Chapter 8: Dangerous

Sakura: Ok. I know I haven't posted in forever but try taking all honors classes, having circus, play rehearsals, chores, an injured wrist, and more all at the same time. It's really tough.

Meg: We have good news, though!

Sakura: Yes! We have a Beta! XD She's my friend Eva and she's awesome.

Joker: Now on with the show!

XXX

I sat still, frozen to the bed, not daring to move a muscle, caught in the Joker's fiery gaze. His eyes were full of hatred that made me cringe on the inside. I'm not sure what exactly happened next but I found myself leaning towards him and pressing my lips against his scarred ones. At first he seemed shocked but he soon pulled himself together and shoved me off the bed, snarling. I stared back in fear as he grabbed me cruelly by the arm and dragged me back to my room. I was shocked - both at him and myself. Throwing me down on my mattress, he grabbed a fistful of my hair and forced me head back, exposing my face. I knew what he was going to do next. I knew it, and yet, it still came as a surprise to me. He stuck his knife in my mouth and slowly, painfully, carved a Chelsea grin into my already scarred face. It seemed to take an eternity, and when he finally finished, he slammed my head against the wall and left me there, bleeding.

XXX

I must have been knocked out for a while because when I came to, my cheeks were throbbing but stitched up. I felt terrible but at least I was no longer bleeding. Standing up, I was hit with a dizzy spell and bent over, heaving. I wiped my mouth as I went to open the door only to find I was still locked in. Numbly I walked back to my bed and lay on my back staring at the ceiling. I was a mess and now my room smelled bad. I had thrown up blood. Heavy sobs wracked my body but no tears came. I was too tired and thirsty to cry. I quickly fell back to sleep.

Sleep gave me no comfort. My dreams were full of monsters. Creatures with bloody grins. Giant spiders. A headless ghost that kept chasing me. Rivers of blood that sucked me under. Gray skies. Laughing ravens with red eyes. Shadows swarmed my dreams. I woke up screaming, covered in sweat . I only stopped screaming when I choked on blood from my cheeks tearing open. Then I sat coughing and gasping like a fish out of water, afraid to close my eyes because of what I would see.

XXX

I had just started to think about sleeping again when the door opened and the Joker walked in. He was carrying a plate of food and a glass of water along with a grocery bag. His face was blank as he looked at me. I sat still, scared of what he might do to me. He set down the meal at my feet and put the bag on my mattress. I stared down at my hands. They were shaking and I tried to still them. The Joker went and sat in his usual chair. It felt just like the first day in that room. I let out a shaky breath. "I'm really sorry," I muttered. He raised an eyebrow. "Let's see how your face is doing," he said and walked over to me. He tilted my head up and examined his work. I cringed as I saw him pull out a needle and thread and braced myself for more pain.

I wasn't disappointed. I clenched my hands into fists as the Joker pulled out the old sutures and then pushed a needle through my cheeks, replacing them with new ones. He ignored my whimpers of pain, concentrated as he was on threading my sliced cheeks closed. It seemed to take forever and by the end blood was dripping down my face in warm rivulets. He wiped off my cheeks and then sat next to me silently. I was the one to break the silence.

"I... I don't know how that happened," I whispered. My voice sounded strange from talking with stitches in my cheeks.

He sighed and pushed the mysterious bag he had brought with him towards me. I peeked inside, unsure of what to expect. Knowing him, it could have been a pony. But it wasn't. It was my stuffed bear Lancelot! I gasped and my face twinged but I ignored it, to shocked by the sudden appearance of my little friend. I set him gently beside me after giving him a big hug and looked deeper in the bag. Clothes, a toothbrush and toothpaste, a hair brush, and oddly enough, makeup. I laughed at that and dumped it all on my bed. I didn't know what to say. I was so thankful. I don't deserve all this... especially after what I did, I thought. He ruffled my hair and then walked out, closing the door behind him. "Mood swings much?" I grumbled and laughed. I ran to the bathroom with my makeup and new clothes to play dress-up. Maybe this isn't so bad after all.

XXX

Sakura: Sorry for the crappy update. And venting... I'll post another chapter soon!

Meg: This story is becoming very confusing.

Sakura: So is my life!

Joker: And now it's time to thank our reviewers!

Meg: They include candysweets, RogueOnFire, KayleeLovesMERDER, Aviarianna O Lorien, Lenquo, and anybody else who we didn't mention. Thank you all!

Sakura: And by the way, for all you Jews out there – and others too – shana tova tikateivu!