~Flashback~
Her fathers voice rang in her ears, as he pointed at the intruder with a mischievous look in his eyes. One his daughter knew all too well. He was about to teach this intruder he found a lesson. The Riddler stood tall, his hand having a firm grip on his cane. For the young girl it was like watching a train wreck in slow mo. She couldn't even bring herself to look away. Her father's voice projected out in the room, as if proclaiming something.
"Now E, What do we do to people who snoop around and simply aren't smart enough to pay us for our valuable time?"
Her emerald eyes gazed over to the other man. He stood there quivering with a look a fear spread across his face. Her father's question had been rhetorical, and the young girl knew no reply was to expected to come from her. She remained motionless, seeming to be unaffected by what was about to happen around her. However there was a glimpse of curiosity in Emily's eyes as she looked upon her father's work. The Riddler approached the man, his cane raised slightly higher then before. The cane smashed down on the intruder's head, caving it inward on the impact.
Emily didn't even flinch. She had seen it far to many times for it to effect her. Her eyes didn't even look away as his blood poured out slowly onto the floor. The blood surrounded both her father and the other man. After one last hit, her father turned back around to the young girl. The golden cane he once held was now dripping red.
"Understand today's lesson sweetie? "
My imagination starts to take hold, twisting my childhood memory into a nightmare.
The blood on the ground spirals around us, swirling into one word. Failure. I could feel myself drowning, unable to breath.
No, No, No, No.
The images distorts, making me switch places with the man on the ground. I was locked into his perspective, unable to move. I could see the hate, the insane madness in my father's dark eyes. A sense of confidence radiated from within him, a pride that he had beaten me.
My eyes shot open as I breath heavily from the nightmare. My heart was racing for when I took a look around the room I wasn't able to recognize the place I was residing in. The room looked elegant, everything appeared to be modern or made of glass. Most of the furniture in the place was a blinding white color. Had I died? If not, where was I?
I sit up, wincing from the pain in my shoulder. On the table next to me was numerous surgical tools, along with a couple of cloths drenched in blood. My blood. The dark red color surely looked out of place in this room.
"How are you feeling Miss?"
I look directly up from the table to find an old man staring back at me. He was dressed in a dark black suit with a white shirt underneath it. His hair was grey, from what presumed to be a long life, not dyed contrary to new trends.
"Miss, Are you alright?"
"Mmhhmm...yeah."
My voice was so quiet it didn't sound believable, not even to myself. My head was still spinning from the amount of blood I had lost. Not only did that make things harder for me, there was the fact that before me stood many unanswered questions. For instance, had this old man patched me up? If so he had not done that bad of a job if I do say so myself. I had patched myself up plenty of times in the past and this was almost as good of job I would have done. Almost.
"Where am I?"
My heart was still racing, not liking the fact I was injured and unaware of the situation I was in. Who was the old man, he surely didn't look like a doctor. Too preppy.
"Calm down, it's okay."
I feel a hand on my shoulder that makes me jump. I look up to see the kid that was pestering me about my apartment.
That was what happened, I passed out after one of those stupid clowns shot me. Wait, had this boy been beside me the whole time, through my nightmares? If so that was surely...embarrassing. I force my breathing to slow down. No reason to get worked up and have my shoulder start to gush again. I look around the room once more, it didn't look like a doctor's office. A bedroom perhaps?
"Where am I?"
"Master Todd brought you back to Wayne Manor seeing you have been wounded."
"Wayne Manor?"
I zoned out their talking, my head was pounding already so zoning them out only made it easier for me to think. I was at Wayne Manor. As in THE Wayne manor. How? Wasn't the mansion all the way on the other side of town, far from my home in East Gotham. How did the Kid get me back here? Unless he called the butler to come pick us up. Great, it was going to be a lot harder for me to get home.
"Hello?"
A hand waves across my face, startling me. I must have looked really distant because both men were staring at me funny.
"But how-"
"Master Todd called, informing there had been an 'accident' and you needed help."
"Thank You, both for your help."
I spoke actually grateful for once. Usually I wasn't a fan of receiving help but looking at the wound it had been a lot worst then I thought. Not to mention he didn't even bring me to a hospital. I hate those places.
"If your all well in here, I shall go prepare your dinner."
"Thanks Alfred."
Alfred? So that was the old man's name. Alfred gave a slight nod before closing the door. The boy turns to me with a look of concern.
"You know, I could see if Bruce will let you stay here for a while."
Seriously? We were on this topic again. I have a place to live, why was he making it so difficult by being nice. I sigh, running my hand through my hair.
"No. I'm fine."
He seemed to take my rejection as an insult. Why did he care? This was my life, not his. His voice got slightly harsher as he spoke to me.
"Why would you even stay there, the place is a death sentence. What reason could you possibly have for staying!"
"It's none of your concern"
He paused for a moment as if to think about my answer then let out a sigh.
"Will you at least tell me your name? Maybe I could-"
"No."
"If you like questions so much, why won't you answer mine?"
I freeze up. He proposed a good question so why wasn't I giving him an answer. He had saved me at least twice now, shouldn't he be allowed to know my name. What was stopping me? Deep inside, I knew it was because a part of me was scared. Once I give someone my name that means I'm back for good. It has been ages since I've heard someone say my real name. Before I even left Gotham, I didn't go by Emily. I went by Enigma in order to conceal my true identity and remain safe. Now that I am back, was I really ready to be Emily.
"That's what I thought."
His voice intruepted my thoughts as he went to leave. The boy was almost to the door. He looked even more annoyed, pissed off from my stubbornness. I should speak up, I owe him at least that. My voice was a soft murmur, barely breaking sound level.
"Emily."
His head snapped around, almost surprised to hear me speak.
"What?"
His hand let go of the door knob. He slowly started to make his way back over to me.
"My name...it's Emily."
"Oh really now?"
A smug smile appeared across his face. That's when it dawned on me, the kid played me so I would reveal my name. He sat down next to me on the bed, looking far to full of himself if you ask me. How dare he trick me, to reveal information nonetheless.
"Don't think for a second I didn't know what you were doing..."
"Either way you told me your name and by the way it's an honor."
I couldn't help but let out a small smile at his sarcastic voice. When he put it that way I sounded foolish for not telling him my name.
"No way, Did you just smile too?! Now I know I'm special."
Here's me thinking I used a lot of sarcasm. I laugh lightly, maybe he was right. Not telling him my name was being a bit paranoid and foolish. I could feel myself relax a little. Not that I trusted him yet but I could see that this was a safe place.
"So Wayne manor...I can't say I've heard of a Todd Wayne."
"Todd Wayne?"
It took a moment for the boy to realized how I deduced his name. Then he let started to laugh which confirmed my suspicion that my guess was incorrect. Hey! It was a logical guess on my part that's what his butler Alfred called him. The boy smile widen's before shaking his head no.
"Nice try, but my name is Jason."
"Wayne?"
I ask slightly confused. The name Jason Wayne didn't ring a bell either. Sure, I had been gone for a year but I didn't think that much had chanced.
He shakes his head once more, this time his gaze shifted down.
"Not exactly, it's Jason Todd. Bruce sort of adopted me."
"Oh- "
Before I could ask more a loud knock at the door makes us both look up. The door cracks open to revel Alfred with a tray of food.
"Yes Alfred?"
"Will your friend be staying the night?"
"Yes" "No."
"You can't be serious."
He turned to me looking slightly fed up. What did he think just because I gave him my name meant I wasn't going to leave the first chance I got?
" If you expect me to stay in a stranger's hou-
"Otherwise you would be dead!"
"I would not be!"
"Please."
His blue eyes locked with mine in sort of begging manor. What was with this kid, didn't he know all of Gotham was dangerous. What made him assume I wasn't? Why did he feel the need to protect me? Ugh, Why was he being so nice!
"At least wait until the morning."
I give a slight nod, knowing it was the only way to end the conversation.
"Alright...I Promise."
Alfred signaled that it was time for Jason to go downstairs and eat. I gave him a slight nod, telling him I was well enough to leave me alone. Jason seemed to hesitate a moment before leaving. That left me and his butler which still had a puzzled expression on his face.
"May I ask why you wouldn't like to stay miss?"
"Too..."
I look around the room, why wouldn't I like to stay here. It was nicer, warmer even friendlier then the place I would be living in. Didn't I want a new home?Looking up I could see something in the butlers eyes, was it sadness? Pity? Strange enough it was impossible for me to tell. I tried to deceive him by faking an understanding smile.
"...Big."
"Very well then."
He placed the tray of food on the side table, giving me a warm comforting smile. I don't know why but for some reason I don't think he bought my act, it was like he could see right through my lie.
"How do you feel?"
I yawn, "Tired."
Tired wasn't a total lie. Sure if one was considering the fact I had slept almost all day they would find it hard to believe I was still tired. Then again my sleep wasn't exactly deep.
I shiver as a cold breeze makes it's way over to me from an open window. Wait a minute, that was it! That was how I was going to leave. I know, I promised Jason that I would stay here until morning but I just couldn't. After all their help, I couldn't put them in any more danger nor take advance of his and Alfred's hospitality.
"Alright then I'll let you rest."
He gives a slight nod. Alfred must have noticed me shiver for his eyes were now looking towards the window. No! I could feel myself wanting to scream as he started to walk towards it. That was my way out, my escape. With my shoulder injured I may not be able to-
His voice interrupts my panicking thoughts,
"Would you like me to close this?"
"No, it's fine."
He looks at me hesitantly, probably pondering the fact if I would be desperate enough to climb out of it. He shakes his head no, probably figuring it was on the second or third level (I couldn't really tell from this angle) and there was no way I was crazy enough to climb down. What he didn't know was I've been declared insane before. He stares at it a little longer so I decided to reassure him.
"Anyways, The fresh air makes me feel better."
"Alright then, have a nice night Miss."
I watch him leave the room and the door close shut. Paranoid, I couldn't help but stare at the door a couple moments longer. I was watching to see if him or Jason would come back in. Just in case this was a test to see if I would escape when their backs were turned. After a second I grab a napkin off the tray of food, scribbling
Thank You for all your help and kindness, I owe you one.
-Emily
I take one last glance around the room before slowly and carefully climbing out the window. Luckily, I've climbed many unusual shaped things before in conditions worse then this. Not to mention it was only three levels above ground, a breeze.
~Time Lapse~
Finally I had made it back home, just as a light patter of rain began to fall. I presume tomorrow morning Jason and Alfred would wake up to find my disappearance strange, maybe Jason would even get mad. Who knew? Not that I would care. Hopefully they won't come back to protect me, I do not need his protection. I'll do just fine by myself. Soon enough they will forget about me and that will be it.
After making my way up the spiraling staircase to my room I felt as if something was off. I couldn't tell what exactly but in my gut I knew something was not right. Slowly, I opened the door. Why was I being so paranoid? I ditched Jason and Alfred, my father wasn't aware I was back. I was fine. I flicker the light switch once, twice, nothing. Of course the storm had taken the power out.
My heart stops.
Although the room was pitch black I could make out two insanely green eyes, staring back at me. He was here.