CHAPTER 4 Before I get started with this chapter, I just want to quickly thank all of my amazing followers! 3 You guys are amazing! I never thought a story I'd write would get this many followers this quickly. It really makes me feel reassured about my writing. :3 Before I go on, I've been debating switching to a third person point of view so you could get more perspectives on the story than just Jessica's, but I want to know how you guys feel! Your input means everything to me :) So comment down below whether you think I should stick with first person or switch to third! Whatever gets the most votes will be what I go with. My schedule will be opening up really quickly so I'll be publishing chapters a lot quicker. Love you all and happy reading! 3
Every inch of my body throbbed as a slowly faded back into consciousness. I looked around and saw gray walls all around me, but nothing else. Where the hell am I? My hands were tied roughly behind my back and my legs were tied together with thick rope, pulling my limbs tightly. I kept wiggling to try sitting up but had no success. I whipped my head around to try look for a way out but there was nothing in the room but me and a big black door. I heard a loud bang and looked around to see the door swing open, revealing a very irritated yet still gleeful Joker. He smirked at me as I looked up at him, partially with fear but also with anger.
"Aw, what's with the angry look sugarplum?" He chuckled, walking over to me and pulling me up, holding onto me so I could stand. He pulled me close to him so our chests touched, making me gasp, but I quickly hushed myself and maintained a slightly angry look. I tried to control myself as my mind raced at the thought of what he could possibly have in store for me.
"I think after certain recent events, I should be the only angry one here." He growled, kicking my ankles out from under me and letting me fall to the ground. I went down quickly and groaned in pain at the impact of my fall. He took a step back, starting to pace in a circle around me.
"You know, I figured you'd be able to follow my rules pretty easily. I didn't make them that hard, right?" I didn't respond, curling into a ball and trying to ignore him. He bent down to my level and put his face near mine, glaring at me angrily. "It wouldn't be a good idea to ignore me, especially since you're in trouble for not following my rules! Now I'll ask you again; I didn't make the rules too hard to follow, right?" He growled, waiting for a response. When I didn't respond quick enough, he heavily sighed and got back up, starting to pace again.
"If you're not going to talk to me, I guess I'm going to have to make you scream for me, like you did for old Bruce-y the last night." He sneered, kicking me as hard as he could in the stomach. I cried out at the impact, the kick immediately spreading soreness all throughout my core. He kicked me a few more times, making me cry out with each kick. "Are you gonna talk to me now princess?" He cackled, grabbing my left arm and throwing me against the wall, catching me and pressing me up against it before I could fall again.
"Wha-what do you want with me? Why did you bring me here?" I asked weakly, looking into his eyes.
I held back tears as my entire body throbbed in pain and fear coursed through me. I waited for Joker to respond, but all he did was glare intensely at me. "Please, just tell me why I'm here.." I begged.
"I don't think after your little performance last night that you're the one who should be ordering me around." He brought us away from the wall then slammed me back up against it as hard as he could. "I don't like people who think they don't have to follow my rules."
My head throbbed as I shook and held back tears of pain, trying not to let him know he'd won. A slight ringing sound echoed, impeding my hearing. "Fine, I'll talk, I'll tell you anything you want to know. Just please..." I caught myself before planning out my next words. "Please don't hurt my friends anymore. Just me. Your problem is with me, not them." I sighed, finally letting a tear drop as I looked down, too ashamed of my weakness to look him in the eyes.
My heart stopped when he didn't reply. He stood over me, glaring down at me. I could see slight confusion on his face as he tried to ponder how to react to what I asked him. After what seemed like eons, he gently lifted my chin up so I could look into his eyes. Surprisingly, his gaze softened dramatically from the ruthless, irritated glare I saw before. I almost lost my breath as we looked into each other's eyes, our surroundings melting away.
I never realized how beautifully mossy green his eyes were...
"If you weren't so valuable to me, I would've killed you by now. I hope you realize that and know how lucky you are, sweetpea. Next time you slip up I may not be so generous." He whipped out a small pocket knife and I cringed when he brought it towards my wrists. "Relax darlin'! You really think I'd hurt you after I just said I wouldn't? What kind of monster do you think I am?" He cackled, cutting the rope from my wrists, then bent down to cut the rope off of my ankles.
I sighed and smiled with relief as I stretched, relishing in my newfound freedom. Even though I was free, I was still slightly pressed up against the wall, forced against it by the closeness of the Joker. For the first time his closeness didn't make me shudder. We looked at each other for a second, once again being ensnared by each other's eyes.
Why am I so entranced by this maniac? What's wrong with me?
I tried to remember all of the pain he had already caused me in the few days I've been around him, but nothing would come to my mind.
"Hello? Helloooo! Jessica!" His booming voice snapped me out of my trance, forcing me to look away from him. "Sometimes I truly don't understand you…" he trailed off, pushing me closer to the wall.
The same magnetizing connection that trapped us that day at the bank trapped us again, unconciously pulling us closer. I couldn't explain it, and I doubt he could either, but we were trapped by this cosmic force that kept pulling us closer and closer. As our lips were just about to touch, something snapped and we caught ourselves, rapidly pulling back and letting go of each other. I wobbled on the hard concrete floor, trying to regain my balance as we quickly backed away from each other. I looked at the ground, stunned.
"Well, ah, that was awkward!" he chuckled, turning away and opening the door. "Come on, I won't bite! I need to show you where you'll be staying."
I followed him out the door which led to a dark, concrete covered hallway, the only light coming from a lone flickering light bulb. I felt an eerie feeling as I followed him up a rickety wooden staircase, leading us to a shoddy white door. He opened the door and welcomed me into a mismatched, tidy yet messy apartment. Everything was in one room; a small outdated kitchen area, a light colored wooden table and matching chairs, an old couch in front of a large plasma TV, a king-sized mattress with green and purple pillows and sheets thrown haphazardly on it. Each wall was a different jewel-toned color, and a small coffee table was covered in magazine and newspaper articles about various crimes. I walked around the apartment taking everything in, the old wooden floors creaking with every footfall.
"How do ya like it toots?" He laughed, slamming the door behind me, making me jump and whip around to face him.
"Are you finally going to tell me why I'm even here?" I asked, regaining some of my tenacity.
"Oh come on, you know me! I'm never the type to give a straight answer." He smirked, circling around me like a bird stalking its prey before taking my wrist and leading me to the couch. I sat down as he hurriedly sat down next to me, grinning madly. We sat for a second, both pondering our next move. Finally, he seemed to crack a little. "If you must know, I'll at least give you a little hint. Since you know your way around the legal system, I'm going to need a little bit of, ah, legal advice from you. Unfortunately for me, most of my colleagues haven't had the best luck with the law, and they just keep landing themselves in prison! I'm running low on good men. Once you're here for a little while, and we get on better terms-"
"Wait how long do you think I'm going to be here?" I asked incredulously, a shock running through my body.
"As long as I want you here! Now hush!" He seethed, glaring at me. I gave him a second before he calmed down from his sudden temper flare, and he spoke again.
"Now, again, once we're on better terms and you get used to our little 'living situation', I'm going to need you to help me. I'll always need someone to get my boys out of jail, or prevent them from even going in the first place. I know you can work your legal magic to help me!" He giggled.
"You're quite talented in your work, Ms. Alford. Getting my pal Maroni in jail? I don't know how you did that, but if you did that you can do anything!" He got up, rushing to a dresser near the bed and got a large bag out of one of the drawers.
"Heads up!" He shouted, throwing the heavy bag at me. I looked at him suspiciously as I slowly opened the bag, half-expecting some sort of booby trap, like a jack-in-the-box springing out from the abyss. "Come on, don't be such a baby! Since I knew you were going to be staying here for a while, I took the liberty of packing some stuff for ya! No need to thank me sweet cheeks." He smirked, laughing at my frightened reaction.
"How often did you go into my apartment?"
"That's nothing you need to be concerned with. Although, I do have to say you have very nice nightgowns and lingerie." He smirked, winking at me when I looked at him in disgust. "You should probably head to bed, or you can stay up and get lost in your thoughts. I honestly couldn't care less. I have some business in town to take care of, so you're free to yourself. As long as you don't leave."
"What happens to me if I leave?"
"I'm kind of shocked that you had to ask! Hold on a second…" Joker whipped out a cheap Motorola phone, quickly texting someone. We waited for a couple seconds, then his phone loudly vibrated. "Here ya go sweet pea! Take a look." He evilly grinned, tossing the phone to me.
I gasped as I looked at the picture; an outside view of Bruce's bedroom with Bruce talking to Alfred inside.
"Now do you understand? I can have Bruce killed at any second! Or any of your other family and friends for that matter. It can be anyone of my choosing! All you have to do to avoid one unfortunate victim's untimely demise is staying in this apartment, and not talk back to me. Can you handle that?" He growled. I nodded furiously, shaking in fear.
"Good! I'm glad we have an understanding." He grinned. "Hopefully you can follow this set of rules better than the last ones." He laughed.
"Now, I have some errands to run! Nothing you need to worry your pretty little head about. Go wild! But not too wild; save that fun for when I get home." He winked. I shuddered in disgust, glaring at him. He cackled as he jogged towards the door, running out and locking me in the apartment.
I sighed as I took a look at my surroundings, not even being able to find a window.
How am I going to survive in here?
I figured I'd just head to sleep, weary after the day's events. I shifted through the bag and put on the least revealing nightgown he packed for me.
Good God, I'm going to have to have him or one of his henchmen go back and get some suitable clothing…
I cautiously went over to the enormous bed, figuring that would be a better place to sleep than the couch. I tucked myself into the covers and tried to get myself to sleep, my exhaustion eventually making everything fade to black.