CHAPTER 1: A Stressful Routine
The alarm hadn't even went off yet and the screaming from the end of the hall had already started.
"Harleen! Wake up! You are going to be late for work!"
Harleen didn't move, she was still very sleepy, and actually wanted to get out of bed at the time she had stipulated.
"Harleen!" The screaming had started again.
"I heard ya the first time, Teresa!" She yelled back, pulling away her covers with certain violence and getting up from the bed. She put on her robe, turned off the alarm and headed for the corridor.
"There you are, finally!" Teresa, the old Irish landlady, spoke as Harley entered the kitchen. She was a widow, very skinny and with grey hair.
"Ya don't need to worry about my hours, Teresa. I know all about my responsibilities, okay?" Harleen said, grumpy, taking a seat to have her breakfast.
"I know that, but I worry about you. And don't think I don't know you stayed up until late hours last night." Teresa said, also sitting at the table. "I could see the light coming from under your door."
"I was studying, Teresa! Do ya know how much study my job requires?" Harleen asked, widening her eyes. "If I ever want to make out of those group therapy sessions and actually get a real patient, I'll have to earn it!"
"What's wrong with the group sessions?" Teresa asked, spreading jam all over her bread slice.
"It's awful. I want to focus at one single patient, work with him –or her, whatever- and actually make progress. Instead, all I do is hear the same stories, over and over, and that way I won't be able to help any of those poor loonies."
"I think you should be glad that you even got a job. However, to be honest, I don't like the idea of you working in that place. It's so isolated; if something happened it would take the police an eternity to get there."
"Arkham is very secure, Teresa. Until today, only one or two people have escaped. Don't worry." Harley rolled her eyes, tired to explain to Teresa the same thing every morning. "Okay, I'll go get ready. Thanks for the breakfast." She said briefly, leaving the kitchen before the two could start yet another pointless argument.
"See ya later, Teresa. Don't wait up." Harleen said, grabbing the keys to Teresa's old Chevy and heading for the small garage. She didn't wait to hear Teresa's response, she knew that no matter what, she wouldn't go to bed until Harleen got back home. Harleen didn't really understand Teresa's over-protection over her. True, Teresa never had kids, her husband died when they were still very young and she never wanted to get married again, but still it was very nerve-wracking at times.
It was a long way until reaching the Asylum and the view wasn't really pretty either. Arkham was located at an isolated area, just outside of Gotham. It was a large piece of land, pretty much like an island, which purpose was to keep the lunatics away from the city.
Harleen parked the car and headed for the entrance doors. The place was always foggy and grey, often bringing an aura of depression, especially for the staff. At the reception, she greeted Pearl, one of her few friends at the place. Then, she headed for the staff room, where most of the doctors would gather around before starting their sessions.
"Mornin', boys and gals." Harleen greeted, obtaining just a few mumbles in response. Everybody was gathered in front of the small television watching the news channel. "What's all the fuzz about?" She asked, joining the other doctors.
"Some wacko just robbed a bank and fled on a frigging school bus." Hugh, Harleen's other close friend said, approaching her.
"They came out of nowhere, no one was expecting that." A nervous woman whom was being interviewed said, still in shock. "They were all wearing clown masks and they kept pointing their guns at us, until one of them started to hand us grenades! I was never so scared in my life!"
"There was a point where I thought we were all gonna die!" Another man said, nervous. "But it got really weird when they all started killing each other. And then the bus came through the wall. All I could see was a guy killing the driver and then entering the bus. After that he drove away and the police came."
"Wow, what a story." A voice came from the door. A voice that could easily set Harleen's teeth on edge. "Good morning everyone."
"Hey Penelope." Hugh said, charismatic.
"Hi Hugh." She replied, way too happy. "Oh, hey Harl. Ready for the group session today?" Penelope Young, one of Harleen's co-workers and former college mate asked, sarcastic.
"As ready as ever, Penny!" Harley replied, equally sarcastic. What about your patient? I heard Sharp gave you a really good one."
"As a matter of fact yes, he did. A very interesting case." Penelope said, triumphant. "However I'm not allowed to discuss his treatment. Victor is a serious priority here at Arkham."
"Well, then ya better cure him, right?" Harley said, disgusted. She hated the fact that she and Penelope graduated at the same year and somehow Penny got more recognition and respect from the warden than she did.
"Well in that case I better hurry. See you guys later. Hugh, can you accompany me?" Penelope asked in a flirtatious tone.
"Ah, sure." Hugh answered, shy. "See you later Harley?" He asked. Hugh was one of the few people who called Harleen by that nickname, she wasn't very sure if she enjoyed it that much.
"Sure. See you later!" Harleen answered, gathering her files to head down to the group therapy session.
"There you are!" Harleen jumped as she opened the door.
"Gee, Teresa! What are ya doing up?" She asked, still recovering from the scare.
"What do you think? I was waiting for you, of course. After the news of that bank being robbed I got worried! There is clearly a maniac loose in the city!" Teresa started, frenetic.
"Don't exaggerate, Teresa. He's probably not even a maniac. Besides, what do we have to fear when the great all-mighty bat is here to save us?" Harleen asked, sarcastic.
"At least there is someone out there to protect this city." Teresa replied, bitter.
"The only thing he does is turning the city even more dangerous. I don't think people should hold him in such a high-esteem." Harleen said, heading for the bedroom. "I don't see him as a hero. That's just my opinion."