Wither it is from fear or braveness, Luke felt a sudden burst of energy as he ran. He exited the hall and into a huge back room, full of cardboard boxes stacked higher and higher.
Despite his speed, the Joker was quicker. He jumped and sped after Luke easily calling out threats and horrible insults about the Professor.
Luke clenched his fists. He couldn't run, the Joker would just catch up. He'd have to hide. He turned left and hid behind a bundle of boxes that hadn't been sorted yet into piles.
He held his breath as he heard the Joker run past. Perhaps he was safe. He opened some boxes. He couldn't rely in his own stamina or power of fist if he had to fight the Joker. And seeing as he had neither of the abilities, he searched for a weapon.
The first box was fruitless, the second was full of teddies and dolls, but the third contained…
"Metal poles?" Luke was slightly surprised. He picked one out. It was long and thick and the extra weight made his arms drop.
He held it for a while, examining it. It was sturdy and strong. And it wasn't so heavy that he couldn't carry it. He swung his arm about, getting used to it.
"Come out, come out," He heard a voice whisper. Luke froze, the pole in mid-air. The Joker was back, and he was getting nearer and nearer to Luke's hiding space.
In a sudden burst of anger, Luke jumped up, and came face to face with the Joker who was just about the push away the boxes and find Luke anyway.
The metal pole in his hand, Luke jumped over the fallen boxes, and fell on the metal poles as they rolled out the boxes.
Luke swore, and stood up sharply, skidding and running away. When he looked back, the Joker was close behind him, and in his hand was a long metal pole.
Luke slipped again and fell face first on the floor. He rolled over, the Joker staring down at him. Luke gulped.
The Joker looked too angry to even say anything. He swung the pole in the air and brought it down on the side of Luke's face.
A sickening crack and Luke lost all feeling on the right side on his face. He sniffed, and coughed as blood dripped from his nose.
The Joker swung the pole a second time but Luke was ready. He held the pole in front of him as the Joker's pole smacked it, sparks flying.
Luke stood up as the Joker jumped back. He held the pole in front of him like he would do with a sword in fencing classes.
The Joker seemed to have lost control. He ran, yelling at the boy, waving the pole wildly.
The two poles clashed, and more sparks flew in the air. They fought with the poles, not actually coming close enough to hit each other.
A crash from the other side of the hall made them both jump, and when the Joker twisted his head to see what happened, Luke took his chance.
He hit the Joker across the face. The Joker turned to him. Luke gasped when he had saw he drew blood.
To his shock, the Joker laughed hysterically. But Luke didn't wait a moment more. He hit the Joker again, and he staggered back, dropping his pole.
He swore when he saw the pole rolling further away from him. Luke ducked and caught the Joker's legs. The Joker stumbled and fell down.
Luke hit him across the face and the Joker closed his eyes, unconscious. Luke was so furious, he raised the pole a last time. He was going to kill him.
He dropped the pole suddenly when he felt a hand on his arm. He turned around, and saw Clive's bloody face staring at him.
"Don't," He said, "You'll be no better than him,"
But Luke didn't hear him. He dropped to the floor silently, blood oozing off his face.