Chapter 2
I was far away in the water from where the two ferry's blew up, but I could feel the warmth of the explosion on my face. I could feel the shockwave through my battered en bruised body. The smile that was carved and painted on my face widened even more. took a few minutes before he could hear again, he always got that with loud noises. Then he noticed the screams. Thousands of terrified screams from the people on the dock. People who were watching the two ferry's explode just like he was doing. The Joker truly is a better class of criminal.
I snickered as I watched the chaos. 'I love this job!' This surely was worth all the trouble he went through to get to enjoy his fireworks.
There was almost nothing left of the boats. They were on fire. Thick and pitch-black smoke was filling the sky. Some passengers survived his 'fireworks', they were in the water between the wreckages of the boats yelling for help. The police and fire-fighters were heading towards the ferry's. Trying to save what was left.
It was like watching the world burn.
This is what he lived for. But right now… I really had got to get out of this water. It was cold and he won't be able to swim for much longer because of the bullet wounds in his shoulder and his arm. There was nothing he could grab to hold on to. And the side was way to high for him to climb out of the water. He didn't see any ladders or ropes either…
He swam along the edge for some time. Hoping he would find a ladder of some sort. They do have ladders at the waterside… don't they? He swam, swam, swam…
'O my god, Bill! The Joker blew these ferry's up! All those people! He killed them!' A female voice cried.
'Calm down, sweetheart…' A male voice said. Probably Bill.
'CALM DOWN?! CAN'T YOU SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING OVER THERE?!'
'Please Jenny. I saw the same thing you did and –'
'I can't believe you work for this guy!'
'Jenny, he forced me! At least I can support you and our child now!'
Jenny was silent for a while. She was crying. Bill let her be, trying to calm his own temper. He didn't like it when his girlfriend reminded him he worked for The Joker. He hated it even more when he took another look at the bay and the burning ferry's. And he thought back to the day he stopped working for Gamble and joined The Joker's team.
FLASHBACK TO THE MOVIE
'Hey, Gamble. There's somebody here for you. They say they've just killed The Joker. They've brought the body.'
Bill en Mo were Gamble's henchmen. They were two big African-American guys with broad shoulders. A body wrapped in plastic bags was thrown on the floor.
'So, dead? That's 500 –' says Gamble.
'How 'bout alive, hmm?' The Joker snarled. Jumping up and holding a sharp knife against Gamble's mouth. His men were holding Bill and Mo down.
'You wanna know how I got these scars?' The Joker whispered in the man's ear. He nods his head as if he were saying yes you do. 'My father was a drinker. And a fiend. And one night he goes off crazier than usual. Mommy gets the kitchen knife to defend herself. He doesn't like that. Not. One. Bit. So, me watching, he takes the knife to her, laughing while he does it. He turns to me and says: 'Why so serious?' He comes at me with the knife: 'Why so serious?!' He sticks the blade in my mouth. 'Let's put a smile on that face!' Aaannndddd… Why so serious?'
Gamble fell to the floor. Dead.
'Now, our operation is small. But there is a lot of potential for aggressive expansion.' The Joker's henchmen were nodding and stood proudly as he continued talking. 'So which of you fine gentleman would like to join our team?' He looked over at Bill and Mo. 'O, and there's only one spot open right now –' The Joker grabs a pool stick and breaks it in half on his knee. '- so were gonna have tryouts.' He says while observing which stick has the sharpest point. He throws one of them in front of Bill and Mo.
'Make it fast.' He says as he walks away. His henchmen release Bill and Mo. They look at each other in disbelief. Terrified. With the sharp pointed stick between them on the floor.
END FLASHBACK
Bill never told Jenny what really happened. That means he would have to confess murder. Because that's what he did. He murdered his friend, Mo, to survive.
Meanwhile The Joker was still in the water. He was having a hard time. He got cramp and was unable to use the arm he was shot in. His chest started hurting real bad. And when the cable suddenly snapped he hit his head on the ground. When he heard the two people say that one of them apparently worked for him he smelled his chance.
'Uhmmm, excuse me?' I called in a very soft tone of voice. 'Hello?'
'Bill! I think there's someone in the water!' Jenny said worried.
'Could you please get me out of here? I'm so tired…' Is all I could say before finally giving up. I was exhausted and every part of my body was hurt. I had to manipulate the people on land to take me out of the water or else I wouldn't be able to laugh at my own stupidity afterwards ever again.
Bill and Jenny looked over the edge into the dark waters. They saw a man having a hard time keeping his head up.
'O my god! Bill, help this poor man!' Jenny said panicked.
Bill laid down on the edge and reached his hand out so that I could grab him. He pulled me out of the water.
'Are you all right, mister?' Jenny asked me.
The Joker had never been happier that it was dark. Because it seemed these people didn't recognise him for who he was at all! The water must have washed the make-up away.
'Yes, thank you.' I said gasping for breath. I didn't like to thank people. It just wasn't my thing. But I had to keep saying socially-wished-for words or they'd get suspicious. I was in no state to defend myself right now. It was so cold I just couldn't stop shaking. Anger boiled up inside of me because I hated feeling so weak.
'How did you end up in there? It is very dangerous to take a midnight swim in these waters, especially because there's no way you can get back on land all by yourself. The side is to high you see'. Jenny babbled. 'Ow of course you know the side is to high. Do you need some towels, sir? Have you had dinner? I am going back home, Bill, to get this poor man some towels and stuff. Sir, you could spend the night with us! It is dangerous to travel right now. The Joker just blew up two ferry's full of people! Ow of course you know the ferry's blew up. You kind of had a seat in the first row from down there –'
'Jinny, go and get these towels'. Bill said. Calming his upset girlfriend and she left.
'I'm sorry, sir. She talks to much sometimes.' Bill apologized to me. He grabbed my arm to hoist me on my feet and I let out a cry of pain. 'I'm sorry! Did I hurt you, sir?'
'Ugh, I got shot in that arm…' I grumbled. Suppressing the ache to hit this man in his face or cut him into tiny pieces.
Bill supported me as we walked in the same direction Jenny went. He walked to the pavement and as soon as we got under the streetlights he suddenly dropped me. In the light he could now see my face and he recognized me.
'You!' He growled at me. 'It's you!' Pointing to my face.
I shrugged. 'That's not a nice way of saying hello to your boss.' Basing that completely on their conversation I overheard, because I swear to the Devil I'd never met the guy. Perhaps I'm killing too much of my henchmen?
'You may not have your war paint on, but I do remember those scars! You're a freak!'
'All right. Look. Listen –'
'Freak! You made me murder my best friend! You just killed hundreds of people on those boats!' He balled his fists and looked around the abandoned alley. 'Give me one good reason why I should keep you alive!'
'I'll give you five million dollars if you help me out.'
To be continued…
Author's note: Now isn't that a good cliff hanger? And another flashback to remind you all to a very funny scene of The Dark Knight. Apparently Bill didn't think is was quite that funny! Let me know your opinion of this fanfiction! If you have any ideas I may try to include them.