Grand Tour

Now that Liz is acquainted with one of the inmates, it's time to show the others, right? P.S. I know I kinda switched P. in the last chapter, I'm sticking w/ First Person now. Unless I feel the need to switch, in which case I will give you more warning. Enjoy!

Dr. Whistler marched in front of me as my wandering eyes lingered everywhere and anywhere they could. Gretchen stopped and I almost bumped into her as she took out her card key. "I didn't really get a good look at the asylum, I'm really thankful that you're doing this for me," I said.

Gretchen turned back to me and gave a small smile of reassurance. "Just stay close and don't get too interested in the inmates, they seem tapped out of reality, but they notice when someone takes interest," she said and lead me through the ward.

I scoped out every cell as I passed. Most of them were custom made for the patients'... "needs". Such as Waylin Jones AKA Killer Croc, he was confined to the equivalent of a fish tank and Victor Freeze's was a giant freezer. The others have made their own decor. The Mad Hatter had hung up clocks of all sizes and designs, The Riddler had written riddles all over his walls, and so on. I did catch a glimpse of these criminals, but it wasn't much to look at. Most were in their own worlds or they were just lounging or sleeping. When we approached the Joker's cell, I gulped and my eyes were glued to the cell. Joker was lounging and whistling merrily as we passed. He caught my eye and smiled wide. I shivered. "So how was old Jonathan?" he spoke.

I stopped and stared. "What do you mean?" I asked.

"Just what I ask, good Doctor," he sneered.

"He was fine," I said and crossed my arms.

"Hmph, I'll bet," he continued. "You really shouldn't be talking about him, he's in the next cell."

I blushed furiously. "You're the one that brought him up!"

The Joker started to laugh and I started to back away. "Freak," I muttered.

I walked away hurriedly, but I couldn't help myself from looking into Jonathan's cell. He was there and he stared at me as I passed him. I felt a little bit ashamed, but I barely said anything about him, so why did I feel so guilty. "How are you Jonathan?" I asked.

"Our session was over a few hours ago, Miss Aiken," he snarled and went back to scribbling in a notebook.

I wondered vaguely what was in it, most likely plans to take over Gotham and what not, then I wondered why would the doctors or the guards allow him to plan? I guess it showed how much this asylum really cared about curing their patients. "I'm sorry," I whispered, even though I knew he couldn't hear me.

Gretchen swiped her card through another door and we entered what looked like the surviellence room. A camera in each cell and several in the hallways and three on each entrance and exit. This place had a thing for security, but clearly the inmates knew how to get passed them. I sighed and didn't say a word. "The surveillence room, it doesn't do much, but it doesn't hurt," she said.

You knew things were bad when even one of the elite doctors admitted that the security system sucked. Gretchen turned to me and smiled again before closing the door and retreating back down the hallway. Apparently we were going to go down to the basement. I shivered. I wasn't a fan of basements, but I guess I had to see everything. It was just as gloomy as I thought it would be, if not more, Gretchen even had the good grace to show me the morgue and infirmary. The morgue creeped me out to no end. Thinking of people dying, especially in here, I couldn't imagine a more horrible death.

After that we went back up to the first floor and I went back to my office to review my notes of the session. It was about the same as everything else. Well, I didn't want to spend all night there, so I grabbed my bag and coat and started for the door. I wanted one more look at Crane though, for some reason I just wanted to observe him inside his cell... "Come back for seconds?" the Joker asked as I walked by.

I growled and ignored him, even as he pressed his hands to the glass and kept watching me with that creepy smile. I poked my head around, but Crane was asleep. I never saw him as a sleeper, but maybe it was just very boring being cooped up in a tiny cell. I doubt it was true sleep though, one hand was behind his head and one on his chest. While he was breathing peacefully. "Don't go there, Doc," the Joker piped up. "You know where that road leads to as well as I."

I looked over at the Joker and glared at him. "Yes, but unlike your blonde bimbo, I'm not nearly as dumb or trusting," I said confidently.

The Joker's smile flickered for a second, but returned if not more sinister and more strained. I was a little curious at that, the Joker wasn't supposed to feel love or any semblance of affection and yet, when I insulted Harley he reacted. "Hmmmm, perhaps not, but I see it, your interest in him," he continued. "I also see how much you love torturing yourself, quite the masochist aren't you?"

I stared blankly at him, then a wide toothless grin stretched across my face. His face was just pushed so close to the glass... I couldn't resist. My hand came back and then slammed onto the glass, shaking it and making Joker jump back slightly. "How's that for masochist!" I said and started walking away.

"Oh you shouldn't have done that, Doc," I heard Joker's soft, creepy voice say. "You really shouldn't have done that."

I didn't look back as I walked out of the hall, even as Joker's laughter echoed behind me...