On the Hunt

Only in Gotham

   Helena Bertinelli, an orderly, quiet twelve year old girl with long raven hair sits patiently in the foyer, playing with the folds of her royal purple dress. Her father is in the other room with one of his business associates, and an intense conversation takes place behind the wood and glass door separating his office and the foyer. He’d promised her that he’d take her to lunch today, perhaps that isn’t happening.

The glass door is pushed open and a large, balding man storms out,

“I’m telling you Guido, if Thomas and Martha can be hit, anyone is open.” he warns, pointing to him. He sees Helena, and gives a half-hearted smile, reaching down with his large hand and rubbing her head, “Hey there sweetheart.”

“Hi Uncle Salvatore.” she replies politely, her eyes wide and innocent. Salvatore Maroni isn’t really her uncle, but she’s not quite sure what else to call him.

Guido Bertinelli, a tall, dark-haired man with a stern expression exits his office to see Maroni interacting with his daughter. Maroni looks up from Helena to Guido, “If you care for this little girl here...you’ll get the hell out of town.”

“Don’t you dare bring Helena into this. She’s got nothing to do with thi-”

“Do you think they’re going to care who’s innocent or not? Thomas and Martha’s kid got off lucky, yours, might not be as lucky.” he threatens, his voice calm but menacing.

He walks out of foyer, followed by several equally large men who Helena can only guess are his henchmen.

Guido bends down on one knee, looking Helena in the eye, “You say nothing, okay? Uncle Salvatore was just...upset. He didn’t mean any of those things-”

“Father, is Bruce going to be alright?” she asks him.

He looks away for a second, even though nobody else is in the room with them, “Wha...what happened to Bruce’s family was a terrible, horrible thing, but, but I think he’ll be alright.You know him, he’s a good kid. And I can promise you, that’ll never happen to Mother and me, alright? Okay?”

She nods, “Of course Father.”

He smiles, patting her on the arm, “Okay then, how about lunch at Angelo’s, and then we can go to that new circus in town, sound good?”

She smiles, getting up from her seat, “Yes!”

   Helena and her father get into their chauffeured car after their lunch. Guido reaches over and taps the driver on the shoulder, “To Haly’s Circus please.”

The driver nods, and starts off as Guido sits down, “Helena,” he gestures to the driver, “I want you to meet someone. This is Sal, your new bodyguard.”

The woman driving the car lowers her sunglasses and smiles at Helena through the rearview mirror. Helena waves to her, before methodically folding her hand back on top of her lap, where her hands always seem to be when not in use.

“Whenever you’re in the house and I’m not around, Sal is going to be taking care of you.” Guido explains, “Due to...recent events, I’m going to be busier. Out more, on business, of course.”

“Okay Father.” she nods, almost robotically.

He rustles her hair with his hand, “That’s my girl.”

The car arrives in front of a vast fairground in a usually empty lot in Gotham’s Theatre District. In any other city, Haly’s Circus would appear bright, and cheerful, but in Gotham, the atmosphere of the city itself makes the happy circus seem dark, dreary, and ominous.

Helena holds her father’s hand as they make their way to the main tent. Sal keeps close to them, but tries to stay out of sight, blending in with the general crowd. They take their seats as the lights in the circus come on, and a man in a white-and-red striped suit takes center-stage,

“Greetings, and welcome to Haly’s Circus! Today we have a special treat for you all! Introducing...an act like this never seen before...two famous acrobatic legends, all in one spectacular, extravaganza! Please give it up for...Grayson and Swenson, the Flying Duo!”

The crowd cheers as two acrobats, a man and a woman, appear at the top of the circus tent, where small landing platforms and various hoops have been set up for them. Guido pulls out a pair of binoculars and hands them to his daughter, “Here, use these. You’ll be able to see the show better with them.”

“Thank you Father.” she thanks, taking them and looking up with them.

She watches as the man takes off, diving down and catching the first hoop, holding onto it and swinging with it. She looks down and notices there’s no net to catch them if they were to fall. She looks back up at the act and sees that instead of swinging through to the other side, the woman is now diving down toward the man. He bends over the hoop and catches her with his hand, letting her swing before releasing her, letting her glide up to the top, and he follows her soon after.

Helena and her father applaud as the performers take a bow. They’re just about to begin again when gunshots ring throughout, popping holes into the tent. People in the circus scream, and everyone starts making a panicked escape as the shooting continues. Grabbing Helena by the arm, Guido keeps to the side at the the top of the stairs and tries to get out along with the crowd. One of the shooters spots them, and points to Guido. They then direct their fire towards them, as Guido and Helena hit the ground, getting behind the circus seats for cover. Through the seats, Helena watches as three of the six shooters are taken out by another gun. She looks up and sees Sal is right by them, returning fire. She stands to fire at the two men who’re closing in on them. Helena realizes, where’s the third man? She darts her head left and right, her heart races as she sees him creeping up behind her father and Sal. She scrambles toward Sal, but Sal stands to fire at the other two. The man reaches the top of the stairs and aims his gun at her father. Quickly, Helena sees a spare gun in Sal’s holster. She grabs it, much to Sal’s surprise, “Hey, kid!”

Helena takes aim, and fires, hitting the man square in the chest, and knocking him to the ground.