Chapter 2.
The next morning I woke up in my office, much to my surprise. Yesterday, when I left Harley, I went to find my office and when I managed to do so, I was quite pleasantly surprised. It was not big, but it was a nice, cozy place, there was a table with a chair, a small sofa and an armchair, two closets, everything I would require here, so I was satisfied. Just as Ryan said, there were already all necessary documents on the table, and on the top was the file I wanted to see the most, the file of dr. Jonathan Crane.
I spent a lot of time there, reading through the files of my patients. Not only I had the Scarecrow, but I had two other patients as well, Waylon Jones, the Killer Croc, and Pamela Isley, Poison Ivy. I wasn't really sure if I liked the combination, but I knew I could get worse. What I read in the files was very interesting, but no one of the other two, not even any other of the patients I heard about was more fascinating for me than Jonathan Crane. The former profesor of psychology, the respected doctor and a scientist, turned in this dangerous criminal obsessed with fear, a man that loved to make the others feel that fear, it was intriguing, and I was eager to talk to him, even that I knew it will not be easy. After I have read the files, I wanted to get myself a little tour around this place. I have met some other doctors on the way and I was surprised to know have many doctors have tried to cure him before and failed. They told me a lot about him. I could hear a lot of pity in their voices as they were trying to give me some advice.
When I made my way to the Intensive Treatment building, I was greeted by some medical doctors. I didn't envy them, they were always in a hurry, for there was always someone who needed their attension. I entered a large hall with an elevator and I took down the stairs that led me to a lower part of the hall, where I found a few holding cells. And one of them was occupied. Inside was a man dressed entirely in green and purple, but even if I would not be able to recognise him for his attire, I surely would recognise who he was for the unsual decoration of his cell. There were green question marks all over the little room. This was the Riddler, according to his words the most inteligent person in Gotham. He was leaning his back against the wall. His eyes were closed, but he opened them when he heard my footsteps.
He was very handsome, I had to say, with that elegant dress and the hat, the brown hair and the eyes of the same colour. Yes, the eyes were the most fascinating thing about him, they were so full of sharp inteligence and never-fading confidence.
I stepped closer to the cell and smiled. "Hallo, you must be the famous Riddler." He smiled back and bowed a little. So he is a gentleman as well, I thought to myself. "In person. And who might you be? No, wait, let me tell. You re one of the two new doctors we have!" I laughed. "Very good! I am doctor Jones, Katherine Jones. You can call me Katherine."
"Hmm, well then Katherine, can I give you a riddle? Just one." I frowned a little, I never was much into riddles, but then I smiled and nodded. "Riddle me this: What is it that walks on four legs, then on two legs and then on three legs?" He sad, staring at me in expactation. I was thinking, the answer to the riddle was well known, at least to the official version. Seeing the look in his eyes, I was sure I was right, he had his own version, and I really didn't want to guess. "Well done, Riddler, you got me. I know I could probably tell you the usual answer, but I have a feeling that it would be a waste of time. So tell me, what is the real answer?"
He had a very amused look in his face, but he clapped his hands shortly and laughed. "Well, well, Katherine, you didn't manage to answer my riddle, but perhaps you're not as that complete idiot as I thought you are first. By the way, you may call me Edward, perhaps we can even be friends! The answer to the riddle is a baby. It walks on four legs, but cut its legs and it will crawl on two, give it a crutch, it will walk on three. I can tell you that no one can answer that riddle right." I laughed when he told me the answer to his riddle. That was very original. "Well," I said when I stopped laughing. "You do realise that it's perhaps because of the fact that one can think about hundreds of possible answers to that riddle, even if he finds out that the obvious one is not right?" He winked at me and answered: "Of course I do, but this one is the only right answer. And you know why?"
"Because it's yours?"
"Exactly!"
After that I excused myself, it was getting late and I wanted to get home before dark. Not that there were someone waiting for me there, I was living alone, I wasn't really interested in boyfriends, nor Harley was, we were just two single girls working in the asylum for insane criminals, how funny. For some reason however, I went back to my office to reread the files again. I was still a little thrilled by my little encounter with the Riddler. I liked him from the start, a normal person would probably be offended when he said that he thought I was an idiot, but not me, I wasn't normal. I already knew that he was saying that to most of the people and I was flattered when he told me I wasn't a complete idiot, I knew that from the Riddler, such words were a huge flattery. I must have fallen asleep in my office, cause when I woke up next morning, I was still there. Well, not that it was any problem for me, I had a feeling that perhaps I can even like it here after all.
The clock above my door said that it was 8:30 in the morning, so it wasn't that late. I looked at my scedule and saw that I had two sessions that day with Poison Ivy in 11 o'clock and with Scarecrow in 14:00. So I will finally get to some work here. Well, when I remembered my little meeting with Edward from yesterday, I realised it could be considered as an interview as well, small but still an interview. I had to smile at the thought. There was still some time before my first real session, and I was hungry, fortunately I had a sandwich with me that I intended to eat yesterday, but I didn't have the time. So I took the sandwich and went out of the building, eating the sandwich and went to look for Harley, but she was nowhere to be seen, so I guessed she wasn't here yet. I was close to the Penitentiary now, I couldn't help myself, I had to look inside. I found the cell of Jonathan Crane. He was sleeping now, and he looked almost... peaceful. I didn't want to wake him up, so I went on.
I realised I had to come here anyway, for this was the place where Ivy was as well. But before I reached her, I noticed a special cell in one corner of the cell hall, the front glass was made a lot harder than the others. Then I saw the name of the patient. Victor Zsasz. Of course, the serial killer. I didn't have the courage to come closer, even if he wasn't there, just not right now, so I continued through another passage. I arrived in another room with cells, but this one was different, in the middle of the room was much bigger cell, almost circular, it reminded me of a greenhouse. There were two guards, standing on each side of the door to the cell, wearing a gas masks. Inside, I saw a very beautiful woman, with green skin and red hair, lovingly nursing a singly rose in a flower-pot. Undoubtedly Poison Ivy.
When I approached the cell, the guards came in my way to stop me. "What are you doing here, miss? This is not a safe place to be, especially not this cell." They glanced behind them and I couldn't miss the hateful looks they were throwing at that woman. "Oh that's alright boys, I am her new psychiatrist. We are about to have our first session together in," I looked at my watch. "thirty minutes. I didn't think it would mind if I come earlier." When Ivy heard my words, she raised her head from the plant and looked at me. She had strange, venomously green, slightly glowing eyes. The guards still didn't move, so I showed them my ID card, after that they finally stepped back. "We are sorry, doctor Jones, we were not imformed yet. But are you sure you want to do the session here? We can get her in your office, if you want."
"No, no, that's not necessary, I am sure we'll be fine here. Could you please open the cell now?" The guard that was talking to me nodded and he slided his own card in the opening mechanism next to the doors. "Thank you." I said and I stepped inside. The woman stood up, still holding the pot in her hands. She was very beatiful, even more when she smiled. "I must thank you, doctor, for staying here, they don't want me to keep my baby outside this...cage they call cell." I smiled and looked at the flower she was holding. It was a red rose, the same colour as her hair. "I figured out so much, that's why I wanted to stay here, I understand why you don't want to part with it, it's very beatiful. And please, call me Katherine, Ivy." I stopped. "Oh, may I call Ivy, I like it more than the original name you had."
"Of course Katherine, after all, you're a woman, that's a pleasant change for me, and for my little baby here." She put the potted plant on the ground and sat next to it. I sat beside her and I slowly, gently touched the red petals of the rose, when I saw the look on Ivy's face. She was nervous, agitated, like a mother worried about her child, so I took the hand back. "I am sorry, Ivy." I said. "I didn't want to hurt your rose, it's just that it is so beautiful that I couldn't help but touch it." After that, she relaxed and smiled at me. "You really like nature, don't you, Katherine?"
"Yes, I love nature, I prefer animals, I must admit, but plants are living creatures as well, their life is just a little different, slower." My eyes wandered to the guards that were standing outside, obviously listening to our conversation. "I wonder why are they wearing those gas masks?" I asked that rather to myself then to her, but she heard the question and she laughed. "They are worried about their primitive brains. You see, thanks to my special abilities I can produce this special feromon through which I can control the males." Now I remembered. "Of course, of course, I read that in your file, but tell me, is it something similar to the feromons that insects produce?"
"Yes, it is, but this one is plant-based."
And then we talked. We talked a lot that day, thanks to the extra time I added when I came earliar. Ivy was actually a very inteligent person, she mostly wanted to talk about plants, and I wasn't trying to stop her. I really didn't want to suggest any annoying questions about her childhood or other stupidities, I just didn't want to spoil her good mood. When the session was coming to an end, she told me: "You see, Katherine, I'am really glad you're here. This place could really use a woman's hand."
"What do you mean?" I turned to her. "Have you seen how they care for the garden? This place would be much better if they actually cared for the plant's needs!" There was a glimpse of anger in her green eyes and I looked at her with concern. "You can hear them, don't you? Even here." She nodded sadly and hanged her head. "Yes, they talk to me, they are not suffering but they are not satisfied either, my poor little babies." I gently put one hand on her shoulder, careful not to scare her. "Look, I don't know if anyone will listen to me in that matter, but I'll see what I can do. Anyway, maybe I will be able to get you some more flowers here to keep you company."
"Thank you." she said softly a turned back to her rose. I get up. "Well, I need to go now, but we will see each other soon, Ivy." I tapped the glass, and when the guard opened the cell, I glanced back at Ivy for one more time, and left.