Darkbird

Lost

The manor felt haunted. That was the first thought that popped into my head as I roamed the halls. Everything was in place but there was eerie stillness. I saw portraits of my grandparents, my brothers, my father, and everyone I knew and loved. I walked to the study and spun the clock hands until the stairs appeared. I walked down them and felt as though I stepped into a museum.

It was strange. Though everything here was strange. I was alive but everything around me was dead in a way. So I cried alone in a cave, mourning.

***

"I wonder what it would be like to be dead?"

"What?"

"Ya know, like where do you go, how does it feel? Stuff like that."

"Well that's certainly morbid," I said

JJ shrugged her shoulders and continued, "What like you never get curious?"

I stared at her and sighed. It was entirely too early for esoteric questions at 7 in the morning. I poured another cup of coffee and chugged it. I would maybe regret it later.

I walked out my kitchen and found my way to my bedroom. My clothes were neatly folded on my bed just like Alfred used to do. I slipped them on and fixed myself in the vanity. The circles under my eyes were darker than yesterday. More concealer was needed.

I grabbed my book bag and headed out the door. Gotham University was only a short walk away and I needed some morning air. I yawned as I walked, the wind hitting my face wasn't enough to wake me up. I knew I shouldn't have done it but I did it anyway. It honestly wasn't worth being shot at by the GCPD.

***

"Earth to Alex," JJ sang.

I turned to look at her. She bounced excitedly on her feet as I sat slumped at our kitchen table. I must've fallen asleep as the sun had already set. As I came to, JJ's excitement was gradually increasing.

She slammed a paper on the table so quickly I shot up.

"Look," she giggled.

I looked down at the envelope. It had my name, our address, and an seal from Wayne Enterprises. My stomach flipped at the site of it. Nonetheless, I opened the envelope and took out it's contents. I froze as I read the words.

"What does it say," JJ squealed.

"It says that they accepted my application to the internship," I answered.

"That's great news!" JJ exclaimed.

"Yeah," I said.

JJ stared at me in disbelief of my lack of enthusiasm. I ignored it as I could feel the formation of a pounding headache and irony hitting me. I'd been in this world for six months and I never thought I'd ever be near my dad ever again. Now I was working at his company.

"This is exciting Alex. Usually freshmen never get internships like this. Come on, you must be exicted to be working on cutting edge science. Didn't you say you'd kill for clinical research?"

I did say that, though I never expected it to be there. I thought that this new life would keep me separated my old one. Or rather the one life that clearly doesn't exist anymore. I don't know, Phantom Stranger did a shit job of explaining. What I do know is that the multiverse can suck it.

"I am happy," I said finally. "I just have a headache, night JJ."

***

Is it weird to stalk your father and brother? Most definitely, but I haven't ever done anything normal since I was thirteen. My mom was alive, Uncle Ted hadn't just left me with some random man, and my family was forever splintered. Granted I did get a new family, too many brothers, a sister, Alfred, friends, etc. Now I'm alone and they live on with their reality.

Their reality is somewhat similar to what I remember. My mom is dead and mt uncle is missing. I was also considered a missing person until now. It was like I was erased for a while but now I'm here. He couldn't tell me exactly how I'm here but I don't think the answer matters anymore.

I know I mope too much, that's what Alfred would tell me. But, I don't have Alfred anymore and they don't either. It hurts to know that he's dead. I always relied on him, everyone else did too, but he was the only constant in my life.

I look at my laptop and watch as Batman and Robin save the night. My heart aches a little wishing to be with them. I miss fighting with them. I could now but what would I even say to them.

'Hi, I'm Alex. I'm your daughter from a maybe previous timeline or the multiverse. That's not really the important part but can I just rejoin the family again?'

Yeah, as if that would ever happen. I would have to be brain dead to do so. So, I guess I'll stick to stalking them through police scanners and cameras. At least I can know they're safe from afar.