Rorschach's Journal, April 1st, 1981
New York was built on bones.
Cemeteries were plowed, not even sure if all the bodies had been moved. Now people go in their basements and find a bit of exposed dirt wall with a skull staring out at them.
If anyone in this damned place even cared, the bones they find would have given way to understanding how they got there. Would have known that above Avenue X, there never was a cemetery in Greenwich. Would've known it was a suspected murder site only three years ago.
Went to search apartment building skeleton was found after hearing rumors on sign route. Walk through village most of the time, walking by Avenue S when heard woman speaking in broken English to police. Police didn't understand her accent.
Didn't try.
Approached her, asked what had happened. Looked afraid of me, just tried to look… friendly. Don't know if it worked.
Still talked though. Said she'd found a skull when doing laundry in apartment's basement. Noticed my sign then and took a step away slightly. Told her I'd put in a good word for her. Walked away slowly after that.
Waited till dark to put on face and investigate.
Apartment building was easy to get into. One lock picked, two deadbolts busted by shoulder, easy alarm system to unwire. Planned to rewire before leaving. Never got a chance.
Got down to basement. Place was cold and damp. Tried the lights. No good. Didn't hear the hum of a washing machine or dryer. Nothing but stillness and stale air. Something wrong.
Sudden light flickered on in form of flashlight in far corner of basement. Was at it before even looking to see who was there. Person—man, in good shape—didn't fight when grabbed around throat and wrist. Fact, he laughed.
Knew the laugh.
Let go of him as he shined the flashlight up into his face like a child telling a scary story. It was a scary story. Did he know? Did he know what I was without my face? Could it be risked? Easy answer. No. It couldn't.
"She never told me who she got to listen to her. Never thought it'd be you, Schach. Pretty good actress, huh? Wonder if they make 'em all like that in the… god where did that whore come from? Ah, well, you'd probably know. Please, tell an old friend. I wouldn't mind taking a little holiday."
Didn't say anything. Waiting to see if it was a bluff. Couldn't risk being the fool. Couldn't.
His expression hardened. "April's fool, Rorschach."
"Not funny."
"Ha! Ha! That's what you never got Inky. It is funny. And I'm the only one laughing."
"Laugh with the bones, then."
Knocked the flashlight from his hand, stomped on it, left him in the darkness of the basement.
The Comedian could stand to laugh alone.
Does it all the time.