looks up at the clock, and turns back to me. "Well, we're done for today. I'll see you again in two weeks' time."

"What?!" Normally I don't care much about when I have to come back. But never has she asked me to return so soon. She normally wants me as far from Arkham as possible.

"Kida, do not think that this is a bad thing. We will simply be having a special meeting. Which, I will explain in two weeks. I don't want you focusing too much on it. Work on making a friend, alright."

I want to shout at her to tell me what the hell she's talking about, but I just nod my head yes. She gets up and pages Cash from her phone, and I get up and wait outside her door for Cash to arrive.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

The bus ride home is long and feels never ending. I look at my watch, it reads 8:36pm, and I know it's going to be a late night doing homework. Which means a long day tomorrow, and I groan at the thought.

Finally it's my stop, the bus driver says good night and tells me to head straight home. And I plan on doing just that. My neighbourhood is not the safest and right now it's under control of Black Mask's gang. Gangs have to be the worst part of living in Old Gotham, they act all high and mighty till they lose their ground to some other gang. And then they're the ones visiting the food bank asking for food from the people they stole from. The irony is amazing.

Lately though lower gang members of Black's gang have gotten into the habit of getting tolls from anyone out after 9pm. This means I've got 20 minutes and 7 blocks to hurry through before the gangbangers come out to play, and gods know what they might do to a penniless teen.

I'm about 3 blocks from my apartment, when I hear the clock bells ring telling me it 9 pm. I speed up my pace praying to whatever might be listening to let me get home before I'm seen. Turning the second last corner I see a bunch of the local gang heading my way and slip down the nearest alley. They walk past me, whining about the crappy pay they get, turn the corner and out of sight. I consider this a lucky break and smile. Just as I'm about to walk out of the alley, I instead get pull deeper into it.

I struggle, but it's really no use. Whoever's got me is much stronger, and by the whistles I'm hearing he's not the only one I got to worry about. When he finally turns me around I can count three of them. And going by the looks on their faces they are not after money.

"Well, well, well. What have we here?" The man on the far right of me says.

"Looks like a skinny, black haired, virgin to me." The one just behind me says.

I roll my eyes. I know I should be scared; however I find myself more concerned with the fact that he seems to think my hair is naturally black. And it pisses me off that he can't tell that my hair is dyed. I dye my hair for the simple reason of when it's not dyed I look an awful lot like my father. At least with my hair dyed I look more like my late mother.

I look up at them and sternly say, "It's dyed."

"What was that sweetheart?" The one on the left sneers.

"My. Hair. Is. Dyed." I know I'm doing the opposite of what I should be, but I can't take anymore today. I'm fed up. And if being fed up means I get raped tonight, oh well.

"That's quite a mouth on you, now isn't it." The one on the right moves towards me, and I know this is it. I try to back away but then I remember there's a guy there blocking the way out. I'm stuck and about to lose my virginity all cause I couldn't keep my mouth shut. I'm an idiot and I know I'm going to feel it in the morning.

They move in on me, I try to start mentally preparing myself for what's next. When out of nowhere everything goes dark and they all look up. Fear washes across their faces, and one swears. I look up too, and then I wish I hadn't. It's my greatest fear; The Bat!

He swoops down and starts taking the men down one right after the other. I hear the muffled grunts and moans, but he moves so fast it's over before I even know what's happened. After a few moments I look around and every one of them are moaning on the ground, and seem to be in a lot of pain. I move forward to check and make sure my eyes are not fooling me. But they're all down and out.

A dark figure moves out of the shadows, and I remember that it's "him". That he took these guys down. I grab my bag, which I seemed to have dropped at some point, turn and run. I don't look back to see if he is following me and I hope to anything and everything he isn't.

I guess I should explain that I am deathly terrified of The Bat. When I was five I kept begging my mum to tell me who my father was, up till then she had always just said he was gone and never coming back. However this wasn't enough for me. After weeks of badgering her she caved and told me the secret that has shaped my life since then. She took me onto her lap and explain that what she was about to tell me was a secret and I could never tell another living soul. After I promised she told me my father's name. She then told me that if I told anyone "they" would take me away. At the time when she said "they" I thought she meant The Bat, and I still do believe that. I'm pretty convinced that if he ever learns who I am he'll come and lock me up.

I'm about two houses down from my apartment, when he appears out of nowhere just in front of me. I stop dead in my tracks. He moves towards me, and I move back. He notices and stops.

"You don't have be afraid of me." His voice is calm and even, and I hate him for it.

I try my best to sound just as calm, "Stay the hell away from me!" I fail miserably. My voice is cracking, my whole body is shaking with fear, and my heartbeat is getting so loud I'm having a hard time hearing anything else.

He moves towards me again.

"I SAID, STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM ME!" I'm screaming now. I feel the fear taking over.

He keeps moving forward, and his mouth is moving. Whatever he's saying I can't make it out, all I can hear now is my racing heart. He gets about a couple meters from me, and I do something I never thought I would do in my life.

I reach into my bag and pull out the exactor blade I use to sharpen my pencils, slide the blade out and put the knife between The Bat and myself.

"COME ANY CLOSER AND I WILL USE THIS!" I'm still screaming, but upon seeing the blade he stops where he is.

He tries saying something again, but I still can only hear my heart.

"JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!"

He just stands there, and I think of running past so I can get into my building. But even in the state I'm in I know he could still catch me.

"GO THE HELL AWAY! LEAVE ME ALONE! GET LOST!"

He moves forward one last time and I lunge with the knife. He moves out of the way and I see a clear path to the door of my building and go for it.

I'm running harder than I've ever run in my life. My heart is so loud I think my eardrums are about to burst. Breathing becomes non-existent, and I can feel tears running down my face. I've never been more afraid then I am now. Not even the loss of my mum can compare.

I reach the building, open the door and quickly lock it behind me. Looking out the windows I can see him still standing there. I stare for what feels like hours, before I finally turn and run up the stairs to my apartment.

Once inside I lock all the locks on the door, then attend to the windows closing them all and locking them right after. I'm still shaking and I can't seem to stop crying. I head to the kitchen next and pull out the first knife I can find. Slumping to the floor I break down in a fit of tears.

By the time I calm down it well past 1 am, and I know I should head to bed, but I can't seem to find the courage. So I just lay on the floor and close my eyes. And for the first time in six years I call out for a mother who can't answer me.