Dear readers,
I'm terribly sorry that it has taken me this long to update my story. I've had a case of writer's block that has kept me up at night…err not really but you understand. This chapter is kind of long because I have a terrible twist, but I'm not going to keep putting off Harvey's party. Thanks for being patient!
------small F.Y.I. I've changed my pen name to Vousman Evanescence. Don't ask.
Cheers, Vousman Evanescence
By the time Bruce woke up the next morning, there were already three or four people bustling about; one taking measurements of the ballroom, one comparing color swatches, one taking notes, and another conversing with Alfred, who was clutching a piece of paper with his fancy, slanted writing on it. Bruce averted his eyes about the room, searching for Janie or Charlotte. Neither were there, so they must be in bed.
"Good morning Uncle Bruce." Charlotte yawned, tying her bathrobe. Speak of the devil. Janie was right behind her, stretching toward the ceiling. She spotted Bruce, and ran toward him. She threw her arms around him.
"Alfred told me that you saved my life Uncle Bruce! Is that true?" Her wide-set purple eyes were so freaking innocent. Bruce scooped her up, and looking into those eyes, and replied yes, he had. She smiled like a tiny angel. "Thank you Uncle Bruce!" She wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I see Janie's taken a shine to you." Bruce started, and about barfed his guts from surprise when he heard that too familiar voice. Rachel was dressed in a pin-stripe pencil skirt with a silk blouse underneath, and a jacket to match. Her hair was pulled up into a tight bun with a tiny strand of hair falling rebelliously near her left eye. Her face was light; friendly looking. She looked at Janie. "I heard you have a nasty allergy to peanuts!" She smiled, looking in a mother-like way. Bruce couldn't help but smile as well. Rachel's smile disappeared, but she still had a twinkle in her eye.
"Bruce, I need to talk to you." Releasing Janie from around his neck, and muttering something about breakfast to Alfred, he followed Rachel into the living room. Rachel sat on his couch, and straightened her skirt. She opened her mouth;
"I think there's something you need to know about the girl's background." She paused. Bruce nodded.
"Okay, my sister Lynn, their mother," she gestured to Janie and Charlotte, who were enjoying banana berry smoothies at the kitchen bar, "married when she was about sixteen. They were both drunk, and of course it seemed like a good idea….plus she was….expecting…" Rachel looked at her hands, which were twisting in her lap, "anyway, the man's name was Cory. He was about twenty six, but he claimed that he loved her! I've met him! He was a good egg! And if age didn't matter to them, I didn't matter to me. A few years later, Janie was born. But by then, Cory had bigger problems than an ornery, twenty year old wife." She paused, and sucked in her breath.
"Apparently, he had made a deal with a man, who they call Jack Napier. They met at a bar. Jack had a few cheap hookers, and Cory was drunk. Jack promised to pay his bill if Cory would let him do something. Again, Cory was massively intoxicated…um…" Her voice cracked, "So Cory had his fun, and the next morning, he met with Jack. But of course his vision was blurry last night, so he didn't notice…." Rachel couldn't speak. She drew an imaginary line from the corners of each side of her mouth to that the cheek bone just diagonal from it. "Two scars on either side of his face. Before Cory could do anything, he could feel the blade in his mouth."
"He came home the next day, and told Lynn that he had gotten in a fight, but he was okay. For some reason though, after that, he was never the same. This encounter had melted his brain. But of course, he would carry this secret to the grave. He always seemed…distant….morbid….disturbed? For lack of a better word." She cleared her throat. By this point, Bruce was holding her hands in his. "Janie and Charlotte were small girls. But one night, he became drunk again. This was now a habit of his, about five times a week. One night, Janie did something to anger him. He began to…..to….." she sobbed, "beat her. Charlotte tried to stand up for her sister, but the same thing happened. Lynn tried to stop, but she was beat too. This continued for a few years. One night, Cory threatened to stab Lynn, but she grabbed a gun to defend herself. With the girls in bed, he…." She sobbed once more, "shot my sister. Shot her twice in the head. Then he took the knife, and…" She pointed to the corners of her mouth, "by this time, the neighbors had called the police. Cory was arrested. Last I heard, he was rotting Arcum Asylum, throwing a crazed tantrum every hour or so. I don't know what this Jack Napier did, but there will be the devil to pay if I ever see him again." Rachel had tears running down her cheeks.
"How long ago was this?" Bruce whispered.
"About six months ago. My family has been paying for brain washing, hypnosis, counseling…anything to make the girls anywhere NEAR normal again!"
"So that's why Janie…called me dad…"
"You're the closest thing to a father she's ever had. Bruce, I'm sorry to ask this of you, but can you be the father figure until my other sister comes from the Middle East?" Bruce nodded.
"Of course. I feel obligated." Rachel broke down into hysterical sobs. Bruce wrapped his arms around her.
"Thank you Bruce. I'm sorry! I'm so sorry."
"Rachel, I don't care. So this Jack Napier…could he be…." Bruce didn't need to finish.
"Sir?" Alfred's voice was cautious. "Am I interrupting something?" He was still holding that paper.
"No Alfred. Carry on. I'll fill you in."
"I've told Miss Adara that we won't be need her until five. Is that all right sir?"
"Yes. Thank you Alfred." Bruce was sincere.
………………..
Janie's arms were folded across her chest. If there was one thing on earth that she hated more than clowns, it was dressing up. She folded her arms across her chest as Adara tied the satin ribbon around her waist. The dress was yellow with purple polka dots. It had frilly sleeves, and a frilly bottom. The worst thing? It was made out of, gulp, silk. Janie's beautiful hair was pulled up into sort of a flippy pony tail thing with black curls falling down her neck. Charlotte's dress was pink with red polka dots, and looked the same. But she was enjoying it. She put on that one dollar lipstick you get at the convenience stores, and admired herself. Adara couldn't get her from before the mirror.
"Okay girls. I'm dead serious." Adara took a look at her hair, which was pulled into a chignon at the nape of her neck. Her dress was crimson, and fine fitting to her hour glass shape. It had cap sleeves, and a v-neckline that plunged about two inches from the collar bone. Bruce walked in, doing up his cuff links. He took one look at the girls, and gasped, falling over with emphasized shock.
"WOW! I've never seen this many pretty girls in a concentrated area!" He hyperventilated. Janie scowled, while Charlotte flounced about the room, laughing.
"Hey Bruce. I was just telling the girls they had to be on their best behavior." She looked right into their souls. Both nodded angelically. Bruce smiled with approval.
…………………….
"Parties suck." Janie whispered to Charlotte. "All people do is drink, and talk. What's so fun about them? All that's happened tonight is a bunch of people schmoozing over our adorableness." Janie and Charlotte sat in the corner of the grand ball room, where hundreds of foppishly dressed (in Janie's opinion) men and women were enjoying wine and little cocktail weenies. Charlotte gasped.
"Janie! Let's go potty! Here comes that guy that pinches our cheeks!" They both ran off, but were caught by Adara, who was munching on a shrimp-ka-bob.
"Where are you two going? I was just coming back to put you the bed!"
"We're leaving this awful place!" Janie folded her arms.
"Plus we wanna see Uncle Bruce!" Charlotte folded her arms as well.
"Okay then. Once Bruce arrives, then you're going to bed. Understand?" The girls nodded. As if on cue, a helicopter whirred above the penthouse. The crowd went silent as it landed on the deck outside. Bruce stepped out with a sexy girl on each arm, and another to spare. Every gaped in awe as he walked by, head held high.
"Nice tan!" at one of the girls, who smiled at the adorable sight before her.
"Oh PUH-LEESE! It's totally spray on!" Charlotte flipped her hand through the air. The girl pursed her lips and looked away. They both burst out laughing. Bruce then talked about Harvey, which was really boring in their opinion. So they ran in to the bedroom part. Two people were second-basing it on Bruce's bed. EW, Janie said, as they ran away from half angry and startled looks, and right into Bruce and Harvey.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Rachel exclaimed, looking at Bruce, who had Harvey in a half-Nelson. The girls decided the wasn't their battle. They tip-toed back into the party room, where you could see Adara looking around worriedly. A gun went off, and everyone cried as they ducked.
The Joker entered the room with a confident stride.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. We are tonight's entertainment!" Janie stiffened, and ducked remembering how they had encountered him in their "nice hobo" hunt. Charlotte sucked in her breath. The Joker made his way around the room, demanding if anyone knew where Harvey was. Janie was secretly concocting a brilliant escape plan, while Charlotte was figuring out what to do if he approached them.
"Okay, stop." Rachel's voice was not confident. The joker halted, and turned on his heels. He smiled maniacally, and smoothed his hair
"Why hello beautiful!" He circled her, looking at her like a prized pig. She flinched when he walked behind her.
"What are we going to do? That crazy clown will kill Auntie Rachel!" Janie whimpered.
"We have to escape somehow!" Charlotte breathed. She looked around, contemplating the possible escape routes. Someone came from behind, and covered Janie's mouth. She let out a little squeak, but breathed when she saw it was only Adara.
"Guys! We've got to get out of here without him seeing!!" Janie jumped when the joker pressed his switch blade to Rachel's face.
"THAT'S IT!!!" She yelled like Tarzan, and ran at the Joker. He turned to her in surprise, and grunted when she kicked him…well….you get it. Adara screamed, and wanted to run to her, but that probably wouldn't be a good idea. Charlotte chanted: JANIE! JANIE! JANIE! JANIE! Janie threw a punch in the Joker's stomach, but this time he remained motionless. She threw repetitive punches to his gut. Charlotte was swinging her fists, and still chanting. Janie kicked him….um….again, but this time, the joker picked her up, and looked in her eyes. Adara screamed again, and took a few steps forward. The Joker smiled at Adara in a creepy, lustful way, then turned his gaze on Janie, who was shaking and whimpering like a hurt puppy.
"A little fight in you. I like that." He sneered.
"Then you're gonna love me." Someone grunted, and a punch was thrown at the Joker's face. He tumbled away, dropping Janie on her back. Adara ran over as fast as one could in stilettos, and scooped her up. They were booking it for a the door, when Charlotte screamed, and pointed. The Joker was dangling Rachel out of the window.
"Let her go." Bruce…er….Batman grunted. The Joker's face contorted into one of confusion and smugness.
"Poor choice of words." He smirked, then laughed insanely as Rachel slid down the roof. Charlotte screamed, and grabbing Janie's hand, took off running. Before Adara could react, they had both jumped out, and were sliding down the roof. Realizing how stupid this was, they struggled desperately for something to grab onto….without success. They tumbled off the roof.
"Let's not do that again." Rachel panted, looking into Bruce's eyes. WHAM! The girls fell on top of them, making them release a gasp.
"WHAT THE HE-" Bruce growled
"Bruce!" Rachel cautioned
"Heck!" He corrected. "You could've been killed! Janie! What were you thinking?! Don't you ever run at him like that!!" He picked up both girls with his impressive strength, and looked up at the window. Adara had a hand on her chest, and was breathing heavily with relief.
"It isn't your fault! They're impossible!" He yelled up. She smiled. Putting them on the ground, and helping Rachel off the front of the car, he marched them across that road, and into the building.
