Three ambulances were already parked on the street in front of Arkham. Paramedics were at the ready with stretchers once they were allowed inside the building. Police arrived minutes after they were called. They had been alerted that two patients were suspected to be on the loose, and could possibly escape. At mention of the Joker and Scarecrow, Commissioner Gordon got a migraine the likes of which few would ever experience. He sent out a small army of police officers and called in a SWAT team. Every available man would be needed for the task at hand.
Gunfire and screams filled the hallways of the asylum. It broke the somber silence of the morning. Police grabbed their weapons, storming up the concrete stairs leading to the building. SWAT members got to position. They were prepared for anything that came their way. These men were trained to face unimaginable situations. They could handle any obstacle. Save for what they saw through the glass double-doors of the Arkham entrance. The screaming came first. The blood-curdling cries of anguish and terror. And then they saw the sources of the cries.
Guards were running through the main hallway. Staff members were clawing at the walls. Patients were being trampled, scrambling to get out of the building. The doors flew open, and the people of Arkham flooded out in a sea of terror and chaos. It was an absolute frenzy. The group trampled over the officers, determined to run to safety from whatever insane hallucinations they were experiencing. From within the mob came a gunshot. A terrified guard fell to the ground. And then came a laugh. A loud, bone-chilling laugh.
The Joker had his gun out, shooting whoever was in his way at the moment. With his other arm he dragged along the blind Scarecrow. Fear toxin swirled through the air, leaving a trail of inexorable terror. A few bullets whizzed past the Joker. He jumped for a moment at the noise, but looked about with a smile. He called out above the screaming.
"Good morning officers! Looks like lovely weather ahead!" He fired his gun once more, the bullet blasting through the back of Dr. Yeardly's head. The man toppled down. The Joker used him as a stepping stone, almost tripping the Scarecrow in the process. To fire at the Joker or Scarecrow would be like aiming for a single feather on a raven. So long as the duo were within the confines of the horrified mob, they were safe. All the able-bodied officers and SWAT members could do would be to try and separate the mob until they could fish out the madmen.
The Joker started heading towards one of the ambulances. He shot Susan, the redheaded paramedic, twice in the stomach. He would have shot her once more had he not run out of bullets. He tossed his weapon aside, paying no attention to the flailing doctor he was dragging along the ground. The Scarecrow, almost choking from his current position, grabbed onto the Joker's arm. He wouldn't be able to disperse the toxin, but he wouldn't be strangled by his shirt collar either. At the time, it seemed like a fair trade. He coughed sharply, trying to push himself along. Scarecrow listened to the screams coming from all directions. It was truly euphoric.
"La la, rat tat tat la la," the Joker half-skipped, wobbling with the weight of Scarecrow's body. He pulled the other gun out from the back of his scrubs as he made his way to the drivers side of the ambulance. It was ready to go. The Joker had not noticed that the crowd around himself and the Scarecrow had thinned out and run in opposite direction. However, Officer Ellis noticed. The officer had been thrown onto the ground by the mad mob. His left arm was broken, as were three of his ribs. That didn't stop him from holding his gun at the ready. He was only two yards away from the escaping men.
"Easy does it," the Joker said as he pulled up the Scarecrow. He put his arm around Scarecrow's shoulders, guiding him roughly to the ambulance door. He began to shove the Scarecrow up into the seat.
"I've got-" the Scarecrow's words were cut off by a gunshot. There was a loud scream. It was close. Very close. He jumped into the seat in a panic. His adrenaline was rushing, and he loved it.
"Ah!" The Joker's knee jerked forward. His breath quickened when he saw the blood coming from his left thigh. He raised his gun, looking back for the source of the fire. Before he was able to retaliate, a second shot landed in his right kneecap. He fell backwards against the seat of the ambulance. His legs were like moldy bread.
"Would you hurry up?" Scarecrow reached out one arm, feeling around for the Joker.
The Joker licked his lips before shooting Officer Ellis's neck. The Joker dropped his gun and hoisted himself into the driver's seat. He was able to slide in on his side. He grabbed the Scarecrow's left leg.
"Wh-" the Scarecrow jerked back slightly as he was dragged out of the passenger's seat.
"Just hold your foot down!" With that, he pulled Scarecrow's leg under the steering wheel. The doctor, not wanting to get shot just yet, slammed his foot down. He hit the pedal, and the ambulance shot forward. The Joker turned the steering wheel quickly. They sped down the street. The Joker pulled on the steering wheel, trying to prop himself up. He looked up at a small panel and switched on the siren. Equipment was flying out of the back of the vehicle, strewn into oncoming traffic. The pair was tossed about with each sharp turn the ambulance made through the streets. Cars cleared the way quickly. The Joker laughed deeply. He was bleeding, his legs were useless, and he wasn't sure how much blood he could lose before he died. The Scarecrow was blind, and the Joker wasn't sure if it was temporary or permanent. The police would know the license plate and track them down easily if they stayed in the ambulance for too long. His blood was racing and leaking out of his bullet wounds. It was a rush he reveled in.
"I know…" the Scarecrow coughed. His foot had only been slammed down for a few seconds and was already tired. He was on the bottom of the vehicle, leaning back against the passenger's seat. "I know a place…Batman…he leaves it alone…Didi's…"
"On the road again, just can't wait to be on the road again," the Joker sang with a cackle. He through his head back in a howling laugh as they whizzed through the streets of Gotham City.
