FIRST DATE

I feel dizzy, unsettled. I can't move, my eyes are blurry. What's happening? I try and look around and I see tools. Sharp...tools. There's a bright light above me, looks like I'm on a surgery bed. About to die. Then...he emerges from the darkness and right in front of me. The Joker. My god, what have I got myself into? I should've seen it coming. I knew I shouldn't have trusted this psycho. Too late now, I guess now I pay for my mistake...with my life. He touches me on the cheek, he's wearing a purple surgical glove on his hand. It feels smooth on my skin. I want to scream, though my mouth has been taped shut.

Screaming wouldn't change a heart of a criminal, not even love. Unless this is revenge for his past, or being locked up in Arkham. He brushes the strands of blonde hair from my face with his fingers and then smiles at me.

"Good morning, my dear! Goodness, you are adorable when you sleep. Of course...I couldn't risk your betrayal so I had to make sure you were genuine. Don't bother struggling, screaming or whatever. Harley, you're mine. And you'll always be mine, but right now...well you're a little too 'perfect' for me. I like my girls with some bad blood in their body. Some real attitude. I know this isn't how you pictured our first date but don't worry! It'll be fun! Well, for me anyway" he lets out a maniacal laugh.

I hate my empathy towards him. Surely he wouldn't kill me, right? I mean he was too nice to me to end me so quickly. Oh no...I bet it's going to be torture. Actual torture, all the signs are clear. I swallowed and began breathing heavily. I could only use my trust to pray that he wouldn't kill me.

"You're scared, aren't you? It's to be expected. Heck your boyfriend just turned on you! Oh! What a back stab huh? Not the case, my dear. Not the case. I just wanted you to be a bit more 'evil' if you know what I mean" he smirks.

His smirk kills me inside. I see him as I try and follow him around the room with my eyes. He picks up a knife, licks the blade in-front of me and heads back over to where I'm restrained... against my will. He unbuttons his maroon long sleeved shirt half way. I can see the tattoos on his chest. I saw the intensity of the green hair dye, and the 'damaged' tattoo on his forehead. His body was muscled, he was in good physical fitness. That was clear to me.

"You know, I told you a true story, Harley. I said that my father would tell me to smile more. So when I was killing him, I carved a smile just like mine on his face, I then asked him 'why so serious?' and then as his lifeless body fell to the ground I felt a boost. A huge moment of adrenalin and it was amazing. But don't worry, I'm not going to kill you. I might just hurt you though. A lot" another maniacal laugh echoes the darkness in the room.

I start trying to struggle more violently and the muffles from my mouth under the tape are still just muffles. He rips the tape from my mouth. Painfully.

"Why...what did I do to you?" I muttered, sadly.

I don't expect cooperation from him anymore, I don't expect anything anymore...except pain.

"Nothing you did, Harley. Something your parents did, though." he smiled, putting the blade of the knife towards my throat.

I tried to stay perfectly still. If I struggled, my throat would be sliced open. I would die within minutes. But what does he mean? What did my parents do? I hope he isn't going to kill them. I try and hide the tears running down my cheeks. Always assume the worst...that's what my parents told me. I'm guessing he feels my intellect must be punished, and the ones responsible would be my parents.

I feel weak and powerless. I can't do anything. If I say anything he'll probably hurt me. He takes the knife away from my throat and wipes the tears off my face with his hand. The hand which isn't holding the knife, luckily. He threw the knife at the wall. The knife landed on a picture. A picture...of me. He picked up the knife from the fresh hole in the wall and placed it on the table next to me. He came over to me. He removed the glasses from my eyes gently. He placed the glasses on the table.

"I want to admire your beautiful blue eyes. You don't need glasses. You don't need anything, anyone. You have me" he took off one of the purple gloves and stroked my cheek with his hand. "You have me" he repeated softly. "Now then, on to more important business matters. Tell me, Harley." he picked up the knife from the table and continued talking."Have you got any worries? Concerns? Anyone who you want dead? I would like to point out that I am not eligible as an answer to this question" he moved the knife close to my chest. "I hate doctors you know, they always tell me what I can and can't do. You wouldn't do that, would you Harley?"

"No" I said nervously.

"No what?" he demanded a more lengthy response.

"No, sir" I replied.

"Please, call me J. Sounds more romantic" he looked at my flat chest.

Which was apparently nearly naked. I could feel a chill, I was only wearing a short cropped t-shirt. I didn't realize he almost made me naked. Almost.

"You know, Harley. You would seriously benefit from some ink. Some tattoos would spice up your dreadfully dull and formal persona. Don't you think?" my heart skipped more than one beat at this moment.

I really hope he wasn't implying that he would use a knife to carve 'tattoos' onto my skin.

"Come to think of it, add some makeup and a bit of hair dye, a change of clothing and some tattoos and you'd look drop-dead-gorgeous."

"I don't have a choice...do I?" I said, painfully preparing myself for the torture I was about to endure.

"Harley, you always have a choice. I'm just making the choice for you!" and there is that maniacal laughter again.

Signature laughter, really unique tone.

"Now, if I unlock your restraints are you going to try and escape?" he asked. "Though if you try and escape or attempt to kill me then well, I'll have no choice but to kill you. So what do you say?" I could tell he wasn't in the mood for games, I didn't have a choice.

No matter what. Harleen Quinzel had to go. Then it hit me, the actual acceptance of a new, darker persona. And personally, I think I was ready. No...I knew I was ready.

"Sure thing, Mister J" I said, seemingly not caring about anything anymore.

Mister J was more adorable than J, or Joker but also slightly formal too.

"That's my girl." The Joker removed the restraints from my arms and legs.

I sat up. The choice I had was escape and be killed or stay and live. My mind was made up.

"I knew you were in there somewhere, that's my Harley." "Jester fashion is so in season right now. Wouldn't you agree?" he asked me.

"Oh yes. I love it." I said, hugging the tattooed criminal closely. Whispering in his ear "I love you, Mister J."

I felt free. It was so odd, yet so exciting. He handed me some white face-paint and a small brush. He held up a mirror for me, this was my moment. My big transformation. I took the brush and started painting my face pastel white. It looked incredible. He then offered me some a selection of makeup.

"Where did you get this? How did you get this?" I asked.

"It's beautiful" I said.

"I stole it, for you" he replied, smiling as he handed me blue eye-shadow.

I applied the blue eye-shadow to my right eye. I smudged the blue eye-shadow for a messy effect. I was never messy. I then did the same for the other eye, only in pink eye-shadow instead of blue. My red lipstick smudged onto the white face paint, made it look like I had blood near my mouth. Of course, Mister J had me covered and offered me a bright red lipstick to coat onto my lips. Though, I liked the look of the blood on my face. I couldn't tell if I liked the new look or not. Mister J smiled at me.

"You already look so much better, Harley." he said.

"Why do you wanna change me, Mister J? Don't you love me the way I am?" I asked.

"Of course my dear! It's just that, a change is a good thing, it's like we're putting your old self to bed and welcoming a brand new Harley Quinn. I for one, love the new you" he replied.

It was true, as Harleen I didn't have any fun, any friends or anyone who thought I was beautiful. Now, I can actually love myself. My new self.

"Before you say it, I know. My hair is boring. It's boring and it's not fun. Well I agree, I thought you'd say it. I suppose you want me to change my hair too?" I asked, slightly annoyed at him for wanting to change so much of my appearance.

Though I didn't disagree with his reasoning.

"Harley, I love your hair! But why not make it, as you say 'more fun'. I got some dye!" he said excitedly as he pulled out a bottle of blue and a bottle of hot pink hair dye.

"Oh my gosh, I love those colours!" I squealed with excitement.

"I knew you would" he smiled.

He went and got two containers and tipped a bottle of dye in each one. One blue, and one pink.

"Fancy some dip, dying?" he smiled.

I looked at the containers full of brightly coloured hair dyes and smiled at him. I partitioned my hair into two halves. One half I dipped in blue dye, about a third of the hair was coated in blue. I then dipped the other half of my hair into hot pink hair dye. I took both halves out of the dye and let them drip. I remembered I had a couple of spare hair ties in my trouser pocket so I tied my hair in two separate tails, one at each side. Not loose, tight. The dye was dripping onto my body. It felt incredible. Though this is only the beginning, I'm so happy Mister J is making me do this.