Chapter 2
Sane man in an Insane
Mirthful chuckles echoed from solitary cell 085 deep in the darkness of Arkham. Joker's left arm hung limp as his laughter grew louder. Grunts of pain were released from his scarred smile; the corners of his lips falling down as if pulled by large metal hooks. The dislocated shoulder was beginning to slip out of the straitjacket just as the pain had become this side of excruciating. His hand was freed, but seemed immovable form the pain. Closing his eyes, Joker took a breath and threw his dislocated left shoulder into the padded wall. A viscous crack sounded as his shoulder met with the wall. Joker threw his head back in pain and grunted audibly. He sucked in his thick layered breath with undertones of painful grunts.
Yet as his head fell back in place, the grunts of pain turned into a loud joyful laughter of maniacal enjoyment. He quickly slipped his right arm free from the straitjacket. His shoulder was inflamed red form the dislocation of his shoulder. The pain was simply an after thought for Joker at the time. He had more important things to deal with. Such as getting the attention of the watch guard, Henry Leary. A middle aged overweight night guard at Arkham, with a furious temper. Joker walked over to the door and began laughing loudly to get his attention. It seemed it was his pure joyous laughter that irritated the young guard the most. The plan soon played into the Joker's hand as Leary made his way down to Joker's cell; rubbing his eyes from just awakening to the sounds of Joker's laughter.
"Shut your god damn mouth, you freak." He said looking into the shadows of the solitary room. His eyes searching for patient number 913. Joker stood to the side of the room, hidden in the darkness, breathing slowly. He gripped the straitjacket in his hand, bending a piece of metal back from one of the harnesses. The edge of the metal coming to a sharp shining tip. The corners of his gruesome smile growing larger by the second. "Oh come now Mr. Leary we both know I can't help myself. This is the funniest part of my little old day." Leary grasped the handle to his nightstick. "I'll come in and shut that insane mouth of yours. Just like I did last week." Leary's knuckles turned pure white as he tightened his grip around the black nightstick.
Joker leaned his head back and prepared himself for entry of the guard. His thick rough fingers grasped the broken piece of metal from the straitjacket. "I'd like to see that lieutenant Leary." Without much thought, the brash lieutenant sorted through his keys and jammed the key into the lock. Throwing the door open and he raised his nightstick in the air. "Time to shut your insane ass u--" Leary felt a stinging feeling in the back of his neck; a warm flow of liquid running down his back. Joker pulled his arm to Leary's right and slit the back of his neck all the way to its side. Slips of pale thin skin wrapped around the small, yet, thick piece of metal. Leary simply gasped in pain, not knowing what was going on. Blood gushed and Leary fell to his knees and went right into shock, with not even the faintest scream for help. Leary's body began to shake and his eyes rolled in the back of his head; much like someone having a siezure. Joker got on top of him and started mumbling with himself as he pounded Leary's twitching chest with various punches; blood began splattering everywhere around the cell. Even across Joker's tan chest and face, as his scared smile received an all new red tint. Blood was everywhere, adding a more colorful look to the institutionalized white padded walls.
Upon delivering one last devastating blow to Leary's face, the Joker rose to his feet, but not until he had ripped the fair sized piece of metal from the man's motionless body. The sight through Joker's eyes was magnificent. Leary's body had become a bloody grimace. That little spark of life disappearing leaving an inanimate object upon the padded ground. "Just like last week Lieutenant Leary, always leaving me with a smile on my face. Now, if you'd excuse me."
Joker's hands gently unbuttoned his victim's blood-drenched shirt, his fingers turning red as they came into contact with the warm, wet fabric. The shirt was ripped off Leary's body and set upon Joker's tan blood ridden shoulder. Within seconds, Joker was able to pry Leary's pants and shoes off his dead weighted body. The clothes were grimy and heavy from the amount of blood that soaked effortlessly in the cloth. the pants came first; they were rather larger around Joker's thin exterior, but that is where the belt came in handy. Joker ripped the shirt off his shoulder and slid it onto his arms. His thin rough fingers buttoned each button all the way to collar.
When finished he could easily pass for an injured cop. Joker turned back and looked at Leary's lifeless eyes for approval. "What do you think? Does the blue bring out my eyes?" He awaited for any response, but not to his surprise nothing was said. A sigh was released and Joker slowly arranged the dark blue guard's hat upon his head. Turning, his gaze looked deep into Leary's lifeless eyes that seemed to have a look of disapproval still illuminating them. "Everyone's a critic." Joker muttered as he turned on his heel and happily walked out of the padded cell.
Leary's blood still ran down his face as Joker walked out under the fluorescent lights of the hallway. Joker looked up at the security camera, his distorted smile growing to the largest it's been in years. Bringing his bloodstained hand to his face, Joker saluted the camera simply mocking its future viewers. He walked down the hallway, gun in hand and a plan in his mind. With somewhat of a skip of happiness and joy in his step.