Mia stayed frozen into place. She kept her eyes close as hot tears rolled down her eyes. It was almost as if her mind was overflowing with information that she couldn't yet absorb. She wiped her tears away and walked out the freezer with her arms wrapped around herself. She closed the door and went upstairs, finding an empty room. She peeked inside the kitchen to find no one sitting there and then finally made her way to the empty couch. She sat down and rubbed her palms together to warm herself. She sighed and put her elbows on her knees, leaning forward.
It was all so confusing. She didn't want to admit that she was jealous over this guy but yes. She actually was furious when that bitch touched him. Even though she had no right to ask it of him, she didn't want anyone else to be near him.
She leaned back and sighed, her fingers subconsciously running circles above her J mark on her shoulder. When she realized it, she frowned. She felt for a moment as if she was forgetting something. She almost could remember a room, a dark room. And then…
Ugh what was it already!
She got up and walked calmly to the door, unsure of what she was doing. She turned to the right only to see a set of keys hanging on the wall. She grabbed them.
She drove aimlessly through the dark streets of the city. She thought driving a van would be a problem given her condition but in actuality, it wasn't that difficult. It was quite relaxing. Sure, when she got back, she would probably get scolded to say the least, but it was nice to be alone for a while. She needed it.
She sighed heavily and cleared her throat. Maybe if she acted as if she could remember things she was going to remember them.
Ok.
My name is Mia Dawes. I am…something years old. Which doesn't really matter does it? Age is just a number. I uh… worked at… I mean I worked somewhere right? Who doesn't?
She slammed her hand on the wheel in irritation and felt the sudden sting of oncoming tears threatening her eyes.
She let out a shaky breath and tried again.
My name is Mia Dawes. I am… twenty five years old. Twenty six on January 4th.
She blinked and gasped almost losing control of the vehicle for a while. She stopped abruptly at the side of the road in a quiet neighborhood and turned off the engine. She was hyperventilating with shock. If she just relaxed maybe she could remember more.
My name is Mia Dawes. I am twenty five years old. Twenty six on January 4th. I live..I live… in Gotham city… and my favorite color is…
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, starting over.
She kept with that pace for almost another fifteen minutes, but nothing came through. She opened her eyes and sighed. She felt so tired now. She was hungry, sleepy and didn't know how to get back to the Joker. And yet she didn't want to leave the car. She felt as if she had found a little safe space in all of this. Her alone time. She didn't want to have his black eyes following her every move and wondering whether or not she would ever remember him. She could feel that. And yet she found herself clenching her fists now at the thought that she was not with him, leaving Harley a clean target.
Her heart jumped at the sudden music. She sat up in shock as the melody kept ringing. Was that a…phone?
She tried to locate where the sound was coming from when it stopped. Maybe one of the Joker's men had left their phone here. Nevertheless, it had stopped ringing.
She relaxed back on the seat when the melody started again. Mia looked down at the gear box and at a button under the radio. She pressed it and a storage box opened up, revealing the ringing phone. She took it and gulped. It read BOSS. He had finally noticed she was gone as well as one of his vans. He could put two and two together.
She looked down at the device and without thinking, ended the call. She was in no mood to get yelled at or threatened. She just wanted to calm her head.
The phone vibrated. She looked down only to see the icon for a text message. She opened it.
Do never ignore my call again. Where are you?
Mia looked down and sighed.
I am fine I just need sometime alone. I will come back in a few hours.
She put the phone down and sighed but her muscles ached with adrenaline. She felt as if she should go back right now. as if she was going against the will of God.
She jumped when she heard another message.
WHERE. ARE. YOU?
He demanded.
Mia frowned in annoyance. With the untamed courage given to her by the distance she had with the Joker at that moment she typed.
I told you I am fine. Leave me alone.
She opened the door and got out the car, putting the phone in her pocket. She locked the car and began walking away. She just need some fresh air how was that so bad?
She took the phone out of the pocket of her hoodie as it vibrated.
You're pushing it.
She clicked her tongue and put the phone in her pocket again as she kept walking. Soon enough, the phone rang. She rolled her eyes and took it out ending the call. What was she going to do anyway? Talk?
Look, I just need some fresh air. I am at.. she approached the street sign and kept typing.. Meadow End Street and I am just walking. Will you please just leave me alone for a moment?
She kept walking quietly, almost waiting for the next time the phone rang, But it didn't.
Finally, she relaxed. She observed the few people out this late at night, mostly groups of friends and some men. And she was a little concern that she was all alone but at the downward trajectory that her life was going in, this was the least of her concerns right now. She finally spotted a bench at the edge of the road overlooking the city. The area where she was in was high enough to see beyond the docks which gave an amazing view of the city and the port. She sat down and closed her eyes momentarily, taking in the sounds of the city. She didn't know how she knew it, but she loved this city so much.
It had hurt her, it had scarred her deeply. But it was home. It would always be home no matter where she decided to go in the world. It was her safe space and where she knew, she just knew, sometime someplace, she had found herself.
And then she lost it again.
And him. This unbelievable bond she felt she had with this…monster of a person. And yet to her he was just… him. Just J-
She frowned and blinked. She thought about it for a moment and took out the phone. She confirmed again that she had no new messages when she began typing.
Is your name Jack?
She typed, but didn't get the chance to send it.
The screeching of tires, made her turn around in shock as headlights blinded her completely. She stood up and stepped back in fear before she heard the door of the car slamming shut.
A figure walked in front of the lights hastily and Mia shrinked at the sight of him. She kept looking at his chest as he walked towards her, stopping at a safe distance.
"Get in" he said simply. Without making another sound, she walked quickly to the passenger's seat. When they were both in, he drove away.
Mia kept looking forward, too scared to even look up at him. She had taken a glimpse of his face and knew that he had no makeup on and he was wearing a black shirt and a pair of gray trousers. She glanced towards him and saw the veins popping out of his hands and his knuckles turning white as he squeezed the wheel.
"Give me the phone" he suddenly said and she handed it to him. She wanted to tell him somehow not to look at the phone while he drove but she didn't dare get close to him. Not in this state.
The Joker unlocked the phone and was about to delete their conversation. She saw his eyes narrow slightly and then his eyebrows twitched upwards once as he read the unsent text. He then deleted the messages and put the phone back inside the storage box.
He took a sharp turn and Mia had to grab on her seat in order not to fall to the side. They were now driving in a completely different direction. Mia looked at him in query. His eyes were cold and his scarred face icy.
"Don't worry doll" he said as he slowed down the vehicle "you get one last chance" he said as he stopped in front of a tall building.