"Puddin'! You found her! I-" The Joker smashed his fist into her face.
"Fool! You let her get AWAY! Your only job was to make sure that the cat wouldn't escape! You couldn't even do THAT??"
Again, his fist hit Harley's face, now wet with tears. Her voice was fading.
"But Puddin'! I-I tried, really! It's just that...well, she's tricky, Puddin'! She's Catwoman, after all! I'm sorry!"
He struck her once more, this time knocking her to the ground.
"I know who this is." He dropped Catwoman's body to the ground and pointed to her.
"This is an essential part of my plans. You on the other hand..." Harley raised her hand above her head in fear.
"Lucky for me I caught the little minx prowling about, I even got to test my new stun gun on her! Two birds with one stone. Hah!" Harley quickly glanced at the scorched wound on Catwoman's side in disgust.
"Take care of the cat, and make sure that her chains are tight. I want her to be gasping for air."
Harley dragged Catwoman's body to the basement. She reinforced the chains and propped her up against the wall.
"Hey, Hey! Catlady, wake up." Harley gave Catwoman a light slap across her face.
"Wha...what? Where am..?" Catwoman glanced at her surroundings, suddenly remembering the situation at hand.
"Crap." She leaned her head against the wall and closed her eyes in disappointment.
"Yea, ya shouldn't have gotten in his way." Harley's attempts to justify The Joker's actions were often useless.
Catwoman scoffed at Harley.
"By the looks of the swelling on your face, you shouldn't have been in his way either."
Harley's voice grew deep and solemn.
"At least I'm not in love with a sworn enemy. My Puddin' loves me. Whether you believe me or not, I really don't care." Harley turned from Catwoman and began to walk towards the stairs.
"The next time he shows you how much he loves you, there better be an ambulance nearby." Catwoman knew that her spirit was broken easily. Harley walked up the stairs and opened the door. She spoke spitefully.
"Have fun rotting away down here."
Harley closed the door behind her and found The Joker sitting on the velvet green couch, seemingly deep in thought. She spoke faintly.
"She's all chained up, Puddin'. I think ya hurt her pretty bad, she's not goin' anywhere."
He raised his head slowly.
"There's blood on your lips."
Harley quickly wiped her mouth with her hand.
"Oh...heh, yea. Ya sure can throw a punch, Mistah J!" Harley chuckled nervously.
"Sit." He demanded.
Willing to endure his abuse in exchange for love, Harley boldly walked towards The Joker and sat beside him. She rested her head against his shoulder, no longer caring about the consequences.
"You've been quite careless lately."
Harley closed her eyes and nodded.
"I'm sorry, Puddin'."
He placed his gloved hand on her knee. It was the gentlest touch she had felt in years.
"I'll do bedda, I promise." She lowered her head in shame. He reached out his hand to her chin and lifted her head, looking directly into her eyes.
"For your sake, I hope so." He kissed her, leaving traces of her blood on his lips. Slowly, he pulled a dagger from his pocket and placed it below her neck.
"My dear, Harley Quinn. You can't be this simple-minded." He slid the dagger through the collar of her white sweater and pulled downward, tearing the soft material off in disgust.
"Dr. Quinzel died years ago. Should I even have to explain this?" He threw her jester costume at her face.
"You know who you are. You know to whom your heart belongs." He placed the dagger to the middle of her chest and lightly pressed down. She barely felt the pain, but the fear was all too real. She screamed in terror.
"Puddin', ya hurtin' me!!" She closed her eyes and turned her head as he lifted the knife from her chest.
"There we are! Now you won't forget. Ever again. That puts a smile on my face." He grinned at Harley. She looked down at her chest to find the letter "J" carved in blood. She felt dizzy as her neck gave in and her head fell backwards. Her vision grew blurry as her delicate mind became lost in a void of pain and misery beneath the sound of the heavy raindrops pounding against the rooftop. The dawn had emerged as a fierce hunting ground of doubt. She thought of winning the gymnastics championship back in high school, the ethereal white clouds she had once seen in Metropolis. She thought of Poison Ivy's moon garden and never shed a single tear.
"Love...laughter...blue skies...clean air...no more masks...no more blood...laughter...love."
"Love"
-
The sun had risen and he had left her side hours ago to do whatever heinous deed there was to be done. Although her eyes were shut tightly throughout the hours of the dark morning, she hadn't slept. She lay perfectly still as she slowly opened her eyes. Hearing only the sound of her breath, she glanced across the room to find him gone. She shook her head and rubbed her eyes, still feeling dazed and tired. The heat was gone. She shivered as she watched her cold breath rise from her mouth and into the dead air. She stood up and walked to the bed, tearing the blanket form the sheets and wrapping it around her body. The shreds of her sweater were nowhere in sight, she knew he had disposed of them. All that remained was her jester costume lying next to her feet, waiting for her. With the blanket trailing behind her, she walked towards the door leading to the basement. Quietly, she walked down the steps to find Catwoman sleeping uneasily in the corner.
Harley pushed her matted hair away from her face and crouched down in the corner next to Catwoman. She curled her body into the blanket and tucked her head into her chest as she leaned against the wall. Catwoman slowly opened her eyes.
"Uh...Harley? What...? Harley lifted her head, looking at Catwoman directly in her eyes. Catwoman's expression changed into a look of despair at the sight of Harley's face. Not because of the blood or the bruises, but because of Harley's expression of hopelessness. Catwoman put her hand on Harley's shoulder.
"We'll get him."