In Too Deep

A Joker fan fiction

by creepitreal (Sarah Dancer)

Chapter 1.

Walking into the doors of Arkham Asylum I felt an instant fear of panic. I was the "new girl." The new doctor. Here to deal with the most insane of the insane. Yeah, I had my credentials, aced my psych classes - but could anything REALLY prepare me for this much whack in one shack? The only reason I accepted the offer; well moved here at all is due to my lack of employment. I had been waiting tables too long back home and got tired of it. I had a degree and wanted to do something with it and make something of myself. Sadly, being from a small town, I didn't have many opportunities. Not like the ones I'd get in a much larger city - and definently not like the ones you'd find here in the outskirts of Gotham City. The main attraction of Arkham of course, was the "Clown Prince of Crime", the one and only Joker. I had read, scanned, looked over, and did really anything possible to absorb his file details into my brain. Was it possible to help him? I had to remind myself that was is my field. Psychology is what I was good at, and no matter what I had to try to help. Clouded by my thoughts I accidentally ran into someone, darting my gaze over to them. It was a guard. "Watch where you're going lady!" He screeched. His voice sounded like someone scratched their fingers on a chalkboard. I nodded apologetically as he continued down his way to well, wherever he was going. I didn't realize people would be so damn on edge here, I thought. But then again, this is a psych ward...kinda gotta be on your toes at all times. I sighed, walking further down to the main administrative office.

Knock, knock.

The receptionist looked up from her desk and saw me at the door, I smiled and she waved me inside. I didn't like to just wander into places univited, that and thought the door might have been locked to be honest.

"Hello!" She smiled. "You must be the new doctor? Uh...oh! Misses Clark." I didn't understand how someone could be so damn cheery in a place like this, of illness, and despair. I'm a psychologist and even I'm not that cheery. To each their own I guess. I nodded and smiled, reaching my hand out to shake hers.

"Pleased to meet you ma'am." She nodded at me. My eyes began to wander around.

"Ma'am is the adminstrator here?" I asked.

"She just stepped out for lunch, so I'll be the one giving you your name badge and your key codes that is yours, and yours only to get into doors, etc." She smiled back at me. I guess this wasn't something she normally did, getting to be in charge. She went to the filing cabinet that read "EMPLOYEES" on the front in large permanent marker on a placard. She spun back around with a badge in one hand, and a small piece of paper in the other.

"So this," she began as she handed me my name badge, "is your name badge of course. And this," she handed me the small paper, "are your key codes. You pick ONE key code, let us know which, so we have it in your file. You will use that code to access rooms, for therapy. As well as medication cabinets, and the like. You do not share this code with ANYONE, especially not the patients. That's actually how our last doctor - the one your replacing got fired. Her and Mr. Joker were infatuated with one another and she tried to let him escape. We CANNOT let that happen. These people are in here for a reason. Do you understand?" I looked at her, she was dead serious. I knew I was taking someone's place, but Dr. Quinzel? Damn...I made note to be on my toes at all times. It made sense though, working with people who were not only mentally insane, but criminally crazy? Required carefulness AND attention to detail. I took the piece of paper from her, and scanned it over reading the codes. I tried to find one I could remember the easiest.

K3P01QWR

K3RT190YP

K3FF011LW

I noticed each one started with K3, why I had no idea. I assumed a full keybad was on each door, and medication cabinent. I went ahead and chose the last code, it seemed easiest to remember.

"What if I forget my code?" I questioned while handing her the paper back.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there. Just remember one really important thing," she began, "Your badge, has a system installed into it."

I looked totally lost now. My badge has a system installed into it? It looks like a normal badge? I looked down at the badge in my hand turning it over.

"This system, is an emergency alert system. You ONLY use it in the case of emergency. If you cannot reach a door, a guard, or remember your code in the case of an emergency there is a SMALL button that is disguised as the color of your badge. You push it and it will activate. What it does is alert us in the office, and the guards that there is trouble. Trouble like, patient escape, an injury, a suicide, and such things like that." I nodded at her again, finally finding the small disguised button. This made me feel a little bit safer.

"Do you usually have tons of issues with patients here?"

Suddenly the door burst open behind me, knocking me to the ground. I looked up at who knocked me down, another guard.

"Ma'am, we have an emergency down in the isolation ward. An escape attempt with a possible hostage situation!" he yelled in a deep voice.

The woman came out from behind her desk, I noticed her full uniform. Totally black, solid, slacks and top, with a taser in one pocket and a patient stabilizer syringe in the other. She looked down at me reaching out her hand, "I believe that would be your answer. I'm Claudia by the way. Welcome to Arkham."