NOTE: Hey this is Chapter 3! I tried to quicken the pace with this one, it will explain one of the Jokers many scars. Also I hope you enjoy, Read/REVIEW!!!

Chapter 3: Initiation

"Why do you have to be so serious kid?"…

"Why you gots to be so serious?"…

Little 10 years old Jack looked up into the blinding light, tears filled in his little eyes.

"Come on kid…don't be so serious…"

The nightmares were happening more frequently now. It seemed the happier Jack got, the more often they would appear, almost reminding him not to be happy. Jack got into a routine of staying up late just to cope with the problem. He would often get hooked on energy drinks just to stop reliving it. The only thing that was keeping him going was the fact that school was getting better. He now didn't have to sit alone at lunch, having a companion in Jordan was a nice change. They would often eat lunch as fast as they can just to play a game of cards after.

"Ha! Win again!" Jack screamed throwing down his full house.

"What!? Oh come on! You have got to be the luckiest person I know!" Jordan mucked, grabbing his milkshake and taking a drink.

"Jordan…I'm the only person you know." Jack replied with a grin on his face. The boys shared a laugh together.

Suddenly someone pounded his fists onto the table. Startled the boys looked up. Staring them in the eyes was a senior boy known around the high school as Flints. He was an overly buff blonde headed boy sporting a letterman jacket.

"Hey there fresh meat! Listen we need some more victims for our initiation, so you fags should join in on the blood bath." Flints said with an intimidating look.

Jack froze, his heart beat rising. He couldn't do it. He wouldn't. What if Jordan wanted to? Jack looked into Flint's face. God he's ugly, why do girls worship him? I'm going to say no. Just say no and move on. Then Jordan's voice broke the tension. "Well dude it would be pretty fun, wouldn't it?" He said looking towards Jack for support.

Jack froze. What should he do? "Uhhh," is all he could find himself saying. Jordan could soon sense his uneasiness. "Hey, we'll get back to you Flints," Jordan said sipping on his shake.

"Ok, little dudes. But remember, it'll all be in good fun." He got up and left.

"Man, I really do NOT wanna do this!" Jack moaned laying his head on his arms.

"Well I think we should, but it's up to you, I wouldn't wanna do it without you buddy." Jordan gathered all his trash on his tray and prepared to dump it. "But get back to me when you find out." He continued off, but quickly back tracked almost forgetting his milkshake. "Can't forget this or it'll become all milk and no shake!"

Jack went through the rest of his classes like normal, being invisible to everyone. That is until chemistry came along. He went to his desk and put his books on the table. Sarah came strutting in taking here rightful place in front of Jack. She quickly turned around, her face brighter than usual.

At first she just played with her pencil, staring at Jack. She finally spoke up. "Hey, whatcha up to Jack? Heard from Flints that you might actually be initiated! It's going to be so much fun!" She said with a bright smile.

God does she ever shut up about this initiation? Why is it so exciting for these socialites? "Uh…I dunno. I'm not really sure yet."

"You know Jack…you really should get out of your box. Who cares what other people think. Just be your own person… Initiation's not only about friends and getting drunk. It's really the boost you need to come out of your shell. Listen screw what other people think, do this for you, not for anyone else. Think about it, I'm sure the answer will come to you soon." She then turned around and continued on the lesson.

Jack took her words in as he opened his chemistry book. A joker card, which was tucked between the pages, fell out. Suddenly her words struck home. The card seemed to taunt him, making fun of him. The little Joker shrilled with laughter. This was his chance to change, his chance to break free from it all. He finally understood. It was his chance…his chance to become a little more like the happy-go-lucky joker on the card. He sat there having a revelation.

Jack popped up next to Jordan's locker, scaring Jordan half to death. He had the biggest grin on his face.

"Jesus man! You can't scare me like that, I'm fragile." Jordan said putting his books away.

"Dude we're doing it!" Jack screamed with excitement.

Jordan looked at him curiously, "Man, I don't what you're thinking, but I don't know you THAT well."

"No you idiot, initiation. We're doing it!" Jordan looked into Jack's face, trying to find the source of the lie.

"You serious? We're doing it?" He asked curiously, excitement creeping up.

"We're doing it!"

"Well I guess we're doing it!" Jordan said slamming his locker shut.

That night was all the same for Jack. The nightmare returned, but Jack couldn't worry himself with it. Tomorrow was going to be one of the biggest, and potentially life changing, events of his life. The tossing and turning in his bed was going to have to be put on the back burner. He woke up at five and decided just to stay up. He went downstairs and started to prepare pancakes for his mom. Quickly he beat the eggs and batter, and started to make the pancakes. His mom came in just as he finished.

"Oh hunny, I could have made something for you…" She said with guilt.

"Oh no, these are for you mom." He smiled.

"What!? Is it my birthday!?" His mom joked. They both laughed and set the table. "Well I don't know what you've been doing, but I like it!" His mom said pouring syrup on the delicious pancakes.

Jack didn't know how he was going to bring it up. How would she react? Would she be happy? Would she freak? He decided to just take control and ask. "..Hey mom, I'm going to be getting initiated tonight if that's alright with you…" Jack murmured, playing with his pancakes.

Sharon's eyes grew. "Wow there's really something different about you. So I trust this will all be safe and no drinking right?"

Jack sipped on his OJ. "Oh yeah, and mom you know I wouldn't drink."

"Ok, you can go, just be home at a reasonable time. These are really good by the way, you're a natural cook!"

Jack laughed. "Thanks mom, hey I gotta go. See ya later!" He gave her a kiss on the cheek and headed out the door.

Jack and Jordan sat in first block talking about the night to come. All was covered in secrecy and excitement. They took turns guessing back and forth what the seniors would make them do. The teacher was getting impatient with all their commotion. Jack then continued to his other classes with his mind racing. Then lunch came, and he soon found himself waiting in the lunch line behind Sarah. She turned around surprised.

"Hey Jack! You ready for tonight?" She asked with a smile, the line started to move.

"Am I! My mind's been racing all day!" Jack grabbed some napkins and plastic utensils.

"Well that's good! Hey I was thinking you should sit with us today!" Sarah continued, her brunette hair bouncing with every step.

Jack was about to automatically say no without thinking, then the Joker card flashed in his mind, laughing. "You know…I'd love to."

Jack and Sarah got the rest of their food and continued out to the lunch tables. Jack followed Sarah like a lost dog. To Jack it seemed like everyone in the lunch room was staring. They finally reached a table where Morgan and a few other popular girls sat. Morgan looked up with surprise.

"Hey Sarah…" She greeted not taking her eyes off of Jack.

"Hey Morgan, you remember Jack right?" Morgan answered with a mumble and Sarah continued to introduce Jack to the rest of the group. The rest of lunch Jack just sat there nervously, afraid to speak up. The girls would chatter about gossip and who's dating who. Then suddenly the spotlight came to Jack.

"Hey I've seen you hanging out with that cute boy over there!" Jennifer, one of the Sarah's friends, said.

Jack felt a pain in his stomach, he forgot about Jordan. He looked behind his shoulder to see Jordan sitting alone at his former lunch table. Shit… He thought to himself. "Uh can you guys excuse me…?" Jack said getting up and venturing to his true table.

"God he's weird…" Morgan moaned.

"But he is REALLY cute!" Jennifer said.

Jack awkwardly sat down at his table. Jordan was already halfway done with his meal.

"Dude you don't have to explain, it's cool." Jordan spoke while chewing on his bread. "So you going to get with it or what?" He grinned.

Jack just laughed picking at his food. The rest of the day went by a slow as one might think. Nothing exciting happened, and with each tick of the clock suspense grew in Jack's stomach. In chemistry chatter was widespread throughout the class as eager freshmen thought of what was to come. Suddenly the final bell rang as the students quickly ran out. Jack went home for a while and then went to meet Jordan at the local restaurant to get some drinks before the big event. They both ordered cokes and quickly left. Soon they found themselves walking down Main Street.

"God our towns so small compared to Gotham…" Jordan said as he was drinking his coke.

Jack finished drinking and asked, "Well why didn't your parents move there, I mean we're practically a suburb of Gotham."

"I dunno, I don't think they really like the big city life you know? Hey when is Flint coming to get us?" Jordan asked tossing his now empty coke in a nearby trashcan.

"I don't know, he said he'd find us…"

What happened next happened so fast that Jack couldn't even think. Behind them at the end of the road a car could be heard screeching around the corner. Hoots and hollers escaped it as it drove and came to a stop in front of them. Masked men jumped out and grabbed Jack and Jordan. Jack flipped and struggled as he saw a paddle one of them was holding.

"Stop it and let it happen, freshmen!" One of the masked men said.

They carried them to the back of the truck bed, and tried to put them in. Jordan obliged, but Jack seemed to have not figured out the situation yet. He squirmed and kicked. Suddenly he got one of his elbows free and accidently hit the masked man in the jaw with intensity. Stunned the man stepped back, soon the others stopped realizing what happened. Blood slowly ran down his mask. He whipped it away and examined it on his finger. His eyes filled with rage. Grabbing the paddle from one of the others, he closed in on Jack. BAM! The paddle pounded Jacks face hard. He flew, falling towards the corner of the truck bed. His chin hit hard and caught a sharp piece of metal on the truck bed, tearing his lip open. Blood started to pour everywhere. The masked men looked in horror.

"Come on let's get outta here!" One of them screamed. They threw Jordan out of the truck, and he landed hard next to Jack. Just as soon as it was there, the truck was gone. Jordan looked around confused as to what just happened, and then he saw Jack. He grabbed the back of Jacks head and held it up. There was a cut extending sideways from the top of the bottom lip, down about an inch or two. He was unconscious.

"HELP! SOMEONE! HELP US PLEASE!" Jordan sat there cradling his friend, wondering if he'd be okay…

Well that was Chapter 3! Hope you liked it, Read and Review PLSS!!!! :D