Chapter Twenty-Four

I was laying on one of the library's sofas just staring up at the ceiling. I twirled my engagement ring around my finger and I could see a rainbow of lights reflecting from it. Engagement ring. I let out a small sigh as those words kept running through my head.

It was around two weeks since Bruce proposed to me and the news article about it came out. I knew that Bruce wanted to shout from the rooftops about our impending marriage, but I didn't know how I was feeling. I knew I deeply cared from him and now I could respond back when he said that he loved me, but was I making the right choice. I sat up and put my face in my hands.

I should be happy that Bruce wants to spend his life with me, that he chose me over any other woman. But there was something holding me back and I knew what or should I say who it was. I shook my head and pulled my hands from my face. I could not have possibly fallen for that maniac.

I got up from the couch and started walking around the library, thinking of the two men who were fighting for my heart. Bruce, who was treating me like a queen and making sure I would want nothing. Helping me over the course of a few months making sure I healed properly and who stood by my side when it was difficult.

Or the Joker, no Jack, Jack who thought of me to keep his sanity. Who came out in the middle of the day risking being caught to grab me. Who while yes caused me pain but defended me against Rick and who kept me in his heart for almost a decade.

I knew that I should be picking Bruce, but there was something dangerous about Jack that attracted me to him. I walked to the window and held on to the sill while closing my eyes. I stood there like a statue for several minutes before I opened my eyes and looked down at my ring.

"Mistress Misha," a voice behind me called and I jumped.

I turned and saw that it was Alfred and he had a look of concern on his face.

"Yes, Alfred, sorry I was thinking and didn't hear you come in. And how many times do I have to tell you its just Misha." I said turning to face him.

"Master Bruce has been telling me the same thing for years and you can see how well that worked." He scoffed. "I just wanted to let you know that I'll be leaving to go to the market and ask if you needed anything."

"No Alfred, I'm fine but thank you for asking and coming out of your way to check." I said giving him a small smile.

"It was no trouble, it is always a pleasure to be in your company. You will also be Mistress of this home soon enough, and with that I am happy." He said. "I will be back in a few hours; master Bruce will probably beat me home."

"Thank you, Alfred. Have fun shopping." I said as he walked out.

I went back to staring out the window and saw him walking out to where his car was. He turned back and saw me watching him and waved to me. I waved back then he got in his car and was gone.

I decided to continue reading my book that I started before my mind started to race and I laid back down.

I got into the plot again when I heard a loud crash coming from the entry hall and heard a storm of feet in the halls. The door was ripped open and a sea of clown masks rushed into the room, all were holding a gun in his hands. They all came in and soon a familiar figure in purple walked in the door.

He got in and I was royally screwed.

He walked around the library, his eyes never leaving mine. He walked over to the piano and leaned against it, never once saying a word to me. The staring contest went on for several long minutes before he finally broke the silence.

"I was hoping the pretty boy would be here, but I am sadly disappointed. How is your fiancé?" he asked spitting the last word out.

"What are you doing here, Joker?" I asked slowly standing up and ignored the question.

"Oh, its Joker again, eh? And here I thought we were on a first name basis." He said pushing off the piano and storming over to me.

He got right in my face and stared down at me. I didn't back up an inch and I met his gaze which made him give me a weird look.

"I'm not afraid of you anymore, Jack." I said only loud enough for him to hear.

He let out a smirk.

"Ballsy, Princess, very ballsy." He said before he looked at his men surrounding us. "Now are you going to come willingly, or do I need to force you?"

Now it was my turn to smirk.

"Now what fun would that be Joker?" I asked before I backed to one of the bookcases and grabbed a little book before the entire wall spun around.

I heard him growl and order his men to find me. It was a little trick that Bruce showed me once I was able to move around so I could better protect myself. I walked down the little corridor that was at one time used by the numerous servants and left the library. I still had to remain silent or they would manage to track me through the wall and I wouldn't put it past them to try to break it down.

I went down to where I knew Bruce's room would be to get into the panic room with his phone. I already knew about the browbeating I would get when the men found out that I left my phone in my room. I shook my head and continued down the corridor as quickly and quietly as possible.

After a while I heard a noise from the other side of the wall, following me. But, I knew it wasn't possible there was no way he knew what way I went.

"Princess, oh Princess, you know the more you lead me on a hunt the worse its going to be." Joker's voice called out only slightly muffled by the wall.

I remained silent and I heard him sigh.

"Fine your pretty boy will have to have someone fix his wall." He said right before I saw a beam of light break through the darkness.

I saw him looking in the hole and my heart stopped.

"There's my lovely girl." He said before trying to rip off the hidden door with what I thought was a crowbar.

I ran down the passage, but I heard him fully break down the door and his footsteps running to catch me. I ran faster but he kept getting closer to me before I felt a set of arms wrap around me and spin me tightly in the tiny space.

"I caught you my little doe." A voice whispered in my ear.

I struggled and tried to pry his arms off me like my trainings taught me, but he was just too strong. I kept wiggling hoping to loosen his grip, he just held tighter and growled in my ear. He pushed my body against the wall, my face pressed against it while I felt him pull something out of his pocket and opened it with his teeth. I felt the prick of a needle in my arm and I saw black.