"Where am I? What is this place?" I turn my head to my left and I find that I am standing at the end of a long corridor.

"Hello?" My voice echoes down the seemingly endless hall. I take a step forward. As I do, I can hear someone behind me, also placing their foot down on the cement floor. Mimicking me. I turn my head slightly to look over my left shoulder, and catch a glimpse of someone's coattail whipping around a corner. Both my hands involuntarily clench into fists at my side, turning my knuckles white.

"Who's there?" My voice wavered and broke, barely a whisper. I clear my throat and take a step backwards. I don't trust myself to confront this stranger in a place I don't know. So I turn, and begin walking quickly in the direction that I had originally been facing. Feeling suddenly panicked, I begin to run. My hair whips around my eyes as I glance behind me, hearing the footsteps copying mine. To my right, I hear a small chuckle. The chuckle grows to a guffaw, and soon turns to hysterics. I clap my hands over my ears, but the laughter is in my head. Deafening me from the inside out. "STOP! STOP IT!" My legs hurt, I can't run anymore. My eyes slide shut and the laughter rattles inside my skull, mocking my desperation.

"No!" I bolted upright out of bed, my sheets sticking to the sheen of sweat on my legs. I blinked, disoriented, and inhaled deeply through my nose. "Ugh…" I moaned, rubbing my eyes. The nightmares were becoming more frequent now, and I hated it. I was 18, for Pete's sake. I needed my rest. Yawning hugely, I grunted and swung my legs over the edge of the bed.

"Sweetie? Are you okay?" My mother's tone no longer hinted any concern; my nightmares had been going on for so long.

"Fine, Mom!" I stood and walked over to my mirror. I look like hell. I sighed and picked up my brush, yanking it through my wavy black hair. Finished, I walked to a box containing some clothes. I pulled on a shirt and a pair of pants without really looking at them.

Last night had been different, breaking the consistency of content usually in my dreams. I'd never actually seen anyone in the hallway. Last night I'd seen the flash of a purple coattail. A timid knock on my door scattered my thoughts.

"Katrina, can I come in?" My mother's voice was slightly muffled from behind my door.

"Yeah Mom, you're good." I plopped down onto my bed as my mother swung the door open.

"You're almost finished packing, I see." Her smile was wide, but her eyes betrayed her true feelings. I stood and walked to her, wrapping my arms around her middle.

"Oh, Mom, it's okay. It's just college." I heard her sniff quietly, her composure slipping.

"I know baby, it's just hard…" She stepped back and put both her hands on my shoulders and looked me up and down. "You're so beautiful," she said, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. I leaned my cheek into her palm and smiled.

"Thank you, for doing this. Paying for tuition and the dorm, I mean." I pulled my mother into another hug. Whispering I said, "It really means so much to me."

"You're welcome Katrina," her mouth curled upward into a small smile as she dried her eyes. "Get ready and come downstairs for breakfast, we have to be on campus for orientation at eleven."

Shit, eleven? What time is it? I looked at my digital clock, the one I was leaving behind with my mom. The red letters flashed '10:12.' Great. So I had some time.

"Make it fast, Kat, we don't want to be late!" My mother's voice faded slightly as she walked downstairs.

I reached into my purse and pulled out a small bag. I wasn't one for large amounts of foundation or blush; I usually applied only eye makeup. I leaned towards my mirror and heavily lined my eyes. Flipping the tip of the pencil up slightly, I made a wing in the outer corner of my eye. I repeated the process to my other eye, and then quickly applied my mascara. I placed the makeup bag back into my purse and slung it over my shoulder, slipping my black Vans onto my feet as I did so. After checking myself one last time in the mirror, I went downstairs.

"Mom? Mom what are you-" I stopped talking when I saw my mother, leaning with her elbows on the kitchen counter with a look of horror plastered onto her face. I stepped into the kitchen to see what she was watching.

"The mass-murderer known publicly as "The Joker" made another appearance last night at a fundraiser hosted by Harvey Dent. Witnesses say The Joker had made threats towards Dent, at one point telling partygoers that he would "settle for his loved ones." After doing some more research, city cops have concluded that…"

"Mom… Mom." I shook her shoulder, breaking her from the trance she seemed to have drifted into. I walked to the television and pushed the power button. "You don't need to be watching this. You know you never like what you hear." Mother shuddered visibly.

"Gotham used to be such a nice place, now look at it. Ever since Thomas Wayne and his wife were killed, nothing's been the same." She pushed her palms wearily into her eyes and rubbed, hard.

"Mom, stop." I grabbed her hands and set them in her lap. The news had always made her distressed, and I didn't like it when Mom was upset. "What are we having to eat?" I said, trying to distract her. She blinked, confused, and then opened her eyes wide.

"Oh honey! I'm so sorry, I forgot to make something! I just got caught up with all that's happening on the news, I guess." She gestured ruefully towards the television. "We need to get rid of that stupid thing. It's making me slow." I couldn't help but laugh at her expression. She seemed genuinely angry with the TV. She noticed my giggle and laughed along with me.

"I guess we'll just to grab something to eat on the way," she said, obviously disappointed that she didn't have enough time to cook.

"Mom, it's fine. I'm not all that hungry. Besides, skipping one meal couldn't hurt." I patted my stomach and Mom slapped my hand.

"Oh, hush. You're thin as a twig, you don't need to lose weight." It was true. My slender figure sometimes seemed a little too slender. I wasn't underweight, but I was close.

"Eeep! Its Time!" My mother clapped her hands together in a way that said 'let's get movin!' "Are you sure you're ready?"

"Mo-om!" Hah. I haven't used this tone since I was around 14.

"Alright, alright." My mom chuckled lightly, giving me a reassuring smile. College, huh. It's exciting and terrifying at the same time. As we climb into the car, I'm thinking: And here… We… Go.

Sorry for the short chapter! It's more to introduce characters, but things will get more interesting. In good time, my friends. All in good time.

-Reyna

P.s. I don't own that last line. I did, indeed, quote The Joker.