Circus Initiation
Chapter Three
I gasped and jerked backwards banging the back of my head on the bricks painfully. I looked to my left seeing the infamous clown complete with purple suit, makeup, and tie step out of the shadows. I looked from Joker's grin to Seth's look of complete terror. I jumped as Joker laughed like a maniac..well he was a maniac. What were the odds of running into each other three times in two weeks? I leaned against the wall so I wouldn't topple over with my head spinning like it was.
"You look scared." Joker said to Seth, waving his knife around. I glanced around the alley to see we were completely isolated. "Is it the scars? Wanna know how I got 'em?" He giggled. Suddenly, he was in Seth's face and not but five feet from me. Holy cow, he was bigger up close taller and wide shouldered as he towered over Seth in comparison. I was terrified for him.
"Does Daddy Warbucks know his little son pisses his pan-ts in the face of ev-il, hmm?" I was almost trapped with the wall at my back, crates up to my waist to my right and them in front of me. Seth was trembling and he looked as though his life were passing before his eyes. Joker was savoring the emotions coming off of Seth, you could read the pleasure written all over his face.
"St-stop." I managed weakly, falling back against the wall. I swallowed hard, hearing my bag of goodies fall out of my jacket pocket and scatter on the pavement. Joker turned his head slowly towards me and I couldn't take my eyes away from the black around his eyes. Seth took that oppurtunity to haul ass down the alley. Joker looked at me and bared his teeth in a 'can you believe him?' kinda way. He took out a radio device from inside his pocket.
"Got a runner." He growled. "Stop him." He paused and looked me over. "Playing with drugs, hmm?" He asked me with a bright smile on those ruby lips. He stepped up to me then, placing the tip of his knife to my collarbone and lightly tracing a path of cool metal between my breasts. "Trying to get through the..pain of mommy and daddy dying, hmm?" He impulsively licked his right scar. I brushed his taunts aside.
"It was you at the bus stop." I found my voice.
"You covered up that lovely face." His gravelly voice sent a shiver through me. "We gotta stop meeting like this, Dollface. One might think you were looking for me." That tongue of his lashed out to trace his scar again. I closed my eyes..big mistake. His hand found the back of my head and dug the bladeharder into my sensitive throat. "LOOK AT ME!" My eyes flew open in terror and I gasped when the blade pricked my skin. "I like that noise. Do it again." I glared at himthrough my hazy senses only to feel a sharper, hotter prick at my throat.
"Ahh!" I half gasped, half screamed earning a shiver from him.
"I've almost figured it..out..Alexxx." He drug my name out in a hiss that raised the hairs on my arm. He really was crazy.."I've almost solved the puz-zle. Now just where to put you."
"Me?"
"Sh-sh-sh you hear that?"He grinned, baring his yellow teeth. I didn't hear anything. "He's been watching this building for hourrss..and I..," He licked his scar again. "Want to know whyy."
"If you're gonna kill me..just do it." I spat. "At least I'm high. Then I won't be able to tell anyone about our back alley fetish." Okay, that was the pills and booze talking. I flinched thinking he would slap me across the face but he just doubled over.
"Hahaha! AHAHA!"
"Let her go." Came a quiet but powerful voice behind us. I looked over starting with his boots and matching black attire to the cape he wore..to the mask on his face..I was looking at Batman in the flesh.
"Goodie of you..to..join us." Joker growled, turning from me to Batman. "This riddle is sooo fun." Joker leapt at Batman and I pressed myself against the wall, not knowing if my legs would work if I ran. I turned away from the grunts from Batman and laughs of the Joker..that sound seemed to be implanted permanently in my brain. I started to move into the shadows while Joker swung his knife near Batman's throat. I was fighting the inner urge half fight or flight. I chose fight. I advanced on the pair who, ironically, looked like they were stuck in some sort of violent dance. Man, I had to stop mixing shit..my parents had always hated that..stop, Alex!
"No!" It took me a second to realize that the command was directed at me. I spun. It was Mr. Gordon. "Go..Alfred is waiting." I nodded and made another mistake by looking back. Those black eyes were smoldering as he glared at me.
"Guess I'll have to get in line." What did that mean? I tore my eyes from him and ran to Alfred as fast as I could.
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I had been confined to my room until Uncle Bruce had gotten back from his dinner party. My heart had never stoped hammering even after I had showered and scrubbed the dried blood from my throat. I was wondering how much trouble I would in this time as I stepped out onto the icy balcony. It did nothing for my nerves..how long had it been..hours..since I'd heard him laugh. Was this just a game to him? To torment the first helpless girl he meets at random bus stops? Or maybe just the ones who paid him any attention? He broke out of an asylum..and yet I still felt like I was barely grasping my situation. He made one thing clear though, that whatever game he was playing..it wasn't over.
A light knock on my door stopped me from gnawing my lip off. "Master Wayne would like to see you in the library, Miss Alexandria." Ouch. We were back to formalities..Alfred had stuck up for me to let Uncle Bruce let me go in the first place and I..was drunk and on drugs..so I just nodded. It was about one in the morning and the whole place eerily quiet. Uncle B had his back to me when I walked in..a small glass of alcohol in his hand. The door snapped quietly behind me and we didn't speak for several minutes. Somehow even in the quiet he was still able to make me feel guilty for lying.
"Are you alright? Were you hurt?" He asked without turning around.
"Yeah. It's just a scratch, really." I felt over my cut.
"Then what were you thinking?" Here was the lecture.
"I..wasn't."
"Clearly." He turned to look at me now, the power of his eyes holding me in place. "Alex, I know you liked to act out before all of the drugs..drinking."
"I just wanted to have fun for my birthday." I blurted out the first thing to come to mind.
"I'm disappointed..you're a young lady. You should act like one." Accepting the dismissal in his tone..I left. Slipping back into my bedroom, I was heading to my bed when something caught my eye. Something that hadn't been there before, that shouldn't even be on Uncle Bruce's property. I was staring at what was left of my pill bag..the one I had dropped and left in the alley. My eyes darted from every shadow and dark corner of my room to the open doors of my balcony. There was figure standing against the rail..his back was to me so all I could see was the purple suit and green tinged blond curls. My first thought was 'How did he find me? Did he follow me and Alfred home?' He turned his head slightly to glance at me over his shoulder and I shivered from the winter air flowing through my room. He looked so comfortable standing out there as though he lived here and not me.
I felt like his dark eyes were staring through my soul..like he knew all of my secrets and woud play them against me..they also drew me in. He slightly jerked his head clearly telling me to come out and join him..I gulped.I needed some bravery for this. I quickly tossed back two pills at random with my bedside glass of water and slung on my trademark black jacket and slippers. I set my own pace going around my bed and up the two around the room steps to the doors but I stopped there; a mere feet behind him. He turned and leaned against the balcony, chuckling as he sized me up. His movements made think of a panther before it took down it's prey. I wasn't relaxed. I wanted a confirmation before I even spoke to this clown.
"Nice outfit..how old are you, again?" He laughed aloud at his own jokeand I momentarily glanced down at my attire. I didn't remember what I had on. White fluffly slipper, my black jacket and my pink pajama pants with hearts all over them." It's soo," He continued in his natural antagonizing tone. "Childish."
"You're one to talk." I spat, gesturing to his face paint. Damn! I wasn't supposed to talk to him yet..how did he do that? "Give me your word." I said before he could come up with a smartass comment. His expression suddenly changed into something..darker and his tongue flicked his scar again..I briefly wondered if he had OCD along with whatever else touched his head the wrong way.
"Go on." He drawled, unblinking. I swallowed wishing these drugs would kick in already. It was nervewracking to even be this close to him..it was impossible to track his moves. Who knows? I could take a step forward and he could slice my throat..throw me over the balcony, break bones..I shivered.
"I want your word that you won't harm me in any way if you are to visit me." My breath slightly puffed out in front of my face. He grinned..stretching those jagged scar even further up his face, sinisterly.
"You make it sound like, uh, I'll be visiting you more than once." I crossed my arms across my chest..he was the one always 'bumping' into me.
"Aren't you, though?" I retorted.
"Well," He fake stretched. "Since we're acquainted enough." He walked straight towards me and I gasped, dropping my arms and retreated backwards to the doorframe.
"You didn't promise!" He suddenly stopped in fron of me in the doorway, bending slightly so we were eye level. I had a feeling no one got this close to him without dying. I jerked back farther in surprise.
"You have my word..and I'm a man of my wordd-uh." He growled and I watched his back eyes shamelessly trace my scar from top to bottom. Smiling, he lightly patted my cheek once before turning to my room. "I let myself in earlier..I hope you don't mind. I came to return your..possession." His hand went went into his purple coat pocket and I tensed taking a few steps closer to my bed. His eyes followed me and I had a feeling he already knew I was tense to spring over my bed and out my door. Even the way he stood said how predatory and how casual he was towering over people.
"I don't live here alone." I didn't think it..the sentence just slipped right off of my tongue.
"You don't say?" He barked a laugh and sank down on the sofa in front the TV, watching the show that was on. I stayed rooted to my spot. This was just so surreal to have THE Joker..the Gotham famous criminal on my couch.
"I gave you my worrddd." He sang from his perch and I forced my legs to move to the sofa after shutting the balcony door. I slowly sank in the chair off the sideaway from the couch, knees bent and tucked in front of me like a shield. My coffee table between us was bare..I never actually spent my time this close to my television. I liked the bed, library and of course my bathtub. i never took my eyes off of him for someone so relaxed his eyes frequently darted around the room.
"Boring..boring..," He said, flipping through the channels. "Now that's interesting news!" He said loudly causing me to jump. The news anchor was talking about someone finding a body cut into pieces..place in a box and left in the middle of Gotham central park for anyone to find. If that news by itself didn't make me feel queasy enough the name of the man brought me back to that night in front of the Chinese restaraunt. Jonathan Crane aka 'the scarecrow' had been found in that box..I looked from the screen Joker's ovious look of glee on his smug face. I could've slapped myself just then for being so stupid. He had killed that man that night..chopped him into pieces and stuffed him in a box..whats to say he wouldn't eventually end up getting rid of me the same way? His 'word'? What would be so important about me to get me special treatment?
"You look nervous, Dollface. Is it the scars?" My head had been going fuzzy as my pills were kicking in..my whole body relaxed and my eyes slid closed against my will. I felt amazing that floating on a cloud..swaying in the breeze kind of feeling.
"Your scars don't scare me." I whispered, not sure if he'd heard me at all.
"Well, that's a first." His voice was fading away as I rode my high. Maybe I wasn't afraid of his scars but I wondered how he go them..not that I'd ever ask he might kill me on the spot.
"Alex." That familiar throaty growl was breaking through the fog. "Are we a little...high, hmm?"
"I think I want to dance." I moaned and got up.
"Well, don't let me stop you." He growled, smoothing his hair back as though prepared to just sit back and watch the show. I found myself swaying to unheard music as I unzipped my jacket revealing my pajama tank underneath. The fire had warmed the romm very quuickly and I wasn't sure if it was the pills or the orange glow on the walls..but he didn't look as menacing even with the face paint. He just looked like..him.
"You're alway happy and laughing on TV." I deadpanned.
"No one laughs allll the time, even someone who finds the world is one big playground, such as myse-lf." He grinned for show at that and took a predatory step towards me.
"I just can't believe it," I sighed dreamily and took another small twirl. I paused in my dancing to look at the man who was apparently capable of such terrible things and yet he only stood there..almost painfully casual. "Are you normally this quiet?" I burted and he laughed.
"If only you knew the things I taught this city, Alex." The intensity of his gaze had me pausing in my trance. "This is a nice room, by the way. A man could get used to thiss." He said, licking his scar. Get used to it? As in keep coming back?
"No." It looked as though he were clenching his jaw and I wondered again just how much I could trust his word. I spun again kicking off my slippers and ran head first into something solid. Joker spun me around, slamming my back into his chest rather roughly. I gasped and he moaned in my ear when I shivered at his closeness.
"Don't want me to stay?" He purred in my ear as chills swept up my body, not entirely unpleasant.
"How do I know I won't end up like Dr. Crane?" I whispered fearfully but I couldn't get it out of my head how good his gloves felt gripping my arm and wrapped around the bare skin of my waist..was this normal Joker behavior?
"Because this game has just begun." The last thing I remembered was his trademark maniacal laugh.
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Bright sunlight streamed through my window officially Saturday morning. I checked my clock..make that Saturday afternoon. There was already a brunch tray waiting, still steaming. My head slightly pounded and I stretched turning over until..I gasped and jumped up frantically looking around my room for any sign of someone who looked like a clown. I had been tucked into bed last night and I wondered if I had done it or a certain clown had? I scarfed down my brunch before going into the bathroom. After using the facilities I turned to the mirror and nearly choked. There was smudges of white, black, and redon the right side of my face! I thought back to the events of the night before..sneaking off, dancing with Seth, the Joker in the alley..he found my home and got in my room. I realized yet again that he had somehow gotten me to forget my desire to hate him. I suddenly remembered the feeling of that scar brushing my cheek and him purring in my ear like the psycho he was. AFter washing my face free of paint and brushing my teeth I changed into jeans and sweater. I wondered if I would be allowed out today. I was eighteen now after all, but this also was still my Uncle's home and he was being more hospitable than he had to. I poked my head into the kitchen finding it empty. I turned and let out a shriek!
"Alfred!" I put a hand to my heart. " You scared me half to death!"
"My apologies."
"Where is Uncle Bruce?"
"Still in bed. I'm afraid he's feeling under the wether and asked not to be disturbed." I nodded, I was sure it was just because he wasn't ready to see me after that crap I pulled last night.
A few hours later I was sitting on a bench in the sunshine huddled in my jacket as I watched all the parents and children running around the park enjoying the weekend. I was nibbling on a soft warm pretzel I bought from a vendor and enjoyed the peace. Although I wasn't sure if how calm I was after the last few days was normal or that I was in denial about actually slightly looking forward to Joker's next visit. He had kept his word last night after all. It wasn't until I finished my snack and walked the cement path towards town that I noticed the sketchy person leaning against the ouside bricks of a second hand bookstore. He was smoking a cigarette but made no move to hide the fact that he was watching me. Couldn't I walk anywhere in this town without catching some weirdos attention? Maybe it was my scar he was interested in..jeeze you could throw a rock in any direction and hit a psycho around here.
'I'm not afraid of you,' I thought as I walked right past him making sure he got a whiff of my perfume but when I looked over my shoulder he was already off in the opposite direction. Wow Alex..paranoid much?
"Alex!" I looked up the next street in the direction of Seth's voice. I can't believe I had forgotten about him but he was rich I supposed his parents could get him out of anythng. That's how the world worked nowadays. He was in some expensive yet casual looking outfit that made my dollar ratty jeans seem even rattier. Why couldn't this kid leave me alone? I quickly cross the street heading back in the direction of home. A hand grabbed my arm. I didn't think..just reacted. One minute Seth was speaking..the next he was sprawled on his back on the sidewalk. I blinked.
"What the hell, Alex!?" People were starting to stare as they brushed past or waited in their cars for the red light to turn.
"I'm sorry." I said lamely, helping him up. I guessed I was more jumpy than I thought..thanks to the resident clown. "You can't just grab me like that." I snapped to cover my embarrassment at being stared at from all directions. Once people usually got a look at the scar..they looked again.
"Sorry." He smiled and looked really cute..innocently cute.
"No blood, no foul." Then his face turned serious.
"I ran to find Gordon and told him where you were." That sounded like a rehearsed story to me and my bullshit taking level was low today. "Sorry that freak ruined your birthday."
I thought about the rest of the night and my bizarre twirling under the watchful eye of said 'freak'. Did he think me a freak because of my scar?
"It was perfect." I spat out. Did I just unintentionally defend Joker?
"You got a little makeup on your face." Seht said and took it upon himself to wipe it off with his finger. It came back red..red paint. I must have missed some from last night but thankfully that went over Seth's fluffy blond head.
"So where are you headed?"
"Home." I spat.
"Can I walk you?" His eagerness made me want to roll my eyes and shout 'No!' but then I noticed that same dude with the cigarette watching me again.
"On second thought..sure."
