AUTHOR'S NOTE: Greetings to all who clicked upon this page. Hope you're enjoying the tale so far and as always, any feedback is welcomed. Now I'm kind of late to the party on Thanksgiving, but I figured "what the hey", I'll give ya an early Christmas gift. Call this an Annual, though really it's just an alternate opening for the story. I originally had this and the current one on file for which one was more appropriate to open up with. I scrapped this one because I thought the dialogue was too goofy and the pace was sloppy. Plus I had a feeling that Batman's little to zero speaking would annoy fans, so I went with the other option which was a more polished version of this. However I think you all should be able to see this workprint of the chapter just for curiosity's sake. Plus if you didn't like the opening used, you can always refer to this one. Anyways I hope you enjoy what the story originally started off on and tune in next week for the next "true" chapter in the story. For now though, let's begin…

- "Chapter One - Boy Chases Girl

A cold wind shrieks upon Gotham City when the clock strikes midnight. The pale full moon shines down with echoes of crowds filling the air of the industrial metropolis. An art deco wonderland with a hidden layer of darkness underneath it's skin. Crime, corruption and decadence stained the streets and eats up any sense of a future for any of innocent civilian. Even the ones assigned to protect and serve were secretly criminals themselves in a shady underworld of illegal businesses.

From within a cold, damp cave, the sound of bats was heard. Inside was a figure whose very name sent shivers down the spines of adrenaline junkies. The man that parents warned their children about had they been naughty. So much so that the children on the playgrounds sing a nursery rhyme about his creepy presence.

"Superstitious jailbird lot. Seems that they have not been taught. Of the man from around this part. That strikes terror in your heart. If you don't do what is right. Then you're in for a fright. Without warning, crashing in your room. The Batman comes to seal your doom."

Despite this heated plea from schoolgoers to check under their blankets at night, there were some that were skeptical. They found it absurd that a humanoid shaped like a rodent mammal would roam the land without being noticed by the large numbers of people living in Gotham. Yet others were simply intrigued at the possibility of a real life monster existing among them.

Enter the Catwoman, a.k.a. Selina Kyle. A young cat-burglar aged twenty three in her fifth year as a thief. She climbed the side of an apartment complex of Rupert Thorne, a powerful crime boss in Gotham. She used her black bullwhip to wrap around a statue and climb up the walls and onto the top of penthouse. The young woman looked into the windows of the empty office where she spotted a vault.

"Mmmmm meow," she purred. "Hopefully this will get the guy's attention."

What she implied was that according to town rumor, the Batman always showed up at Crime Alley where the Penthouse currently sits at. Catwoman was rather curious about this mysterious being that kept getting talked about in the news. Being the frisky opportunist she was, Selina decided to take a chance on this to see who he really was. But another important reason was that she had grown tired of the same old routine of thievery. Five years of the usual "steal diamonds and escape cops" game began to dry out on its appeal along any satisfaction she had from it. So the Catwoman kept her fingers crossed that the Batman would be something new to scratch her itch.

"Hopefully he isn't some dumb, dirty pig," she said while unlocking the door.

The feline slithered her way to the vault and pressed her ear against the door to crack the code. Finally the safe opened to reveal five thousand dollars and a ruby necklace.

"At least I won't be going home empty handed," she purred.

Suddenly shrieks were coming from a few rooms down. In the main bedroom, a couple of gangsters broke in to find their boss, Throne tied up with tape gagging him.

"Boss!"

"What the hell happened here?!"

They all cried out in confusion and even more disturbing was a message on his bed in black ink. It read, "You've all eaten well, but none will come to your aide. Your feast is nearly over and now it's time to be afraid."

The men were all overwhelmed with paranoia til one of them saw Catwoman trying to escape.

"We got a thief! She's probably working for the bat. Shoot her!" one of them said.

They chased her onto the front deck of the top where she was cornered by the gang. All their guns were drawn out at her ready to fire.

"Give it up, Pussycat! You're dead meat!" one named Coscarelli said.

"Gentlemen, no need to play with guns. We can all be adults here," she tried to persuade them.

"Not with a minx like you working for the Bat," Coscarelli said.

She then looked up to see a Bat-shaped shadow on top of the roof. Catwoman smiled and pointed her fingers behind them, directing their attention to him. It was there that she ran as fast as she could away from them. But before they could shoot, a smoke bomb went off.

"I can't see!"

"Smoke bomb!"

They all screamed and shouted before sounds of punching and flesh being battered were heard. Obviously a nasty sight had been taking place but was hard to make out. Though the confusion only seemed to make it even more scary.

Far off at another rooftop was where Selina had opened her bag to count the money. In addition, she'd been admiring the ruby-red necklace that had she made off with.

"The antiquity is nice, but the chase was lousy I admit. Well at least he did help me escape," she sighed.

Suddenly Catwoman felt eyes behind her. She stood up to walk around and check if she was really alone. The thief stopped at the edge to see a bat standing there, staring at her. She took a few steps back before turning her head and turning around.

"Batman?"

And sure enough, there is Batman. He stood about 6'6, eyes glowing yellow, and standing at arm's length from her. She readied her bullwhip for the potential of a fight.

"Well, well. Finally we're face to face. And even dreamier than I expected."

He didn't say anything. His creepy breathing only seemed to make her giggle. She then dragged her finger along the bat insignia on his chest.

"You know for a supposed monster in everyone's closet, you look very handsome. Tell me, do you play with little girls like me?"

She gave off an ironically puppy dog look in her eyes when she said that last sentence. The lack of a response from him only made her want to tease him even more.

"Not a talker, eh? Well I can't blame you. I want to cut to the chase too."

With that she ran off hoping for him to catch up with her. Catwoman whipped her way up through a construction site, jumping on the building blocks. She felt like a final girl in a slasher movie being chased by the killer. The kitty slided down the crane and did a somersault onto a jewelry store roof. Selina took a moment to catch her breath and wonder where Batman was.

"What's the matter, Batsy? Afraid of a little cat scratch?" she yelled.

Yet a bite in the ass back when Batman appeared out of nowhere behind her. She screamed a little bit and took out her bullwhip to lash him on the chest. The fact that he didn't yelp in pain bewildered her and she whipped him five more times. The last lash made an impact on his face, which shockingly didn't phase him.

"Oh my," she said.

Catwoman launched herself towards him to throw a couple of punches and scratches. They all missed while an attempt to roundhouse kicked him ended with Batman grabbing her leg and spinning her around.

"I'd always loved messing with the bull," she got on top of his back. "Be gentle this is my first time riding you."

Selina blinded his eyes, making it hard for him to find whatever was needed to help him out. She was giggling like no tomorrow pushing his buttons, while he was trying to get her off. Finally he grabbed her arms and threw her off, but she landed on her feet. Catwoman fought back by attempting to lash him in the face again. While he was distracted, she took the opportunity to kick him down where the thief sat on top of his torso.

"Looks like I win, stud. Now you have to give me my prize," she giggled.

And again he didn't move or speak. Just the same creepy stare he'd used to intimidate thugs in Gotham. Yet he was somewhat intrigued by this woman who seemed to have no fear of him, despite her being very short in comparison to his towering height. Catwoman put her claws on his tongue.

"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue? Or are you just happy to see me?"

Her gloved hand felt his heart beat fast with a sudden feeling of romance. Suddenly it hit her of why this somewhat silent treatment was being given.

"Nervous in front of your crush, Batsy? Is that you didn't hit little ol' me?"

His breathing all of sudden was very low in comparison to his medium volume of creepiness he displayed earlier. It was basically enough to say yes to that question.

"Awwwwww. The boogeyman has a soft spot for the Kitty cat," she then lowered her lips to his face. "Which is good because you're going to me a kiss as my prize for our first dance. It's the thing that'll kill my curiosity."

Catwoman took his silence as a way of saying he didn't mind what she was going to do. Though what he actually thought was a different story, as her stilettos on his arms prevented him from reaching the handcuffs to arrest her. Yet he didn't want to make her upset as she was already going in for the kiss. Suddenly they were interrupted when a squad of officers broke open the door and drew their pistols.

"Freeze! Hands up where we can see them!" the lead cop shouted.

Batman grabbed Catwoman and dropped another smoke bomb to blind the cops. The two of them glided off into an alleyway far off from where the police came out. They hid behind a dark, shadowy section where the Dark Knight tried to catch his breath. Out of the blue, Catwoman grabbed his head to plant a kiss on his lips that lasted fifteen seconds.

"Looks like you and me are alike," she then turned around. "Think about it, Handsome. We're both outlaws of the night, prowling for prey, looking for the thrill of it all. Plus we both don't do cops. And if you think I'm bad just because I steal, honey I can do more than just crappy diamonds. I can get you information to help you against all sorts of bizarre freaks out there. So what do you sa…."

She was cut off when the Batman was no longer there. Catwoman looked up to see a little bit of his cape when he disappeared into the darkness. The feline smiled.

"Rrrrow. Looks like I'll be chasing you, Tall Man. And I will get my claws on you. And you will be mine!" " -