Disclaimer: I don't own "Batman Begins"

The next morning, I woke up feeling the softness of my pillow. It felt so comfortable, I delved deeper into it, as if to sink into the sea, floating towards the bottom. But then I remembered what had happened the last night. I remembered that I fell asleep by the well in the garden. How did I get into my bed? The solution came to me to my tired brain. Bruce or Alfred must've found me last night, and took me inside. Or it could've been this morning. I pushed that out of my mind for a bit, as I sat up, pushing the warm covers off of me. I looked at my bedsie clock, and saw that school didn't start until for an hour. Realizing I wanted to go today, I quickly got my stuff on, brushed my hair into a ponytail, and quietly walked downstairs, and to the breakfast table. Bruce was sitting at a seat, looking tired, and drinking his coffee. Nervously, I sat as far away from him as possible. You would too if you thought someone was mad at you for sneaking outside. But Bruce noticed me walk in, and sit down at the far head of the table. He smiled at me as I poured myself some orange juice.

"Sleep well, last night?" he asked.

I didn't look up at him as I spreaded butter on my toast. Bruce just chuckled a bit.

"Listen," he said. "I'm not mad at you. You just scared me a bit. I didn't know where you were when I went to check on you,"

Check on me? It was practically midnight when I went to the well.

"But what I want to know is why you were at the well last night,"

I just avoided eye-contact, practically telling him that it was personal with the way I looked down. He just nodded.

"All right," he said. "You don't have to answer me. But I don't want you going into the garden again. Understand?"

Looking up, I nodded. Secretly, I wondered why he asked me not to go into the garden again. Did he think because of it's untidiness, it might be dangerous for me to go through all the growing plants. Maybe the well was really old, and was getting ready to crumble. Maybe it was just his way of punishing me. Finishing up my breakfast, I heard the bus pull up outside, and I rushed to the door grabbing my backpack. Bruce wished me a better day at school. I hoped it would be. When I got to the school, it was usually the same. Kids talking about things that normal kids like me didn't have. But I wasn't a normal kid. A normal kid would have parents. Unconsiously, I brought my hand up to my neck, only to find my locket wasn't safe around my neck. Then I remembered the full details of the other night. I walked into my first class, which was English. I liked English. It was my best subject. Although I didn't show it when participating with the rest of the students. I just showed it through my homework and classwork.

"All right," the teacher said to the entire class. "Can anyone tell me what an anagram is?"

There was silence from the classroom, until I saw a hand raise at the corner of my eye. A blonde-haired girl was sitting in the far corner on my right hand side.

"Miss Farris?" the teacher picked on her.

"An anagram is a word that it's letters can be used to make up another word,"

"Exactly right. Thank you Miss Farris,"

The girl seemed proud of herself. I smiled softly. She was not like the other girls, who were just sitting at their desk sending messages to each other on their cell phones. Sure, she was popular, but she was the good kind of popular. Nice, not mean. But even if I tried being friends with her, she'd probably shun me to make an impression with her friends. So I sat there listening to the teacher, until it was time for lunch. As I walked the busy halls, my books close to my chest tightly like a shy schoolgirl (which I was), I heard the girls taunting me.

"She never talks does she?" said one girl.

"What is she?" asked another. "A mute girl?"

"That's right! A mute girl!"

The girls laughed as they walked to the cafeteria. I held my books tighter. I should've stayed at home with Bruce and Alfred. When I looked up I noticed the Farris girl look at me, in a sad way. I smiled sadly. She waved at me, and mouthed "Sorry" before turning back. A bit of hope started to grow in my stomach. Still, I wanted to go outside and eat lunch, where I wanted to be alone. I was wise enough to bring my own lunch this time, and so I sat reading a book and eating my peanut butter sandwich.

"Hello," said a small voice.

Bewildered I looked up, to see the boy I had helped yesterday. What was he doing here? It was obvious he wanted to sit with me, because he did so.

"You're Sarah aren't you?" he asked.

Slowly, I nodded. Why would he know my name?

"Josh told me that you didn't talk yesterday,"

Figures.

"Why don't you?...Don't you want to talk?...How do you talk to your mommy and daddy?"

This struck my heart. Of course, he didn't know about my parents deaths, but I couldn't hide my sadness in my eyes. The little boy seemed humble enough to know this.

"You don't have a mommy and daddy?" he asked, gasping.

I shook my head. Not anymore anyway.

"But everyone's supposed to have a mommy and daddy! If they're dead or not,"

If the boy told me that long ago, I would've believed him. But I don't believe in angels anymore. There are no gaurdians in Gotham. No heroes to rescue the weak. And even if there was, who would save me? The boy introduced himself as Nathan Farris. He was related to the girl in my English class. He told me he liked comic books, in the 2nd grade, and people who help other people. In other words: Me. I really liked the kid, and it seemed like after a long time, I made a real friend outside the walls of Wayne Manor. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Josh coming straight toward me. I started to panic. Why wasn't he suspended? He should've been.

"What are you doing here, scummy?" he sneered at me. "Didn't I make it clear you don't belong here?"

I just looked at him. Even if I wanted to say something, I would only stutter, for fear was rushing up to my throat. Nathan had something to say, however.

"She's here because she's not afraid of you!" he said before sticking out his tongue.

This made me smile, but I bit my lip to refrain myself from laughing. I looked up at Josh, who could only glare at me.

"So..." he said. "You think you're some sort of hero now?"

I shook my head vigorously. That's not what I thought. I was just your average student trying to live life peacfully.

"Well..." Josh dug into his pocket. "Even here, heroes can get hurt,"

The thoughts that I had been thinking came true. Out of Josh's back pocket, he pulled out a knife. My eyes were as wide as saucers. I took no hesitation into running for my life. Students around the playground took notice of the knife that Josh held in his hand, and started running and screaming. Nathan went inside, probably to tell the prinicpal or call the police. I was cornered to the wire gate. As you know, it was locked, and I couldn't get out. So I took my chances. Putting my foot through one of the holes, I started to climb up. Granted, I was wearing a skirt, but I cared for my life more than getting my wardrobe ripped. As i jumped down, my white sleeve caught onto the fence. It was stuck, and I tried to pull it out, as Josh tried to stab me from the other side. With one last tug, I was free, and the next thng I knew I was running down the sidewalk, passing businessmen and women, who didn't seem to look as I rushed past them. Looking back, I saw that Josh had climbed the fence, and started running after me. This caused me to run into the street. I almost got hit by 5 or 6 taxis, but better hit by cars than getting stabbed. And by a twelve year old, no less! No older than I was! I took refuge in an opening that led to a dark place. Welcome to the Underworld of Gotham: Of which would make the Narrows seem like a resort next to this place. I never stopped running until I came across a fancy restaraunt. Inside there, was where Carmine Falcone had his business dealt with. It was because of Carmine Falcone that my parents were dead. Two gaurds were standing by the doorway, but I rushed up to the door anyway. One of them stopped me.

"Whoa whoa," he said. "No way kid. Can't go in there,"

I didn't care. I practically waved my arms around like some stupid mime, until he gave in.

"All right. But don't get too comfortable in there,"

Running into the restaraunt, nobody seemed to notice a twelve year old come in. I took a seat at a corner table, and tried to calm myself down over the events that had happened the last ten minutes. I took deep breaths as my heart raced. I lived in a crazy world. And it was just about to get crazier. When I looked ahead, I noticed Carmine Falcone talking to...wait a minute...is that...no. No it can't be? Is that Flass?

"I need you at the docks Thursday," Falcone said.

"Problems?" Flass asked like the lazy ape he was.

"I don't want any trouble with the last shipment,"

"Sure,"

My mind started racing with thoughts as I covered my face with a menu. What were they talking about? What shipments? Was this what were my parents were investigating? Was Falcone shipping drugs into Gotham? I listened closely to hear more details, but they changed the subject. Whatever they were talking about before, they obviously did not want to talk about it much longer.

"Word on the street is you've got a beef with someone in the D.A's office," Flass inquired.

"Is that right?" asked Falcone.

"And that there's a fat prize waiting for anyone who's willing to do anything about it,"

"So what's your point Mr. Flass?"

"Have you seen the girl? It's a cute little Assistant D.A. Don't you think that's too much heat to bring down? I mean, even for this town..."

"Never underestimate Gotham City. People get mugged coming home from work everyday of the week. Sometimes--" Falcone chuckled. "Sometimes things just go bad,"

I didn't want to hear anymore. These people were crazy. I've seen and heard enough. Running silently back out I never stopped running. The sky was growing dark as I reached back outside. I didn't realize I had stayed in that restaraunt too long, and I needed to get home. So I raced with all my might, never looking back. It would be dark before I reached the Wayne Manor. To make a long story short, I finally came home when the sun went down. Racing up the steps with every last nit of strength I had, I knocked on the door as I slumped to the ground, burying my face between my knees. I was almost hurt today. And I was in the presence of the biggest crime lord in Gotham. You would be upset too if these things happened to you. I heard the door opened, and I realized it was Alfred by the sound of his shouts, calling Bruce.

"Master Wayne!" he called before sitting down at the steps with me. "Miss Sarah, what happened to you?"

I didn't do anything. I was too tired, too scared, and too upset to do anything. I barely moved as I heard footsteps come out the door, and I knew that Bruce had come out. I heard him curse under his breath as I felt him pick me up and carry me inside.

"You all right?" he asked me.

I shook my head as he carried me into the living room and laid me down in the couch, covering me with a blanket.

"Alfred," Bruce said. "Call the police and tell them she's home,"

"Yes sir," Alfred obeyed his orders.

I took deep breaths as I closed my eyes. How could this happen to me? Josh actually hated me enough to try and kill me. My life was some stupid teen drama movie. Bruce left me for a while, but then he came back with tea and a long rectangular box.

"Come on," he said softly to me as he sat down beside me. "Sit up,"

I slowly sat up, the arm of the couch resting my back.

"I want you to listen to something...Josh has been taken into custody and taken to the juvenile facility until a hearing is scheduled. I want you to stay home tomorrow so you can rest and take things easily. You can go back to school on Friday. Do you understand me?"

I nodded slowly. Bruce gave me the tea, and I sipped it slowly as he pulled out the box he had with him. He opened it revealing a sethescope.

"My father didn't like running Wayne Enterprises," he said. "He thought it would be better off to people who were better. Well...interested, is how he put it,"

I smiled a bit.

"So, he worked at the hospital...I want you to see something else,"

Bruce took out the sethescope, put it to his ears, and listened to my heart. He smiled a bit.

"Looks like someone's been running fast...Now I want you to hear my heart,"

I was given the sethescope, and I listened to his heart in turn. There was silence from both of us, until we looked at each other. What was he telling me with this?

"My father and I used to do this all the time," he said. "We'd listen to each other's hearts with this. You know what I heard in yours?"

Let me guess. Fear? Lack of courage? Someone about to have a heart attack?

"Your mother and father,"

This took me by surprise.

"They may be gone Sarah, but anytime you're afraid, lonely, or just scared, and Alfred or I can't be there...just put a hand to your heart and they'll send someone to stay with you. To help you...Do you know why we fall?"

I shook my head.

"So that we can learn to pick ourselves up,"

READER'S POV:

Late that night, Bruce checked on Sarah, asleep in her bed. She seemed so tired, and deep in sleep. Alfred came up behind him.

"It's a terrible thing," he said. "To see a child suffer this much,"

"...This is what I meant by people needing dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy," Bruce said softly. "Gotham's been corrupeted for years, and it's finally beginning to try on its second generation,"

"Master Wayne...Do you think it would be a wise choice to tell Miss Sarah what's been going on lower foundations?"

Bruce shook his head.

"No," he said.

"With all due resepect, Master Wayne, Sarah is now a resident at Wayne Manor,"

"And she's also my responsibilty to make sure she's safe and sound, and so far I've done a lousy job at it...Sarah will be safer not knowing about what I'm becoming...I promised her someone will be there to help her though, and I will see to it that it happens,"

(A/N: Just so you guys know, Sarah's gonna meet Batman in the next chapter. She's gonna try and get some evidence on Falcone, because it was the case her parents died working on. So review please)