THE GIRL THE BANK AND THE CLOWN
It was a scorching hot morning in the venerable old city of Gotham. It was only nine am and already the temperature had risen to seventy Fahrenheit. People were out on the street, women in strappy summer dresses, men in loose linen shirts all on their way to work or other business. The sun was already high in the cloudless azure summer skies. A feeling of happiness was swamping the city, crime rates had been falling ever since the mysterious "Batman" had started to protect the citizens of this fine city. Whoever this mystery man was he had put an end to the infamous Red Hood Gang, to the eternal thanks of all who had suffered at their hands. The Gotham City Enquirer had tried to get exclusive pictures of the hero, all to no avail. Many men had come forward in the first frantic months claiming to be the Batman. All of them frauds. Men and women wanted to be him and be with him. When the night fell his symbol would shine in the skies. A white circle with a Bat emblem glowing in the darkness filling the hearts of all those saw it with hope and pride. Knowing that the enigmatic hero was protecting them, the Gothamites could sleep peacefully in their beds.
Rose O'Toole was walking down Kane Street on her way to the Gotham City Merchant Bank. She had turned eighteen at the end of July and she was about to open her first account with the inheritance her Grandmother had left her. She had an appointment at nine thirty with the bank manager Mr. Evert. Although she would have normally have gone by taxi, it was such a beautiful August day she had decided to walk. She was wearing her new summer dress. It was a pretty lilac colour, with cute little orange flowers dotted randomly all over it. She was feeling very happy and slightly dreamy. As she came up to Wayne Tower she stopped and looked up at it. It was one of the oldest buildings in Gotham, and it towered over almost all the other buildings, only the Cathedral's spire was taller.
Rose wondered if Bruce Wayne was up there. Maybe he was standing at the window looking down at his city. Maybe if he was, would he see her looking up at him? Would he wonder who she was?
She shook her head, "Rosie, stop that! You should get you head out of the clouds" she advised herself.
She dropped her hand that had been shading her eyes, and started her journey again. It wasn't much further to the bank. As she walked she hummed a song to herself. As she turned the corner away from Kane Street, she and Bruce Wayne accidently bumped into each other.
"Oh!" She uttered as she fell.
"Oh dear! I'm so very sorry miss" He apologized as he caught her in his strong muscular arms. He smiled at her.
"Thank you Mr. Wayne!" She smiled back shyly
"I know a small cafe not far from here if you want to sit…" He asked her in a hesitant but deep voice.
"Oh Mr. Wayne I would love too" She answered her cheeks turning pink.
"Then take my arm and we'll go."
At first their conversation was polite, but as time went on their discourse grew warmer. Stolen glances and blushes were exchanged across the table. As the time came to leave, they both realized they didn't want this to end right now.
"If you're not too busy Rose would you consider taking a walk through the Botanical gardens…..with me?" Bruce asked hesitantly, nervously scratching the back of his head.
"I...I would love to..Bruce." Rose glanced down for a moment then back up through hooded eyes. He was smiling widely at her, pure happiness etched on his face.
"Well...ok." He took her arm in is as they made their way to the gardens.
They spent the rest of that glorious day, falling in love. As the sun started to set, the sky looked as if it were on fire. Bruce lent down towards Rose. His fingers slowly caressed her skin, one finger traced the shape of her slightly parted lips. His lips hesitantly brushed against hers. Her heart started to beat a little faster as her dreams came true….
She was suddenly and rudely woken for her daydream when someone crashed into her. She nearly fell to the floor as the man mumbled, "Get out of my way you silly bitch!"
Rose was so shocked tears welled up in her eyes. She straightened up and adjusted her dress. All thoughts of Bruce Wayne knocked from her head. She looked back for the rude man, but he had already disappeared. She could see the bank just over the road. She wiped away the tears crossed the road and headed in.
It was cooler in the Bank, so much so goose bumps formed on Rose's skin. She wasn't sure where Mr. Evert's office was and there didn't seem to be any staff around. Only the bank tellers were on duty, and there were already queues forming. She had no choice so she joined the shortest one. She stood behind a rather large man who was sweating profusely, even in the cool of the building. She could smell him!
"Yuck!" she thought to herself, her nose wrinkling. "One of the drawbacks of summer, I suppose" she thought.
She glanced around her at the other customers. They all seemed to have the same vacant expressions on their faces. She did hope she wouldn't be too long. She really hated the thought of missing out on this perfect day. As the queue moved, she became aware of a very tall man standing directly behind her. She glanced at him from over her shoulder. He was very thin and really pale, sickly looking even. He wore garish clashing over bright colours, a huge summer hat hid most of his face. He noticed Rose was staring and he gave her a huge toothy grin. She politely smiled back and looked forward again. The fat man in front of her was starting to complain about how long it was taking. Rose noticed a few other men had joined two other queues. All of them were dressed almost the same as the tall guy behind her. Rose started to feel a little worried. It was only a few week ago that the National Bank of Gotham had been robbed at gunpoint by a group of men in clown masks. Her eyes were quickly scanning the area for any security guards that may have been around. Just in case her worries came true.
What if all these strange men dressed in horrible clothes were here to rob the place? Maybe the man behind her was the ringleader? What was his name again? Jester? Comedian?...
"Joker.." She whispered.
"Pardon?" The tall guy asked her. She slowly turned her head to address him. He was still giving her the same huge toothy grin as before. She once again smiled politely.
"Oh! I was just thinking to myself..Sorry."
"Ah, that's ok, dear. I do the same thing myself." Somehow his smile actually stretched wider. He was starting to resemble the big bad wolf from Red Riding Hood.
"Well it's about time! Jeez!" The fat guy shouted as he moved to the tellers counter.
"It's a beautiful day, don't ya think?" Asked the tall guy, Rose nodded as she slowly turned back around. She was really worried now.
Suddenly a pale arm wrapped around her and a gun was pressed against her temple. The tall guy was giggling as he shouted to the Bank,
"Good Morning ladies and gentlemen, I'm the Joker and this is a stick up!" the other men dressed similar to the criminal that held her, all of the goons took out their guns and placed clown masks on their faces. The Joker smiled and addressed the confused customers.
"Now then if you're all good little hostages and do what Daddy J says; this pretty girly won't have her pretty little brains decorating the walls...although it may brighten the place up ! Haaa Haaaa!" The Joker laughed maniacally, sending Rose into a blind panic. She struggled to get free of the mad clowns arms but he was far too strong for her. Her struggles seemed to please him in some sick and twisted way.
"Ooh, baby… yeah..I'd really like you to keep that up..But Daddy has a job to do, so knock it off or I'll kill ya right now!" Rose stilled in the Joker's arms as he pressed the gun harder into her temple and his finger twitched in the trigger. She looked up at him, as he grinned down at her, his acid green eyes twinkling in excitement.
"Good girl, daddy'll give you a present if ya stay obedient." Rose shuddered. She didn't want to know what type of gift this sick creep would give her!
"Now then..everyone on the floor. Tellers, fill up my boy's sacks….Haaaa sacks!...with every penny this place holds..right now!" The Joker's goons, all in clown masks, pushed there swag bags under the tellers windows as another two went off to the banks vaults, carrying strange equipment.
"You won't get away with this! Batman will get you you sick bastard!" Someone shouted.
"Who said that?" The Joker started circling the hostages on the floor dragging a sobbing Rose around with him.
"Was it you? Huuum?" He asked as he kicked the fat customer who had been in front of Rose in the queue. "Well? ...WAS IT?..ANSWER ME!" Joker screamed not smiling anymore. Rage burned in his eyes. He pointed the gun at the fat guy and pulled the trigger, shooting the poor man in the head. Blood quickly pooled all over the marble floor. Rose screamed.
"Ok! Now you know what happens if you don't..FUCKING...ANSWER ME!..so who said it?" He shot into the air.
The sound of police sirens were heard from outside. It seemed someone had triggered a silent alarm.
"Boss! We gotta a problem here.." one of the goons in a clown mask said as he quickly approached the Joker.
"What problem?"
"Erm...Batman….he's here!"
"What?! Where?"
Suddenly the goon punched Joker hard in the face.."Right here Joker!"
He took off the mask showing his cowl. The Joker stumbled back holding his bleeding mouth, giggling. He had released Rose. Batman pushed her behind him.
"It's over Joker!" Batman's dark gravelly voice sent shivers of delight down Rose's back.
"He, he, ho, ho...oh Batman, it's good to see you. How ya been?" He smiled genuinely happy to see Batman.
"Drop the gun!"
"What?! And spoil all the fun? Tsk..now now Batsy, why would I do that?" The clown waved his gun around and started shooting randomly and his laughter grew louder and more excited.
"Boys..take em down"
The badly dressed, masked goons surrounded the hostages on the ground as the police came storming into the building. Amidst the hail of gunfire, the Joker's piercing laughter could be heard over the noise. Rose crouched down covering her head with her arms, her eyes never left Batman for a moment. She heard Batman snarl at his enemy and launched himself at the mad clown. They both fell to the floor, Batman pinning the Joker bodily. The mad man managed to lift his arm and he pointed the gun straight at Rose. Batman grabbed his hand and slammed it repeatedly onto the ground until he dropped the gun. The Joker was laughing with delight the whole time. Batman growled punching the crazy clown square in the jaw. This silenced the laughter as the Joker went limp, knocked unconscious by the strong strike.
The goons had all been rounded up, with their hands behind their heads the police led them outside at gunpoint. Two men in hazmat suits came in cornering off the body of the poor guy that was coldly murdered. Rose was a dazed and shocked as the rest of the hostages. She stared at the Batman, as he took hold of her. She stumbled as she rose from her squat. Batman caught her in his strong arm.
"Are you OK miss?" He asked in his deep gravelly voice.
"Oh! Yes...I. .I think?" Rose answered her face blushing as she stared into those piercing blue eyes.
"Do you need any medical attention? Did he hurt you?" concern flashed over his features.
"I don't think. ..no! No, I'm ok" Rose smiled sweetly at him. Her heart beat furiously in her chest. *So this is what it feels like to be in love* she thought.
Batman gazed at her and smiled. His beautiful lips opened as he uttered the words….. "Next"
"What?" Rose asked, completely confused.
"Next customer pleases!"
She of looked around her. The bank was exactly as it was before. Shit! She'd been daydreaming again!
"I think it's your turn dear!" the tall pale guy whispered, giving her a very friendly smile.
She felt so embarrassed. Why oh why could she not stop daydreaming? Rose walked up to the counter.
"How can I help you today miss?" Asked the tellers.
"I have an appointment with Mr. Evert at nine thirty" Rose said with a smile.
"Oh yes! Wait one moment please."
The teller, a cute older lady, picked up a phone and asked for Mr. Evert. As she talked Rose once more glanced around her. Just behind the tall guy, a very handsome young man was reading a pamphlet. He had lovely blond curly hair. Rose idly wondered what it would feel like to run her fingers through it.
"Miss O'Toole?..I'm Mr. Evert. Follow me please." As she turned to follow the manager she caught a glimpse of the handsome man giving her a small smile. This made her jump slightly.
Thirty very boring minutes later Rose had set up her bank account and was now free to enjoy the rest of the perfect day. She practically skipped out of the building into the sunshine. The warmth of the day immediately settled into her skin, causing her to close her eyes and smile. She held her new bank card in her hands, her mind wandering and fantasizing about all the wonderful things she was going to buy herself. Rose walked through the city streets completely unaware of where she was going. Her head was in the clouds once more, she started to walk East towards the old theater district. She stopped for a moment to look at the billboard posters covering the front of an old and somewhat run-down cinema. She considered going in to watch the newest movie releases. Of course it seemed stupid to be sat inside in such a warm and special day. She decided to carry on with her journey, her feet moving, and her brain elsewhere.
Rose unwittingly turned down a narrow alleyway that had an abrupt dead end. She looked around her, noticing her mistake and turned back. As she neared the entrance to the alley, a tall man stepped into view. She stopped releasing she had her bank card still in her hand. She quickly put it in her bra hoping the man hadn't noticed. He started to walk towards her. His steps were graceful almost as if he were dancing. He also seemed to be humming a tune she knew but couldn't place. As he came closer she realized it was the man from the bank, the good looking one with the curly hair. She relaxed and gave him a small smile. He stopped and smiled back at her.
"Why, hello there pretty lady," He greeted her in a slightly raspy voice. "You seem to be umm...lost." His smile grew slightly wider as he looked her up and down.
"Oh! Yes," Rose smiled and shook her head.
"I was thinking about something and accidently took a wrong turning," She giggled at her folly. The man laughed with her as he slowly walked forward.
"Ha, ha ha. Is that so? You do know it's dangerous for a pretty little thing like you to be all alone round here? Hum?" He asked, still smiling. Rose had started backing up her smile faltering.
"So I'm wondering .. why you came down here, and...what I'm going to to do with you?" He moved like lightning, forcefully pushing Rose up against a wall. She started to scream. The man placed his hand over her mouth.
"Shshshshsh, now now I ain't gonna hurt ya!" He whispered as he held her tightly. She stopped struggling.
"You gonna stop screaming hur?" Rose nodded, her eyes wide and frightened.
He took his hand away from her mouth and smile widely at her. She made a dive to her left trying to escape her capture. He easily stopped her, laughing wildly. His laugh was high pitched and breathy. He slammed her back against the wall knocking the wind from her. She closed her eyes for a moment trying to catch her breath, when she opened them again he was holding a knife against her throat.
"Now that was very naughty wasn't it? Here I was trying to be friendly"
Up close Rose noticed he was wearing a hell of a lot of makeup, and the smell that came from him was...it was acrid. He also had very strange eyes. The left eyes pupil was so small, almost not there. The right one was huge, it also looked sore and infected.
"P..pl..please don't hurt me." Roses sobbed as huge tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Hey now, why so sad?...Is it the knife?... It the knife!" He looked puzzled for a moment then put the knife away.
"There you are..all gone heee heee." he giggled smiling an impossibly wide smile. He gently wiped away her tears with the back of his hand.
"No need to cry baby doll, I said I wouldn't hurt ya. Hey give me a smile? Just wanna be your friend.." Rose tried to give him a smile, it came out a little lopsided. She had never felt so scared in her life.
"Wow! You have a beautiful smile, did you know that?" He asked her smiling himself.
As he smiled, a small trickle of blood ran down from his lip and dribbled over his chin. Rose watched fascinated as it dripped onto his shirt.
"So….erm...What your name ?"
"R-Rose."
"Well, hi there, Rose I'm...ha..I'm .." His eyes glazed over, almost as if he couldn't remember his own name. He gave a huge sigh and shrugged his shoulders,
"What's in a name? After all; a rose by any other name would smell as sweet! Get It?" At this he burst into raucous laughter, he threw his head back and clutched his sides.
"My names Rose?!" She smiled at him, hoping this was what he wanted. She hoped if she played along with his game she may get out of this unharmed. He nodded so vigorously, the blond wig he wore nearly fell off! Rose could see his real hair was green….
"Yeah! You get it! Haaa, haa." He wiped tears from his cheeks. leaving white streaks where his makeup had been.
"Joker?!" Rose whispered to herself as the true horror of the situation became clear to her. Her daydreaming had gotten her into real danger the time. She was shaking with fear, as his eyes once again focused on her.
"Ya know doll, there's something about you I really like...ya look nervous?" He put his hand on her arm. He wasn't so handsome anymore, his lips were bleeding crimson rivers over his chin. His shirt was soaked in his blood. He rubbed his hand up and down her arm trying to calm her. It wasn't working.
"You wanna hear a funny story? It'll make ya laugh?" His bloody smile looked grotesque. She nodded, her throat too dry to talk. With a small cough the Joker stood back and with a flourish, he began his "funny" tale:
"There once was this guy, he decided to go for a walk on a beeeeautiffffffffulll summers day. So he decided to take a tour of his favorite places. He goes to the park to watch the little kiddies play, he likes kids… so fun and innocent…" He giggled at the thought of children at play.
"Then he strolls down to the lake, ya know the one full of fish?" Rose shrugged her shoulders as she unconsciously bit her finger nails. The Joker smiled whimsically as he continued his narrative.
"Yeah, I enjoy watching fish. The way they jump outta the water and the sun glistens over their scales….looks kinda like rainbows. … Where was I? ..ah yes! So this guy was watching the pretty fishes when he hears someone singing.
" Who's that singing?"he asks himself.
As he slowly turns around, his eyes see a vision of beauty walking his way. Such a pretty little girl. She has a sweet smile and gorgeous lilac summer dress. She doesn't see him but,...he sure sees her!"Joker moved closer to Rose. His fingers caress her jaw as he gently lifted her face to meet his gaze.
"Ya know what happened then..Rose? Huuum? Well this guy..ha, haaa..this guy decided to follow her. She had no idea!" He now had both hands either side of her face. He was still gentle but she could feel how strong he was.
" Soooooo, she's happily skipping down the streets not a damn care in the world. Her skirts swirling and swishing around her shapely legs and all the while she's being ….what's the word? Watched? Yeah ….yeah we'll go with watched..by our man from the park. Suddenly she stops… The guy...well he thinks he's been spotted, that is until she looks up at Wayne Tower"
Rose's stomach gave a sharp lurch, her body was suddenly stone cold. She stared straight into his eyes. He looked so amused almost as if he was enjoying her panic and fear.
"She looked so, so dreamy. Her head must have been filled with butterflies and lollipops. Well our man almost felt bad about following her, but it was soooooo much fun. So he decided to wait for her around the corner ya know, just in case she did see him. If she did it would have spoilt the game see? Well, she eventually comes strolling over when bumps straight into him! Rude! What a silly bitch!" If Rose had harbored any doubts about whom the Joker's story was about, they were blown away by this revelation.
He had been the man who had knocked her over….oh God!...he's been following me all day! what's he want?
Joker saw the panic in her eyes. Not wanting her to leave just yet, he pushed her hard up against the alley wall. He took her wrists and forced them above her head trapping her with his body, his face centimeters away from hers.
"She fell to the floor, and our guy was quite….concerned. He didn't want her to damage anything.. her bottom. ...her fine dress."
Rose twisted in his grasp, trying to get away. His fingers felt like iron rods digging into her flesh.
"No! ...NO!" He shouted. He slammed her head hard against the wall. Rose saw stars explode across her vision.
" I'm not DONE YET! Now ...you have to be a good girl and listen..ok? I don't wanna hurt ya…..yet! Anyway our guy follows her to the bank…..hey you listening?" Rose felt very dizzy and sick, bright swirls of colours danced in her vision, and a constant high pitched ringing sounded in her ears. The Joker shook his head and gave a deep sigh.
"I just can't seem to get a good audience lately….. Anyway to cut a long story short, too late! Haa… she did some boring shit in the bank..yadda yadda, our guy just kinda hung around thinking of all the things he was gonna do. HAAAAAAAAAA, HAAAAAA" Joker burst into manic laughter, this snapped Rose back into reality.
Things? What things? To me? Is he going to do ….things to me? Oh God! PLEASE..
"Please don't….please..please.." She begged him. The Joker looked very confused.
"Don't? What?" He waited for Rose to answer him. All he got in response was weeping and sniveling.
"Pst! Ya know you're a little bit stupid ain't ya? Anyhoo let's get to the punch line huuur? Sheesh! ….. So our guy follows little Miss Daydream all across town, until she turns down this ..aah..dark and dangerous alley. Now he knows how very dangerous this place is, there have been a few nasty murders and...erm..rapesss.. here. So feeling concerned and gallant, our hero decides to rescue said damsel. At first she's all smiles and giggles but then for no reason, she...she tries to run away from him. This confuses and hurts our guy ya see, all he wanted was to help her. Why won't you let me help you Rose? Humm?"
"What? Whaaa..? What do you want?" Rose asked him, she felt as if she was in some type of strange nightmare.
"Ahhhh..now that's a good question? A trip to Rome!" At this he gave her a genuine smile. Rose's confusion deepened.
"What? What do you want to do with me?" she asked before she could stop herself.
"Oooh! I dunno...what do you want me to….do...with you?" He wiggled his eyebrows up and down and gave her a little wink.
"Ya know, since ya asked there is something I want from you. It's really...really..really...important that I get it. Rosie...you're the only girl that I can get it from."
"Oh Goooood! Please, please let me go! My bank cards in my bra...take it..just let me go pleeeeeease!" Fresh sobs rolled out from her heaving chest, her arms hurt from being held up for so long. Her head ached from the blow it had received from hitting the wall. She was almost overwhelmed with fear, but his next words made her heart miss a beat.
"I...haa..I don't want your money." He giggled, his right hand was rummaging through his pocket.
He drew out a small gun and pointed it at her temple.
"Haaaa, haaaaa….I'm gonna let go of you now. Don't try to run or I'll shoot ya, ok?"
He let go of her and stood back, she put her arms around herself as huge sobs wracked her body.
"Good girl, see? It's not so bad.. Now I want you to take off your dress."
"What? Nononononononono.." Rose shook her head, this couldn't be happening, how could this perfect day turn into a nightmare? She looked at the man in front of her. How could she have thought he was handsome? He was an evil monster!
" No? Oh honey...do you want me to shoot you? I don't want to...but.." He stretched his arm out as his finger slowly squeezed the trigger.
"Oh no! I...I.." she was becoming incoherent as the mad man stood laughing hysterically, at her misery. Rose looked down as she slowly disrobed in front of him. He was completely silent as she did this. She let the dress fall to the floor.
"Ahh, ahh! Pick it up and hand it to me." She did as he demanded, as she held it out he grabbed her and pulled her to him. She couldn't breathe, trembling and crying she closed her eyes, hoping this torture would be over soon.
"Well now… you really are a good kid." She felt his lips on her cheek as he gave her a big wet kiss.
"Thanks so much doll, have a great day..Byeeee!" Suddenly he let her go, and with a final "Whoop" he was gone.
Rose slowly opened her eyes, finding herself alone in the ally. She let out a trembling breath and fainted dead away.