Innocent (A Treacherous Novel)

10

Gotham City, New Jersey

December 26, 2003

The chilled night air of the smog-laden city enveloped all of Ashley's senses as she climbed out of the tunnel system and ran as quickly as she could to the grounds of Gotham Centennial Park where the snow was beginning to fall once again. She smiled and laughed quietly as she made her way to the middle of the park with no interruptions from her father, Dick, Wally, or Roy which was surprising for her. She sat on a bench under a tree and pulled out her journal and thought about what exactly she wanted to write. As she was writing, the energy around Ashley shifted and the girl tensed. "Isn't it dangerous for kids to be outside at night alone?" A girl's voice asked as she sat down beside her. She couldn't have been more than a few years older than Ashley at most, but Ashley didn't know what to think of the girl sitting in front of her.

"It always is, upwards of sixty percent of children see violence before the age of seventeen" Ashley informed her, eyes narrowing as she looked the girl up and down.

"I'm Jade" The girl said and held out her hand, giving her an almost chesire-like grin.

"Ashley" Ashley introduced and shook her hand. Jade's grin widened in what most people would view as predatory, though Ashley instinctually knew better. She couldn't explain why though, and that was the most perplexing thing to the socialite in that moment.

"So who are you running from?" Jade asked her.

"No one or everyone" Ashley shrugged and thought about her answer for a moment. "And everything, I guess."

"Tell me about it" Jade said and slouched back. "So have you heard of Kieran's downtown?" Jade asked. The eleven-year-old shook her head and Jade grinned once again. "I think you'd like it, it's where all the runaways go."

"I haven't run away" Ashley defended. "I just left home for some quiet" She informed her.

"Let me guess, familial expectations are loud?" Jade asked her.

"For me? Maybe more than anyone" Ashley confirmed.

"Ah, so you're one of those kids" Jade said and moved her hair out of her eyes while grinning.

"Ashley!" Roy's voice sounded in the distance and she groaned.

"Must be your brother" Jade said as she got up to leave. "I'd love to stay and meet him but" Jade began before shrugging and walking away.

"God" Ashley said and massaged her temple in frustration. "One night is all I ask for" She whispered to herself.

"Ashley!" She heard Roy yell again before he came into sight. "Why are you not answering?" Roy demanded angrily as he stood in front of the teen. "What if something happened?" He yelled.

"If something happened, maybe I'd get some damn peace for once" The eleven-year-old scoffed and stood up. "Let's go, preferably before I decide to throw myself off a building because of my lack of privacy and solitude" Ashley sighed dramatically and began to leave.

"You're not leaving my sight" Roy said dramatically as they left the park.

"I hope some poor bastard runs me over."

♠️♠️♠️

"Garth I swear if I die, I'm gonna haunt your ass" Ashley said as she gripped his arm tightly as they stood on the top of the cliff.

"You'll be fine" Garth laughed. "I'll even bring in a whale for you" He laughed and patted the girl's head.

"I don't think I could handle that without vomiting" Ashley told him honestly. "We can't do this" Ashley began to panic as they took a step closer to the edge. "It's freezing water and I'll die" Ashley said as she began to back up, her heart beating faster in her chest and her eyes widening.