Author's Note: Spoilers Alright when I saw the midnight showing of the Dark Knight I was immediately entranced by it. Heath Ledger's mesmerizing and memorable portrayal of the Joker was nothing short of brilliant and terrifying. He made you laugh and scared the shit out of you at the same time! Oddly enough I'm drawn to that short tense moment that Joker and Rachel share at the party. After Rachel is kidnapped and brought to the Joker, there is quite a long while before Harvey joins her. She tells him that Joker talked to her about their present predicament…but what if there was more? I really tried to bring Heath's dark and demented madness to the Joker and do not hesitate to review or criticize! A moment not shared in the movie but DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS!

WARNING: MAT CONTAIN VIOLENCE, SEXUAL CONTENT, AND SIMPLE JOKER UNPLEASANTNESS

Disclaimer: don't own Batman or any of the characters, but I wouldn't mind owning the Batman Big Wheel!

"I'm sorry."

Those were the last words that Rachel Dawes heard before a syringe was pierced into her neck. The burning liquid running through her veins took immediate effect. Her slender limbs went slack and heavy. She tried to scream. In shock. In anguish. In betrayal. In fear. But her mouth was frozen in open horror. A small gasp was all she managed.

Her turquoise eyes glazed over as her eyelids began to slide down in defeat. But not before she gazed at the blank face of Officer Ramirez. The one who offered to drive her to a "safe place" as soon as Harvey's warm face disappeared from her view in the back of that van. The one who was reassuring, informative, and comforting through all this hell. The one she trusted. The young woman's head slumped back with the rest of her body, against the window of the car. Rachel used her remaining strength the glare up at the corrupted female officer before she completely slipped into unconsciousness.

Rachel awoke groggily, lifting her head and struggled to open her eyes. She attempted to move, but found she bound tightly to a chair. Wrists and ankles held securely with harsh ropes. Her eyes snapped open with panic and she struggled fervently, the rough straw like material rubbing her limbs raw. She raised her head cautiously and glanced around her surroundings. She couldn't see much. The room was vast, but only lit by a small gray light that flickered above her. It appeared she was surrounded by large vats. Barely more than shadows menacingly standing around her. An ominous red glow that's flashed before her appeared to be a phone…wired to the vats and numbers ticking dangerously. Rachel tossed back her head and let out a cry of frustration, anger and fear.

Dammit! Harvey warned me about this! He knew Gordon had traitors working for Moroni. Why didn't I listen? I should have paid more attention! Thoughts floating almost tauntingly through her mind as her struggles became more frantic. She could have kicked herself for not realizing it sooner. After all, she and Harvey both were targeted by-

"Well hello again, beautiful." That chilling sing song voice erupted from the darkness. Rachel jerked her head up, straining to see the maniacal entity. Nothing but unmoving shadows.

A gloved hand reached from behind her and pulls her hair back. A blood painted mouth presses against her shivering ear. "A little tip for ya: next time choose better friends…" A high pitched chuckle follows as she jerks her head around to meet her captor. He had already slithered back into the darkness.

"Alright Joker, You have me, now get it over with. Don't play games." Her voice shaking slightly, heart thudding, eyes fearful. Another high pitched giggle sounded from the enveloping blackness. "Now what fun would that be…? You…unfortunately have no say on your life anymore." His sing song voice sent shivers down Rachel's spine. But she mustn't give the bastard what he wants!

"What are you talking about?" She attempted to glare into the unforgiving gloom, but she still felt her body shaking. Silence replied. A deep, heavy, suffocating silence. Rachel breathed heavily, anticipating, fearful. She didn't know which was worse, hearing his mocking voice or to know that he was lurking about her, undetected. She almost screamed when a flash of colors lunged at her. Leather covered hands grabbed her chin and the back of her skull in a vice like grip.

"Now, now don't try to hide that delicious fear from me. Your little bravery attempts won't work." A red tongue flitted over scarlet lips. Dark golden eyes stared down at her knowingly, rimmed with thick black kohl, smudged out past his eyebrows, down to the top of his jaunting cheekbones. The haunting face that stared down at her was painted paper white with slivers of creamy skin poking through. That horrifying scarred smile grinned mockingly, stitches etched up from the corners of his mouth. Highlighted by sickening blood colored paint smeared over his lips and across his ancient wounds. The face of a monster. A sadistic being. A psychotic figure. The face of the Joker.

Rachel stared up at him in horror, struggling to find her voice. She was this terrified only one other time. Their last encounter. His sneering face was mere inches from hers, green tinted tendrils of greasy hair brushing her cheeks. His golden orbs bore into her, dissecting every inch of her, down to her quaking soul. She was afraid there was no denying that. But she must fight!

"Didn't mommy ever tell you it's rude to interrupt?" He said in that eerie high pitched voice, wearing an expression of mock scolding. Talking down to her like a damn child, his eyebrows raised and eyes flashing jeeringly. She glared up at him, turquoise eyes danced with anger.

"What did you mean earlier, when you said I didn't have a say on my life?" She said with, orbs mixed with aggravation, curiosity, and fear. The question barely left her lips, when the hand cupping the back of her skull, grabbed a fistful of thick chestnut curls and jerked her head back forcefully. She let out a cry of shock and pain and felt her heart freeze when she felt the edge of an ominous blade pressed against her strained neck. That horrid mouth was next to her ear again, warm breath sweeping across her jaw.

"Don't…interrupt me." His voice had changed to a dangerous, guttural drawl, enunciating the t's roughly. Rachel's heart pounded in her chest, threatening to burst through her ribcage. Salty tears rimmed the corner of her eyes from the excruciating pain. She had difficulty breathing; shallow gasps were all she could take. The red mouth moved away from her ear and her hair was given a final yank before it was released. The blade was also removed from her throat. She slowly pulled her head up, warily. The Joker stood before her, playing with the small blade, twirling it between his hands, distractingly. The purple trench coat that he usually adorned was missing. He wore a blue stripped shirt rolled up to his elbows, covered by an emerald green buttoned up vest, a matching green tie speckled with yellow diamonds and bright purple pinstriped pants.

Rachel gazed up at him, anticipating his next move. For a few terrifying moments, he just stood there silently, idly spinning the blade between his fingers. His expression blank and shoulders hunched. For a second, Rachel thought he had forgotten about her.

Suddenly his empty eyes looked up at her from the bottom of his half closed lids. The movement between his hands ceased as he transferred the sinister blade to his right hand. He took a step towards her, blade flashing almost as bright as his demonic orbs. His head tilted to one side and a bemused smile curled on his face.

"I believe…you've already met one of my friends…" His unnerving high pitched voice had returned. His tongue darted out and quickly licked his lips. Rachel stared up at him in awe and quiet fury. Damn him! He made sure to remind me just how dark and cruel the world truly is.

"You mean Officer Ramirez?" She said bitterly, glancing to the side in humility for her nativity. She jumped when she heard the Joker laugh his formidable laugh. He stood before her, shaking uncontrollably, mouth opened wide revealing sickly yellowed teeth.

"Ha ha, you silly girl! No no no, those pathetic wastes of mass you used to trust are NOT my friends." He swiftly landed in a crouch before her, eyes flashing dangerously. He leered up at her, thumbing his blade languidly, while his left hand traced light circles on her exposed knee. His head tilted and that frightening gravelly arose in a soft whisper.

"My friends are loyal…always…ready to help me…never leave me…never afraid to get dirty…and so…dependable." His tongue lashed out again to quickly trace his lips, eyes growing more excited by the minute. Rachel stared dumbfounded at him and began to struggle feebly. The Joker chuckled darkly and stood up, his hunched form towering over her once again. He began to circle her slowly like a shark does wounded prey. His deadly eyes never leaving her. When he got behind her, he reached around and began to lightly trace her lips with the sharp blade. Red mouth to her ear, he began to sing, his voice drifting from the childlike tone to the demonic growl.

"These…are my friends. See how…they glisten." He laughed softly, now tracing the skin just under her eyes, his left hand caressing her neck. Rachel held her breath, trying hard to hold in a scream. "See this one shine…how he smiles…in the light. My friends…" With that he cackled horribly, jerking away from her shaking form. He stood before her, head cocked with a grotesque grin.

"Now then…you, little Rachel are going to be part of an…experiment." Once again that tongue shot out and licked his blood stained lips.