I opened my eyes and became aware of an intense headache. Next, I realized that I must be blind, because the only thing I saw was white. White everywhere. Nothing else. Just white. Once I sat up, I laughed, because I'd been looking at the white ceiling of a large bedroom. I was lying on a large, round bed with red dressings. The walls were tan and the carpet was white. It looked like something that I'd have decorated, myself. A small beside table had been prepared for me. A bottle of painkillers and a tall glass of water called my name.

My head throbbed, as if to tell me that it wanted one. I popped a few into my mouth and fell back to sleep for a few minutes.

A soft knock at the door startled me from sleep.

"Ah, didn't mean to wake you, but if you're up," the Joker said, pushing the door open cheerfully.

I looked to take a drink of water, but the glass and bottle of pills were missing. "Where am I?" I sat up and rubbed my head. There was a small bump where I'd been struck.

"This is my home." The Joker raised his arms and looked around. "Humble little place, isn't it?" The man came and sat at the foot of my bed.

"What do you want with me?"

"What do I want with you?" The Joker laughed. "What do I want with you? Why, you just had this look about you that said you wanted to break the rules for once in your life. I think you were the one who wanted me. Was I right?"

I shrugged. "I don't know what you're talking about. When can I go home?"

"Go home? You've only arrived. How about you make yourself comfortable. Dinner will be ready at six, and there are things in the closet for you to wear. Might I suggest the green number?" The Joker laughed and disappeared into the hall. A moment later, however, he was back with a large vase of flowers. I recognized them from the back of the van. Clearing his throat, he placed them on the bedside table. "I am very sorry for knocking you unconscious. Twice." But with the laughter that followed, I doubted if he was serious.

"Uh, thank you." I looked at the flowers and then back at him. "They're, uh, nice."

"Dinner at six!" The Joker pulled the door shut behind him.



I stood up and walked toward the window. Heavy red curtains covered the windows. I pulled them open to reveal an amazing view of Gotham. Wherever I was must have been somewhere on the very edge of the city. I could see everything. Turning away, I walked to the closet and pulled it open. My jaw dropped. There must have been twenty evening gowns hanging on one side, and a few more professional-looking outfits hanging on the other side next to casual clothing. I had no idea what he wanted me to wear, so I threw a few gowns onto the bed. Since there was women's clothing in the closet, for some strange reason, I assumed there would be jewelry in the drawers. After all, the Joker must have stolen a ton in his day. Pulling open a dresser drawer, I found an old photo album. I picked it up to look under it, but a photo fell out. Looking down at the floor, I saw a young man smiling up at me. He was holding a diploma and standing with a woman. On the back was written, 'Jack's high school graduation.'

"Jack," I said aloud to myself. Who was Jack?

I heard footsteps in the hall and hastily stuffed the album back and slammed the drawer shut. Whichever dress I decided on would surely look fine without a necklace or earrings. I was slightly nervous as I slid into a sparkly pink gown with a corset top and up-skirt. Although I had just been kidnapped and knocked out by a well-known villain, I did feel a strange comfortable feeling sinking in. It scared me.

"Hello," I called as I crept through the hallway. There were many rooms and hallways. This was surely a mansion. Part of me was sure that the Joker was going to jump out at me. Maybe just to scare me, maybe to hurt me. I turned a corner and was suddenly in a large dining room. Two places were set at a table for thirty, one across from the other. Foods of all different types were set out, and there were flowers and candles everywhere.

"Ah, here you are. Sit, sit down and have a bite to eat." The Joker appeared and took me by the hand to a seat. He pulled out my chair for me and smiled. "Beautiful. Simply beautiful. I can sure pick them huh?" I was surprised to see that he still wore his makeup.

"Um, why am I here? It was only after I sneezed that you decided you wanted me."

"Yes," The Joker said, sitting down opposite me and reaching for a drumstick. "Because I've finally found you. I know about you. I know your story, Miss Thomas." He chuckled and stuffed a carrot into his mouth.

"How do you know my name?"

"Come, come! Eat before the food gets cold." The Joker tossed me a roll and slopped a spoonful of mashed potatoes onto my plate. "There will be a time for questions, but this isn't it. Someone's going to be quite unhappy if the food they've prepared goes uneaten."



I did as I was told, but as soon as I'd eaten my fill, I set my napkin on the table and began again. "Please, why am I here?"

"I don't want to say that you're my latest hostage, but," the Joker shrugged and stood up. Walking to my side of the table, he continued. "Congratulations! You're my latest hostage. Having you here with me will benefit both of us. There's a certain person out there who will find out you've gone missing and will want you back to safety as soon as possible. Knowing him, he'll be on edge until they know where you are."

"And how does this benefit me? You're just bullying someone by kidnapping me?" I scoffed.

"Well, I happen to know who your father is. Yes, yes," he said as soon as he saw my jaw drop. "Batman's little girl. He'll be heartbroken to know you're gone, even though he hasn't even looked at you since the day you were born." He took a large drink of wine and exhaled happily.

"This still doesn't benefit me! Let me go!"

"No, no, no. I haven't gotten to that part yet. Just be patient, young Miss Thomas." He took another drink and a bite of a roll. "Because of your famous daddy, you know, the one with the cape and stuff," he took another drink; "there's a group of baddies after you. They're after your DNA, I guess. They don't realize that Batman is nothing more than a man. They think he's allergic to kryptonite, or something."

"So you're telling me that you're keeping me safe from these people? I doubt they even exist. You're insane." I rolled my eyes sarcastically. "Please. What do you want with me?"

The Joker ignored me. "Fortunately, no one knows that this is where I am. To them, this is just some rich man's playground. That's why I knocked you out, so you wouldn't know the way here," he added. "Nothing personal, of course."

"Of course." I swallowed. This made me nervous. "Who is going to miss me?"

The Joker cackled and pulled out my chair. "Come; let's take a walk to the roof."