As Red walked through the dark, wet city streets, she kept her eyes glued to the slick pavement infront of her feet. Her high heels clicked with each step, echoing the lonely trip back to her apartment. She knew she was out too late, that walking alone through this part of Gotham was a bad idea, but here she was, heart racing as she navigated puddles and mismatched paving slabs in the darkness.
'Only 2 more streets to go,' she thought, 'keep focussed.'
Then, shattering the silence, a huge black Range Rover came tearing round the corner, it's headlights washing over her as her breath caught in her throat.
'Oh shit, they've spotted me,' Red thought as her heart hammered like a trapped bird in a cage. The powerful car mounted the kerb next to her and the passenger window slowly lowered as she trembled in fear.
'Well, well,' whistled the gang leader, 'if it isn't little Red, strutting her hot ass through my streets.'
Her legs buckled as she backed up against the wall of the building behind her.
'Leave me alone McCray,' she said with false bravado, 'I just want to get home and lock the door behind me.'
She hated that the fear was obvious in her voice.
'Just let me go......please.'
He laughed in response, sneering at her terrified eyes and climbed out of the car, along with three of his men.
'Wh....what are you going to do?' she asked, wide eyed, body fully pressed against the rough brick wall.
'Nothing you aren't asking for by being out here alone,' he responded, licking his lips and pacing slowly towards her. Red felt his eyes burning their way up and down her body, shivering with fear as his men stepped from behind him to close off any avenue of retreat.
'Tsk, little Red, don't you want to get fucked by the big bad wolf tonight?' he said, as he pushed his forearm across her neck, pinning her to the wall. Tears sprang from her eyes as he trailer a finger down her dress then reached up to grab her by the hair.
'I'm going to take you right here little Red, and when I'm done with you, my men will have you too,' he whispered in her ear as she whimpered and closed her eyes to try and block out what was about to happen.
Suddenly, McCray stiffened and his chokehold on her neck disappeared as she heard him grunt and expel his breath in a huge whoosh of air. As Red crept her eyes open, she saw him fly backwards to slam against the bonnet of his expensive car, denting the metal and shattering the windscreen.
Her eyes searched for the source of her rescue, and landed on a complete stranger. Almost as dark as the night around him, she could barely make out his body, clad in black leather, a black cape billowing from his wide shoulders. Two smouldering eyes looked at her from deep within a black mask.
'Holy fucking moly,' she thought, 'I'm being saved by a superhero!''
An instant later and the roars of McCray's men punctured the bubble of intensity around them. Her mysterious saviour took down the largest of them with a sharp uppercut, swiping him off his feet to slam him down onto the hard pavement. Keeping his elbows tucked in, and moving to face the remaining two thugs he threw out lethal punches in quick succession, leaving them sprawling on the street, blood flowing from broken noses and lips.
As a huge sense of relief flooded through her, Red felt her legs give way, and she started to slide down the wall. She felt his strong hand grasp her arm, and pull her up and into his embrace.