The Red Rose was a fancy yacht run by the Falconies that not a lot of people could get into but Selina Kyle, Selina Kyle always found a way.

Here amidst the aristocrats of Gotham and a crime family pushed into obscurity, Selina had a mission. Backless black dress and silent footsteps across the Gambling Hall, Selina was looking for some files in the yacht’s offices. Her brain was telling her to focus but she was having a hard time controlling her hands seeing all the rich and the clueless walking around bedazzled in glittering jewellery and expensive watches. They all walked around thinking in ignorance thinking that they were safe, that their possessions were safe. Ignorance was a bliss after all and ignorance made for the easiest target. On her way to the offices, she thought a little detour wouldn’t hurt anyone.

Wallets, watches, necklaces all for the taking. So easy, so expensive but Selina liked a challenge and a challenge she got.

Mrs. Travers, 41-year-old real estate owner and both a figurative and literal glutton. Around her two necks was a necklace, big and golden with a bright green emerald in the centre. The thing about rich people is that it was easy to nick a watch or a wallet. Unless it had sentimental value, they wouldn’t miss it. Mrs. Travers on the other hand would miss her necklace and that’s what made stealing so fun.

Selina was going to make sure she did this one directly. She’d love to see the look on her face when she stole the necklace. She’d be hiking up prices over Alleytown, stealing away homes from the people who lived there. Selina wondered how she would feel being stolen from.

Her eyes darted around; the office was in the northmost part of the Casino. Once she took the necklace it wouldn’t take long before people start crowding around her and if Travers was as smart as she didn’t look, she’d point out Selina in less than a few seconds. The guards would start looking for her and probably follow her through to the offices making her life difficult and challenging. The job would be much, much easier if she just went to the office she was looking for.

But Selina liked challenges.

She blended in with the crowd, ignoring the men calling after her. The ball leapt around the roulette, the cards snapped on the blackjack table and rolled on the poker table. Selina stepped in front of Mrs. Travers and bumped into her, in the process spilling wine on her glittering white dress.

Mrs. Travers was startled at first, staring at the bright red blotch on her precious dress. Selina mumbled a half-hearted sorry before slipping into the crowd. Mrs. Travers was dumfounded at the stain on her dress before her face lit up like a neon sign and she called after Selina.

“Come back here this instant.”

Five seconds later she noticed her necklace was missing. “Thief!” she screeched.

By that time Selina had already disappeared into the crowds, slipping the necklace into her purse but that didn’t stop the guards from perking their heads up like meercats and start looking for her.

The crowd was panicked, everybody clutching their valuables to them like they were their children. All the while Selina made tried making her way to the offices.

“There she is!” Travers shouted at her. The crowd parted and Selina started making a dash for it as guards sprinted towards her. She groaned as she realised the dress was slowing her down. One of the guards grabbed her, she turned around, grabbed his wrist and flipped him over.

“No touching,” she said. She sprinted to the office rooms, dress hoisted up and burst into the side door as guards rushed past the door, screaming after her. When she was sure the coast was clear, Selina rummaged through her purse.

“Time to change into something more… comfortable.”

She pulled on her black leather spandex, tightly fitting around her body. With a black mask over her face and bright red goggles. She pulled on her gloves and flexed her fingers to make sure the claws were working before she left the room. Unfortunately, her weapons would have been easy to detect by the metal detectors at the front of the ship so she had to settle with the claws. She slipped the emerald necklace into one of her pouches deciding she could pawn it off later.

Catwoman (as Selina elected to call herself when she wore this thing seeing as there was already a Batman and a Spider-Man) snuck through the narrow hallways of the ship, slipping into one of the offices if a guard passed by her. One of the guards was standing in front of Carmine Falcone’s office, the office she was looking for. She slipped on the roof, the magnets of her gloves and boots attaching her to them and wrapped her legs around the guard’s mouth, the guard clawed at her legs before his body sagged. Selina got off and made sure the coast was clear before dragging his body into the office.

The office screamed Carmine Falcone. A window looking out into the sea (and Catwoman’s escape route). Expensive carpet, desk, shelf and chandelier hanging overhead. A vase filled with roses (Carmine loved roses as much as Catwoman hated the Falconies) and a safe right out in the open almost as if an ode to an era where they thought they were untouchable. Catwoman wasn’t here for the safe (though it wouldn’t hurt to check it out later) she was here for the accounting books on the shelves. More specifically the books that were 28 years old. Catwoman didn’t quite like being reminded of her age but it was a necessary evil in the search for answers.

Catwoman shuffled through her pouches, looking for the tiny torch she always brought with her as she skimmed through the files before 1988 and during 1988.

She didn’t have the time to read through all of them so she just stuffed them in her pouch wrapped around her side and went over to the safe, ear pressed against the metal surface as she spun the dial.

There was an invasive silence. Catwoman kept an ear out for any sounds, any guards that would distract her.

Click.

She heard shuffling footsteps in the distance. It would be wise to go but Catwoman never left a job undone.

Click.

Footsteps getting louder. She even heard guns being loaded.

Click.

Just one more she thought as the footsteps grew closer.

Click.

And she was exposed to a treasure vault of jewellery and money that wouldn’t fit in her pouch. She tried stuffing it all in when…

“Catwoman,” Batman said.

Catwoman turned around and saw Batman standing behind her. She barely heard his footsteps.

“And what are you doing here?” Catwoman said, hands behind her back slipping it into her pouch.

“That’s none of your business.”

“So stiff,” Catwoman purred. The door behind Batman swung open and she noticed unconscious bodies littering the hallway. “And cold. Maybe you should ease up a little.”

“You’ve stolen from museums,” Batman said. “Banks and jewellery stores. You’re a kleptomaniac that justifies her stealing by claiming it’s virtuous.”

“Now that’s just mean.”

“I’m here to stop you,” Batman said, taking up a fighting stance.

“You wouldn’t hit a girl, would you?”

“I don’t discriminate.”

Catwoman swung her right leg, Batman ducked and threw a punch which Catwoman narrowly avoided. Batman threw three Batarangs and Catwoman dashed out of the way, returning the favour by throwing the vase of roses. Batman held up his gauntlet and the vase cracked, spilling the roses and water all over. Catwoman pounced at him which Batman returned with a kick to her stomach, Catwoman rolled back on the floor.

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“It’s over,” Batman said, yanking her up by her arms. “I have you.”

Catwoman smirked. “You’ll find I’m good with my hands.” Nestled in between the fingers of her free hand were smoke pellets. Batman had no time to react as Catwoman threw them on the ground. Smoke invaded the room and despite the coughing fit, Batman still had a strong grip on her arm. Catwoman didn’t like that; she used that moment to turn around and wrap her legs around his torso flipping him over with her weight. Catwoman quickly ran to the window, it didn’t take long for Batman to recover as he bounded for her. He almost grabbed a hold of her but Catwoman leapt out of the window.

“Thanks for the gift, darling,” she said grappling up the ship and towards the life boats with his grappling hook, blowing a kiss at him as she escaped his clutches.

…

Felicia wanted that watch.

Cobblestone Alley was dense with the usuals. Pedlars selling knock off products for a much higher price, sex workers calling in potential clients or smoking in the corners and kids running back and forth holding someone’s wallet. Amidst the usual was a well-dressed man in a gold watch who stuck out like a sore thumb.

And Felicia wanted that watch.

Sis always told her not to steal but sis also told her that she shouldn’t settle for less and always get what she wanted. Felicia almost squeezed the cat in her arms.

“What should I do Lupin?” Felicia asked, stroking the black cat with white spots. “What should I do?”

Felicia loved the rush. Loved it way too much. Stealing was way too fun. She had a stash that she hid away from Sis full of little trinkets she found in and out of the Alley. And then she saw it. One of the boys tried nabbing the watch as the man was practically begging to be robbed with that suit of his. He tripped and fell over the man. The man gave him a gentle smile. There was a short conversation and the boy walked off, giant smirk on his face. He shuffled through his pocket and his expression changed to that of confusion. Felicia looked at the man and saw him putting his watch back on his wrist.

Felicia smiled to herself. “I made up my mind, Lupin.” She placed him down and the he wandered out. Felicia left her house, wearing a pair of black sunglasses and flicking her hair out of her eyes. Sis told her she’d be out the whole day and be back late at night so she’d be able to take the watch without her making a big deal about it.

Inside her apartment, overlooking the rest of Cobblestone Alley was a massive disservice to the street she called home. The smells, taste and sounds were a pleasure to the senses. Food sizzling on the stands, the sound of muttering and whistling and people beckoning passers-by to their stalls. The Alley was a place where what people considered the worst of society thrived and Felicia much like her Sis was proud to say she knew the people that lived here.

It wasn’t hard to spot the man. Where everybody wore rags, cheap dresses and worn-out clothes he walked around in a suit. People tried pestering him back and forth but he seemed very familiar with what was going on. Felicia kept her eyes on him and whenever he turned, she hid in the crowds.  Carly and Tim wanted to greet her but when she saw that she had a mark, they gave her a knowing smile as she followed the man through the winding streets.

The old bumping trick wouldn’t work. Maybe she could pass by him. Act inconspicuous and steal the watch. But the man looked like he was aware of all the tricks, all the skills thieves used. Felicia had to be creative.

Felicia walked to a stall, paying the lady at the front for a string. Felicia blended in the crowds, using the density of the crowds to slip in front of him, string in her palm. And she did something very boring. She bumped into him.

“Sorry,” she muttered.

The man smirked. He was middle-aged with faded blonde hair and a moustache. “Rather boring, isn’t it?”

Felicia smiled. “You know it.”

Felicia walked away. The man still had the watch in his hand but before he could strap it on, Felicia pulled at the string. The watch was dragged across the floor but before anyone could get it, Felicia snatched it for herself. The man gave her a knowing smile before disappearing into the crowd.

It was on her way to her stash that she found out that the man had slipped something in her pocket. It was a black card with the face of a white cat out front. She turned it around and imprinted at the back were numbers. Co-ordinates.

…

Magdalene Kyle (her friends called her Maggy) was up late again tonight. And she was up late again for the same reason she was up every other night; thoughts of her sister.

Her sister was and had always been on a dark path. She had abandoned her at a young age, opting instead to look for answers leaving her alone to tend with a mother that didn’t want her and a father that was the cause of many scars and bruises on her body that didn’t quite heal.

She had been there when that vile man Stan had beaten her inches away from her life and she was there but after she was fine, her sister abandoned her yet again without so much as a thanks.

Father Lantom always preached forgiveness but Maggy could never bring herself to forgive her sister. She’d been abandoned by too many people to let her sister’s callousness slide.

Walking silently through the empty pews, the only sound Maggy heard were the sounds of her own footsteps and the sound of a gentle drizzle pattering against the rooftops. The candle lights casting a large shadow of Maggy against the wall, Maggy made her way to the alter.

Despite never forgiving her sister when Maggy woke up in the middle of the night she always prayed for her. That God would guide Selina to the straight path, that one day Maggy would be able to forgive her for abandoning her at a young age.

After making her prayer, she saw it glinting on the altar, jewellery, expensive jewellery placed right next to the corner she always prayed at. Maggy clenched her fist and gathered the jewellery in her palms. She was about to throw it out when she saw Selina standing right behind her, wearing a mask and a ridiculous outfit.

“I heard that you might…”

“Get out!” Maggy shouted, her voice echoing through the empty alters. “Get out!”

“I heard people say you’re hungry,” Selina said. “That you’re in debt and you need…”

Maggy threw the jewellery at Selina’s face.

“I don’t need your charity!” Maggy said. “I don’t need your pity. Get out of her before I call the cops.”

One of the nuns came in wearing a robe over her pyjamas. “Sister Magdalene, what seems to be the problem?” Sister Mary asked.

“A thief just entered the church and…”

When Maggy turned, Selina had disappeared and so had the jewellery.

“I don’t see any thieves,” Sister Mary said.

“Forgive me,” Maggy said. “I must be seeing things.”

“You’re waking up the entire city,” Sister Mary said. “Please try to keep it down and Sister Maggy.”

“Yes?”

“Try to get some rest,” Sister Mary said. “Holding on to the past is not good for you.”

Maggy nodded. “You’re right Sister Mary. Thank you.”

Maggy knelt at the altar, watched over by Selina through the church windows as rain poured over her body, dripping onto the jewellery she held in her hands so tightly she could almost crush it.

…

Felicia’s fingers ran through the map, casting an occasional glance at the co-ordinates on the card. It took way too long a time with the cats walking over the map and planting themselves in the middle of the map. That was when she heard the door open.

“Honey I’m home,” Big sis said. “And you better be awake cause I have a surprise for you.”

“I’m coming,” Felicia said, throwing the map underneath her bed. She was about to leave her room when she saw the edge of the map poking out from under the bed. She quickly pushed it in and rushed to the door.

“Ugh, Kitten how I’ve missed you,” Selina said, grabbing her and hugging her tightly, almost suffocating her.

Despite the air being squished out of her lungs, Felicia couldn’t help but giggle. She gently pushed her aside.

“What’s up with you?” Felicia asked. “You’re not usually this affectionate unless something happened to you.”

Selina feigned being offended. “I can’t show some love to my sister. What kind of older sister do you take me for?”

They weren’t actually sisters in the traditional sense. Selina had taken her in when she was just a baby and raised her, taking care of her and stopping her from the wealth of bad decisions she would have made. It didn’t stop Felicia from feeling as if something was missing but Selina helped fill some of the missing pieces.

“It’s just I met somebody I drifted apart from,” Selina said. “And I don’t want to drift apart from you.”

There was a brief flicker of sadness in Selina’s green eyes before being replaced with the aloofness Felicia was used to.

“Anyways, what’s for dinner?” Selina asked. “I’m starving.”

“I ordered some Chinese food,” Felicia said. “I didn’t have time to cook tonight.”

Despite being part of one of the most poverty-stricken areas of Gotham, Selina and Felicia never went a night hungry. Felicia figured it was because of Selina’s night job. Selina never told her what she was doing and it was one of life’s biggest mysteries when she was younger but as she grew older, she figured it was probably sex work. After all, she wouldn’t have that weird leather outfit if it wasn’t. Felicia wondered why she didn’t just tell her and she figured it was just to protect her. Selina had protected her from being taken advantage off by creeps in the past.

Selina started slurping on the noodles. Felicia sat next to her as the cats started gathering around them, waiting for food. Felicia picked a piece of chicken from the noodles and dropped it on the floor as the cats swarmed around it like a school of fish.

“So, what’s this big surprise of yours?”

“Before that,” Selina said. “I heard you’ve been stealing again.”

Felicia remained calm but internally she cursed. Who tattled? Who tattled? Lydia and the girls wouldn’t have told on her so that just left…

“Zhao,” Felicia muttered.

“Doesn’t matter who told on you,” Selina said. “What matters is the fact that you broke the rules.”

“But I don’t get it,” Felicia said. “I see jewellery all around the house and I know you didn’t buy it. Why am I…?”

“Just,” Selina said. “The rules are the rules and I don’t…”

“Want you to end up like me,” Felicia completed. “I know that but you’re great Selina and…”

“I know I’m great,” Selina said though her eyes said otherwise. “Look Felicia, I may look wonderful on the surface and granted I do.” Felicia chuckled softly at that. “But there’s a lot of things I regret and…”

Selina sighed. “Look it doesn’t matter. I’ll let it slide cause from what I’ve heard that guy sounds like an asshole but just don’t do it again. Don’t steal again. If not for me then for your future.”

She sounded so sure but Felicia heard her mutter “I guess,” when she thought Felicia wasn’t listening.

“And speaking about your future,” Selina said, forcing some excitement into her voice. She walked over to the living room where she left a satchel and walked back into the kitchen carrying a bundle of papers and placed them on the table.

On the top left corner was the logo of Gotham High and dread gnawed at Felicia’s heart. The dread grew as she saw a photo of herself with the name Felicity Harmon printed on the side. Flipping through the papers she almost had a heart attack when she saw the admission letter.

“That’s right, Felicia,” Selina said. “You’re going to high school.”

To be continued…