Disclaimer: I own nothing but my OC. The Joker, John Blake, and Batman belong to DC Comics.

Chapter Six.


"Now there's a Batman."

May 31st.

"Unbelievable!" Charlotte snapped, throwing the simple black phone. It hit the wall harshly before clattering onto the wooden floor. Charlotte stared blankly at the thing that had given her the horrible message. She'd been waiting for the Joker to unleash his crazy, secretive scheme on her, and now that he'd finally done it she didn't know what do herself. What else could Charlotte do but obey his command to meet him? He'd spoken clearly in the message, but Charlotte could hear the slight chaos happening in the background. She could hear his men moving and the grumbles of trucks, which couldn't be good. Charlotte replayed the Joker's commanding voice in her head.

13672 District Avenue, Doll. I'll find you at dusk.

/

Charlotte arrived just before sunset. She didn't want to be late, and luckily, she'd reached the avenue seconds before the Joker located her.

"Ah, so happy you made it! I'm thrilled, Beautiful." He smirked, studying her as he always did. For once she wasn't wearing a school or workout outfit. She seemed to be in normal clothing, a white sweater with dark jeans and boots. The Joker chuckled to himself at her outfit choice. He hoped she wouldn't mind a dirty and possibly bloody sweater. Things around him never did stay pure for long.

"I got your...er...message." Charlotte tried her best not to grimace as she looked at the weirdly abandoned street. She'd been here before, it was normally quite busy. Of course, with the Joker on the streets, people would be foolish to stay outside past sundown. Or come outside at all, really. Still, things took their normal course, the public went about their daily business, and the Joker caused chaos where he pleased. In Gotham, it somehow seemed to make sense. Charlotte glanced around her to see various black SUV's being loaded with tons of heavy boxes. The Joker's henchmen had their masks on. Written clearly on many of the boxes in red print was one word.

Explosives.

What had she been dragged into?

Charlotte's eyes widened almost comically. "Is this...is this a mission?" She asked the clown in horror. The Joker shrugged at her before smiling and walking away. Charlotte followed him like a puppy at his ankles.

"I, ah, guess you could call it that!" Joker chuckled lowly, catching two shotguns that were tossed to him.

"That's for you," He tossed Charlotte a gun so fast she flinched. She caught it clumsily, making the Joker smirk. Good thing he'd already placed the safety. He didn't need the girl getting hurt just yet. He'd barely even gotten a chance to play with his new toy, test her out. The kid didn't know a damn thing about guns. This would be more amusing than he'd thought. "Careful, it's loaded!" The Joker giggled, walking ahead towards the largest vehicle parked at the end of the avenue. He'd picked up a lovely cargo truck for the occasion. Charlotte stared up at the long, heavy truck. It had obviously belonged to a carnival not too long ago. Charlotte stared up in horror and disbelief at the new spin the Joker had added to his new property. A large red 'S' stood out prominently next to the truck's original logo.

Slaughter is the Best Medicine!

Charlotte froze as the Joker opened the passenger door of the enormous vehicle, gesturing for her to get in. Fear and anxiety crawled up Charlotte's spine. She couldn't do this! She couldn't...kill...people! But what choice did she have?

"I...I - "

"Ah ah, let's not waste anymore time, shall we? Now get in the truck before I decide to stop being a gentleman," The Joker warned her, ropey red smile disappearing as much as it could. Charlotte didn't move from her spot. She watched the clown faced goons pile up into the cargo area of the truck.

"But...but you want me to kill people! I...I can't -"

"There's, uh, no such thing as can't, Doll. Besides, the chances of your aim killing anyone is laughable...you're just holding the backup...Now. Get. In." The Joker growled, lending her a hand. Charlotte took it and lifted herself up into the truck. She ignored the way the Joker's knuckles brushed against hers, and the way his palm nearly squeezed the life out of hers. It was like putting her hand on a pile of hot coal. The fact that she wouldn't actually have to kill anyone helped her breathe again...slightly. Now she just hoped that the psychopath wasn't staring at her bum. The Joker hopped in shortly after. The front seat was quite cramped, especially with the large, sweaty driver sitting beside her. He was only one out of the henchmen not wearing a mask. He made no eye contact as he started up the the truck. It rumbled to life before rolling down the street and turning out of the avenue. Charlotte was trembling, and she didn't know whether it was from the vibrations of the truck or the innate feeling of danger surrounding her. Most likely, it was both. The truck took plenty of wide, sharp turns. The Joker was already brushing against her side, and the turns caused her to nearly fall into his lap several times.

"Not now, Doll. We have company." The Joker grinned in his sing song voice, sticking his head out of the window as police sirens blared in the distance. "And...Here. We. Go." He growled readily, cocking the AK-47 in his tight grip. Charlotte heard the shift of the bullets and cringed, trying her best not to start sobbing. She gripped her own gun fiercely, wishing she knew how to use it. Perhaps if she did, she would've been able to shoot the clown. But how far would that get her? Charlotte didn't know what street they were on, but cars were beginning to swerve out of their way, and before she knew it, they were in some sort of tunnel. The orange lights reflected off of the Joker's face, making Charlotte clench her eyes shut. The sounds of sirens were right behind them now. Suddenly, the truck was speeding so fast that it was nearly veering out of control. The Joker cackled gleefully as he saw the sight behind him. Was that the S.W.A.T Team? The first shots fired at the truck clanged uselessly against the metal, sounding like music to his ears. Several seconds later, an explosion blew behind them. The Joker cursed silently, looking back quickly to see one of his black vans engulfed in flames. He'd have to find four new goons tomorrow. Charlotte was now screaming as if she was being murdered, her gun long abandoned on the dashboard.

"Are you as excited as I am, Doll?!" The Joker yelled gleefully, grabbing her abandoned gun and bringing it to his rest on his lap. Several seconds later, Charlotte's head found its place beside it. "Get down," Joker ordered, grabbing the back of her head and shoving her face down into his lap. Even the fabric of his pants couldn't muffle her screaming. Charlotte's forehead collided harshly with the butt of the gun and the world blurred for a moment. They were out of the tunnel now and back onto the busier streets of Gotham. A few bullets cracked the windshield before one finally broke though, lodging itself into the namless driver's head. Charlotte screamed loudly as the scent of blood hit her, the truck beginning to swerve out of control. In a flash, the Joker was crawling over to take the driver's seat.

"Excuse me, I wanna drive!" He exclaimed. He grabbed Charlotte's hand and pressed her fingers against the wheel to steady the truck again. Charlotte stared in shock as he hurriedly opened his door and pushed the dead man out of the moving truck. The thud that followed ensured that his body had landed on one of the following police cars. He turned back to her calmly after shutting the door, as if he didn't hear the plethora of police following them. Charlotte let go of the wheel as soon as she got the chance. The Joker gripped the wheel tightly, giggling quietly to himself before turning to her.

"Don't you just hate when people don't carry their weight?" He smiled, humming oddly to himself. "In a few minutes, keep an eye out for a, uh, Bat."

With another swift turn, the police sirens faded into the distance. They'd lost them for a little while. They were rumbling through a backroad now, taking some type of shortcut. The Joker slowed the truck down, reaching into his coat to grab a walkie-talkie. As he did so, Charlotte caught a glimpse of several grenades ladled into his inner coat pockets. She looked away instantly. Charlotte took the few slight moments she had to quietly breathe, closing her eyes. The Joker barely noticed - he was in him element.

"Okay, rack 'em up, rack 'em up, rack 'em up!" The Joker hushed into the device. Charlotte's eyes opened again swiftly, not understanding what he meant. A strange slashing noise came through the walkie-talkie before the Joker smiled, racing the truck into the street again. Two minutes later, Charlotte understood everything as she watched a GCPD helicopter unit crash to the ground behind them, covering half the street in flames. The Joker's laughs were demonic as he watched his chaos unfold. Charlotte began to wonder when the police would simply give up fighting against the crazed man. He was a force.

"Now there's a Batman!" The Joker said, gripping the wheel tightly as the truck raced through the street. Charlotte squinted to see what he saw. It was funny, she realized, in her moment of insane panic. The Batman had never seemed real to her, what with the overbuild of armor, but as he drove past the truck on the speediest tumbler Charlotte had ever seen, he seemed realer than ever.

"He missed!" The Joker exclaimed, turning to face her. The whole world seemed to tilt around them for a brief second before it all slowed. Charlotte watched the slow realization hit the Joker's face before her hair blocked his slight look of surprise from view. The world was rotating. Charlotte wondered if she was dead as she felt herself spin and rise out of her seat, gravity pressing her stomach against her throat.

She'd definitely died - they both had. Perhaps the large truck had exploded, or a bullet had found a home in her brain.

The finale was a resounding crash, one so loud that it made Charlotte go deaf before coming back ten times louder. The metal of the truck crashed violently against the pavement so hard that the ground cracked. Charlotte felt her neck snap and her skull cave in, she didn't see the Joker. She only saw purple before everything blurred into darkness.

Parts of the truck were still rattling against the pavement when Charlotte regained conciousness. She wished she hadn't. Her back burned against the broken shards of what used to be a windshield. The police sirens were back, not too far away now. Everything in her vision was literally upside down, because she was. A series of weak groans beside her startled her, and her neck strained painfully to find the source. The Joker was splayed against the winshield just as she was, long legs sprawled onto the carseat.

"Joker...?"

Charlotte only recieved another groan in response. She couldn't help it, a flicker of worry found her instantly. She reached out with a sore - and surprisingly unbroken- hand to touch the man beside her. He was a a crumpled mess, and his eyes didn't open when her fingertips brushed his dark green hair aside, or when she touch his face accidentally. The police sirens were getting closer and closer, like dogs chasing cars.

"Joker -"

"Get out, now." The Joker stated, suddenly coming to life. His eyes were burning intensely, like little orbs of flames. He began to move painfully, holding in the louder groans of pains. Charlotte couldn't explain to herself why she hadn't left the moment she'd regained conciousness...it was unexplainable. She'd practically been abducted by the man, forced to accompany him on this vicious joyride, watched him dispose of a dead body as if it were an irritating insect...and now? And now, she had her chance to run, and she couldn't take it without making sure he was alive first.

The Joker didn't wait for her to protest, scream for help, or anything of the sort. The police were moments away. "I said...Go. Go, Char. Now!" The Joker commanded. He didn't need to tell her a third time. The brief moment of strange compassion Charlotte had felt for the monster in front of her was gone, and she took her exit painfully, stumbling down the street away from the smoking truck. Her head was swaying, but somehow she crashed into a street corner far enough from the chaos. She didn't want to stop, she couldn't stop.

Charlotte fought against herself for a moment before giving up, not because she wanted to, but because she had to. Her breaths halted momentarily, and within seconds, she was gone again.

/

"Miss? Excuse me, Miss?" Charlotte heard a male voice above her. Charlotte's whole body burned - she wondered how she was still alive. And depending on where she was, she would decide if she still wanted to be. Charlotte heard the calm, assertive voice once more. She certainly hoped the Joker wasn't playing a trick on her as she hesitantly opened her eyes. She squinted as a bright light flooded her pupils, temporarily blinding her.

"It's alright, Miss. There's no need to be frightened." The voice assured. Charlotte forced herself to open her eyes despite the sting. She needed to match a face to the lovely voice before she went insane. Standing above her was a young man, probably in his late twenties. As Charlotte's blurry vision cleared, she saw that he was actually quite handsome. He had a dark, shortly cropped hair and a strong jawline. His eyes were naturally narrowed, making him look constantly worried...intense. Charlotte wondered how she'd gotten so lucky to get such a good looking nurse.

"Oh! You're awake, finally. Are you Charlotte Marlone?" He questioned her assertively.

"Yes," Charlotte croaked, wincing at the sharp pain in her throat. The handsome man extended a hand to her, and she rose her's weakly to shake it. Charlotte cringed as she noticed all of the fingers on her hand were bandaged. He shook her hand gently, obviously aware of her fragile state.

"John Blake, Gotham City Police Officer," He formally introduced himself, smiling at her warmly. He obviously felt pity for her...she was so young, and just moved here, too! For her to have gone through the events of the night and make it out alive proved just how strong she was. Charlotte nodded in realization, of course he was a Police Officer. She glanced at his jacket. The GCPD badge emblazoned on the material stood out proudly.

"Where am I?" Charlotte asked Blake dazedly, still disoriented. She didn't recognize the walls, and the harsh fluorescent lighting definitely didn't remind her of home. But the beeping in the background...

"Gotham City General," The young man informed her, reaching beside her head for the clipboard on the desk.

"The hospital?" Charlotte asked stupidly, mainly out of disbelief. John humored her with one of his inquisitive looks before gracing her with a grim smile. Grim smiles reminded her of something...of...Oh. Charlotte suddenly felt the need to blush as she thought of what'd she'd just been through with the Joker. John watched her look down to see that she was indeed in a hospital bed. So many parts of her were bruised and damaged.

"Yes. Like I've said, everything's been taken care of. Your parents are currently on their way...they should be here soon. The nurse is going to alert them that you're awake now." Blake assured her. The girl was a mystery, how she'd managed to get herself caught up in the crossfire between Gotham's biggest Villain and Vigilante astounded him. "Charlotte, I'm going to need to ask you a few questions regarding your injuries on file. You've got a cracked rib and several lacerations on your back and sides...do you remember anything from your accident?"

Charlotte shifted uncomfortably underneath the itchy wool blanket that had been thrown over her. She didn't want to look the officer in the eyes, fearful he would know everything the moment eye contact was made. "Well, now that I think about it...not really, sir." She lied through her teeth. Of course she remembered everything, she'd been stupid enought to risk her life for a psychopathic clown. Unwillingly, but still.

Blake chuckled slightly. "There's no need to call me 'sir' or 'mister' or anything like that. Feel free to call me John."

Charlotte fought another blush. She was in the middle of telling the biggest lie of her life, and she couldn't keep focused because the attractive officer was being cordial with her? Pitiful. Completely out of her character, as well. Perhaps the crash had knocked around a few things in her brain.

"So there's nothing you'd like to report? You were found passed out against a fire hydrant less than a mile away from the critical area. Don't you have any idea how you got there?" John asked her, narrow eyes studying her intensely. Charlotte shifted under his gaze.

"Not that I can remember, no," Charlotte shook her head, eyes scanning the room. It was then that she realized she'd broken the law by lying to a Police Officer. Charlotte scanned her brain briefly over the night's events ...to be honest, she was too surprised that she'd made it out alive. "I was just walking home from a friend's house...and then I woke up here. That's all I remember." Charlotte bit her lip, wanting to slap herself when the officer granted her a look of trust.

"And that's all you remember?" John asked her, barely looking at the clipboard he'd been taking notes on. The girl in front of him looked inexplicably...lost. Charlotte thought of the Joker's rough, gloved hands grabbing her, body shielding her from the majority of the chaos, that look in his eyes when he'd told her to get herself out. Charlotte couldn't explain her need to lie, or her need to even defend the psycho clown... but she did it regardless. She felt sick.

"That's all." Charlotte confirmed, large blue eyes staring straight into John's narrow brown ones. He forced himself not to look away - the girl was unnerving him. She smiled softly, lips barely moving. John had been about to ask her another question when the door burst open.

"Charlotte!" John heard a shrill voice shriek in relief. Charlotte instantly sat up straighter, obviously startled as her parents barged in. Charlotte clenched her eyes shut as her mother hugged her close, the smell of her perfume engulfing her. While the hug was slightly uncomfortable because of her wounds, the smell did soothe her. Charlotte was entirely aware that her mother had started to bawl, she felt the cool drops seep into her hair.

"Hi Mom, Dad." She smiled, looking up at her dad who had taken his place besides the bed. John nearly turned red, he was honored to be standing beside the new D.A.

"Hello, sweetheart. Is everything alright?" Charlotte's father asked, placing a warm hand his daughter's shoulder. John stepped back to watch the scene. Robert Marlone was a pretty intimidating guy when it came down to it, but when it came to his daughter he became inexplicably gentle. Like he was dealing with glass. Despite his attempt to stop it, a warm smile graced his face. He wished his parents had treated him like that...but they were...

John didn't like thinking about childhood.

"Everything's fine. Just a little banged up," Charlotte said, ignoring her mind as it replayed vans exploding. Her mother had finally stopped crying and insisted that she go get Charlotte a cup of tea. She was gone instantly. Charlotte made eye contact with John again, and for some reason, she blushed. Her father chuckled, extending a hand to the young man.

"Have you been taking care of my daughter, son? I didn't know officers were doubling up as nurses these days," her father joked, making Charlotte cringe at his cheesy joke. "Robert Marlone, Gotham's new head of District Attorneys, nice to meet you!"

John only grinned, eagerly shaking the mans hand. Of course he knew who he was! "John Blake, GPD Officer. Pleased to meet you, sir. It's an honor."

Introductions were cut short as Charlotte's mother came back with a flaming hot cup of tea and a nurse, who promptly announced she was free to check out.

/

Charlotte's exit from the hospital was fairly quick - her mother hated hospitals. However, she did catch John Blake on the way out of the hospital. She'd been about to get into the car when she saw him getting into his own.

"Wait!" Charlotte said abruptly, telling her parents to wait a moment. They entered the car as she ran towards Blake's. "Excuse me, Officer Blake?" Charlotte exclaimed, trying to slow her breath down. She was sure the wind was whipping her hair into a frenzy, but she'd had to thank the man. If it wasn't for him, God only knows what could've happened to her. John had been just about to start up the police car when she appeared at the passenger window.

"Yes, Miss Marlone?" He asked her, wondering if he'd missed something important. John watched as Charlotte fiddled with the bandage on her left knuckle for a moment. She seemed oddly nervous...what was with this girl?

"I just wanted to say thank you...I don't know where I'd be now if you hadn't found me passed out against that fire hydrant...or if someone had found me before you. Anyways, I'm rambling...but thanks." Charlotte smiled shyly. Internally, she wanted to punch herself. She had never been the type to get butterflies or act differently in front of boys...or men in this case. She just really appreciated his actions.

John Blake smiled humbly, having the strange urge to laugh at the girl's shy behavior. She was oddly cute. "It was my pleasure, Miss Marlone. Get home safe, alright?"

Charlotte fought the urge to beam. Of course he would be concerned, he was a Police Officer. "I will. Goodnight, John. Thank you, again." She said, his name felt strange to her. Blake nodded to her before starting up the car.

"Goodnight, Charlotte."

Charlotte smiled and waved at him once more before going back into her car. She braced herself for the tedious ride home, where she would be thoroughly interrogated by her parents, leaving her with no choice but to lie again.

/

John Blake sat in the warmth of his car, patrolling one street in particular. He'd driven by it countless times, and around the seventh time he'd decided it would be best to park discreetly behind a few dark cars. The Narrows was a dangerous place, but curiosity had gotten the best of him.

"Curiosity killed the cat," John grumbled, finishing the last dregs of his subpar coffee. He glanced at the clock again.

2:53 AM

If nothing emerged in twenty or so minutes, he would leave. That was what he'd promised himself twenty minutes ago. John tilted his head back against the seat -not sleeping of course- he only closed his eyes briefly. He thought of Charlotte, only a senior in high school with such a knack for trouble. John picked at his cuticles - a horrible habit.

She'd been hiding something, he just knew it. Those blue eyes didn't just spark up for anyone.


And another chapter is done! I hope you all enjoyed it! For the chase scene, The Dark Knight was clearly my inspiration, so I hope you all enjoyed that little throwback! Please review and give me your thoughts, I'd love to hear what you guys have to say about this chapter - it was one of my favorites to write! I know I keep saying this, but reviews really are what keep my inspiration for this story going! I want to share my story with everyone, and have you all enjoy it, so if I'm doing that please let me know, as well as what you'd like to see in the story! Also, John Blake is going to have a large role in the dynamic of the story, so you guys will be seeing him around! What do you all think of him being incorporated into the story? Any thoughts on his purpose? All of your speculations are welcome! Also, for those following the story, I see you all and I just want to say thank you!

Just in case any of my GHTS readers are speculating, NO I have NOT abandoned 'Getting Him To Smile'! I would never do that to you guys. I'll be updating soon, so be on the lookout for that! Dramione is forever!

As for this story, I hope you're all enjoying it. This isn't going to be a love story. Well, not a conventional one, anyways. I want to stay as close to the actual TDK Joker as possible, but like any author, I'll be adding my own little twists here and there. Just don't expect him and Charlotte to get married or anything, lol. Speaking of Charlotte, what do you guys think of her? Later, guys!