Okay, I have decided to update a few of my chapters with a little more detail while still keeping it to the already stated plot. So here is the updated chapter two! :) Enjoy.
No. no no no no no...
The small little card seems to grow larger and larger, and all I want to do is run away and never come back to this horrible place I call home.
I take it out of the wedge, and curiosity gets the best of me so I take a closer look. Is it just me or are the words written in blood? No. I won't let my mind think about it. It's probably just some teenager trying to be funny or something...
I take the card, and go into my house. I'm terrified he will be in there, but as I do a quick check, I see that I am alone. I set the card down on my kitchen table, and don't know what else to do with it. I wish I had never written that article. I wish I never came to Gotham.
My phone suddenly rings, and I just about jump through the roof. I pick it up and check the Caller ID. Unknown. I throw it down, and refuse to answer it. He couldn't call me could he? How would he get my phone number?
He got my address somehow though. So who says he couldn't have gotten my phone number?
No. That was a prank remember? I can't let this get into my head. That will just make me stressed and scared and I don't need any more of those feelings right now,
The phone rings again... I pick it up slowly, and look again and see that is unknown... I take a deep breath and press the green button.
"Hello?" I almost whisper.
"You know Melanie, I do not like being ignored." A deep voice says that sinks my heart to the floor. "When I call, I expect you to answer. Is that clear?"
I just stare at the floor in horror as I hear him breathe into the phone. I am way past being able to respond.
He clears his throat and then continues, "Well, it, uh, appears that you are very excited that I have called you, so I will just do you a favor. How's about I come over for a bit and we can, uh, discuss... Your article. Hmm?"
A small cry escapes my lips as what he says sinks in.
"Oh boy, you really are excited aren't you? I will be over in five minutes. Do me a favor and clean up a bit will you? I have no interest in seeing leftover bits of sandwich on your table." He laughs loudly and it is abruptly cut off as he disconnects.
He's been in my house? How else would he know I had left my sandwich on my table? No no no... Why did I have to go against the majority. I should have never written that article.
The clocks ticking. He said five minutes. I have to get out of here. I know what he does to people like me.
I grab my purse and run to the door. There is no way I'm going to just sit there and wait for a madman to come and knock on my door! I throw the door open, and run down the hall. I fly down the stairs and out onto the open street. I'm out of breath because I'm panicking and suddenly I don't know where to go.
The sound of my phone ringing reminds me of my small time slot and somehow I feel a sense of de ja vu.
I turn into the closest alley, and start running. I know it's dangerous, but it's the closest thing to a chance I have. I know my way around, and I know that if I can go through these dirty smelly buildings, I can get out somewhere around down town, where I should be safe.
Should.
Suddenly, my dream comes rushing back to me, and I almost fall down. What am I thinking running down an alley? I'm trapped! The walls seem to get narrower and narrower, and I feel a sense of claustrophobia that is almost choking me with its intensity.
Wait. In my dream, The Joker didn't catch me until after I had left the alley. So, if I don't leave, I should be safe right? I almost want to laugh with my relief. I don't know that he's following me, and I can just sit tight in this alley for a while and go to a hotel or something until I figure out what I can do.
I hear a van stop on a street close to me, and voices drift into my make-shift hiding place.
"You sure she's in here?" A gruff voice asks.
"Positive. Boss saw her go in here himself."
I have to move. I can't stay here and let them find me. The Joker was watching me? I guess running wasn't the most original idea...
I start to walk as quietly as possible in the opposite direction, and that's when I hear it. The laugh from my dream.
I can't help the instinct that flies through my legs. I sprint down the alley, and can feel his gaze. I feel like a bug under a microscope, and can't stop myself from following the same path that I've run in my nightmare over the past nights and weeks. I fly around the corner with the trash and see the light up ahead. I know he is going to catch me, but I can't think of any other option.
The exit beckons to me as I get closer, like the bright light people see when they die. I wonder if dying will hurt. Looking at the Joker's past, it seems like he likes to draw it out. I know from all of the obituaries I've had to write. I'm almost to the exit when I see a door slightly open. I fly into it without thinking, but instinctually knowing that the Joker isn't inside.
I am inside of an abandoned warehouse. You can see where all of the homeless and druggies have set up temporary homes for themselves around the metal pillars that are supporting the next level. It appears to be empty, but it can't be because someone had opened the door for me.
I glance all around me, and don't see anyone, but it does nothing to lessen the feeling that I am being watched. After a few seconds, a dark shape emerges close to me, and a hand blocks the scream of terror and surprise from my mouth.
"Shhh." A deep voice says. "They're outside."
The hand leaves my mouth and I whisper, "Who are you?"
"Don't you recognize me?" He laughs, "I guess you aren't my biggest fan."
He steps into a patch of light and suddenly, his words make sense. Batman. I should have known that wherever the Joker was, Batman wouldn't be far away.
"You saw my article?" I whisper.
"Yes. But don't talk. They're close."
What? He's telling me to be quiet? He was the one that was just laughing. I jerk away from him, and whisper, "You're the one laughing. Why don't you just leave? You're the one leading them here!"
"Shhh."
"No!" My voice rose a little out of anger. "Your making more noise than me." Wow. How old am I, five? Immaturity doesn't matter to me though right now.
Suddenly, I'm alone. I feel a little smug, thinking that I told Batman to leave me alone to his face.
A door bangs open, and I hear the Joker yell, "Well, well well Batsy! I'm impressed! You found my target before I even told you... I bet those bat senses were just tingling today hmmm?"
I duck behind a crate, and am petrified. Maybe I shouldn't have told him to leave. At least he could have tried to get me out of here alive and put me in the witness protection program or something.
"Melaniiiiiiieee!" The Joker calls in a sing-song voice. "Come out come out wherever you are! Are you having fun playing hide and seek? I know I am. You can tell because I'm always smiling!" He ends with a laugh.
How am I going to get out of here? I peek around the box and see five henchmen all holding machine guns, and in the center of the room is Joker. He is standing with his back turned to me. Light was shining off his reflective purple suit, and his blondish green hair. His body was almost attractive. He wasn't too skinny, and his posture was assertive, but also relaxed at the same time.
What am I thinking? The Joker isn't attractive! He's going to try and kill me if he can, and I am admiring his body? It must be the stress. It's making me delirious.
The Joker spoke again and said, "Fine, if you won't come out, than I will just have to come and find you! And just be warned, I cheat."
I duck behind the crate again, and hear him rustling his suit coat. After a few seconds, it gets very quiet. All I can hear is Joker laughing softly to himself as if he found a something that made him very happy.
Suddenly, my phone goes off, but strangely, it's not in my pocket. It's coming from across the room.
"Ring ring ring!" He says. "Gonna find you!"
How did my phone get across the room? Batman. The answer hits me as soon as I ask the question. He must have grabbed it when he was standing next to me. If he read my article, why is he still trying to save me? That doesn't make any sense.
"Found you!" The Joker exclaims from across the room.
"Are you sure?" Batman's deep voice responds, followed by the sound of a punch, and the Joker's crazy laugh. Without thinking, I stand up, and see Batman lift Joker up and throw him to the ground. "Leave her alone!" He shouts.
Strangely the henchmen just stand there and watch the fight. I'm not sure exactly why, but because of the Joker's happy laugh, I almost think that he has ordered them not to attack Batman.
I, on the other hand, have no such instructions. The stress has been dragged out for too long, and I can't take it anymore. "STOP!" I yell.
Batman, seems surprised for a second, and that's all the break Joker needs to make his comeback. He kicks Batman off of him onto the ground, and stands up.
"Yes, stop it Batman. Can't you see it's upsetting the lady? Haha..."
"No." I say. "If you want me, take me. Don't continue this pointless fighting! Batman, if you weren't here, neither would the Joker! Don't you see that if you just left, so would all these criminals?"
"Haha!" The Joker exclaims, "She's your biggest fan Batman! Fine, I will leave him alone, and Melanie, you are gonna come with me." He laughs in a way that makes me feel exposed and vulnerable.
I am then distracted by Batman getting off the ground. "She's not going with you." He growls.
"Ah, but she is, Batsy." The Joker pulls out a small switch and continues, "See this? I push a button, and a school full of itsy bitsy children blows up." He dramatically raises his arms up in a mock demonstration. "You don't want that do you?"
This seems to take Batman by surprise, and he takes a step back.
"Go Batman. I'll be fine." I say. "It's not like you owe me anything anyway." I walk over to The Joker, and he grabs my arm harshly.
His grease painted face is inches from mine. I had thought his pictures were frightening, but seeing him in person took it into a different level of fear. From the terrifying red slash across his mouth, to the black on his eyes that made him look soulless.
"Ooh. You are beautiful up close. Haha." He pulls a knife out of his pocket, and says, "Maybe we should have matching scars."
"No." I say trying to move my face away from the edge of his blade. "Please."
"Oh I get it. Save the exciting things for later right? I gotcha. See you Bats." He holds up the trigger, and slowly backs away, pulling me with him. His Henchmen follow, and as we leave, all I notice is Batman. His arms are extended part way as if to grab me back, and his mouth is turned down in disappointment.
Wherever I'm going, all I know is I'm afraid.