Kyra looked up as the Joker re-entered the room, a look she had never seen before on his face. He was serious, determined. He came and sat next to her, but made no move to touch her, didn't look at her. She stared at his back, wondering what had made him act like this all of a sudden.
When he finally spoke, she almost jumped out of her skin.
"We're alike, you and I." How could I have anything in common with this man? As if reading her thoughts he said,
"Our pasts." He turned to her a Cheshire cat grin on his face.
"Do you wanna to know how I got these scars?" Kyra was curious. They're pasts were similar?
"My name used to be Jack Napier. I used to be just like you. My father was a drinker...and a fiend. And one night, he goes off craaaazier than usual. Mommy gets the kitchen to defend herself. He doesn't like that. Not...one...bit. So, me watching, he takes the knife to her, laughing while he does it. He turns to me, and he says, "Why so serious?" Comes at me with the knife, "Why so serious?!" Sticks the blade in my mouth, "Let's put a smile on that face." Kyra didn't know what to say. They were so alike, yet so different. What forces of fate could have possibly thought throwing them together would be a good idea?
"So, you see, my lovely lady…" He grabbed her chin, tilted her face up so that their eyes met.
"We're much more alike than you think." He tapped her on the nose, then let her face go. There was only one question she could think of right then.
"What did you do to him?" The Joker began cackling, that high-pitched laughter that had once made Kyra's blood run cold. Not anymore. He was just a broken man who had morphed into something almost unrecognizable.
"Why, I killed him of course. The same as you're going to do to your little daddykins tonight." Kyra sat back a little.
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't be denssse. You and me baby. Tonight I'm going to take you back to your home one last time, as it appears you still have some unfinished business with papa. Now get up and get ready, we'll be leaving soon."
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An hour later Kyra was ready to go. Dressed in black jeans, a clingy purple sweater, and the only shoes the Joker had gotten her, purple fuck me boots. She had no idea where he was, or why he was doing this. She didn't know if she was ready to face her father again. Just thinking about him and what he did to her made her want to burst into tears. Kyra steeled herself against those thoughts. He deserved this. He deserved everything he got.
"Ready to go lovely?" The Joker asked, moving around Kyra to unlock the door.
"And let's not have any funny business tonight, sweetheart. I'd hate to have to kill you after all this. But, just to be safe…" The Joker took a long piece of black cloth from one of his pockets and tied it over her eyes. He guided her down some stairs and out of a building, a cold rush of air hitting Kyra. He shoved her into a car and slammed the door. He got around to the other side and started driving the car. Kyra wasn't sure how long they had driven, or to where, but when she got out of the car she was surprised to see a small house, not the apartment complex she grew up in.
Something good must have happened. Maybe dad got clean….maybe things have changed. The Joker shoved her forward.
"Move to the left side of the house, there's an unlocked window we'll go through." Kyra did as she was told, lying still against the house while the Joker forced open the window. He climbed in first, and then Kyra followed. She found herself in a child's room. Pink walls with a teddy bear border, bookcases filled with children's books, a bean bag, still indented with the form of the person who had last used it. Against the far wall was a twin sized bed, and in it, her little sister.
"Stacy…" Kyra inched closer, looked down at the small form of her little sister. The last time she had seen her she was eight years old, still wore nightgowns and pigtails to school. This wasn't the same child. Now at thirteen, just beginning to mature, her hair had darkened, she had gotten tall, and her feet hung over the edge of the bed. Kyra leaned closer, and almost recoiled in horror.
Her left eye was swollen shut, bruised. She had a split lip, and the top of her shoulder had fingerprint shaped bruises on it. A wave of anger washed over Kyra. Nothing had changed. Nothing would ever change! Kyra bent down and kissed her sister's forehead. Unfortunately, her sister rolled over, opened her eyes slowly.
"Kyra, I don't want to go… Kyra!" Her sister shot up.
"Kyra you came back! What are you doing here…? What happened to your face?" Kyra's hand went up to her cheek. She had almost forgotten about the stitches there.
"Shhhhh! Stacy, look I haven't come back. I just need to talk to dad." Stacy's face fell instantly. Tears began to well up in her eyes, but before she could speak the Joker popped back in.
"Kyra let's go, now." Stacy's eyes went wide and she opened her mouth to let out a scream when Kyra's hand clamped over her mouth. She looked Stacy right in the eyes.
"Look, Stacy, its okay. He's not going to hurt you. He's here with me. Listen, do you know any of the neighbors?" She shook her head, no. Kyra sighed.
"Okay, Stacy, you need to stay in this room. And no matter what happens, no matter what you hear, stay here! Please, Stacy, do what I ask." He sister nodded, Kyra stood up and joined the Joker in the hallway.
"Well, wasn't that touching?" Kyra wasn't in the mood. She brushed past him to go further down the hall. Towards the direction of her father's snoring.
"Shut up, asshole." The Joker whirled her around, slammed her against the wall, and slapped her. It hurt twice as bad. He leaned in close to her.
"Let's not forget who brought you here. Who holds the power?" He pushed her again, then let her go. She stumbled forward a bit, but managed to right herself.
"Come on, his room's at the end of the hall. Here" The Joker handed her a long blade with a purple handle. She didn't have to ask what it was for. They quietly slipped into her father's room. He hadn't changed at all. Still tall, a bit heavyset, brown hair that was thinning out. But something had changed. Her mother wasn't sleeping by his side. Kyra didn't have to think twice about what had happened to her.
"What did you do to mom!" Kyra's scream woke her father up quickly. Glancing around frantically his eyes widened when he saw his daughter, and the man who was standing behind her.
"Kyra, what are you doing here! Why is that freak with you!?" He tried to sit up, but the Joker held him back.
"Who are you calling freak. I'm not the one who beats and rapes his daughters." The Joker whispered in his ear. Kyra's father began throwing a fit, trying to escape, but the Joker was too strong for him. Kyra let her rage fill her. She had suffered under this man, her mother had suffered and most likely been killed by this man, and now her sister was suffering under this man. It was time for him to suffer.
Kyra let out a long scream of rage and began her work.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
An hour later Kyra appeared from her father's room, bloody, exhausted, and exhilarated. She slowly made her way to her sister's room as the Joker was gathering his tools. She opened the door and her sister's wide frightful eyes locked onto her.
"Kyra, what did you do?" Kyra just shook her head.
"The police are coming. I called them. When they get here explain to them what happened. Tell them the truth. I don't care if I become haunted. I'm just glad you're safe. Your nightmare is over Stacy. You're going to go to a good home and live a good life. I promise. Goodbye, Stacy. I love you. And I'm sorry, for everything." With that Kyra shut the door. They needed to leave; the police would be there any moment.
The Joker appeared beside her.
"Let's go, lovely. And I must say that color looks wonderful on you." Kyra looked down. She was drenched in blood.
She and the Joker rushed out the front door to the car. Just before he re-blinded her, Kyra caught a glimpse of Stacy, watching out the front door window, tears streaming down her face.
