Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts about Lucy's character development. I take your answers seriously and I'm grateful that most of you believe that Lucy is well-rounded. It's your support that makes writing Lucy even more enjoyable.
xxxxxxx
"And here I was, gonna let you drive Daddy's car. You can kiss that honor goodbye, Princess. I don't reward bad behavior. Now get your bratty ass in the car before I choke the life out of you." Papa snarled and motioned me forward with a harsh tap on my legs with his cane.
Inhale. Exhale.
Walking is not going to be an easy task with the amount of pain I'm in.
My plan to plead and beg for my parents to stay in didn't work out. Papa had initially laughed at me trying to wrestle him back into the apartment. My little self had nothing on his beastly strength. Despite how lanky and thin the Joker is, he's ripped like a martial arts fighter. Since I couldn't peacefully convince Papa to stay, I screamed and rebelled against his idea of going outside, stating how dangerous it was to be out with Batman on the prowl. Papa was perplexed by my unorthodox behavior. I had never in my ten years of life raised my voice at him. Mama stood off to the side, at a loss on how to handle either of us. Papa eventually got tired of listening to me wail about his archenemy and slapped me to bring an end to the hysterics. I pushed my luck and hit him back, hoping that his rage would bring this night to a close.
For the first time I got a real taste of the Joker's rage. Papa made Mama hold me down on the bar stool while he mercilessly beat me black and blue with his cane. My refusal to cry out made the beating ten times worse and my punishment only came to an end when Frosty returned to the booth to deal with the dead body bleeding out on the couch. Papa stopped swinging his cane to catch his breath. No one said a word or moved during the time Papa recuperated. After his breathing was back to normal, Papa roared for Frosty to pull his car around and for Mama and me to wait outside.
"Yes Papa." I meekly answered.
A beautiful purple car pulled up. Papa stormed over to the driver's side of his lamborghini. Frosty opened the door and stepped out of the driver's seat. Papa shoved his cane into Frosty's hand and slid into the car.
"Can I sit with you Mama?" I whispered.
Every part of me but my face is in so much pain. Sitting down is the last thing I want. The sane part of me, Abigail, is telling me to run upstairs, curl into a ball and let things play out as they should. She's angry and humiliated by the beating we received. Abigail is selfish. Being selfish is how I survived in my old life.
The insane part of me, Lucy, is telling me to smile through the pain and do what needs to be done to keep her clowns safe. She's disappointed and upset that the beating didn't serve its purpose. Lucy is selfless. I won't live long in this life, but I can make sure that Mama and Papa do.
In the end Lucy will always be right when it comes to Mr. J and Harley. Their safety is my top priority.
"Of course you can, baby." Mama's voice trembled as she seized my hand in a tight grip. Her eyes glistened with tears that she quickly blinked away.
Don't beat yourself up Mama. I did this to myself.
I stuck out my chin and grinned just like Annie would. The pain doesn't matter at all. I knew what I was pushing Papa to do to me. I knew he would hurt me. I took that beating for two people I love. I'd do it again or even a million times if that's what it took to keep them out of danger.
HaHaHaHaHa.
I've become both a sadist and a masochist. What a contradiction.
I took a step forward and nearly cried out. Ughhhhhhhh! It hurts! Papa and Mama. Think of them. They're the only people I'd suffer for.
"Hurry up you two! My hair's turning grey with how long you're taking." Papa shouted from inside the car. Loud music leaked out from the open windows.
I ignored Papa to reassure Mama and squash the internal tongue lashing she must be giving herself. "It's okay to smile again Mama. I know I was being a naughty brat and Papa was setting me straight. I'm not mad at Papa or you." I smiled a little easier and tugged Mama over to the passenger's side.
I wasn't successful at keeping them from going out for date night, but I'm not going to quit. Princess Lucia will not bow out!
"Ffffffinally!" Papa complained after Mama got into the front seat with me settled snugly in her lap. I secured us into the car with the seatbelt. Mama can't go smashing into the windshield if she's buckled in. Safety first folks!
"Sorry. Lucy didn't mean to make you wait, Papa." I cutely smiled, ignoring my aching body. I'd like for my pain sensors to just shut off and leave me the hell alone. I'm bruised and beaten. I know I'm in pain but there's nothing I can do about that.
Think happy thoughts. That's what I can do. Papa and Mama. I have to keep them safe. This pain is for them.
Papa blankly stared at me, perturbed by my radical mood swings. Slowly, his lips tugged up. "Now there's Daddy's Little Princess!" Papa cackled, his good mood returned. He slammed his foot on the pedal. The purple Jokermobile took off, nearly running over Frosty and sped through Gotham's streets.
My heart flew out of my chest from the exhilarating thrill of the fastness of the car. My head pressed back into Mama's chest. Papa wildly weaved in and out of traffic, pushing the car faster and faster.
This is amazing! I shouldn't have turned down going on drives with them as much as I did. I didn't want to intrude on their date nights. Papa and Mama need their alone time and I respect that. But damn! I'll have to start intruding if they always drive like this. This is like being in a drag race.
"Where are we going?" I yelled over the whipping wind and loud radio.
"Somewhere real close to Daddy's black heart. It's time for you to pay up for that story I shared with you!" Papa took his eyes off the road to flash his metal grills at me. Angry drivers honked at us and other frantic drivers veered out of the way. I heard many tires screech and the sound of cars colliding as the lambo whizzed past. Papa hooted and howled at the mass destruction he was causing.
"Puddin you don't mean that place, do you?" Mama enthusiastically asked. She snaked her arms around my waist and squeezed me closer to her chest. Her legs excitedly bounced underneath mine.
"Yes, yes, yes, baby! She'll be look like us soon. I'm sick of seeing that pretty face of hers look so tan. It does nothing for her." Papa took his hand off the gear shift to tug on my cheek. "It's time for a makeover, Princess!"
"C'mon then, Puddin! You're driving like an old man. Pedal to the metal!" Mama urged.
Is Papa taking me to Ace Chemicals? Does he really expect me to jump into a vat of toxic chemicals? He's kidding right?! I might actually die from that! I'm only ten, my body can't handle that kind of mutation. Not to mention I could drown in something that thick and dangerous.
Papa purred and shoved the pedal into the floor. "So what if we die on the way over. At least we'll go out in a blaze of glory!" He chuckled, enticed by the danger.
Papa jerked the wheel, barely catching the turn he made. Another set of cars collided while trying to avoid the purple streak. Mama giggled from the unforeseen change in motion. I scowled and rubbed the side of my head that bumped into the car door. Papa surged through a street fair, plowing into stands like he was playing a video game and aiming for the high score from hitting the most objects. People screamed and dived out of the way of the speeding automobile.
"Hahahahaha! Girls, this is what life is all about. Plain old mayhem and destruction!" Papa swerved out of the fair and back onto the streets. He blazed through red lights and turned at the corner. On the street there was a line of cars at rest, waiting at the red light.
There's no way for Papa to weave through these cars, they're too tightly packed. He'll have to get in the other traffic lane if he wants to keep charging forward. My heart rapidly thumped, anticipating the surge of adrenaline to come. My life is going to flash before me when Papa has to manage avoiding a collision from traffic going in the opposite direction.
"Come on, Puddin! Do it!" Mama shouted, hitting her hand on the roof. Papa, ever the crowd-pleaser, indulged the request. Flashes of light beamed through the windshield and horns blasted at us. Papa remained at ease and expertly evaded the obstacles coming at him at high speed.
"Ohhhhh…." Papa stopped his laughing spree and turned to look out his side mirror. His hand snapped forward and turned off the radio. The mood turned dour.
Oh god! It's happening! This is shit-storm is really about to happen. My heart went into overdrive.
"We've got company." Papa leaned over to conspiratorially whisper to Mama.
"Batsy, Batsy, Batsy." Mama grinned. I shuddered when I heard his name spoken out loud.
Speak of the devil and he shall appear.
"Papa!" I screeched in horror.
This isn't funny! This is serious!
"No, no, no, no, no, no! Don't you start with that annoying Debbie Downer shit again, Pumpkin. Daddy has got everything under control." Papa chastised me. He took the wheel in both hands and started zig-zagging in and out of traffic to throw Batman off our trail.
"He's coming for us! He's gonna catch us!" I yanked on Papa's coat. I saw the hood of the dark Batmobile fly open out of the rearview mirror. A blur of black sprung out of the car. "That monster's comin!"
No, no, no, no, no! Stay away! Stay away from Mama and Papa, you stupid bat!
A heavy weight landed on the top of the roof. Papa growled and punched the roof in agitation. He took a turn so fast the car nearly tipped over. Mama would have fallen out of the seat if it weren't for the seatbelt holding us in place. The sound of something tearing into the roof informed us of Batman's continued presence on the roof.
What the hell, man?! We're going well over 100 mph and this jet-black demon still manages to hang on? Why do heroes always have the uncanny ability to do the impossible?
"Papa, do something!" I wailed. I can't do anything in this situation! I'm going to lose Mama!
"Stupid Bats! You're ruining family night!" Mama unfastened the seatbelt and reached over inside of Papa's coat to draw his gun out. Mama pushed my head down into my lap before she relentlessly fired round after round into the roof. Papa cackled after each shot was fired.
With my head smashed into my lap I couldn't see where the car was going. I tried to lift my head, but Mama kept me pinned down and out of the conflict. I didn't realize until it was too late that Papa had gone off course to get rid of the nuisance.
"Puddin?…" Mama uncertainly said. I took advantage of Mama's uncertainty and forced my way up.
I can still stop this if I can grab the wheel!
"Puddin, I can't carry Lucy!" Mama shrieked.
Shit! Too late!
I screamed as I saw and felt the car go over the edge. My stomach dropped as the car plummeted into the water.
"Mama!" I desperately spread my arms out and pushed back against Mama to keep her from flying through the windshield.
Maybe she can escape if I hit the windshield.
Water filled the car through the windows as the car dived deeper into the depths of the river. Our screams were silenced as the car filled to the brim with water. My eyes burned and my heart wildly pumped to keep me alive.
I'm so sorry, Mama. I tried to so hard to keep you safe.
I failed you.
xxxxxxx
"Give Lucy back to me, Bat-brains!" A loud shout reverberated in my ears.
"Who is she? Did you kidnap an innocent child?" A deep mechanical voice growled from above me.
What the hell is going on?
Weakly I opened my eyes, only to see a black figure standing over me with his gloved fingers over my neck. Did he save me? A surge of pain rippled throughout my chest and traveled up to my lungs. I coughed and curled in on myself, too overwhelmed by my body's convulsions.
God it hurts!
"Lucy?!"
I recognized Mama's cry. I looked over to see her soaking wet and littered with cuts and scrapes. Mama tried to run to my aid but the ebony giant stepped up to block her path to me.
Wait….That's Batman….That's right. The car crash! Mama must have swam to the surface on her own since she's still conscious and standing on her own. Why didn't she escape? The whole point of me being in front was so that she wouldn't get knocked out and need Batman to save her, giving her the opportunity to get away like Papa.
"Get the hell outta my way! My baby girl needs me." Mama hurled herself at Batman, furiously entering into a fist fight with the vigilante.
"Baby girl?! She's your daughter?" Batman incredulously interrogated. He easily evaded Mama's attacks and put her on the defense.
No…She needs to run. Run Mama!
My throat felt too swollen to speak so I rolled over to stand. The pain was too much for me. I toppled off the hood of the Batmobile and cried when I hit the ground..
It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!
Blood rolled down my forehead into my eye, disrupting my already swimming vision of Mama fighting. The blood burned in my eye as I squeezed my eyes shut and bit into my lip. I forced my eyes open, more preoccupied with Mama's welfare. She was quickly losing the fight due to the Batman's brutal assault and her own weakened body.
I have to help. Move Lucy. Move!
Batman punched Mama in the head, leaving her disoriented. "If she's yours then she's probably just as rotten as you." Batman spun and kicked Mama to the ground. He kept her glued to the ground by stomping his foot into her stomach. Mama groaned from the force of action. "I'll make sure she's locked away too. Gotham doesn't need to suffer from any future crimes she might commit."
Bastard! Get your foot off her stomach! You already killed my brother by injuring her in that spot. Now you're probably wishing you could have done the same to me. You're no hero Batman you're just a thug!
Shakily I used my elbows to push myself up. I blinked away the tears and blood. I'll crawl if I have to.
"C'mon Batsy. There's no need for that. You got me. You don't need Lucy. She's just a kid." Mama gasped out her plea from beneath Batman.
"No." Batman seethed. "The Joker took something important away from me. It's my turn now." He raised his foot and smashed it into Mama face's, knocking her out cold. Batman picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder.
No! This wasn't supposed to happen. I was going to change things for the better. I wanted to stop all this. It's not fair! I tried to protect them and this is what I get for my effort!
My vision went slightly red as the blood accumulated into my eye. Batman glided towards me in a red haze.
"You may be a child but I can't take any chances with you. Not when you're most likely his child." Batman's giant shadow of a figure loomed over me. He reached into his tool belt. I trembled and cried.
No, no, no! I'm scared. What's he going to do to me?!
Batman pulled a gadget out and held it in my face. The gadget made a click sound. Gas filled my nostrils. I shook my head trying to fight off whatever he exposed me to. I only lasted a for a few seconds before my head slumped to the ground. My vision blurred. I felt myself lifted like a rag doll as I lost consciousness.
HaHaHaHaHa.
I fudged up big time. I didn't accomplish anything. Everything's still going according to the script.
HaHaHaHaHa.
My efforts didn't do shit.
Useless, Lucy. xoxoxoxoxoxoxo