Chapter 1

" The wind blew mercilessly around me. The leaves on the healthy trees created a harmony so unbelievably pleasing, that it came in second only to the flavor of fresh, chocolate coated strawberries.

Then I felt it—the wind.

Tears sprang to my eyes as the new, cool pressure passed my skin and shoved me forwards. But then everything went black. All sensation was gone.

I was in a deep dark space that seemed to be getting smaller every second I stayed there. Then I felt something. It was excruciating, and it was coming from my skin.

I watched in horror as my freshly sensitive skin turned black, then green as it molded off before my eyes; dripping off in thick patches of skin and blood."

I woke to my lungs gasping for air because of my screaming bloody murder until my lungs were void of air and the feeling of suffocation roused me. I started to hyperventilate and dashed to the vanity. Nope—The skins still there.

I let out a shaky breath, and carefully set my body on the floor, calming my self. " It was just a dream. I swear, it was just a dream." Despite the intended calming effect, tears gathered in my eyes.

" ohhh..... but the wind....the trees.... it felt..so..so.. real!" I couldn't control my sobs, but I would keep quiet. I pressed my thin legs forcefully against my childlike lips to muffle the sound.

My small room glared back at me, showing me all of the possible dangers of the previous night. Sharp edges, walls, and a heater. Sighing, I wandered to the bathroom in my grungy apartment I shared with my only living relative and sister, Henna.

If it weren't for my... "handicap" I probably would have never of spent nearly as much time as I have in front of the cold, cruel mirror, staring at my childish body for any scratches or marks using concentration most people used only for future deciding tests. Which this was, in a sense, if you want to think about it. You shouldn't, I try not to.

No feeling of relief accompanied me as I stared unrelentingly at my face, first and foremost. My huge,gray eyes had a heartbreaking look of grief and disturbance in them from my dream. Otherwise, my small, button nose was fine. The light sprinkle of freckles above it undisturbed. My slightly chubby cheeks were red from my crying, as well as shiny. Long eye lashes, almost baby-like lips, and a teensy, pixie like stature give people the illusion of youth. My curly, red, Annie-like hair didn't help with that. Despite me being in my twenties, I still get coos and pats on the head. Nothing had scratched or burned my face, but I could never be too sure about the rest of me.

I analyzed my equally tiny chest that gave me some appearance of womanhood and my defined curves. Perfect. My flat stomach—nothing but the age old scar from times long passed. Same story for my legs, which were possibly the most adult thing about me. They were longer then the rest of me, more muscular from countless days of running after Henna. I held my breath while scanning my legs. Nothing—same old, same old.

I carefully peeled the tape from my hands. Tape, you ask? Well, it is important seeing as during the night I have the possibility of scratching my eyes out. So taped behind my back they stay. I scrutinized my bone thin wrists and hands and smiled in a lazy, relaxed manner. There-- nothing to worry about.

I continued smiling as I went on my way to wake up Henna so she can cook me some food.

Henna.... ahhh..... Henna is the best thing in my life. She is my sister, best friend, guardian, and when she needs to be, my mother. Even if she is slightly mentally..."different." What I mean is that she always told me to avoid men at all costs. They would hurt me, abuse me, and use me all for their own need. I trust her more than myself. I trust her with my life all the time. But that would not have been so bad if she had not punished me for even looking at a guy.. and showed me movies only where guys were the bad guys. I know though, guys are horrible, awful creatures, and I wont ever go near them,ever. I promised Henna.

My parents... you may be wondering where they are in all of this. It turns out that my parents ran away when they learned I had a problem. I have not heard from them since my third birthday, and I could not care less. If they ran that quickly, then they must not be the most fantastic people in the world. I think I have benefited from their great cowardice in the long run.

You would think that because I am so fragile I would live somewhere nice, like the suburbs of Virginia. No, you are dead wrong. I live in the only place we can afford, a grungy apartment in the slums of Gotham. Yes, the Gotham where a demented clown is chased by a superhero in a bat outfit. Yippie.

But I appreciate the Bat Man. He has saved me countless times. He has even taken the liberty of silently following me to the bank, where I work, and then back home. Hehe, poor Bat Man thinks I don't know he is following me. How delusional.

My name is Danielle Eupps, Dani for short, and I am for some unknown reason void of any physical feeling. We don't have enough money to get it fixed, even if it possible... Although I wish every day of my life that I could feel the air, or the cold rain falling from the sky. To know sensations such as hot and cold would be heaven.

Yet again, I am Dani. It is nice to meet you; and whether we are ready or not, we are about to board the biggest, most frightening roller coaster ride of our lives.