Inside Your Eyes

I shuffled through papers on my desk Connections are good when getting a job. I don't think anyone else had a chance... I shook my head as a woman came to the desk, "Welcome to Wayne Enterprises. May I help you?"

"Yes, I need to talk with the board on some subjects, can you watch over my daughters for a few minutes?"

"Uh..." I peered over the desk to see young, dark haired twins that couldn't have been over five years, Babysitting wasn't in my job description, but they're so cute...

"Unorthodox yes, but I promise I won't be long."

"Ok, will do." Extra pay. The woman left as quick as I said it. Silence followed as the twins stared at me. I stared back trying not to break this invisible staring contest we'd made, "So, what are your names?"

"Katie."

"Caren."

"Oh, well I'm Maya."

"You're an old babysitter," Katie crossed her arms.

My mouth hung open What!?

"Katie be nice!"

"Well she is!" they started to slap at each other.

I got out from behind the desk and separated the two, "Wow, your Mom certainly has her hands full. How does your Mom know this place?"

"Mom has been coming here since Daddy went away," Katie said her previously adorable face turned into a scowl.

"Oh..."

"But Mom let's us write him letters every now and then," Carin said. She was the optimist out of the two alright.

"Well it's good you guys keep in touch. He write back often?"

"No...we sorta leave them at this stone and she tells us he sees them from Heaven."

I was shocked. This woman was raising twins on her own and coping with being a widow. "Well, I'm sure he does. He probably cares a lot, and watches over you so no one hurts you."

Katie scoffed, "If he cares so much why'd he leave?"

The reality of death didn't seem to be understandable to girls so young. I mean all the girls had to go on was a few Disney movies, and they never make death as harsh as it really is. Lisa...Mom... My eyes started to water.

"Are you ok?" The girls both looked at me wondering what this sudden burst of emotion was about.

"Some of my family looks at me from Heaven too," I blinked the tears away.

"Would you like a hug Ms. Maya?" Caren stretched out her arms and jabbed Katie with her elbow who reluctantly stretched out hers as well.

A hug? How long had it been since I had one of those? "I uhh.." The girls latched on to my legs before I could answer. I smiled and pet their heads.

"Oh well, I didn't expect my kids to be so sweet on you. Maybe you should babysit more often." I looked over to see the woman and a member of the Board standing across the room.

"They just...I mean...bonding time?"

The woman laughed a little, "Lets go girls."

"Yes Mom," Caren said, Katie following.

"Thank you for taking care of my kids," she smiled and led the children out of the doors.

Who was that woman Mr. Shelton?" I walked back to my desk.

"Marie Wingberg. Wife of the late Officer Wingberg," he replied.

It all hit me, "Was he killed in action?" Worry began to cover my face, but not for the obvious reasons.

"Yes, by that new villain, that clown...what's her name?"

The word escaped my lips without warning, "Ruse..."

"Ah yeah. Thanks, that would bug me for days." He scratched his five-o'clock shadow, "Oh, also, would you mind running an errand for me?"

I sank down in my chair, "Sure." I ruined a family...and for what? At what price?

"Great," he handed me two manila envelopes, "Take these to Dr. Bensen in the downtown branch. While you're away Julie will take your calls."

I rushed down the stairs and picked up the keys to one of the company cars, "Wonder what's in these things? Why would he even want me to do this? I'm new..." visions of The Joker being behind this flashed in my mind. I shook my head, "No one's heard from him in a week." I started the engine and drove downtown.

The sidewalks were filled with the middle class citizens of Gotham City, "Been a while since I've been here. Usually I'm in the rich section or the ghetto section," I parked by the building and delivered the papers. By the time I was finished, it was nearly sundown.

On my way to the car, a woman at street vendor called to me, "You Maya Conway?"

It began to thunder and clouds started to loom overhead, "Why do you ask?"

"Curiosity. For someone so famous to take such a mediocre job...almost seems criminal."

"Yes, well we all have our ideas about life. If you'll excuse me..."

"How about a Joker doll?" she held up a crude, plush version of the very man I detested.

"No thank you."

"Maybe you'd like a Ruse doll instead," the woman smiled at me.

"No," I opened the car door.

"I'm not so sure I would do that," she took up a tranquilizer gun and pointed it at me.

I froze, drops starting falling onto my skin, "What ...?"

"My daughter is in the hospital. She will not die on your account!'

'What are you talking about?" the adrenaline began to flow through my system Time to run.

"Be still so that mad man can have you back!" She pulled the trigger and a dart whizzed past my hair.

I made a run for it. Groups of people seemed to appear from the sound of the shot, "Hey, it's that Conway girl! Get her!"

What is going on? I panicked and turned at the wrong corner. I was stopped by a chain link fence. I turned around to see some people closing in on me. I decided to climb as quickly as I could, but I felt a small stinging sensation in my back. My grip began to loosen as I fought against the growing urge to sleep, "Why?" My body relaxed and I fell to the wet pavement.