Chapter one of

My version of the Batman animated series : )

It was a dark and stormy night in Gotham City. Lightning was flashing and thunder cracked across the sky as rain poured down by the bucket full. But the story starts off in an alleyway...

"You ungrateful little wretch! Get back here!" The man shouted behind me.

I pumped my legs harder and harder as I struggled to outrun the abusive man behind me. I turned out of the darkened alleyway into the dimly lit street. My heart pounded in my chest as I heard my captor's footsteps pounding on the pavement behind me. I ducked into another alleyway which so happened to be a dead end. I ran right up to the brick wall and turned around with my back pressed up against it. I saw him come running in and see me backed up against the wall. I was sopping wet, my clothes were plastered against my body and was shaking uncontrollably. He came up to me and grabbed my chin in his hand.

"Now I'm going to teach you a lesson so you never run from me again you little delinquent." He threatened before he threw me against the brick wall. I crumpled to the cement floor as a whimper escaped me. He chuckled, "Always knew you were weak." I looked up as he launched a fist into my face.

I cried out when my head struck the brick wall. 'Great, now I'm going to have a goose-egg with a side of black eye.' I thought. I curled into a ball and waited for another painful blow. I heard a cry of surprise then a short scuffle. I opened my eyes and looked up to see the legendary Batman standing over my oppressor. He stood up and noticed me. I cowered into the wall as he came over. I looked up at him as he knelt down and offered me his hand. I looked at his hand nervously as he nodded.

I slowly put my hand in his before he leaned forward and picked me up. Realizing that I was safe I latched onto his neck and began sobbing.

He brought his hand up and patted my head, "Shh, it's going to be okay kid. You're safe now. Can you do me a favor and hold on?" I nodded into his neck. I felt him move his arm before I heard a loud 'Pop!' I gripped him tighter when I felt us lifted off the ground. "It's okay." We soon landed and he set me down I think in his famous Bat mobile. I sniffled as he got in on the other side and started up the car. He looked over at me as I looked out the window, "What's your name kid?"

I glanced at him, "I never got one." He nodded and looked back at the road. I shortly fell asleep after that and lost all sense of time.

When I woke up my eyes were met with darkness. That is until my eyes adjusted to the dim lights. I sat up and saw my rescuer sitting in front of a computer. I swung my legs over the side of the medical examination table and glanced at my arm. 'He didn't take any blood did he?' My fears were conferred when I saw a small cotton square taped onto it. I looked back at him to see him look over to me. "Thanks." I saw one corner of his mouth turn up before he looked back at his fairly LARGE computer. I slid off the table, "Whatcha workin on?"

He spoke without ever looking up. "There have been several robberies at the Gotham Labs. Almost all of them have been related to some strange reptilian form of D.N.A. and the evidence points straight to the Joker." I nodded and silence enveloped the cave except for the occasional screech of a bat and the soft blips of the computer keys.

"I can help you with the reptilian blood."

He stopped and looked at me, "I know. It's yours."

I nodded as a tear crept into my eye before looking down. He stood up and came over to me, "Did someone experiment with you?"

I shook my head fighting to keep back the torrent of tears threatening to break free. "When my mom was pregnant with me there was an accident at the lab and she ingested or whatever some of the aftermath and it didn't affect her, just me. Then when I was born and she and my dad found out about it they gave me to the orphanage claiming they didn't want a freak." He stayed there silent as I willed the tears away. I finally calmed myself, "So what happens to me now? Can I help you with crime fighting?" I asked with my eyes lighting up in hope, which was immediately dashed by a rather harsh, "No." I whined, "Why not?"

"Because I have connections and you're going to be transferred to another orphanage."

I felt like I had been slapped in the face. I lowered my head, "I understand." He soon turned off the computer and led me back over to the Bat mobile. I climbed inside of it and sat down on the passenger side and silently sat there as we exited the cave. I felt something spray into my face and coughed as my mind began to grow fuzzy and weak, I soon lost unconsciousness.

I awoke to find myself in the ride with Batman, just out of and away from his cave. I saw the pick-up point coming into view and the van that would take me to the orphanage. Seeing the smiling faces made it hurt worse and I made myself bear through it. I sat down in the back of the van and watched him leave before the van rumbled to life and we sped off. I sat in the back beside myself and ignored the stares of the other kids sitting there. I knew I was heading for trouble.