Chapter 11: Harley Quinn

Harley's POV

I finished repainting the bike and my mallet-sized hammer to look like the harlequin outfit before I went to bed. My watch went off at 6:00 a.m. and I gathered my stuff to leave. I left the paint in the room, and dragged everything else out. I wandered around until I found an exit that led to a wooded area. I finally found a road, but I couldn't tell you exactly where I was. Then I drove until I got to the security gate at Arkham Asylum. I hid the bike in the bushes, and snuck through the security gate. I was wearing he harlequin outfit with makeup, so no one would recognize me. I narrowly avoided security and stopped near the staff room.

"Poor Harleen. Being attacked by the Joker like that. I wouldn't blame her if she quit." Dr. Young seemed concerned. "Someone should go see her, or send her something."

"She hasn't called in to quit yet." Sharp pointed out.

"She might be too injured to do it." Mike sounded like he was rolling his eyes.

"At least she was lucky enough to kiss Batman." Dr. Cassidy tried to brighten the mood.

"She was stupid to request such a high profile patient so early. She should've stuck with Two-Face, or Scarecrow, or sitting in on Dr. Leland's patients. And from what I read in her patient interviews, it sounded like she was romantically interested in the Joker. The way she said Although their crimes are horrible, there seems to be an element of glamour among these super criminals." Mr. Arkham scoffed.

"I'm just sorry I got her into trouble with the Joker. I should never have tried to use her research for that book." Dr. Leland sounded guilty.

I kept going to the isolation unit. Boles was there again. I walked forward.

"I've never heard of a freak breaking into Arkham Asylum before." Boles snickered.

"I ain't no freak." I hit him over the head with my hammer.

Then I stole his keys and walked into the isolation unit. I unlocked the Joker's cell, fully prepared to hammer his brains out.

"Who are you?" He grinned up at me.

"Someone who'll finally get revenge on ya. Makes my life and the Bat's job easier." I clenched my teeth.

"Harley? Is that you?" He laughed. "Oh, this is perfect."

"Why can't you pigs take me seriously?!" I had an angry staccato.

"Asks the woman in a jester outfit. Or do you prefer harlequin outfit?" He chuckled.

"You're a clown, and they take you seriously." I argued.

"Because I built up a reputation. You have to build up a reputation before you can be taken seriously." He smirked.

"Prepare to have your brains hammered out. Any last words?" I lifted it over my head.

"I love you, I'm sorry, and I can help you build up a reputation." He wiggled his eyebrows.

I don't remember exactly what happened, but I'm guessing that those words set off a major case of Stockholm Syndrome. I helped him get out of the isolation unit and ended up in the staff room.

"Who are you?" The doctors asked.

"The name's Harley Quinn." I held my hammer threateningly.

"Want me to kill Dr. Leland, Harley?" The Joker offered.

"No. Although I wouldn't be opposed to whatever ya do to Black Mask and Alyce." I redirected his attention.

"Harleen?" Dr. Leland recognized me. "Your accent..."

"Ain't Harleen the girl you murered yesterday?" I looked at the Joker.

"Murdered?" He raised an eyebrow.

"She died after ya raped her yesterday." It was symbolically true.

"Really? I had no idea." He laughed.

"Harleen..." Dr. Leland started.

"I ain't Harleen, I'm Harley!" I exclaimed.

"Harley, why did Harleen die when the Joker... raped her? She could've chosen another path. Maybe gone to a place where other victims go." Dr. Leland suggested.

"The thing is, she had already built up depression and anxiety from everythin' else in her life, so the Joker was just the icin' on the cake. The thing that pushed her over the edge. There was no other path. And she can't look back now." I shuddered. "And she might have a little too much Stockholm Syndrome."

"Please Harley, go back to being Harleen. We'll pretend this never happened." Dr. Leland promised.

"It's too late. Black Mask aka Mr. Arkham already pushed the emergency button that sends the police. And he would've done it even if he'd heard your offer first. I'm about ta be arrested." Everything seemed surreal.

"You idiot! I was getting through to her! Just change out of the outfit, and at least the doctors will pretend this never happened. We'll deny anything Mr. Arkham says. Just be Harleen Quinzel again." Dr. Leland begged.

"Too late." I could hear the sirens.

Then I felt something hard, heard a few screams, and everything went black.

"Harleen." Someone said.

I opened my eyes to see Dr. Leland and Batman standing over me. "What..."

"The Joker knocked you out when he thought you were going to betray him." Dr. Leland tried to get hair out of my face. "You have a mild concussion."

"Harleen, if you let the cops put you in Arkham Asylum until you get better, they'll drop all charges and make sure none of this goes on your record." Batman sighed.

"Send me to Blackgate. I don't want to be near the Joker." I panicked.

"I understand, but their not going to put you close to the Joker. They'll put you in a secret room connected to Dr. Leland's office. That way he can't find you if he escapes. And they specifically want Dr. Leland to treat you." Batman said.

"Fine. How long has it been since I passed out?" I asked as I choked back a sob.

"A couple of hours." Dr. Leland answered.

"Has it hit the media?" I questioned.

"No, we're trying to avoid that." Batman replied.

"Good. I'll try to get better." I promised.

And if anyone knows me, you should know by now that I broke that promise. I worked with the Joker a while, then I met Poison Ivy officially and worked with her for a while. Then I went back and forth between them. Now I know what they mean when they call it Mad Love.