Everything went to hell in a handbasket.
For just a few moments, Sakura thought she had most of the puzzle put together. The Joker picked it up, violently smashing the pieces, so she could never put them back the same way again.
Watching the television in a mindless daze, she couldn't believe anything anymore. Last night, the mad clown and his men shot up the nightclub she was at with Ino and Jin. Twenty people were kill in the chaos and ten others wounded.
If Batman hadn't shown up, either her or Jin would be dead right now... Maybe both of them. To make matters worse, the Joker escaped. How he was able to get away from the Bat was anyone's guess...
Staring blankly at the screen, urgent news reports kept popping up over and over again about his latest crime. Joker and his goons had kidnapped the honor guard for the late Commissioner Gillian Loeb's memorial service and tried to assassinate Mayor Anthony Garcia in broad daylight. Police Lieutenant Jim Gordon sacrificed himself to save the mayor and was shot dead. It was just one thing after another. There seemed like there was no end to this reign of terror. Everyday it was something else, escalating each time. He was getting ballsier with each plan. A wild egomaniac getting a thrill from his own sadistic behavior.
'How can someone be this way?'
Not wanting to hear anymore of the story, Sakura grabbed the remote and turned the television off. Every station in Gotham was covering the story and lamenting the late Gordon, who had a family that he left behind.
Was there anywhere to go that hadn't been touched by the clown's madness?
After last night, the pinkette didn't know how to think or feel about anything anymore. Maybe she was still in a state of shock... Jin's ability hadn't even been able to help, though it might have been from him being shooken up...and drunk.
As soon as she got home, the ruined dress went straight in the trash. The next hour was spent in a scolding hot shower, wanting to get every trace of blood off of her body...after throwing up the alcohol in the toilet. The nerves biting into the edges of her sanity and the metallic smell all over everything was too much, making her sprint to the bathroom as soon as she was through the front door.
Running a hand through her pink hair, Sakura didn't know if she could take anymore of this... He was ruining any semblance of a life left that she may have had. Part of her almost wanted him to just kill her and get it over with. It would be better than this dreadful game of cat-and-mouse.
'I need to leave Gotham. I'm starting to lose my mind. I don't know what to do anymore!'
If Batman wasn't able to apprehend the Joker and stop his reign of terror, then who could?
Pacing back and forth across the rug in the living room, she cradled her head in her hands. What could she do? Leaving Ino and Jin to the city would be heartless, especially after he tried his best to keep her safe. He had been one of the few things keeping her grounded and sane.
'Was he?...'
Now that the pinkette was sober, nothing seemed to make sense. The voice of the boy in her memories didn't have a Korean accent..or dark straight hair. It was dirty blonde and wavy...
'Is it what I think it is? Something to do with his ability? Would I have really thrown myself in the way of a bullet for someone I barely know?... It didn't even feel like I could control my body...or thoughts...'
Walking past the windowsill, something caught her eye. There was folded papers lying on the edge...
'When did-? I don't remember that being there last night.'
Her brows furrow, eyeing the folded sheets suspiciously. A sickening feeling pooled in the pit of her stomach... Only one person had the balls to break into her apartment whenever he felt like it, leaving unwanted gifts and messages in a screwed up attempt to drive her insane. That clown really is a monster among men..
Hesitantly stepping over towards the window, her slim fingers trembled, picking up what the Joker left behind for her to find. There was more than one, with something making them stick together. Should it just go in the trash? Save what little was left of her sanity?
Taking a deep breath, she squeezed her eyes closed, not wanting to see anymore...but this was inevitable. Even if it went into the trash, she'd just end up pulling it out. At least out of sheer curiosity of what that man could possibly have to say to her now of all times.
Unfolding the papers and looking down, Sakura's eyes widened at the bold words typed out.
HOW DOES JIN LOOK BEST?
'No. No. NO! What kind of sick joke is he pulling this time?!'
Her hands shook violently as she pulled the first page off, letting it fall by her feet onto the rug.
Looking at the second page, Sakura eyes fluttered back as she fainted, falling down with a loud thud. The paper fell from her hand, gently gliding to the floor beside her...
WITH A SMILEEEE
Beneath the words was a crudely drawn happy face in blood.
Kicking open the door to the apartment, Joker strode in with three men behind him. The lights were already on in the place.
'Good...'
Pointing towards the bedroom, the men nodded as they surrounded the door. Listening carefully, the clown could clearly hear the sounds of rustling in the next room. What did this guy think he could really do? Was he that foolish? There was no doubt about it. That was obvious from his words and actions. Apparently this man didn't know his place or what boundaries are, doing whatever he pleases. However, the Joker could be patient some times, especially in throes of teaching someone a lesson. He liked to take his time, make sure they understood very clearly the point he was trying to get across. Whether they actually made it though his session, was another question entirely.
'Getting a weapon, are we? Hahaha.'
Walking into the kitchen from the entrance, his dark eyes lit when he noticed an iron skillet hanging from a hook above the stove. He snatched it and carelessly tossed it onto the burner below, not caring about the clatter it was making. Twisting the knob to high heat, he leaned up against the counter as his men stood, ready to pounce.
Bullets suddenly shot through the door, the man behind it unloading his clip with a shout. Joker popped his lips, shifting his head along with the loud cracks through the air. One by one, he counted the bullets with a bored expression, whistling softly and watching the skillet heat up.
The men dropped to the floor in a heap, blood splattering onto the wall as they fell. It didn't matter anyway. These guys were only here to help out if necessary, and now their job was done... They helped get rid of the bullets for him.
Shuffling around on his feet, the Joker perked his ears up, listening to the man in the next room. A sigh in relief filtered through the wall, making the clown giggle to himself, shaking his head. What an idiot... When the doorknob, a gloved hand snaked around the handle of skillet. Dark eyes admired its weight and how quickly the metal was able to heat up.
'Sakura could use one of these. The pans she has now are garbage. Non-stick my ass... She'd be better off cooking over an open flame if that's all she has to work with.'
Creeping alongside the kitchen wall, he already knew how this would play out. The clown already knew of this person, but after watching him on-and-off for the last week, it was easy to discern what kind of man he was.
A dead one.
This cretin was the lowest-level of trash imaginable. The Joker hadn't encountered someone like this in a while, even taking his wn men into consideration. What this person had done was a personal attack that wouldn't be forgiven. No amount of money, tears, or apologies could stop what was about to happen.
The fact that Jin was trying to move in on his turf was more than enough reason to act, but he had to take it a step further. Much further... He pushed Sakura into staying on a blind-date that she wasn't aware of or wanted to take part in. When she wasn't paying attention, that cockroach touched her without consent, making the pinkette visibly upset. That wasn't the worst part. Not by a long shot... That annoying ability he had was used to rape her mind, delving deep and toying with everything he found. Using the information stored in there to his own advantage, pretending as if he actually knew her.
The Joker was the furthest thing from a saint. The furthest... It would almost seem laughable for him to judge anyone at all. By most accounts, he could care less what anyone did, no matter how terrible it was. As long as it didn't mess with him or his plans... That's where Jin screwed-up. He should have stayed away, knowing damn well the clown was involved with Sakura in some way. The card in the restaurant would have been more than enough to send most running for the hills. Obviously, this man couldn't take a hint.
He took advantage of Sakura when she was the most vulnerable, no doubt figuring it would be easy-pickings. She was confused and afraid, not knowing who she is and looking for comfort. The pinkette reached out for stability from the rug being pulled out from beneath her. It was supposed to be the Joker who would catch her, not this trash in his web of lies. Using his ability to trick her into believing they grew up together and forcing her to act as a human shield last night. That was the last straw. What if it had been anyone else holding the gun? She could have been shot dead, just so this low-life could try to protect his own ass.
Jin had insulted him on too many levels. Trying to take what was his, impersonating him, using and toying with Sakura's life... It was unforgivable. The pinkette would be taught a lesson as well for allowing it to happen, but in a much different way. She was still his, even if she didn't remember it yet. He didn't like people touching what belonged to him, much less trying to take it.
Any second now, he would pop his head out from his bedroom to make sure no one was left. Probably hoping it was the Joker himself that had been shot dead. That was never going to happen. Some dreams really don't come true.
The door opened with Jin gripping the gun in his hands, looking down at the dead men on the floor. Blowing out a deep breath, his muscles relaxed, letting out a relieved chuckle. Glancing up at the brooding figure quickly approaching, he yelled out in surprise, pointing the gun straight at the clown.
Click. Click. Click.
"Shit!"
A horrified expression washed over his features as the Joker laughed. The burning-hot skillet smashed against the side of his face, before he could react. His eyes rolled up into the back of his head, losing consciousness from the from the crushing blow. It only took one swing, just like the clown knew. The man crumpled to the ground, knocked-out cold.
Eyeing the skillet with a smile, he spun the handle around, admiring his handiwork. A layer of skin from Jin's face was seared to the bottom. He knew it as soon as it stuck for a moment on the recoil. Not so handsome anymore.
"Not so handsome anymore. Hmm?" Tossing the pan to the floor, he gazed down at the limp man, unable to wipe the grin from his ruined mouth. A gloved hand grabbed the back of his hair, tearing his head up from the floor to look at his face.
"What? Nothing? Jeez... Tough crowd tonight..." With a chuckle, he dropped Jin's head, letting it smack hard against the floor.
Waltzing into the kitchen, he grabbed a chair and dragged it into the living room. It was hard to resist just stomping the man's face into a bloody pulp beneath his foot, but this required a bit finesse. A little more style... The punishment needed to fit the crime.
Stopping to reach for one of the dead men on the floor, the clown sighed, tugging the underlings plus-size shirt up to reveal a rope around his waist. Joker started pulling on rope with a huff, trying to unravel it from around the body.
"C'mon, fat boy!" Using his boot, he rolled the man over, yanking it from beneath him.
"For fucks sake... I need to start having standards for henchmen..."
Tossing the rope next to the chair, the clown walked back towards Jin, feeling more agitated by the minute. Grabbing him by the ankle, he dragged him across the floor into the living room, going out of the way to hit the corner of every wall and piece of furniture.
Lifting him up by the collar of his shirt, the clown propped him up on the chair. It only took a moment or two to secure the ropes, ensuring limited movement and no means of escape. The star of the show couldn't possibly leave, not before the grand finale. No one is able to get out of his knots. It didn't matter how hard they tried.
"Let the games begin..." Standing back and glaring at Jin's face, a frown pulled at the corners of his mouth. The ttrash was still unconscious... Swiping his tongue along the scar that curled up to his cheek, it was tempting to just bludgeon the man to death for what he's done. For what he was trying to do. It was unforgivable... These gloves hands had killed for much less.
"C'mon, sleeping beauty. Wake up, I don't have all night!" Backhanding him across the face, Joker was already losing patience. He couldn't care less that it was his own fault for knocking him out in the first place.
'Details. Details...'
"Rise and shine!" Smacking his cheek with a gloved hand, Jin's eyes slowly fluttered open. "Ah! There we go... Now we're cooking with gas."
His head lulled back and forth, starting to gain focus as a groan forced its way out. Confused and dazed, the first thing he saw was the demented clown grinning down at him. Panic set in immediately, realizing what was going on. Trying to fight against the ropes binding him down to the chair, he desperately flailed, yelling at the top of his lungs.
"Fuck! You son of a bitch! What did you do to my face?!" Without hesitating, a wad of spit was shot in the clown's face. A grimace twisted his greasepainted mug, wiping it off with his gloved hand. "Untie me! Man-to-man!"
"Hohohahaha!" The Joker shook his head as he paced across the floor, trying to keep the anger boiling up to a tolerable level. If it got to him, there wouldn't be anything stopping him from ending the show earlier than planned. "You're tied to a chair after being knock-out cold...but you're worried about your pretty face? Tsk, tsk... You really need to get your priorities in order."
Jin froze in his seat, staring up at the madman. There was no way of getting out of this, not now... Tonight, he is going to die. The fact that the Joker bothered to even come all the way here proved that. The only reason there had been a reprieve was from the Batman's intervention last night. Otherwise, the Joker would have shot him. He still tried to when they were running away, even with the caped crusader there. It was only a matter of time...
"What? Is this about Sakura?... I don't know what your deal is, but you need to stay away from her! I know that's what you're after."
The clown's jaw shifted, backhanding him harder than the last time. The force made the room spin, his teeth rattling painfully. "You have a lot of nerve talking about her to me, after what you did. Intrusive little roach... Did you, ah, really think you could get away with such a bullshit lie and not get caught? Don't think she'd end up figuring it out?"
Jin glared up at him hard, trying his best not to flinch. It was best to go down swinging in any way possible, especially if this was the end of the road.
"What's it to you?"
"Hahh..." A gloved hand slipped into one of the pockets inside of the purple trench coat, pulling out a dingy-looking rag. Reaching up, he made quick work of wiping off most of the smeared greasepaint on his face. If what he thinks happened last night actually did, then this was going to be good... Crouching down with a mostly bare-face, his dark eyes stared into the other man's.
Brows furrowed in confusion, not understanding what this madman's reasoning was to take off the paint. It only took a few seconds, before his jaw dropped, eyes popping open when the dots connected. Recognition hit like a ton of brick as Jin's threw himself back against the chair in shock. "Y-You!"
"Yeah, ah, that's what it is to me." Cocking his head to the side, he enjoyed the man's bewilderment and outrage. "I don't think there's any need for introductions, now. Hmm?"
"You bastard! It was you all along... Heh... I thought it was strange." The chair shifted on the floor, his body racked with laughter. "You're an even bigger moron than I thought!"
Joker's bit into his own cheek, irritation gnawing at his nerve of this guy... Balling up a fist, he punched him in the gut, knocking the wind from his lungs. The hit stopped any laughter dead in its tracks as his head rocked forward from the force.
"What's so funny? I didn't even deliver the punchline yet!"
"Ack!... Hah... You are the punchline... To your own joke, fool. I get it now... I was being too hasty." Sweat trailed down the side of his face, mixing into the blood from where his skin was torn off. "So. What are you going to do now? Well, Jack? Is your plan to drive her insane? That way you can drag her around the streets with you?" Jin knew there was no getting out of this unscathed, but if anything... He could at least get under the maniac's skin. If there was a way of touching him with his hands, this could have a different outcome. The clown must know about his ability, that's why his hands were bound so tight.
Hearing that name made the Joker's eye twitch hard. The only one allowed to call him that was Sakura. No one else even knew that name. Anger was quickly turning into full-on rage. He was starting to lose grip on his baser-self, debating whether to just end this little charade now. Whatever he chose to do with Sakura was none of this man's business. He said and knew too much to have any chance of getting out of this.
Curling up his lip, he reached into the pocket of his pinstriped pants, pulling out a blade.
"Ya know... Ya got a lot of balls for a dog. I'm sure from looking through Sakura's memories, you know what I wanted to be when I was a brat. Right?" Laughing as he twirled the blade between his gloved fingers, the expression on Jin's face was priceless. "I wanted to be a vet... I think for the good of the community, you need to be neutered."
"You're a fucking psycho! What? Are you gonna cut me up? Who would have thought the "Great Clown Prince of Crime" took things so personally!" Grinding his teeth together, it was impossible for Jin to stop the shaking throughout his limbs. "What are you expecting to happen? Do you honestly think she's going to just run into your arms now, if you get rid of everyone around her?"
"Yeah." The clown squinted, looking at the blade appreciatively, turning it back and forth in the light illuminating from the kitchen. They were always so...beautiful. Like a dedicated lover, if someone takes great care with attention to detail, they could bring endless pleasure and satisfaction. Something he could always rely on to make things better, willing to help him with any problems that needed to be solved. Blades would never leave on their own, not unless he threw them away.
'Sharp enough... Should have brought one that was dull..'
"Ahaha. Sakura can't stand your guts! Just the thought of you terrifies her. You already know that I can look into someone's head and sift through their memories... Through their feelings... So I can tell you right now, I think I know her better than you do. If you saw what I have, you would just stay away from her."
Dark eyes shifted from the blade, towards the man on the chair, turning murderous.
"You're going to kill me anyway, so I don't care! I know who and what you are. She's happy now and all you want to do is bring her down to your level. Make her just as ugly and twisted... I tried to give her solace, so that she could move on. You're just going to ruin everything." Jin kept rambling on, seeing how his words were affecting the clown, at how enraged he was becoming. It was worth it, even to get under this man's skin by even an inch. He was as good as dead anyway.
"What can you do? What do you have to offer?! A life of crime and being on the run, day and night? Putting her life at risk for your own selfishness? She'll end up dead-" Before he could even register what was happening, the clown lunged forward. Grabbing the back of his head, the blade was shoved between his lips. Huffing and growling out, the feral look on his eyes made Jin's blood run cold, seeing the unbridled rage in them.
Lips curling back into a malicious grin, the blade slid through corner of his mouth, dragging it through flesh and facial muscles up at an angle. Blood poured down his face and throat, screams becoming just a gurgle as the crimson liquid blocked his airway. Legs kicked frantically, trying to make the man looming over him back away...to stop the vicious act. Pain shot throughout his face, pulsing and searing. A fire that burned cold, going far beyond the limits of hot. It was unimaginable. Never before had he ever experienced anything that could even come close to what was happening now.
"Arghhhh! Ah... Gah!"
Taking a step back, dark eyes flickered back and forth, taking a good look at his artwork without a smile. The anger was too overwhelming for him to even laugh at the man's suffering.
Jin's chest heaved with labored breaths, looking up wildly in shock. The pain was unbearable. How could anyone do something so cruel to another human being? With a look of outrage, he gathered up all the blood in his mouth and spat as much as he could on the knife-wielding maniac.
"What, did...hah...I strike a nerve? You know I'm right! Ha...arghhh... Fuck!" It hurt just to talk. Every time his mouth opened, the skin pulled at itself where it was cut open. "She'll never care about you again... Even if-Even if she does remember... You've done...ah..too much. My..ack!..My ability made her feel safe...because you didn't. It was the fear you brought that...pushed her towards me!"
Grabbing Jin's head roughly, the clown dug his blade into the other side of his mouth, tearing through the other side. Just like his own smile, the clown made sure the sides weren't even... Legs swung and shook against the ropes as he shrieked, blood pouring down the front of his shirt.
"AHhh..ha.." Jin's dark eyes started to roll back, the pain too much to bear. A gloved hand smacked against his cheek, refusing to let him go under.
"C'mon, now! Can't be falling asleep. We're just getting started!" The Joker grinned maliciously, his voice sounding playful for the first time since tying the man to the chair.
"She won't...forgive you for this..." Jin's head hung limply, barely able to keep his open. They stared down at his own soiled shirt, almost in dissbelief that it was all from his mouth. "You... This is all...your fault. Shitty...clown.."
"Huh? What was that? C'mon! I was able to talk better than that when I got my perty smile!" The clown raised his hands up, pointing to his own scars with the bloody knife twisted between his gloved fingers.
"Haha, I know." The smug smile on his face sent Joker reeling. It was clear what he was saying. From being in Sakura's head, he had already seen everything.
Snarling, a foot smashed into the his bound chest, knocking the chair over backwards. Jin's head his the floor with a hard thud, lights bursting behind his eyes. There was no way to move or brace himself with how tight the ropes were tied.
Jin let his head lie limply on the floor, falling to the side. All he could do was watch the blood running from his face. It pooled beneath him, soaking into the carpet, changing its color from light tan to a dark red. A gloved hand gripped his hair, yanking up and forcing him onto his back. The joints of the chair dug into his spine, his dead weight pressing hard against it.
"Go ahead! Just kill me...already you..hah..fucking freak! Go on! Don't be such a pussy!... I'll have the last laugh anyway. You're just...a psychopath who wouldn't even keep her safe!... Just a..sad joke! As if she could ever care for someone like you-"
Jin's eyes widened when the blade pierced his stomach. The Joker was crouched down over him, dark eyes wide and shaking in rage. Pulling his arm back and raising it up, he brought the knife down again, blood seeping through the man's shirt.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP ALREADY."
"...She'll never..forgive...you..." The clown leaned in, his upper lip twisted into a sneer. Jin's voice was barely audible as he laid in a puddle of blood, slowly sinking into the padding beneath him.
"I, ah, think she'll get over it. I'll make her..." The blade came down again, stabbing the man on the chair relentlessly. He couldn't stop himself, losing any sense of self-control he barely could hold on to. This man knew what happened, what the Joker had been through, and was shoving it all in his face. Mocking and laughing at him...at what they had gone through. Saying things he didn't want to hear or think about. It didn't matter if any of it was true or not.
What broke the bough was throwing it in the Joker's face that he couldn't keep Sakura safe back then. He already fucking knew that far better than anyone else could ever imagine. For all these years, he had to live with that weighing him down. Shattering his mind over and over again, each time putting the pieces back together in a different assortment. Hoping the next time, it might be sturdy enough to be able to weather the storm. It never did, leaving him to try all over again from the beginning. This trash had no idea. For a person like Jin, it was like watching a sad movie through someone else's eyes. For the clown, it was his life and inner-turmoil.
Even when Jin stopped breathing, the blade didn't stop moving. Slashing and tearing at every bit he could, hands quaking with the savage rage boiling over. He hadn't reached this level of bloodlust in years, and he was going to take everything out on the body beneath him.
When the Joker killed someone, it was for fun or to send a message. This time was different... This was personal.
Jin invaded Sakura's mind, manipulated her memories, and knew too damn much. That was more than enough reason to end his miserable existence. Earlier in the day, the fool tried contacting Harvey Dent's office from a mobile device. The call didn't make it though... The clown made sure of it.
'Probably wanted to tell him what he knew about me, in exchange for protection for him and Sakura... As if that would do anything...'
Blood trailed along the bare skin of his face, dripping down from his chin. Dark red droplets decorated his chest and the purple dress shirt he was wearing.
"Mmmm..." Closing his eyes, Joker groaned, rolling his head along his broad shoulders. Basking in the euphoria and afterglow such acts always brought. The rage was slowly ebbing away, replaced with an electriifying sensation spreading through his veins. This was it, what he thirsted for. The blood and carnage, feeling life slipping through his gloved fingers by his own will. Becoming intoxicated by the power and thrill that came with it. His tan skin prickled with goosebumps at the feel of the warm blood seeping through his clothes.
Licking his lips, the clown let out a long, deep breath, humming with satisfaction. Looking down through his shadowy, hooded eyes, his head shifted to the side, taking in the scene with careful detail. Dark orbs lit up at the masterpiece, enjoying the work he does. What a mess... He loved it.
"Not, ah, looking so pretty now. Hmm?" His face twisted into a haughty sneer, sliding a gloved hand into his back pocket. The little gift for his little bunny was still there, waiting to be finished to his standards. She needed to understand her position and stop playing games to make him so-so angry. Sakura should know better by now what will happen when she does such frivolous things... Going out with other men, sneaking around on him, confiding in and trying to lean on them.
Sakura will learn... He'll make her learn.
Joker can be a patient man when a lesson needs to be drilled into someone's head. Figuratively or literally. He will help her, keep teaching her, until she gets it right. Just like when they were younger, when she would come to him for answers. This might be a different problem, but he can still solve them all the same. Pulling out some paper and examining them, he tapped a gloved finger against his chin. His lip curled up at the sudden idea.
"Ah, yes. This will do nicely..."
Joker leaned down, using his thumb to smear some of the blood from Jin's 'smile'. He used the red ink to add the finishing touch that was missing from the message. Holding it up to the light, he chuckled to himself, finally satisfied.
"Perfect..."
Sakura rushed around the apartment, grabbing only her purse and what was absolutely necessary. Clothes...shoes...jewelry... All of those meaningless things could all be replaced somewhere down the road. None of that was important and would only slow her down.
'I'm out... I'm out... I'm out of this goddamn city!'
A taxi was waiting out front of the apartment building. She'd called one in advance, more than ready to get as far away from Gotham as physically possible. There was no use in staying anymore.
After seeing the message Joker had left on the windowsill, there was nothing left to keep her here anymore. Ino would be fine, she always managed. Bruce would do what he's always done...and Jin...
'Jin is probably already dead...because of me.'
If only they hadn't met... All of this just from Ino trying to push her to go out on a date, so she wouldn't have be lonely. It wasn't worth it. None of it was.
'Stupid...'
It was her own fault for giving Jin the chance to use his ability on her. Letting him have the opportunity to mess with her emotions and mind. Looking back, none of it made sense anyway. The memories she had and the face that was added, seemed a bit...off. There was no doubt in hell that there was a lot more to his 'gift', than he let on.
What would that change now? He was gone. Nothing mattered anymore. Anyone who gets too close will just end up being murdered, before that demented clown finally decides to kill her. It would be for the best if she was gone, that way no one else would get hurt...
The past was the past, and now she really didn't want to know. All it did was bring pain and misfortune. So much for good luck...
Walking through the front doors of the building in a rush, she looked around carefully, wondering if anyone was watching. There was anyways that strange feeling, creeping up her spine. Green eyes flickered each way, scanning for anything out of the ordinary. That clown was so tricky, he could be disguised as a bush or a fire hydrant and she wouldn't even realize it, until it was too late.
'Now I know I'm being too paranoid... That's too much, even for him.'
No one suspicious seemed to be around, but that didn't mean squat. After all, she hadn't noticed the clown in the restaurant either, when Joker tried to smash Jin's head in with a liquor bottle...
A drawn out sigh pushed through Sakura's lips as she fiddled with the sleeves of her sweater. A cold breeze swept by, blowing the long pink locks all around and obscuring her view. She swatted at them, wanting to take the emotions bottled up inside out on something. Since the clown was no where in sight, the rebellious hair would have to do for now.
Anxiety was scratching at the pinkette's insides as doubt starting washing over her. Was this even a good idea? Would it even matter? What was going to stop the Joker from tracking her down after he realized that she ran away? Would he really go through all that trouble? It just didn't seem worth it in her mind. Who the hell was she? No one to get so riled up about.
It was now or never. Shaking the whirlwind of panicked thoughts from her head, she sucked in a sharp breath. She can do this... Grabbing the handle and opening the cab door, she quickly hopped in, trying to steel her resolve before it crumbled. If she didn't leave now, there might be no going back to the way things were...
The car took off quickly, screeching when it rounded the corner. The pinkette propped her chin up against her palm, looking out the window solemnly. Hopefully this would be the last time she would have to see the city streets of Gotham again...
Leaning back against the seat, Sakura stared off into the distance. She swallowed hard, wondering what to do after this. The plan was to drive to over to the next city and reach their airport as quickly as possible. The one in Gotham apparently had bombs planted there, if the clown was telling the truth... There was an international flight that could take her back home to Tokyo. At least it would be safer than staying here. The Joker wouldn't leave his beloved playground for someone like her, right? Compared to Dent and the Batman, she was fodder. A nobody... It wouldn't even be worth the time it would take to track where she went, let alone going to an entirely different country just to find her.
'Maybe I could go to Kyoto from Tokyo... Or a small town, where no one knows anything... I could start over and try to forget everything. It could be like a new beginning... Again.'
Closing her eyes, she took in a deep breath, passing block after block.. Once the car drove over the Gotham City Bridge, she would officially be out of this damn city. That's when things would get hard. There was so much to do.
'I'll call Ino and Bruce, once I'm far out enough... They will understand, after I explain what's happening.'
It was either lose her sanity or life, maybe both. That would undoubtedly include the people she cares for being harmed along the way. All she could do was leave and hope for the best. The Joker made it clear that being around her was dangerous. If she really cared for them, she'd stay as far away as humanly possible.
What would the Joker do when he found her apartment empty? Would he try to track her down? Go on a killing spree? Burn the place down?
For some ungodly reason, thinking about how angry it would make him put a small smile on her face. After all the pain and suffering he caused, it would be nice to see him squirm for once. He deserved whatever came his way. A lowlife criminal who thrived from the suffering of others. It was a wonder why God would allow somone like that to keep on living. That man was undoubtedly a product of Satan himself... Unless, he's actually the devil himself in the flesh...
'Maybe I've already lost it...'
A small chuckle left her lips, imagining his rage at the fact that he missed his opportunity to kill her by waiting too long. There had been so many times in the last two weeks that he could have done it...
'Why didn't he? Then again, Jin said he's the type who likes to play with his food, before eating it...'
The driver looked in the rear view mirror with a raised brow, curious about what the small woman in the back was laughing to herself about. Looking away, the pinkette didn't care what he thought, not embarrassed at her own seemingly odd behavior. It's not like anyone could understand. No one would, not unless they experienced it for themselves.
'I doubt anyone would even believe me...'
Green eyes glanced back out the window, leaning her head against the side. She stared at the buildings passing by with a strange fondness. If it wasn't for all the criminals and lunatics, this city might not have been such a bad place to live. Aside for the slums... The Narrows. The section of Gotham everyone tried to avoid...
'Doesn't matter...'
So close... The bridge wasn't far now. In the next 10-15 minutes, she would be safely on the other side and out of Gotham. Away from all the crimes and murders, the madness and chaos...and most importantly, that crazy clown.
The sky turned a beautiful shade of deep red as the sun started to set. Sakura couldn't help marveling at the sight. Clouds drifted across the scene, hues of whites and grays dancing and swirling against the warmly painted backdrop, like erratic brush strokes on a canvas. A soft sigh left her pink lips as she admired the skyline. How ironic... What a beautiful view, over such a chaotic place.
It seemed like even the heavens were on fire above Gotham, getting burned just from being too close. The same fate of everything that touches this city...The way the sky looked, it reminded her of...flames.
The car slowly came to a stop on the road, just short of reaching the bridge. Bolting up and looking around, paranoia set in before she realized they were just stuck in traffic.
'Oh... Thank God...'
Sakura couldn't help shaking her head with a laugh at her own wild thoughts. Of course the roads would be a backup like this. It was well into rush hour and the bridge was always busy with people coming in and out of the city.
The cab lurched slowly, moving at a snail's pace, making restlessness set in. The next city was practically right there. The sign letting drivers know they were leaving Gotham was in sight. Shifting anxiously on the seat, the pinkette couldn't wait to finally make it to the other side, to try starting over once again. She's done it before, and she'll do it again.
"So close..." A sigh left her lips, taking one last glance at the city in the mirror. They were inching closer now, the railing of the bridge alongside the car now. This was it. She would be free... A smile tugged at her lips just at the thought alone.
"And yet, so far." The driver's voice broke the pinkette from her dream-like state as his dark eyes looked at her in the rear view mirror. A gloved hand held up a phone for her to see, pressing down hard on the call button.
An explosion made the car shake as flames engulfed the bridge. In an instant, the large expanse that had been known as one of Gotham's 'pride and joy's was blown sky-high, collapsing in on itself. Rubble flew everywhere as smoke blew over all the vehicles overhead.
Sakura's eyes widened as the cars ahead of them were engulfed in the blast and the bridge fell apart, everything that had been there was now falling into the bay.
Cars, trucks, people... All blown to bits, along with the enormous structure they had been on... Everything that hadn't been incinerated, dropping into the freezing dark waters below.
The black smoke whirling around made it hard to see anything as sirens suddenly filled the air. Everything was on fire, burning to hell. Screams could barely be heard over the main exit from Gotham crumbling into the darkness.
Sakura let out a shrill scream, small hands desperately grabbing her head in disbelief, fingers tearing at the pink locks hanging low. Green eyes stared wildly at the scene, not trusting her own vision. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think... unable to comprehend what had just happened in only seconds. One minute, they were about to cross over into the next city. The next, everything was gone... A large gaping hole where the great bridge once stood, a trail of carnage and destruction left in its wake.
This wasn't real...couldn't be... It had to be part of a terrible joke of some horrible nightmare, and she would wake up any moment. Right?
The driver turned around with a sneer on his face.
The Joker sat in the front seat in a cab drivers uniform. Face devoid of the familiar greasepaint he always wore, his skin completely bare. His stringy hair was slicked back beneath a newsboy cap, the ones only the cabbies in Gotham wore. The only recognizable part of him was the cracked, jagged scars around his mouth.
"Didn't I tell you not to do anything stupid?... Then you just had to go and blow up the bridge. What a maniac!... And they say I'm crazy! HAHAHAWOOHAHAAA!"
Seeing the joy in his face... The mirth dancing in his cold, dark eyes... Hearing the excited laughter making his chest shake... It all sent the pinkette into a rage. This clown probably killed well over a hundred people just to send a message. Just to let her know there was no chance of escaping him.
Grinding her teeth and listening to the raucous laughter bouncing around the taxi, Sakura reached her breaking point. A small fist flew forward, straight for his jaw... The laughter stopped as the pinkette threw another, not holding back anymore. He deserved anything she could give him, and much more. Swinging as hard as she could, her knuckles connected with the clown's nose as he put his hands up to try to block her. The crunching sound it made gave her a small sliver of satisfaction when blood started to leak down his bare face.
"Knock it off! You're going to ruin my pretty face!" Hearing his chuckle made her feel sick, backing off.
'Is this sick bastard enjoying it?'
Joker grinned as he turned to look at her, not seeming to care about the blood trailing down his face, dripping from his chin. The sight made the pinkette grimace, anger coursing through her at how useless her efforts seemed. Was this man too crazy to even feel any pain? His tongue swiped over his bottom lip, licking the crimson liquid as it ran over. He hummed appreciatively at the metallic taste, smacking his lips. Like his own blood was the best thing he's tasted in a long time...
Sakura pushed herself back against the seat, away from him. He truly was a psychopath... Who enjoyed getting punched in the face and licking their own blood?
'I have to get away.'
Grabbing the door handle, she desperately pulled at it, trying to get out...but it wouldn't open.
"Don't bother, dollface. Ya can't open it from that side. Why don't you, ah, relax and let's have a little chit-chat. Hmm? There's lots I wanna talk about." Pulling a dirty rag from his pocket, the clown started wiping the blood from his face.
"Fuck you, psycho!" Reaching down and pulling the shoe from her foot, the barefaced clown's eyes lit up, expecting for the pinkette to start beating him with it.
Taking the heel of the shoe, Sakura smashed it against the window as hard as she could, shattering it. Before Joker could turn in his seat and lunge for her, she shoved her thin arm through gaping hole she made, grabbing onto the door handle from the outside.
A broken shard of glass sticking up sliced the pinkette's forearm open in her haste, making blood run down her pale skin and onto the frame of the window. Gloved fingers just barely grazed the sleeve of her sweater as she threw herself from the backseat. She fell onto the glass littered ground, right outside of the cab.
"Gahhh!" A large fist slammed against the steering wheel in agitation, the muscles in his face twitching. Pursing his lips tightly, the clown muttered angrily, turning and kicking the drivers side door open. He had to get out, before the small woman had a chance to run away again.
Sakura looked back and forth, not knowing what to do now. Smoke filled the air, stinging her frantic green eyes darting around. The smog was burning the pinkette's lungs as the fire on the bridge rose higher. If she ran one way, it would only be into the flames and the other direction was full of cars piled up against each other. People getting out, gathering around in shock, trying to see what happened.
"Ha. Ha. Ha." Stepping from the cab and standing tall, Joker grabbed the cap from his head, throwing it on the ground. A gloved hand reached up to ruffle his wavy hair, returning it to the wild mess it usually was... The way he liked it. Dark eyes stared at her, taking a few exaggerated steps forward. Those cold black pits in his sockets... They reminded the pinkette of a snake's, how they narrowed in on their prey. The way his tongue shot out to lick his lips only added to the mental image.
"C'mon, Sakura. What's with all the senseless violence?" A smile that didn't quite reach his eyes spread across his face.
'What do I do now? What do I do?! I'm trapped... There's no way to get around him... He's bigger and stronger than me. I punched him with all my strength and that didn't do shit.. There has to be something...'
Not thinking clearly as she whirled around, Sakura's eyes widened seeing maybe one possibility of getting away from the clown. Anything would be better than letting those gloved hands get to her... The pinkette quickly turned, climbing up onto the metal railing along the side of the bridge.
The playful grin faded as Joker watched her, brows furrowing when she stood onto the ledge... Far above the bay.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you... There's rocks down at that end. If you're thinking about jumping, I'd suggest you do it a little, ah, further down... You'll just smash your head from there." The clown stopped in his tracks, staring at her wildly as the muscles tensed beneath the cabbie's uniform. Even from where the pinkette stood, she could see it. His dark eye twitching, shoulders raised up, and the way every part of him seemed to be straining, trying to keep still. The effort to restrain himself from lunging forward and snatching her from off the ledge.
Glancing down, the Sakura gasped when she saw that he was telling the truth. Far below, water from the bay was crashing up against large, jagged rocks... If the pinkette jumped, that would be it. If she was further down like he said, the water would be the only thing she needed to worry about if she fell.
Green eyes darted between the man standing there and the sharp rocks below. Which fate would be worse?
"Get down from there. Now... This isn't funny anymore." Joker's face changed as she shifted her feet on the railing. A small smirk spread across her face at the way he looked. Instead of typical playful or crazy expressions, he looked distressed. It brought some satisfaction seeing the way his demeanor changed.
"You killed Jin, didn't you?" The answer was obvious, but she wanted to hear him say it. Just like he murdered everyone else, without a single care in the world. There was a special place in hell for people like him.
"Yeah." Taking a cautious step forward, a gloved hand reached out towards her. "C'mon, take my hand..." His tongue snaked out, running over his bottom lip, shaking his arm out impatiently, demanding her to take it. "NOW."
Sakura froze, seeing the look in his eyes. They stared wildly and frantic, practically pleading with her. Perhaps the pinkette was losing her mind, seeing things that weren't really there. The clown seemed angry and...almost scared at the same time. As if just her standing on the ledge was making him panic. He was trying to get closer, without making any sudden movements that might startle the pinkete or make her fall off. Despite enjoying seeing him feeling a small part of the desperation she felt, the sight made her chest tighten uncomfortably.
'Unbelievable...'
Did she almost feel sorry for the madman? Maybe insanity was contagious... It must have rubbed off from the clown at some point in the last two weeks. Either way, if she did take his hand, it would be no better than jumping. At least this would be much quicker than anything he had planned for her...
"Sakura!" Joker yelled out angrily, lunging forward to drag her off from the ledge. Before he could grab her, the pinkette instinctively took a step back. Bare feet slipped on the smooth metal railing, falling backwards. Reaching out to grab onto something, there was only air as her eyes widened, realizing what she'd done.
Falling back, her feet left the metal and there was nothing...
Joker screamed when he the pinkette fall backwards from the ledge, dark orbs straining in disbelief at what just happened. It wasn't supposed to go this way... Running forward jumping onto the railing himself, he ripped the thick cabbie coat frantically from his shoulders.
It felt like everything was going in slow motion. Sakura looked up at the clown as she soared through the dark sky. The look on his face was priceless. Bare face completely terror-stricken and for some reason, it just felt right. Who knew this was all it took to bring the man who was terrorizing the city to devastation?
It was funny. She was going to have the last laugh, after all. At least the clown could feel a tiny portion of the what his existence brought to her for himself.
"Hahahahaha!" The laugh reverberated through her chest and into the cold air as she fell through the air. She could still see the clown hanging over the ledge, screaming her name. He knew it would be useless to jump at his point. It was too late. All that would happen if he did, was give the police two extra bodies to pull out of the bay.
'It's over now...'
Despite the laugher, tears ran down her face, realizing the reality of what just happened. Her life was over now. It wasn't like the pinkette wanted to die... She didn't mean to step backwards. It was just an automatic reaction to having the clown coming after her.
Closing her eyes, Sakura waited to hit the rocks at the bottom. It was weird... Soaring downwards... It felt familiar... Seeing the look in the Joker's eyes hit her straight in the gut. Why? Why did it matter if she jumped? What difference did it make if she disappeared from this world? Was he upset someone else took away his fun? That he wasn't the one to have the last laugh?
"There's lots I wanna talk about."
Something made her chest tighten painfully as the tears kept coming. It was all a mistake and it was too late to do anything about it now. She didn't want to die. Not now...not like this...
"Dammit!" She screamed, falling fast and going headfirst towards the rocks.
Something large barreled into the pinkette, knocking the air right out of her lungs. An arm wrapped around her waist, holding on tight.
Instead of hitting the bottom, Sakura was gliding through the night sky in someone's arm. Shaking, she gasped harshly as her chest stuttered, lungs burning from the frigid air. Never before did the pinkette realize how desperately she wanted to live.
Looking up hesitantly, almost afraid of seeing the clown's rage, her neck craned back in shock seeing the man dressed in all black. This was the second time seeing him, face obscured by the mask covering it, hiding his identity. It was almost unbelievable... How someone could have such impeccable timing. The man swung them back up towards the ledge, holding onto some contraption connected to a thick black cord. It was almost the width of a grown man's wrist. Strong and sturdy, especially if it was able to hold both of their weight...
Feeling the cement beneath her feet, Sakura fell to her knees when he let go, gasping for breath. Glancing up her savior, she froze seeing the Batman staring down at her. Crouching down onto his knee, a large hand clasped her thin shoulder as she shook from the adrenaline coursing through her veins. That had been such a horrible...rush.
"Are you okay?" A raspy deep voice asked in concern, hand rubbing along the pinkette's shoulder and back, in almost a comforting way. It was clear this wasn't something the man seemed used to, but was still trying anyway. It felt reassuring and familiar at the same time. She was still shaking, knowing she had been a few seconds away from smashing into the rocks if it hadn't been for him. With a shaky nod, she silently thanked God for the intervention.
"Thank you... Thank you so much..."
Being so close to ending it made Sakura want to hold onto life with all she had. It made the pinkette realize how desperately she really wanted to live... With the good and the bad. All it takes is being on the brink of losing something precious in order to truly appreciate it.
