Gotham city. I was in the place that could be Hell's younger twin, it held enough demons in it to rival. I didn't watch the news anymore, after watching it on the first day I moved here I didn't want to know what was going on or who was killing who. All of those criminals were like roaches, the great Harvey Dent could put away as many as he'd like, but there were still hundreds of them hiding in the Narrows and back-alleys. My apartment was smaller than I was used to but it wasn't so bad, my friend however would not stop ringing the phone inside of it, asking me if I'd seen Bruce Wayne yet, truth was I could have if I had kept my eyes up instead of on the grey pavement when I walked inside the city, it was probably best I didn't draw attention to myself however thst went out the window the day I acidentally bumped into the soon-to-be Gotham's most wanted insane 'clown'.

I was taking a walk after finding out I'd gotten the job as one of the bar tenders for a small yet popular bar located a fare few blocks away from my apartment. I wasn't exactly excited, in fact I was kind of hoping I wouldn't have been accepted after my interview. I knew what to expect, sweat, pervy men, more sweat, drinks, more drinks, handsy men and drunken drawls of undying love or undying lust. Since it was in Gotham, that would all be double the amount at least. I hoped the job didn't last too long and my adoptive father could pull some strings before I too became insane, well, more than I already was.

I was listening to my music, the guitar was a soft, familiar riff of Blink 182's I Miss You,

'Hello there, the angel from my nightmare
The shadow in the background of the morgue
The unsuspecting victim of darkness in the valley
We can live like Jack and Sally if we want'

I'd been singing along to it unknowingly and as I walked on the opposite side of a park I glanced at all the people with their friends, family and lovers eating picnics or dazing off or running around laughing or chatting about probably the news, I felt a deep surge of loneliness drop into my stomach and before my brain could register what I was doing I walked straight into the back of someone, sending me backside first onto the sidewalk. The shock eventually left me and the pain subsided as I stared up expecting the man to have turned around in surprise like a normal person but he hadn't, that was because he wasn't normal but how was I supposed to know. His shoulders were hunched up almost up to his neck and his dirty blonde hair was greasy, he looked incredibly tall from where I was. He held a large bag in one hand and something white in the other. He stood on the edge of the sidewalk and barely moved, like some invisible statue.

"Sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going, really sorry. " I cringed at how nervous my voice sounded, I didn't speak to people all that much.

"All good doll, do ya want me to, ah, cut your pretty little eyelids off so you can watch where you're, ah, going next time-ah?" His voice was raspy and hoarse and his words sent ice through my body, he still hadn't turned around even as he said the threat.

"Do you want me to cut your feet off so maybe you'll move a little and stop standing there like an ass?" I blurted out before I could stop myself, I was really rallying for a death wish sooner or later. Despite the many people walking around and speaking to one another it was deathly silent for what seemed like minutes until I was interrupted with a chilling laughter equivalent to a Hyena's sound, it sent vibrations through me as it enveloped into what sounded like a high pitched squeal.

"Good one, doll. Here's my riiiide, catch ya later, alligat-ah!" The man said as a vehicle pulled up and in one steady stride he was inside it, before it sped away I glanced at him as I got to my feet from the help of a guy beside me, as I looked into the car instead of a face I was greeted with a clown mask and a gloved hand waving frantically at me. I'd just met the Joker and little did I know he would indeed catch me later.

My first week on the job was exactly as I knew it'd be, except worse. I felt if I even moved one inch towards someone's direction they thought I was asking them how far their bedroom was from here. I worked Monday to Saturdays, it was good pay but Saturdays were the worst. Unfortunately, sometimes I had to be the waitress as well and that meant walking in between everyone. It was a Saturday night and everyone seemed wilder than usual, my usual headache hurt more than usual and I had to disappear to the bathroom for a moment.

I glanced at myself im the mirror ignoring the frequent vomiting sounds from the stalls, my purple dip dyed blonde hair was how I'd styled it before I'd left for work, down to my collarbones in spirals, my makeup was sweating off and my mascara was smudhing slightly, not that it mattered. I preferred darker eyeliner to make my green eyes stand out more, but that created a lot of mess underneath my eyes. Oh well. I looked pale though and sick, was I still losimg all that weight? At first I'd been happy that id dropped a few but soon I began to look smaller than usual, my clothes no longer fit and I hsd trouble eating. My short, small stature made me look 'delicate' according to my friend but I didn't want that. Luckily my chest hadn't lost any of its bust yet otherwise I'd most likely be fired. My head ached as if drums were pounding away in there, at least it was closing time.

The dark of the night irritated me as I fumbled for my phone and headphones, my music was my one escape from Hell City. It also silence out screams or threats. I walked every night despite my heart pounding a million miles a minute. I half expected to turn around and see that man who'd threatened my eyelids, not that I'd know what he looked like.

I finally entered my apartment whistling along to Iris, the song that my adoptive parents named me after when I blocked out everything from my childhood, including my real name.

'Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive'

I flicked the lights on humming to it as I took my shoes off, setting my handbag down and grinning slightly, I loved that song more than anything. When I paused my music I froze, hearing someone else humming to it right behind me.

"Told ya I'd catch ya later, doll, you ah haven't forgotten me, have you? 'Cause that's gonna be a problem." The same raspy, dark voice I'd heard breathed into my ear and I felt my body go rigid as black spots invaded my vision, my head began to loll to my side and just before it all went dark I heard his remark,

"Ahh... pease don't."

Unfortunately, I did.

First Dark Knight fanfic, please review and tell me what you think amd give me suggestions :)! Next Chapters will be longer