Chapter Eight

When the gun went off, Selene had only just gotten to Laurel.

Selene whipped around to see the Joker exiting the elevator. He wore a disgustingly cheap purple trench coat and pants to match. The green vest he wore had dark stains in places and Selene could only guess that it was blood. His tie was a mix of blue and green, but the gloves covering his hands were a dark purple, going back to the purple theme.

He still wore the makeup. Up close, the makeup looked even worse than it did on the video or in the crime photo. The face paint had settled into the creases of his face and some of it was smudge off, like he had wiped sweat off his forehead and forgot he was wearing makeup. The lipstick was starting to run and smear down onto his chin and as he smiled, his yellow teeth flashed.

Everyone in the room froze, too terrified to scream.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," He said as he walked through the room, everyone parting, not wanting to get in his way. His thugs dispersed into the crowd, looking for Harvey. "We are, tonight's entertainment."

"Selene," Laurel whispered, "Who is that?"

"A bad man," Selene whispered back, "Don't say anything, got it?"

She nodded as the Joker ate one of the appetizers. "I only have one question," he said, still chewing. "Where is Harvey Dent?" He looked at the guests, holding up his gun as he did, swinging it around, like he didn't care. He grabbed a champagne glass from one lady, the beverage spilling as he snatched it away. He drank whatever was left before setting it down on a table, hard. He continued around the room, getting closer and closer to the corner where Selene and Laurel stood.

"Do you know where Harvey is?" the Joker asked another guest, so causally you might have thought he was a guest as well. He gave her a flick, before continuing around the room, just reaching Selene. "Do you know who he is?"

"Keep walking," Selene thought to herself, "Just keep walking."

He stopped.

Right in front of Selene.

He frowned at her, the way you frown when you see someone you know, but don't remember them. "I know you, don't I?" He asked, using his gun to point at her. She backed away, stumbling on her heels, dragging Laurel with her. "Haven't I… Seen you somewhere?" Selene opened her mouth to answer, but apparently she was too slow. "Doesn't matter – do you know where I can find Harvey is?" He asked, and then leaned down to look at Laurel. He grabbed her face and Selene could hear her whimper. "I need to talk to him about something," he said to her, "Just something little huh?"

Laurel shook her head and the Joker backed off, caressing her cheek before he left. Selene could have smacked her, or at least used her heel to making a hole in his head, but he walked away before she had the chance. Selene took Laurel's elbow, gently pulling her along. They needed to get to the Bat Cave where Laurel would be safe and Selene could change. She looked up once again to see where the Joker was, only to see he had a knife to an old man's throat.

"Okay stop."

Selene froze and so did Laurel. "Is that Rachel?" she whispered and Selene nodded.

Then she remembered that Laurel couldn't see that gesture. "Yes," Selene replied, watching as Rachel stepped forward, drawing the Joker's attention away from the other guests. "Stay here," Selene said and she pushed through the crowd, trying to get through to them.

"Well, hello beautiful," the Joker said, tucking away a strain of his greasy hair as he made his way to Rachel. "You must be Harvey's squeeze. Hm?" He continued forward, looking her up and down, the look in his eyes making Selene uneasy. "And you are beautiful," he said, his voice showing that he wanted her.

That was it.

"Rachel, don't," Selene said, stepping out of the crowd, reaching for her.

The Joker was taken aback, but it was almost like he putting on a show, like he expected her to show up again. "And you," he said, coming closer, "The… 'familiar' one." He came closer and started to circle them, inspecting the both of them. He leaned in and gave a sniff and Selene hunched her shoulder, leaning in closer to Rachel as she too cowered. He stopped in front of them, leaning in closer and Selene could smell his breath. Blood and flesh, that's what it smelled like.

"You look nervous," he said to them, "is it the scars? You wanna know how I got them?"

"No," Selene said between gritted teeth.

The Joker glared at her, his eyes full of crazy. She instantly wished she didn't say that. He reached for, his purple gloves sticky and hot against her cheeks. "Come here," he said as Selene pulled away, struggling to look anywhere but into his eyes. "Look at me," he said, smacking his lips together, making her turn his face toward him. "I had a wife once," he said, angry clear in his voice, "And she was beautiful…"

He paused and the grip he had on her loosened. Selene looked at him, her hands still on his wrist, trying to pry his hands away. But, he was frozen, staring at her, with a look that was almost like he cared. He was frowning slightly, as if confused, like he suddenly forget what he was doing.

"She was beautiful like you," he whispered, a hint of sadness in his voice. Selene frowned. What was wrong with him?

But before she knew it, he was back in character.

"Who tells me… I worry too much," he continues. "Who tells me I ought to smile more… Who gambles, and gets in deep with the sharks. One day they carve her face. And we have no money for surgeries. She can't take it. I just wanna see her smile again." There it was, the sadness in his voice, but this time, it was put on, fake, like he was an actor playing a part. "I just want her to know that I don't care about the scars," he said, giving Selene a shake as angry entered into his voice again. By now, his thugs were coming up behind him, one of them holding Rachel down. Selene looked over to see Rachel struggling against them despite the gun placed between her shoulder blades.

"So," the Joker continues, yanking Selene's face away from looking at Rachel and back on him. "I put a razor in my mouth, and do this" – he shows off the scars to her, smacking his lips as he did – "to myself. And you know what?... She can't stand the sight of me." He shook her again, gripping her jaw harder, making Selene's lips pouch out as she breathed hard. "She leaves. Now I see the funny side. Now I'm always smiling."

He let go of her.

And Selene kicked him.

He leaned over with a grunt, but laughs, like it was no big deal, never taking his eyes off her. "A little fight in you," he said, waggling his knife at her. "I like that."

"Then you're going to love me."

Batman came out of nowhere, throwing a punch at the Joker before his thugs realized what was going on. As they fought, Selene took charge.

"Everyone out!" She shouted and every started to head for the elevator, the stairway, a strange hall leading nowhere, anywhere to get away. Selene pushed through the crowd of panicked guests, trying to get to Laurel, who hadn't moved an inch since she left her. She grabbing her hand and started to drag her away, teetering on her heels as she did.

It was only when Batman stopped fighting when Selene stopped.

The Joker had Rachel, arm around her throat, gun pointed at her head. Of course he had Rachel – they always went for Rachel.

"Drop the gun," Batman ordered.

The Joker laughed, like it was an amusing statement. "Oh, sure," he said, holding onto Rachel tightly as she tried to get his arm off of her. "You just take off your little mask and show us all who you really are. Hm?" He laughed again and then blindly aimed at the window behind him, shooting it. The glass shattered into a million pieces as he whipped Rachel around and hung her out the edge, only holding onto her elbow.

"Let her go," Batman said, voice shaking.

The Joker frowned and Selene could see the wheels turning in his head. "Very poor choice of words," he said and then he let go of her.

"Rachel!" Selene screamed as she rushed forward, Batman jumping out the window to save her. The Joker moved out of the way, letting him go, before turning to Selene.

"Now," he said, smacking his lips together yet again, "I deal with you."

Someone grabbed her from behind, dragging her away. "Alfred!" She screamed, "Alfred help!" Her kidnapper dragged her to the elevator as she continued to scream, kicking violently and trying to bit the arm that was around her neck.

"Selene!"

Her head shot up to see Laurel, blinding searching for her sister. "Laurel!" Selene screamed. She was going to be separated from her again. No no no no…. "Laurel, get Alfred!"

"Oh, no you don't," the Joker said, more to himself, before grabbing Laurel's cane and hitting her over the head with it. Laurel dropped to the floor, unconscious. "Sorry sweetie."

"NO!" Selene screamed, reaching for her sister. "Laurel!"

"Shut her up," the Joker ordered and suddenly, a white rag was slapped onto her face.

Chloroform.

Again.

The world went black.

*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0

Yup, another cliffhanger! New chapter will be up hopefully next Saturday!

Please review!

~| Neverland Child |~