Chapter 7

Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane

"There were two guys in a lunatic asylum" that is how their first conversation started, Dr. Harleen Quinzel had been assigned to this man known only as 'The Joker'. Despite the progress she previously had with Edward Nygma, the Joker was a completely different beast entirely.

Every time the two had a session, he would come across as inconsistent. One day his name was Jack, the next it was Arthur. One day he was a mobster, the next he was a failed comedian, and the next he was a petty thug. It got to the point where she wondered if even he knew the truth.

The one thing that remained consistent was him falling into a vat of chemicals.

Still, that wasn't enough to make a case as to who he really was or what his condition was. At most, he was a very disturbed person, to the point that Harleen began to question why he was sent to Arkham in the first place.

But then one day, something happened. Something that not even Dr. Quinzel herself expected.

"And that's how I ended up here." The Joker told yet another story that Dr. Quinzel found a hard time believing. "But enough about me. Care to share a bit more about yourself?"

That phrase alone caught Dr. Quinzel completely off guard. Not one of her patients, not even Nygma, had asked her about her personal life, the Joker was the first person to actually seem interested in her. And from that moment on, she began to understand him.

There was something about him that captivated her, maybe it was his lifestyle, maybe it was his view on the world, or maybe it was the mystery that surrounded him. He was a riddle that not even the Riddler himself could solve.

"Well, I don't really have a life outside the asylum." She responded "I studied psychiatry because I wanted to help people, but I never thought I'd end up here. There's basically nothing interesting here." She sighed at that "What I wouldn't give for some excitement."

The Joker's smile grew wider at this "Well, I might be able to help you with that." And the rest, as they say, was history.

Abandoned Warehouse in Gotham City.

It didn't take long for Robin to discover the maniac's location, which just so happened to be in an old warehouse. Looking on from a nearby window, Robin noticed the Joker with the same armed vehicle he had stolen, he was…polishing it?

"Well, looks like this baby is ready for a quick round." He could hear the maniac say "Hopefully this will help the commissioner see things as they truly are."

Robin leaned in closer, as quietly as he was able to. From the corner of his eyes, the boy managed to see what appeared to be a gas canister with a smile painted on it. Thinking quickly, Robin grabbed a small rock and threw it to the side, making a sound that managed to catch the Joker's attention. "Now, what could that be?"

As the Joker then exited the warehouse, Robin snuck in through the window. He looked at the vehicle and all the alterations done to it.

Not finding much there, he reached into the inside of the vehicle, noticing several pamphlets for what looked like a carnival. It read as followed.

Joker's Insane Carnival of Delight Grand Opening.

At the Old Abandoned Amusement Park.

Watch what happens when a man sees unpleasant images of his teenage daughter.

Hope to see you there.

Special guest Gotham's own Batman.

Robin's hands balled into fists, crushing the piece of paper in his hand.

"Are you lost, little bird?" Said a voice, catching the boy off guard. Robin turned to see the Joker, swinging his arm and striking him in the face. The mad man walked up to the boy, crowbar in hand, laughing as the boy winced in pain. "Now, it's not nice to peek at other people's property without permission."

The Bat Cave

Bruce sat at his computer, he had received the signal at the Batmobile while on his way back from Arkham. The computer showed several images of several maps of Gotham City, most of them locations in which he and Richard had traveled to.

"And where is young Richard?" Alfred asked, Bruce turned his chair to face the butler.

"That is what I'm trying to find out." Bruce responded, turning back to his computer.

"And how, pray tell, do you intend to do that?"

"I gave Dick a devise to signally me should he ever get in trouble. I'm using the computer to pin point his location."

Alfred sighed and walked up to him "I knew something like this would happen. I told you it was a bad idea. And you didn't listen."

"We'll discuss it later."

"Indeed we will."

The butler walked away as Bruce continued looking into the computer.