Class Trip

Daria lay in her bed across from Brittany who was in a deep sleep. Her glasses sat on the nightstand beside a clock that glowed 3:45. The teenager's eyes were half open and felt so heavy. She could feel the need for sleep tugging at her, pulling her eyelids down and anchoring her to the bed. The softness seemed to be smothering as her exhaustion and fatigue closed in around her. Beside her Brittany whimpered in her sleep, sounding like a distressed puppy.

Daria turned her head took look at the other girl who was tossing and turning in her sleep. She wondered vaguely what somebody like Brittany would have nightmares about. A shadow shifted in the room catching Daria's attention. She narrowed her eyes, attempting to make out the shape. Did it look like a person? Was her imagination running wild? There was only one way to find out.

"Hello?" she called narrowing her eyes even more. Suddenly she felt pressure around her neck. Her eyes darted up. Even without her glasses she saw it was the Joker. He laughed pressing his hands hard around her neck. She coughed and attempted gasp as her airway was being crushed under the weight of his powerful hands. She dug her short nails into his hands as he howled with laughter. The room had become very cloudy, thick with green fog. She heard a high pitched giggle from the other side of the room. Her eyes fell on Brittany who was laughing and crying, holding her face in despair. All the while the Joker laughed as Daria choked up her last breath.

"Ah!" Daria squeaked opening her eyes. She bolted up in bed, grabbing her glasses and placing them on her face. The room was dark and with the exception of Brittany who slept peacefully, it was empty.

"Oh fun." Daria said flatly, leaning against the headboard, "This isn't going to lead to a psychological breakdown." The truth was she deserved to have at least a small breakdown. She had watched dozens of people die and the madman responsible for all those lost lives paid personal attention to her. Still that really couldn't have gone any better. She had survived. Well maybe it could have gone a little bit better. Mr. O'Neil living would have made the circumstances a little more favorable. He had been one of the casualties.

Daria closed her eyes picturing it all again: the stage, the crowd, the panic and the killer. She heard that Batman's attempts to capture the Joker had been unsuccessful. So that meant he was still running around. She pushed her glasses up her face rubbing her eyes. After the Joker had darted off the Fashion Club had wandered out of a near by store.

"Eww!" Quinn had said, "What's with all these people?"

"I like don't know or whatever." Said Sandy, "But I suppose we could stay here all day wondering what happened and forego shopping," the other two members of the club gasped in horror, "that is IF that's what Quinn wants to do that."

"Of course not, Sandy!" Quinn said quickly, "Let's go!" They scurried off stepping over several people as they went. Daria shook her head. They would probably be the only ones at the mall after the apocalypse. Daria slid down further under the blankets. She removed her glasses and closed her eyes. Maybe she would get to sleep for another ten minutes, one could only hope.

"Wow Mista J!" Harley said excitedly, "You were amazin' today!" grinning she chirped, "I got the tape from that news team! They wont be needing it anyway, what with the being dead and all." She grinned happily.

He took the DVD from her and patted her head like a child, "Very good Harley!" he commended. He frowned a little, "Though I do feel like the event wasn't all it could be." He popped it in the portable DVD player on the table. The camera was trained steadily on the mayor for a few moments then it slowly panned around the crowd getting reaction shots. Then the feedback caused the entire crowd to cringe quickly followed by the panic and the attempted escapes. The camera began to jerk wildly as the camera man twitched and convulsed his laughter high and painful sounding.

"Wait!" the Joker said more to himself then Quinn. He rewound the tape carefully playing it and rewinding it several times before he seemed satisfied.

"What is it Puddin'?" Harley asked leaning over his shoulder. Her eyebrows rose when she saw he had paused on the image of a teenage girl. People were frozen in mid dart but she seemed to be the center of this image. The girl looked like she didn't belong on the tape. She wasn't reacting like a normal person. The girl was relatively calm; her arms were up behind her head as she seemed to be securing the oxygen mask. Her eyes were calm and almost bored looking. She seemed to be nothing special. The girl was flat-chested and blandly dressed… nothing special at all.

"Puddin'…" Harley said slowly. His eyes were wide with excitement and his grin was huge.

"Tell me Harley," he said, "Does this look like the kind of girl who gets enough fun in her life?"

"No." Quinn said pouting, "But who cares!" she didn't like this sort of excitement in his voice. That was reserved for three things, Batman, crime and her! Well…not really her but she'd like to think that someday he'd care that much about her.

"Who care!" the Joker echoed, "Why Harley I'm disappointed in you." His voice growing grave. She flinched but he paid no attention and continued, "We are here to bring smiles to Gotham and besides Batman I don't think I've ever seen someone in more need of a good whoopee cushion then this chick." He laughed manically staring hard at the screen, "And it would appear our little miserable one is from out of town." He nodded, agreeing with himself, "Yes she said something about "big cities" so lets find out where our new friend is staying, shall we?"

"I don't see why we should." Quinn said showing rare backbone, "it's just some kid!" she said throwing her arms up in the air, "If you want to worry about makin' someone smile who doesn't want to go after B-man! Just forget about this one, please Mr. J! Can't cha just forget this one? For me?" He stared her a moment in silence.

The next thing Harley knew she was flying through the air. She tumbled to the ground, hitting her face hard against he gravel outside.

"Don't come back until you find out who our new little friend is." He said before slamming the door.

"Can I at least have my shoes?" she called. Nothing happened for a moment then the door opened a crack and her little black booties came sailing out, along with her giant mallet.

"Thanks Puddin'." She said sighing. Harley sat on the step as she pulled on her shoes her eyes narrowed behind the white make-up.

"Sorry Mista J but when I find this girl…I'm gonna kill her." she growled picking up her giant mallet and swinging it over her shoulder.

TO BE CONTINUED….

A/N: TWO CHAPTERS IN ONE DAY! Can I get a hell ya? I'm just kidding. No hell yas necessary after the wait I put you guys through for the pervious chapter. Man the walls are closing around Daria from all sides. This cannot end happily…or maybe it can. Who knows! Well that's all for today. Thanks for the reviews everyone.