This story takes place in Gotham City. You are a member of the italian mob. You had always worked close with your father who was Maroni's right hand man. Once he died, Maroni took it upon himself to take you in, since you knew all the inner workings anyway. You tried and tried, year after year and still Maroni would not advance you to a higher position due to your sex. He said it would look bad for the establishment. You never let it get you down though, you still worked (twice as hard as all the men) to get as high as you could. Soon you ended up working very near to Maroni, but it was mostly because he would always hit on you. You took your opportunities where they fell. Even if he was keeping you there because he found you attractive, it made no difference to you. If men were really that dumb, then you took it as a weakness of there's and ran with it. You were clearly viewed by onlookers as the token mob whore, though you weren't. Also, you were not even full italian (half portuguese on your mother side), so letting you into a higher position would be an absolute outrage to many other members. But you were making good money, getting to join in on all the plans and fixes so you continued doing it. You had never actually carried out a hit- or killed anyone. Whenever you were given a chance with a gun you always shot in area's that were into fatal. The other mobsters saw that as a weakness too, and you had to admit...They were right...You couldn't kill. You wouldn't...
"Hey Patrizia!" You herd a yell from the other room. You got up from your desk and strode over to the next room. You approached it and leaned in the doorway.
"It's pronounced, PA-TRISH-A. Not Patrizia." You corrected very nonchalantly. You were so used to those kind of mistakes. The italians were always trying to make everything more italian.
"Hey bella, no lip today uh." Maroni said as he locked his suitcase.
You rolled your eyes and walked further into the room. "I don't know what so difficult...It's not that hard of a name, I'd settle for Pat, or even Patty." You said striding over to his desk.
"Listen doll, I don't know how many times I have to explain this to ya. This is the ITALIAN mob, got it? It's bad enough I keep you around here and you're not even a full breed." He finished sitting down behind his desk. "You'll take what I call you and you'll like it." He said pointing at you. "Besides," He said leaning in his chair. "It's a pretty decent name considering the other names people got for you around here." He said, a small smirk growing on his face.
"Wow, calling me a half breed now? Funny, where were you born, Jersey?." You said folding your arms and smiling. "I'm just as much Italian as you are." You laughed slightly at your clever remark.
"I don't wanna get into it today." He finished. You loved it when you caught him in a technicality. The truth is, you were the smartest person in that establishment. "Sit down" He said massaging his temple.
You walked over to the chair in front of his desk, and straightened out your fine tailored suit. There was no denying, you made good money, and you dressed to fit the part. Most days you worse a perfectly fitted black blazer, matched with a tight to the skin black pencil skirt. To top off the outfit you finished with a pair of sleek black glasses and cockroach killer pumps. And of course, a deep crimson lipstick, made to make your lips pop. The fact that you just happened to be attractive didn't help your situation in any way. But you figured, why hide it?
"I have a job for ya. Something I think you're really going to like." He said folding his hands. He took in a deep breath, almost like he was fighting within himself. "I want you to take over." Your eyes widened, "Just for a while." He saved himself. You let out a breath, but remained attentive. 'What's he up to?' You thought.
"Later today a few of us are--" He was cut off. By the door being thrown open. Both you and Maroni looked in that direction immediately.
"Boss! That two bit whack job is on the T.V.!" Vinny yelled.
Maroni, looked at hi for a few seconds. "Bring it here." Maroni ordered. Vinny disappeared out of the doorway and then reappeared moments later with Tony and Francisco who were carrying the T.V. The wires dragged on the floor, getting tangled in their feet.
"Madonna." You said looking up the sky in pretend agony. "Honestly boss, why are you interested in anything this guy has to say. I seen him on the news a few times now, and I gotta' be honestly, he looked insane."
"Thats the point." Vinny said raising the volume.
"He's nuts, who the hell knows what this guy will be up to next." He finished as you all starred the the television watching the latest new outbreak. It was disturbing to say the least. Images of the man in purple were all over the screen, and his latest victim was screaming for mercy. You shook your head all the while, waiting for this foolish problem to end so that you could go back to you and Maroni's conversation.
"Urgh!" You said standing up. You walked over to the T.V. and turned it off immediately.
"Hey! Wha'd ya do that for?" Francisco complained. The rest of them followed soon after.
"I'm sick of this guy. All your doing by watching him on T.V. is glorifying him. Just get out already, will ya." You scolded, resting your hands on your hips.
"Ya, boys outta' here please."Maroni said, snapping out of his trance.
"Oh excuuuuse me! Didn't know we were, uh, interrupting..." Tony said, implying that you and Maroni were having relations.
"Get the hell outta here!" You said once more one he left, slamming the door behind him. You strode over to Maroni's desk directly after, making it a point to lick your heels against the floor in irritation. You placed your hands onto his desk, leaning over.
"You were saying before, the jester came into the picture." You began.
"The name is Joker. And believe it or not. I think he's quite a threat. Trust me doll, I had the same mind set as yourself a little while ago. Until I saw what he was capable of..." You narrowed your eyelids a touch, really listening to what he had to say. "Not even the Batman can get to him..."
"Oh God! the Batman, here we go again. Ok, you know what, I'm not interested in this crap. Give it to me straight boss, what did you mean before, when you said you wanted me to take over." You said getting right to the point.
He stared up at you for a few seconds, seeming like he was contemplating within him self once again. Going through some serious inner struggle. You were about to ask him if he was alright, when he spoke before you had the chance. "Tomorrow, I'm gonna' be outta' here for the day. And I need you to stay here and hold the fort." He said. Your heart was through the roof in excitement, yet you seemed to keep your intuition close. Wondering what the catch was.
"And you want me to do this for you? Why not Vinny or Toni? Hell even Francisco had a pair of balls." You said skeptically, wondering why he would ever choose you to do something like that.
"Listen doll, They're gonna be out with me. All the guys are. But hey, if you don't want the job no problem, I'm sure I can find some small time guy to do it. Your right anyways, a pair of balls is definitely a requirement for this job."
"Wait!" You said, lifting yourself out of you lean against the desk. "Fine, I'll do it...I'll do it. You said nodding. "I was just wondering what the catch was." You said siting down into your chair again exasperated.
You looked into space, contemplating your first real chance to show Maroni that you could handle things. Even if was just a day, that was enough to prove yourself.
You could hear him standing up from his chair. "Oh, there is always a catch..." He said walking away from his desk towards you. You looked up at hi right away and noticed that he was striding passed you and towards the back of your chair.
He placed one of this hands on either arm of your chair and began to lean forward. You could feel his breath in your ear. "You know what belle, I think this job is perfect or ya. Even if your only a half breed. I always thought..." He said laughing slightly, as he placed his hands onto your shoulders rubbing them sensually, "that variety was the spice of life..."
You stood up immediately, knowing that he was going to go on one of his sexual tangents. "You know how this ends. You kiss me, I kiss you. And we both go home a little dead inside..." You turned around to face him. "What do you say we just skip it all for tonight." You said walking towards him, "I don't need to be reminded of where I stand...I need a smoke" You said letting out a breath of air. He laughed slightly, standing there alone.
"Enjoy tomorrow Patrizia!" He called out to you. You rolled your eyes in exasperation, 'again with the name', you thought. You pulled out your cigarette pack and put one in your mouth, a habit that you hated more than anything, but when you're in the mob, it becomes something like a requirement.
You awoke the next morning ready for the day you had ahead of you. It was going to be your very first time flying solo, and it felt great. This would be your chance to show Maroni what you were made of.
You got dressed in something similar to yesterday, though your hair was now up and your bangs swept to the side. You were a regular poster girl for female success and model like beauty. "Perfect" You said to yourself upon your last glance into the mirror at the door.
You took off right away locking up fast. You began to walk to work, everything in the big city was in walking distance, and you weren't a big fan of driving anyway.
As you walked you looked up at the big screen they had on one of the skyscrapers. It played the news almost all day, and on the way to work you liked tuning in, just so that you could stay up to date. You noticed that more than one hundred people were assembled around it, watching intently. You looked at them with curiosity, then the screen answered your question. The headline, Joker Strikes Again. You shook your head.
"Official's are calling it a mass problem indeed. The joker has struck again, we have a video recording of the jokers last victimization, please be warned, the images you are about to see are disturbing." The anchor said.
You watched intently, and your eyes widened at what you were seeing. There, tied to a chair was the head of the Russian mob. You remembered him vividly, you had dealt with him before, with Maroni. You watched longer, and to your dismay the man was not moving. He was dead, and his face was rather obviously carved into the shape of a smile. There was an eruption of manic laughter coming out out from the speakers. You body shivered uncontrollably. 'That voice, is so disturbing...' You thought.
As you continued watching, you could head the voice again, this time not laughing, but speaking. "You want Gotham to have order. You want order in Gotham." He repeated. "Well..." The camera turned away from the dead man and onto his face. Big, and frightening on the big screen. It was as if he was addressing everyone in the city personally. "Then, you're going to have to follow my rules. And this guy, he's just the beginning Soon, I'm going to move onto the more...Innocent..." There was a long pause, and the camera continued to shake, like he had an uncontrollable urge to fidget constantly.
He licked his lips, again, like a kind of twitch that he seemed to have. You could really hear it as he smacked his lips together. You winced, it was so alarming. "I'm a an of my word..." He finished, and then exploded into his bone chilling laughter once again.
You looked around and noticed that everyone seemed to be exploding into a small kind of panic. Everywhere you turned people were talking about it. "This guy really is a piece of work..." You said to yourself as you continued to walk away.
You turned the corner one block down and came to the headquarters. You could see in the front that there was a white van blocking the way. You gave it a dirty look, 'weird...' you said walking around it. You looked into the drivers seat, no one. You shrugged your shoulder and walked up the stairs and into the building.
"Hello, Vinny? Toni? Anyone?" You called. No one answered. "Didn't think so." You said smiling brightly. It really was awesome that you were running the show today. You walked over to Maroni's office, and opened the door. You thought you might just stay in his office for the day. "What the boss don't know, won't hurt him." You said smiling slyly.
You sat in his chair and out your feet up on the desk soaking it all in. You looked around the room, acting like you were the big boss.
True, you were acting as a fall guy just because Maroni, (or anyone else) wasn't going to be there, but still- it felt good. You decided to do what Maroni usually did when he came in. You put your purse onto a couch on the other end of the room, and you threw your pack of cigarettes on the desk. You turned to a filling cabinet on the far end of the room. You opened it up and began to pull the money files. Clients, money in, and money out. You always made sure everything made sense before it went out.
You opened the file, and immediately you noticed a post- it stuck on the first balance sheet. You pulled it off and read what it said, in Maroni's handwriting. "Nothing personal Patrizia."
You cocked an eyebrow, and laughed to yourself. "Ok boss man, whatever." You crumpled it up and threw it to the side of the desk. "Jeez, I don't hate balancing the books THAT much." You joked.
THUD!!
You jolted, and tensed up, a loud crash could heard coming from the front door.
Someone had clearly just come in, but you straightened yourself out and continued working, catching your breath from the initial shock. You had no appointments, and Maroni hadn't mentioned anything. It was most likely someone who had the wrong place, it happened from time to time, where someone came into the wrong building by mistake. You grabbed a piece of paper from the corner of your desk, and you could easily make out what the people were saying. You couldn't help but be a bit nosey.
"Looks, like dare's no one here boss." Said a man with a very heavy New York accent.
"Find someone, anyone. Where's my italian?" You heard a very familiar voice say, and the hairs on the back of your neck stood on end from the sound. You traced the name in your mind... And then it hit you, that morning, on the news...It sounded like...
"Shit...The one day I'm in charge this happens!!" You whispered to yourself in panic. You began to look around the room frantically for a phone, you would call Maroni right away, he would know what to do... You took the phone in your hand at once, and began to dial, when suddenly, something crossed your mind. 'Wait a second...Maroni...He knew...' you thought. Your eyes widened. 'That explains everything...Thats the reason he was so hesitant to tell me about this job yesterday...He was guilty- That jerk!"
You hung up the phone right away. You grabbed the post-it that you had crumpled up before,and you opened it once again... "Nothing personal" You read to yourself... "THAT SON OF A BITCH!" You whispered violently, crumpling it back up and throwing it across the room. "HE SET ME UP!! MAKIN' ME TAKE THE BULLET!"
You herd another loud bang, shaking you from your thoughts. They had kicked in a door, then another, then another. They were doing them all one at a time. Your heart rate shot through the roof when you herd the door next to yours burst open, "You hooo, anyone in? Nope!" You herd the familiar voice say, you panicked.
You thought frantically. You stood up from your chair, ready to run. When it was too late... Your door flew open violently, almost knocking the hinges off. You stood there, dumbfounded starring at the now destroyed door. There were two men standing there in clown masks.
You froze, as each of them had machine guns. "Hey boss, we got someone here." One of them said, You winced, knowing what was coming. Nothing could have prepared you for it...
It all went quiet, and you could hear your heartbeat in our ears, then footsteps, becoming more and more audible as it approached. Laughter began to erupt, first faint, and then growing. A purple gloved hand took hold of the door frame, and a second later, a figure appeared...The joker.
You were crippled with fear, you tried to hide it and keep cool. That's what you were always taught to do, and normally you were good at it. Today however, you failed miserably.
"Well hello beautiful" He said combing back his hair with his right hand. Starring directly at you all the while. You felt the urge to stutter, and lie, But you were speechless. "Well, aren't you going to invite me in?" He said ironically, making a joke. He took a step inside, "I'm offended to say the least." He finished, placing a hand over his heart, pretending to be shocked.
You tried to speak, but nothing came out. "You know what? I can see your a little uneasy, so I'm not even gonna' ask about refreshments." He cracked a joke again. "Give us a minute will ya boys. Lets see if I can't get this little canary to sing." The men in masks all seemed to sneer, and snicker. The joker turned around on his heel and attempted to shut the door his men had obviously broke. Had it not been a terrifying situation, you would have found it comical. He closed it once, and it opened. He tried again, and it opened once more. Then, he kicked it in with force. You jumped taking a step back. He stepped away to admire he work, then he turned back to you.
He walked over and sat down in a chair in front of the desk. He adjusted his blazer and looked in the chair that you were not sitting in at your desk for about 5 seconds. Then finally, he looked at you.
"Um hello, you have a meeting in progress." He mocked you.
"Uh..." You began, "I...I think you might have made a mistake. I'm, I'm not Maroni...uh, that is to say..." You shook your head, trying to make it look like you were just accidently tripping over your words rather then having them stutter from fear. "You have the wrong place..." You lied, very unconvincingly.
He put his head down, and looked at you from the top of his eyes. It scared the living hell out of you. "Don't lie." He said, surprisingly not sounding angry, but rather, like he knew you were lying, and wanted to mock you for it. "I know Maroni, and I know his place. But what I don't know is why you are here in Maroni's room. You his squeeze or something?" He asked rudely, smacking his lips (like he had done on the news so many times), looking you up and down.
You were going to speak, when he cut you off. "Look, it really doesn't mater." He said picking up the crumpled post- it he found on your desk and reading it. He threw it back on the desk shrugging. "The point is, I know I'm in the right place. It's you who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time." He said looking back at you. His eyes traced your body again, he smacked his lips in his usual well publicized twitch, "Nice legs." He said shaking his head once as he said it.
You blinked. Immediately regretting wearing your tight black skirt. You retreated behind your desk quite obviously, hiding your exposed legs. A small smirk came over his face. Like he knew he had gotten to you.
You cleared your throat. "What do you want?" You asked bluntly your voice shaking slightly.
"What no foreplay? You're killing me." He mocked. "But hey, you get right down to the point, I like that." He leaned forward, hunching over the desk, resting on his elbows.
You were so incredibly nervous, and you looked to your cigarette box. He noticed right away. You reached for it, and pulled one out. You looked like a nervous reck. Pulling one out of your pack, shaking like a leaf.
You patted yourself down, looking for lighter. You knocked over several objects on your desk while searching for one under all the papers. They crashed onto the floor.
Suddenly, you herd a click. and you looked up slowly. The joker had pulled a silver lighter out of his breast pocked, flipped it open and lit it. You looked at him for a few seconds, he didn't look like he was gonna stuff it in your eye or anything. And you wanted it so bad. You needed it. So you went for it. You leaned over the desk and placed the cigarette in your mouth, leaning close to his hand, you placed it in the flame, allowing it to catch. You looked at the joker from the top of your eyes, he was looking down at you as well frm the bottom of his eyes. Once it lit, you stepped back.
"Thanks..." You admitted. He leaned back in his chair.
"Here's the deal. Maroni still owes me." You closed your eyes at his words. You took in a deep breath of smoke, and allowed it to seep out of your nose and mouth as you breathed out. You knew you looked good, you always did when you smoked. But at the moment you would have given anything to be less attractive.
You thought about Maroni, and tried to keep your temper under control, when you lost it. "THAT BITCH!..." You said out loud.
"Ohhh, I love it when you talk dirty." He laughed baring his teeth, bouncing in his seat.
You shook your head at him. "Look, Maroni set me up. I'm not even supposed to be here today. He put me here because he knew you were coming." You slammed your hand on the desk.
"A little fight in you. I like that." He said standing. You backed away the cigarette still in your mouth. It was totally obvious that he scared you. And you hated the fact that you had just backed away. It had alerted him of his power over you indubitably.
He froze in his position up on noticing your reaction. He tilted his head and spoke, "Oh you look nervous. Well, how about a game to lighten the mood." He said stepping closer to you around the desk. "Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?" he asked spreading out his fingers in a flashy fashion. You backed up so far that you ended up against the wall. Your expression was livid in fear. "I'll be the wolf...And you, you can be?" He asked stopping in his tracks and leaning forward a little gesturing to you. You didn't speak.
"WHO ARE YOU?" He yelled. You jumped and winced.
"The pig. I'm the pig!" You answered frantically.
His eyes looked up to the sky and he shook his head. "No... No." He said assuming his advancement towards you licking his tips twitchily. "You're more like a fox." He continued towards you, his last line making no real sense to the nursery rhyme, other then the implication of your attractiveness. "A Stone...Cold...Fox." He finished in a very relaxed fashion checking you out once more, very nonchalant. You winced, and felt sick, you hated yourself for showing so much emotion. It was obvious that this guy was loving every minute the he scared you.
"It's nothing personal toots- I just want the money. I just want, whats coming to me." He said smiling. "Kinda' like you. You trusted a snake in the grass- big mistake! And now, it's gonna cost ya." He said finally stepping directly in front of you.
He took the cigarette out of your mouth and pressed against you on the wall. He was so much taller than you, so it was easy for him to over power you. Chest and chest. "You know you oatta' be careful. This stuff is a real killer." He said in all seriousness, throwing it to the ground and stepping on it. Then, out of no where he laughed at his own joke, Maniacally, insanely... He was now right against your body on the wall. You placed your hands on his chest, trying to make him keep his distance but it was no good. He was too strong. "You know I feel real bad. I mean-"
He stopped and looked down at your hands against his chest. He looked back up at you and shook his head smiling mouth closed. "This isn't going to work. Lets get more comfortable." He said shaking his head slightly grabbing your wrists, hard. You winced in pain, and let out a moan of displeasure. He raised them above your head and held them against the wall. You were trapped. and he got closer, right in front of your face you were trying to turn your head. His hot breath could be felt against your face. And he smelled like a mix of gasoline and cheep cologne.
"I mean," He repeated himself continuing, like nothing had just happened, "You know who I am, but I don't know who you are." He fiddled with your wrists above your head, and then you realized he was holding you now with only one hand as he brought the other down and put it in his pocket. He was very strong, so strong in fact he could hold you with only one hand.
When he brought the knife closer to your face you squirmed, twisting your face every which way. More so that before.
"Hey come here. Look at me." He said almost in a whisper taking your face with the hand that held the knife. Oh how you wanted to scream.
"Give me a name, common, give it to me. Give it to me." He whispered to himself insanely. It was almost like he wasn't even talking to you; but to himself. He truly was twisted.
"Patricia." You said out loud, clearly. The last thing you wanted to do was lie to him now and risk a horrifying face job.
"Good girl!" He said smiling. "You know..." he said pushing even further into you making your ribs hurt. "It really would be a shame to ruin you." He said turning serious all of a sudden, acting like you were an object that could be scratched.
He starred at you for a few seconds saying nothing, the knife still up against your face, ready to slice at any second. You could think of nothing but getting out of there.
The door burst open and fell to the floor this time. The joker closed his eyes for a second in irritation. "WHAT?" He turned around in a flash, dropping your arms immediately. You fell forward slightly, and tripped on you heel, falling to the floor. You felt a sudden extreme pain in your ankle. You screamed out. You had landed wrong, and twisted your ankle on the landing. You gripped it. 'Shit...how Am I going to get away now.!!..' You thought in panic.
The joker turned around and looked down at you. He did a double take, "Cluts." He said looking down at you and rolling his eyes.
The man waiting at the door finally spoke. "Boss, someone musta' seen us come in. Da' cops are on dare' way."
"Nice!" The joker said at once. He then raised a handgun from his pocket directly at the man in the door. And in the same instant. He shot him square in the heart. He fell to the ground, dead.
Your breathing turned into hysteria, you had seen men get shot before. But this situation made everything so much worse.
The joker turned back around to you slowly, and tilted his head.
"So your a member of the mob and you've never seen someone get shot? You're in the wrong business doll face." He said ironically, bending down. "I need to take off right now, you know how it is when your so popular." He said grabbing you by your face again.
"You know, since I've been here you never smiled. Not once." He said griping your face tighter. "Why so serious?" He questioned once more, the knife still in his hand, this time propped up against your throat.
"Please, don't-" You began tears in your eyes.
He stood up on one swift movement, ignoring you. He reached down a grabbed you under your arm. You put pressure on your ankle and began to scream. "Ouch! Please stop!" You yelled.
"Don't worry about it doll. We're gonna' put a smile on that face yet." He said sounding very dangerous.
He continued dragging you. "Oh my God, no, don't!!" You began to beg realizing that he was trying to kidnap you. "I can't even walk! What god could I be to you?!"
He began to laugh maniacally and he looked back to you as he continued to drag. "Don't worry, you'll be spending most of your time on your back anyways." He laughed louder than you had ever herd.
You began to panic even more, a feeling of impending doom crushing down on you. What was he going to do to you?...How?... And when?
He walked into the hall where the one other guy had been waiting in the foyer. He threw you to him. "Throw her in the back. Let's blow this dump." He said throwing open the doors and walking out. The masked man dragged you by the arm, just as viciously as the joker. You struggled against him, and continued to as he dragged you outside, still holding his machine gun.
You could see the joker walking towards the white van. 'Shit...I should have seen this coming...' You blamed yourself getting ready to cry from pain and fear.
The guy threw you to the ground right in front of the back doors of the van. You landed and cried out from pain, your ankle was now swollen. He approached you to pick you up again, and you kicked him with your none hurting leg. Your heel digging into his leg. You weren't afraid of this guy. You knew what kind of man he was, a total dog. He only did what his master commanded. And he wasn't allowed to do anything to you unless his boss said so. You worked along side guys like that all the time, you even were one at times.
He screamed out. "You little!-" He began but joker stopped him from advancing.
"Na, ah- ah." He said grabbing the guy from the back of his neck pressing down hard. He slammed his head into the open door of the van and knocked the guy out.
He then lifted you by the arm again and threw you into the back. "Try and play nice!" He said laughing hysterically. You could hear him walking to the front of the van, getting seated.
It all happened so fast and there you sat now. Sitting in the impenetrable van of a complete psychopath. In panic, in fear, broken, and panicked.