Bethany Ford - A Young Justice Novel (Robin/Dick Grayson Romance) [Completed]

Chapter 1: So Much for a Good-For-Nothing Little Girl

The angry lashes on my back were still burning as my mother raised the belt a final time. My natural instict was to turn around and catch her wrist and pin her arm against her back. But I didn't. I clenched my jaw and awaited the last blow.  As the belt was about to whip my back, I moved forward and leaned into the counter really fast so I could sofen the blow. It was the least I could do.

"You stupid, good-for-nothing, lazy, little girl!" My mom spat at me as I turned around to glare at her. Her eyes looked a bit crazed and almost unfocused, as though she wasn't quite fully present. "Life is hard already with out you around. Just stay- "

The belt struck my back again. This time I could feel the buckle pierce through the back of my thin shirt.

"- out-"

Smack.

"- of my way!"

Smack.

It seemed like there were no more tears left to cry in my eyes. Maybe I had become numb to this treatment, or maybe this just didn't surprise me anymore.

"What are you looking at?!" My mother screeched in my ear again. The belt came down again, and this time, much harder, as though she had gotten a burst of renewed strength.

It caught the back of my arm, and for a moment, it felt like the skin would split open.

"Go to your room. Stay there. Don't come down for dinner."

When did I ever?

It was fine. I hadn't made plans for dinner tonight, anyway. I was taking a one way ticket out of here for good tonight.

I steadily walked up the stairs and into my room. I had one last look at myself in the mirror. My simple brown eyes were wide and my average brownish blackish hair was long and striaght as I threw it into a low ponytail. I was ready.

It was time. This was what I had spend hours upon hours planning for a month. I was actually going to do it! I had it all planned out. The clothes that I chose were specific to not only stealth, but for in the case of a fight, endurance, and enhanced comfort, and I chose specific layers that would allow me to stay outside, whether it was cold or hot.

I slipped out of my jean shorts and into flexible black, non-shiny leggings, got into a black sports bra, and wiggled into a tight fitting black, long-sleeved black shirt. I pulled on a black hooded sweatshirt and laced up my black running shoes. I made sure that the shoes didn't have any reflectors on it. I couldn't have anyone spotting me.

I grabbed the small black backpack that was already peeking out form beneath my bed and I placed an unsympathetic note on my desk. I had written it a month ago. Mainly, it said:

"I'm leaving. Don't count on my return."

Fuck you,

Bethany FORD

It was kind of a slap in the face to my step family and my mom because "Norwood" was supposed to be my last name, but "Ford" was my real dad's name before he died. When he died, my mom married someone about 2 seconds later, and the devil inside of her began to reveal its true self. I guess I had my suspicions before.

With my small backpack strapped on tightly, I quickly slid the window pane upard and climbed onto the window sill and jumped.

On my way down, I made a quick prayer that no one was watching as I tucked my body in and landed in a roll. I slowed the roll and stopped in a kneel. I could almost hear my father exclaiming "Ace!" I had been juping off that roof since I was 9. Sometimes my stepdad would lock me in my room for weeks. Jumping out the window was the only way I could get anywhere, even school.