As the two woman hurried down the hall the fluorescent lights above them flickered and soon the red emergency lights that lined the walls began to strobe. An obnoxious alarm sounded and reverberated in Harley's ears as she tried to keep up with Joan as they rushed through the maze and down a dim stairwell.

Harley was unsure of what sort of scene she was about to enter. Her legs began to feel like jelly as they came to the bottom of the stairs and she gripped the railing as she watched Joan slide her keycard through the card reader on the heavy door. The guard that had barged in on Harley's interview had been following them, but at a much slower pace and just as Joan opened the door, he finally joined them.

The alarm was still blaring however, it sounded different than it had upstairs. The walls were cinderblock and narrow and the alarm sounded warped and more shrill. At first the hall appeared desolate. Joan slowed her pace and appeared to be listening closely. She turned to Harley with an uneasy look and shook her head as she seemed to change her mind about what they were about to do. Just as Joan grabbed Harley's upper arm to steer her back to the door they had just entered they heard a man scream.

Joan looked over her shoulder with a quiet gasp and then back to the guard. She yelled to him over the sound of the alarm, "Haven't you called for backup?"

The guard was pale and it appeared that Joan's words took a moment to sink in. He grabbed the walkie talkie from his belt and spoke into it frantically. Joan kept looking back down the hall way. The scream seemed to have come from the next hall on the left. Her forehead was creased, however she seemed to be attempting an air of confidence. She gave Harley a small smile.

Harley's heart hammered in her ears. She began questioning her plan. She did not want to see Jack like this. She had been so careful to avoid this part of his life. It was obviously too late to change her mind and she felt trapped. The walls felt like they were getting even tighter and her feet were itching to run. Suddenly, the door behind the trio flung open as four more guards entered swiftly. These guards were dressed in Kevlar and carries what appeared to be taser guns. The four guards pushed past the women and made their way down the hall and to the left.

A commotion was heard. It was difficult to decipher the words, however a chilling laugh broke through the noise. Harley felt goosebumps rise on the back of her neck and coat her arms. Suddenly her feet no longer wanted to run out the exit and she found herself slowly walking toward him.

"Harley!", Joan shouted in an attempt to call back to dazed doctor.

Harley continued down the hall and Joan followed. "Harley! Come back! DOCTOR QUINZEL!", she shouted just as the noise of the alarm died. Joan's voice echoed throughout the hall and the laughing stopped suddenly. Harley continued to ignore Joan as she made it to the intersection of the next hall. Now that the laughing had ceased, only muffled grunts and the quiet commands of the guards remained. Harley took a breath and turned the corner.

It was a bloodbath. Red streaks were smeared across the walls and floors. Handprints littered the cinderblocks mimicking a preschoolers demented finger painting project. A young guard had collapsed on the ground and was quietly moaning in a dark red puddle as he held a palm against his cheek. Two other men laid silently on the floor nearby. Harley slowly lifted her eyes to meet those of The Joker. His faded green hair covered his bare face in greasy ringlets. He was clothed in a bright orange Arkham jumpsuit that had been torn here and there and was covered in blood that was not likely to be his own. He was now being held by two guards at each shoulder as they forced him down to his knees. His eyes bore into hers as his smile slowly disappeared and his chest rose in measured breaths. After another moment of resistance he finally relented and pulled his hands behind his back as one of the men quickly handcuffed him.

Harley took several slow steps toward him and longed to reach out to him. She wanted to feel him. She wanted to take him and run away from this nightmare they were living.

If the guards were surprised by his compliance, they didn't show it. As they began to drag his limp body back toward his cell, his face finally changed as he gave her the slightest of smiles. A smile she had not seen in a very long time. A smile that did not belong to The Joker and suddenly her heart began to beat again.

Emergency medical personnel made their way past the women and began treating the victims that were left in The Joker's wake. Joan touched Harley's shoulder. She was talking for a minute before Harley started listening. "-it's just that... I've never seen him do that before."

"Do what?", Harley turned and asked.

"Just give up. He always has to be subdued by tranquilizer or taser.", Joan shrugged.

Harley turned her head back down the now empty hall. She looked down at her shoes that were soaked in blood.

"I understand if you changed your mind after all this.", Joan said sympathetically.

Harley looked back up to meet Joan's questioning eyes and shook her head. She took moment to steady her voice before saying, "Dr Leland, there is always hope for everyone."