FOUR
Three days later, gunfire could be heard all throughout Arkham, accompanied by screams and pleas for mercy.
I frowned at my cell door as though it was to blame for everything that had ever gone wrong.
Harley-as she was now known-had gone along with Joker's insane plan and now they were both going to escape, leaving me here. I know she gave me the chance to leave with them but there was no way I was playing third wheel to that dick.
I was just about to turn my back to the door when I heard a scream and sat bolt upright.
Harley?!
I ran to the cell door, hammering on it like a mad woman.
"Guard! Hey, guard! You still alive?!" I called.
The panel slid back and the guard looked in, sweat coating his brow as his eyes darted back and forth.
"You've got to let me know out of here." I growled.
"I can't, Ivy, you know that."
"Joker's gonna kill everyone anyway, what's it matter to you if one little prisoner goes missing."
Another scream from Harley and I banged my fist on the door.
"Dammit, Sean, let me out!"
He blinked.
"You know my name?"
I sighed and rolled my eyes.
"It's not really the time to get into this, just let me out already!"
Sean hesitated.
"I don't know-"
"If you don't let me out Harley is dead." I growled.
"Harley?"
"Dr. Quinnzel then! Just open the fucking door!"
I heard Sean jingle his keys and then my door opened and I ran out, pushing past him and heading in the direction of Harley's screams which were becoming even more high pitched.
I didn't stop running until I got to a lab and found her.
The walls were covered in blood, the floor was slick with it too and she was huddled in a corner rocking back and forth with her arms around her legs, hugging them to her chest.
I knelt down in the blood before her.
"Harley?" I tried carefully.
She looked up at me and threw her arms around me, getting blood all over my jumpsuit.
"Ivy...I'm so glad you came." She said with a big smile but she twitched like there was something wrong with her, almost like an electric undercurrent was running through her.
I frowned into her eyes which looked empty.
"Where is he?"
"Gone but he'll be back. He said he would and I believe 'em."
I sighed.
"Let's get you out of here." I said, pulling her to her feet.
She pulled back and looked panicked.
"No! Red, I can't leave! He won't know where to find me!" She wailed.
"If you stay here, they'll kill you anyway."
I could still hear Joker's goons shooting people and laughing while they did it.
"Nah, they wouldn't kill me, Puddin' wouldn't let 'em."
"They'll shoot you and call it a mistake, Harley. Joker would be over you in a few days."
She shook her head, that stupid, love struck smile plastered onto her lips.
"Nuh uh, he loves me. Said we're soulmates."
Oy vey, he really had done a number on her.
"Ok well, I'll tell you what, let's get you somewhere safe and then I'll call and tell him where you are then he can come and get you when he's ready."
"You have his number?" Harley asked in awe.
I shrugged.
"Sure. All we...Super villains have each other's numbers, y'know, just in case."
She seemed to buy that and finally I could pull her along with me through the asylum, taking care to avoid Joker's henchmen.
I had a place. Nothing fancy but a place on the outside where I could live amongst the humans without having to actually deal with them...mostly.
Harley looked around as she walked into the apartment.
"This is where you live?"
"Before Arkham, sure." I said with a shrug.
"Wow, it's so...so..."
"Human?"
"Yeah! How did you manage to swing this one?"
Again, I shrugged.
"The Landlord seems to like me and as long as I don't ask questions about the strange smell in the basement, I get to keep living here at a reasonable price."
Harley just nodded, seeming to take things in.
"Uh...why don't you sit down? I'll make you a coffee."
Although with how out of her mind she was, I wondered if caffeine was really a good idea.
I made it anyway and then sat next to her as she drank it in sips.
"He will come for me, won't he, Red?"
"Sure...why wouldn't he?"
I didn't actually believe that he would.
Did she really expect me to believe that Joker had found love and was willing to put someone other than himself first?
Harley turned to me, those blue eyes hopeful.
"You gonna call him now, Red?"
How did I end up with the nickname of 'Red'? I mean, ok I had red hair so that was a given but she always called me 'Ivy', now it's Red?
I shrugged inwardly.
Didn't matter.
The important thing was that she was out and alive.
"Red?"
I shook my head, clearing my thoughts and got to my feet.
"Sure. I'll go give him a call."
"Can I talk to him?" She asked excitedly.
I winced.
Shit.
"Um...maybe-maybe that's not such a good idea."
"Why?"
"Cause you...you want him to be surprised, don't you?"
She looked away, thinking about that and then suddenly brightened.
"You're right, it's best if we go surprise him! Oh hey, can you take me to him?!" She asked, jumping up and down like some human brat on Christmas morning.
Ok, so now we've gone from calling him to actually going to see this prick. That escalated fast.
I turned my back, looking out the window.
I knew where he was. Everyone in Gotham knew where he was.
In truth, I had planned to never call Joker because I didn't have his number. I was going to lie to Harley. Tell her what I already knew to be true; that he didn't really love her and would only end up hurting her or even killing her in the end so it was best that she stay away, and then what?
She would stay here with me? Live with me? And we'd end up becoming...what? Friends? More than friends?
I couldn't deny the warm feeling that gave me when I pictured myself living with her. I'd make breakfast for her in the morning, we'd watch stupid shit on the TV...it'd be great and maybe I could finally be...happy? Was that even an option for me anymore?
I glanced back at her.
But what if that wasn't the life she wanted?
She really did love Joker and even though I knew he'd hurt her in the end, I knew she had to find that out for herself.
I sighed deeply and then nodded my head.
"Ok. I'll take you to him."
She jumped up, throwing her arms around me and hugged me tight.
"Thanks, Red! I knew I could count on ya!"