Disclaimer: I do not own Batman Beyond

Last Heir to Delirium

Chapter 2: Discoveries

"Well, school isn't too bad so far. Maybe my luck has changed for the better…"

"You're only fooling yourself, kid. Just you wait. The teasing will start up again, and once more you will flee."

"No. I won't keep running. I've taken a liking to this school. It's been a while since I last lived in Gotham. But things aren't too different. I can get used to living here."

Katrina's thoughts were interrupted when she got to her locker. As soon as she opened it, all her hopes vanished. Inside her locker was a note. It read: Hey Schizo, why don't you go back to Arkham, you freak? Katrina sighed tiredly. Thankfully, school had ended for the day.

As she walked home, Katrina was stopped by a gang of Jokerz a few blocks from her apartment. She wasn't surprised. Her neighborhood, which was in the poorer part of Gotham, was full of them.

"Hey twiggy, how about handing over yer money, and we might not use you as firewood, huh?"

Oh shit. What do I do?

Well, if it were me, I'd give 'em a piece of their own medicine.

"Hey, bitch, answer me."

Narrowing her eyes, Katrina's expression changed from fear to ice cold anger and hatred.

"You better get the hell out of my way, or you'll be sorry you were ever born. I mean it."

"Hey boys, looks like we've got a live one! Yer gonna regret messing with us, girly…"

Flicking open the switchblade he had, the head Joker of the gang approached Katrina, grinning insanely as he did so. Just as Katrina was about to run, her path was blocked by Batman, of all people. How he got there was beyond her, and frankly, she didn't care. Knowing that he could take care of things from there, Katrina dashed around him and out of the alley as he ran head-on into the gang, beating the living daylights out of them as he did so.

Katrina didn't stop running until she reached the stoop of her apartment building. As she ran up the stairs and into her room, she ignored her grandmother's irritated shouting. As she slumped into a sitting position against her door, she held her head in her hands. As her breathing steadily slowed, she got up and walked to her small closet to get a different shirt. As she did, her thoughts raced.

Putting on another shirt won't change anything, kiddo. You're still the same, weak little girl.

So what? At least I have a physical form. You're just an annoying figment of my imagination.

I am still a part of who you are Kat. And if you think I'm nothing more than that, perhaps I should teach you otherwise…

At That instant, Katrina felt a searing pain in her skull and winced, falling to her knees. When she opened her eyes again, they were different. No longer did she look scared and unsure. Instead, her face had become a mask of borderline insanity, rage, and deep hatred. Grabbing a large box from the closet, her smile could've given the old Joker a run for his money.

Another shirt won't change a damn thing, but this baby will…