Summary: As she sits in St. Aden's orphanage, little Josephine Kerr contemplates her next move.
The GCPD aren't as friendly as the PRPD, they were unnecessarily callous to the girl.
Shoving her this way, and yanking her that way.
No one cared about how she was feeling or what she was going through.
It was like death was normal in Gotham.
It wasn't in Park Ridge, if one died, they were usually old, dying peacefully in their sleep.
In Park Ridge, people died quietly surrounded by their families and friends.
Not in a scary car crash, with strangers in a strange city.
They were heading to Gotham to see the circus as a treat for getting good grades, Josephine Kerr, or Josie'd always been bright, but this time, she made the honor roll.
And her grandparents were always doting but she'd never been to Haly's Circus.
They were safely driving with their seat belts on, when a drunk came outta nowhere and slammed into them!
It flipped over 4 times, Grandpa James was killed instantly, Grandma Jane hit her head, dying later in the hospital.
Josie herself miraculously walked away with only a few cuts and bruises.
The people at the hospital called her lucky.
Her grandparents were dead and she was alone in the world.
How exactly was she lucky?
Her mom died in childbirth and her dad drowned before she was born.
The only thing she had of them was an old photo that her grandmother finally gave her after she caught her staring at it a million times.
St. Aden was gray and dull, gloomy and sad.
None of the kids talked to her and they seem to do as they pleased. One of the kids, a boy called Collin Wilkes, seems to have the run of the place.
That Collin kid does what he wants and no one says a thing.
Shouldn't I be allowed the same privilege? She asked herself.
Maybe if Josie snuck out, she could find a way back to Park Ridge.
Josie could live in her grandparents' house, she could take care of herself.
The house was paid for her Grandpa, so she didn't have to worry about money, and her Grandma taught her how to cook.
Living alone in Park Ridge would be better than living in Gotham.
Something is always going on in this town!
Banks being robbed here, and criminals breaking out there!
And it's so noisy!
She took out the old photo of her parents.
Her mother, a woman called Bex, short for Rebecca Brown.
She had hay colored hair in chin length bob, warm honey brown eyes and peach colored skin.
She was smiling at the man next to her.
A man called Joseph Kerr had an oblong face, a long chin, high cheekbones black hair and kind gray eyes.
Her eyes.
He wore a big wide smile.
The two people in photograph looked very much in love.
"I wish you were here." She mumbled to herself. "Or at least I could have been around then."
Josie's grandparents spent her life constantly talking about her mom.
Her mother was born in the early morning hours of June 9th, making her a Gemini.
She was 5ft 2, 118 pounds and was fluent in French.
She knew all about Bex.
But Joseph Kerr...
She knew nothing about him...
When he died, Bex was too despondent to talk about him.
They didn't know who he was, where he came from, or if he had any family.
Josie understood this, but it still stung, she wished someone knew something about the man!
She glanced at the television, and saw a report about a place called Arkham.
A man broke out a week ago and the whole town when crazy!
Again?! She thought. Why do they keep talking about this?! The guy broke out! Catch him and move on! How hard can it be to catch one man!
The lady on TV said that Batman and the Commissioner would looking for the man.
'And the state wide search for the notorious madman The Joker continues.
With no current knowledge of the criminal's whereabouts or motives, the citizens Gotham are on edge.
Commissioner Gordon has issued a city wide curfew for all residents until the madman is captured.'
Josie watched the people on TV run in and out of stores carrying bottles of water and canned goods.
It was as if they were expecting an earthquake or something.
'The mayor urges Gothamites to stay inside and lock their doors.'
How bad could one man be? Is he really that dangerous?
She stared at the TV as they flashed a video of The Batman.
A man dressed like a bat punched a another man with question marks on his suit.
The Batman, but is that The Joker he's fighting?
He doesn't look so tough.
And why would he have question marks on his suit?
Wouldn't he look like... a clown?
This can't be The Joker.
The others often talked about The Batman, he was a masked vigilante that protects Gotham.
When she lived in Park Ridge, Josie heard talk about a caped wonder in Metropolis.
She also used to hear talk of a wonderful woman from her teacher and grandmother.
She didn't remember hearing about the Joker.
No one in Park Ridge talked about the Joker or The Batman.
In fact, no one in Park Ridge talked about Gotham.
Her teacher, Miss. Wilder, who went to school in Gotham, said that it was dark and gritty. She mentioned something about birds, but never a Batman or a Joker.
And the kids at St. Aden or the grown ups don't talk about the Joker.
This made her wonder; what did the Joker look like?
For some reason, she kept thinking about her father.
Or more accurately; his name.
Joseph Kerr.
Joseph Kerr.
Then she thought about her name.
Josie Kerr.
Her mother insisted that she be named after her father.
A fact that Josie was very proud of.
Joseph Kerr.
Joe Kerr
It kinda sounds like joker, isn't that interesting?
Wouldn't it be funny if Joseph Kerr and The Joker were one in the same?
She laughed at the frivolous thought.
Joseph Kerr is dead! Drowned in a river before you were born.
He could have been swept away by the current. Her brain countered. It's possible.
Why wouldn't he come back to your mother?
Maybe he hit his head and got amnesia. It happens all the time on Grandma Jane's soaps.
But on TV they get their memories back in a month or two; how come he didn't come back then?
That's television, Josie! Grammy Jane used to always tell you about taking the word of that idiot box as gospel!
Okay, why didn't he find a doctor?
Doctors are bad! That's why grandpa never liked going to see them.
The Joker is a bad guy, and Joseph Kerr is a good man.
Amnesia, Josie. He might not even know who he is. Who you are.
They don't even look a like!
How would you know? You're never even seen this Joker guy!
The news lady won't show his-
The face the news lady showed...
The man had metallic green hair, his skin looked like he spent a year playing in a giant bowl of flour and his eyes...
Her eyes!
The Joker has her eyes!
****
Josie had to find him.
She had to know.
She had to be sure.
She had never been the type to sneak out bed in the middle of night, but sneaking out of St. Aden's was surprisingly easy.
She learned how after watching the redheaded boy Colin do it.
He had, in fact, slipped out that very night.
What he went out to do, Josie could not say, she watched Colin dart off into the darkness.
Wonder where he's going? Josie pondered.
Maybe he's looking for someone too.
She ran in the opposite direction, but had no idea where to go.
She'd only been in the city for a few days, and didn't really know anyone.
She really didn't know Colin that well, not enough to go to him for assistance.
Besides, he was a boy, and boys are gross.
Josie ran in no particular direction down the streets of Gotham.
She wished she'd had the good sense to print out a map of the city.
Or at the very least, researched the Arkham patient known as The Joker.
Joker.
Joker.
Joker.
The Joker is a clown, Josie.
What do you remember about clowns?
Clowns are silly.
They like to make people laugh.
Where would a clown go?
Clowns like to hangout at the circus or fairs.
There's no fair in town, but a circus...
Haly's Circus, could the Joker be there?
Wait, if I'm smart enough to figure out this, wouldn't Batman do the same?
That thought made her pause.
What if The Batman's already got him back in that Arkham place?
Should I go back to the orphanage?
Josie didn't want to go back to the orphanage.
She didn't know how to get back to the orphanage.
Maybe she should look for Colin...
An hour passed.
And it began to drizzle...
And it was cold.
Great...
Josie wasn't sure that she could find him.
To be honest, Josie wasn't sure if he knew who she was.
What if he didn't want to help her get back?
Well, the least she could do was ask...
"At least ask, Josie..." she mumbled to herself.
So she walked...
And walked...
And walked...
And walked some more...
Where am I?
How long have I been out?
What time is it?
AAAAAAAAAH!
What was that?
It came from the alley, she slowly crept over to the alley, and she peered around the corner and saw 3 people.
There was a man on the ground clutching his arm, it looked like it was bleeding. He was staring up at a man, a really big man.
A big behemoth with red hair wearing a trench coat, in front of him, there stood a little boy who looked about her age.
He had on a black hood, a black and green mask and green gloves and boots.
He had a sword pointed at the man on the ground and it was dripping with blood.
'I don't know anything, I swear!' Said the bleeding man.
'Liar!' Screamed the boy.'Tell us what Zsaaz is doing with the missing children?!'
'I don't know!' Cried the man. 'I don't know anything I swear!'
The boy stabbed the man's other arm, his scream made Josie resist the urge to scream out in protest.
She found herself turning away in disgust.
'Shut up.' He roared. 'You'll get worse than that if you don't start talking!'
The man began to cry, the boy said something in a strange language to the behemoth.
And the behemoth seemed to understand him, Josie wondered he said.
'Okay! Okay! He's got a fighting ring!'
A fighting ring?! What's that?
'He's using the kids in ring!' Said the man. 'They're making the kids fight to death!'
The boy held the sword at the bloody man's neck.
'Please don't kill me!' He begged.
'Robin.' The behemoth growled. 'He's not worth it.'
The boy, Robin, put his sword down, and stepped back.
He put his hands on his hips, and turned away.
The behemoth stood the man up roughly as the boy began to sway.
'Where's Zsasz?'
'I don't know!'
Josie stared at the boy, he seemed preoccupied with what was on the ground.
It happened so fast, one minute the he was kicking a rock, and the next, something jumped up and stabbed her in the shoulder.
She looked and saw what looked like a star was stuck in it. Gasping and stumbling back, she clutched shoulder in bewilderment.
She looked up and saw the boy charging towards her.
She let out a terrified scream and took off running.
'Robin!' Called the behemoth.
The boy called Robin darted after her.
Why is he chasing me?
'Get back here!' He screeched.
He grabbed her hair, and threw her on the ground. He pounced on her, and held a dagger at her throat.
'Where's Victor Zsasz?!'
'HELP!'
He pushed the star further into her shoulder, she screamed.
'Where is Zsasz?'
'I don't know who that is! I'm just trying to get the circus.'
'Liar!'
He grabbed her head and slammed her back onto the ground.
The pain was sharp and made her feel fuzzy, she wanted to curl into a ball and cry for her grandmother.
But Grandma Jane is gone; she and Grandpa James, are never coming back.
This hurt more than the pain in her head.
When the fuzziness stopped, he ripped the star from her shoulder.
The thunder drowned out her screams which were more out of fear than pain.
Without thinking, she slammed her knee upward, and he fell off her and rolled onto his back, groaning in pain.
Josie took the chance to get up and staggered away, she just had to keep running, she couldn't let him catch her.
It didn't matter how tired she was or how much her muscles ached; she just had to keep running.
Josie ran until her legs gave out, she fell to her knees.
She couldn't run anymore, but she couldn't stop. She crawled over to an alley filled with trash cans and boxes, hiding behind them, covering her mouth to hide her rapid breathing.
God, please don't let him find me. She prayed. Please don't let him find me.
When she heard foot steps approaching the alley, she wanted to cry, but he would hear.
'Robin!' Called a gruff voice. It was the behemoth.
'She got away!' He said.'The little brat got away!'
'Doubt she knows anything!' Said the behemoth.
'Then why would she lurking around at night?!' He sounded angry.
'She's probably just a kid snuck who out the orphanage. She did look kinda familiar, what'd she say her name was?'
'Didn't ask.'
'Didn't ask?'
'Didn't care.'
He didn't care. She thought. What if I had a family? What would he have said to comfort them?
'What did she say?'
'She said she was going to the circus.'
Foot steps move closer to her hiding place. Josie held her mouth quietly lied down.
'Could have been a lie though.'
'Maybe not. There's a kid who was just dumped at the orphanage. Her folks died on the way to the circus.'
How did he know about me? She wondered. Does he work at the orphanage? He didn't look familiar.
'Whatever, she still could be working with Zsasz!' He raked his sword across the trash cans. 'What's the kid's name?'
Please don't know my name. She thought.
'Jenna or Joanie, something with a j. We're wasting time.'
'Little brat.' The boy growled. He said a bad word, kicked a trash can then stomped away. 'Could have sworn I saw her run this way. Let's go.'
Josie started sit up when a sword pierced through trash can missing her face by an inch.
It took everything in Josie to will herself not to cry.
'Not here.' The sword was gone as quickly as it came. 'Let's go.'
Josie slowly peered through the hole in the can, the two walked away.
She sat there silently crying, she didn't like Gotham, wanted her grandparents.
She slowly crept from behind the trash cans, shivering.
The rain stopped, but lightning still lit up the sky.
Josie could hear their voices in the distance.
She didn't want to go that way, but there was big fence with a padlock.
Maybe I could squeeze between the fences where the chain is. She thought. Or I could climb the fence.
Josie didn't think she could squeeze through the fence, so she would climb it instead.
She's never climbed a fence before, a jungle gym, yes, but never a fence.
Isn't it basically the same thing?
She slowly approached the fence, still shivering, but not just from her wet clothes and hair.
'Hey, you!' Called a voice.
She whirled around, expecting to find the Robin, instead it was tall man with blond hair, blue eyes and scars all over.
Josie felt her body release a breath she didn't know she was holding.
'Yes?' She replied slowly.
'There's a curfew in effect! You shouldn't be here, especially with a madman on the lose.'
'Sorry,' she said, taking a moment to catch her breath. 'I was trying to get to the circus.'
'The circus?! Your mother's letting run the streets at night to go to the circus?!'
'Oh, well, I'm orphan.'
His eyes widened at the admission, and it made her uncomfortable.
'Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.' He put his arm around her shoulder. 'What's your name?'
Something told her not to tell him her name.
'Becca.'
'Becca, that's a pretty name.'
'What's your name?'
'Mr. Zsasz.'
That's who Robin was asking about!
'Well, thank you, Mr. Zsasz. I think I should be heading back now.'
'Don't you want to go to the circus?'
'No, it's too late.'
'It's only 9. In Gotham, that's like 7AM.'
'No, I think-'
'I think you should come with me.' He said quietly as held a knife at her throat. 'Little Becca.'
Josie bit down hard on his arm as she stomped his foot.
She tried take off running, but didn't get far because Zsasz grabbed her hair and yanked her back.
'Ooh, a fighter, you'll be perfect!'
'No!'
'ZSASZ!' screamed a woman's voice.
'This doesn't concern you, Ivy.'
They turned and Josie saw a redheaded woman walking up to them.
Her greenish skin seemed to glow in moonlight, and clothes looked like they were made from leaves.
Her green eyes were narrowed and fixed on Zsasz.
'It does. She works for me.'
She's trying to help me. Josie thought. I hope she doesn't get hurt.
'Liar.'
'I'm sorry, Miss Ivy.' Josie muttered right on cue. 'Robin got away.'
He let go her, and she briskly walked over to the woman, Ivy. She glanced at Josie's shoulder, then turned to Zsasz.
'What happened to your shoulder?'
'Robin threw a ninja star at me.'
Ivy glared at him, but said nothing. 'Let's go, sweetie.'
They started to leave when Zsasz said, 'Hey, kid you dropped something.'
Josie turned to him. 'I did?'
He nodded and Ivy went over to him and took the thing he claimed that she dropped.
It looked like a piece of paper, and that made her check her pockets.
My parents' photo! Where's my parents' photo?
She turned to Ivy as she stared at the picture. She whirls around to face Josie, who waves nervously.
She walked over to her and took her hand, 'Let's go.' She muttered quickly.
Her grip was surprisingly tight, Josie looked up at her.
'Are you mad at me?'
Ivy looked at her, taken aback. 'Why would I be mad at you?'
'Because of my picture.'
Her jaw tightened and she closed her eyes.
'No, sweetheart, it's not you I'm mad at.'
She took to Josie to an abandoned candy factory. There was lemon drops, sour balls and other candies were scattered throughout the building on the floor and tables. Josie made a mental note to pocket as much candy as she could.
They walked up to two clown masked men holding big guns standing in front of a door, they made Josie feel scared.
There was werid music playing behind it and Josie could hear moans.
Ivy rolled her eyes and stopped just before they reached the door. She turns to Josie and squatted down to her level.
'Wait here, sweetie.,' Josie nodded obediently and Ivy smiled. 'Good girl."
Ivy walked up to the men, and the men block her way.
'No one sees The Clown without appointment.' Said the man in mask with the red hair. 'He's celebrating his release with his new piece.'
'I don't care! I need to see him!'
'Get lost, flower child!' Said the other man with the blue hair.
She blew powder in their faces. 'Let me pass.' She said sweetly.
They step aside and Ivy stormed into the room.
'Shit!' A man's voice called out as young voice screamed, 'What the hell?!'
'Get out! I need to speak with the clown!'
'Excuse me, but we-'
'Out.' The man's voice said.
There was small whine of protest, but the door flew open and out stepped a young woman pulling up straps on her dress.
The door slammed shut behind her, and a screaming match ensued.
She looked only few years older than Josie, she had long dark hair and eyes.
She was wearing a short red dress that shimmered in the light.
Her makeup was smeared and runny and her fur coat was hanging off shoulders.
She looked like she could've been a character on a one of Josie's favorite TV shows.
She stopped short when she saw Josie, she fixed her coat and stood next to her.
The woman didn't look at her, but Josie's eyes were glued to her.
'What?' Huffed the woman.
'Hello.' Was all Josie could think to say.
'Hey.' Was her scratchy reply.
Besides the yelling coming the other room, there was an awkward silence.
Josie felt weird talking to a stranger, but it was better than listening to the yelling.
'Um... I'm Josephine. What's your name?'
'Everyone just calls me Gaggy.' The woman must have felt the same.
'Your name is Gaggy?'
'Gabrielle.'
'Oh. Are you his wife?'
'What?'
The question surprised her, Josie could see it her eyes as she turned to her.
'What did you ask me?'
'Are you the Joker's wife?'
The shouting stopped, and they looked at the door. Somehow, the silence was more terrifying than the shouting.
'No, we're.... friends.'
Gabrielle looked away, her eyes darted around the room nervously.
'Oh.'
The door flew open and Ivy stepped out, both stood up straight. She forced a smile and sauntered over to the little girl.
'What's going on?'
'Where do you live, honey?'
'St. Aden's orphanage.' Replied Josie taken aback by the question.
'Well, tonight you'll stay with me,' she said, and Josie nodded. Ivy turned to Gabrielle, who flinched. 'You! You go to the orphanage and collect her things.'
'What?!' Said Gabrielle.
'In a few days, go to the orphanage and collect her and her things.'
'I don't even know what's going on! And I don't even think I want to!'
'Do as I say or I'll turn you into mulch!'
Gabrielle bit her lip and nodded, Josie peeked around Ivy, and peeking behind the door, she saw him.
There he stood, white face, green hair, red lips and steel eyes, he studied Josie, then quickly slammed the door.
Ivy flinched, then gently stroked her face.
'We're going put our heads together and figure this out.'