Class Trip

Part three

Deep in a downtown Gotham laid a cluster of empty warehouses. The only sounds were around was glass breaking as someone crawled through a window, the growl of rabid dogs fighting in the streets and the laughter of a madman. Within the abandoned toy factory a couple had holed up. The windows were painted shut and the electricity was cut off but far within this building was a single light from a battery operated lamp. Cackling a man in a purple suit paced back and forth. His green hair was slicked back. As he paced back and forth out of the darkness his horrific grin was stretched from ear to ear, his laughter filling the empty room, clasping his gloved hands behind his back he stopped abruptly, half his face in shadow as he slowly turned to the other inhabitant.

"I'm feelin' festive!" he growled happily, "Harley, are there any good parties I should know about?"

A girl lay on the table in front of him. She kicked her legs back and forth idly as she thumbed through the newspaper. She turned to him and grinned. The girl was dressed in red and black, her trade mark jester cap and white make up missing.

"Every party's a good one when you're there Mista J!" she swung her legs off the table and sat up. Hey blue eyes fixed on him a moment, filled with utter devotion. She let her eyes drift back down; pouting her lips the blonde began to search the paper.

"Um." She squeaked, "Doesn't look like much is going… OH!"

"Oh?" he inquired, his voice becoming higher.

"There's a big party downtown." She said jamming her index finger into the paper, "Wanna crash, Puddin?" He placed his hands on her shoulders, and leaned over her, reading. That eerie smile of his spread across his face.

"Oh my yes… and I have a feeling there's going to be quite a bang at this bash!" he began to giggle then cackle and soon he was laughing madly, his dark eyes wide and crazed.

Somewhere deep in the twisted metal jungle of Gotham two girls sat on the side of a water fountain. People passed at a distance as if their aura of discontentment was creating a tangible barrier. Daria searched through her bag idly as Jane applied a new layer of lipstick reddening her lips. She smacked then together and turned to her friend.

"I just remembered that Penny's got a place here in Gotham."

"Your sister?" Daria asked, "I thought she was selling knickknacks at the base of a volcano somewhere in the south pacific."

"Volcano finally erupted, go figure, and took out her entire inventory so she moved back to civilization." Jane pulled back her raven hair from her face, "I think I'll look her up." She stood and stretched her lanky limbs, "You wanna come?" she asked her glasses clad friend.

"Naw," Daria said shaking her head, "You go hang out with your sister. I think I'll be going back to the hotel soon."

"Okay," Jane said walking away, before getting out of earshot she shouted, "Don't get mugged without me!" Daria smiled her Mona Lisa smile. She glanced into her bag one last time before zipping it up. She pulled her scarf tighter, it was getting cold. She slung the bag over her shoulder and began to walk toward the hotel.

Daria slowed to a stop in front of an electronics store with several televisions displaying the opening for Sick Sad World. She crossed her arms in front of her chest as the swirling spiral of green with an eye twisted in front of her. The announcer boomed, "Are there mutant sea monkeys living in YOUR drinking water? Tonight on Sick Sad World!"

"hmm." She hummed staring at the screen. She shifted her weight from one boot to the other.

"DARIA!" a chipper voice called. Mentally she swore before turning slowly, "Hi Mr. O'Neil."

The happy teacher jogged up to her. He was dressed in his usual tan button up shirt and grey slacks but with the addition of a matching grey jacket and mittens. He smiled excitedly, "Oh Daria isn't the big city great!"

"Yes." She said, "So great I must go see it all from my room." Daria began to walk away when he implored her.

"Don't go Daria! Do you know what's going on today? Gotham's having its yearly festival celebrating the anniversary of its creation! There's going to be music and dancing and rides and art and…and lots of great stuff. It's going to be so much fun, I'm sure it'll turn that frown of yours upside down!"

"I really don't think so, Mr. O' Neil…" she began.

"Nonsense Daria! You're in Gotham! Have some fun!" he snatched up her hand his mittens and proceeded to drag her in the opposite direction of the hotel, much to her dismay.

They had gotten about a block before she finally said, "Isn't it illegal for you to touch the students?"

"Oh!" he said throwing his hands in the air, "I'm so sorry Daria, I didn't realize I was invading your comfort zone. Is there anything I can do to make you feel better? Do you need to talk?"

"I'm fine with just not being touched." She said flatly. Instantly he seemed to forget what they were talking about and pointed, "Oh look Daria, there it is!" he jogged forward like an excited child. Sighing miserably Daria trudged after him. At least she could get some a good story for Jane when they reunited. Down the street she could see a huge set up of rides and lights and vendors filling the square ahead. As the sun set the lights on the rides flickered to life.

Daria slowly walked forward when someone shoved her saying, "Like move or whatever." As they pushed past her she noted the Fashion Club seemed oddly comfortable in this environment as they went pushed past the crowd into a clothing store. Daria stood in the back of the crowd watching the people chattering happily and that included Mr. O' Neil who was chatting up some poor student.

The mayor of Gotham plopped up on to the stage. He began a long speech about the history of Gotham that Daria was having trouble caring about. Suddenly the sound cut out and the mayor began to seem agitated as he hit the mike with his thick hand. He shook it then turned to someone off the stage and shouted at them inaudibly. A loud burst of feed back screeched from the speakers causing the crowd to hiss and shout and growl in pain as they held their ears.

"Tonight's scheduled entertainment has been preempted!" a new voice said, seizing control of the speakers. The mayor looked around when suddenly he fell out of the sight. A large trap door closed as soon as he fell below the stage.

"Happy birthday Gotham!" said the voice, "and what kind of birthday party would it be without the clown?" the voice cackled and Daria noticed the crowd had suddenly gone deathly silent.

"Shit." She said simply as a form dropped from above landing in the center of the stage. The purple clad man smiled broadly and raised his arms in the air, "Hello Gotham!" before he even finished saying "Gotham" the crowd had erupted in panic, an instant riot had formed as people pushed past and trampled each other trying to flee. Daria felt her back slam hard against a brick building.

"Aww!" the man on stage said sadly, "This is a party? Where are the smiles? I can't see those beautiful smiles! Well I think we can do something about that!" Seemingly out of nowhere a green cloud of gas began to fill the square. Daria took a big gulp of air and struggled against the sea of bodies. She feared it may already be too late.

The Joker stood on stage laughing madly as the gas cleared. He leapt down and began to step over the mangled grinning bodies. He giggled quietly. The cloud was still thick as he wandered through the crowd, "Ah yes this is how a party should be! Everyone smile! Smiles all around!" Suddenly his smile disappeared as he saw something in the distance that made him unhappy indeed.

"You!" he pointed his claw like index finger forward.

"Me?" a voice responded flatly. As the smoke had cleared a girl had become visible. She alone stood, her arms crossed over her flat chest, her eyes heavily lidded and her lips tight together in a thin line. Over her nose and mouth she wore a clear plastic oxygen mask. People all around her lay withered and grinning in agonizing pain.

With almost inhuman speed the Joker was upon her. The skinny man loomed over the short teenager. He growled through gritted teeth, "What is that?"

"Oxygen mask." She said evenly, "big cities tend to have air pollution." He stared at her in silence a moment before cackling loudly slapping his hand on her shoulder. Daria stumbled forward. She fell to her knees, landing on body that didn't appear to be breathing. Daria looked back up at him.

She had been lying in her sarcasm. The mask hadn't been for common city pollution. She had planned ahead. In her bag she had the oxygen mask in case of Scarecrow or Joker attack, mace in case of normal mugging, the fifty five dollars in case of hunger or the need to give it to a mugger or criminal like this. She hadn't told anybody because Daria didn't show weakness to others and she didn't need to know she was freaked out by bad guys in tights. So she had secretly compiled a specialized Gotham anti-death kit.

She pushed her glasses up her nose just before she felt bony hands grab her by the collar of her jacket.

"Don't touch me." She said grabbing his hands that still clutched the front of her jacket. He laughed loudly.

"Well aren't you an interesting one." He turned his head to the side and stuck out his tongue, "Bleh! You are one miserable looking little girl." He turned back to her and smiled, "Let's put a smile on that face. You'll feel better." He placed his hand on the mask and yanked it off Daria's head just before a pair of black boots connected with the side of his head. Daria dropped against the side of the building, her eyes wide. She watched as the agile man sprang back up to his feet. Batman stood with his back to her.

"You're a little late tonight, Sweetheart!" the Joker taunted, "better luck next time."

"There won't be a next time!" Batman roared.

"Oh pu-leeaze!" he said rolling his eyes, "There's always a next time." His eyes went past Batman and landed on the skinny teenager, staring at him expressionlessly. He smiled at her, "See ya around." Then darted off with Batman on his heals. Daria's eyes were wide and horrified. She didn't think she'd ever had an expression like this on her face, but there it was. Pure terror.

TO BE CONTINUED….

A/N: HI guys! Thanks for your unbelievable patience. You are all better people then I. Well I've got no excuse for why it's been months since I last updated other then that I lost interest in this story. I think I'm back into it though. I'm going to try to update in a timely fashion. Once again sorry for the wait.