Unhinged
Chapter 11
Hey, guys! I'm back again with another new chapter! Hope you all have enjoyed settling in to the new year. I just want to say, once again, thank you for being so patient with me as I slooooooowly update my stories. Last year was so full of depression and sadness (and disease) that I didn't feel like writing much of anything. This year, so far, has been...not much better, but I miss writing, so I'm gonna do my best to update more often. I won't make any promises that you'll get a new chapter every week (or month), but I'll try, guys. Anyway, here's Chapter 11!
Harley Quinn squeezed her eyes shut and tensed up as Jeremiah went on a rampage back at their hideout, knocking over tables and chairs and yelling. Ecco watched him with a huge smile on her face, chuckling lightly.
Jeremiah took a deep breath and smoothed down his sweaty hair.
"I don't understand what could have gone wrong", he said calmly.
"It's okay, puddin'", Harley said, coming up behind him and resting her head on his shoulder. "We can come up with somethin' else."
She gasped as he grabbed her by the throat and pulled her in front of him.
""We?"" he said, his eyebrow raised. "No, not this time. You see how well your plan worked, don't you? From now on, I will be doing all the planning. Your job is to look pretty by my side."
Harley grunted as she was released, and she fell to her knees. Ecco cackled as Harley glared daggers at her. Jeremiah silenced her with a stare and offered his hand to Harley, who took it. She gasped as he pulled her up suddenly.
"Have I made myself clear?"
Harley nodded and she was once again released. Her heart skipped a beat as Jeremiah stared at Ecco, who ran her hand across his arm and grinned. Her blood boiled as her puddin' smiled back.
…
"So Harleen was the one who told us where to find Alfred?" Bruce asked back at the GCPD.
"Yeah", said Harvey. "Guess the girl's not as far gone as we thought."
"She still held the mayor hostage in his own home", said Gordon. "We can't just ignore that fact, even if there is hope that the old Harleen may still be inside there somewhere."
"What I can't understand is why she doesn't just leave the son of a bitch", said Bullock.
"She's become infatuated with Jeremiah; but she still cares about Bruce", said Gordon. "And she didn't want you to lose Alfred. That's what i can gather."
"What is that lunatic's plan?" said Alfred. "I imagine that by kidnapping me and luring Bruce to that laugh factory full of toxin, he was trying to make Master B more like himself."
"Which would make Bruce even closer to Harley", said Jim.
"The important thing is, Harleen is still in there", said Bruce. "So there might still be a way to get her back. If we could just find out where Jeremiah is hiding, maybe I could talk to her."
"Mate, you've been searching for weeks", said Alfred. "It would take a miracle for them to suddenly come out of hiding."
…
Meanwhile, back at the hideout, Harley was in the middle of a conversation with...herself.
"You know what you did was wrong", said Harley 1.
"Yeah, so just go apologize!" said Harley 2.
"Why do you even care about that brat, anyway?" said Harley 1. "He's caused you nothing but trouble."
"And hospital bills!" Harley 2 said, cackling.
"Look, it's not like I don't care about Jeremiah or what he plans to do with Gotham-I do, I just-"
Harley sighed.
"I can't bear to see him hurt Bruce, in any way, shape, or form."
"That's the old you talking", said Harley 1.
"Yeah, the part we can't seem to kill!" Harley 2 pouted.
"Bruce saved my life!"
"Jerome saved your life, too", said Harley 2.
"Even more than that brat ever did", said Harley 1.
"And he left pretty boy behind for you when he died!" said Harley 2.
"Does that mean nothing to you?" they said simultaneously.
"Enough!"
Harley slammed her palms down flat on the table in front of her.
"Fine; you're right, I should go apologize. I'll do that now."
"And maybe, if you're really nice about it-" Harley 2 started, but Harley cut her off.
"We're done here."
Harley got up and shrugged her shoulders, sighing heavily.
"He'll understand", she said to herself, and walked down the hall. As she got closer to Jeremiah's room, she heard moaning and heavy breathing. Her hands shaking, she poked her head into Jeremiah's bedroom and covered her mouth with her hand, tears springing to her eyes.
Jeremiah was clutching Ecco's hips as she moved on top of him, throwing her head back, with her bare chest bouncing above him.
"Oh, Jeremiah!" she moaned, her eyes rolling into the back of her head.
Unable to watch any longer, Harley ran away as fast as her legs could carry her, throwing open the door and retching on the sidewalk. When she was done, she sank to the ground and hugged her knees to her chest, sobbing hysterically.
"How could you?!" she shouted at the sky.
…
Later that day, Ecco and Jeremiah accompanied Jervis Tetch on a trip to Ace Chemicals. Harley went along, keeping her distance from the others. Jeremiah had come up with a plan: He would turn all of Gotham mad by distributing a toxin to its residents through Ace Chemicals, which helped contribute to the makings of everyday products: hairspray, deodorant, shampoo, shaving cream, etc.
"Isn't this great?" Jeremiah said, suddenly beside Harley on the balcony above a vat of chemicals. "Once we get this new shipment of products out, all of Gotham will be mine."
"Yeah, that's fantastic", said Harley, turning away from him.
"Aww, what's wrong, my little dark heart?" said Jeremiah, turning to face her. "I'm sorry your first idea didn't work out, but we're stronger together, aren't we?"
Jeremiah pulled her in for a hug, kissing the top of her head. She didn't return the gesture.
Harley watched as Ecco spoke with Jervis down below, and her blood boiled.
"Yeah", she said. "Stronger together."
Unbeknownst to the group, Dr. Lee Thompkins was watching them and had heard everything. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed the GCPD.
"Jim", she said, "you're not gonna believe what I just saw."
I've decided to go in a bit of a different direction with how this ends, while maintaining a SMIDGE of the source material. That being said, this will be one of the last chapters of my series. Until next time!
-Imagigirl20
