Hi Everyone. Thank you so much for all your kind words and feedback. It really means the world to me that you all seem to be enjoying reading this as much as I love writing it. This has been tremendous fun for me.
Anyhoo…sorry this chapter is pretty short. I hope you like it, but be forewarned. It's a violent little morsel. :)
P.S. Big thanks to the kind soul who pointed out that when I posted this chapter, it came out in code. I think I got them all, but please let me know if there are additional mistakes.
The stench of wet, dank concrete filled Harleen's nose as she came to. Her head ached from the base of her neck to the top centre of her head. Harleen tried to rub her head, but quickly realized that her hands were wrapped round her neck in what felt like a straight jacket. Oh right…it was a kidnapping. Harleen paused and tried to take in her surroundings. She was lying on a cold surgical table. She could feel the harsh steel against the backs of her legs. So my clothes are missing. That's great. Harleen tried lifting her head, but realized that while the rest of her body felt free, her forehead was strapped tightly to the table. In shaking herself, she felt that her ankles were chained together. Gazing down, straining her eyes, Harleen took comfort that she at least had her underwear still on and the straight jacket provided some modesty. That's not terribly comforting, but I'll take it. Her eyes shifted to either side of her head and a pigtail greeted Harleen on each side, one dyed red, and one dyed blue. Oh what in the actual fuck, how long have I been out? Harleen took several deep breaths and tried to collect her thoughts. The room was dark with only a sliver of artificial light peeking through the only door in the room. Must be underground. Harleen could just make out a few tables in the corner that held various instruments of persuasion. A shudder went through her body as Harleen tried not to imagine how those tools might be used. After a few minutes of quiet observation, Harleen found her trick. Beneath the index finger on her left hand, there was the smallest hole in her straight jacket. She slowly began working her fingers through the hole, smiling as the fibers slowly began to tear and loosen.
Suddenly Harleen heard a switch flip and her entire body shook as electricity passed from the strap on her forehead down through all her limbs. She cursed herself for showing weakness, but Harleen could not hold back her paralyzing screams. As quickly as it started, the switch flipped again and Harleen's body returning to a calm.
"I'm sorry pumpkin, did that hurt?" That voice made Harleen shiver with excitement for which she uttered another silent curse. Her heart began to beat even faster at finding herself in such a vulnerable position with her clown prince standing over her.
"I asked you a question. I will not take silence as an answer." Joker's voice grew louder with rage as his fingers danced over the convulsion switch. Harleen's voice cracked as her throat was devoid of all moisture.
"You hit that switch again and you'll turn my brains to puddin'." Joker's fingers hesitated. "What did you say?" Harleen's laugh was low and slow. Joker growled and slapped Harleen hard across the face. Her lip split and a warm trickle of blood began to flow down her chin. Harleen's tongue darted out and licked up the red aphrodisiac. Something in her snapped and Harleen lost all conscious thought as her giggles increased in speed and pitch. As Harleen's laughter increased, Joker's ire grew and he hit the switch again, sending shocks through Harleen's already convulsing body. Joker walked away, leaving his blond convulsing as Harleen's laughs turned to screams. As he turned to his table to assess his collection, Harleen slid down the table slightly, freeing herself from the forehead strap. She continued screaming so as not to arouse suspicion and to also cover the sound of the final ripping of the sleeves of her straight jacket. Joker turned back with a wide grin, holding a small paring knife in one hand and an ice pick in the other.
"Perhaps if I can't shock some sense into you, maybe a good old lobotomy will do the trick." Joker walked slowly towards his victim laughing as his kitten writhed in agony. Just as the clown came into Harleen's vision, Harleen took a deep breath and lifted her legs to her chest and kicked out for all she was worth, feeling Joker's nose smash beneath her heel with a satisfying pop. Joker bent forward and stumbled backwards allowed Harleen a moment to leap off the table and free her left arm from the jacket. She looked down and saw Joker's ice pick lying on the ground. Within seconds she had seized the weapon and run over to the Joker, kicking him backwards onto the ground and driving the pick as hard as she could into his shoulder. Joker let out a pained grunt and then flooded the bunker with high-pitched cackling. This Harleen was far more dangerous than any Harley he had ever met. Harleen leaped off of Joker and returned to a safe distance but not before Joker rammed his paring knife into her calf. They both retreated to opposite corners and retrieved their respective bits of metal that were embedded in each other. Harleen grimaced as she removed the knife from her leg. She gripped it tightly in her one free arm and stabbed it into her right sleeve. With two free arms, Harleen felt now she at least had half a chance of taking down her ace of knaves.
Joker flipped the ice pick in his hand carelessly as he cracked his neck from side to side.
"Love the hair Harls. Is it new?" Harleen spat out a mouthful of blood and smiled.
"You know Mr. J? You really should invest in some new restraints rather than these worn out straight jackets. The joke gets old real fast." Joker growled and spun the ice pick quickly in his hand like a baton.
"Noted pumpkin. Let's dance." With a low growling laugh, Joker ran full bore at Harleen. She readied her stance, staggering her feet, knife in hand. Just as Joker neared her, ice pick in the air, Harleen jumped up and struck Joker in the neck with the chain that connected her ankles. The drop kick forced Joker to the ground and Harleen pinned him with her full body weight crushing his lungs. Joker's giggles were quickly silenced with a few quick punches from the angry blond straddling him. Harleen pressed the knife into his throat.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked between gravelly breaths. Joker grinned from ear to ear.
"Just for a laugh." He pushed his free thumb into Harleen's leg wound, causing the newly clotted blood to crack and fresh blood to gush out. Harleen winced and jumped back, but not before she slashed at Joker with her knife, opening up his cheek. Joker also jumped back, rubbing his cheek with one of his purple-gloved hands.
"You've got a little fight in you. I like that." Joker and Harleen backed away from each other and dropped their weapons. Harleen cracked the knuckles in her hands while Joker removed his shirt and placed it delicately on a chair in the corner. Harleen saw an opportunity and grabbed long flaying knife from the table and ran at Joker as fast as her injured leg would allow. "I'll cut your god damned heart out you bastard!" Harleen screamed. Just as she raised her knife to attack, Joker whipped around and grabbed Harleen by her neck, shoving her painfully against the cold mossy wall. A shiver ran through Harleen as the icy wall made harsh contact with her burning skin. Joker held her throat tightly by one hand and squeezed her wrist with the other until the knife dropped.
"Now then kitten. That's no way for a couple to settle their grievances." He punched Harleen in the previously slapped cheek, making the new bruise sing in anguish. While Harleen was seeing stars, Joker picked up her knife. He gently traced Harleen's features with the tip of the blade, running it along her eyebrows, down her nose, and across her lips, letting the blade drag her lower lip away from the upper. Harleen never broke her gaze from his.
"You know pumpkin. I can't help but notice all my beautiful works of art have been removed from your now remarkably clear skin." Harleen struggled and kept trying to kick at Joker wherever her chained feet could reach. Joker soon stopped that by stomping in the middle of her chain, pinning her feet to the floor. Harleen's eyes flashed fire as a growl stirred from low in her gut. Joker chuckled slowly as he tapped the knife to his bottom lip.
"You know Harleeeeeeen, I think I kind of like you this way. All piss and vinegar. No room for rainbows and lollipops anymore…you're more like me than I am." Joker brought his face so close to Harleen's that his bloodied nose was dripping onto Harleen's face. Naturally, she reached up and bit the tip. Joker laughed and stabbed Harleen forcefully through the straight jacket, just about her left breast. The knife stopped when it hit bone. Harleen gasped, but maintained her own toothy grin. Joker closed the gap and kissed Harleen hungrily, continuing their violent foreplay. Harleen couldn't help but melt into the kiss, licking the inside of Joker's mouth, tasting his blood mixing with her own. Her muscles tensed once more as she felt Joker dragging the embedded knife through her flesh, carving a ragged J into her chest. Harleen broke off the kiss as her breath hitched within her throat. Joker let out a growl.
"I'd like to see those Arkham assholes remove that." He pushed the heel of his hand into the fresh wound, making Harleen cry out in pain. Joker finally let go of Harleen's throat and she crumpled to the floor in a bloodied heap. Her vision blurred and her head felt weak. She felt nauseous until the Joker knelt in front of her and tipped her head up with a finger under her chin. He gently kissed her forehead.
"You know what kitten? You have surpassed my expectations. If you don't die tonight, I just might let you live through tomorrow." Joker stood up, turned on his heel and walked towards the doorway. A small smile crossed Harleen's lips as she noticed Joker walking away with a slight limp. As he opened the door, the room was temporarily flooded with light and Harleen could see the full extent of their destruction. Pools of blood (mostly hers) danced on the floor and silvery knives and hammers lay about resembling a messy child's bedroom.
Harleen couldn't help but smile to herself as she slipped into unconsciousness.
I passed.