Authors note: At last hear it is, the final chapter of Make em laugh. Thank you to everyone who read, review and favourited this story. Your all awesome! I hope you liked this story and I hope you LOVE this chapter. Enjoy, review please! I need to know what you think of the ending.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from the DC Universe.
Chapter 37
Ace's pov:
"Lets dance" I heard Ava snarl.
I lifted my head and saw that her eyes were glowing red, that wasn't Ava, it was Jinx!
Taking one last glance at the guy that tried to rip my arm off, I kicked him one last time as he lay there bloody and dead.
Before stepping over him and watching in horror as Jinx put away her knife and advanced towards Cassie. Cassie's eyes widened for a moment taking in what was happening but that slight hesitation was all the time Jinx needed to grab her throat and begin to strangle her. Cassie smirked coughing in a choke slightly; she swung her foot forward and kicked Jinx in the stomach before pulling out a knife. She took a swipe, slashing Jinx across the cheek.
I turned my head and saw The Joker brutally torturing Matt, laughing while he did it, the sight sent shivers down my spine.
Suddenly the sound of a door swinging open caught my attention. I turned and saw pale women standing there, a cape pull high over her face. Pulling it down she looked around at the scene, before turning to me. Running to me she grasped my shoulders.
"Am I too late?" She cried
"For what? Who are you?" I questioned in confusion.
"Echo. Something bad is going to happen, I'm here to help" Echo told me.
Meanwhile Cassie had taken the chance to step back a ways as Jinx clutched her stomach gasping for breath. Cassie turned and surveyed the many buttons on the monitors before pressing a large green one. She began to cackle insanely and I felt my stomach drop as a distant clanking sounded and many thundering footsteps grew nearer and nearer.
" I win Ava. I always win!" Cassie cried as about twenty of her henchmen came running towards us all.
They snarled and snapped like animals.
"Oh great more of these flesh eater guys" I groaned.
Cassie was too busy laughing to noticed Jinx pick up a metal bar and lift it high. Cassie's eyes widen and her laugh was silenced as the metal bar was bashed into her side. Sending her flailing to the floor, screaming out in pain. Jinx eyes were wide with madness and a lust for Cassie's blood on her hands as she struck her once again with the metal bar.
Many of Cassie's men separate and attacked, a few of them lunged at me but I had grown quite good at fighting so I attacked them back as best I could.
After rendering two unconscious and one dead, I was too exhausted and could no longer fight for they kept coming. They tore at my flesh and clothing, I screamed out in agony as one bit into my neck.
Suddenly Echo jumped into action after being overwhelmed with fear she regained herself and screamed "Everyone cover your ears"
I watched as The Joker dropped Matt's mutilated body and covered his ears, Jinx did the same, so I followed suit.
A loud sighing note came from Echo's snow white lips, growing louder and louder with each passing second. I watched as Cassie's henchmen suddenly began to howl with a pain, they looked around unable to location the source.
All eyes were suddenly on Echo, through there pain they began to snarl and snap at her.
They advanced on her, Echo back away but still kept on singing. I couldn't understand what was happening or what she was doing but as her continued her attackers paced began slowly and there screams louder. They must have been in terrible pain due to a few of them dropping to the floor and writhing about in pain.
" What's she doing?" I shouted over to Jinx.
She turned to me her eyes flashing blue, "when she sings people die" She shouted back instantly her eyes flashed red again and she turned back to Cassie who was screaming in pain.
I watched as Jinx beat Cassie who was in too much pain to fight back.
Suddenly Echo was over powered by Cassie's henchmen, her song changed into a scream of pain as they pulled her to the ground, beating her, biting and scratching. I uncovered my ears and pulled out my gun,
"She needs help Ava" I cried cocking the gun.
I aimed and fired at the nearest henchmen. He fell to the ground dead but it wasn't enough, I turned to the Joker and saw him watching the scene with an amused smirk.
"Don't just stand there, kill something!" I screamed.
The Joker looked down and saw Matt trying to crawl away; he burst into his trademark laughter and brought his knife down on him killing him instantly.
Matt was gone, no longer in any pain or heartache.
The Joker turned and walked closer to the many Arkham escapees' attacking Echo. He stabbed one in the neck; they fell to the floor dead with one final howl in agony.
The Joker leapt into action and did what he does best; he went on a killing spree!
I shot down as many of Echo's attackers as I could but as I aimed another shot, the gun mere clicked.
It was empty.
I groaned in frustration and threw it aside yanking away with my hands one of Cassie's henchmen, I punched him to the floor and kicked him until he was unconscious.
Panting I stood and watch as The Joker laughed mercilessly mutilating and killing the few that were left.
Suddenly a voice cried out, I turned but were met with Cassie's smirking evil face, she grinned as she stuck a blade into my stomach.
A small gasp of pain escaped my lips, looking down I saw Cassie keeping a firm grip on the blade inside my stomach, she cackled and twisted it causing me to scream out in pain.
"Ace!" Ava voiced screamed.
The screams grew quieter and everything began sort of...misty.
My eyes willed themselves to close but I kept them open and looked into Cassie's eyes.
They showed nothing only madness.
Looking over my shoulder I saw Jinx was gone along with her red eyes and was replaced with Ava and her beautiful blue eyes.
"Ava...." I breathed.
Ava's point of view:
Cassie pulled me to the floor and kicked me in the stomach winding me. Raising her knife she stabbed it into my leg, I let out a cry of pain and she twisted it before pulling it out and kicking me hard in the face.
" You can't win Ava. I will kill you but first...." Cassie taunted turning her head away from me.
My vision was blurry as I faded in and out of consciousness; the pain in my leg was almost unbearable. As my vision fixed, my eyes widened in terror.
Cassie was wielding a knife and approaching Ace fast.
"Ace!" I screamed.
But it was too late.
Cassie pushed the blade into Ace's stomach, Ace's eyes widened in shock.
I couldn't hear but I saw her lips part slightly as small gasp of pain escaping her. She looked at the blade; her pink hair fell over her face.
Another scream escaped my lips as I tried to move my leg in a vain attempt to get to Ace. Cassie pulled the blade forcefully from Ace's stomach, she would have fallen to the ground if not for Cassie gripping her shoulder, and keeping her there she stabbed her again and again.
Ace finally found her voice and cried out, tears of pain leaked from her eyes washing away her makeup.
" Joker...Help her" I screamed at him.
He turned to me madness dancing like a hell's fire in his eyes. He then turned around again ignoring me he continued slaughtering Cassie's men laughing as if it was the funniest thing in the world. He ignored me and ignored Ace's body falling to the floor as Cassie released her grip.
" Please J, help Ace" I begged.
Cassie laughing menacingly staring fiercely at Ace's body on the floor, still alive but just barely. Echo pushed past the last few of Cassie's henchmen as the Joker fought with them.
She faced Cassie glaring at her she snarled " you've gone too far. You die now, Cassandra Monroe"
A smirk played on Cassie's lips, she laughed but stopped when suddenly Echo began to sing.
Cassie lunged at Echo screaming in pain and fury. " No, stop!" she boomed.
Echo dodged her and continued, Cassie fell to the floor clutching her ears; it was no use though.
Within moments, the cruel and insane tortured woman was dead.
It was over.
Echo looked at me with sad eyes and knelt down beside Ace's body.
Ace was gasping for breath; she clutched Echo's hand tightly.
I pulled with all my mighty at the ground beneath me; slowly I crawled over to Echo and Ace.
The Joker finished off the last of Cassie's men and turned to walk to me, he was covered head to foot in blood. I glared at him,
"you didn't help her! How could you! She is my best friend" I screamed at him.
He opened his mouth to reply but shut it again as Ace choked out,
"Ava..."
My eyes snapped to her, I reached out and stroked her face.
"Ssshhh don't speak Ace, it's going to be alright" I soothed
I looked up to Echo.
"Please take her to a hospital. She needs help. Go now please"
Echo simply nodding but her eyes showed that she was hiding something, she knew something and she wasn't about to tell me. I opened your mouth but Echo silenced me by saying "my work here is done. Please forgive me Ava McKinley. I am sorry I couldn't help; Cassie had the upper hand this time. But believe me, everything will be revealed in time. Goodbye Jack Napier and Ava McKinley, I will not see you again, not until the end"
"The end?" I questioned
"The scythe calls to me; my work is not yet complete. My song has yet to be sung upon another life" Echo told me.
I stared at her in confusion.
"Who are you really Echo?" I whispered
She stared at me for a moment before picking Ace up and running for the door.
She stop and confessed "I am death"
And just like that Echo ran threw the door with Ace in her arms. I stared at the floor numb to the pain all over my body.
The balance between the worlds had suddenly turned upside down and the suddenly struggled to keep a grip on life and what it truly was. Questions raced through my mind, looking up at the Joker I didn't know how to feel emotion, I forgot how to speak, how to think.
Everything, I was just numb to absolutely everything.
The Joker knelt down beside me and placed a bloody hand on the side of my face that wasn't cut and bleeding. He stroked my cheek lightly and pressed his lips against mine in a gently kiss. I didn't kiss back just stared at him. He pulled away and looked at me .
I said in a small voice "If Ace dies, it's her blood on your hands"
"Why me?" The Joker yelled.
I glared as best I could at him and snarled quietly "You left her to die. You were to busy killing for the joy of it to think of Ace. If she dies Jack, I'll never forgive you"
"Jack Napier is dead Ava. I am the Joker, what did you expect? I feel nothing for anyone...well except you and that's the point. Their all just pawns. I felt nothing, no emotions or feeling for anything, then you came into my life and you did something, something no one else could. You made, the Joker, me, love. So in a way...we did make em laugh, we showed the world even freaks like us are capable of love. They laughed, Jinxy but in fear they laughed because we were the ones holding the gun to there heads and making them laugh. Like I said we would, I love you Jinxy, you'll forgive me if your little...erm friend dies. In a way doll face the jokes on us. On me, for falling in love and on you for being absolutely and utterly helpless. Your right Ava no one can save you, but not from yourself, from me! Your mine Jinxy. Now do you see? You can't be save. No one can save you from me So smile…"
I stared blankly at him, no emotion showing, I was like a doll.
No emotion, feelings or life.
It was all drained from me.
The Joker's face turned to anger,
"Smile!" he shouted
I mustered the best smile I could but even that was only weak due to the immense emotional pain I was feeling.
Ace couldn't die, she couldn't!
She was my best friend and partner in crime, she can't die.
NO!
" That's what I want to see, a nice big smile" The Joker spoke darkly wrapping his arms bone crushingly around my beaten body.
Everything grew darker; the last thing I heard was the Jokers insane laughter before I passed out in his arms.
Jokers point of view:
I held Ava in my arms, even though I knew she had passed out, after tonight I just wanted to be close to her. I embraced her tightly and buried my face in her soft messy hair covering her in blood from those I had slaughtered.
I breathed in deeply and said "I love you Doll face. You make me laugh!"
Suddenly the door burst opened and a tall figure stood hunched at the door. His skin looked even more sickly yellow in the dim light and his grin seemed far more sinister than my own. He stepped out of the door way and cackled.
"Honey I'm home!" The Creeper yelled
I turned my head and stared wide eyed at him.
It couldn't be!
"You! What are you doing here?" I shouted.
"That's right clown boy, it's me! And guess what? -" He announced
He jumped high into the air and landed right next to me and Ava with a single jump. He stepped back and punched me stiffly in the jaw. I tumbled back; Ava's limp body suddenly flew from my arms.
I jumped up quickly, switchblade clasped tightly in my gloved hand.
"I'm stealing your girl clown boy" The Creeper declared before turning and running from the room.
I followed him running as fast as I could but he was too fast.
By the time I had reached the outside of the building faster than the cold air hit me, they were gone.
I had lost Ava again.
"Jinxy...." I breathed dropping the switchblade to the floor.
------
The wind swept away his words as the Creeper jumped from building to building, laughing cruelly at Ava's unconscious form, blissfully unaware of what was happening around her.
The Creeper was back!
[Meanwhile at Gotham General]
A woman was rushed into the hospital theatre, the doctors and nurses turn to stare at her appearance as she was pulled past, she had bright pink hair and was clad in clown makeup and clothing.
She did look odd indeed.
They cruelly pointed and stared, none of them caring or even thinking that at any second her life could be snatched from her.
As they raced along the cold and clean halls of the hospital, blood dripped from the wounded woman and left splatters on the floor. Another strangely dressed woman followed closely behind the doctor and nurse, her good was pulled high above her head, covering her face from the intense light.
To the doctors and nurses thought she looked like something from a gothic ghost movie, like death had an offspring or something obscene like that in there simple minds.
Oh how little they really knew.
" She's losing more blood. Doctor! Hurry!" A nurse shouted at the doctor who was struggling to keep up.
He puffed and panted gripping his chest, his legs carrying him as fast as possible. His old heart was beating fast and his time was slowly running out.
The caped woman would make sure to return for him later but right now she had made a promise to a friend, she was regretfully about to break. The nurse pushing the gurney raced into a room and placed the unconscious woman on the bed hooking her up to all the machines in a fearful and determined way. The woman watched as the nurse fiddled with the machines, hooking the injured woman up.
The young nurse screamed for the doctor as her patients heart rate decreased dramatically. The patient was losing the battle of life.
Dying slowly without even knowing it.
" No! Don't give up! Please. I won't lose another patient!" the nurse cried as she performed CPR.
The patient's heart rate remained still, the monitor sounding in a long haunting beep. The doctor came running in with the defibrillator pads already gelled and ready, the machine trailing behind.
Echo knew this was her chance, slowly she got as close as she could and began her song under her breath, deaths song...
"Hold on tight and drink up what's left of life...because tonight we dance to your funeral song...I, welcome you to life's last parade, wave goodbye not goodnight to the day. Silence to your ears, relief to the strain of all those years, wave goodbye to life and your fears because tonight we dance to your funeral song"
"Clear!" The nurse screamed.
The patient's chest lurched forward but her heart rate didn't change, Echo watched as the nurse cried, the doctor placed a comforting hand on the weeping woman's shoulder.
Echo had sung her song and now Ace was dead.
And no one would ever know.
Sweet sorrow filled Echo's cold black heart in knowing that she had broken her promise to Ava and not helped Ace but the path had been set and long ago the wheels of madness had been set in motion. Ava's future was laid out in front of Echo and she knew they wouldn't meet again. It was up to her now.
Echo would truly mourn for Ace's death. But it was her time her; her punch line.
She bowed her head in mourning. A suddenly dark wind swept through the entire hospital, the doctors and nurses shivered.
The doctor and weeping nurse heard a loud crash and turned to see the caped woman gone!
The sudden windy breeze slowed and whispered to the doctors and nurses, what it was saying they couldn't understand.
That was the last time anyone in Gotham would ever see Echo; she was gone.
But at Ace's death, her voice joined in the whispering, calling to Ava testing her and tempting her.
The wheels of madness were still in motion.
[Elsewhere in Gotham]
"Let me out!" The clown woman screamed, her makeup was almost completely off, dark circles formed under her blue eyes.
She felt trapped, lost and alone.
Suddenly Ava could not find her voice any longer; she had awaked and found herself in a concrete room with only a wooden door and a dim light. She could hardly breathed or move from the pain but after managed to scream and moved she was finally defeated as she slid down the wall, tears falling from her eyes.
It was there she heard it, Echo's voice, and deaths song. It sang to her tempting her to give up and end it as Ava eyed the gun across the room.
Ava heard the song clearly in her mind; she mumbled the words as they were played to her in her mind.
The dark room seemed to close in on her as she curled up in a pathetic ball.
It hurt to move, to breath and to live but the pain wasn't even to let her die.
Ava wanted to scream, to be free, and to die.
But she couldn't.
" Please...let me out" She whispered.
The Creeper's laugh was cruel, loud and clear was the other side of the door.
It became distant and eventually all Ava could hear was deaths song, even over her own tears.
Her thoughts stayed firmly on The Joker before for the second time that day Ava McKinley passed out returning to her imaginary dreaming state but still deaths song was still sung.
"Silence to your ears, relief to the strain of all those years, wave goodbye to life and your fears because tonight we dance to your funeral song..."
This isn't over.
Sequel coming soon...