Harley's hair fluttered around her face in a breeze. The window was cracked only an inch so the tinted glass still hid the passengers in the backseat. The Joker reclined next to her, legs spread wide and his hand rested on one knee while the other busied itself with a cell phone. He was flipping through it and possibly reading text messages. She didn't dare try and view the screen as his testy attitude scared her. Harley watched him from the corner of her eye in safety and admired his apperance. Who would have guessed a maniac in clown makeup could be so appealing?
And what did it say about her that she found him so sexy?
But there were a million things on her mind that morning other than her libido. Harley wondered if anyone knew she was missing yet, wondered if Chad had tried calling. Maybe she could check her messages at their next stop? She shook her head and pulled on her lip in concentration. No, he'd never allow that.
Allow? Since when did someone allow her to do anything? She was twenty five years old. A woman, not a child and certainly not a hostage.
She could leave anytime she wanted. Just open the door at their next stop, wave 'see ya' and walk to the nearest payphone. It might just be that simple. He wouldn't kill her in broad daylight.
He wouldn't kill her at all. Right?
Suddenly, the Joker flipped his phone closed and the sound made her jump. It had been so quiet and Harley's nerves were frayed entirely.
"You look nervous."
"Nope." She replied, focusing on the scenery that passed by. It seemed important not to show fear. Her mother told her once that dogs could smell it. They attacked at even the feigntest sign of it.
"Ocean." He said, out of nowhere.
Harley looked over at him, not understanding.
"What?"
"Ocean." He repeated and turned his head towards hers.
"I don't-"
"Word association, Harley, you're still my therapist. Don't think you can slack off now just because you're fucking the patient. A job is a job." He said with a serious expression.
She blinked, had no retort for him and answered.
"Fish."
"Piano."
"Music."
"Diamond."
"Bracelet." She wondered how long this game would go on for.
With that, he reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and tossed a white felt box into her lap. She opened it cautiously and ran her finger along the prettiest platinum set diamond tennis bracelet she'd ever seen.
"Oh my..." Harley whispered.
The car stopped short then and the Joker opened his door to get out without another word. She closed the box and held onto it while the driver got out as well and walked with him to her side of the car. They talked for a moment before discreetly exchanging something between them. Harley couldn't see what it was and was so preoccupied with her new gift, didn't bother trying to get a closer look. She rubbed her thumb along the the top of the box and smiled. She even relaxed a bit. The Joker had gone out of his way and done something nice for her. The fact that it was probably stolen didn't matter. It was the thought and she was in those thoughts of his.
It made her feel special.What Harley didn't see in herself was how easily distracted and tempted she was. It was true that she had graduated at the top of her class with a good amount of knowledge of the human psyche but she was unable to see the problems in her own mind. A smart girl didn't always lead to bright personal choices. There she was, in the biggest mess any person could get caught up in and all she could think about was the sparkly new trinket in her hand.
Harley's door was opened for her. She got out and walked over to the Joker who was busy with his phone again. As she looked around her eyes took in the run down factory glaring before them. It was dirty and ancient, a sore sight. A jagged barbed wire fence surrounded the building for what seemed like miles and she had to strain her neck to see the very top of it. Apparently, this was where they were staying and Harley hoped the inside wasn't as offensive as the out.
The driver walked past them and took out a pair of keys from his back pants pocket. He walked to a gate connected to the barbed wire fencing, and clanged it open. The lock fell heavily to the ground and he bent to pick it up.
Joker grabbed Harley's hand and pulled her after him, through the entrance and down a bumpy walkway to the rusty main door. His sidekick pushed it open and it relented with a loud squeal.
"Home sweet home." The Joker said, and waved his hand grandly while stepping inside. Harley followed and tried to take it all in with an open mind. There were dozens of medium sized rooms that were bare and unfurnished. Random card board boxes could be found littering the floor with blank sheets of paper pilled in corners. It seemed that it might have been a warehouse before but was long retired. She followed him through a corridor and up a narrow metal staircase. They reached another set of doors and he opened the one closest to them.
Inside was a queen sized canopy bed complete with a lace overhang. Matching lacey curtains adorned the only viewless window in the room and a solid oak dresser with an oval mirror stood to the beds' side. Harley walked in and opened a closet door revealing a full walk in space. She closed the door and turned around. The Joker was watching her with a satisfied expression.
"We can still exchange it all for the bug filled mattress down town if you want. But I thought you'd prefer this instead."
"It's really nice." Harley said and walked over to him, reaching for his hand.
She could imagine them living there happily, hidden from the world and taking shelter in each other. Harley was still idealistic and the nature of their new reality hadn't quite hit her yet. But it soon would. Inevitably.