She walked through a foggy field as her hair flowed behind her like water. There was no sound but the rustling of grass around her. She saw someone standing at the edge of the field, staring at her.
"Hey!" she shouted as she walked towards the tall figure.
"Do you know where we are?" she asked again. The faceless figure stared at her as the sky grew darker. She hadn't noticed that there were no stars.
She hadn't even noticed it was nighttime.
She tried moving but her feet were stuck. She looked down where her legs were submerged into mud and struggled to lift one of them. She failed. She tried again, turning to the motionless figure in front of her.
"Help me!" she shouted as she was suddenly felt moisture up to her waist. She heard water coming from all around her and as the first droplet touched her skin, a bone shuttering scream left her mouth. She could feel her entire body burning up as the water enveloped her completely. She turned up to the figure which was now on its knees, leaning over her.
And suddenly, it was quiet. She could no longer feel, she could no longer see, she didn't even remember where she was. All she heard was a little whisper.
"I won't leave"
Mia woke up with her heart thundering in her chest. She sat up and gasped for air as a chill ran through her body. She felt tears streaming down her eyes as her breathing became heavier. She tried taking some deep breaths to ease the memory of the nightmare. What was it again?
She frowned and thought hard. She just had a dream. But what was it? There was this field. And…
Mia glanced at the paper on the desk and jumped up. She had to write it down or else she would forget. She could already feel it slipping away. There was a field and a man standing at the end of it. And then all she could remember was water burning her skin.
She wrote down anything that she could recall which was not much. When she was done, she sat down on the chair and stared at the paper intensely. The events of that evening had mixed up her brain again. She didn't know who that man was but she had to see him again. Maybe he knew who she was before she got shot.
And why did she get shot? Was she in the mob? Or was it just an accident?
She shook her head and took another piece of paper. First things first. She wrote down the name Dr. Brighton gave her at the hospital. Bruce Wayne. If she could find more about him then maybe she could figure out what happened to her.
Second. Who the fuck was Jack?
Richard stormed into the warehouse in a daze. He had spent the entire night searching for the things the Joker needed to free Crane and calling his brother constantly. He was walking fast like an ogre, and ready to burst.
"Yo Ric, you want a beer?" he heard Bozo shouting from the living room type area. Richard continued walking towards the Joker's room. Harley was waiting outside with a tray of food as the door opened. He was in full makeup but was still wearing just a black t-shirt and a pair of pants.
"Well aren't you the best?" he said at Haley with a smirk as he took the tray from her hands. She giggled and got in the room hopping.
"I can show you other things that I'm the best at" she replied seductively as Joker's eyes landed on Richard.
"Where the fuck is your phone?" Richard spat out angrily and saw his brother's eyes growing dark. He never allowed Richard to talk to him this way in front of others so that first, they didn't know they knew each other on a another level and so that he could maintain the respect of his men. But Richard couldn't give a fuck at that moment.
The Joker smacked his lips and giggled, changing the mood.
"I was kind of busy working on the automatic hand grenades. Sorry for uh, not letting go of the trigger to answer" he said with a raised eyebrow.
"I need to talk to you" Richard told him quietly.
"Did you talk to Crane?" the Joker said as he got in the room and he followed. Harley was laying on the couch observing them and licking a lollipop as she did so. She was wearing purple shorts with fishnet tights and a green crop top, revealing her flat scarred belly.
Richard always thought she tried too much.
"Yes that's not what I wanted-"
"Did he agree?" he interrupted him as he began chewing a piece of bread from the tray.
"What? YES! J that's not what I wanted to tell you!" he said exasperated.
"Then enlighten me" the Joker said dangerously staring at his brother. Richard looked down at Harley who was looking back and forth between them as they spoke. She was still licking her lollipop innocently.
"Alone?" he said. Harley raised her eyebrow and her head snapped towards the Joker.
"I'm running out of patience Richiboy. Spill the beans before it's too late for your head" the Joker said giving him another warning look. He didn't like the way Richard was acting in front of her. If she told anyone about the way they were talking, he would kill him.
"Really you want me to say it? Right now?" Richard said challengingly.
"I have been saying it for five minutes now what else you want me to say" he said with a blank expression.
"- yeah for five minutes?" Richard replied ironically. They were now talking over each other like two twelve year olds.
"-Not so difficult to comprehend that I'm in the verge of killing you-"
"You really want to you fucker-" they kept interrupting each other. Richard shook his head as his brother kept trying to win over the argument.
"Mia is alive" he said, successfully ending the conversation.
The Joker stared at him dumbfounded for a moment before narrowing his eyes in doubt. He was about to say something before looking down at a very interested Harley.
"Get out" he told her quickly and she got up without another word, leaving the room.
"What the hell is this?" the Joker said with a death stare.
"I saw her in Arkham. She has like a memory loss I wasn't able to recover much information"
The Joker was staring at him like a cobra ready to attack. He didn't know why he wanted to hurt his brother so much at that instant. After a moment of pure silence he talked with a harsh tone.
"She died in my arms" he said coldly.
"Apparently she didn't" Richard said and the Joker ran a hand through his hair to keep it from punching him. He didn't like being reminded of those things.
"Ric that's not humanly possible you're a doctor you were there!" he snarled.
"Look I saw her arm is like…covered with burn scars. The girl can't talk either. So, ok, even if this was just a girl that looked like her, there are too many coincidences don't you think?"
The Joker placed his hands on the desk and leaned forward as he let his head hanging. He then turned to his brother in pure hatred but Richard knew it was mixed with the fear of his hopes being crashed.
"If you're wrong-" he began.
"I'm not" Richard replied surely.
Outside the door Harley tiptoed away, making sure they couldn't hear her. Her heart was thundering in her chest at the idea of getting caught eavesdropping. She sat down on the couch next to Bozo, as he offered her a sip from his beer, his eyes never leaving the TV. She took it and drank as thoughts enveloped her.
Who the fuck was Mia? And why did he sound so angry when Richard told him all those things? She knew about a woman that had died, the Joker had told her when she was his doctor at Arkham. He seemed indifferent at the time, but now that she thought about it, she did came up frequently in their sessions. He never gave her a name or details about her. So she never understood how much he actually cared. More than that Mia did. She had forgotten him. Richard said she had a memory loss.
Harley raised her chin and her eyes grew darker. Then maybe she should get to the girl before anyone else did. If she didn't remember the Joker, she was no threat to her. And she was going to let no one touch him besides her. Not now that she was finally free.
"You are TOO quiet" Bozo said. Harley glanced at him as he was staring at her with query.
"Yeah yeah" she said indifferently, no playfulness in her tone as the door of the Joker's room burst open.
"Get up get up get uup! We have another doctor to free" he said and as he walked by the couch, he gave her a wink.
Harley giggled as she got up, making sure her knife was safely on her belt.
"So you don't want to try out hypnosis? I think it could work" Dr. Young said in disappointment drinking her first coffee of the day. Mia took the piece of paper and wrote down.
I want to leave and try to find out what happened myself.
Dr. Young read the paper and sighed. She rubbed her chin and looked up at her.
"Well, you have the right to leave. You decided to come and you are not a threat to others or yourself. But have you thought about where you'll go?" she said. Mia shook her head and shrugged her shoulders.
"Then maybe you should stay until-"
Mia shook her head with a frown. The woman stared at her for a little while longer before sighing in defeat.
"Ok. Let me clear that out with Gotham's General cause you're enrolled under their authority"
The woman dialed a number and was soon connected with the hospital.
"Yes good morning it's Dr. Young from Arkham Asylum? Oh hi Jinny how are you? haha yes. Yeah actually one of your patients here has decided to leave so I've called you to cancel the payment? Yes. It's" she shuffled through paper "Patient, room 113. Yes. Yes I'll hold" she said and turned to Mia. "If you want to go and get ready to leave I'll take care of it don't worry" she said hastily before returning to the call "Yes? Hi it's Dr. Young from…yes yes"
Mia got up to leave the office when she heard fingers snapping at her. She turned her head and saw her doctor telling her to wait.
"I see. Ok should the patient come there to pick it up? Yes of course. Thank you" she hang up the phone and looked at Mia.
"Well I have good news. They said that when you were admitted to the hospital by a woman a year ago, a few days later Bruce Wayne visited and left a bag for you. He said it was for when you woke up, if you woke up and paid the hospital to keep it safe. So you should probably go pick it up"
Mia's eyes shined. Finally a lead! She nodded with a smile and left the room. She closed the door behind her and rushed to her room to grab some of her stuff. Soon enough, she heard the door swinging open.
"So, I heard some raven is flying away" said Silvia. Mia smiled at her as she stood up. "Are you sure you want to leave? She said and she nodded with sad eyes. Silvia looked at her like a mother looks at a child when it lies "Don't be that way little raven. Everything will be ok. I see the fire in you. you'll be fine" Mia felt her muscles twitch at the thought of fire near her but gulped and lowered her eyes to hide her sudden shock "Come on, let's get you ready"
Silvia had paid a cab for her to take her to Gotham's General Hospital since she didn't know anything about the city. As soon as she was in front of the tall newly built facility, she rushed inside, barely holding her excitement at check. She felt like she was going to finally remember everything. And maybe all those days of pure torment were going to be just a laugh with her friends when the time was right to see them again.
She went up to the second floor and to Dr. Brighton's office. She knocked and got in as he was working on something on his computer.
"Good morning!" he said with a smile "You look great" he said and got up. Mia smiled politely and stared at the man as he walked towards the door. "Follow me" he said. Mia did as she was told, rubbing her hands in anticipation. The doctor led her to a small office and unlocked the door with a cardkey. She stayed behind him as he entered and searched the small lockers embedded in the walls. She saw him pointing to the numbers until he found 113. He took out a small key and unlocked the locker, revealing a black handbag. He pulled it out and handed it to her.
"That came in a few days after you were admitted. I wasn't a doctor here then so I didn't know it existed. Luckily one of the nurses referred to it when you left"
Mia took the bag and placed it on the metal table in the room. She opened the bag with shaky hands as her heart began racing. She looked inside and gasped in shock but at the same time her heart dropped.
Money?
She took one stack in her hand and frowned. She heard the doctor shift position behind her as he got uncomfortable. And perhaps slightly intrigued.
"Well…I mean, it is Bruce Wayne that left them. So. It makes sense" he said clearing his throat. Mia let the stack fall back in the pile and searched through the money with her hands. She was so preoccupied with what she was doing that she almost pushed her head in the bag. When she finally gave up, she pushed the handbag slightly away and sighed.
Nothing. There was nothing else.
Well, she wasn't in the worst position. In there, there were hundreds of thousands of dollars, enough to get her somewhere safe to sleep and something to eat. It was ok for now. She closed the bag and took it with her as they exited the room, a very curious doctor by her side.
"So, I guess this is it" he said giving her his hand for a handshake. She smiled at him politely again "Take care" he said and with that she turned around and headed for the exit.
"Good evening ladies!" the Joker said as he pushed open the door of Atkham Asylum. There were five nurses attending to the rooms and they screamed in sheer terror at the sight of him. One of them ran to the fire alarm on the far end of the corridor but he raised his hand towards her and shot a warning shot next to her ear. The girl screamed and fell to the ground, covering her ears.
"Atatata, I wouldn't do that if I were you beautiful" he said. Five of his men were now running through the corridor with Richard shouting behind them.
"Third floor! 345 move!" he said giving them the instructions for Crane's cell. Suddenly, he heard a gunshot and ducked instinctively. He turned to the right, only to see one of the guards shooting towards them. Both he and the Joker shot back but he hid behind the front desk avoiding their bullets.
Richard approached the desk hastily. He had to stop him before he made a call to the police. But he didn't have to get very far. When the guard raised his gun, he saw a flash of red jumping acrobatically on him. The man fell down with a shriek as Harley raised her baseball bat and hit him hard on the head. Once, twice, three times, four. After that, every hit she made left scarlet drops of blood on her beautiful features as the man drew his last breath. She looked up at him with adrenaline in her eyes and walked towards him slowly, her heels clattering as she approached him.
"You're welcome" she said with a smile and turned to the Joker.
"Good girl. You wanna make sure Crane comes with us?" the Joker said approvingly.
"Yes pudding! Whatever you want!" she said and walked away fast. Richard was about to walk away with her when he felt his brother's hand pulling him backwards from the back of his t-shirt.
"Oh no you don't" the Joker said as Harley turned towards them for one last time. "Where is she?" he said.
"I don't know we'll have to find her" Richard said.
"I'm not much of a comedian but uh, that was definitely not a good joke Richieboy" the Joker said grimly.
"Look I told you I didn't know much information alright? Don't worry she's here somewhere on this floor"
They began looking through the small windows of the rooms on the first floor as gunshots echoed from the floors above. The Joker could feel his heartbeat racing, cursing himself for not being concentrated on the job. But he couldn't help it. Each time he looked through each glass, he could feel himself stop breathing. But every time, the only thing he saw were terrified patients staring back at him covering their heads.
Harley peeked at them from the end of the corridor, feeling her eyes burning at the sight of his intensity. When she finally heard Richard talk, her muscles hurt with delight.
"She's not here" he said. "I saw her! She was here!" he shouted.
"Who put you up to this?" the Joker snapped at him.
"What?" Richard replied confused. In a matter of seconds, the Joker threw him against the wall and put his gun under his chin.
"Who. Put you. up to this?" he spat hatefully.
"Jack I saw her! I wouldn't lie to you get the fuck off!" Richard said as he realized that his brother was in another place in his head.
"WELL WHERE IS SHE HUH!? WHERE IS SHE!?" he barked pushing the gun harder against his chin.
"I DON'T FUCKING KNOW I'LL FIND HER!" Richard shouted back as he glanced down at the gun. His brother never threatened him with death before and he couldn't believe he was doing it now. "I WOULDN'T LIE TO YOU FOR FUCK SAKE!"
They heard footsteps coming down the stairs and Crane appeared walking casually towards them, escorted by five of the Joker's men. Joker stared at Richard with burning eyes for another moment before releasing him. He had to do this another time.
"Ah here you are. I thought our date was postponed" Crane said with both hands in his pockets.
"Move" the Joker ordered his men coldly. He couldn't deal with Crane's sassy mouth at that moment.
They all began walking towards the exit as Bozo glanced at Richard confused. Harley followed behind them with a hidden smile.
"Sooo you didn't find her" Crane said with a smirk. The Joker stopped dead on his tracks and turned towards him as he spoke "the mute girl. She's the one you kidnapped last year, isn't she? What was her name? Mia wasn't it?" he said. The Joker glanced at Richard.
"Start the vans. Out. Now! All of you!" he shouted at his men and they almost sprinted out of the door. He turned his attention back to Crane.
"I saw her wondering around in here for a few days. She seemed, lost" he said as his glassy blue eyes stared at the Joker with amusement. "She was on the news when you took her. I never forget a face clown" he said.
"Do you know where she went?" Richard said, finally recovering from his shock.
"Well, maybe I had someone follow her" he said.
"You're bluffing" the Joker simply stated.
"Maybe I do. But tell me, why do you care? What is she to you clown?" Crane asked with understanding. The Joker's jaw tightened and his muscles twitched under his clothes. He had been careless with his anger tonight and his emotions were all over the place resulting to him catching on to them.
"Careful Crane" he said "We're not out of here yet" he threatened him with a raised eyebrow.
The man laughed humorlessly "Don't worry clown. I just wanted to torture you a little bit. And by the way" he said as he began walking towards the exit "You were right. I was bluffing" he said.
The Joker turned to Richard and giggled. "Well at least we know you're not crazy" he said. Richard turned to him in pure anger. He glanced around him for a moment to make sure nobody was looking. He swung his hand, landing a fist on the Joker's face catching him completely off guard. His head snapped to the side and then he turned to Richard in amusement as the rusty smell of blood filled his mouth.
"Fuck you" said Richard as he walked past him towards the exit.
The Joker stared at him for a moment before shrugging his shoulders "Yeah I deserved that"
Hope you enjoyed it!