The Joker Rising

Preview

Part one
In which Hadrian finds his destiny...

Unforgettable Events

A bolt of white-hot lightning broke the utter blackness, cleaving the night sky into parts, but just for the briefest of moments. Moments later there came the crash of thunder and right on cue the rain began to fall haphazardly from the sky, as if it wasn't entirely committed to the idea of raining. Then all at once it fell in great sheets; there was nowhere to hide from the downpour. Another flash lit up the sky followed hotly by it's cracking boom. It came so suddenly, the storm, it was as though a tragedy occurred and the Earth was weeping.

Weeping for the child that was being carried up stone steps by a horse-faced woman to the front doors of Sunderland Orphan Asylum. She glanced down at the child that was left, one her doorstep the earlier morning. There was only a name on a card when she found this child while getting the milk. "For what its worth takes care of yourself. I am sorry for whoever left you, I wish the best for you" with a worried look she laid the bundle on the top of the steps in a basket the child was found in, the baby opened its eyes for the first time in a few hours, bright emerald eyes stared as the lady left without looking back. 

A flash of lightning scared the child, but its screams grew as the thunder rolled, “what in heaven's name?” a voice was heard as an elderly lady opened the grand doors to the Orphanage. Her brown eyes looked to where the crying came from to find the child bundled in a fleece blanket, she quickly looked down the street seeing no car or person. “You poor thing,” she cooed at the child lifting him up into her arms, “come let's get you nice and warm.”

The lady walked through the entrance hall to her office setting the basket with the babe on her desk. “Lena come here please,” the lady spoke on the intercom.

“Be right there, Miss Sharp,” a voice responded.

She looked at the child seeing it back to sleep from exhaustion, she then focused on the basket and blanket it was swaddled in, light blue, very soft and expensively made. The child shifted in its sleep, it looked no older than one, a lightning bolt shaped scar on its forehead with tips of raven hair on its head. A small glint of something caught her eyes. Parchment. She carefully pulled the parchment out from under the child when the knock was heard.

“Enter,” she called seeing Lena the young worker who just started a few months back at the door. “This child was found at the front door, could you check to make sure everything is okay?”

The young worker nodded, smiling at the young sleeping child, “I would love to.” Lena said with a smile picking the child up into her arms. “I will return,” she said heading out the door. 

“Thank you Lena.” Once alone, the lady lifted up the parchment, tuning it around she realized it was a letter. She placed her wire rimmed glasses on as she opened the small letter. Just looking over the small letter the sentences were short but broken up, places looked to be blacked out or erased. Though she read it;

Dear Mrs.          the next of Kin,
We are saddened to inform you Mr.     & Mrs.            have been found dead along with his twin in a fire at the end of October.  Hadrian                 is the only survivor, as you,              are the next of Kin the guardianship of Hadrian                 falls to you. I am sorry for your loss.
His birthday is July 31, 1980; he seems to be a bright young boy. Please take him in as your own with your son Mrs.              . I wish you well  Mrs.       and good luck.
Yours truly,

It was not signed, the lady sat with questions forming in her head. She assumed that all the names have been somehow scrubbed out leaving only the child's first name and birth. The question was just what happened....

Find out more in the new story When Blood Comes Calling.