Her name is Alice Hamblin. 17 years of age. Flowing brown locks of hair reaching past her shoulders. Beautiful, bright hazel eyes. Always wore the kindest of smiles. At least until the incident happened. Quite a tragedy it was. She found out what had happened once two cops had appeared on her aunt's doorstep. Poor Alice was only nine at the time. Very young to lose both of her parents.

For the next eight years, Aunt Jess was Alice's legal guardian. It wasn't all so bad, thankfully. Alice enjoyed the times she spent with her. It was her who inspired Alice to take an interest in art. She had such a fascination with creativity and she owned many sketchbooks that were lying about in her bedroom. Art was her escape. It helped heal her when she lost her mother and father. It was her way to keep on living in the world.

Now Gotham was not Alice's true home. It was for her mother and aunt, but she was born and raised in Queens. And she couldn't go back there now. Gotham was now her home. And she accepted that. Sure, it took some getting used to, but eventually she felt comfortable in the city, despite the massive crime wave and outbreaks that it was known for.

As every year passed while she lived there, Alice grew and grew. Not just in beauty, but in her talent. Drawing became so natural to her. She could practically bring anything to life on a single page of paper. Was she the next Da Vinci? Perhaps. But her talent was something she wanted to keep to a minimal audience. Some of her illustrations were quite generic or common, and others were of her own design, something along the lines of exotic, dark, and eerie. This was an aspect Alice took a very heavy liking to.

Alice embraced the strange and weirdness of the city. Who said everything, or everyone, had to be normal? There was no such thing. Not to her. She knew she didn't see herself as normal. Something about the darkness in the city…attracted her. With being as sweet as she is, this was a complex combination.

It was now the month of February. The 16th to be exact. This day wasn't just any day though. Alice was turning eighteen. And despite having to take on a meager afternoon shift at work, she was in the most joyous of moods. She stayed this way once returning home to Aunt Jess.

She skipped into the door of the apartment, setting her bag down onto the counter in the kitchen. "Aunt Jess? I'm home!"

From around the corner, her aunt appeared in front of her, a cake in her hands and she began to sing. "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Alice, happy birthday to you." Aunt Jess also had brown hair like Alice. Eyes a light shade of brown to match with it. Like her mother, Alice looked quite similar to her aunt.

Alice beamed brightly at the song and cake, pausing for a moment before blowing out the candles. "Oh thank you, Aunt Jess. It's beautiful. And surely delicious, too."

Aunt Jess chuckled softly, setting the cake down on the table. "That isn't the only thing I have for you. I think you'll like this little present. Hold your hands out and close your eyes."

With an eyebrow raised, Alice shrugged and did as her aunt told her. A papery feeling came in contact with her skin. She wasn't entirely sure what it could possibly be. Once Aunt Jess gave the O.K. to open her eyes, she gave a small gasp of excitement. The paper she was holding was a ticket. A ticket to the circus.

"Aunt Jess! This is wonderful! Oh thank you, thank you!" Alice reached her arms around her aunt in a tight hug. She gently pulled away before asking, "This isn't…the only ticket is it? Are you…"

Aunt Jess sighed softly, a sad smile on her face. "Unfortunately I have to take the night shift at the hospital. Becky's kid has some band recital or something like that. But I want you to go and have a good time. Double the fun for me." She let out a little laugh.

"Well, alright. If you insist." Alice nodded with a smile. "I say we have a slice of cake now, yeah?"

"Whatever the birthday girl wants!" Aunt Jess exclaimed.