The rest of the day passed swiftly, I was left to my own devices although I knew if I even attempted to do one thing out of line he would appear. I felt like a grounded child. I could hear my phone go off from time to time from inside the study, but I wouldn't dare ask for it back to check who was attempting to contact me.
He stayed inside the study most of the time, only coming out to order his people about from time to time and eventually he left for the night to go to his nightclub. A question still flooded my head, why did he need my apartment? Surely a man like him could buy many, or even take over anyone else's home and leave the people for dead. But instead he chose to baby sit and torment me. It didn't make sense. I then remembered what he has said about the Batman, that he had warned Joker not to go near me, not to get me involved – or any other innocent for that matter. Why would the Joker risk being caught? Why hadn't the batman checked he was here?
The bat signal for once didn't shine in the sky, he no doubt had other matters to attend to.
I lazed about in the living room watching television, one of the men – who was sat at the dining table behind me – received a phone call to which he responded with only one word answers. Soon enough he grabbed the remote control and turned off the TV. Just as he did so there was a knock at the door and the man was handed plain black boxes. The man brought all the bags through to my bedroom, I attentively followed questioning why he was going in there. He lay the bags onto my bed, ignoring my persistent comments – I was never a fan of his people going into my bedroom. "Get dressed." The man muttered, as he turned to walk back out the room closing the door behind him.
I stood there confused, looking at the boxes before me. I began to pull out the items inside them and to my surprise I found gorgeous designer clothing – it was easy to say the joker hadn't chosen these out himself. Thankfully the clothes fit, hugging each of my curves or if I dare say – emphasising them. I was now clad in a dark red dress with a studded leather clutch and ridiculously high stilettos, each of which had a small J sewn into them. A trademark I assumed as I rolled my eyes at the cockiness – he was claiming me.
I walked back into the living room where the man was waiting on me, twiddling a knife between his hands as he waited. He shoved it into his jacket pocket and rose to his feet as I entered, walking straight to the door and holding it open for me.
"Where are we going?" I questioned as I was led to a sleek sports car parked outside and was ushered into the passenger seat.
"Out" Was the only response I got.
I knew where we were as soon as we arrived, the music was blaring even from the outside and the bouncers were checking everyone as they entered through the door. I had promised myself never to return, and now I didn't have a choice all because I had wanted to escape. I was ushered through the front door, the bouncers moving everyone to the side as I entered following the suited man before me. I ended up in the same VIP area as before, however this time I was sat at the back row of booths, the one next to the stairs was taken up by Joker – who had stared at me the entire time I walked past with a sadistic smile on his lips – and a few other serious looking men. A drink arrived at my table as I sat waiting on my next call of movement. I sipped away at my drink as I watched their conversation from afar, constant refills coming my way.
One by one the men fled from his booth apart from one who rose with the Joker and began to walk my way. He was young, still the glimpse of innocence in his eyes that no other of the Joker's colleagues appeared to have. "My darling" the Joker's shrill voice filled my ears once more and any peace I had begun to feel vanished. "I ask of you to look after this fine young man while I take care of some… pests." He gripped onto the man and forcefully sat him down in the booth in front of me, slapping the man's shoulder in pretend comfort. He leaned over the man before me and snarled, "You… Behave." He glared looking between the man and I, before suddenly his face turned to one of fun and joy, "wouldn't want a pretty little thing like you getting hurt." Swiftly he turned and left.
I rolled my eyes at his statements, before continuing to have my drink.
"I'm Shiv" the man before me held out his hand. I could help but laugh at his name as I took his hand.
"Unfortunate with the name…" I replied.
"It's my alias, no one here really shares their real name for 'security reasons' I suppose you would say." He explained.
We began to have the usual small talk and I began to warm to Shiv. I noticed that whenever he felt awkward or on the spot he would rustle his wavy blonde hair, another sign that this guy was not as tainted by life as the rest of the men here. "So you not dancing?" He asked as he caught me looking out onto the dancefloor, wishing I could be on it myself.
"I sincerely doubt J would let me… He'd think I'd run off or something."
"Well would you?" Shiv questioned, a smile playing at his lips as he cocked an eyebrow.
I couldn't help but laugh, "If I had the chance? Yes. Yes I'd run far…far from here. But I know that's not possible, especially not in his own club."
He seemed surprised, "I suppose J. is rather protective of what he calls his and that currently includes you. But I have no doubt he would let you dance, if you asked politely" I knew what he was hinting at. I would have to bargain myself in order to persuade the Joker for a little freedom.
I rose from my seat and turned to one of the suited men next to our table who had been watching over us the entire time. "I want to speak with J" I demanded.
The man became awkward and I could see from the corner of my eye as Shiv rose his eye brows in support of my statement. Slowly the man began to walk towards the back of the VIP section and I was led into another room where a bloodied man sat tied to the chair, the Joker's back to me. In his purple gloved hand he held a bloodied knife. The man who had escorted me stood to the side and cleared his throat, signifying we had entered.
"What?!" The Joker shouted not turning his gaze from the almost dead man who sat before him.
I breathed in and swallowed my fears as I walked to the joker, slowly wrapping my arms around him. I allowed my hands to roam as they spread over his stomach, the warmth of his body radiating onto the front of mine. I lay my head on his shoulder, the smell of blood mixed with a slight hint of aftershave radiated from his shirt. "I want to dance…" I whispered seductively – my stomach turning in disgust.
The Joker sighed and groaned quietly, tilting his head back as my hands finally found stopped moving, one now across his chest and the other around his waist. "Can't you see I'm rather busy?" He muttered. He reached to the left and grabbed a blood stained cloth. He began to turn around, my arms slipping off his body as he did so. "Are you behaving?" he asked wiping his knife clean.
"Yes of course. And I don't think I've had the chance to thank you for letting me get out my apartment. Thank you J." I was sucking up to him the best I could, maybe if I got onto the dancefloor it could be my escape.
"Of course" he grinned tilting his head. He waved his hand at the man who had brought me in here and I was soon escorted out the room, just as the screams of the man in the chair began.
I was ushered onto the dancefloor and put into one of the glass boxes that usually had beautiful professional dancers inside, just before the door close I objected.
"It's all he'd allow ma'am. Sorry" the man looked truly apologetic. Soon the glass door was closed around me and the eyes of those on the dancefloor were staring as I pushed against the glass trying to find any way out. I could see the door in the distance through the swaying bodies of drunks. The music thumbed in my ears and I looked around, Shiv was now on the dancefloor watching me panic. His face filled with concern as he beckoned me through actions to dance, I could see him mouth 'do it'.
I had always hated being put on the spot, I didn't enjoy being centre of attention either yet I felt this was the only way of acceptance. If I was ever to escape the Joker I would have to make him trust me first. If he could ever trust that is.
I began to sway to the music and soon I was dancing as boldly as I could, trying to get as much attention as I could get. I curled my fingers insinuating for certain men to come closer – though every corner of my box was surrounded with the Jokers men. I would tease them from inside the glass - I was untouchable.
The crowd began to part and from a distance I could see the distinguishable green hair begin to walk through the dancefloor, his eyes fixated on me as I danced. He was followed by his right hand man who made sure no one got too close. Everyone on the dancefloor tried to ignore the presence of the Joker and I fixed my eyes on my capture. I smiled at him cheekily as I began to dance suggestively not allowing eye contact to break. He walked around my glass box like a predator. His silver metal teeth shone in the different lights as his skin was illuminated an even more inhumanly white. Under this light he almost looked glowing. I hated myself for thinking it but he almost looked appealing under such light.
Soon enough his hands thumped on the glass, making me jump as he smirked at me. The only response I could give without displeasing him was to laugh, bending down to his height and blowing a kiss before I turned and continued dancing.
