Chapter 2

You didn't remember falling asleep when you woke up at an unknown hour, the next day. You uncurled from the ball you were in, your muscles so sore that as you started to move, you loudly cringed and moaned. It took everything you had to pull yourself up and lean against the side of the cage. Your nose was swollen and your face was crusted up with dry blood. You wenced from

feeling of it.

You slowly stretched your legs out straight, tring reduce the soreness of your muscles. His finger prints were bruised into the skin, on your thighs, arms and neck. You shook the memory of him touching you and being on top of you out of your mind. Move on. It hurt to swallow. Whether it was from the lack of water or that you had been strangled, was anybody's guess. The Joker had truly left his mark on you, literally from top to bottom.

You looked around, seeing the world thur these bars was going to drive you insane, you feared. You felt a breaking point starting to grow inside you. Telling yourself let it out, don't let it build until it's uncontrollable. Scream, cry, yell if you needed. Just never let him see it. There would be only one why out of this and what scared you was that you had no idea what it was yet. The only thing that was clear to you was that no matter what you'd never give in: The Joker wouldn't win.

As the days turned into weeks, the only visitor was Rocko. He was the taller of the two men whom worked for The Joker. He would bring enough water and food to last a few days. He had also started to bring you a bucket of water every other week and allow you to clean yourself up. Rocko never spoke to you, he would always divert his eyes from your naked body too. There was kindness somewhere in him. You were sure of felt that he maybe your key to escaping. For the first time, you tried speaking to him. He never answered or acknowledged any thing you ever said. After trying to befriend him over the next month you got discouraged. You went back to keeping to yourself when he showed up, only ever saying thank you to him. You figured it couldn't help.

By your count it had been nearly three months and the infamous Joker hadn't showed back up after that night. Or if he had he didn't make his presence known. This puzzled you. Why keep you here if not to mess with your mind or abuse you. The possibilities of what he was planning drove you sick with worry.

Over time you started to notice a change in the weather. The nights were becoming unbearably cold. You had to start sleeping in the warmest place of the day and keep yourself up and moving at night. You knew this was only mid autumn and with it being this cold, you'd never survive the winter being naked in an unheated building as drafty as this one. You watched and waited for two days, after coming to this revelation, knowing Rocko was due any day now. The moment you heard him you jumped to your feet.

"I need clothes. Warm clothes. Or a blanket. Something." You demanded.

He ignored you.

"Did you hear me?" You spoke louder and with more force. "I'm going to freeze without something."

He barely gave you a glance.

"You tell him..." You grabbed and squeezed the bars out of anger.

"You tell him that I want to see him. I demand it!" Rocko never spoke. He only left food and water, then went about his normal business.

Another visit came and went. The Joker never showed up nor did Rocko bring any type of clothing. You yelled and cuss; demanded to speak to him as Rocko did his job of being caretaker. Suddenly, it dawned on you, perhaps you needed to be more clever about things. Another three weeks went by and Rocko came, then he went like clock work. You made no effort of any kind to get up, move, talk, demand, yell, scream or fight when he was around. You laid there staring at those god damn lights and acting like all your hope was finally gone. You even made a point to eat and drink as little as possible. Leaving 2/3 of it untouched. Trying to make your fake depression seem real.

You waited. You waited another week. It was an extra chilly night and you were up walking in small circles to stay warm. You had the habit of singing to yourself to pass the time and keep your sanity. You'd always stop right away if you heard someone. But this time you didn't hear him. He was quite and lite on his feet. You went silent as soon as he spoke.

"I prefer something a little more upbeat, if I do say so myself." His voice was just as intimidating as ever.

A smile crossed your face. He had taken the bait. Of course he would. You knew that if he really thought, for one second, that you had actually given up...that you were ready to stop fighting, stop surviving, he'd come a running. He'd want to be there to see his victory as you broke.

You continued to walk in circles as he came closer.

"I must say, you look sound of mind, for someone who's given up. Spry even. Clever, clever girl." The look on his face was blank. He immediately knew he'd been played for a fool. And a fool he was not.

You stopped and looked at him. You had a smirked across your face.

"I win this round, I suppose." You stepped up to the bars and took hold all them.

"I mean, this is all just a game. A game to break me physically and mentally." You stared him down fiercely.

"Go on." He was intrigued.

"Well, the way I see it. This game isn't on fair footing if I'm to be left here, in the middle of winter, to freeze to death. You strike me as a man who wins by chicanery, not down right cheating.

You're a fair player and to win that way would be anything but admissible."

"Yes, yes. Oh, all right." He sounded annoyed. "You make a sound point."

He smirked. By now the two of you were face to face, literally. You stared up at him through the bars determined not to look away. He stared right back. He knew the game you were playing at. He'd allow it. Give you your win. Without warning he lunged at the bars. Reaching through them, he grabbed your wrists.

"Boo." He laughed maniacly.

You jumped and tried pulling your hands free. You were brave but not that brave. He still scared you. He pulled your arms through until your body was pressing against the bars. Your face was painfully poking out from in-between two bars. He grinned.

"Seeing that we're keeping score now, that's another point for me. Winner, winner chicken dinner." He lowered and lifted his brow rapidly in the 'are you impressed' kind of way.

Then laughed in a ridiculous manner. He let go and you crowded back away from him. He started walking away but stopped.

"Oh, seeing that you're a music lover and all. I have an other gift for you. Bells and whistles. Hehe for my little jail bird." He laughed hysterically and disappeared in the shallows.

After few minutes cheesy circus music started blaring throughout the warehouse. Then his voice came over the music.

"Enjoy."

The next day as you tried to ignore the music that was play in over and over and over and OVER, you laid there on the floor. You had actually managed to fall asleep a few times, only to wake right back up. Rocko arrived with a gift. It was a box with a huge purple bow wrapped around it.

And a tag that read:

Loser's choice!

Mr. J

You couldn't help but laugh to yourself at his sense of humor. A sense of humor that was fully revealed as you opened the box. Inside was an old cartoony black and white stripe prison uniform. On the front pocket and back Jail Bird had been painted in purple paint. After pulling out everything, you got to the bottom of the box where there was another note.

Hat is required or else...

You looked through everything and sure enough the outfit came complete with a matching hat. What. The. Hell. You had to give it to him. You got dressed. The little bit of difference it made wearing clothes was welcomed. Regardless of looking like a fool, you felt like a human. Jokes on you, you thought. Rocko collected the box. Making sure that nothing was felt behind. Before leaving he also gave you a candy bar. It was unexpected and very welcomed. You gave him a smile and said thank you.

"It's from the boss." It was the first thing he had said to you in months.

You didn't answer back. You were immediately suspicious. So suspicious that you didn't eat it.

You left it untouched, on the floor, outside of the cage.

Two days passed. Two days of the same crappie circus music playing nonstop. Two days of staring at a candy bar, a candy bar that you hadn't decided whether or not you could commit to not eating yet. That night The Joker show up to harass and antagonize. He was impressed with his choice of outfit. Laughing maniacly for a good five minutes when he saw you. When he finally had enough, he noticed the candy bar.

"Beggers CAN be choosers, apparently." He looked offended. "You sure you don't want it?"

He stuck it through the bars and offered it to you.

"This was your reward. For being, you know, so clever. A prize, from me to you." He sounded putout but he was only faking it.

"Take it." He viciously snapped.

You listened and reached for the piece of candy. He waited for your hand to wrap around it before grabbing your arm. Pulling you close, he jammed a needle into your arm and quickly injected you with something. He let you go immediately, laughing.

"What was that?" You panicked and grabbed at your arm where he had injected you at. "Tell me!

What was it?"

You paced the cage in a frenzy.

"HA Ha-HA! You'll find out soon enough. You should start to feel the effects soon." He laughed.

Sure enough, you started sweating and the more you moved, the dizzier you felt.

"That warm tingle you feel, coursing it's way through your veins, is going to make you...let's say, compliant." He spoke calmly.

You braced yourself against the bars.

"You may want to sit down before you..." You hit the floor loudly as he spoke.

He grinned and finished his sentence. "...fall on your face." He laughed, amused at himself.

"Get her boys." He order his men and continuing to laugh maniacly.

You were out, unresponsive from what The Joker had injected you with and remained that way. They loaded you up into a van and moved you across town. It was the old, rundown, rotting part of the city. Bad things happened all the time in this part of Gotham and no one was none the wiser. The crimals, hookers and druggies ran this part of town. Block after block the buildings were old, abandon and condemned. The van stopped in an alley behind an condemned apartment building. Your lifeless body was carried all the up to the top floor and left.

Hours later you came to, noticing that for the first time, in a long time, that you weren't cold. You didn't feel cold hard concrete floor under your body either. Instead, it was soft. The sudden realization of this made you jump up. As you got up you there was something awkward and heavy on your leg. As your eyes made their made their way down, you saw a chain. Your eyes followed the chain, across the floor and to a wall. The chain was secured to the wall. Your eyes immediately when back to your leg, where you had already started pulling at the cuff locked to your ankle.

You tried to get it off. It was obviously not going to be that easy. Finally you looked around to survey your new surrounds. You remembered being injected with something and knew that you had been moved. Where to? You had no idea. All you knew was what you saw. It was a dirty, decrepit room. It looked liked an abandon, one room apartment. You could see a small kitchen with all the appliances removed. Only a cabinet or two remained. On the other side a toilet and bathtub stood. A sink was also present. Looking around, a mattress laid on the floor with a pillow and a blanket. Then you saw the door.

You stood up and quickly ran toward it. The chain ended a few feet from the door. You tried stretching your body, there was no way you were going to reach it. Turning around, your eyes focused on a window. Again, the chain ended just short of it. Making it so you couldn't reach it. You screamed for help. After a while it was apparent no one was coming to your aid. You moved on. You continued to search the room for something, anything. Nothing was there. Everything that could be used for a weapon was gone. Or maybe not. You stared at the mirror over the sink.

You balled your hand into your sleeve and hit the mirror. Cracks danced across it. You carefully pulled out the tiniest piece of mirror shard that would suffice for a weapon. You were filled with anxiety and dropped the mirror piece into the sink. As you fished it out, you stopped. I wonder? You turned one of the knobs to the sink. Water flowed out. You immediately cupped your hands together and collected some. It smelled and appeared clean. You drank it. Then you drank another hand full. For a few minutes you were beside yourself at the fact that you had access to water.

After drinking your fill of water you got back to the business at hand. You cut a small opening in the mattress and hid the thin mirror shard in the bed. Studying the mirror you decided that, if anyone glanced at it, they'd never know the tiny little piece was missing. All you would need was a few moments of them not noticing. You felt confident about the plan. Until someone showed up, you would try other means of escape.

After an hour of failed attempts, you gave up on pulling the chain out of the wall or removing it from your ankle. You were tried and just plan used up. The bed looked divine but you debated whether using it would somehow put you at a disadvantage. You didn't want to get too comfortable in your situation. After many pros and cons you figured one night wouldn't hurt while you continued to think about it. The moment your knees crawled on the mattress it was amazing. You buried yourself face down, arms and leg spread eagle. You lifted your head and reached for the pillow. You hugged it tight as you rolled to your side and curled up. Your eyes had only been shut for a moment when you heard the door being opened from the other side. You got up quickly and scrambled to get the mirror shard out of the mattress. You filled with adrenaline. You hadn't counted on getting this chance so soon.

The door swung open. The Joker was standing there on the other side. There was a long dramatic pause between the opening of the door and him entering the room. He floated in, hands behind his back, his jacket off. He looked roughed up, like he'd been hard at work. It was the first time you'd ever seen him without a tie on. His black shirt was unbutton at the top and the sleeves were rolled up. His hair was tousled about. There was blood splatter on his green vest and purple pants.

He said nothing only grinned. Using his foot he closed the door behind him. You could see his forearms and hands were also covered in blood. You stood there speechless and wide eyed. Your hand tightly gripping the shard hidden up your sleeve and behind your back. You watched as The Joker walked over to the sink and turned on the water. Are. You. Kidding. Me. You waited and watched as he washed the blood off his hands and forearms. You could see his reflection through the broken mirror, his eyes were on you. Watching you like a hawk. You heard the water cut off.

He turned around. He crossed his arms and leaned against the sink.

"I must say, it's a bold plan. Not very well executed though. Did you even consider the seven years bad luck you'd get?" His laugh was sinister.

"Oh my. Poor dear." He frowned eccentrically. "From the look on your face, you didnt. My guess is that you've either hidden it somewhere. To use it against one of my men or..."

He dramatically put his hand to his chest and gave a look of innocence, "...on me. All through, I couldn't imagine why." He laughed cheerfully.

His laugh stopped abruptly.

"Or. It's in your hand." He bared his teeth and looked angry.

He walked toward you and held out his hand.

"Give it to me, right now." He held out his hand and smirked smugly.

You shifted your eyes trying to decide what to do. You took a deep breath.

"You're going to have to take it from me." You were being bold.

"Careful." His voice was short and hatful. "You're not going to like it, if I do."

The cringing frown on his face remained as he took a few steps away from you. At first, you didn't realize what he was doing and by the time you did, it was to late. He was by the wall, holding the chain that was around your ankle. With a hard tug he yanked the chain, causing your leg to fly out from under you. You went down hard. He started pulling the chain again and again. You were being dragged toward him. You flipped over to your hands and knees. Your leg was being stretched out as he pulled you and you tried pulling back. Trying to stop yourself from being dragged and keeping the shard in your hand was nearly impossible. It slipped out of your hand.

With a pull here and tug there, you couldn't stop yourself from getting closer and closer to him. Finally flipping back over to your butt you grabbed the chain. You pulled at it, like a tug-of-war match, yanking him forward a little. He lifted an eyebrow and continued to pull. You reached back for the mirror shard, it was out of your arm's length. The Joker laughed.

"Looks like the bad lucks' already started." He continued to laugh.

Once you were close enough, he tightly grasped your ankle. You kicked and bucked like a wild horse trying to fight him. You felt your foot connect with his groin. He immediately bent over and froze up. Scrambling to your hands and knees you quickly crawled to shard. The moment you got your hand around it, he grabbed the back of your head, taking a handful of your hair. You felt yourself lift off the floor as he jerked you up onto your knees. You grabbed at his hand that was pulling your hair. And with your other hand, you stabbed his inner thigh.

"God damnit!" He yelled and jerked your head back even more.

You held on tight and pulled the shard out. Glancing up for a better aim, you suddenly felt pressure on your back. You were face down on the floor. He had kicked you to the floor and then kneeled down on top of your back. You struggled as he used one of his knees to pin your arm down, taking the shard out of your hand. He broke it into tiny little pieces on the floor with his fist. Rendering it useless. Letting go of your arm, he continued pinning you down with his knee on your back. It was hard to breathe with most of his weight on your lungs. Your head was turned to the side gasping for air. You tried pushing yourself up, against his weight. Of course it didn't work.

"Oh yes, fight. Fight!" He taunted you.

You felt his weight shift as he moved his knee from your back and straddled your body. Still struggling, he was forced to sit on your butt to keep you pinned down. He leaned over and held your arms down to the floor.

He was near your face, "I just love a good fight."

His tone was sinister but he was clearly amused.

"Lucky you." You said as you thrusted your head back as hard as you could. Essentially backwards head butting The Joker. Pop. He made a sound somewhere between a moan and squeal. His hands immediately grabbed his face. Wasting no time, you took advance of your freed arms. Pushing against the floor with all your strength and rolling your body at the same time, you flipped him off your back enough to crawl out from under his weight.

You heard his body hit the floor as you crawled to your faux freedom. He was cussing under his breath. You looked backed to see him scrambling to get a hold of your foot. You reared back and kicked his face. He yelled out of anger and pain. He immediately spit blood to the side.

The door busted open, "Boss!"

"Get out! Everything is under control!" He barked at his goons.

Grabbing the chain again he started to pull you back to him. The goons closed the door.

"No. No. No, no, no." Rolled out as you struggled trying to keep him from getting his hands on you again.

He had your legs. You hit and slapped at him frantically. He quickly wrapped your legs together with the chain. It hurt and broke your skin through your pants. You couldn't move them as individual legs anymore but you thrashed them around almost like a mermaid tail. You managed to get a hand full of his hair and pull. He was so full of rage that he didn't seem to feel anything anymore. Once he was back on top, straddling you he laughed, letting you hit at him. One, well placed, backhanded slap across your face stunned you. Your arms fell to the floor, landed above your head. He had almost knocked you out.

He spit blood once more and felt of his nose.

"Geez. You pack quite a wallop, little bird." He grinned.

"Maybe those wings need clipping." He laughed, always amused it himself.

You flinched as he leaned over and held your arms in place over your head. His placed his cheek on your cheek so he could whisper into your ear. You were still dazed enough that you hadn't started to struggle to get out from under him yet. You could feel him breathing as his chest pressed against your body. It was a heavy, excited rhythm.

"I'm going to tell you a little secret, my dear." His whisper tickled your ear, he was so close.

"Your persistent belligerence had made me somewhat attached." He squeezed your arms.

"If not for your resistance, you would have been toss out with the garbage months ago. You were dispensable the second I'd finish having my way with you. He. He. He. He." His fake laugh was slow and sinister.

"Oh, yes. You remember that night, don't you." He nuzzled his cheek against yours out of meanness. You cringed and closed your eyes.

"You're not the first, my dear. And you won't be the last. I've broken others, made them into my puppets. Willing to do anything..."

Your laugh made him stop. He lifted his head enough to look at your face. Your eyes were open now.

"What've you got to laugh about?" He asked in a mocking tone.

You shook your head 'no' and half heartedly laughed.

"But you haven't broke me. And you've done a pretty rank job of it so far." You smirked.

He snarled at you.

"What do you thinks going to happen. That one day you'll just waltz in here and I'll throw myself at your feet."

"Oh Mr. J! Let's go rob banks and kill the bat." You mocked a sexy, overly feminine voice.

"I'll just do anything you want." You said it as provocatived as you could. You lifted your head and got as close as you could to his face. "Anything." For a spilt second his mouth dropped open. He looked enthralled.

You blew a kiss and dropped your head back to the floor busting out laughing, "Pathetic!"

He groaned out of anger and grabbed your throat. You still had a slight smirk on your face. He squeezed hander making you stop. Your face went back to being angry. He let go of your throat and grabbed your head with both of his hands.

"You'll never leave this room." He was oddly calm as he said it.

He slammed the back your head against the floor just for good measure. You cringed. He started to laugh. Suddenly, he was off of you. Pushing yourself up, you felt of the back of your head. Then you freed your legs from the chain, he had wrapped around them. You glanced around to locate him. He wasn't far, only a few steps away. There was blood dripped down his leg and into the floor. You smirked when you saw it. You hoped that maybe you had gotten his femoral or popliteal vein but it had been too long for that. It was no more than just a superficial wound.

He was adjusting his clothes. You remained on the floor, staring off, not looking at him. The two of you acted as if the other didn't exist. He started whistling as he headed for the door. Your gut knotted when he stopped and turned back around.

"I almost forgotten why I dropped by in the first place. I have another gift for you." He smiled like he was actually happy.

"Boys!"

The door opened and the goons brought in some boxes. They started unpacking tech gear and hooked it all up on the same side of the room as the door, the side you couldnt reach. The Joker giggled. You watched and wondering what exactly was happening.

"I can see you're wondering why this. I must confess. This is really more of a gift for me than it is you." He grinned. "Oh, the fun it'll be."

They The Joker left, leaving his goons to finish the watched as they installed a few cameras. They moved and pointed everything so the cameras could pick up every inch of the room. They made should the angles were to the bosses liking. He's going to watch me, watch everything. It was unsettling, creepy, not to mention kind of pervy. They left not saying anything.

You sat there Indian style staring at the cameras. Once some time past, you tried to recompose yourself. At least you had come out on the other side of that romp without bleeding. A very rare occurrence. The Joker on the under hand would would not be so coy about making you pay for getting the better of him.