PROLOGUE | THE RUNAWAY BRIDE

"Thank you for informing me."

The red head nodded before walking out of the grand room. Her long black dress softly sweeping the polished cream marble floor as her sharp heels clicked.

The bride left alone in the room was another red head. However she was different from the previous one who had just walked out. The bride's red hair was darker than the previous redhead woman, almost the color of blood under the night sky and like the color of a blazing fire under the sun.

Kori Anders was her name. It was supposed to be her special day. Her day. But with the news Barbara had just informed her, everything she had ever wanted was taken from her in a second.

When Rachel entered the room to get her best friend ready to head down to the cathedral she hadn't expected to see her sobbing near the corner of the window. Her mascara ruined and her wedding veil on the floor.

"Kori! What's wrong?" Rachel gasped as she rushed to Kori's side. Kori could only look at her best friend's face for a second before she bursted crying again. "Oh Rachel! He did it! He did it!"

"Who Kori? Who did what?" Rachel asked before Kori choked out, "Dick cheated on me Rachel..." Rachel's world stopped. She felt the air leave her lungs and her head spin around, "What?"

"Babs was here earlier. She came to deliver the news on how Dick arrived at her apartment last night and-" Kori sobbed as Rachel tightened her grasp on her. "He still loves her." Kori choked out. "Son of a b-tch." Rachel cursed. "As soon as I get my hands on him I'm going to-"

"NO!" Kori pleaded, "Please Rachel. Don't do anything to him!" "But Kori that bastard hurt you!" Tears streamed down her face, "I know but violence won't solve anything. Promise me you won't hurt him Rachel." "Kori I-" "Promise me please!"

Rachel sighed before nodding, "I promise Kori." Kori smiled sadly before hugging her best friend again and crying her heart out. After a while both Kori and Rachel stood up. Rachel felt something cold press against her palm and when she saw what it was her heart dropped.

"Kori this is your engagement ring..." Rachel said, with a shaken voice. "Take it. Give it to him." Kori answered, not looking at the ring. "So what are you going to do about the whole wedding. The guests and all the media? I presumed you changed your mind now." Rachel asked as Kori removed the wedding dress off her and dressed in some of her comfortable clothes from earlier that day.

"That's Dick's problem." Kori replied with a strainful voice. "I wanted a small private wedding but as always my opinion didn't mean anything to him." Kori said as she removed her makeup. "So you're really walking out on him?" Rachel asked, a small smile trying to mark her face.

"He lost me the second he touched her." Kori said firmly before she stood up from the mirror table and got her purse.

"Where are you going to go?" Rachel asked as Kori dialed for a taxi on her phone. "I know he'll show up to my apartment the minute he finds out I am not walking down that aisle so I'm going to the airport."

Rachel's eyes widen. "I need to start somewhere fresh again Rachel. I need to leave before I do something riduciusly stupid. I need to move on and staying here in Bludhaven won't do me any good. It's near Gotham as well and I just need time away from this gloomy place."

Instead of stopping her Rachel thought of Kori's feelings and thoughts. As Kori talked on the phone Rachel understood her choice. She needed this. She really did.

Kori was from Tamaran, a small island nestled in the Caribbean ocean. After being accepted to Harvard University near Bludhaven she met Dick Grayson. They hit it off immediately and after four years of dating everyone thought they would live the rest of their lives together.

How wrong they were.

Rachel knew Kori desired to reside somewhere else. She didn't want to stay in Bludhaven. However Dick convinced her that Bludhaven was the city for them and so Kori stayed. She wanted to explore, expand on her career but she had decided that if staying in Bludhaven made Dick happy, then she was fine.

Upon ending her phone call both Kori and Rachel walked down the mansion's stairs and waited outside on the driveway. No one else was in Wayne's mansion. Everyone was down at the cathedral, awaiting the bride's arrival. The only one arriving at that wedding would be Rachel with shocking news. No bride would turn up today.

As the taxi came into view Rachel hugged Kori. Kori hugged her back. "Thank you Rachel for understanding." Kori whispered. "Take care Kori. Know that you will always have my unconditional love and support. Always." Rachel spoke tightening her hug on Kori as she nodded, tears in her eyes, before the taxi stopped in front of them.

Rachel opened the door for Kori. Kori thanked her before getting on and putting her window down. "I will call you when I arrive at my safe heaven Rachel." Rachel nodded. "Please take care of Silkie for me." Kori pleaded before Rachel. Before Rachel had the chance to answer the taxi took off, taking the redhead beauty with it.

"I will..." Rachel replied as she saw the vehicle disappear from her view and into the dark green trees surrounding Wayne Manor.

A/N

Cover art is not mine. It was done by the talented koriandr-grayson on tumbex .com