Chapter 9: Returning Home
"…will be held tonight. Mr. Wayne's charity party is expected to be a success.
Four men were found brutally murdered last night. Their cheeks were cut open and one of them had his eyes gouged out. A note was found stabbed into the body, which reads, 'How do you like my costume?' Although the police will not confirm with us at this time, the Joker appears to be a prime suspect for the case.
In other news, Hannah Khent, the girl who was kidnapped by the Joker two weeks ago, was found last night. Although she did not appear to be injured, she was taken to the hospital for observation. And after she speaks with the police of her ordeal, she is expected to be reunited with her family once more…"
The Joker clicked the television off in annoyance as he sat in his purple chair in the clothes he had worn the other day. He had been in a foul mood ever since he woke up to find Hannah gone. Three henchmen had fallen victim to his anger already and it wasn't even noon yet.
You think you know a person and then they just up and leave you, he thought with irritation. The Joker thought he had Hannah figured out. Had thought that she was like him. She had lost everything, had even been scarred in a way but it seems she still clings to the demented morals of society.
Sighing angrily, the Joker got out of his purple chair and stalked to his room, slamming the door behind him. His men looked nervously at each other, knowing that the Joker was at his most dangerous right then. They all stayed clear of their boss.
Inside his bedroom, the Joker was pacing back and forth, kicking at pieces of garbage as he went. But it did nothing for his mood. He was still pissed off to the extreme. Why the HELL did she leave? Out of the little kindness I have in my heart, I was trying to show her the truth about the world. How it's all screwy and jacked up. But no. She runs away.
He thought back, trying to see where he went wrong. The pancakes incident? No, she liked that. The outfit? No, she doesn't care about such things. Her present? Definitely not. She beat the crap out of him. Surely she would understand the wrongs of the world like I do.
The Joker was stuck. He sat down on the edge of the bed, contemplating. But nothing came to mind. And he was still pissed off. You know what? Screw it. I don't care why, I'm just going to get her back. And I think I know just the thing. The clown cackled as he schemed. The men in the other room shuddered.
Hannah was sitting in a chair in Gordon's office, clad in police sweats. They had taken the outfit the Joker gave her into evidence. That was just fine with her. Why would I want to keep them? They're just full of bad memories.
After a long night in the hospital and then talking to the police, Hannah was exhausted. They took samples of the green hair gel, the black face paint, the blood on her clothing, everything they could. They even had her do a rape kit even though she told them that the Joker didn't do anything like that to her.
When they interrogated her on what happened, Hannah told them everything she could remember. But when she got to the part about Blade, she lied and said that the Joker had taken her to a meeting and things got carried away. She was embarrassed at what she had done to Blade. Even though I hate the justice system, I can't take it into my own hands. That's really when justice is lost.
She was close to falling asleep when a male voice called from the door. "Hannah!"
"Dimitri?!" Hannah cried, looking towards her childhood friend. She stood up from the chair as he ran over to her, giving her a great big bear hug. Hannah hugged him back, so happy to be by him again.
"I'm so glad you're safe," he whispered in her ear with relief. It sounded like he was about to cry. "I was so worried."
"I'm glad too," she replied, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I've missed you terribly. Where are the others?"
"They're at home," Dimitri responded, letting her go a little but still keeping her in his arms. "They didn't want to cause a big scene so they're waiting for you. After the police give the ok, I'm taking you home to see them."
The whole time, Gordon was watching the reunion with a relieved smile on his face. Thank God she wasn't killed by the clown, he thought. He walked forward towards the friends.
Dimitri turned to him as he approached. "Thank you for finding her," he said.
"Don't thank me," Gordon replied with a slight chuckle. "Thank Batman. He's actually the one who found her."
Dimitri nodded and then said, "Is she free to go?"
"For now, yes. We'll call if we need to ask anything else," Gordon stated.
With that, Dimitri escorted Hannah out of the Commissioner's office and headed home. Gordon watched them leave with a sigh of relief. He then headed up to the roof, knowing that Batman would want to know what happened.