Chapter 1
Take your daughter to work day. The dumbest idea in all of creation. My mother was a psychiatrist in, guess where, arkham asylum. Every night at dinner she'd come home with a new story to tell. However, I never actually wanted to go there. The idea of bumping into the Joker, Bane, Riddler or any of those psychos, to be completely honest, scared the crap out of me. I wasn't going to tell my mother that though. We'd probably have some family therapy session. That day, I threw on my yoga pants, and and an old t-shirt. I didn't even worry about my hair. My makeup was sub par. It didn't matter. I was in a bad mood. And on top of all that, it was father's day. A day I hated even more then take your daughter to work day because I didn't have a dad. Mom said he was a dead beat she met in college. So I got in the car as we took the long drive to the asylum. Yes. This is exactly how I pictured my thursday morning.
"Good morning Miss Gibson." The Doctors would say as we past them in the halls. My mother would reply with a "Good morning." or "How's the family?" I was on high alert. My mother acted like it was completely normal to walk past a psychopath. I was freaked out. My mother led me to her office. We sat for a while. Talked. Well, my mom talked to other doctors. I just kinda sat there. Well…..until dinner. My mom had packed a ton of snacks and two lunches but that was gone by three. Plus, mom was working late. Again.
"Sarina dear, could you go pick up some dinner for us?" My mom asked. I looked up at her.
"Pick up dinner?" I questioned.
"Yeah. I keep it in the fridge upstairs. Just take the elevator."
"Huh…..elevator." I mumbled to myself. I stood up and walked down the halls. I tried to stay right in the middle of the hall. Some of the prisoners, er, patients tried to…..talk to me. It was scary enough. Until I turned the hall and saw him….The Joker. He was strapped up to…..something…. as he was pushed down the hall. Batman was walking right next to him.
"Your mom sent you for dinner, huh?" One of the guards asked. I'd met him a couple times before.
"She has excellent timing." I replied.
"C'mon, I got your back. It's on the way up." He said.
"Great." I mumbled, joining the entourage around The Joker. Could my day possibly get worse? I stood right in between that guard and Batman. That felt like a safe position.
"Batman, some guards and a little girl. Whatta party." The Joker laughed in the elevator.
"Ignore him." Batman mumbled to me. Never thought I'd see batman in my entire life. Much less have a conversation with him.
"Trust me, I'm trying." I replied.
"So what are you in for sweetheart?" Joker asked. I looked around the elevator. "Yes I'm talking to you."
"Eh, leave her alone!" My guard friend snapped.
"I'd watch your mouth if I were you." Joker snapped. He turned his attention back to me. "I never got an answer."
"My mom works here." I replied meekly, hoping he'd stop talking to me.
"Judging by that bleach blond hair, I'm guessing your Gibson's daughter." The joker replied. Now I was really confused. My mom was a brunette.
"How'd you-?" I started to ask.
"Don't talk to him." Batman snapped.
"What's wrong Batman? Think I'll hurt the wittle girl when I'm all tied up?" The Joker questioned. Batman didn't reply. The elevator stopped on it's desired floor and the doors opened.
"It was nice chatting with you." The Joker said as he was pushed down the hall. "See you soon Sarina!" He called. I tensed up. How the heck did the Joker know my name? So I go to the fridge and grab a couple salads. I'm about to get my sweet patotie out of there when I notice a commotion. Now, every fiber in my body is telling me to leave. However, I'm too curious. I run up to look at what's going on. Batman is now busy beating up a bunch of thugs.
"What's going on?" I ask someone.
"Joker's loose." He replied. I gulped. Didn't like that answer. "I suggest you get back up to your mom."
"Right." I would suggest that too. I rushed to the elevator and pressed the button. A voice crackled over the intercom.
"Uh uh uh. Not so fast dearie. None of you are getting out of here anytime soon. Besides. I have special plans for you Serina." The Joker's voice said. I could just picture that grin on his face. I kept pressing the elevator button over and over again but it wouldn't work. It was stuck! I seriously felt like I was going to cry. I walked back to the main area. The window was broken. I'm guessing Batman. Joker isn't' strong enough to break that thing.
"How are we getting out of here?" I questioned. One man looked at me. With fear in his eyes.
"I have no idea." He said.
I had to get out of there. The 'men in charge' sat me down with a cup of coffee and a blanket wrapped around me. Like it was going to calm me down. It didn't work. I had to get out of there! I surveyed my surroundings. A ventilation shaft. I could sneak through and find a way out. Perfect. I made sure no one was looking and crawled in. I easily squirmed through the ventilation shafts. Making sure I was going up. My hair was covered in cobwebs. I saw a bright light at the end of the path. Maybe it was the way out! I rushed up to the end of the tunnel. It wasn't the way out. I looked through the exit and saw ten, no twenty, no thirty of those thugs Batman was fighting! I wanted to shriek but I slammed a hand over my mouth.
"Alright, Joker wants all the Doctors found." Said one of the thugs. "You ten, guard the room. See anyone at all. Shoot 'em." Twenty thugs laughed as they left the room. Ten stayed. I gulped. Right across the room was my exit. A way out of the Asylum. There I could find my mom and get out of here! The only problem was I was faced with ten buff angry thugs and I was a small lanky fifteen year old. I didn't see this working out. I had to think. There had to be a way. There was always a way. All I had to do was sneak around the room. All stealthy like. I pushed open the grate and crept out. I Inched around the walls of the room. Ducking behind a crate whenever someone was looking. I was so close. SO CLOSE! But just as i was about to sneak out the door I tripped over a crate. Boxes went tumbling. All eyes were on me.
"SHOOT HER!" An angry voice shouted. I ducked as bullets flew and crept back into hiding.
"Where'd she go?" A man snapped.
"FIND HER! NOW!" Another one added. They were all searching for me. Eventually they'd find me crouched inside of this box. Think Sarina! Think! I looked around. There had to be something that could help! I noticed a can in a nearby box. I'd seen it before. On the news. Joker's laughing gas. Extremely poisonous. Anyone who breathed it would die. Laughing. I smiled. Perfect. I snatched the canister, opened it and chucked it. The contents burst open and ran for the door. Before they could shoot me, they started to breath in the poison. I slammed the door shut behind me and heard it. The most horrible cackling I had ever heard. I couldn't listen any longer. I was outside. Good on me. But there could be more thugs any where. I made my way through the bushes. Trying to be as still as I could. Ding dong. Someone was coming over the loud speaker.
"Why Sarina. Ten of my men down. I'm impressed." Joker's voice buzzed throughout the grounds. How did he know? he must have cameras everywhere. "Now here's the deal kid, I've got Mrs. Gibson tied up in the observation room. You're goal is to save her without any of my men spotting you. They have been given full permission to shoot you on sight." I gulped. "Oh I do hope for your sake that you can do this. Because if you die, Mrs. Gibson dies. Good luck, doll face. You're gonna need it." The speaker went off. This wasn't going to be easy.
