She got dressed into jeans and a blue checked shirt, the Joker obviously hadn't put much thought into what clothes to bring and just flung some into the bag. But at least he'd brought her something. I could have been worse, that's what she told herself as she cried a little in the bathroom. Not only was he holding Jeremy somewhere and her in this stupid hideout after tormenting her for months, but he was now being horrible. The Joker was just mean. Not that he wasn't always, but he'd hit a new low today this morning.
The bastard was making fun at her, poking and prodding like a bully. While she had always hated him, at least she felt that he had some respect for her. Now she didn't even feel that. She shouldn't have kissed him, she was sure that was why. If she hadn't of given him something to feed off of it would have been fine. Well, not fine. But at least not this bad. He'd been gone a while now and she guessed it was around 5 or 6 in the afternoon, but what the hell did she know, there was no clock in the place.

Anna tied her hair in a bun and ventured out into the hallway. She wouldn't try to escape, but she sure as hell wasn't going to sit around on that bed forever, counting down the hours until the Joker returned for yet another horrific encounter.
She stepped along the old home and down the stairs into the reception area, the place was quiet. She was alone in the dark, dusty entrance room of Chuck's Scrapyard. Her plan was to go outside for a while, try and figure out where this place was. She presumed it was on the outskirts of the city but last night's journey was a blur and she couldn't put the time spent in the van into context.
She would come back in after though, the Joker was right. Anna wasn't going to try and escape.

She rattled the front door which didn't budge, locked, of course. A sigh escaped her lips as she looked over her shoulder; it was either upstairs... or downstairs. Neither of them appealed to her. Upstairs was creepy and if that really was the Jokers room, there was no way she was staying. But downstairs, she had a feeling didn't know the half of what was downstairs. There could be anything, or anyone.

What if Jeremy was down there? Doubtful. But it's better than upstairs right? Right?
She chewed her lip, finally deciding to screw it and just go downstairs. What was the worst that could happen, the Joker had never said anything about not going down there...
Anna pulled handle open with surprising ease, it wasn't locked. That would mean that there was surely no problem with her venturing down, they'd locked the front door but not this one?
The rotting stairs creaked beneath and her breath rose in steam at the cold. She blinked a few times at the bright, contrasting light, squinting to adjust.

The place was deserted. Anna walked slowly, her footsteps making little noise on the concrete floor. Then very softly, she thought she heard something. A faint bang, like something hitting off an oil canister.
She stopped, listening out for it, turning to look behind her. About to dismiss it, Anna heard it again. It was coming from the room she'd been in last night with the Joker, at poor Dr. Arkham. She walked towards the large metal door, contemplating on whether to leave it or investigate when the sound returned as she opened the door suddenly.

Something shuffled down in the room.
'Hello?' Anna walked in, scanning the place. Silence. 'Anyone there?'

A sob escaped from behind one of the pillars, 'Anna?!'
'What?' Anna's heart stopped, the female voice familiar to her ears, 'Hello? Who said that?!'

'Anna, help me!'
Anna walked quickly down the stairs, the metal clanking beneath her, and towards the pillar as the sobs continued. She turned the corner and there was none other than the Harlequin herself, dressed in a bright orange jumpsuit, her knees pulled up to her chest.
'Katherine?!' Anna gasped, shaking her head, 'Oh my God! What are you-'
'He's holding me here against my will!' Katherine sobbed loudly, her head buried in her knees.

'What?!' Anna's mouth opened and closed, trying to believe what she was seeing. The last time she'd seen Katherine was at her apartment when she had announced her undying love for the Joker. Then she had tried to frame Anna, and now here she was, wailing like a baby.
'Katherine how are you here? What did he do to you?!'

Katherine sobbed louder to her knees, 'I- I've just missed you so-' He sobs cracked and she paused, her back shaking as she raised her head. Her voice changed, what were sobs blended slowly into a harrowing laugh, 'I-I'm ha sorry, I just can't! Ha ha haaa...' She stared at Anna with a tearless face, her slow cackle echoing in the room with an uncanny resemblance to that of the Jokers, 'I can't do it, it's just so funny... you-'

Anna's expression turned to that of disturbance at the deranged girl in front of her. Her eyes had dark circles underneath them and her face was pale, sickly... hungry. Katherine Quinn rolled her neck back before snapping her gaze back to Anna, snidely smirking at her, '-you really are a gullible little bitch, aren't you?'

'Ka-' Anna gulped, perplexed.
'My names not fucking Katherine.' Harley hissed, her hands gripping the pillar behind her to pull herself up, 'Don't you get it.' She struggled to find her feet, awkwardly stepping away from the support, 'Although you were always slow to pick up on things-'
She sauntered around, not towards Anna but as though she was circling her, '-I mean, did you really think I wanted your help? Or that I would be complaining about him holding me here, I suppose you don't understand how much of an honour that is.'

'An honour.' Anna repeated, watching Harley flick her tongue against her lips.
'Yes, but you don't know what it's like. You don't understand.' She cracked her neck, 'That's why I had to do it.'
'Do what?' Anna frowned, deeply concerned for this person she used to know.
'Frame you, I had to frame you, you fucking twat.'
Anna winced at her harsh words, Harley had become 10 times worse than the last time, and it was like she was emitting evil.
'You are supposed to be dead because you are ignorant and you take him for granted.'
But Anna couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction, she wasn't dead, Harley's little plan had backfired.

'No matter,' Harley shook her whole body, trying to reassure herself more than Anna, 'Its fine, d'you wanna know why? Hm?'

Harleys tongue clicked as she waited for an answer, finally getting sick of waiting for one, 'Because he's happy. And nothing else matters, he's happy... if he wants you I don't give a fuck.' She spat, 'Because he'll always have me. I've gotten over my little jealousy... issue, and I don't mind-' She raked a hand through her dark glossy hair, '-We can share.'

Harley stepped closer to Anna, smiling, 'So, besto... since we're on even terms then, tell me,' She rolled her tongue smoothly alongside the inside of her top lip, 'Have you fucked yet?'
Anna looked at her with repulsion, 'No.'
'What do you mean by 'No'?' Harley mocked the way she had said no with disgust, 'You act like it's a bad thing. You act like he's some repulsive monster-'
'He is-' Anna said sharply and Harley opened her mouth in shock, 'You little-'

She pounced on Anna, striding over and kicking her hard in the shins. Anna fell to the ground and Harley kicked her again, '-this-' She sat on top of her, straddling her hips, '-is why you should be dead, you ungrateful bitch.'
Anna glared up at her, tears brimming from the pain in her legs that was hit.
'But c'mon then-' Harley shook her hair back, '-have you at least sucked his dick? Tell me you gave it a go? Tell me you've tried?'

'No,' Anna tried to push her off, 'I'll leave all that to you. I'm presuming it's what got you out of Arkham-'
Harley slapped her across the face and Anna's face hit the concrete floor, her cheek burning, 'Fine-' She flicked her hand to loosen it up after the hit, '-have you kissed him then, hm?'

Anna reached up, her hand touching her own face, trying to ease the pain. 'Hm? Well? Have you?' Harley snatched Anna's hand away, staring into her face.
'Shut up.' Anna pulled her own hand back.
'Ohhhhh...' Harley widened her eyes, '...you have. You little Minx. Was he good, hm?' She let out a spine crawling giggle, 'Did, did he make you feel good? Well?'
'Just shut up!'
'Why so defensive, hm?' Harley let her long hair fall down beside her like a curtain around Anna's face, 'Afraid to admit you liked it? I know I was,' She closed her eyes, remembering the experience, 'And then I just accepted it... and now, now I'm free.'
'You're insane.' Anna whispered and Harley opened her eyes, smiling, 'All the good ones are Anna. You should take a page out of my book, you'll feel liberated-'

'Liberated?!' Anna scoffed, 'There's nothing about you that's liberating! You're his plaything-'
'And you're not?' Harley snapped, 'If you don't take my advice you'll die down here because, you-' She poked Anna in the chest, '-you're too far down the rabbit hole. There is no way out. The only way you'll escape him is if one of you dies.'

'He kills you,' Harley pointed her finger at her head like a gun, 'Or you kill him. And let's face it, that's never going to happen. Because he's smart, he's smarter than all of us. Always-' Her eyes were wild, '-one. Step. Ahead.'
'You're forgetting the third scenario where he lets me go-'
'Lets you go?' Harley looked at her as if she'd never heard such rubbish in her life, 'If he hasn't let you go now, he never will, you idiot. He's the Joker, you don't last long unless he wants something from you.'
'And what does he want?'
'Why-' Harley rolled her eyes, '-don't you ask him yourself? Hm? I'm not a mind reader, I can't tell what's going on in his intricate, beautiful mind.' She inhaled deeply through her nose, weakening at the thought of him, 'Besides, what do you think he wants, hm?' Her tone of voice indicated that she thought the answer was obvious, 'What do all men want with a pretty little girl who's all alone, by herself and vul-ner-able...? Hmm?'

'I'm not vulnerable-' Anna hated the word, it was weak and feeble, and everything she didn't want to appear.
'Oh!' Harley laughed, 'And I'm not in love with the Joker!' She tutted disapprovingly, 'let's not play pretend.'
'Ugh!' Anna scrunched up her face, 'Just get off me!'
'Why?' Harley let her hair fall down further so that Anna could see nothing but her face, 'I'm not done with our little convo. Because you've been so sly, haven't you?' She pulled Anna's arms roughly above her head, 'You didn't tell me you had a boyfriend?'

Anna's expression changed, her eyes softening and Harley knew she'd hit the jackpot, 'Ohh and he's so handsome, I mean those eyes,' She squeezed Anna's hands tightly, 'I just wanna pop 'em right out and keep 'em forever-'
'Don't touch him.' Anna muttered darkly and Harley bit her lip deviously, 'Might be a bit late for that-'
Anna shook her arms erratically, glaring at Harley who shrugged, 'I mean, you know me... I just can't keep my hands off feisty little things-' She edged her face closer to Anna's, '-oh and by the way, he really will be a loss, the poor hopeless romantic that he is. Keeps begging for him to spare you-'
She picked Anna's arms up and the smashed them down hard on the concrete above her head, '-No matter how deep the knife goes-' She put her mouth against Anna's ear, '-all he wants is you, you've just got his heart wrapped around your little finger, and-' Harley looked into Anna's eyes, '-and you're going around kissing the man that broke both his legs.'

'No! Shut up, shut up!' Anna shouted, closing her eyes, trying to block her and the thought of the Joker breaking Jeremy's legs out. Harley looked her with amusement, 'And you think I'm the whore-'
'Fuck you.' Anna opened her eyes, 'You're lying. He told me Jeremy tried to save himself, not me.' She focused all her hate on Harley who in return glared snidely back, 'Does that make you feel any better? To know that he doesn't give a shit about you? You really are pathetic.'
She dug her knee suddenly into where Anna had been shot the night before and her victim screamed, arching her back in the pain, the sound followed by Harleys giggle and then by the door opening.

Harley looked to the side, her hair flipping over to fall behind her, legs kneeling on either side of Anna. Anna herself turned her head on the concrete, her chest heaving under stress.
Harleys eyes lit up, a smile reaching her lips, 'I've missed you.'
The Joker stood at the top of the stairs, craftily taking in the scene, 'You really should have invited me to your little-' He took a step down, '-reunion.'

'Get off me.' Anna said quietly through gritted teeth, the last thing she wanted was to be restrained with the Joker around.
'She doesn't seem to want to play...' Harley glanced down at Anna then back up to the Joker who was jumping two steps at a time down the metal stairs.
Although Anna couldn't see him she heard the flick of the switchblade, 'I know it would have been tempting, but I told you not to touch my things-ahh.'

Harley closed her mouth, looking at Anna while slowly inhaling through her mouth, 'Fine.' She let go of her hands and Anna pushed her off, 'See!' Harley raised both arms as Anna stood up and backed away, 'She's so rough, I had to restrain her just to have a little conversation.'
Anna blew a stray hair from her face, out of breath. She looked towards the Joker who was standing at the bottom of the stairs with his back hunched slightly over, 'Your girlfriend is a nutcase-'

'Shut up you-' Harley began, stopping herself. She shut her mouth with effort, closing her eyes momentarily to try and calm herself, 'No, no I am not.'
'What happened?' The Joker ignored Harley, his dark, pit-like eyes on Anna, 'D'you fall into a trap?'

'I-' Harley butted in, looking restlessly between the Joker and Anna, '-I was down here disposing of Dr. Arkeedoodle's body, and she interrupted me.'
'Then don't-' The Joker threw the blade to his other hand, juggling it like an orange, '-interrupt me-ah.'
Harley silenced and the Joker creaked his gaze slowly back to Anna, giving his head a little nudge as if to say, well?
'Nothing happened.' Anna gave Harley a fleeting look, 'I-we, we just talked.'

'Talked?' The Joker replied, intrigued, 'Looked like you were doing a bit more-' He frowned, '-than talking.'
'Oh well, you know how us girls are.' Anna said dryly and the Joker gave a short smile in return, 'Not really. Why don't you tell me and we can all laugh and giggle and sit around with our pillows.'

'We were just catching up.' Harley gave the Joker a seductive little smile as she stood slowly up, 'You knowww, talking about boys, and kissing, and telling and-' She looked deep in thought, '-about how pretty Jeremy's eyes are.' Anna took a sharp intake of breath as she watched Harley continue, 'They have little specks of green in them-'
'You do not get to talk about him.' Anna threatened and Harley shook her head, raising her shoulders, 'Ohh, I-I'm so sorry, b-but he's just so much fun. But you shouldn't be worried about talking, you should be worried about touching-' She wiggled her fingers at Anna, '-I get handsy when I'm torturing people. His legs may not work but I bet his-'
'Just shut up!' Anna clenched her fingers into fists, her voice shaking slightly.
'Why?' Harley narrowed her eyes, 'So you can try and forget it's your fault he's in this situation in the-'

'Out.' The Joker said, interrupting the bickering, his voice lacking his usual amusement.
Both Anna and Harley turned their heads towards him. Harley spoke first, her hand on her heart, 'Who, me?'
'No not you-ahh...' The Joker gave her an impatient look and turned to Anna who didn't question his sudden demand, 'Gladly.' She strode forward without looking back at Harley.
'I'll deal with you later.' He twirled the knife in his hand as she walked towards him to get to the stairs. Anna looked up from the knife to his face; the white of the paint was amplified in the bright light, as was the darkness around and in his eyes. His tongue popped against his cheek, scrutinising her with an unreadable expression before she broke the connection, taking her eyes away from him and the tension he was creating and walking as swiftly as possible without running up the stairs.