Disclaimer: I own nothing but my OC. The Joker belongs to DC Comics.
Chapter Five.
"You just couldn't let me go, could you?"
May 12th.
Charlotte couldn't believe this. She really, honestly, truly couldn't believe it!The sandwich that she'd been having for lunch fell from her limp hands as a familiar black van drove slowly past her school. The black van. The other students that sat on the front steps paid it no attention - they were too busy enjoying their lunch. Charlotte tried to not instantly jump up from her spot on the steps, she knew it would only make things worse. It wasn't like she could move anyways, she was frozen with fear! Was he really going to confront her in front of the entire school? Charlotte's stomach churned dangerously. Christ, she'd been so stupid. Maybe if she hadn't talked back to him in the van two days previously, this wouldn't happening. She wouldn't put it past him to come striding out of the van and onto the premises, guns ablazing. Charlotte immediately imagined the chaos that would ensue, the lives that would be lost. It would turn into a Columbine! The wheels dragged slowly as the van drove past her and rolled up the street.
Charlotte took a staggering breath, unable to comprehend what had just happened. She made a mental note to never make him angry again - it was inevitable that they would meet again if she was being honest with herself. She knew that he wouldn't let go that easily. Charlotte didn't know what the Joker wanted from her, but she did know that she had less than a fifty percent survival rate. That, and that her cell phone was gone. Walking home through Gotham City during the night without a cell phone had made her feel pretty damn brave.
What she didn't know, however, was that this weird routine would continue for a week and three days, and that no matter what she did - come outside, coop up in the girls bathroom, or go home early...She wouldn't be able to get away from the Joker.
May 22nd.
Charlotte loved Saturday's more than anything, especially in her neighborhood. It was usually pretty quiet, sans the occasional party that would happen up or down the street in one of the large family homes just like her own. In reality, it was pretty boring. But to Charlotte, that translated into quiet, peacefully empty streets that gave her the freedom to jog without getting run over by a car.
Charlotte's music thumped in her ears as she trotted along, her body running automatically to the beat. She didn't know what was playing - she'd set her ipod on the pandora station. She hummed along to the harmonies, amusing herself by trying figure out the notes as she ran. It dawned on her that she should turn back soon, she was bordering the end of her neighborhood, the end of complete and utter safety and serenity...
"What a lovely, lovely voice!"
Too late.
Charlotte whirled around so fast she lost her footing. In an instant she was sprawled on the ground, her arse and spine aching from the impact. The Joker peered down at her, hands tucked neatly into his purple coat. The red ropes that were his mouth lines tilted upwards, kohl eyes glinting.
"We've really got to stop meeting like this." The Joker chuckled, stepping over the the girl's long, slender legs. Charlotte cursed herself for wearing such tiny running shorts as she rolled onto her side, cheek resting on the rocky pavement. Charlotte groaned. She had to be dreaming...This couldn't be happening. Not again!
Well, it wasn't like it was surprising. In fact, now the meetings were just mildly annoying while still unbearably terrifying.
Charlotte didn't move from her spot on the ground. She was too frustrated, too baffled to move. She was being terrorized by an asshole wearing fucking clown makeup for no goddamn apparent reason...and there wasn't a damn thing she could do about it. She wished that she could say all of these things to his face, but she liked the way her neck was attached to the rest of her body.
A light nudge to the small of her back made her flinch weakly. Charlotte stifled a frustrated cry as she heard the Joker's annoying, comical giggle.
"Now, ah...I know I'm a pretty intimidating guy...but I didn't know my looks could actually kill!" The bastard giggled some more, making Charlotte's skin crawl. There was nothing fucking funny, and she didn't understand his need to laugh at everything under the sun. The sight of a dying puppy would probably make the psycho keel over with hilarity! She heard the Joker growl impatiently when she still didn't move. The tip of his shoe nudged the spot between her shoulderblades harshly. Charlotte heard the swift shift of a switchblade being brought up.
"Girlie..."
Charlotte stood up as fast as she could, keeping in her groans of pain as her muscles protested. She hated that damn sing-song voice he was using, it was one of the creepiest she's heard from him so far. The Joker could see her eyes burning indignantly, that fall had looked pretty painful. He scanned her quickly, as he always did. The Joker could read her mind perfectly this time, she was caught between the decision of running away or staying put. She was also incredibly irritated, which made him smile a little. When she didn't budge, he put the knife back in his pocket. The Joker kept his hand on it though. Char was being a good girl this time, but he was never too sure with this broad. The Joker made a mental note to slash through her throat if she tried screaming for help. But no, even she was too smart to do that.
"Lovely, ah, neighborhood you've got here. Mummy and Daddy do pretty well to keep their girl sated, don't they?" The Joker smirked, reaching back to unhook her hair from its ponytail. He'd only seen her hair down once, that first rainy day. A few strands slipped inside of his glove and brushed against his inner wrist. Charlotte didn't object of course, but stayed rigidly still as her hair flowed onto her shoulders. She only reached up to hesitantly tuck her long fringe behind an ear.
"I'm sure it's not hard. After all, being the new D.A. does have its...ah...benefits."
Charlotte couldn't help it, she scoffed quietly. "Tell that to Harvey Dent."
The Joker's eyes widened before that infamously disturbing laughter came out of his mouth. "Oho. Aha. AHEEHEE AHA HA HA HA! Oh Doll, you're always so clever! I like that about you."
He wouldn't tell her he was responsible for Dent's demise. How could she know anyways? But the Joker had to admit, the surge of pride and cockiness he felt when she mentioned his, ah, work, made his smirk grow painfully wider. The Joker stared at her for a moment, eyes narrowed in his typical fashion. Not like Charlotte could tell - the kohl around his eyes never really allowed her to see much. In a way, she kind of wished she could see more of his face. Maybe if she could, she'd be able to predict his emotions instead of being constantly shocked by them. Maybe if she could read his face, she'd have a better chance of getting out of this alive, in the end.
"Let's take a walk, shall we?" The Joker demanded, grabbing Charlotte roughly by her forearm. She yelped audibly as he squeezed her arm tightly. Charlotte willed herself to move - and she didn't really have a choice either.
"Wait, please, where are we going?!" Charlotte asked, stumbling to keep up with the Joker's speedy, erratic strides. The Joker fought back a smile, even with the one etched onto his face, as fear deliciously heightened her voice.
"Ohhh, just on a little stroll, Char." The Joker said in a sing song voice, making Charlotte's stomach churn at her childhood nickname. "I'd love to see just how protected this little safe haven really is."
Charlotte's brain went into panic mode. That didn't sound good at all. She followed the Joker rather blindly. She couldn't think, couldn't see, couldn't do anything really, but follow his steps. As they circled the neighborhood once - the Joker making little comments here and there - Charlotte did nothing but look for cops. There were usually so many around here, where the hell where they?
"Ah, now here seems like a good place to stop!" The Joker announced, bringing the Charlotte to a stop. He let go of her and she winced immediately, wanting to rub the spot where his gloves had chafed against her skin so badly. She decided against it and looked to see where they were. It was then that Charlotte decided that this had to be a dream, that this was all too unfair to be her reality.
They were standing right in front of her house, in the middle of the street. Charlotte could see her dad through the living room window, sitting in his regular armchair, reading. The Joker giggled.
"Well aren't you all just a pair of regular Jack and Jills."
Charlotte turned hesitantly to look at the Joker then, and noticed that he didn't immediately stare back. The Joker noticed her staring, he could feel her eyes burning a hole into his face. He couldn't find himself to bother, though. He was far too perplexed by the girl's house. Everything looked so perfect, the pure white house with black shutters, a warm glow of light emitting from all the windows...everything was so pristine - and his immediate reaction was to just pull out a few matches and burn it all into the ground. It reminded the Joker of something he couldn't remember clearly, and he hated that feeling. The Joker hated nostalgia, it was completely useless. But still, there was something there, hiding way back in the crevices of his mind. Blurry, nonetheless.
The Joker brushed off the feeling easily, rolling his shoulders back before turning to Charlotte. He caught her staring, and she looked away instantly. The Joker chuckled as he watched blood rush underneath her skin, settling in her face, neck, and probably chest. The Joker wasn't here to just stare at her, though. He'd finally figured out what her use would be. He cleared his throat before turning to face her completely. Perhaps she'd thought he was going to attack her, that deer in the headlights look was back.
"Ah, now. Enough with the chit chat, we've got business to discuss," The Joker said, shuffling through his pockets to give her what she'd need. "I've figured out your first task!"
Charlotte's eyes sparked with confusion. "Task? What do you mean task -"
"Quiet, Char. Explanations will come. Now, since you've clearly been doing your best to avoid me during your studious little school hours, I decided that the smartest thing do you is get you where you can't run. Because, why would you want to run from home?" The Joker gestured to her family home with a wave of his hand. "Ah ah, I'm not done. I have something for you."
The Joker pulled something out of his pocket swiftly, and Charlotte's immediate reaction was to step back. It was a black rectangular thing that was mostly concealed by his large, purple covered hand. The Joker presented her with his gift calmly, laying his palm flat and open in front of him. He licked his scars in anticipation, watching Charlotte's face contort into surprise.
"Is that...a phone?" Charlotte asked, more to herself than the man in front of her. The Joker groaned in irritation. Did she always have to ask questions?
"No actually, it's a bomb. In two minutes this whole neighborhood will be nothing but scraps." He replied sarcastically, dark eyes rolling back briefly. Charlotte was still hesitant to touch his hand, but she tried her best to stop the tiny breath of laughter that burst from her mouth. What, so he just took her phone in order to give her another? How did that even make any sense? The Joker perked up instantly at Charlotte's laugh, he'd never heard her laugh before. It was delicate, just like the rest of her.
Hm, interesting.
He didn't have time for a thorough analyzation of her tonight, he had places to go and people to shoot. When he spoke again there was dangerous edge in his voice.
"Beautiful, I find the fact that you find bomb jokes funny impressive, but time's a tickin'. Look, Girlie, if you don't take it -"
"Okay, okay!" Charlotte hurried, snatching the phone out of his open hand. The back of the phone had been warmed against his hand. She didn't want it, but it wasn't like she had a choice.
"Always forgetting your manners, Char. You're welcome. Now, that's for my calls and my calls only. And don't even think about throwing it away." The Joker warned, quickly relishing in Charlotte's fearful glance at him. "I'll know. Keep it on you, always. If you don't..." The Joker didn't finish, he let the threatening silence speak for itself. In fact, he didn't say another word as he turned his back on Char, leaving her in the darkness.
"Wait! I don't understand! What about my task!?" Charlotte called after him, thoroughly baffled. The Joker smirked to himself as he disappeared farther into the darkness of the street. He didn't bother to turn around, he knew that Char would still be standing in front of her house, just as baffled as ever.
'Good things come to those who wait, Doll.' He thought to himself.
/
Charlotte tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep comfortably knowing that her new gift was laying right beside her. She hated not knowing what to do. Charlotte reach blindly for the phone she'd placed by her pillow. Charlotte sighed as she held it. The phone looked as inconspicuous as ever, a regular black smartphone. Maybe if she was lucky, it would blow up when activated. She clicked the on button and searched around, the only light in the room coming from the small screen. There were no files on, only an empty list of settings. Charlotte shuddered, wondering who's phone this had been... they were probably dead now. Charlotte pushed that thought aside as best as she could, before going into the contacts. She stared at it blankly. What a surprise, there was only one.
Mister J.
Things are starting to come together! Just wanted to take a moment and say a big thank you to those who have been alerting/reviewing/favorite-ing the story, it really makes me smile. If any of you ever have any questions or opinions on the story, I'm always here to listen! Things are only getting darker from here out. This isn't your typical OC Mary Sue story, I can promise that. Also, if anyone is confused about the quotes at the beginning of the story, they're not really there for a title purposes, it's more to enhance the chapter I guess ( I hope you guys know what I mean lol). As for the title of this chapter, I chose the name Principium because it means beginning in Latin, and this is where the story really begins. As the Joker would say: "And...Here...We...Go!"
