A/N I have been inspired by a writers conference wherein I met real authors form my area. Plus they gave me Oreos sooooo… I'm back! Sorry this is really late; I just haven't had very much time lately. Yeah, I'll stop gabbing and write.

Disclaimer: Look for my name when the credits play. It isn't there is it?

The door opened slowly. On the other side was a boy just a few years older than her. He looked exactly as he had just twenty minutes ago. But he seemed different somehow. His expression was blank and his eyes seemed unseeing. Maybe it was just her. She wasn't used to seeing people like this.

His eyes actually looked a different color though. Hadn't they been blue earlier? They were brown now. She couldn't say anything. He pulled on her wrist and half dragged her to the stairs. Different, very different. He hadn't been rough with her that morning. Something was definitely wrong. She was just too afraid to ask.

"So, Raven, where did you come from again?" He asked. His voice was different too.

"I thought I already told you that Richard." Raven answered. She was trying to sound uninterested. When they arrived downstairs the front hall was dark. She could hardly see the looming shapes of the furniture. Then she noticed a round, tall, layered shape. A cake. It was her birthday.

Suddenly the lights were on. Bruce was standing in front of her with a huge smile on his face. "Happy birthday, Raven." He bellowed.

She felt something cold and hard pressed against her back. A gun. What was going on? Bruce was studying Richard's face with an odd expression.

"You're not Richard." His eyes widened in realization. The man behind me cocked the gun, getting ready to fire. Bruce heard the click and jumped at her. Bad idea. There was a bang as the bullet was released. She felt I pierce her back. She couldn't scream or cry out. Raven fell to the floor clutching her side.

Bruce was attacking a man who had now unmasked himself and was sporting a clown suit. What was with these people? She could understand if they had enemies. They were rich after all. But hand-to-hand combat with gun-wielding clowns? Something was seriously wrong with them.

Raven slowly pushed herself into a sitting position, trying to ignore the blood and the pain gushing out of her side. She noticed a thick, gauzy napkin sitting on the table. She grabbed it and started wrapping it tightly around her thin waist. It reminded her of when her friend Hex was shot. The guy that did it took her away, towards the hospital. They never saw her again and assumed she had been given to a foster home. That or she died.

Chewing on her lip, Raven somehow crawled over to the staircase. The pain was hard to resist now, but she pulled herself up the stairs. She almost cried when she reached the first floor. If she could drag her body just another few feet she would be able to reach the elevator. She could see the metal doors from the place where she sat panting on the floor. Shoving her legs beneath her, Raven slowly, painfully crawled her way to her only chance.

The elevator took her to the third floor. She grabbed the conveniently placed chair rail and stood, leaning on the flimsy piece of wood for support. Pushing herself along the wall she tried to recognize the doors that lead to her and Richard's rooms. Everything looked the same. The hall was spinning and she breathed deeply.

There were two sets of feet standing in front of her. She was on the ground. She looked up, her vision filled with black spots. A thin, formally dressed man, Alfred. She recognized Richard's spiky black hair. His bright blue eyes were easily seen, even in the dim light of the hall. The younger man bent down and pushed her on to her back. She flinched and cried out.

Raven's eyes were squeezed shut in pain. Richard lifted her off the floor. He ran down the stairs. And she fainted. A voice resounded around her.

"Happy birthday Raven…"

A/N Seriously sorry this is so late. School just got out and my mom signed me up for a bunch of things she thought I might like. I have a sort of contest for all of you who want to do it. Answer this question:

How old am I?

Oh, Ali, you aren't allowed to answer that.

See you when I decide to Update again.