Prologue
Belle Reve
"Hush, little baby, don't say a word, mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird. And if that mockingbird don't sing, mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring. And if that diamond ring turns brass, mama's gonna buy you a looking glass…"
Harley was sitting on the floor, her legs curled up against her chest. She smiled and kept humming and rocking herself. Despite of all the meds, abuse and electric shocks, the nasty voices in her head refused to leave her alone.
"Harls… Mommy… Harleen! Look at yourself! No child deserves a mother like you… Strawberry, vanilla or chocolate… It's time to have some fun…"
Mentally unstable. Dangerous. Psychotic. Loony. Yes, she was all of those things and more, but her madness didn't really bother her. She had got used to it. This was who she was. She was freer than most people could even dream of. She didn't have to pretend anything to anyone. Not anymore. That was the beauty of insanity. She leaned back and giggled.
The cage… To her it was even worse than the electric shocks. Being locked up… Of course she didn't let anyone, especially Griggs, to see it. She had no idea how long she had been here. Days? Weeks? Months? All she knew was that her Puddin' would find her and get her out of here. No matter what it would take. She knew that he would never give up.
"Harls…"
Harley closed her eyes.
"You and me, sweetness…"
She smiled. Her Puddin' loved her just the way she was. So did her daughter. Her little poppet. Harley had never planned to get pregnant in the middle of her studies, but giving birth to Maisie was something she had never regretted. Not that she had ever been a perfect mother, far from it, but she loved her daughter and her Puddin'. Despite of what some people thought, she was capable of feeling love. She would have died for her loved ones. She would have killed for them. For her family.
"Mommy…"
She laughed when she thought about her Puddin's first meeting with Maisie. He had been somewhat jealous at first, he hadn't wanted to share Harley's love, but he had learned to accept Maisie. He was good to her. Harley knew that her daughter was safe with him.