AN: A big thanks to Niveia and XPsychoBabyDollX . Also, this is my version of the Joker, so I apologize if it doesn't match with yours.
One week later
He was genuinely bored. Escaping from the asylum was fun, but the effect was wearing off. Without Batman to tease he had nothing to do. He couldn't just go out in the streets and kill random people like a bloodthirsty animal, no, he had to have a purpose. He had to think of something entertaining enough to keep him going until the caped crusader came back from wherever he was. He grunted, it was 4 in the morning and he hadn't had any sleep. He went to the so called living room and turned on the TV. Imagine him, The Joker, watching TV, because he had nothing else to do. This was below him and it was making him wrought-up. He stared at the TV screen, narrowing his eyes. Wasn't that the chick who talked about the benefits of being good? They were repeating the show from last week. Pf. He grunted to himself but left it on anyway. She was completely naïve and infected the gullible minds of viewers, he thought.
" Good's in everyone." Her words made him growl, she was so wrong and was practically deceiving Gotham's citizens. Good wasn't in everyone and he proved it all the time. In fact he'd prove it again. He got an idea how to distract himself from boredom until he could find out how to provoke the Batman to show up.
" Isn't it great, guys? Let's give our thanks to officer Peralta for doing such a good job. And to all the other men and women of Gotham's Police Department." Brandy said sending off the cop. Suddenly a ringing sound filled the studio. She looked at the cameramen, who were just as confused as her, there were at least three minutes until they accepted phone calls. She inhaled quickly and cleared her throat. " Oh, we have someone on the phone! Hello? "
" Well hello to you, too! " A cheerful voice filled the studio, though it sounded rather faked.
" What would you like to share with us? " Brandy smiled. They must've forgotten to inform me that we'll skip the commercials.
" An opinion. "
" Sure, go on."
" Hmm. You said that goodness is in everyone, am I right? " Brandy opened her mouth to answer, but was interrupted. " Of course I am. How about a little game? I bet that in 24 hours I can show just how good there is in a random person, " The voice sounded downright malevolent and commotion crept into the studio. Guys from the technical team were trying to end the connection, alas to no avail. " – and my random person is you! " The man started laughing. A sound so horrific, it sent chills through Brandy's body.
" I'm not sure w-what you mean, sir. " Brandy finally interrupted his laughter.
" Ah! Sir! So polite! " The man mocked her, but that's not what worried her most. His words sounded like a threat and his cackle was sinister, making it clear who he was. She honestly hoped that it was just somebody impersonating him, trying to make some kind of a joke. She looked at the audience's seats, where some of the people were trying to exit the studio. " Oh and by the way, " He started matter-of-factly, " shouldn't dear officer Peralta be doing his job, looking for me? " And with that the conversation ended.
The cameramen made a sign that Brandy should end the show. She swallowed hard and tried to smile.
" Uh, that's it for today, folks! " She looked at her watch, trying to think of an explanation why the show's over half a hour early. Brandy, you don't need to explain, everyone heard the conversation. " See you next week! "
The viewers in the studio were all dispatched. Brandy rushed to the technicians.
" What was that? " She asked worriedly.
" Listen, we know just as much as you do. It could be just a prank call but we've informed the police, just to be sure. " A man said.
Brandy went home. She went in her house, quickly taking off her shoes. It was probably an imposter, I mean, if he wanted to do anything to me he would've already done it. But he did say 24 hours. Thankfully, I'm not working tomorrow, so he can't reach me. And he doesn't know where I live.. What if he does? Thoughts were racing through her mind, she was contemplating different scenarios until she concluded that she's safe. She had talked to the police and they told her they'd send someone to guard her for the night. But from what she knew the Joker was dangerous and very persuasive, he could easily get her address. She had a headache and her heart was pounding rapidly. What if he already knew where she was and was just waiting for night to come? She decided that it's best to go to a friend's house for tonight. Brandy looked at her watch. 16:50. I guess I have enough time to take a bath and change. So she did it. Then she called Sophie, a friend of hers, and told her what was going on. Sophie knew, apparently she'd watched the show this morning, so she agreed. Brandy sighed, all this was incredibly foreign to her. Never, not even once in her life, did something bad happen to her. She was a happy child, she had loving parents, friends, money. But this.. this was new, this was interfering her life. She checked what the time was. 18:45 She scolded herself for staying so long in the shower. She looked outside the window and saw the police car parked across the street. She sighed in relief. Brandy got dressed and put on her shoes. She turned around and inspected her house. She wanted to remember where every single thing was, so if someone came in her home and went through her stuff, she'd know. Brandy opened the door and gasped. She stepped back. A tall man was standing on her doorstep. Giving him a second look she saw he was a cop.
" Officer, you scared me! " She said, brushing a hand through her hair. She emitted a barely audible chuckle.
" Going somewhere? " The policeman said. His voice sounded very familiar to her. Suddenly he lift his head up and grabbed her. Brandy looked at him, his unmistakable scars were curving into a malicious smile, his grip tightening around her small wrist. She tried to scream but he put a hand over her mouth and muffled her shrieks. Brandy struggled, she was kicking, scratching him with her free hand but it was all useless. He was stronger than her, it took no genius to figure that out. He shoved her into the car and dropped on the seat next to her. The Joker pulled out a pair of handcuffs. The second Brandy saw them she started screaming and thrashing, as if it could help her. He grabbed her hands and in a second the handcuffs were locked.
" What do you want from me? " She cried out. This isn't happening! Tears were running down her face. " Please, let me go. Please, I haven't done anything wrong! Why are you doing this? What are you going to do to me?"
The Joker turned to face her. She was already begging. How pathetic. He ran his tongue over his teeth, as if cleaning them.
" I just want to play a game with you. " He answered with a childish note in his voice.
Brandy was immensely scared, she'd seen what he did to people. He was a cold-blooded murderer and killed innocent people for no particular reason. And she was going to be just another of his victims, dead before she even got the chance to try to save herself. These thoughts sent chills down her spine. She looked at him. The Joker was casually whistling and humming to himself, like abducting people was the most common thing.
The car stopped in front of an abandoned warehouse. The driver and the Joker stepped out of the vehicle, the latter gripping her shoulder and dragging her out and into the building. They entered a room where six guys were holding two other men. One of them was swearing like a trooper and the other was whimpering and begging for his life. The Joker dropped her on the ground next to the men. She noticed a camera across the room. What the hell is that for? Is he going to record how he's killing us?
" Hey, where's that motherfucker going? " The bigger of the men held hostage spoke when he saw the Joker leaving the room.
" You shut your mouth! " One of the Joker's goons said and punched the man straight in the nose. He mumbled something in what Brandy thought was Italian.
The Joker returned in around thirty minutes, free from his policeman uniform and in his full trade-mark clown visage. His freshly applied make up made him look ominous, the black paint around his eyes deepening his dark gaze, the white making every lurid line stand out and his red smile, never leaving his face, was delivering a death sentence.
" You bastard, I'm gonna skin ya alive for this, you little piece of shit! " The Italian started yelling.
" That's no way to speak in front of a lady! " The Joker said mockingly.
" What are you going to do to us? " Brandy's voice was hoarse.
" What am I going to do to you? The question is what are you going to do to them! " He emphasized on the last word, snarling.
Brandy was confused. What does he mean what am I going to do to them? I'm not doing anything to those guys! What? The driver was standing near the camera and when the Joker motioned to him, he took it and started recording.
" Come 'ere, girlie! " the Joker said to Brandy.
No. There's no way he's killing me first. No, no, no, no. I don't want to die.
" Please, don't kill me. I don't wanna die! " She was weeping. The Joker made an offended look.
" I would never! " He said dramatically. " Stand up. " He commanded, his voice changed. Brandy obeyed immediately. The driver directed the camera at her.
"What's your name? " The Joker asked. She was startled at the casual question. He tilted his head expecting an answer.
" Brandy. " She was quivering. So this was how fear of the unknown felt.
" And what do you do, Brandy? " His eyes were shining with mischief.
" I-I'm a talk show host. " She almost whispered those words, she was so afraid, she didn't understand why he was asking her these questions.
" And what do you talk about in that show of yours? " He seemed eager.
Brandy wondered if she should answer that. What if she says something wrong? But it was better to answer because he was getting impatient.
" A-about good people. " Brandy stated quietly.
The Joker burst into laughing as she didn't understand the ridiculous situation she was in.
" Are you a good person, Brandy? Answer honestly and you'll get a treat! " He said joyfully as he waltzed to a nearby table. She heard a gun load and her heart skipped a beat. If she didn't answer, he'd kill her, she was positive.
" Yes. " She swallowed hard.
" You are? He he he ha! " He said lively. " Show me" The Joker insisted and tossed her the gun. Brandy looked at it with fear. She'd never seen a gun, except on TV. She didn't know how to use it. And what was he giving her it for? Did he want her to shoot herself? He walked over to the Italian man.
" This .. man here, " He started " – this man here works for the mob. " He said and patted the man on the head. He mumbled something but the Joker kicked him in the groin. " Do you wanna know what he did? " His eyes glistened with excitement as if this was the most amusing thing ever. " He killed people for money! " He started chuckling. Brandy remained silent.
" He has to be punished! And seeing that you're the only," He swallowed as if what he was about to say was stinging his throat "- good person here, it's only fair that you do it." He spat out the last words. The Joker looked at the weapon in her hands.
" What? What do you m-mean? " Brandy stammered.
He rolled his eyes in exasperation. " I m-mean kill him! "
" I can't kill him! Are you insane? I-I can't kill a human being! " She was shocked.
" Kill him or .. he'll kill you. " He menaced. " Trust me, he won't hesitate to pull the trigger. "
" You can't ask me to do that! I-I .. " Brandy started sobbing. This is unbelievable, I can't do such a thing. This, this is insane. This man, he can't possibly want me to do that. I have to get out of here.
" I'm not asking. "
The Joker was running out of patience and her little sob fest was getting on his nerves. He took the gun from her hands and gave it to the so called killer. Brandy's heart was racing, she was feeling sick and tired. All she wanted was to go home and forget about this.
" NO! " she shouted to everyone's surprise.
The Joker kicked the gun out of the Italian's hands . " Yes? "
" Um, uh, I, " She had no idea what to say. Brandy didn't want to kill the man, even though he had killed people. There were legal ways to punish him, he'd go to prison, killing him would only make her like him.
The Joker walked over to Brandy and handed her the gun. He leaned to her and whispered in her ear " Do it. " He said it so softly as if he wasn't spurring her into murder.
" I can't.. " She cried quietly.
" You wanna know how many kids are now orphans because of his job? Fifteen!" He yelled the number and she slightly jumped. "Doesn't that make you sad? Don't you want those children to feel relieved that their parents' murderer got what he deserved? All you have to do is pull the trigger! "
Brandy was staggering. The man was a killer, if anyone killed her parents, she'd also want revenge. If she didn't shoot the guy, he'd certainly shoot her. Brandy really didn't want to die. Without any more thinking she took aim and pulled the trigger. The bullet shot right through the Italian's neck, blood spattered everywhere.
" No, oh my god, oh my god, w-what did I do! " She screamed and dropped the weapon. What did I just do? No, no, I didn't mean to, no, no. Brandy felt her conscience slipping away and the last thing she heard was the Joker laughing frantically.
AN: Read and review, please! I know he kidnapped her and I said he wouldn't buuuuuuut it's not going to turn out in the common way. I apologize for typos and grammar errors.
=)