Chapter 4

It was the day after that I finally felt better. My clothes were nice and clean. And neither Jenny nor Bill took anything out of my pockets (knifes, pencils, bombs, playing cards… yes still there) jeej! I walked into the kitchen. Jenny was making breakfast. I hadn't seen the kid since the day Bill took him out. Speaking of which… I didn't see Bill much either.

I sat down on the kitchen table. Acting like I owned the place. I Propped my foot up upon a chair and folded my hands innocently and childish on my lap. 'Why won't you come and sit next to me, hmm?' I asked Jenny.

She stood at the counter and took a deep breath, collected all her courage to face me. I grinned, finding it amusing she had such difficulty with having me around. She slowly pulled out a chair and sat down. I know I look scary… and I use it all the time. I ran my tongue sloppily over the scars inside my mouth to draw extra attention to them. A story already forming itself in my head.

'You wanna know how I got these scars?' I ask her and I slide my hand into my coats pocket. She decided she would cope with me best if she ignored me.

I hate being ignored.

I pulled out the knife and leaned over to Jenny. Right then and there I noticed how beautiful she was. And I liked pretty things. But she still wasn't paying attention to me. I slid down off the table and sat on the chair, closer to her.

'LOOK AT ME!!'

She startled and didn't stop trembling.

'Come here.' I took the knife to Jenny's mouth and put my hand behind her neck. She didn't even try to struggle. A beautiful woman with no fight in her at all? We were so close our noses almost touched. She shut her eyes. I roughly forced her to open them again by yanking her head.

'You know, I had a girlfriend. Beautiful, like you. And every man wanted her, but she was mine you see. One night I took her out to a restaurant. We had a great time, it was past midnight when we left. On our way home we walked through an alley. And there were some people who wanted to mug us. But then they saw how beautiful she was and they tried to rape her. But I wouldn't let that happen, you see. And I got myself into a fight with them. They held me down while one of them puts a knife on my face. Like this, and he sliced my cheeks open. From here to here. My girlfriend simply couldn't bear to look at me anymore. She left me. But now I'm always smiling!'

Horrified by my story she sat here motionless.

'Ow don't be so serious! Loosen up a little, doll!' I laughed and threw my arms happily up in the air.

'Maybe I should tell you a joke then, hmm? How about this one: so there's this jail. And one day all the prisoners escape. What happened? The guard accidentally pressed the escape button!' I laughed hysterically. Clutching my shoulder that still hurt from the bullet.

'I'm a nurse.' Jenny whispered. 'If your shoulder still hurts I need to look at the wound again.'

I don't know where Jenny suddenly got all brave about, but she undid the buttons of my shirt just far enough so that she could see the bullet wound. I let her, fascinated by the sudden change of character.

'Bill said you were shot in your arm. Where else are you hurt?' Her voice had gotten more professional, that must be it. It was like Jenny switched into nurse-mode.

'Ow, uhmmm…' Looking at the ceiling trying to remember everything that had happened that night. 'I hit my head… got shot at, cut my chest and my leg… and that was about it.'

'If you take your shirt off I'll take a look at the injury's'.

I took my shirt off and let her examine my shoulder and my arm. She said I was lucky because the bullets went right through and didn't hit anything important inside. Jenny brushed my hair aside and took a look at the bump on my head. I got butterflies in my stomach, always got that when someone touched my hair. She disinfected the open wounds with alcohol and refreshed the bandages.

The next day I had almost all of my strength back and I wanted to go outside. To see the wreckage of the ferry's. People crying over their beloved ones that had died. Maybe even a small sort of podium covered with flowers and candles to remember them.

Jenny gave me the key so I could let myself in. Not that a key prevented me from coming in or out a house… if I wanted to go back in I would just break the door down. Something I did at my own place quite regularly. I was so busy with all those exciting things I was working on I always forgot that damned key.

I didn't get disappointed. The ferry's were still out on the water. They were black and big pieces were missing. Police boats were probably doing an investigation or something or else they would have cleaned up the mess, wouldn't they? I was still cold outside and I pulled the collar of my coat up high. The wind made a mess of my hair and I shut my eyes. Just enjoying the feeling, the thrill of what I did that night.

Money was never a problem for The Joker. Whenever he got a shortage of it he just did a 'bank job'. Not so very original, but not so very boring either. If he felt like doing something different he would just go to the mobs and find a way to manipulate them.

Back at Jenny's place I saw Bill was home at last. And he sat in the living room with the baby on his lap. I didn't give him any of my attention and walked directly to the bathroom and locked myself in. I looked at the mirror and stared at my own face.

I wanted my make-up back on.

Pulling random drawers open to find any kind of make-up Jenny should have in here, I looked behind the towels, on top of the closet, in the shower… and finally I found it just laying right in front of me on the sink. I got out the palest foundation she had and began putting it on my face. Painting a coarse smile with Jenny's bright red lipstick all the way up my cheeks. And pulling out her darkest shade of eye shadow I drew my black raccoon rings.

When I came out again Jenny and Bill stopped talking and looked at me. Right, I got their full attention now. What should I do with it?

'You're crazy'. Bill whispered to me.

'I'm not.' I said stubbornly. 'No, I'm not.'

He started giggling softly. Jenny's mouth fell open as she looked in surprise at her boyfriend. Never daring to laugh at someone like The Joker. But there he was, laughing at him. And his laugh got louder and louder.

'You're a monster.' Bill said challengingly.

'I'm not a monster, I'm just ahead of the –'

I got interrupted by Bill's hysterical laughing.

I hated to be interrupted.

My knife already in hand I jumped on the couch on top of him. The baby fell out of his arms. I looked him in the eye. Holding my knife to his throat, drawing a little blood. His eyes were strange. His pupils were very dark and seemingly bigger than they were supposed to be. I knew a man under the influence of drugs when I saw one, and Bill most definitely was one.

'No please! Don't kill me! I'll do anything! Take my girl!' Bill screamed at the top of his lungs.

'You know, I don't think I want your girl. She's not feisty, and I really prefer fierce.' I whispered into his ear. Smearing some of my make-up on his collar.

'I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I was just kidding –'

'You see, it's not funny if you have to explain the joke.' And I dragged the knife along his throat. Sliding him open. Blood spurted out. Making a mess. Iewww

I got up and heard Jenny gasp for breath. I totally forgot about her. The baby was crying.

She sat in a corner apposite him. Huddled in the dark in a foetus position. I walked up to her and sat on my haunches in front of her.

'Shhhh.' I petted her. 'Bill just made a little mistake. A fatal error of judgement. Like a bad joke. It's unpredictability, my beautiful.' I said, trying to sound sympathetic. I tried to get closer to her. Testing how far I could go before she squirmed. And she did. 'You look nervous.'

Jeez that baby's crying was really getting annoying!

Jenny suddenly burst out crying. 'I told Bill to put you out! I begged him to not let you into our house!'

'And look what he got for not listening to you. Does it depress you, beautiful? To know you're all alone?'

She covered her ears with her hands and tried to block me out. Didn't this woman understood by now I hate not being in the centre of attention?!

'Look at me.'

Jenny began humming a song softly.

'LOOK AT ME!'

I yanked her arms and plunged my knife into her stomach. That got her attention. She looked at me, eyes wide. She folded her hands over her stomach, blood was everywhere. I wouldn't take long before she died.

'You promised…' She squeaked. 'Promised… lots of money…'

Author's note: Tough eh? Money problem solved! But… The Joker is a man of his word, what will he do when he remembers that? Please review! I don't care whether it's bad or not. What doesn't kill you can only make you… stranger ;)