Sometime in the past…

THWACK! The cane came down again on the cowering form in front of me. The sound reverberated through the room, which was in silence other than the heavy breathing of the man next to me; yet no sound came from the woman before me, she didn't even react. I could do nothing, I was powerless. The man next to me was heavy set, his shoulders broad, his stature mighty. I chewed on the inside of my cheek as the man geared up to strike again. His arm went back, his jacket stretching as he moved his arm back as far as possible. I turned my head as the blow landed heavily across the girls back. TWACK! Again the sound seemed to echo through the room. A small whimper escaped the woman's lips and I could feel the man beside me straighten, a grin spreading across his face. He had finished with the cane, the vicious desire to inflict pain satisfied; yet I knew it was not over.

I was ashamed of my actions; I could do nothing but look away than face the scene before me. Once I was brave, but now I am nothing but a shadow of the person I used to be. My tongue slipped out of my mouth and habitually brushed over the scar on my left cheek. It was a nervous tick brought on whenever I experienced strong emotions. As of right now that was stress and anger. I couldn't look as I heard the man's belt buckle being undone as he prepared himself. It was vile and I wanted no part in it; I had morals, standards. I was a soldier for fucks sake and he made me watch, he made me watch every time.

He stood up buckling his belt, finally fully satisfied he grunted at me and I moved, as I had countless times before, to retrieve the woman and take her back to her "room." It wasn't a room; it couldn't even be called a cell. It was a box with no windows and no bed. As well as the shock collar she wore this room was meant to keep her obedient. She was locked up all day unless the boss needed her, wanted her or required her abilities. She was his pet and I hated that I allowed him to reduce her to this. She was once glorious and I remembered it so well.

The dust settled on the ground, all had gone still. The surrounding gravestones and trees were massacred and the smell of gunpowder was in the air. I looked around seeing bodies strewn across the expanse of ground. Yet as I the dust dissipated I saw her. She walked towards my men, fury blazing in her eyes, she was murderous. She managed to maul five of my men before we were able to take her down.

We didn't kill her; the boss had ordered her to be captured. I looked down at the woman laid unconscious bound by ropes. She was strong and majestic and I could see the potential in her. I knew my boss would try and break her, he was a stupid man, but I could do nothing but obey him. I knelt down next to her body and reached to clasp a metal collar around her throat, it would shock her if she tried to use her powers or escape.

As I came back from the memory I looked down again at the woman, she was curled in a ball but I could see how thin she had become, how her hair was knotted and dull. She had lost her spark because of that man and it infuriated me. A fierce need to protect her ran through my being. I had to save what was left of her. I knew it was time, time to destroy the boss and show him how much I hated him. My hands curled into fists as a grin spread across my face stretching the scar on my left cheek. A menacing laugh bubbled up to my lips from deep within me, this would be satisfying. I had wanted to show the man I hated how little control he really had for a long time; after all chaos couldn't be controlled.

Gotham City Christmas 2008 – A month after the events of The Dark Knight

"Oooaha, ahahaha, ooohehahaha, aha, aha, aha…"

The Joker's maniacal laughter echoed through Arkham Asylum's halls, ringing and vibrating through the metal and cement of the ancient building. Burt rubbed his brow, easing the growing pain behind his eyes. Yet despite his pain he felt a menacing thrill shift deep inside him, a shiver ran through his body in recognition of the dark thought, with the Joker in Arkham he was free to have a little fun with the new inmate. Burt stood up a little straighter, clasping his baton in both his hands holding it close to his chest. As his grip grew ever tighter in frustration, Burt breathed a silent prayer, "whilst the Joker is in my institution, he'll get what he deserves."


"OOOphhh," The blow knocked the air from my lungs, yet through my wheezing gasps I continued laughing. "Ahahahaha, I think…aha…you can-ah….do better than that-ah." I looked up into the face of the big man above me and thrashed against the restraining hands on my arms and shoulders, "You better lock me up quick Frank, before I do something dangerous." The gravel in my voice made the hunk of meat towering above me flinch, I giggled uncontrollably. "You know what Frank-ah, your just ah big coward, I can see it in your eyes." I struggled again, managing to pull away from the men holding me, pushing myself forward toward the man who had hit me, I spat at the coward before me. Laughing fit to burst; I somehow managed to laugh harder when the man dropped his baton to the floor. It clattered at his feet but as I was confined in a straightjacket I couldn't take advantage of the situation instead I did nothing but double over cackling at the fool before me.

"You better pick that up," a disembodied voice commanded through the hall, "You cannot show weakness in front of patients." The voice was cold, and authority ran through every syllable he spoke.

"Arkham-ah, it's so nice to see your still here, no-one to replace you yet?" I enquired down the hallway.

"You better quiet down now patient 0801, before we put a muzzle on you, you should know better than this with all the time you've spent here already," Professor Jeremiah Arkham stepped forward into the light of the hallway; he walked with a cane yet was healthy for his age. The pounding of his cane as he strode forward echoed to my ears.

"Oh but Prof-es-sor it's too much fun-oooof" I doubled over again as the man who had dropped his baton pulled back to hit me again, "now, now, now, that was naughty-ah." I looked up through my hair licking my scars and smiled menacingly at the man.

"Perkins remove this man at once, you're causing a scene in front of the other patients, I want him in his cell now." And with that last command Professor Jeremiah Arkham moved on from them, clearly confident his men could handle me.

"You heard the man Joker; we're going to your cell. Now!" The men proceeded to drag me up so I was standing properly, I knew my fun was over; I'd have to do as they wanted. As we proceeded on through the walls of Arkham only the clattering of metal and the cries of tortured souls welcomed me home.