Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this universe, except for my own character.
AN: Thank you to Beachlover470, Silverstorm, and Autaumn Wolf for reviewing! 3
Chapter 4: Hunger and Action
I flinched, the scent of fresh pastries overwhelming me. My head bowed towards the ground and my fingers quivered. Take it. Quickly! Now! But the moment passed as the bakery owner walked towards me, eyes narrowed suspiciously through her glass door. I glanced at the 'closed' sign before huffing and walking off along the crowded Gotham streets.
Teeth gritting, stomach clenching hunger is the only feeling I can process. I fingered the coins in my pocket, knowing that indulging in a cake would be naive. I scan the sidewalk before realizing I had walked to the upper class of the city. Men and women dressed in nice suits and outfits passed me, I felt their eyes questioning my presence. I closed my eyes, remembering my mother who would have told me to raise my head and stare them in the eyes back. 'Don't let anyone make you feel like you are nothing.'
I shiver, and try to look up, but I know that I am nothing. My eyes raise just a bit, until I am looking at the shoulder blades ahead of me. 'Progress' I tell myself.
Suddenly, the man stopped and swerves around another dark haired man, waiting to get into his limo. My reflexes weren't quick enough however and I lightly bumped into the dark-haired man. I gasped and he turned to stare down at me. Blue eyes scanned my face, almost calculatingly. A shiver went through me and I backed away. "I- I'm s-sorry, sir."
His hand steadies me, "It's alright." I gave a small nod and rushed past, face hot with embarrassment. I could almost feel his eyes burning into the back of my head as I walk away with the crowd, not noticing the tall skyscraper next to me reading: "Wayne Tech".
That night as I was settling into a nook in a tree in the park, an eerie feeling washed over me. I felt watched. My curly hair lifted and settled every time I glanced over my shoulder, sure that something was there. Finally, I heard a twig snap and part of me was relieved that I am still sane, but another tensed at the overwhelming sense of danger. A large mass steped into view, slowly becoming larger. In the darkness, the large mass became two men. My heartbeat heightened. Surely, they had seen me.
I slowly gathered my meager possessions and inched into a sitting position. The men were watching me. I suddenly caught them off guard with my rush, running past them and into a thicker part of the woods. Shouts behind me signaled my pursuers. I raced deeper and deeper until my only sense of direction were the two men crashing behind me. I thanked my small form, being able to duck and swerve out of the way of the branches and large rocks.
I came to a sudden halt, panic almost overwhelmed me when I ran out of land. A huge ditch comes into view and I find myself on the top of a cliff about 20 feet in the air. If I jump I risk injury, especially because darkness covers the bottom of the ditch.
The sound of the men's feet crushing the leaves and tossing up rocks grew louder. My panic forced me forward and off the ledge. A sharp squeal of fear escaped me and my arms spread out. A snap deep inside me triggered my head to shoot back and legs to twitch. A burning feeling spread across my body. I'm not falling.
I was held, suspended in the air by the flapping of my wings. I wondered, again, what the Joker and Lex Luthor had done to me and I wondered if I am a monster or if what I am is a miracle.
My eyes closed and I leaned forward, feeling the air ruffle my feathers. Instinctively, I began to fly forward and land on the other side of the chasm.
The pain came again, but I was prepared. Human again, I turned to continue my flight from the men but was stopped by one of their voices calling my name. I looked back at the man with a mixture of confusion and horror.
He yelled, out of breath,"Lex Luthor sent us to inform you that this is only the beginning and that the best part is yet to come." A smirk and they were gone, off in the night. I fell backwards onto the rocky terrain, cutting open my palm, but I barely noticed.
How can this only be the beginning? What is the best part yet to come?
