Disclaimer: I don't own "Batman Begins"
Later that night, I'm sitting on Ally's bed, in her room, dressed in a white tank top and black pajama pants. Ally and I were stuffing our faces with all sorts of snacks, laughing, and talking about random stuff. We still couldn't get over about what happened at the school, but other than that, we were having a good time. Rachel and Alfred (who I saw later after they had arrested my Uncle Edgar), said that it would be all right that I can spend the night with Ally. Besides, if they said no, Ally would just keep on begging. When we were led out of the school, I had never been so gaurded in my entire life. Sergeant Gordon was by my right, and Rachel on the other, leading me with the Farris's to the car, before people would come out and notice what happened. To my disappoinment, the Batman disappeared before we had a chance to see him again. I was kind of upset that I didn't get a chance to formerly say Thank You. On our way back to the Farris Manor, Ally could never stop asking me questions about the Batman, despite the headache she had recieved from Edgar's hit. And up to now, she was still asking me questions.
"So what?" she kept asking. "Is he really a bat? Is he real?"
"What do you mean 'real'?" I asked as I dropped some skittles into my open mouth. "Like he's actually a person?"
"Yeah. Is he?"
"Of course he is...I've told you that 5 times already,"
Suddenly, the lights flickered off and on. Wow...That was strange. I raised an eyebrow, and looked at Ally, laughing a bit.
"What just happened?" I asked, reaching for another brownie.
"Ugh," Ally groaned. "Our new security guard, Ethan. He's new, and still a bit confused as to what switch turns on the porch lights,"
I giggled a bit as someone knocked on Ally's door.
"Come on in," Ally gave permission.
"Sorry to bother you Miss Allison and Miss Sarah," a maid walked in, nodding her head once to us as if we were royalty. "But Miss Sarah has a visitor,"
Ally gasped, almost a bit in excitement.
"Who is it?" she asked. "Batman? I knew it!"
"Ally," I started, almost getting annoyed. "I am pretty sure Batman wouldn't use the front door to enter someone's house,"
"Well, then, who is it?"
"Bruce Wayne," the maid replied.
Ally and I snapped our heads up, and looked at each other. Bruce was here! In a flash, I grabbed a spare bathrobe, leapt off the bed, and hurried as fast as I could downstairs. Ally followed close behind me.
"Question--" she started.
"If this is about Batman--" I said, tying my robe around my waist.
"No! It's about your godfather,"
"...OK,"
"Has he seen Batman?"
Stopping, I turned on one foot to face Ally. She had an innocent toothy grin on her face. It looked like she was having fun asking me all these questions. But I swear, with all the answers I'm giving her, she'll have enough information to start her own website. I sighed in frustration.
"You said this wasn't about Batman," I pointed out.
"It's not," Ally debated politely. "It just has Batman as the subject,"
"...Yeah, Bruce has seen him. But he doesn't like bats, and that's as far as I'm going there. Can I go now? He's waiting for me,"
Ally waved her arms up in the air, letting me go...for now anyway. Practically sliding in Ally's fuzzy warm pink slippers I borrowed on the marble floor, I raced downstairs to meet Bruce. My heart was beating like a buzzing hummingbird. I hadn't seen my godfather for two days and I really missed him. When I reached downstairs, I heard Mr. and Mrs. Farris talking in the parlor with Bruce behind a closed door. My eyes brightened as I reached to knock, but something caught by attention. Crouching on th ground, I pressed my ear on the woooden door, listening to a conversation that I shouldn't have to listen to.
"How bad did he hurt her?" I heard Bruce.
"...It looked like she struggled," Mr. Farris replied. "She told the police that Edgar locked her and Josh in their rooms yesterday, and kept them from school. Later she was able to get themselves out, and while exploring the mansion, Josh was screaming. She looked like she put up a good fight. There's a bruise by her right eye..."
I heard Bruce sigh as I slowly crept a hand to the side of my face, remembering the first hit I recieved.
"...One on her forearm, leg, and stomach,"
"We suppose," Mrs. Farris stated. "That she was trying to be the hero, and be brave,"
A Hero? Me? Brave?...Yeah right. Silently, I stood up straight, tightening the robe around my waist more. How can I be called a hero if I didn't win the fight? How can I be brave if I was terrified when I fought my uncle? How come it has to be me that has to be those things? I heard someone come to te door. Gasping in audibly, I tip toed quickly away so it would look like I was just coming down the stairs. Going two at a time, I heard Mrs. Farris.
"I'll go and see if she's on her way down," she said, out of my sight.
Standing up straight, I began walking down the stairs again, my hand gliding on the smooth, marble banister. My feet hardly made a sound as Mrs. Farris noticed me, and greeted me with warm, motherly smile.
"There you are," she said as I reached the final step.
"You wanted to see me?" I asked.
"Yes," Mrs. Farris nodded as she but a gentle arm around my shoulders. "You have a visitor who would like to speak to you,"
"Bruce," I confirmed.
Mrs. Farris looked at me with a kind smile, and nodded. When she opened the door to the parlor, I immedietly ran in and wrapped my arms around Bruce's neck, who gave me a gentle hug in return. Mr. and Mrs. Farris left us alone, and as soon as the doors closed, I broke apart first, and started talking.
"I can't believe you're here," I could contain my excitement. "I've missed you so much,"
"Me too," Bruce gave a small smile. "...From what I hear from Ally's parents, you two gave quite the performance tonight,"
"You mean what happened at the school? Well...That was sort of--like a spur of the moment kind of thing. We never actually planned--"
"Sarah,"
I stopped, looking at Bruce more clearly. His face was serious and his eyes were stern as they looked at me. For the first tim in a while, I was a bit nervous to talk with him. He pointed to the couch, telling me to take a seat. As if I was on my way to a death sentence, I plopped down on the couch, hands in lap, and head almost down, ashamed to look at Bruce as he sat next to me.
"Sarah," he said to me, more softly. "Listen to me. I'm not mad at you. I'm just disappointed. You've done some pretty reckless things in the past few days. Can you tell me why?"
"...I guess I was trying to be brave," I said quietly. "Like you and Alfred, Batman, Rachel, Mom, and Dad,"
Bruce raised an eyebrow.
"Who said you had to be brave?" he asked me.
I shrugged.
"It's what people wanted," I answered.
Bruce shook his head.
"Sarah," he started. "Being brave does not mean that you can't tell someone that you are being physically abused...Asking for help is actually a sigh of strength when you're in trouble,"
"But I didn't want anyone to get hurt," I protested.
"The only person that was getting was you: Being too prideful and too headstrong to let anyone in to help you...You had us all worried sick, you and Josh. They found him in that town you were going to run to a half hour ago. His mother's been informed, and she's on her way from Paris to meet him,"
I looked at Bruce strangely, wondering how he knew about this. No one else knew about my plan to run away.
"How did you know about that?" I asked softly.
"Someone found the train ticket in your backpack," Bruce replied.
"Batman?"
"No. Haley Kingston,"
My eyes were wide. No way. NO WAY! Haley Kingston wentthrough my stuff and took away a personal item, and turned me in. Why that little--ARGH! Groaning out loud, my hands covered my face as I leaned back.
"Haley was actually trying to help you," Bruce said.
"More like getting back at me for what I did to her stupid dress," I grumbled under my breath.
"Sarah, she gave us a clue to what was going on,"
"Bruce, you don't think I tried to tell you that I was in trouble?"
"Calm down,"
"No," I stood up and faced Bruce. "No. I won't calm down, because you won't let me explain what happened. Edgar made me call Alfred and say that I was sick. I would've called him back if he didn't take the phone with him. The only communication I had with another person was through a walkie talkie! And Batman--"
"This isn't about Batman, Sarah," Bruce thought I was changing the subject
"I know it's not, but I trust him. I got sick my first night at the Masons, and he stayed with me until I fell asleep...and I still didn't tell him,"
"...Why didn't you tell him?"
"...I didn't tell him or anybody else because after someone emotionally and physically abuses you for most of your life, it feels like they're watching you...Bruce, look at me. Look at what Edgar did to me. I was protecting Josh. I fought back. I did what I thought you would do if someone was in trouble. You can't see that? You of all people should see that! You're my godfather! You're supposed to--Ugh!"
I couldn't finish my sentence. I turned my back towards Bruce, and stared into the glowing fireplace. My eyes grew watery from staring at the dancing flames and the leaping sparks. A hand went down on my shoulders as Bruce came up from behind me...the way he did that...I didn't even hear him get up. Someone else had done it to me like that...But who?
"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I intended to comfort you, and instead I made you feel worse...I guess I said all those things was because I didn't know what to say. I know your mother would've been traumatic if she saw you in this situation,"
"... For as long as I can remember, she devoted her life to protecting others," I said softly. "I wanted to be like her,"
"You are her, and much more. And that makes me happy because I'm proud to say that tomorrow morning, you're coming back to live with me and Alfred,"
Letting out an inaudible gasp, I turned around to face my godfather. That small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as I hugged him, my head resting on his chest. A tear fell down my bruised cheek as Bruce stroked my head gently, letting the strands of my blode hair sweep through his fingers. The way he did that made me uneasy with the thought that that had happened before. I tried to remember who had done it, but some unseen force had blocked it from my memory. But I did remember that even if I was able to go back with Bruce, my life would still be in jepordy. Though Edgar was in custody, it wasn't for murder. It was for the abuse he used on two children, who were practically hostages in their, quote on quote, "home". Fear of Edgar coming for me sent icy chills up my spine. I gasped involuntarily, and broke away from Bruce.
"What's the matter?" he asked concerned.
"Nothing," I lied, gasping for air.
Bruce had me sit back down on the couch, telling me to take deep slow breaths as he rubbed my back in a comforting way.
"Something else is bothering you," he said softly.
"...What if Edgar...What if he..." I stammered to find the right words. "If he takes me again--"
"It's possible Edgar might be able to bail himself out," Bruce understood what I was trying to say. "But I promise you, Edgar will not, and cannot take you away again. I won't allow it. The police won't allow it. Batman won't allow it. And Social Services won't allow it. They haven't been allowing it for years,"
I furrowed my eyebrows.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, confused.
"I promise," Bruce said again. "I'll explain everything tomorrow night over dinner. Besides...It's time you know what's really been going on,"
"What has been going on?"
"...Tomorrow night. Over dinner. I promise you that things will make more sense by then,"
"Oh my gosh, Sarah," Ally said, excited. "This is great. Everything's going back to normal,"
I smiled. An hour later, I was back in Ally's room, sitting on a twin bed that was set up for me. Everyone was inside for the night, most of the Farris household sleeping soundly. Not a loud crash would wake them. Not even the loud, nasty, and windy thunderstorm going on outside. The weather report said that it was going to last all night, and advised us to stay inside so that we wouldn't feel like we're taking a shower with our clothes on. I sat up on my bed as Ally spoke again..
"Do you think Batman fights crime in thunderstorns?" she asked.
I groaned, falling backwards on the bed.
"Ally," I complained.
"What?" Ally wondered what she had done wrong.
"Don't you think that's a bit rhetorical? Besides, I don't think he's out tonight,"
"How come?"
"It's too windy outside. He'll be losing control of the way he flys,"
Ally's eyes lit up.
"He actually flys?" she asked. "No way! That's awesome! What else can he do?"
Oh man. She's never going to stop bugging me about Batman. Aw well, I guess I better humor her. I sat up more, my back resting against the head board.
"OK," I said. "I surrender. I'm open for questions. What do you want to know?"
Ally's smile widened, and sat up, ready for an interview.
"OK," she started eagerly. "For starters, what's with the voice he's got? I mean, does he have a bad cough, did he used to smoke, or something like that?"
"My guess is that it's his Batman voice," I answered immedietly. "I've heard him speak in a different voice before,"
"Awesome. Does he a daytime job, or something?"
"As far as going around at night in a cape, and fighting crime, I have no idea,"
"What about his face? Have you seen what he looks like under the mask?"
"...No. The only thing I know about his face is that he has light green eyes, and I feel like I've seen them before, but I don't know who it is,"
"So? A lot of people have light green eyes. Nathan has light green eyes," Ally fought my response. "...I don't get it. I mean, from all the times you've been with this guy, I'd expect him to tell you who he is. Come on, he can trust you. Heck, he can even trust me,"
"Somehow I highly doubt that," I joked.
Ally gasped dramatically, and threw a small pillow at me. I laughed a bit as I ducked out of the way. She knew I was joking so I didn't have anything to worry about.
"I don't know," I said about Batman's true identity. "If anything, I think he's protecting me by not tellin me his real name. The scary part is that he knows more about me than I do about him,"
"Like what?"
"He knew my parents first names,"
Ally shrugged
"He probably read about them in the paper," she replied. "I know I did,"
"He knew where Wayne Manor was when I was still living with Bruce, and he knew where the Mason Mansion was,"
"Sarah, everyone in the whole city of Gotham knows where the grandest and the creepiest houses are,"
"He knew about my guardianship problem,"
Ally was about to speak, but stopped.
"...OK," she said cautiously. "Now that's just weird. Very few people knew about that,"
"I know," I agreed. "Creepy huh?"
"Yeah, in a cool way...Hey, do you have a picture of youre parents? I wanna see it,"
"Sure,"
I moved out of the bed, and knelt next to my backpack that sat by the closet. I can't believe that I actually took it off. Maybe I wanted to keep it safe or something. But something happened. I couldn't find it. Going from scared to frantic, I spilled the contents of my backpack.
"What's wrong?" Ally asked.
"My locket's gone!" I nearly shouted.
"Calm down," Ally got out of her bed. "I'm sure it's in there somewhere,"
"No! My backpack's completely empty. Someone must've...Oh no..."
"What?"
"Haley Kingston,"
"...Oh no she didn't!"
"Oh yes," I stood up, mad as heck. "She did,"
Ally growled in a bit of annoyance.
"Why that--" she said through her teeth. "Ugh, she so fits the criteria of evil prep: Snitcher, Sassy, and a Thief,"
"Aren't you a prep too?" I asked, furroing my eyebrows.
Ally shrugged.
"Yeah," she admitted. "But I'm the good kind of prep: The kind that's actually human...Look, why don't we get some sleep? We can squeal on Haley before breakfast in the morning,"
"Squeal?" I repeated, moving toward my bed. "The rate I'm going, I want to file a report on her,"
"Relax," Ally got under the covers on hrt bed. "If I know Haley, and sadly I do, she won't do anything to it,"
"That locket means the world to me. It's all I have left of my parents,"
"...I believe it's safe,"
I was confused as Ally turned off the lamp between our beds, and settled in, her back facing me. Leaning towards her, I asked Ally a question.
"Why do you think my locket's safe?" I asked.
"Oh come on," Ally's tired voice sounded. "You of all people should believe in guardian angels. You practically have one of your won. I mean, I believe in angels. Don't you?"
Silence filled the room until I heard nothing but the thunderstorm outside, and Ally's soft breathing. Exhaling, I laid myself down on the bed, and thought about everything I've heard and seen since my stor began. I don't know if I believe in guardian angels. There have been stories that angels help people in situations with inexplicable solutions. But I doubt that an angel would help me out in the form of a bat. Despite my excitement to go back home with Bruce in the morning, I could hardly keep my eyes open. Slowly closing my eyelids, I waited for sleep to come to my need. But a small sound, admist the boastful thunderstorm outside, was able to reach my ears. I thought it was all my imagination from lack of good sleep for the past two nights, however Ally let out a sleepy grunt.
"Listen," she whispered, hardly awake. "Do you hear that?"
Listening, I tried to see what the noise sounded like. It wasn't easy, needless to say, to hear it through the bad weather. Somehow, I was able to find out what it was.
"It sounds like one of your dogs," I declared softly.
"Genghas," Ally confirmed. "That's funny. I thought Nathan brought him inside with the other two before mom and dad told us to go to bed...Man, that means I have to go get him,"
"That's okay," I protested. "You're hardly awake. I'll go and get him,"
"You sure?" Ally whispered, lying back down.
"Positive. I'll be back in 10 minutes,"
"I'll be asleep in 2 minutes...Be careful out there,"
"I will,"
(A/N: I don't own "Hear Me" By Kelly Clarkson)
As Ally went back to sleep in a wonderful slumberland, I started changing into some clothes. It wouldn't be that smart going out in pajamas in the middle of a storm. Putting my hair in a ponytail, and dressing in a pink tank top, jeans, a denim midrif long sleeved jacket, and my old puma tennis shoes, I took a flashlight, and quietly snuck out of the Farris mansion, not knowing that there were dangers that awaited me out front.
...Hear me...Hear me...
When I had made it downstairs, I stopped for a moment, with my hand on the doorknob. Something inside me said that I should stay inside. For whatever reason, I don't know why. I thought about staying inside for a few short seconds, but something else protested that. Everytime I listened to my gut, it always landed me in trouble. BIG trouble. So, maybe this time, I should listen to my head. And my head was telling me to get Ally's dog inside and out of the pouring rain. Unlocking the door silently, I grabbed a leash that was on a nearby table, left the flashlight, and slipped outside, rain drops immedietly pelting me as hard as they could.
You gotta be out there...You gotta be somewhere...Wherever you are...I'm waiting...
I followed the golden retrievers barking over the roaring thunderstorm. He didn't seem tha tfar away from the house, but I hurried as fast as I could so that I could get back inside sooner. As I ran on the slippery grass, I noticed the security guard house. It seemed suspicious at first to find its lights off and no guard inside. But then I though that there was a power surge a second ago, or something like that. Not thinking any further on the subject, I went back on thinking to bring Genghas back inside and to not catch a cold, needless to say. There he was, standing on all four legs, barking at nothing in particular. He didn't seem to notice me, so I casually moved toward him.
"What are you doing out here, boy?" I cooed softly as I put the leash on him. "Huh? Come on, let's get you inside where it's nice and warm,"
Genghas continued barking, practically at nothing. All I took was one look at the direction he was facing, and shook my head.
"There nothing out there," I said to him as if he understood me. "Come on. We have to get inside,"
Suddenly, I heard a loud click right behind me. I stopped, the dogs leash inside my fist tightly. Slowly being frozen, from fear and the cold rain, I was able to stand up straight. The click belonged to a gun, and the barrel of it was touching the back of my wet head.
"Make one wrong move," an unfamiliar voice whispered in my ear. "And you've got an unpleasent execution waiting for you when this is all over,"
I stayed as calm as I could, my breathing soft, but long. The captor's breath smelled foul of cigarettes and alchhol. It made a memory flash in my head of Edgar hitting me the other night. The captor movied to tie my wrists together as I secretly wished that I should've trusted my gut, and stayed inside. Slowly, I let the dog leash slip from my fingers...
Cause there are these nights when I sing myself to sleep. And I'm hoping my dreams will bring you close to me. Are you listening?...
Suddenly, my captor started yelling in pain as Genghas immedietly took action, sinking his teeth into the gunman's leg.. This was my chance to get away. Not looking back, I started to run for the safety of my life.
Hear me, I'm crying out. I'm ready now.
Secretly thanking Ally's dog in my head, I raced with the storm, the growing and yells of pain growing farther and fainter behind me.
"Keep running," I motivated myself softly. "Don't look back. Just keep moving. Don't stop,"
Turn my world upside down. Find me.
Although the struggle of man and "man's best friend" was far from me, I heard a painful whimper in the dark. A whimper of a dog. I didn't hear a gunshot, but I knew that Genghas was hurt. I whipped my head to face the direction I was running from, regardless of the advice I had given myself earlier.
"Oh no," I whispered.
I'm lost inside this crowd. It's getting loud.
I could hear grunting behind me. Grunts of pain. I felt trapped. Obviously, this guys will stop at nothing to get me, and Ally's yard was big and dark enough to get me lost, despite the siutation of getting away.
I need you to see, I'm screaming for you to please...
A lightbulb went out in my head. Ally's yard had trees. Really big trees, at least big enough to climb. Making up my mind, I trusted my instincts this time, and climbed up a nearby tree for refuge.
Hear me...Can you hear me?...Hear me...
My captor came into view below me as I clung onto an old thick branch, my arms wrapped around it, and my head resting on the bark. I never really got a clear look at his face, but the guy who was attempting to kidnap me definetly had a bloodied up leg that was going to need bandages. A LOT of bandages. Suddenly, just when he was about to move on, luck seemed to turn against me. The thick branch I was holding onto was starting to break. A loud crack made me wince and groan in my head. My captor stayed, looking around.
I used to be scared of letting someone in. But it gets so lonely being on my own
"Batman," I cried out in my head as the branch broke more. "Help me. Please. I need you to help me. I need you here,"
No one to talk to and no one to hold me. I'm not always strong. Oh, I need you here. Are you listening?
SNAP! The branch completely broke off from the tree, and fell off with me attached to it. I landed on top of who would be my kidnapper, bringing us both to the ground. I acted as if he was a giant venomnous snake and tried to crawl away from him. Before I could get up and run again, the guy grabbed my ankle while still on te ground, and I fell back down. Planting my hands firmly as I could on the wet grass, I struggled to get his strong grip off of me. BAM! I stomped my foot on his face right on the nose. Yelling out in pain, he let me go, and I jumped on my feet, and started running again.
Hear me, I'm crying out. I'm ready now. Turn my world upside down. Find me. I'm lost inside this crowd. It's getting loud. I need you to see. I'm screaming for you to please...Hear me
My attempt to run appeared to be useless. The guy caught up with me, and grabbed me in a suffocating bear grip, keeping my arms at my sides with one strong arm. I struggled with all my might, yelling, and kicking my legs in the air.
"Help!" I screamed out. "Somebody please! Help me!"
But it seemed that I was mute, for my voice was tuned out by the thunder. No one was coming to help me...No one at all.
I'm restless and wild. I fall, but I try. I need someone to understand. Can you hear me?
I struggled still, fighting for my right to be free. My captor moved to get something as he kept me hostage in his grip.. It was my surprise, when I looked from the corner of my eye, to find some sort of syringe with this really big needle, sticking straight out.
"No!" I pleaded, fearing for the worst. "Don't!"
I'm lost in my thoughts. And baby, I've fought for all that I've got. Can you hear me?
The sharp, stinging pain started as soon as the guy practically stabbed the needle into my neck.. As the captor released me, everything seemed to slow down. Holding my neck, I let out a scream that I thought could be heard over the storm, and collapsed on my knees.
Hear me, I'm crying out. I'm ready now
My neck was burning, and tears of pain streamed down my cheeks. The guy just stood there, watching me in my excruciating situation.
Turn my world upside down. Find me
I didn't feel myself crash completely on the wet grass. Everything seemed upside down or in a funny shape. I fought to keep my eyes open. I told myself to stay awake, and that someone would come and rescue me before I would be able to close my eyes.
I'm lost inside this crowd. It's getting loud.
I looked up to the sky as my vision was starting to get blurry...Why didn't he come? Why didn't Batman come and save me? He promised he'd be watching my every move, and make sure that I would be safe.
I need you to see. I'm screaming for you to please...Hear me
I was suddenly picked up in my captors arms. I wanted to fight back, but my body didn't get the message. Everything was limp: My arms, my legs, my head, and my neck was still burning from the needle. The only thing that clouded my mind was one thought, repeating over and over again:
"Save me please"
Hear me. Hear me.Can you hear me?
The next thing that happened, I felt my head collide with a cushioned surface as I was thrown in the backseat of a car. I couldn't get up. Everything was going wrong. The door slammed, and a few short seconds later, tires burned rubber as the car took off, taking me away. I had this gut feeling that I would never see the ones I cared for again
Hear me. Hear me. Can you hear me?
I stole one last look to the window, and saw a hazy night sky. Searching for any sign of the Caped Crusader, my hopes vanished when I saw nothing. As darkness consumed my energy and vision like a thick blanket, I managed to mummble one thing.
"Can you hear me Batman?" I whispered before losing conciousness
Hear me. Hear me. Hear me.
(A/N: If you guys want to know what happens next, Review...Am I really that bad at leaving cliffhangers? If I am, that means I'm doing a pretty good job aren't I? Review please, and I'll update as soon as possible)