After a few more songs of bachata and cumbia, the heir of the Wayne family decided to go down for the count. "Wow Nichole, I don't understand how you can do this. It seems you've barely broken a sweat." Richard explained as the song was ending, his hands loosening to show his desire of a break. I giggled, "It's called growing up doing this. Ever since I was a niñita, I've known how to dance like this and my endurance for it has only increased." We separated and he stopped dancing.

"Sadly I wasn't. So if you would so kindly excuse me, I think I'll go rest for a bit."

"It's all right, besides you're not a niño right? You don't need to ask for permission." I chuckled and wave goodbye as he walked off the dance floor with that same grin. Even though there were many people on the dance floor, he was oddly right about breaking a sweat. It was hot, no doubt, but I was barely getting tired and my feet were not beginning to ache yet.

I pondered on the unusual thought until someone tapped my shoulder. Surprised took over me as I turned to face none other than Dante. The same shy smile from before on his face made me smile back. His hazel eyes avoided my chocolate ones as he spoke, "If you're not too um tired, Nichole, I was uh wondering if you'll dance with me? At least for one song." The song was a bachata song at a decent speed. A hand rubbed the back of his neck as the other hung by his side; even in the dark yet colorful lighting, you could tell there was a dust of red on his cheeks. I giggled and grabbed the hanging hand as I got into the starting position for bachata, "Well then, Dante, it's a good thing I'm not so yes, we can dance." His eyes widen as he gaped but quickly shook off his surprise. He smiled as he got in position as well. Whoops and laughing could be heard from our table when the boys saw Dante achieve his "goal". I rolled my eyes as my partner became closer to resembling a tomato. We ignored them and began to dance.

Moments went by until Dante began a nice conversation, or at least tried to. There were many ums and uhs but I just smiled and went along with it. After seeing my willingness to continue talking and dancing, his confidence grew. Our first song ended, turning into a close couple song. If my partner didn't resemble a tomato earlier, then he sure did now. "Uh I'm sorry. Uh I um if you want um," he began, averting his gaze again, letting go, as well as having the ums and uhs return. I smirked trying not to laugh and cut him off, "It might be a little awkward dancing like this, I know, but we don't have to get so close. Besides -even though I do love to dance- if you really want to continue to talk, then we can go sit down." He smiled seeming reassured. Dante looked back at our table seeing the boys laughing loud and my friends sitting at a completely different table. "Well I rather not be nagged by my friends so how bout we keep dancing?" he held his hand out. I agreed and accepted his hand. Man, I am a nice person because the first few moments were excruciatingly awkward. I decided to help the mood by starting another conversation.

Things seemed to be more relax and light hearted as we laughed and danced in circles. We even somehow got closer to each other. Suddenly, about two thirds through the song, there was a loud explosion. Dante pulled me to the ground and covered me from any debris. Girls' screams and coughing as the song scratched and rubble falling to the floor was all that heard as dust filled the reception. It was hard to make out but you could see how many people ran off the dance floor, almost deserting it. Once the dust began to clear everyone turned their heads toward where they heard an all too familiar laughter. Everyone who was drunk snapped out of their dazed and took in the situation. I glanced over Dante's shoulder and growled the intruder's name. Joker.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here? A nice little ol' par-tay for the newly mr and mrs? And yet when I tried to get in -the bouncer said I was on the list!" Almost everybody flinched at his change of voice towards the end. "But oh well, he can't complete his job now." He laughed again as his goons walked around with weapons to make sure no one moved. "What do you want? You sick freak!" yelled the bride. Leave it to my family to be the brave, or just plain stupid and stubborn, ones in a bad situation.

The Joker's smile faded as he looked at the newly weds behind the court's table. A sinister smirk then spread across his face as he made his way towards them. "Well, sweetheart, I just wanted to congratulate buddy boy over here on finding such a fine thing," he pointed to the groom with a knife, "but sadly attempting to do so before the wedding at the hotel didn't -well- didn't really go as plan. And then I try again tonight only to find out I wasn't even invited? Oh now that really hurt buddy boy." A white gloved hand grabbed the groom's collar as a white face faked a hurt expression. A goon held back the new wife as she tried to intervene. "Like a knife through the heart. So...I thought I'd return the favor." The newlyweds gasped as the knife was prepped, glinting evilly, and a maniacal laugh escaped red lips.

"Oyes!"

Right before the tip of the knife could be stained red, something hit the Joker's back. It was a black heel. "Oyes, pinche payaso, I know you heard me!" The Joker slowly turned to the owner of the voice, anger rolling off him in waves. There, his glare landed on the same girl he slammed on a table earlier today who was now taking off her remaining heel and had a boy trying to pull her back on the ground. The groom was pushed away into another goon's hold as the Joker began to come towards me. "Wow, what's with this family and moxie?" he chuckled lowly, obviously pissed off that a heel was thrown at him.

"First you ruin a wonderful medical study and hotel, then you injured and killed innocent people, then you ruin my chance to have breakfast with my primita, then you crash my prima's wedding!" I grunted the last word as I threw my other heel. He dodged it easily, amusement written all over his face. I growled, literally, and took a step forward, Dante tugging on my arm harder. "And now you are threatening to hurt my family? Uh uh, puto, you're messing with the wrong girl's familia."

There were many yells and shouts of either "No, don't be stupid! Back down!" or "You tell him prima!" or something along those lines. The smile faded from red lips and the shoes stood still as the Joker listened to the guest. He gave a look to one of his lackeys and then they shot a round into the roof. All mouths shut when the first bullet sounded. The villain's glare landed on me again then slowly, but surely, he threw his head back in a fit of laughter. I hissed, literally like a cat, and tightened my fist to the point that my knuckles were white and I was probably deepening my cut hand. "What's so funny, Payaso?!"

"You! Do you feel all nice and tough speaking in Spanish like that?" he laughed out until his voice changed into a deep, serious one, "Because you're not." His steps continue once again as he swung his knife around, grinning. "Listen girly, I like ya. Heck my hyenas would adore ya! But they chew you up and spit you out that is. HAHAHAHAHAHA If you really think you can DO something -then go ahead and try." The tip of his knife grazed my throat as he spoke the end of his sentence, holding my brutal glare and smirking his evil smirk.

His smirked disappeared as Dante jerked me as hard as he could to the floor as he stood in my place, "Leave her alone!" His bravery only earned him a hard backhand, making him hit the floor. "How rude! Didn't your mother teach you not to interrupt people when they're talking?" Joker lectured. As he did I swiftly got to my feet and punched him in the face before he could even look back at me. He staggered back and dropped his knife as I spun around to kick him in the side of the head. Before my heel could come in contact with his ear, his gloved hand caught my ankle.

"That was a good shot, girly, but nothing like the big shots like batsy or boy wonder. You know I am suppose to help a friend and see how his new project works and it seems the gas didn't work out as he planned. So, even though you're under age, how bout we try a shot?" A syringe with a mysterious purple liquid inside was pulled out of his pocket. My eyebrows furrowed as I remembered how the gas he sprayed around me was purple while the rest was green. Quickly, I brought up my other leg and kicked him in the chest. After landing roughly on the floor, I rolled over and stood as soon as I could, scratches and cuts everywhere. Before I could turn, his arms grabbed me and placed me into a headlock. I tried to step on his foot or elbow him but it was in vain as he dodged all my attempts. "This ain't my first rodeo, sweetheart." he laughed as he plunged the needle into my arm. I squeaked in surprise and hissed like an animal again, what was with all the hissing and growling? The liquid could be felt being released into my system. Jerking the needle out, his laugh became louder, scarier, and his armed tightened. I was struggling to breathe, I was wheezing even. All my cousins and friends stared, frozen in fear; in fear for my life and what the Joker would do next. My face twisted in anger; I would not lose! With the deepest breath I could manage, I opened my mouth wide and chomped down on the arm around me.

I dropped to the floor gasping for air as the older man cursed and gripped his arm. It actually seemed to be dampened with red around where I bit him. He picked up his knife and raised it as I was helpless on the floor, holding my neck, glazing at the ground, and wheezing. Oddly my whole body was in pain, though I only had a few cuts and bruises. The pain made it almost impossible to move, even the rise and fall of my chest was agonizing. Somehow I felt his arm begin to plunge down but slowly, as if everything was in slow motion yet my mind wasn't. 'At least I fought back all that I could. I didn't go down without a fight. I protect what was important to me. I'm going out the way I want.' I thought. I closed my eyes, awaiting the pain to come.

Translations:

Bachata and Cumbia-types of Mexican music

niño/a-boy/girl

-ito/a-little

oyes-hey (trying to get someone's attention)

pinche-fucking

payaso-clown

prima/o-cousin