Disclaimer: I only own Elizabeth Carter

I sat in the back of the cab with my eyes closed. Just breathing deeply. Trying to match it with the sound of my heart beating. Breathe in. Hold it. Breathe out. Breathe in. Hold it. Breathe ou- the cab came to a screeching halt throwing me forwards. The cab driver swore repeatedly pounding his hands on the wheel and honking that incessant car horn. My eyes shot open and I tried to grab anything I could get a grip on.

"Fucking Christ!" The driver growled. He honked again. There goes my heart rate. I had just started to relax!

"Learn how to fucking drive you morons!" Finally the cab began moving again, but the driver's harsh words continued until they turned into mumbles and then silence. I looked out the window and tried to breathe rhythmically again, but my heart was still racing. I couldn't stop thinking about last month. I had always had anxiety issues since I was a teenager, but they seemed to get worse ever since I moved to Gotham a few months ago. I had moved from San Francisco- far I know. The crowdedness didn't bother me I had already experienced tons of that in SF, it was the crime rate. Every morning on the news there was a new story of a mugging gone wrong, or a robbery, or even a murder. I knew that crime was common in any city, but Gotham had an unusually high population of criminals. It didn't help that I lived in one of the shabbier parts of the city, but until I made enough money to obtain a better place I'd have to settle.

Anyway, last month I had been walking home from a local bar where I had just finished a gig. It wasn't too elaborate, but I was taking anything I could these days. I just wanted my name out there. As I was walking to my apartment I noticed a group of men walking towards me. They were rowdy and clearly intoxicated, so I tried to move to the far side of the sidewalk hoping they wouldn't even notice me. It was pretty dark out so my plan seemed to be working until one of the men grabbed onto my arm as I slid past them shocking the hell out of me.

"Aw you're a pretty little thing. What are you doing out here so late? It's dangerous." He tightened his grip on my arm and I winced. The other men stopped and watched when they saw what was happening. I tried to pull my arm away, but he just slammed me against the brick wall. My head hit it harder than I was expecting and my vision became blurred for a moment. I began to panic as the other men started to enclose around us. Oh no this can't be happening! I screamed trying to kick anyone I could and was rewarded when one of the men groaned and collapsed.

"Fucking bitch! Get her! One of you guys fucking ruin her!" He screamed in pain still lying on the ground. I went to scream again when the man holding my arm clasped his hand around my throat. I couldn't breathe. His grip was so… tight. I felt his grip loosen briefly as someone started to tear at my pants. Tears began to run down my face as I tried to claw at the man's hand around my neck. No! No! Someone! Please help! I knew no one could hear my silent pleas. I struggled trying to kick my legs away from their prying hands. But as my air supply decreased so did my energy.

My vision began to get blurry again when suddenly I heard a man scream and the hands on me fell. I collapsed onto the ground hands touching my sore probably bruised throat. I inhaled too quickly and began to cough. I was too busy trying to regain control of my breathing that I didn't even notice the men who attacked me were laying all around me unconscious. I felt a presence above me and looked up. I almost screamed again, but my throat couldn't make a sound. In front of me was a man? He was dressed in all black and seemed to be wearing a cape and a mask with ears? Was I dreaming? No. This was too real. The pain in my throat. The chill I felt on my exposed legs. The masked man in front of me just stared. His eyes were the only things I could see clearly. Everything else was too dark. He looked… concerned? Sympathetic? Scary, but also safe.

"Are you alright?" Oh my god that voice. It was dark and husky and almost terrifying all at the same time. If I hadn't been so traumatized I might have been aroused. His eyes were still piercing through mine. Waiting. With a hand still on my throat I just shook my head. I was afraid if I spoke I might hurt my throat even more- if that was possible.

"Can you get home by yourself?" I couldn't stop staring around me. The men were still unconscious. How did he manage to do this to all of them? I looked back at him and then glanced at my uncovered legs. I couldn't stop shivering. I tried to cover myself, but was failing miserably. He had glanced down at my legs and closed his eyes. He looked pained. As soon as it reached his eyes it left again.

"Right. Okay. Where do you live?" He scooped me up in his arms and just held me against him waiting for me to answer.

"Apartment. Down the street. 5th floor." I whispered. Even my whisper sounded hoarse. He just nodded and made his way towards my home. If I wasn't in such a horrid circumstance I probably wouldn't have let him take me, but he had just saved my life. How could I not?

Soon enough we were at my apartment. Instead of using the door, he went towards the side of the building and climbed the fire escape with me still in his arms. When we reached the 5th floor he opened my apartment window, which I thought I had left locked and placed me on the bed. I immediately went to cover myself with a blanket on the end of the bed and I looked up at him again. His eyes were dark. Unnerving. Still concerned though. I still felt safe even with this deadly stranger in my apartment.

"I don't know how to thank you." I whispered. He looked at me carefully. As if examining me. After a moment he looked back at my face.

"You'll never have to thank me. Ever." His voice sent a shiver down my spine. I reached slowly, so he'd see what I was doing. I didn't want to startle him. I grasped his hand softly.

"Even so. Thank you." I squeezed his hand briefly then turned to get under the warm covers of my bed.

"What's your-" I looked up and he was gone. I leaned over to see the window was now closed and the mysterious masked man had left. Too tired to move I remained in bed and closed my eyes trying to find solace. That night I dreamed of dark times and dark eyes.