A/N sorry that it took so long for me to update, but halfway through writing this chapter my computer erased it and I had to start over again, but thank you so much for the reviews I've received. It makes me want to write more and it's always nice to hear feedback.
Jade walked up to the front doors of Arkham asylum. It was as scary as she remembered it and it was already beginning to get dark. Jade shivered lightly as chills crawled up her spine and nipped at the back of her neck. She shook it off and entered the front doors to find herself in the waiting room.
The whole room was lit by florescent lights that were built into the ceiling causing the room to have a very sterile feel to it. The walls were painted a shade of off-white and as Jade made her way to the front desk she noticed a large spider crawl across her path.
"Uh, hi I'm Jade Delacey I'm here to visit my father. Dr. Jones might have told you I would be here." She said to the rather detached secretary who was typing away at her computer. She looked up and gave Jade a once over.
"Name." She responded turning back to her computer.
"Uh Jade Delacey?" She said again.
"Not your name." The secretary started angrily. "Your father's." Jade inwardly cringed. Stop being stupid! She screamed in her head before she cleared her throat.
"Sorry, his name's Frank Delacey." She answered nervously. The secretary rolled her eyes and typed some things into her computer. Jade twirled her hair around her fingers nervously.
"Your father will be escorted into waiting room B shortly, but first I'm to tell you of a few things concerning your dad. First he's been medicated to stop his violent outbursts, so he may be a little out of it. Second, try to avoid the topic of death. Third, do not mention your mother or clowns." The secretary finished looking at Jade expectantly.
"Understood." Jade replied. The secretary rolled her eyes and pointed her in the directions of the visiting rooms. Jade made her way down the seemingly endless hallway before she arrived at her destination. She took in a deep breath and opened the door to waiting room B.
The room was the size of a small bedroom. The walls were white and the harsh lights casted eery shadows onto the floor. The only furniture in the room were two chairs facing each other with a small table between them.
Jade took in a deep breath as the memories flashed back into her head. Her father's angry eyes baring into her own terrified ones, how hard her elbows hit the floor when she fell out of her chair, and worst of all his terrible words ringing into her ears. Jade pushed the fears away and sat down at the chair facing the only door and a short time later the door opened and her father entered the room.
She was shocked at how different he looked now and how sad. His once rich dark brown hair had began to gray. The once strong shoulders that held her up as a small girl now slouched in defeat. His face, once smooth now creased around his eyes and mouth. But what unsettled Jade the most were his eyes. When Jade looked into them she could almost feel the sadness. Once they sparkled with life, now they were dull and empty. For the first time Jade realized her dad had grown older in the years that passed. The man she remembered no longer existed all she saw now was an old man, aged by his grief.
"Tracy?" Her father croaked coming closer to her. Jade winced hearing her mother's name.
"No...it's me Jade." She replied. Her father's face dropped in disappointment before he sat down across from her.
"It's so nice...to see you...again." He said smiling weakly across the table at her. Jade smiled back.
"How you doing?" She asked hopefully. Her father shrugged.
"I get by...the medication...it makes...me a...little tired." He said weakly. "How's my son?"
"He's doing real good, he got straight A's last semester." Jade gushed proudly. "And all of his teachers just love him."
"I'd like to see him sometime." Her father replied dreamily.
"Maybe someday." Jade said smiling even though she knew how little Damian wanted to see him.
"I need to warn you." Her father said suddenly alert.
"What is it?" Jade asked alarmed. Her father motioned for her to lean in a little closer. She did.
"The clown." He whispered in her ear. "He's plotting...they won't listen...I can hear him talk, he's in the cell next to mine..." He took in a deep breath trying to steady himself.
"What does he say?" Jade asked.
"Terrible things...he's evil...only evil...he's going to do...awful things Jade...warn them." He urged grabbing Jade's forearm so suddenly it caused her to jump violently. "warn them!" Suddenly the door was opened and a man came though the door.
"I think that's enough for now." He said standing her father up. "We don't want him to over do it, but feel free to come back. It's good for him." He said to Jade as he led her father out of the room.
It took Jade a few minutes, but finally she shook off the chills and stood to leave as a large explosion sounded just down the hall. She ran out into the hallway to see what was going on.
People were running around wildly. It wasn't long until another explosion sounded, and it didn't take Jade long to realize that it was probably time to leave. She looked around for an exit sign, but it was becoming difficult to see through smoke and crowds of people. Jade's attention was caught as she could hear screaming coming from down the hall. She made her way to the source hoping she could help.
"Please!" Jade heard a woman's voice cry out in fear.
"I don't take requests" A man's cold voice answered as a sickening 'snap' sounded from the room. Jade's heart began beating faster as she peered through the doorway into the office.
A tiny woman's body layed sprawled across the floor. She wasn't very old maybe twenty four at the most. A man had his back turned to her and was rummaging through boxes until he seemed to find what he wanted, a small palate of make up containing only three colors. Quickly he applied the make up to his face, and when he turned Jade had a startling realization of who the man before her was. The Joker.
She instantly knew she should run, but her body wouldn't move. She was a deer caught in headlights.
"Now what do we have here?" The Joker said as he met Jade's eyes. He quickly walked over and grabbed the woman's arm just as she started to run. He pulled her closer to him. "A little spy?" He questioned taking in her face.
She was a pretty one, no denying that. He especially like her eyes and the way the fear showed in them. Oh yes, he would enjoy ending her life, especially looking into those eyes when the life flew right out of them. He'd have to save this one for a better time.
"C'mon sweet cheeks." He said roughly dragging her along with him making his way to the roof. He wanted to see the chaos he had caused from a better view. It only took a few minutes to arrive at his destination. He pulled his hostage closer to him as he overlooked the panic stricken city. "Isn't it wonderful?" he asked.
Batman had just began patrolling when the explosions sounder from Arkham. He knew who was to blame before he got there. A man he knew could never be contained, a man he wished he never would have to deal with again, the Joker.
He got there in good time and it didn't take long before he spotted the man he was looking for on the roof of Arkham laughing hysterically. Batman jumped roofs quickly and landed behind the Joker with a small thud. It was then he realized that the Joker wasn't alone. In his arms he was holding a petrified Jade.
The sight sent his stomach turning, out of all the people in the world how did it end up being her? The chances had to be astronomical. He regained his composure quickly as the Joker turned to face him.
"Batman! I was hoping you'd show up to see me!" The Joker beamed at him. "Me and toots here where just watching the panic, but I'm sure your here for other reasons." He said pulling a grenade from one of his pockets. "You know, it's really amazing what you can get people to bring you if you play the right strings."
Batman advanced on Joker cautiously.
"Let the girl go she had nothing to do with this." He knew reasoning with Joker was pointless, but he couldn't risk Jade's life.
"Why should I?" Joker asked. "I look forward to killing this one, It's been a while since I've carved a face, and I think she could smile a little more."
Batman could feel his rage boiling up inside of him. He quickly ran towards the Joker and in a few quick moves he knocked Jade out of his grasp. The Joker glared at him.
"You're such a buzz kill." He said pulling the pin out of the grenade in his hand and throwing it up into the air. "I really have to go now Bats, but I'm sure will meet again." The Joker said as he ran down the fire escape.
Batman quickly ran towards Jade and helped her to her feet, he wrapped one arm around her and with his other he shot his grappling hook at and swung off the building as an explosion went off causing shrapnel to shoot painfully in between the plates of his armor.
It took him longer than it should have, but he managed to get Jade back safely to her apartment.
"Are you going to be alright?" He asked her. She nodded slowly,
"Are you going to be alright?" She countered. "You look kind of woozy." Batman was about to reassure her when black spots danced across his vision and he fell into darkness.