Crack Bruce shrieked as he plunged into the darkness and landed hard at the bottom of the pit His leg throbbed Far above he could hear Rachel screaming for him and he wished she'd hurry A frenzy of muffled screeching and movement filled Bruce with fear The creatures that crowded the cavern and teeth like needles and they descended angry eyes had on him in an explosion of black When Bruce awoke it was night Only Alfred the family's butler was in his room Took quite a fall didn't we Alfred asked in his light cockney accent And why do we fall Master Bruce Bruce winced He knew the answer but was unwilling to reply Alfred gave a patient smile and answered the question himself So that we might better learn to pick ourselves up His leg aching Bruce closed his eyes and nodded When his broken bone had healed Bruce and his parents took the train into the city The family stopped 10
for a moment under the vaulted glass ceiling of Wayne Station Everything in Gotham City even the great Wayne Tower that rose above them in the center of it all seemed to bear Bruce's last name Bruce was proud of his family and what they had done for Gotham He did not love the opera his family was attending in honor of his mother's birthday however The music was interesting and Bruce liked the witches gathered around the smoky cauldron But the bats bursting from a hole on the stage were an unwelcome surprise Bruce knew they were fake but it didn't matter He felt light-headed He could feel the claws go Grabbing his father's arm Bruce begged Can we His father guided the family out of the theater through a side exit Bruce what's wrong his mother asked as they entered the alley I just needed a bit of air Martha his father quickly cut in A bit of opera goes a long way Right Bruce Bruce was grateful for his father's excuse He wanted strong but it was just so difficult His father gave to be 11
Bruce a wink and together they walked toward the main street A man suddenly appeared from the shadows Wallet Jewelry He waved a gun Bruce froze his knees locked That's fine just take it easy The elder Wayne calmly handed Bruce his coat then pulled out his wallet and handed it to the man The thief's hands were shaking his eyes wild I said jewelry He reached forward for Bruce's mother's birthday gift a beautiful strand of pearls Her husband stepped in front of her quickly Hey just a Bang Bruce flinched as his father slumped to the ground Thomas Bruce's mother screamed trying to hold Thomas her husband up Give me that necklace the man shouted Bang His mother lurched and then fell The thief grabbed at her necklace but pearls clattered onto the pavement Bruce stared at the killer's face He memorized every 12
wrinkle and hard edge The man paused briefly and then ran away to the street Bruce sank to his knees beside his parents The next few days were a blur A detective named James Gordon promised to capture the killer Richard Earle Thomas Wayne's second in command at Wayne Enterprises assured Bruce that the business would be waiting for him when he grew up For an eight year old that seemed very far away and not at all real Bruce couldn't stop thinking about that night at the opera It was my fault he told Alfred I made them leave the theater If I hadn't gotten scared you Alfred comforted Bruce No he said Nothing did nothing anyone ever did can excuse that man It's his fault and his alone Do you understand Bruce sobbed I miss them Alfred I miss them so much So do I Master Bruce Alfred replied So do I 13
