Chapter 4
Harleen stared from her place in the crowd as two of the Joker's thugs threw the bouncer and another guard's bodies inside the room with them. "These two had some problems with me meeting with you, Boyle," The Joker declared as he looked around the crowd trying to pinpoint his target. "My boys took care of that, though. Heartily. Now, I've only got one question for you all; Where is Ferris Boyle?" The Joker continued as he walked through the room armed with a shotgun.
No one said anything. "Fine, if no one wants to be helpful. We'll just have all of you get down on the ground and we'll do this the hard way. So get down." He ordered as he and his men began to wave their guns, some firing into the air. Sure enough, everyone fell to the ground and Joker began looking around for his prey. "Kill anyone who tries anything," He added.
Harleen began to panic as no one in the room stood up and pointed out the obvious. Was Ferris still on the balcony? Had he figured out a way to sneak out? Rich People have all kinds of fancy tricks, right? Harleen's thoughts raced with thoughts like these, before finally, she spoke up. "He's up there," Harleen said. Alexis slapped her shoulder. "Harleen!" She whispered loudly. Harleen ignored her and stood up, pointing toward the balcony.
"Why, hello, beautiful. I'm so disappointed with myself that I didn't notice you sooner. What's your name, dearie?" The Joker asked with a surprising amount of sincerity in his voice. Harleen wondered how serious that was before she answered. "Harleen Quinzel."
"Well, Harleen. I thank you for your help in this. As reward, I'm going to take you out for a night on the town. Boys, take her to the van," The Joker said with a laugh. "What? No, I don't wanna. I can't. But, there's something about someone who would do something like this. Something exciting. You've always had a thing for eccentric personalities, Harleen. Go with him. Maybe you'll learn something about him. He is the most wanted man in Gotham," Harleen thought to herself for what felt like minutes but was more in mere seconds.
"Okay," Harleen simply said. Alexis's jaw dropped in surprise. "And not a struggler. I like you already, Harley. Can I call you that?" He asked. She nodded and Joker smiled as he walked ahead towards the stairs leading to the balcony. "Honey, I'm home," The Joker said loudly as he approached the top to find 5 bodies. "What?!" The Joker yelled out in shock. "Someone got here first?!" The Joker began inspecting the bodies of the people and realized they were simply knocked out.
A contemplative look fell on the Joker's face. "Someone gassed these people. There's no way someone was quiet enough to knock them out by force. And Ferris is gone," The Joker muttered to himself as he tried to piece it together. Suddenly, the lights flickered multiple times before they finally went out. "What's going on?" The Joker asked himself.
"Boys! Flashlights on! You better have them!" Joker declared as he grabbed one of the unconscious bodies, as if making it a hostage. He dropped his shotgun and pulled out a knife from his pocket, holding it to the woman's neck. In his free hand, he pulled out a tiny but bright flashlight from his pocket. A pained groan let out a few feet from Joker.
He quickly turns to see one of his men dangling from a wire that went up to the support beams of the building. "In the rafters!" Joker shouted. "Someone's here!" Shots rang out into the air as the Joker's men tried to kill their mysterious attacker. "Does anyone see anything?" The Joker asked as he continued staring at the sky. There was no sign of a body so the Joker knew they hadn't yet won.
Two thuds fell behind the Joker. They were two more unconscious bodies of the men that he had brought inside with him. "You think you're scaring me? You don't know fear!" The Joker yelled. Finally, a voice spoke out that was deep and angry. "Put the woman down."
"Or what?" The Joker asked with malice in his voice. No answer came. "I've got three more men down there and..." The Joker began as he looked down the stairs to see his men knocked out and their flashlights rolling onto the ground. "Oh," The Joker simply said. The Joker turned around and came face to face with his attacker who knocked the knife from his hand before he could do anything. Joker dropped the woman and held his flashlight forward.
"Batman. I figured it might've been you. I wish you had called. It's been so long since we first met. I'd of made sure that we all had fancy hats for you. I know how much you like those," The Joker rambled before Batman grabbed him by the shirt. "Why do you need Ferris Boyle?" Batman asked. "Well, isn't that personal information? First amendment and all that right?" The Joker responded with a laugh. Batman decked him in the stomach. "Why?" He asked again.
The Joker let out a wheezing laugh before he replied. "He's trying to steal my place. You go to all this work trying to make your way in the big city and somebody just thinks they can take it from you. The nerve right? Really, I'm the victim here!" The Joker declared as he pushed down in the center of his glove and gas shot out from his sleeve and dosed Batman in the face. "Gotcha!" He laughed. Joker decks Batman, knocking him to the ground before running off. "I would stay and fight, Batsy. But I've got a date with a very special lady!" The Joker cackled as he ran off.
Batman struggled to get to his feet as the gas wore off. "A simple nerve gas. I've already got the cure in bloodstream otherwise that might've done a number on me. He seems to be gone though. Maybe I can track him somehow."