(Authors note: I haven't written anything in ages, so I might be a bit rusty at this, I'll happily recieve reviews and critiques!)
Chapter 1 Normal Day
It was just a normal day at school, normal people around me, normal routine as always, that was what I thought it was until I met him.
''All right everyone, after lunch we'll start to brainstorm on what you want to do for this project'' Said the teacher before she disappeared through the door, I sighed and turned off my laptop before I stuffed it away in my back pack.
I stood up and went to the bathroom before I'd go and buy me some lunch, I was too lazy to bother to make me some lunch today. Besides, I woke up just 15 minutes before my class started so I wouldn't have time to make one either way.
Just before we started class today our teacher had talked to us about the terrible menace that were on a rampage here in Gotham City, The Joker. Our teacher recommended us that we should be two together when we walked back home from school in case something were to happen. Especially if it was after dark, school or not. I snorted at the thought, yeah, like The Joker would care less if we were two. He would only have more fun the more people it were in a group.
After my school day was over I just wanted to get home, heat up some leftovers and get under a blanket on my couch and just relax for the rest of the evening. I lazily finished packing my back pack and threw it over my shoulder like it was a huge effort.
''See you guys tomorrow'' I said and waved to my class mates.
''Hey Julia, don't be up too late tonight or else you might oversleep tomorrow as well!'' Said one of them, I just groaned as I walked out of the door, I heard they laughed at my response.
As I walked down the street I enjoyed the spring sun that gave a nice warm feeling to the wind that was brushing through my shoulder length hair. I started to think more about The Joker, he was a horrible human being that just killed for fun, but I couldn't help but to be slightly interested in his mentality and his view of the world. It must be twisted and sick as fuck, but I've always been a bit interested in these kind of people.
For a short minute I didn't really pay attention to where I was walking, and just as I looked in an another direction I stumbled into a person.
''Oh I'm dreadfully sorry, I was in my own thoughts, I'm sorry.'' I said with an apologetic smile and quickly looked into this person's face.
It was something odd about this man, he wore a cap that were pulled down so you didn't see his face that well, and he had some terrifying scars on each sides of his cheeks that went from his mouth corners like a smile. He had a worn out blue coloured sports jacket and wore some old tattered jeans. The man smirked at me and looked at me with a slight interest before I just smiled to him again and continued to walk.
It suddenly hit me after I walked some steps that he looked a bit familiar to The Joker, just without the make up on, I looked behind me to see if he were there, and he was. He stood at the same spot watching me, I quickly turned again and walked back to my apartment with hasty steps.
It couldn't be, I thought to myself, but I decided to not be too hasty with the conclusion because you could never know with him. If it was him, he might be plotting something, he couldn't always be hiding in one place, he could be out scouting and planning his next attacks as well.
I sighed, tried to relax my tense shoulders and tried not to worry too much about it, for all I know it could be just a normal person. But I couldn't quite push away the possibility that it was him.
Just before I was gonna turn the corner to my apartment I looked behind me to see if he was stalking me, I couldn't see him so I turned the corner and quickly got inside the building. I was probably being a little paranoid I thought to myself.
After I had managed to relax and eaten my leftovers I got comfortable under my blanket and were about to turn on the tv, but were interrupted by my phone ringing. I lazily reached for my phone that were on the table and looked at it before I answered, it was Bruce.
Bruce Wayne had been my friend for as long as I could remember, he was one of my best male friends I would ever have, though he could be a bit too much affectionate than I wanted him to be. I only looked at him as a friend, and I was not too overly happy about the thought that he went around sleeping a bit too much with so many women.
''Hellooo Bruce.'' I said with an effort and sighed heavily.
''What's up with you Julia?'' He asked and snorted.
''I just devoured a huge ass portion of my leftovers that felt like a 100 pound, that's what.'' I answered with a bit of self pity, Bruce only laughed.
''What's up Bruce, anything special you wanted?'' I asked
''No not really, just wanted to know if you're doing good, with all the shit that is going on in the city you could never know.'' He said trying not to sound too anxious or worried. I couldn't help but to let out a small chuckle for his concern.
''Don't worry Bruce, I don't think Joker have any particular interest in boring university students, besides I've noticed some of his patterns that he's going after something big that bring people's attention.'' I tried to sound relaxed and almost bored, but deep down I were a bit worried. The Joker could quickly take a twisted turn and do something unexpected.
''I guess you're kind of right, but I wanted you to get a heads up, stay alert, you can never know with this guy.''
'I know.'' I quickly said, it was silent for a moment before Bruce interrupted the killing silence.
''Uuhm, actually, I wanted to ask if you'd come to the fund raising party I'm gonna hold for Harvey Dent tomorrow night.'' I couldn't help but to let out a groan so loud that Bruce understood I wasn't all too happy about the invite.
''Come on Julia, it will be fun, I'll make sure of it.'' He said in a cheerful and seductive tone, I smiled for myself at his attempt to flirt with me.
''I'm sorry Bruce, but I don't have anything fancy to wear at your fancy and snobby parties, besides I don't even think I would have the manners nor the mentality to be around such high classed people.'' I tried not to sound too rude.
''Rachel will be here, and I will fix you a dress, it's size 8 you wear, yes? It's settled then!'' He said without even letting me answer.
''Fine'' I said sounding like a 5 year old kid that didn't get it's way with their parent.
''But no low backs, or too short, no shorter than 2 inches above the knee, you got that?'' I almost hissed, Bruce only chuckled at my reaction.
''I'll pick you up at 7 PM tomorrow, see you then.'' He said before he hung up.
I sighed and placed my phone at the same spot on the table again, I was bored, I glanced at the clock that were hanging on the wall. It was only 5 PM, I just wanted to go to sleep, but it was way too early for that. My thoughts trailed off to earlier today when I met that strange man, I got up from the couch and found my laptop. I started to look at news articles about The Joker, reading and studying patterns and Joker himself.
After 30 minutes I decided to test my fate by going out and see if I saw that man from earlier. I didn't want it to look like I was deliberately chasing after him, so I brought with me some money and wanted to go down to the coffee shop that were only one block away from my apartment.
I turned off my laptop and placed it on the table, just to be sure I checked my windows if they were properly closed. I grabbed my purse, my keys and picked up a tazer I had gotten with Bruce for protection, just in case something happened.
When I walked out of the door I double checked if I had locked my door before I walked out of the apartment building. I carefully looked around me as I was walking to the coffee shop, but I couldn't see anything suspicious yet.
I walked into the coffee shop and ordered a double mocca, as I was waiting I was thinking about wandering around a bit before I headed back to the apartment. I quickly dumped that plan as I thought it could quickly get dangerous if it really was The Joker.
I got my double mocca and decided to walk straight back to the apartment, just as I walked out I spotted someone familiar across the street. I gasped in fear and shock, it was the same man as I bumped into earlier today. I could see a faint smirk across his face as he stood there watching me. I tried my best not to show him that I saw him, but it was too late, he had seen my reaction.
I walked with hasty steps back to my apartment and were preparing myself mentally in case something would happened. That man was either The Joker or just a creepy stalker, but either way, it was starting to scare me.
I quickly looked over my shoulder and across the street to see if he was stalking me, and he was. He was walking calmly, grinning and his gaze was fixed on me. I swallowed hard and tried to breathe normal, but it was hard, I was starting to get scared and nervous.
Shit, what the fuck am I doing, I asked myself and as soon I entered the building I almost ran up to my apartment. Quickly I found my keys from the purse and just as I was going to unlock the door I noticed something weird, the door was already unlocked. My breathing got heavier, and I was getting more and more scared.
Carefully I opened the door and walked inside as quietly I could, I didn't see anything or heard anything at all. I picked up my phone and were ready to dial Bruce's number.
I didn't close the door properly so I could easily run out again if someone were in my apartment. I looked around the apartment but didn't see anything, when I was sure nobody was there I quickly ran to the door to lock it properly.
I stood by the door and was relieved that I didn't find anyone, but that thought soon faded. There were nobody here, and the place looked perfectly fine, something didn't add up, I quickly got nervous again. I turned on the lights in the living room but didn't see anything particular. I looked around to see if I found something, but nothing so far, nothing in the kitchen either or the bathroom.
Bedroom I thought, I hadn't checked my bedroom properly yet, I walked to my bedroom door and stood there a minute before I dared to open the door. I turned on the lights and peeked into the room, I gasped and backed away till I nearly fell over the couch that were right behind me.
''Oh god..'' I whispered to myself, on my bed there were a bouquet of white flowers with what looked like blood stains all over them. Carefully I walked into my bedroom and picked up the roses and noticed a joker card.
'See you soon' it stood on the blood stained card, I dropped the roses and stumbled backwards in shock and fear, unable to breathe properly.
It was him.