Aceie groaned a little as she sat up, rubbing her eyes she looked around the cell. Tit had one grey metal door and a slime barred window that let the moon peer in like a curious child, the rest of the room was white and clinical "Hmm a white cell in an asylum, how original" She muttered drowsily. She shook her head, clearing it somewhat of the sedatives they had shot into her Bet Daddy never needed that strong a dose She thought proudly looking down at the white slippers and gown she was wearing. They'd also removed her makeup and nail polish Spoilsport, white is such a boring colour She drifted back to her childhood.
She was sitting at her father's feet, sticking pins in a teddy bear, while he made her multi-coloured attire, predominately purple and red, his early attempts had also been slightly lopsided but Aceie hadn't minded "What do you think Aceie my princess?" He'd asked, Aceie smiled as her six year old self replied "I need a crown if I'm a princess" He'd laughed delightedly then and tossed her up in the air before holding her close and whispering "The only thing a princess needs is a smile, always smile Aceie, always smile"
Back in her sterilised white cell Aceie hugged that memory close, whispering to no one "Smile, always smile"
King, disguised as a prison guard watched her through the peephole, she had the face of a fallen angel with eyes like a demon. As quietly as possible he opened the door "Ace" Slowly Aceie moved her head to face him, she spoke with a calm monotone that gave nothing of her true feelings away "Mr Desspa, what an unexpected surprise, to what do I owe the pleasure?" He fell to apologising for his actions "I promise, I'll get you out of here" Aceie let out a bitter laugh "Why would you do that? Aren't I your trophy hmm? Your prize catch?" King shook his head "Not any more, once you would have been but I meant it when I said I loved you, you are my Ace of Hearts" He glanced at his watch "I have to go, I'll be back as soon as I can" He kissed her quickly on the lips, the fire in her heart leapt once more, but this time it was cold fir. Frozen, deadly ice fire. Oh Kingsy, Kingsy, Kingsy Aceie lay down on the bed and stared at the white ceiling If only you knew what lay in store for you Her giggles echoed along the corridors.
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Annie sighed and looked pensively at the ceiling, the room was dark apart from some light from the guard's office I wonder who's on night shift. She scrolled through the timetable in her mind Probably Alice or Ralph, maybe John he's back from paternity leave.
Her ears pricked up at the sound of soft footsteps, they were accompanied by torchlight "Annie?" She moved from her seat to the bars "James what are you doing here?" Her gladness at seeing him again faded, his deep brown eyes glistened with angry tears "I loved you Annie, and I thought you loved me"
"I did . . . I do"
"Then why did you do this? Innocent people have died, our people have died"
Tears ran down her cheeks "I know they have, do you think I've been sleeping at night? Do you think I haven't cried for them? I've cried every night since I found out"
He shoved a soft package into her hands and whispered "Get out of Gotham, don't let me see you again" Annie watched him hurry away before unfolding her mask, she held the cold metal key to her lips "Thank you James" She whispered, fastening the mask around her head again. Annie unlocked the cell and stole away into the shadows.
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Days and nights merged into one in Aceie's cell in Arkham, she spent most of her time in the past with her father's ghost, ice cream, trips to the park, cinemas and popcorn, this was all before he became completely and utterly The Joker. She remembered a particular weekend boat trip. She and her father had walked onto a businessman's yacht late one evening and after disposing of the family sailed up river. That was a great trip, I shot two ducks and roasted them, pity we had to sink that boat, we could have gone out to sea
A key turned noisily in the lock "Miss Ace if you could accompany us, Doctor Dent is ready to see you" She jumped up and stretched a grin across her marred face as they shackled her wrists "Of course, I've been dying to meet Two-Face's nephew since I got here"
Four guards circled her as she walked along the dull corridors past numerous grey doors. She passed a man with dark hair and glasses, also surrounded by men "Pleasure to meet you Doctor Crane" He smiled and called back "You too Miss Ace" Maybe things won't be so bad her, I'm in distinguished company, never thought I'd meet The Scarecrow
Doctor Nathan Dent's office was as clinical as the rest of the building, the guards marched her over to a char and secured her ankles to the chair legs. She tapped her feet and whistled the tune of Hickory Dickory Dock while Doctor Dent entered the room. "Miss Ace" Her eyes lit up like a cat watching a baby mouse "Doctor Dent, I'd shake your hand but . ." She rattled her shackles "They're a little tied up" Dent sat on the other side of the desk and flicked through Aceie's file "It says here that your only family is a man called Jack Napier, better known as The Joker, could you tell me about your relationship to him?" Aceie looked thoughtfully around the room "You know, this room is like my cell, except you can leave it whenever you want, but can you leave your family behind? Then again you wouldn't know about that, they hushed it up good and proper" She glanced at Dent and finally answered "He was my Daddy"
"Was"
"Like Harvey Dent was your uncle, Jim Gordon was police commissioner " The Doctor made notes "He . . . your father is deceased?"
"Dead as a doornail with a bullet through his heart, but come on Doctor you knew that" Den grasped this with both hands, it was rare to have a patient speaking so openly so soon "And how did his death make you feel?" Aceie smiled, but her voice hissed venomously "How did it make me feel? How would you feel if you'd seen your only family shot and felt them die in your arms?" He made a note Violent tone of voice when father's death mentioned.
"Were you happy with him? Was he a good father?" He asked thinking How that maniac could be a good dad I don't know
Aceie snarled angrily "I see what you're trying to prove, that I had a traumatic childhood because my Daddy wasn't what you schemers would call 'sane', you're trying to suggest he was an abusive father" Her eyes glittered dangerously "He never laid a hand on me, even when I annoyed him, this scar you've been staring at since you got here was made by Batman after Jim Gordon murdered Daddy, yet he gets a fancy funeral and honours while my Daddy rots!"
Dent was about to respond to this when a shrill siren began to scream "Prisoner 237 has escaped" Shouted a guard as he ran into the room "I've been sent to protect you Sir" Aceie watched as the guard locked the door. She smiled,
"Hey Kingsy"
"Hello Ace"