Dear Diary,

It has been five long years since I made a trip home. Although I have never wanted to be back because of all the memories I have tried to forget, there is a sense of calmness that infiltrates my thickest barriers as we crossed over the mountains. I saw the tall buildings in the background and the dark rain clouds threatening to bring the liquid ice itself. I'm home, but then why does sound like a joke? Since when have I, Leila Wellington, been afraid of anything?

I stopped writing, staring at the page with utter disbelief. I snapped the leather bound book shut and put it in my leather bag. At that moment lightening illuminated the dull night skies of Gotham city. Home sweet home. I thought darkly, hugging my legs to my chest. The streets were almost completely deserted, except for the occasional hooker or criminal, looking for their next kill or rape. I was neither; just a starving artist trying to get rid of some of the things I called memories. But even I was a little restless as I sat there waiting for my stop. The rain started to pound on the window, as I stared at my palms as if they were the most fascinating thing in the world. I put my black hoodie, shoving my dark wavy hair in it so that no one could tell I was a woman. I zipped up the leather jacket that I had layered over the hoodie and grabbed my belongings as the bus came to a halt.

"Is this your stop miss?" Said the bus driver, his dark eyes watching me intently.

"Yes sir, Thank you." I said shortly, my bags trailing behind me as I pushed and shoved between the empty seats. I kept my eyes low as I walk by him, trying to suppress the fact that he was staring at me like I was something to eat. Stepping out onto the dark concrete, I turned to look at the bus driver. He was still perched upon his seat, a pale hand grasping the door handle, his frame slightly hunched over so that darkness cast over half of his face. "You take care of yourself." He said, his voice sincere.

I nodded, flashing a modest smile to him before shutting it off completely. I watched as the bus drove away and stood there for a moment, waiting for the bus to turn back and take me to a place I did actually want to be. I soon came to the realization that he wouldn't and that was when I started walking to my new apartment.

I stepped into the warm apartment complex and sighed with relief, my hood sliding down from my damp waves. Hulling my tree bags that, oddly enough, had become my world for the most part, I stepped over to the desk and smiled to the lady at the counter. "Hello there sugar, how may I help you?" She asked, her southern accent thick.

"I'm Leila Wellington; I have an apartment set up…"

"Oh, Yes! You apartment is one thirty eight, you're a lucky girl! I wish I had roof access!"

I looked at her with confusion, I had roof access? I looked at the women as she sat my keys across from me. "Oh, thank you." I said meekly.

"Your welcome, sugar." She said her smile warmer than the sun.

Trudging up the steep stairs, I realized with horror that my apartment was on the top floor of the building. I felt like it took forever to get there but I didn't think that there was another way up. And so twenty floors later, I had found my apartment. Kicking open the door I felt my hand fumble for the light switch. The light slowly flickered on only to then illuminate the small, dull room. There was an old couch covered with a stained bed sheet closest to the window. I'm Home. I thought setting my bags next to the couch. I found myself staring at the almost uninhabitable apartment with utter disgust. There was a thing about the apartment that just gave me a bad feeling, like I wasn't alone. I could tell that no one had lived in it for quite some time because of the thick layer of dust that seemed to cover almost everything. Everywhere my boots landed a wet footprint was left on the cold and uninviting hardwood floors. Stalking over to the kitchen, my foot prints making a trail, I turned on the fridge and hunted for a rag of some sort. I found them underneath the sink along with all of the cleaning supplies.

"It was nice of them to leave these for me." I said, a little pleased that I didn't have to buy them myself.

I put a little water on the rag and started to whip down the bar table that separated the kitchen from the living room. I knew that the movers wouldn't be here with what little furniture I had until the evening so I decided that it was safer to crash on the hideous couch, instead of take my chances with possible critters in my hair the next morning. I took off the disgusting bed sheet and threw it in the nearest corner only to revile the opposite of what I would imagine beneath the unsettling facade. I did a double take of the almost unreal piece of furniture that I would have gotten rid of if I hadn't seen what was beneath it, the perfect white sleek couch that had been nearly clad beneath the sheet, was something like a vision. I had never had something this beautiful in my life and I was surprised that someone would ever leave it behind. "Wow." I breathed.

My mind was boggled by questions of why it was there, but still. It was mine. And that made me more confident about coming home. Maybe this wasn't a bad idea. I thought smiling to myself only to yawn a moment later from all of the traveling that I had done today. I sat down carefully on the white pristine fabric of the couch, my pale small hand petting it like it was alive and purring. It was soft, almost like it was made from the finest plush feathers that only the gods could make. This was where I was going to sleep, and now it didn't seem all that bad. The room wasn't as ugly nor as scary as I had thought in the first place, still though, I didn't want to take my chances with the floor. Pacing around the apartment, I searched for any type of pillow only to find nothing of that regard, and so, rummaging through one of my duffel bags, I took out an old sweater and wadded it up for a pillow. I layered my self in sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt and settled myself on the couch. I then turned on the old television across from the couch and started watching the news. But as soon as I knew it, darkness enveloped me before I could get an ounce of decent information.

"~Or people will die. I'm a man of my word." I awoke the next morning to a maniacal laughter that sent shivers up my spine. Looking over in a panic and also still a daze from sleeping in so late, I looked at the mad man staring back at be through the television, his sneer more terrifying than my own fathers. I was mesmerized by the scolding black holes that seemed to be looking over my pools of blue. He was clad in a suit of purple, his stringy acid green hair messily falling over his brow and shoulders. Who is he? I thought, trying to tell myself that he was not looking at me by merely into a camera. I wished they would change to a lighter note, something that would make me forget about the man with a Glasgow grin and eyes that could make blood curdle. But they didn't, they held his picture there for what seemed like hours, but it was only moments. All of the sudden, the TV flickered to the reporters and they started to talk about some health plan that the Mayor was going to approve. I lost interest, but even as they changed to a much lighter subject my mind still flashed to what I had just seen. I shook my head. "Oh for gods sake, Leila! Get a grip, go drink some coffee and get something to eat." I told myself, standing up abruptly.

I threw on a part of ripped skinny jeans, good boots, a black tank top, and a navy cardigan that looked like a long jacket. I threw up my hair in a messy bun and then took my purse along with my keys and practically flew out the door.

The Joker's eyes darted from place to place watching as the normal civilians of Gotham city were oblivious to his whereabouts. This is too easy. He sang with a devious grin. He rolled back and fourth going from his toes to the balls of his feet. Licking his lips excitedly he watched as people passed from down below, all of them minding their own business. He wondered what it would be like to just strut about, he wanted to see if people would cower in fear or if anyone would run. I must be bored, why am I thinking of something so pointless? The Joker felt his brow deepen with frustration, and he let out a deep sigh. He turned from the window only to stalk over to where his computer was. He was bored, that was the problem. He just didn't quite know what to do about it. Maybe I'll go see Cobblepot. He thought, thinking about terrorizing his costumers that were notorious villains just like he. Maybe not that notorious. Joker bit down slightly on his right scar, his mind wondering to some of the people he saw walking on the street. All of the sudden he heard some of his men talking outside of his door.

"~I know but I'm telling you, she was a real beauty! I mean long dark hair kinda sticking out of her hood, and these eyes that could make anyone just melt."

"What color were they?" The other henchmen said, his voice eager.

Joker tried to recall what their names were but at that moment his brain had drawn a blank. But he listened closer because well, he didn't know why he simply had just found this whole conversation intriguing.

"Blue, and it was like a sliver blue. She had toughs eyes that you would want to have looking up at you while your fucking her."

Joker grinned and listened more, his ear pressed up to the door frame. "What kinda body?"

"Well, she had nice tits, like c- cup, and a good ass. But her legs were long and she looked kinda toned. She seemed real sweet too, like she said thank you and had a lot of manners."

All of the sudden Joker couldn't handle it any longer, he had to know who she was, but for what reason he did not know. Joker kicked open the door and strutted out, his grin wide, almost like he had just blown something up or watch as someone just tore themselves apart. He turned to them, the new one's eyes were wide with fear, the other just slightly startled. "So, she was a, uh, a real babe, huh?" He said his voice clowny and relaxed. Joker leaned casually against the door frame, his arms folded tightly over his chest.

The one who had seen her, Chase, spoke up. "Yeah, she was real cute... It would be a shame if something happened to her." Chase grinned, his face was evil.

The Joker grinned deeper. "Yes, it, uh would be a shame if something, terrible did happen to her. But, if we don't see her again then, I'll stay away."

Maybe... Thought the Joker. She might be quite entertaining and I wouldn't want to pass that up now would I?

The Joker went to turn back into his room but stopped abruptly, and started to tap his fingers on the door frame. On second thought, it might be fun to stalk her for a bit, uh, really get to know her.

He turned back to his henchmen and lowered his head slightly only to a second later to take a few steps toward them. "I, uh, think I might have a better plan. I want you boys, to find out who she is and get everything on her birthday blood type, you know everything." He paused a moment. "But, none of you will touch her. Kapish?"

They both nodded and looked at him with fear. "Good." Said the Joker, as he turned into his room and slammed the door behind him.