The van sped down the back streets of Gotham. The motion of a quick turn woke me up. I found myself leaning against Jack's shoulder. My arm was around Spencer, who was asleep at my side. I lifted my head to see where we were.

"Hey," Jack murmured. He gently kissed my forehead. "We're almost there."

"I nodded and leaned back into him. He tilted my head up and kissed me. It was almost as if he knew. I felt tears threatening to spill over my eyelids, but I held them back. Our lips parted, but our heads stayed close together, foreheads touching. Both of our eyes were closed and I felt almost certain that he knew what I was going to do and was trying to say goodbye before things got out of hand.

The van turned down the darkest alley I have ever seen and slowed next to a huge abandoned warehouse. Showtime. I thought to myself. I immediately opened my eyes and looked out the windows, assessing where we were. The warehouse wall suddenly opened and I realized that it was a giant garage door. That will come in handy. The van pulled into the building, followed by another three vans that were filled with the rest of our crew. The garage was a big, spacious room full of tables covered in tools. Machines were up against several walls and there were shelves lined with paint cans. Piles of neatly cut wood were leaning against the walls. It looked like a creepy version of Lowes.

We got out of the van, me carrying a sleepy Spencer. Jack led me and all but two of the henchmen to a metal staircase that ran against the back wall. At the top was a hallway that branched off to several rooms.

"Alright gang, everybody get some rest. Tomorrow morning we're crashing that mobster meeting," Jack told the henchmen. He reached out for Spencer. I handed him over, knowing that he wanted a room to ourselves. "There's a room with a bed. I'm gonna put Spencer in that one."

"Okay," I said, acting more exhausted than I actually was. I watched Jack carry Spencer down the hall. The door next to me was open, so I assumed that this was the one Jack and I would share. I did a slight back bend so I could see exactly which room Jack put Spencer in. As soon as he walked into a room, I flew back up and into our room. It looked like it had been an office at one time. I looked around to see if it had anything I could use. There was a desk in the middle of the room. I ran to it. Throwing open drawers, I felt my heart pounding. I found what I was looking for. I slipped the paper clip into my pocket. I heard Jack walking down the hall and literally threw myself across the room to land on the couch, pretending to be asleep.

Jack walked in and climbed on top of me on the couch. "Are you tired baby?" he asked.

"Mh-hm," I nodded. Jack ran his hands up and down my sides.

"How tired?" he asked plainly.

"Not that tired," I replied, grinning. So I let Jack have his way with me, not that I minded in the least, but it was making me hate my decision even more. I really, really loved this man. Fifteen minutes later I was curled up into him, limbs tangled. This was going to be harder than I thought. I traced his scars with my fingers while he studied my face.

"I love you," I whispered.

"I know. I love you too," Jack said back. I could feel his voice ruble in his chest. It made me remember just how human he actually was. I hated doing this to him. But I had to. Even if it made Jack and I unhappy, I had to do what would make Spencer safe. I would never live with myself if I let Spencer grow up to be a serial killer like his father. The only comfort I could find was that Jack just said he knew I loved him. As long as I knew he knew that, I would be able to leave.

I started to pretend to fall asleep. I could tell that Jack was awake though. Then he shook me roughly out of nowhere. I guess he really is on to my plan. I jerked "awake." I was very impressed with my acting abilities at this point.

"What's wrong?" I asked, feigning panic. Jack, who I assumed bought it, stroked my back.

"Nothing. Go back to sleep," he mumbled. I knew he was tired. He hadn't slept much this week. I waited a good long while before I tried anything. Luckily, my right leg wasn't being held down by anything, so I gently lifted it off of Jack's leg. Then I ever so slowly slipped my left leg out from between his. He didn't move. I silently thanked God. I held my breath as I lifted Jack's arm off my waist and stood up. I placed his arm back in the same place it had been. Then he moaned. Oh God, oh God, oh God! I screamed in my head. He shifted onto his back and relaxed again. I sighed in relief.

I silently walked to my clothes (which I had thrown in the general direction of the door to save time) and dug the paper clip out of my jeans. Jack still locked me and Spencer's door at night, probably because he knew I would try this eventually. But I had been practicing on our old lock with coat-hangers. I quickly picked the lock. I twisted the handle slowly, then opened the door a crack quickly, knowing that it wouldn't squeak that way. I tiptoed back to grab my clothes. I couldn't help stopping to take what I hoped would e the last time I ever saw Jack. Then I left the room, closing the door gently behind me.

Yes, I had done all of that totally naked, but I didn't want to make more noise than I had to. I dressed quickly in the hallway before heading to Spencer's room. The paper clip worked like a charm yet again. I shook Spencer awake.

"Mommy?" Spencer mumbled.

"Shh, be very quiet baby. We're leaving," I whispered.

"Again? But we just got here," he asked me sleepily.

"I know sweetie, it's just you and me." I was going to be totally honest with him that we were running away.

"Daddy's not coming with us?" Spencer's lip trembled.

"No. I'm sorry baby, but we have to get away. Now," I said as I picked him up out of the bed. He was still dressed in his clothes from today.

"But I want Daddy," he cried. I pushed Spencer's light brown hair out of his face. He looked just like Jack. He even had those green eyes so dark they were almost black.

"Spencer, Daddy does bad things. Do you remember when he broke into our apartment?" Spencer nodded. "He hurt Mommy. Very badly. Then he took us away and we didn't want to go. He hut Nick. Do you remember that?"

"Yeah," he said crying.

"So we have to leave, because he's going to keep hurting us. And I can't let him do that to you baby," I prayed that this would convince Spencer to come quietly with me because Jack might wake up.

"Doesn't he love us anymore?" Spencer asked, looking up at me hopefully. I closed my eyes and bit my lip. One lone tear fell before I stopped it, shaking my head.

"No Spencer. No, he doesn't love us anymore," I forced out in a steady voice. I had to lie to save my son. Spencer frowned through his tears.

"Then let's go Mommy," he said angrily. I kissed the top of his head quickly before closing his door and starting down the hallway. Commence part two. I thought.

I slowed at the top of the stairs. Two men were sitting on one of the tables talking. They were armed. I went back into the hallway and put Spencer on my back so that I could move easier. I told him not to make a sound. I took those stairs so slowly it felt like forever. When I reached the bottom undetected I rushed behind one of the shelves of paint cans. I set Spencer down and put a finger to my lips to reiterate that silence was a must. I motioned for him to stay put, then crouched and crept over to where several planks of wood were leaning against the nearest wall. I silently picked it up. It was a little shorter than me, but it wasn't heavy. I started to walk up behind the two guards. Luck was on my side as they were both facing away from me. I got a firm grip on the center of the plank of wood.

And…go! I used all of my strength to swing the plank first to hit the guy on the left, then quickly switched gears to bring the other half of the board flying into the guy on the right-kind of like a seesaw. They both fell to the floor unconscious.

"Holy shit, who knew I could do that," I actually said out loud. "Spence!" I whispered loudly for him. He came running to me. I took his hand. A big red button was on the wall next to the garage door. I knew the sound of the door opening would be loud. "Get ready to run Spencer," I whispered. He nodded and gripped my hand tighter. I slammed my hand down on the button. To my horror, the loudest and longest beep I have ever heard screamed out, letting everyone in the building know the garage door was opening. "Shit!" I grumbled.

The door started to slide upwards. Just as I was about to push Spencer through the small space, one of the now formerly unconscious guards got me into a choke hold.

"Hey! That's my mommy!" Spencer yelled and kicked the guy in the shin.

"Get off me you brat!" the dude roared as he used one hand to push Spencer away. I took the opportunity to slip out of his grasp and kick him in the nuts. While he doubled over in pain, I pulled Spencer off the floor. Just then, the garage door started to go back down. I whirled around. Henchmen were running down the stairs. At the top of the stairs was Jack.

"Go! Go!" I yelled. The garage door was almost closed. Spencer ducked under it. That's when they started firing at me. I threw myself on the floor.

"No, no, no! You kill her and I'll kill you!" I heard Jack yell. I slithered under the door just before it closed. I scrambled off the wet ground. It was sprinkling rain.

"Way to go, Spence!" I encouraged him. I took his hand and we ran off into the black streets of Gotham.

Marissa is running away again. And again, it is because she is trying to to what is best for her son, even though she wants to be with the Joker. But this time, he actually saw her leaving, so she won't be able to get very far, will she? Will the Joker get her to stay with him, or will Marissa escape the Joker for good? Only three more chapters to go!