CHAPTER 1

PART I: EMMA

The restaurant was buzzing with activity. Women clothed in elaborate gowns and men dressed to the nines in tuxes and fine suits. Emma watched them with a slight smile on her face. She always found it interesting to observe the upper class, knowing full well that she would never be one of them. Gotham was such an ugly city at night where she lived, but here, the fun was just getting started. Someone tapped her on the shoulder urgently.

"I know this is your break Emma but I'm really over programmed right now. Could you please take these to table 5? Please?" Kim begged. Trying to hand her over a tray of food. Emma wanted to refuse her, she was working a double shift already and this was the only break she got. But she couldn't, it just wasn't in her personality to refuse. She knew that people took advantage of her that way, but she still just couldn't say no when someone pleading with her to do something. Emma looked over at table five and swallowed nervously. She definitely did not want to go over there, but now the tray had already been thrust upon her and she was holding it uncertainly, "Thank sweetie, you're a life saver." Emma nodded once and smiled grimly as she walked over to the table nervously.

Bruce Wayne. You couldn't miss him. His face was smeared on every magazine and newspaper cover in Gotham, the billionaire playboy, and the prince of Gotham. Tonight two dimwitted looking models accompanied him, dressed scantily and eying the pool behind them. The sad part was that she knew one of these models and was determined to put the food down and walk away as quickly as possibly. The people at the table seemed to be deep in a conversation about none other than the batman anyways, too busy to really take notice of her. But then again, none of these upperclassmen every seemed to take notice of her. And she was grateful.

"I know you!" One of the girls exclaimed, as she was placing a salad in front of her. Emma froze and looked up at Grace O'Brien, the horrible bitch who had treated her quite nastily during high school, "You're Emma Riley, I remember you from high school." Grace giggled and looked over at her friend mischievously. Emma forced a smile and nodded, "Found your passion as a waitress have you?"

"I see you're doing well." Emma jumped in with a sweet smile; "You're a model now right, that's great."

"You're the girl who could never say a bad thing to anyone." Grace mocked, "Weren't you supposed to be like super smart or something? Didn't pay off in the end did it?"

"That's quite enough." A deep voice interrupted the giggling. Emma looked up and met the eyes of none other than Bruce Wayne. Who was staring at her with a small twinge of interest, he waved his hand dismissively at the two girls, "Why don't you ladies go amuse yourself elsewhere." The other model pulled Grace up and they started to make their way over to the pool, "Sit down." He motioned at Emma to take the recently emptied seat beside him."

"I don't think I'm supposed to do that Mr. Wayne." She said shakily. Everyone at the table was staring at her, judging her silently with their eyes. It made Emma want to flee the scene, not sit down and join them.

"Nonsense, c'mon, sit." He ordered and she did as he said, "Now, why don't you tell me how you know my date?"

"We went to high school together." Her voice was so soft that Bruce thought that if she lowered it even a little he wouldn't be able to hear her, "She was a year ahead of me."

"So that means you graduated…"

"Last year."

"University?"

"No. I applied to GU."

"Didn't get in?" He raised his eyebrow in surprise.

"I did, I just… didn't get a full scholarship." She smiled a bit sadly, "I wasn't quite smart enough."

"Well Gotham University is very hard to get into, they only give out one full scholarship per year and it always goes to an international student. You would be lucky to get any kind of scholarship there." He smiled and Emma nodded dismissively. She already knew this, she had known it when she had put all her hopes and dreams on that scholarship, and yet the knowledge that she didn't have a fighting chance, didn't make her feel better, "Why couldn't you go on a partial scholarship, I assume you were offered one."

"I couldn't afford it." Emma blushed. She was very embarrassed to be telling all of this to Bruce Wayne, TheBruce Wayne.

"Why didn't you apply anywhere else?"

"I couldn't leave. My mother is sick." She muttered. Bruce could hardly make out what she had said.

"Where is she now?"

"In the hospital."

"I'd imagine that's very expensive."

"It is."

Bruce felt bad about interrogating her to this point. She was shifting uncomfortably in her seat and tears seemed to be brimming in her eyes. Emma was now dragged back to remembering the fact that she was swimming in debt. She could hardly pay for food, the hospital bills were too big, and all her money was going to that.

"Sir." Another waiter came up to them. Pointing angrily at the two girls who were now swimming in the pool and explaining to him slowly about the hotel policy. Bruce stood up and offered him a check, expressing that he had just bought the hotel and was going to change the policy. Emma didn't want to look up at him anymore. She was suddenly brought to the realization that Bruce Wayne was just like all the rest of them. Throwing their money around for no good reason when people like her were struggling so much. Emma stood up swiftly and walked back towards the kitchen of the restaurant, before he could stop her.

"What happened?" Kim asked as Emma came back into the kitchen, very flustered. Emma's head shot up and she shrugged.

"Bruce Wayne happened." She said and sighed deeply, sitting down on the closest chair available. Kim gave her a knowing smile and skipped over to sit by her.

"I know I wanted you two to meet. I thought maybe you would catch his eye." Kim played with Emma's high ponytail and grinned. Emma gave her a very confused look, "What? You're cute and clever, and you're both single. Why wouldn't he be interest in you?" Kim smiled playfully. Emma looked down at her feet. Simple black flats, nothing fancy, just plain black flats that she picked up on sale.

"Why would he be interested in me? I'm not very interesting after all. I'm not spectacularly pretty, or spectacular in any other way and I'm poor, what's there to be interested in. Even if he did find me pretty or worth pursuit, he would just get bored of me after sleeping with me. That's just who he is."

"I know sweetie, but I thought maybe sleeping with Bruce Wayne would be exactly the de-stressor that you need right now." Kim giggled, "Look if you're not into it, I'll totally take your place."

"I don't think your husband would like that too much." Emma smiled.

"We've only been married 4 years, nothing's written in stone." Kim winked and took another tray of food out the swinging doors of the kitchen. Emma was left alone with her thoughts. Wouldn't it be something? Dating Bruce Wayne. Sure he might be a huge jerk, but he was very rich. And she needed money. A lot.

Bruce Wayne watched the girl scurry back off into the kitchen. He knew what she probably thought of him, self-obsessed, self-entitled, playboy. It was nothing new, in fact, that's probably what most of the city thought of him, including the people have dinner with him that very moment.

"What a sad little thing." The older woman said as she followed his eyes to the fleeing waitress, "She's so skinny, I bet she hardly eats anything. Health care expenses are rather steep these days. I wouldn't be surprised if all her income was going directly to her mother's health. I don't know how people like her survive in a city like this."

"Oh darling, you are always trying to find a new charity case." Her husband laughed and took another long sip of his wine, "We need people like her so that people like us can remain where we are today." The man smiled. Bruce turned his head and watched his two dates play in the pool and went to join them. He had to keep up appearances after all.

As he was getting into his car with the two girls he saw Emma coming out of the hotel. She seemed a little scattered and was looking up at the dark sky, seeming rather worried about the impending darkness.

"Ms. Riley!" he called over to her. She looked up and was shocked to see him waving her over. She couldn't say that she wasn't happy. Maybe Kim was right. Maybe he actually could be interested in her. She knew that she should be weary of him but she knew that any sort of relationship with Bruce Wayne could be very beneficial to her.

"Mr. Wayne." She greeted him as she walked towards him slowly. The girls in the back of the car kind of scoffed and kept chatting.

"Please tell me you don't plan on walking home at this time of night."

"No, I'll just catch a bus, there's a stop relatively close to my apartment." She explained and tried to avoid meeting his eyes, which seemed to burn into her.

"It's still a risky isn't it, Gotham isn't exactly the safest place in the world." Bruce winked. Emma nodded dismissively, "Let me drive you home. I have nowhere to be and it would give me more time to get to know you." Emma smiled but shook her head, absentmindedly glancing at the two girls in the back seat. Bruce watched her closely and returned to his car to open the door of his convertible, "Ladies, I will call you a cab." He gave them a charming smiled and a motion that implied that they should get out of the car. Emma was taken aback and tried to hold back a smug smile as she watched Grace glare angrily at her while stepping out of the car and slamming the door behind her.

"I don't know if I should… I mean it's really nice for you to offer and everything but…"

"Don't be silly, get in." Bruce ushered her into the car and closed the door behind her, then got into the driver's seat, "Now just tell me where to go." She smiled and noticed that she was staring at the hands in her lap, embarrassed. That was it. She didn't want him seeing where she lived. He didn't blame her. He must seem rather intimidating in his fancy car and having just bought The Plaza on a limb. When she was obviously struggling for cash and couldn't afford to go to university.

"Um… I don't know if you want to go there in this car. Really, it's not a problem if you just drop me off at a bus stop." She smiled sadly. Bruce turned to her suddenly and put a hand on hers.

"Just let me drive you home Emma." His tone was serious and dark. His eyes seemed genuine and she couldn't help but nod, telling him the address and how he could get there. The Narrows. She was right to be slightly concerned about driving to that side of town in his car.

The car ride was mainly silent, with a few polite comments here and there before Bruce suddenly started interrogating her.

"So, what do you like to do on your spare time?" He asked first. Grinning over at her. He was charming, that was for sure. He had that smooth swagger and confidence that girls just couldn't resist.

"I don't have a lot of spare time." She responded simply and bit her lip nervously.

"You can't always be working at the restaurant."

"I work at a coffee house too, during the day."

"Everyday?"

"Not Saturdays."

"Then what do you do on Saturdays?"

"Visit my mom." She responded quietly. The car was silent again, except this time it was filled with tension. Bruce glanced over at her and she could see pity etched in his expression, "Don't feel bad for me Mr. Wayne."

"I'm sympathetic. It's hard not to be."

"There are thousands of others who are worst off, in this very city no less. Those people need your sympathy more than I do."

"You must really hate people like me." Bruce said. Emma looked over at him in confusion, "The rich who waste their money away on fancy cars and nice restaurants. Without a care in the world while others, just a short car ride away, suffer in ways we could never understand. I must disgust you."

"You don't disgust me Mr. Wayne." She said sweetly and forced a smile, "You were nice enough to drive me home."

"I might have ulterior motives."

"Do you?"

"Yes." He answered, "I get to spend time with you. An intelligent, down to earth, not to mention pretty, girl." He winked and she blushed slightly, turning her head to the window so that she wouldn't have to meet his eyes.

"You're sweet."

"So are you." He laughed, "Too sweet, some would say."

"So I've been told."

The conversation ended with that as they turned onto her street. Bruce looked around and was immediately concerned about letting her out of the car, and out of his sight. This was not a good part of town, and her apartment building looked pretty run down. He didn't know how she had lived here so long without getting in trouble or being killed.

"You don't live here alone do you?" He asked.

"Yes."

"Are you sure you'll be safe?" He asked. Glancing up at the building wearily as he pulled up in front of it. The street looked to be completely abandoned for the time being, which he had to admit, he was glad of.

"I've managed to get by this far." She smiled. She didn't want to let him know that every night when she came home she was terrified that something terrible was going to happen to her, that she would become just another statistic, another casualty in the corruption of Gotham.

"I don't know about this." He muttered. She furrowed her eyebrows at him.

"Well where do you expect me to live Mr. Wayne?"

"Bruce."

"What?"

"It's Bruce, and I don't know. Maybe, you could stay in my Penthouse for a few days." He suggested. She opened her mouth to protest but he cut her off, "Just until we figure out something more permanent."

"No, that's too generous and you know I could never pay you back."

"You wouldn't have to. Please, just let me help you." He pleaded. Emma was going to argue further and then just exit the car when suddenly she heard the unmistakable sound of gunfire coming from her apartment building, quickly followed by screaming and then dead silence. Emma looked up at the building and looked at Bruce, who seemed more worried than ever. She didn't know why he was so concerned about a stranger's safety. But maybe, this was a good thing. Maybe she should take advantage. She was poor and he was rich. He obviously liked her and maybe by the time he got bored of her, he will have bought her enough things to get her to college. Who knows, if she played her cards right maybe he would send her to college and pay her mother's hospital bills. She never wanted to take advantage, she had always lived a good and honest life but Bruce Wayne wanted to take care of her. How could she pass up this kind of opportunity? Emma nodded at Bruce.

"Okay." She whispered. Her voice shook slightly.

"Okay?"

"I need help." She admitted finally.

"Okay." Bruce smiled reassuringly and started driving her back to his penthouse.

PART II: MAE

Cold, ugly and gruesome. She shivered in complete disgust as she watched the Joker snarl laugh into the camera. They had been playing the clip over and over again on the news and she couldn't stand it anymore. She was hoping that they would have more news about her brother's disappearance, about what they were doing about it, about if they had found the body yet. She wanted to know if he was really dead like they all said he was. Why the fuck did he have to be so stupid? Only a complete moron with no regard for his own safety would dress up like the Batman and try to fight crime. She didn't care what ridiculous justification he gave. Now, it had all caught up with him. He was the star of the Joker's newest motion picture. The clip cut out once again to the sounds of laughter and screaming. Mae felt sick. Her mother was in the living room, blankly staring at a picture of her brother, smiling with his parent's arms wrapped around him protectively. She couldn't bring herself to go talk to her. Instead Mae grabbed her coat and decided to go out. No matter how dangerous it was at this time of night. She didn't care anymore. She felt numb and she needed some fresh air.

The air was thick with fear. You could feel it as you walked outside. Everyone was too afraid to leave their homes, thinking that the Joker was going to get them. She should be afraid too but for some reason she didn't feel the least bit scared. She wandered passed a club on 62nd street and heard that music still pumping from behind closed doors. She remembered that she had met her first real boyfriend in that club when she had snuck in with a fake ID as a 16 year old. It seemed like it had been an eternity since then. Mae kept walking until she felt a little less shaky. Unfortunately by that time she found herself somewhere that she didn't want to end up. Right in front of Arkham Asylum. She felt like she could hear the screams and cackling of the inmates just from standing outside. Of course, it was totally silent on the street, other than the distant sirens. She wondered what really happened in that building, no one seemed to know what really went on behind those walls. She swallowed nervously and decided that this was probably the right time to turn around and go home. She glanced around the street and saw dark figures coming towards her. She started walking away quickly, back the way she came. Hoping that the figures wouldn't be following her.

"Now what is a pretty little thing like you doing in a place like this?" The voice seemed calm but had a slightly unhinged edge to it. She spun around to face a tall and slim man in a suit. Not at all what kind of person was expecting to be standing there. He had thick glasses that made it hard for her to look him in the eyes and short and slightly waving brown hair. Then she realized who he was and her blood went cold.

"I killed my father." She blurted out suddenly. He seemed taken aback for a moment, "On the night that the city went crazy." She stared at him darkly. Images flashing into her head, "Technically though, you killed him, I just pulled the trigger." Jonathon Crane stared at the interesting specimen in front of him. She knew exactly who he was and yet she didn't seem afraid of him. Maybe he had caused more emotional damage to her than he had done to most. He certainly hoped that's what it was. She was a pretty girl. Innocent in looks and yet her eyes held something strangely darker. Maybe he had caused that.

"You don't seem angry with me." He noticed. She didn't seem to want to hurt him or try to avenge her father's death.

"I hated my father." She admitted before suddenly jumping when someone put a hand on her shoulder. Her breath caught in her throat and the person leaned down and left his mouth lingering close to her ear for a long moment before speaking.

"That's something we have in common then." There was a laugh that followed the sentence, a laugh that no one could ever mistake. The Joker. This time she was very afraid. Shaking even and frozen in her place. He had a knife in his hand and was running it down her bare arm softly, as if teasing her.

"She's much more afraid of you than she is of me." Jonathon noticed, "I wonder what you did to make her so afraid." Jonathon looked at the Joker with disapproval as he moved his knife and pressed it against her neck. She was whimpering now, tears falling down her cheeks, "What's your name?" He asked. The girl didn't respond.

"Answer his question." The Joker demanded. Mae scrambled for her voice and was grateful that she found it before he got really angry.

"Mae, Mae Douglas." She whispered.

"Douglas… that sounds familiar." The Joker said and looked at Jonathon, "Doesn't that name sound –uh- familiar doc?" Jonathon just shook his head and turned away from them. Looking around the street to make sure that no one was coming, "Did I by any chance killone of your family? I think I might have killed someone named Douglas, but I've done it so many times now. It's so hard to keep track. You understand."

"My brother, Ryan." She cried, "You made a video with him."

"Ahhh… I remember now. It's allcoming back to me. He was the one who pretended to be the Batman." Mae wanted to nod but was afraid that the knife was going to sink into her flesh so she simply stayed quiet, "That wasn't very smart of him. You see, I want to –uh- killthe Batman. Not your brother."

"But you didn't kill the Batman and you won't ever kill the Batman." Mae spat angrily. The Batman was Gotham's savior and her hero. He was her brother's hero too but he had taken that admiration to a whole new level. Another chilling laugh came from the Joker. Jonathon Crane on the other hand was dead silent. He stared at his companion coldly but made no move to stop him.

"That's where you're wrong beautiful." He replied. Moving his free hand to wrap around her waist securely, "Well doc? What do you think? Should we keep her? She'd make a cute pet don't you think?" Dr. Crane turned his attention back to the terrified girl. He could feed off her fear, and it made him feel good. His eyes lingered over her body. She was slim but shapely, an attractive girl and the Joker was holding her a bit too close for his liking. Nevertheless, he wanted to keep her around for a while.

"Yes. I think she would." A sort of twisted smirk appeared on Jonathon's face as he answered Joker. Mae started struggling viciously now, not at all minding the knife on her neck as she tried to get away. The Joker pulled the knife away before he accidently killed her and held her wrists behind her back.

"Hmm… I think for once I –uh- agree with you doc." The Joker sneered and hit Mae over the head roughly, knocking her unconscious instantly. He then let her drop to the pavement in a heap, "I'm surprised Crane, you usually don't approve of these types of things."

"Now that we're working together we need to have some kind of common ground. She's beautiful and I don't object to having a little fun every once and a while. As long as it doesn't interfere with any of our work." He looked at the Joker sternly, knowing it wouldn't do any good either way. Joker would do what he wanted whenever he wanted, he believed in chaos, where as Crane was a man of order and timing. However, now they had something in common. The girl. Crane looked at her fallen body and smirked. He was going to enjoy her.

Mae woke up, dazed and confused. She didn't know where she was but she knew it was dark. She opened her eyes to find that the only source of light was a window, half covered by wood, high above her. She seemed to be in some kind of warehouse. Looking around she found that she was tied to a bed, well not really a bed, more of a cot. Gagged. She felt like she was suffocating. She tried to scream but her voice was horse and there was really no point, no one was going to hear her. The Joker was a twisted man, but he was clever and he knew about the other girls who had disappeared just like her. Their mangled bodies had only been found months later, with a smile carved into their face so that they would be forever smiling. Mae shuttered and started crying upon realizing that soon she would be one of those girls. Dead. She felt sick.

A heavy metal door flew open on the other side of the warehouse. Mae tried to lift her head to see who it was but found it too challenging with her wrists bound and attached to the posts of the bed. She couldn't move anything except her legs, which were left free. Laughing came from the door and she knew exactly whom it was. Her stomach dropped in dread. She had somewhat been hoping that it was Scarecrow who was coming to see her, he didn't scare her as much as the Joker. He had a plan, a meaning behind every action. Joker didn't.

He took his time walking over to the bed. Mae squeezed her eyes shut, pretending that she was still unconscious. Her heart was beating erratically and she tried to control her heavy breathing. The footsteps stopped suddenly next to the bed. She could feel him looking down at her. She imagined that he was smiling, undressing her with his eyes as he thought up all the horrible things he could do to her.

"Time to wake up." He shook her shoulder and he eyes flew open involuntarily. She stared at him. His makeup was smudged, almost completely gone, as he looked back at her with dark hungry eyes, "Good girl." He stroked her hair and she started to cry again silently. Not uttering a single sound, "Oh shhhh…" He wiped away her tears and shushed her, almost like a caring mother would; "Nobody's going to hurt you beautiful." She was waiting for the ominous yet to come but it never did. He continued to stroke her hair and he sat down next to her on the bed. She looked up at him helplessly, "You want to talk huh?" She nodded and he slowly pulled the gag from her mouth. She panted, relieved to be able to breath properly from her mouth again.

"How long will you keep me?" She asked. Hoping to get an honest answer. Maybe he would only keep her for a few days before he killed her, or maybe he would torture her slowly. Either way, she wanted to be mentally prepared for it.

"Well you see –uh- that isn't really up to just me." He smiled, "The doc, he took an interest in you too. He wants to keep you. Now me, I was never good at keeping my pets alive very long but the doc, he knows how to treat them right. You know, he remembers to feed them and keep them cared for and all that."

"I'm not a dog." She whispered.

"Oh no, I wasn't saying that at all." He laughed, "No, you're much too pretty to be mistaken for a dog." He thought for a moment, "Think of yourself as a form of entertainment, see, I like to be entertained." He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. She tried to move her head but he kept her restrained there for a long moment before pulling away.

"What are you going to do with me?" She asked. He licked his lips.

"I won't force myself on you if that's what you're scared of." He laughed like a maniac, "I like things to be more consensual if you know what I mean. My methods are a bit more… cutting edge." He pulled out a knife from his pocket, "You see, I like my date to be begging for me to take her. And trust me my sweet, you'll be begging." He paused and flicked the knife open, teasing the blade with his fingers, "The doc though, he doesn't wait for the green light, you see, he likes to hear the screaming, the pleading for mercy when he, well you know…" Mae swallowed nervously. Maybe she shouldn't be more afraid of the Joker after all, "That sort of thing doesn't turnmeon, it repulses me, but you know, for each their own." As she was digesting this new information, Mae decided that she needed to ask the singlehanded most important question that she had.

"Is there any chance that you'll let me leave alive?" She squeaked. The Joker contemplated this for a moment. None of the other girls had managed to leave alive but maybe…

"Yes." He replied, "If you do exactly what you're –uh- told, then I don't see why we'd have to kill you." Mae didn't find what he was saying very comforting but she took his advice to heart. She needed to survive this, for her mother's sake and everyone else who loved her. Mae had never been a loner, she always surrounded herself with people and she considered these people her family. She needed to get back to them, they were no doubt worried sick about her and she didn't want to end up like her brother.
"Okay." Mae said softly. Allowing her head to lull sideways, she was too exhausted to keep it upright anymore.

"Tired?" The Joker asked and she nodded, "Go to sleep then my lovely, it's going to be an exciting week. You won't want to miss a second." He laughed in the hysterical way he did but this time Mae didn't care. She just let her eyes droop and close before drifting off into what she hoped would be an eternal sleep. She didn't bother hoping that any moment now she would wake up in her bedroom to realize that it had all been a dream, no, she knew that this was real. That she wouldn't be able to escape. For now, sleep was the only refuge she had.