Chapter Thirteen

Selene slipped on a pair of shoes and snuck out of her room. She tip toed to the elevator and to her surprise, Alfred had not yet left. She could hear him down in some other part of the house. Selene took a look around, trying to find the keys. By the elevator was a small table. Selene opened the small draw attached to it and found a bunch of keys inside. Selene carefully looked over them and found two that were exactly the same. She'd remembering seeing Alfred with the car keys and if her memory served her right, these we're the ones. Selene picked up the one that didn't have anything on it's key chain, closed the draw, then got into the elevator. As soon as the silver doors closed, she let out a relived sigh.

As the elevator went down, Selene re-thought her plan. She was really hoping this would work. And if it didn't, well... Her devious mind could find a way around it. The elevator doors opened and Selene darted out into the lobby. She jogged down to garage and to the car. She rarely came down her, but at least she had remembered where the car was parked. Selene was about to open the trunk but stopped. Not a good idea. She wouldn't be able to get out then she'd have to ask Alfred to help her out. Selene moved on and opened the door to the back seat. If she was lucky, Alfred wouldn't see her.

Selene curled up into the tightest ball imaginable behind the drivers seat. As she waited, she heard other people coming and going, heard people talking, arguing, etc. Suddenly, the driver side door open. It was Alfred. Selene curled tighter into a ball and didn't move a muscle. She waited, hardly breathing.

The car ride felt like forever. Selene was just imaging Alfred finding her and how mad he'd be. Selene was also worried about not being strapped in. She felt so awkward without a seat belt across her.

Suddenly, the car stopped. Selene eyes went wide. She heard Alfred get out of the car and lock it. Slowly, his foot steps faded. Selene let out a long sigh and relaxed her muscles. She struggled to get off the car floor but eventually she was sitting on the back seats. Selene caught sight of Alfred and ducked a little, hoping he hadn't seen her. Alfred was facing a red carrier, the kind that were on ships. That's when Selene noticed she was at the docks. What were Bruce and Alfred up to?

Selene focused on Alfred. He used a key from his key chain to unlock the carrier and stepped inside. As soon as the door closed behind him, Selene got out of the car and ran right up to the carrier. She felt the swell of victory when she saw the door hadn't been locked. She was that much closer to figuring out what Bruce and Alfred had been hiding from her.

Slowly, Selene opened the door and stepped inside, closing the door behind her. In the middle of the carrier, was a gapping hole. Light was coming from it, and voices. It was Bruce and Alfred's voices. Selene inched over to the hole and looked down it. It lead to some kind of room. Selene bit her lip. How on earth was she going to get down there!

Selene got down on her hands and knees and tried to peer inside without fall through the hole. She closed her eyes, trying to focus on what they were saying.

"... Are you sure this is them?" she heard Alfred ask.

She heard Bruce sigh. "I don't know. Only Selene would, she actually saw them." He paused and then Selene heard him chuckle. "It's funny, for all we know these kids might actually be Selene's siblings."

Selene's eyes popped open and she gasped in shock. She was so surprised she lost her balance. Selene fell forward toward the hole. She let out surprised gasp and quickly regained her balance.

"Did you hear that?"

Selene bit her lip. Crap. They knew she was here. She heard two sets of feet approaching where she was. Bruce and Alfred appeared.

"Who's up there?" Bruce called. Selene bit her lip harder, trying to stay perfectly still.

"Maybe it was just a rat sir?" Alfred suggested.

Bruce gave him a look that said 'Oh please', then looked back up. Selene could have swore he looked right at her. "It was probably nothing," He turned and walked away, saying, "I got to get back to work."

Alfred took one last glance up then followed Bruce. Selene quickly but silently got up and left the carrier. She got back into the car and curled back up behind the seat. This was killing her. If she didn't find out what Bruce was up to, she'd explode!

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Selene was playing the piano, thinking hard. It had been a few hours since she'd gotten back from the docks and she couldn't stop thinking about what Bruce was hiding. Selene had gotten into some trouble with Alfred. After he'd parked the car, Selene waited five minutes before going up to the penthouse. She'd lied to Alfred that she had gone for a walk down to that book store again, but didn't find any books. Selene had returned the spare keys to the car to their rightful place. Thank the Lord Alfred hadn't noticed they were gone.

Selene stopped playing and sighed. She got up and glanced at the clock on her bedside table. It was nine o'clock. Perfect. Selene grabbed a pair of shoes, slipped them on, grabbed and light jacket and left her room. Alfred was nowhere to be found, so Selene left him a note saying: Went for a walk. Be back soon - Selene. Selene just hoped he didn't come looking for her.

Selene left the penthouse and went wandering down the streets of Gotham. She was going back to the docks, hoping to find Batman. She would have called a taxi, but she didn't have any money. So, she walked. Selene noticed she was very fond of walking; it gave her time to think. People pushed by as Selene walked slowly yet quickly down the streets. She didn't know how far the docks were, so she'd asked a few people. To her surprise, they weren't that far away. Selene ran the last few blocks to the docks, feeling new hope. Maybe, just maybe, she'd be able to find out who Bruce really was.

Selene came to a suddenly stop when she came to the docks. Now to find that red carrier. Selene wandered around for a while until she found. Selene was surprised to find it open. She stepped inside but the hole for earlier that day was gone. Selene stumbled around in the dark, confused. Suddenly, the ground beneath her moved downward. Selene braced herself, trying to catch her balance. Slowly, she went downwards. A room came into view. It had cement floors and walls and there seemed to be nothing in it.

Except for Batman, who was looking a punch of computers.

Silently, Selene approached Batman from behind. "Bruce?" Selene asked.

Batman whipped around to face her. Selene stumbled back; she'd been to close when he'd turn and he had almost hit her in the face.

Even under the mask, Selene could see Batman frowning. "Who are you?" He said in his gravely voice.

"Bruce, drop the act," Selene said. "It's me."

"What?"

Selene groaned, reached up, and yanked off his mask.

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Sorry for the cliffhanger... I can't help myself :) Please review!

~| Neverland Child |~