Disclaimer: I do not own Batman Beyond, however, I do own Katrina Crane
Last Heir to Delirium
Chapter 1: Hallways of Thought
Katrina Vantale walked down the crowded hallway, her arms crossed like a corpse over her thin worn binder. Her pallid complexion and light, intense blue eyes were hidden completely on one side by her long, slightly unkempt, mousey brown hair. Her outfit, an old blue turtleneck and a pair of jeans, looked almost big on her tall, gangly frame. She knew her first day at Hamilton would NOT be a good one. Wherever she lived, whatever school she went to, it was always the same. They always found ways to tease her, torment her, torture her. Because she was different. Because she looked funny, because of her clothes, because she acted strange, because she was a loner, a loser, because she could hear things other people couldn't. They always chose the same names to call her. And she hated them, feared them, for it. As she continued to walk down the hall through the many other students, her mind wandered.
"My, don't you look just stunning for your first day of school! I wonder what they'll call us today? Let's see, they've already used loser, nutjob, geek, loony, wacko, druggie…oh the list goes on and on doesn't it now? Maybe you wouldn't have to worry about these sorts of things if you just took matters into your own hands, if you just…"
"No! That would only make them worse! Besides, maybe it'll be different this time…maybe they won't even notice me, and I won't have to be afraid…"
As Katrina walked further down the hall, lost in thought, she didn't pay attention to the people around her. Before she knew it, she had already walked into another student. Before the guy she walked into could even start to yell at her, she went into her usual routine of over apologizing.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I didn't see you! Please forgive me, it's my first day and I got lost and I…"
Katrina's excuses were suddenly silenced by a masculine voice.
"Woah, it's not like it's the end of the world! Did you say you were new here?"
"Uh-yes, I am."
"Do you need help finding your homeroom?"
"N-no, I'm fine, thanks!"
With that, the strange, new, crane-like girl dashed down the now empty hall, leaving Terry McGinnis alone to his own thoughts and conclusions.
"That girl sure was strange. Nervous, too, like she was hiding something…"
Shrugging, Terry proceeded to pick up his own binders, so as not to be late for the fifth time that week.