Yay! The inmates are back! Also, we finally don't have to see Maximus anymore. He's a bipolar freak. Anyways, please enjoy this and pretty-please-with-a-cherry-on-top review! Thanks!

Chapter 12

I hurried into the rogues gallery, trying my best to keep my breathing level. I would be okay.

"Hey, Ruthie! I've got a joke-" I looked up at the Joker and he immediately saw the tears. "What's wrong with you, kiddo?" I wiped them away in a second and pasted a fake smile on my face.

"Nothing." My voice trembled as I said it and I mentally face-palmed. I couldn't do anything right, I couldn't even lie. At that moment Maximus strutted in, head held high and confidence surrounding him. He was smirking again, as if nothing was wrong.

"Why are you crying, Ru?" He turned his grin on me and I glared at him. There were so many cruel things I could say, but I didn't say any of them.

"Oh, I was just thinking about my uncle. He died of cancer recently. Lung cancer." It was bull, I didn't even have an uncle. But I couldn't think of anything better. All I knew was that I needed to get out of here. "Excuse me, I have to use the restroom." I rushed out while I could still control myself, leaving cartie behind. Everything was blurred by my tears as I threw myself down the hall. I slammed the bathroom door open and rushed inside. One glance at the mirror told me that I was a wreck.

"Great." I mumbled before I slumped down against a wall. I felt like a melodramatic teenager again. I silently wished I carried makeup around. But what was the point of wearing makeup if you were going to be in a baggy orange janitor outfit all day. Plus it probably wouldn't help my cause much.

"Why is life so hard?" I moaned at no one in particular. That's why I was so surprised when I was answered.

"That's because it's not always what it seems, friend. After all, you thought that the one you call 'Heather' was a friend when she is so obviously a zombie." I nearly jumped out of my skin.

"Zsasz?" I questioned, turning around and looking for the source of his inquisitive voice. The vent was kicked open and out he swung.

"Hello, Ruthie. I was just on my way out of the asylum. Would you like to come along." He smiled and for a second I almost said yes. Then I remembered I still had cleaning to do.

"I would really like to, Zsasz, but I still have cleaning to do." I sighed and he frowned.

"Why are you so sad? That's really not like you." I sighed again and didn't respond, instead closing my eyes to try to think. I opened my eyes again and saw a concerned look on his face. "Friend?"

"Well, my jerk ex-boyfriend's been tormenting me again. It's just miserable." I quickly caught myself. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't call him a jerk."

"Really? What's this zombie's name?" He said, completely disregarding the fact I had called Maximus a jerk.

"Maximus. He's an orderly." Zsasz smiled.

"What does he look like?" Zsasz asked. "I want to be able to tell him from all the other zombies." I looked up in confusion. Why would he want to know that? But he smiled at me again and I remembered he was my friend. It was only fair that I trust him.

"Shaggy blonde hair, brown eyes, and a self-righteous smirk." I smiled at Zsasz as he began climbing back into his vent, pulling it up after himself.

"Thanks friend! I will see you after I have liberated some zombies."

"Bye Zsasz! See you later!" The moment the vent clicked shut I strolled out into the hallway, feeling somewhat better. I felt far more relaxed, that was for sure. Then the alarm went off, a shrill screeching noise that reminded me of a fire alarm. I shrieked and covered my ears, nearly falling to the ground. I was close to Harley's office though, so I took off sprinting to find her. I burst into her office to see it empty. Then a blonde head popped over the desk and Harls was staring at me. She beckoned me over to her, so I shut the door and ran over to the desk. I crouched under the desk next to her, and she held me closely to her.

"What's going on?" I had to yell to be heard over the alarm.

"One of the patients escaped!" She yelled back at me. I felt my face flush. What if Zsasz hadn't had permission to leave...no, that was nonsense. He wouldn't leave without permission, he was far to nice! At least I hoped so..but I kept my mouth shut for now. Someone else had probably escaped, and I wasn't going to get on Zsasz's case when he had been nothing but a friend to me.