Hello again! Hope you like this one! My camping trip was indeed enjoyable so thanks for the well-wishes!
And Zeny! You don't have an account so I can't PM you and thank you for your wonderful reviews, so THANKS! :D for reviwing C.C, and Waited.. :) I'm glad you like them.
Just a quick note, my parents are talking about cancelling our WiFi, sooooo Fall term starts in Late Septmber, and I might not be able to update until then... SOrry in advance... :(
Enjoy!
I still don't own Batman... Sad Day
After a few minutes, I begin to feel the almost drain-like pull of the gases' effects wearing off. The only way I can describe it is like it is oozing out with every breath I took. Little by little.
I shuffle over to the plywood separating my room from Harleen's, and pull it off roughly.
"Harleen?" I half-whisper.
No answer.
I repeat myself a little louder, and am greeted with silence.
It takes me a moment, but I finally grasp what it means. She isn't in the room.
I stand there for a few moments, confused. I don't know where she would be… I didn't see the Joker take her with him when he left…
I hear footsteps coming from the hallway, so I push the plywood back in place, and take a few steps into the middle of the room. The door opens and Jonathan walks in smoothly, an aura of calmness and control around him. He stops right in front of me, and takes my chin in his hand, pulling it up to examine me. My eyes meet his, and all I can see is calculation. No anger, resentment, or guilt about what he had just done to me. Only hard calculation.
After a short moment of awkward silence, he clears his throat.
"Miss Ryder…" He starts simply. "I have a few things to tell you."
I just stare at him dumbly for a moment, but realize he's waiting for an answer so I nod my head slowly.
"It appears the gas I had originally given you did indeed do its intended job, but had a side-effect." He twists the word with a sneer. "When your heart reaches an accelerated rate; caused by stress, anxiety, or fear," He smiles as he says the word, "The effects… take control of some of your actions. It appears it specifically targets your instinct for self-preservation, while also heightening your perception of your surroundings." He lets go of my face and sighs. "Now all that's left is to decide what to do with you."
"What?" I manage to squeak out the word. My mind is reeling, trying to keep up with all of the new information. "What do you mean?"
"The Joker has given me specific instructions for you." He adjusts his glasses, and his blue eyes focus intently on me. "But I think I have my own plans." He laughs softly to himself.
"And what might those be?" I whisper.
"I can either follow his instructions, or I can offer you an escape."
I gasp when I hear the last word. Hope, impossible as it seems, blossoms through my chest, and I try to reel it in too late because I can see his smug smile of victory as I give myself away.
"You would like that wouldn't you?" His smile is so twisted that it almost becomes a sneer. "Escaping this place?"
I look down, and try to fight the rush of hope at his words. Where would I go? The Joker would just come find me if I left. Escape isn't an option. He's using it as a trick. Anger fills my chest as I realize what he's trying to do. My eyes flash up to meet his, and I am about to yell something hideous at him when he interrupts me.
"Would you like to know what the Joker has planned for you?"
I nod my head numbly, still trying to control my anger.
"He wants me to make your symptoms worse."
"What?!" I take an involuntary step backward. "No! He can't! He just wanted to find the trigger!" My mind is reeling in shock. I can't let him make it worse. It's already wrong in so many aspects.
"At first, he only wanted the trigger. But now he wants you more unstable."
I shake my head back and forth, my lips parted in denial. "Please." I whisper. "Don't."
He inhales deeply with a small smile. "And what do you think about my other options?"
"What do you mean by escape? He'll find me if I leave."
"You are becoming less and less valuable to him as the days pass. He's not going to keep you around much longer."
"You're wrong. The Joker wouldn't just throw me out like used trash." I scoff.
"No. He would probably just shoot you. Or use a knife. Look. I don't have much time here, but I'll warn you. You need to get out soon, or it will be too late for any offer from me. Decide."
His bright eyes pierce mine, waiting for the decision.
I can't think straight. I don't know how to describe what I'm feeling. Even if I could get out, why would I go with Jonathan Crane? He was the reason my brain was all messed up anyways!
A door slams somewhere close by, making me jump a little. Jonathan's head snaps around and I get a glimpse of his face turning down into a snarl. He pushes me away from him without looking in my direction, and I stumble backwards, trying to maintain my footing. I look up just in time to see Jonathan's back as he leaves the room briskly.
I can hear him start a conversation with the Joker and I hope fervently that he won't decide to make it worse. I can barely stand to be this way, and just the thought of losing my control almost full-time? The thought make my breathing turn into gasps and my eyes to open wide with near-panic.
Something bangs loudly on the walls. Jonathan's voice still sounds sure and calm as he speaks with the Joker, but I hear the latter speak in a growl. After a minute, one set of footsteps comes toward my door.
The Joker opens the door, and I take a step back. His eyes are dark and promise violence, and his mouth is turned down in a scowl. I only have time to register that he is holding a coiled newspaper in his hand a moment before it hits me across the face.
"Do you realize what you've done?" He growls. "Look." He opens the newspaper, and there I am, on the front page.
Missing reporter now criminal?
Below the title are two photos. My ID photo from the office, and the picture snapped of me at that McDonald's. I knew that guy looked familiar.
I take the newspaper and look at it with a sad expression. Even if I could somehow escape with Jonathan Crane, there was nothing I could ever do to erase this.
"I would say "congratulations", Lane, but with the way you've been acting lately… You don'tuh deserve them." He seems extremely upset, and I'm not completely sure that it is all because of the newspaper incident.
"Did I do something wrong?" I ask softly.
"It's not that you did some-pah-thing. It's just.. you. You are wrong."
I look down, and feel worthless. I can't go back to my life now, and the Joker is probably going to kill me now that I have no purpose. Things just keep getting better for me aren't they?
"Are you going to kill me now?" I ask, looking at the floor.
"Haha!" He exclaims. "Kill you? Lane, I'm not going to kill you…" He laughs again. "I'm just going to make you… worth the effort." His eyes suddenly light up with a mischievous gleam that I immediately distrust. Anything that makes the Joker happy can't be good. He takes my arm, and pulls me out the door. When we get to the main room, I see Jonathan turn and after a moment, his eyes meet mine. I see the questioning look- he's still waiting for my answer. I look down.
"Ya ready?" The Joker asks him.
"Yes." Jonathan's tone is clipped. "Everything is to your specifications."
"Good." The Joker laughs quietly as my heart sinks. Jonathan said the Joker wanted me worse. No, no no… "Good news, Lane." He continues. "Now you can live up to everybody's expectations." My eyes tear up, and I glance at Jonathan's face again. He's already in his mask, and my heart takes off.
"No!" I shout. The mask has triggered the memory of the gas from last night, and my body reacts instinctively. "Get away!" I jerk out of the Joker's grasp, and back up quickly. Scarecrows' head tilts and I screech. I turn around and flat out sprint toward the hallway.
I can't see straight. All I see is the mask. Everywhere I turn, I feel hot breath on my neck, and see his shadow lurking in my peripheral vision. I keep waiting for my control to slip into whatever power-induced high I had been feeling the past few days, but nothing happens. I don't feel the adrenaline, or the power. Could I be cured? Did Scarecrow cure me?
I stop running. If in fact he did cure me, could he have done it on purpose? When did he do it?
Someone grabs my arm and jerks me around. His mask fills my sight of vision, and for once, I'm not scared. "Thanks." I mumble.
White smoke surrounds me. I cough as it burns my throat. I had completely forgotten that he was trying to catch me and make me worse. No! I was just cured! And now I'm going to get turned back into a psycho! My eyes water and I hear a soft whisper. "You'd better be a good actorrr."
Huh? Doubt plagues my thoughts and I wonder if I even heard him correctly. Did he even speak? My head suddenly feels like it's full of fuzz. I can't concentrate on what's happening.
I'm on the ground again. Where am I? Footsteps are somewhere close. Who am I with?
"She'll be disoriented for a while. It will wear off in about half hour." A man's voice says.
Jonathan Crane… I think. Why is it so hard to think straight?
"Well when's she gonna… freak out?" An excited laugh follows the second man's voice. Is that the Joker? My eyes fly open.
Sure enough, none other than the Clown Prince of Crime stands above me. Purple suit crisp, make-up smeared cross his face. Dark eyes alight with excitement and curiosity. I scramble backwards and try to get away. My back hits some sort of box behind me, and the Joker comes over quickly and grabs my arm pulling me to my feet. He peers into my eyes, and I cringe away from the contact. He smacks his lips together and turns back to Jonathan Crane.
"I don't see a difference Johnny-Boy." He sounds disappointed.
"You will. It takes time." Jonathan sounds bored.
I suddenly remember the reason all of this is happening. I'm supposed to be feeling worse now. I don't feel any different. Not yet anyway… But if there is one thing I know about Crane's gasses, it's that he prides himself on the effects. If I don't have any effects right now, there has to be a chance that I won't be affected in the future, right?
The Joker shakes my arm, rattling me back into the present. "How ya' feelin' Lane? Feel cah-razy yet?"
Jonathan's face catches my eye. He turns his head slightly and his eyes tighten a small amount. Almost as if he's trying to say something to me in that one moment.
"I… don't know." I mumble. My mind is stuck trying to figure out Jonathan's silent message.
"These things take time." Crane says, interrupting the awkward silence. He gives me a sharp look that I answer with a clueless shrug. I still have no idea what he wants me to say.
A loud crash makes me jump, but the Joker gets angry. He glances at me, as if making sure I was still standing there, and stalked off down the hallway without another word. A door slams open, then closed, and it takes me a moment to realize Harleen is down there somewhere. Could the Joker have noticed her absence as well?
Jonathan walks over quickly and talks just as fast. "Now I've given you your choice. I didn't make you worse, but I have made some… adjustments." He smiles as I shiver at his words. "You can say I've given you your agency so to speak. Remember, the Joker believes I have followed his requests, so if you value your life…"
"I'd better be a good actor" I say, looking down.
"Good." We can hear the Joker's approach, and without another word, Jonathan turns around and pick up his suitcase in a flowing motion. He is out the door and gone before the Joker returns.
I feel gratitude toward this man for giving me a chance, but I have no idea why he would do something that self-sacrificing for me. If the Joker ever found out…
I see the Joker come into the room and I have no idea what I'm supposed to be doing. How am I supposed to act crazy? I guess I would have to start with how I acted on Scarecrow's gas originally. I clench my fists. I swivel my eyes around, taking in my surroundings, and try to accelerate my breathing.
The Joker sees me and smiles. He skips over to me, and his fingers twitch with anticipation. "How'ya feelin' now, Lane? Cah-razy?" He laughs.
I squint my eyes at him. "What do you think?" I spit. "You think I feel normal? Now that you've given me a bunch of different gasses?" I have to admit, it feels good to vent some of the anger I've been feeling lately. "Or are you just concerned about how well I'll be able to pull off being a criminal now?"
I should have guessed that my defiance would just amuse him further. He laughs and cackles in utter glee. I scowl.
I stalk away from him, and he seems amused at my temper. I'm looking for some sort of escape from him, because I need more time to figure out what I'm supposed to do. And then to top it all off, I still need to think about Jonathan's offer. Although I have no idea how I would ever find him now. It's not like I have his phone number…
Wait.
Back in the other warehouse, I had written it down… It was on a piece of paper on that desk! If I could somehow find my way back there… I could call him…
I need more time… I need to get away from the Joker. I can hear him coming toward me.
BANG!
It seems like Harleen just can't keep quiet anymore can she?
The Joker growls behind me, and stalks off. I hear him slam open a door, and follow him quickly. I can only hope for a few minutes. That's all I need really. Just a minute to think.
The Joker seems to leave a lot. I could find my way to that warehouse the next time he leaves. Maybe I could take Harleen. Between the two of us, we could probably figure it out, right? Yes. It's the only way.
A soft noise interrupts my musings. A sort of buzzing sound. It sounds familiar, and sends a soft shiver down my spine. I take a few steps and the noise seems to be behind the next box. It doesn't belong here though. But I know I've heard the noise before. I pass the box and skip back three steps. A wasp nest. The buzzing gets louder, and I feel a crawling spread along my arms. I look down and freeze. The small black and yellow insects are crawling on my arms. I am paralyzed with the fear.
A memory tugs at my thoughts. Stepping on a bees nest in the fourth grade. The hundreds of bees chasing me, and the sharp stings on my back. I had jumped into a river to get them off of me.
I shake my head a little to clear it, and look back at my arms. The wasps are gone. I look up and notice the hive missing as well.
What? I'm sure I saw it there. I saw the evil little insects on its papery skin. I glance at my arms again, and they are bare. Everything is as it should be. I take a few steps back and can't begin to think about what this means. Are these the "adjustments" Crane mentioned? Hallucinations?
I turn and try to get a hold of myself. I'm still alone, and I try to take the advantage.
I suddenly get an idea. Nothing could convince the Joker of my deteriorating mental capacities more than my absence. I could try and find the other warehouse right now. If he caught me, then I would just tell him I was looking for Batman. He'd probably get a kick out of my "ambition."
Without another word, I turn away and walk out the door. The cool air feels good against my face, and I feel the great sensation of freedom building within me. I knew that my only hope of staying away with even a chance at permanence would be with Crane. If the Joker found me alone, he would just take me back and I would be stuck. I head East, with no care in the world.
Hope you all enjoyed! Reviews are certainly amazing! Just sayin'... haha. ;)