Sorry for the chapter being late. I was going through a terrible bought of writer's block. I hope you enjoy it, but I don't think it is my best work. Trust me, though. The next chapter will be the best. You might be a bit confused at first but, once you use your brain, it will be quite fantastic.
Oh and thank you for the reviews! They feed my soul. ;)
Jonathan simply could not believe the new admission file that had just been handed to him by Doctor Arkham. It seemed so surreal, so illogical to be true. A wave of nostalgia and dark excitement illuminated his being but, of course, he would not let the skittish man in front of him no anything about his feelings
Needless to say, Crane's expression remained impassive.
"Your specialty is psychopharmacology and, right now, you are the best fit for this…disturbed…young woman. Besides, Dr. Crane, I have the Joker to deal with…" Arkham tittered as if he was on a caffeine binge but, by the last phrase, his words became slowed and dulled.
It sounds as if he is pleading with me to take this case; I won't let him off that easily.
Jonathan cleared his throat, and moved to hand the file back to Dr. Arkham, smirking inwardly.
"I already have about more than three fourths of the patients here. How can I possibly fit in yet another one?" He stared, his icy blue eyes ablaze, trying to make it seem as if he was pissed off when, in reality, he was filled with a sense of power and glee. Yes, even Jonathan Crane was capable of feeling glee. He was human , after all. Yet some people would call him an animal, namely his 'patients'.
Dr. Arkham seemed taken aback, almost fearful, despite the power he had over the slighter man. Jonathan's sense of power became stronger, just like the ideas of what he and Scarecrow would do to poor, dear Gracey.
The SAME girl who stabbed Eric Johnston in the jugular just because the voices told her to do it…and I got to witness it! Oh the things I can do to-
"I assure you, I will give you a pay raise. Dr. Crane, I REALLY need your help." Jerry insisted, daring to stop Jonathan from passing him. This was quite a brave move on Arkham's part since, usually, he was just a pathetic doormat.
Crane glared at him, but his expression quickly turned to indifference. He did not want to appear too excited about the possibility of a pay raise. However, it was hard to contain his little moment of happiness, since he had just manipulated Dr. Arkham into doing exactly what he wanted him to do. And, all the while, he was just getting a bit of joy out of playing with Jerry, and retrieving his prize- that file.
That girl.
"Fine," Arkham's face lit up with relief. He was about to respond when Jonathan interjected,
"However, I expect her to be fully in MY control. Do you understand that, Dr. Arkham?"
"…yes. I will not pester you, I promise." Jerry nodded, grinning vivaciously as if he had just won the lottery.
"Oh, and I expect half of my current paycheck since this is, after all, a big favor." Crane's mouth twitched, as he tried to suppress a grin.
Dr. Arkham gaped at his colleague yet nodded all the same, quickly turning in the opposite direction without so much as a 'goodbye'. Hell, he didn't even give a handshake.
Some people just do not possess Southern hospitality.
Jonathan thought to himself, as he chuckled lightly, opening the door to his office, feeling rejuvenated.
It's time for us to play, Jonny. And this time, it'll be 'seek and go hide'!
"Miss Chase, can you hear me?" Jonathan reiterated, growing a bit annoyed at Grace's lack of response. She was in a catatonic state, which he could clearly recognize. However, this is not what he had wanted in the slightest. No. He wanted her to talk, to tell him things that he wanted to hear.
You see, it was all about him and his satisfaction. He could (usually) care less if she became better or not. Therefore, he was going against his original job description.
Jonathan felt a bit guilty, but Scarecrow felt nothing but empowerment. This was about him, after all. Well, it was about both of them. They may be separate entities but they did share the same body, after all.
We should inject her with the newest strain of toxin – it'll surely get her out of this catatonic state. Scarecrow suggested, but Jonathan ignored his request. Instead, he began to write notes. They were a part of protocol, and he had to maintain the idea that he was really in this business for helping people.
It had never been about helping others, really. The idea of being a psychiatrist was merely to understand the audacity of human nature, and to see the effects of psychotropic medication on the fragile human mind. The idea of experimentation with fear festered along with the dominance of Scarecrow.
"….remember you." The petite woman muttered, her gaze completely fixated on the annoyed doctor.
This startled Jonathan , but he had become a master at masking any vulnerabilities. He sat down his pen , and interlaced his fingers, slightly leaning closer.
Some catatonic states only last for a few minutes…I was expecting that to be the case, Scarecrow, so that is why I did not want to go to such drastic measures…not yet.
"You remember me? Miss Chase, I have never seen you before. That is impossible?"
"Highschool." She replied timidly, but her eyes never left his.
"I assure you that we have never met." He lied smoothly, putting great doubt into Gracella's mind just by his puzzled gaze alone.
"Your name. You were the one who was stalking me." Gracella chimed in amusement, which was quite dangerous for Jonathan. However, he did not have to worry. He had ordered her to be put in a straitjacket…
HOWEVER, Gracey knew how to maneuver her way out of one. Alas, he also knew this as well.
Always one step ahead, aren't you, Jonny? Good boy. Now we just need to wait for the inevitable…
"I never did such a thing, Miss Chase. This is the first time I have ever had the pleasure of meeting you." He scoffed, letting Scarecrow take control.
"I have Alice in my veins. " Grace fumed, her green eyes ablaze.
Scarecrow let out a low chuckle, too low for Grace to actually hear.
Just as quirky and spiteful as I remember. We need to change that…don't you agree, Jonny boy?
"Who or what is Alice?" Jonathan asked, his voice a bit strained. He certainly did not want to share this moment with Scarecrow, and the good ol' Crow felt the same way about him. Tis quite confusing, really.
Grace smiled a smile that could be compared to a certain cat in a certain book that contained the name Alice…
"Alice in Wonderland. Except she is not in Wonderland anymore. She is inside of me. And she remembers you."
She tilted her head to the side, looking Jonathan up and down.
"She helped me kill Eric, remember?"
"I don't know who Eric is, but perhaps you could tell me more about him, about why Alice helped you to kill him?" He replied calmly, mentally cursing the clock for moving so fast.
"Fine…if you want to play a game, we will play a game," Grace mumbled, and then went completely still.
Oh no, not another catatonic state…wait…her straitjacket! I knew this moment would come.
Scarecrow immediately took over as the young woman lunged at him. He was mostly angry at Jonathan for rejecting his idea earlier, but he needed to let some of the anger out on something, or someone, else.
"You don't remember me, and I don't remember you." He quipped smartly, as he pinned her to the ground. She wanted to scream but his eyes told her otherwise, so she kept quiet.
"Your mind is creating scenarios for you, Gracey. We have never met. I repeat… . !"
She spat in his face and started to laugh. His jaw tightened significantly, and a vein seemed to be popping out at the right side of his head. And, of course, his eyes were filled with hostility.
He immediately reacted to this by clenching his hand around her small, vulnerable throat, not caring about the consequences. This was his game now, and he was going to win, no matter what the cost.
"This is a game you forced upon yourself, Gracella! You are deluded, psychotic, mad! These are facts you must accept. And I am going to help you on your journey to acceptance." Scarecrow rumbled, his gaze never leaving his victim's as he peered down at her through chrome orbs.
"But first, you must learn some manners. Am I speaking clearly?"
She nodded frantically, tears coming to her eyes.
"Good." With his anger quelled, Scarecrow leered down at Grace, pouting mockingly.
"Alice would not want to be late for the tea party, now would she?"
Not yet! There is more to discover than her fears, so much more. We can compare her from back then to how she is now.
Jonathan came back to his senses, immediately loosening his grip on Grace. She had passed out, and he had a feeling that bruises were forming around her neck as he kneeled above her.
We'll say that the guards must have done it, that you noticed the bruising shortly after she had first entered. We'll say that it was such a shame to find out that such a lovely girl could be abused in such a manner.
Oh poor, sweet, dear, TERRIFIED…Grace.
Joker POV
I saw the bruises on her throat and realized what had happened. Good ol' Crow had lost control once again. I couldn't help but chuckle at the thought.
Losing control. I never lost control. Ever.
The others call her Alice, but I call her Graceful. Heh. More like goodbye graceful.
I overheard that a guard got fired. Luckily, it wasn't the one who was letting me out of my cell for the night. I..I needed him- for a few more days, weeks tops.
I was shocked when I didn't hear her scream. This one must be special.
If Jonny thought she was somehow special, then maybe I should join in on the fun…
Hmmm….what am I going to do with the Joker? ;}
Reviews, please! I expect constructive criticism only, dears. I know this chapter wasn't exactly excellent but I promise a great one in the future, one that will be twice as long and ten times more shocking.
I have plans…dirty, evil plans. –wicked laughter-
