Don't look back, just keep running. My blood was rushing, my heart struggling to beat fast enough, my lungs in my body trying their best to keep up with my running. The man behind me yelled for me to stop. I didn't stop of course. I skidded into an alleyway with a dead end.

"Damn it." I said under my breath, trying my best to keep quiet. I looked up to see if there was a different way out of here and there sure was. There was a fire escape close enough to the ground for me to reach. I could hear his footsteps getting closer to where I was. Screw it, I should be able to climb up there. I jumped up and grabbed onto the fire escape and I quickly hurried up it. Luckily I was naturally flexible and the climb wasn't hard at all.

Once I was on top of the roof I fell down on my back, the gravel digging into my skin. "Phew that was… a lot of ... running." I said to myself, gasping for air. Next time I steal something from a store, I have to check and make sure there's no cops around to see me.

The cop was in the alley way now, probably looking around for me and I don't think he heard me climb up here. It's only my second day out here in the streets and I was already chased by a cop. I just gotta get better at living out here and I will but it'll definitely take some time. Once I walked over to the edge of the roof I grabbed a granola bar, that I stole, out my pocket and started eating it. The jump to the alleyway below it wasn't too far so I decide to take the risk. It happened fast and it was fun but slightly painful. I didn't land on my feet but instead landed in a pile of garbage which, luckily, broke my fall. "Ugh." I sighed and pulled myself up.

I stayed in the alleyway for the rest of the night, sleeping in an empty dumpster and covered myself up with my jacket. I couldn't fall asleep. Gotham is a scary place in the day but it's terrifying at night. There were police sirens rushing to some emergency that they'd never get to on time. Screams of women and children echoed through the cold Gotham air. You could hear people walk by the alleyway, talking about what drugs and women they're going to buy tonight. The air was always freezing in this city even if it was June. It's not like I had heating in my house but out here the air was bitter tasting and there was always that smell of gasoline and blood.

This still beats the orphanage, even if it did suck being out here. As I lay there I can't help but think about Maggie, she probably feels abandoned and alone. I wonder if I should have just brought her with me. No, i'm glad I didn't, she wouldn't have liked it out here. These thoughts kept clouding my mind until sleep came and took me away from everything.

I woke up smelling the sweet aroma of fresh baked bread. I listened to my stomach and followed the smell. Walking out of the alleyway I realised that I was near a bakery. "Mmm." the smell was getting stronger and it was making my stomach growl even more, so I decided to walk in. When I entered the bakery there was so much people, too many people for me to sneak out of here with a few loaves. Looking over I saw a guy who had his wallet in his back pocket, easy enough to grab. I silently snuck up behind him, reached out and took his wallet. Piece a' cake. The wallet only had a five dollar bill in it which was disappointing but enough. A full loaf of bread cost 6 bucks but a half a loaf only costs $3. The half loaf was small but it was enough for the rest of the day.

I payed for the bread and threw the now empty (except for his drivers licence) wallet into the street. If i only eat half of the half loaf and save the other half for tomorrow that should be enough to last me through two days. I would of course be hungry for more but I didn't have a choice, I had to deal with my decision to live out here and yeah it was difficult but it was also free and exciting. I could do what I want, go where I want, steal what I want, and I have no one to worry about out here. I was truly independent and it felt awesome.

One year later

I quickly but quietly slipped the wallet out of the guys back pocket. I snuck by him not even making a sound. Once I was far enough from the guy I opened his wallet and dug through hundreds of receipts until I found the 20 dollar bill. "Sweet." I whispered to myself, tossing the wallet onto the ground. I ran over to a spot where all of the stray cats hung out and pulled out a small carton of milk that I hid behind a trash can earlier. The cats started coming out of their hiding spots when they saw me put the milk into a plastic bowl. "There you go kitties, now you won't be thirsty for awh-" I was interrupted by the sounds of loud footsteps coming from the alley I was near. I hid the milk back behind the trash can and climbed onto a firescape above me to see who was walking this way.

Looking down I saw a man, a woman, and a young boy walking and laughing down the alley. "How about we get ice cream before we go home Bruce?" The woman said. "Sure mom that sounds good!" The boy responded excitedly while he swung an invisible sword around in the air. The woman was dressed expensively. She was wearing a long coat with real fur around the top and a long expensive looking dress with a very shiny pearl necklace to top it off. The man and the boy were both wearing a sharp looking suit that must of cost them a fortune. This family was obviously in the way upperclass of Gotham.

"Bruce, Thomas what movie should we go see nex-" She never got to finish that sentence.

A man came out of the shadows towards the family. "Give me your money!" He shouted. "Ok,Ok just hold on." The father said trying to stay calm as he stepped in front of his wife and child. "Give me it NOW, i don't ask twice!" The man's voice getting louder, echoing through the cold air.

The next part happened so fast.

The father reached his arm out to punch the mugger but his fist never even reached him. There was a loud bang and the man fell down to the cold ground of the alleyway. "THOMAS!" The lady screamed in a heartbreaking tone. The mugger pulled the trigger again letting two bullets go this time. Bang. Bang. She hit the cement hard, her pearls falling with her. The soft white pearls hit the ground with a quiet ding that you almost couldn't hear. My blood rushed, my chest hurt, and the smell of the gunpowder burned my nose.

I climbed up the rest of the firescape onto the the roof and I ran. I ran as as fast as my small legs would take me. I ran away from what I saw, my ears still ringing from the sound of the gun, the sound of his crying. The tears were starting to come out of my eyes, burning with sadness and anger.

My eyes were getting misty, making it hard to see clearly. My foot hit the edge of the roof and I went over. I hit a pile of garbage bags with a loud thud, the air instantly escaping my lungs. Gasping for air I tried to stop crying but I couldn't so I just layed there looking pitiful.

I cried and cried and I couldn't stop crying. The sound of his mother's scream was stamped into my memory. I could almost hear it. I was mad. Mad at this damned city. Mad that this city had to take another child's parents away, leaving another orphan to be alone.

I wasn't sure how long I was laying there crying but it was for a while. I cried until my body ran out of tears and energy.

One Week Later

It's been a week since I saw the couple, which I know now were the Waynes, get shot down in that alley. I still wasn't able to get that image out of my head. The sounds of their screams still kept me up at night. Lately I found that the only way to not think of that night is to keep myself occupied by stealing and stealing and more stealing.

I've gotten a lot better at it. At least that's what I thought. I saw a man standing at my favorite chili dog cart and I could see his wallet sticking out of his back pocket. Men need to start learning to put their wallets in the front pockets. It makes things too easy. What an idiot. I snuck over behind him. Slowly reaching into his pocket, I felt the cold leather touch my fingertips. I grabbed the and quietly pulled it out of his pocket. I wouldn't have gotten noticed if I didn't accidentally touch his jacket. The man turned around quickly, anger on his ugly face. As he turned around I could see half of the G.C.P.D. badge on his belt.

Damn.

I turned around and ran, trying my best to ignore the burning fear in my chest. "Stop right there!" He yelled. Like hell im gonna stop. I was sprinting as fast as I could, gradually picking up speed. The sound of his footsteps were now echoing closer. He was catching up to me. Within a few seconds of my own terror I felt his big hands grab my shoulders and yanked me around so I could face him.

"What the hell do you think you're doing little girl?" His breath reeked of stale coffee.

"Damn you!" I yelled as I tried desperately to break his death grip on me.

"Nope, you're coming with me you little brat." He released one hand and moved his other off of my shoulder and instead gripping onto my arm.

He dragged me to his police car and shoved me in the back. The car almost smelled as bad as his breath.

We got the police station within a few minutes and walked in. I was mad at the cop and mad at myself for getting caught. "Sit there." The cop said pointing to an old metal bench. The cop walked away as I sat down.

The bench was cold and uncomfortable. I looked around, seeing if there was anyway I could sneak out unnoticed. Too many cops, someone would definitely see me if I tried to sneak out. Its funny how there's this much cops and yet these shitty crimes keep happening.

"What are you doing in here little girl?" A guy asked. I looked up to see who was speaking. The man looked slightly young but with an older look in his eye. He was wearing a hat and a long jacket.

I kept my mouth shut for a while, thinking if it was worth it or not to explain myself to a cop. "It's not really any of your business but I accidentally tried to pickpocket a cop.

"Heh accidentally?"

"Didn't know he was a cop."

The cop sighed. "Where's your parents kid?"

"That's not any of your business either."

"You know what? I like your attitude girl." After he was done talking he walked away from me and the cop that I attempted to pickpocket sat down next to me. "Where's your parents little girl?"

"Hell probably."

"So…. does that mean they're dead?"

I shrugged.

"Ok so they're dead and you live on the streets instead of being in an orphanage?" He was getting more annoyed with me.

"I prefer the streets."

"Well kid you need to be in an orphanage instead of trying to live on the streets, so i'm gonna make some calls and some people are gonna come pick you up ok?"

"I'm not going to an orphanage."

The cop was smiling now. "Heh that's what you think."

My mind was racing. There was no way in hell that I was going to an orphanage. I need to get out of here, now. Maybe I can make a deal with this guy.

"Hey what happens if I told you something that everybody in this police station wants to know?"

The cop changed his expression into curiosity. "Oh yeah what would that be?"

It was a quick decision and maybe not the smartest but I said it anyways.

"I know who killed the Waynes."