When she got there it took forever for them to let her in. Once they verified her, everything went smoothly. They opened the gate then the door and she went ahead and stepped inside.
"What's your name?"
"Ariel. Ariel Green. I'm a new guard here. I'm on trial."
"I see." The person nodded. "And I suppose you know what you're doing, yes?"
"Yes...I think." She nodded slightly. "I know I'm not suppose to let any inmate lose, or let them escape if there is a breakout. And I'm suppose to guard the cell and inmate that I am given."
"Well, yes. " The employee nodded. "You know the basics...I guess that's good enough. Well. Who cares. In here we need all the guards we can get."
Ariel grimaced. No wonder a lot of people died here, they hired people on the spot.
The woman sighed and went through some vanilla envelopes and files. "Ok...Let's see...Let's see...Ah! Yes! Ariel Green. You are suppose to guard...The Riddler."
W-What!? Oh no! Oh no!
"A-Are you sure?" She asked nervously.
"Yes. That's what it says right here. Why? Is that a problem?"
"Uh, No. No." She shook her head quickly. "It's not a problem. Um, thank you. I'll get right on it. Can you point me in the right direction to his cell?"
"Yes." She got up and walked towards one of the doors. "It's down that way to the right, then take a left, It's down that hall. The guard will open the door for you, There will be multiple cells there, ask him to take you to the Riddler's. Tell him you're his guard, there's no reason he would deny you. Good luck."
"Thank you...I'll need it."
She walked down the hall as quickly as she could. To the right and then the left like the lady had said. The guard was there, bored, and waiting for anything new to happen.
"What is your business here? What's your name?" He asked her, gun in hand.
"M-My name is Ariel Green." She answered. "I'm a new guard here. I'm suppose to guard the Riddler. Can you take me to his cell?"
"Oh. Right. They told us about you. Here. This way..." He opened the door and led her inside. Inmates were in their cells, some talking, some screaming and a few others were reading or relaxing, not causing any trouble.
The guard suddenly chuckled. "Good luck on this one, babe. He's been in a very bad mood ever since he got outsmarted by some dame at the store."
Her eyes widened. "Heh, yeah. I heard about that. I bet he's angry..." She cleared her throat, looking back up and the large man. "Is he, you know, murderous?"
He shrugged. "Eh, sort of. He hasn't killed many people. He usually tries to outsmart people in crazy, dangerous ways. Being crazy himself, you know. But I suppose anything can happen."
"I see...So...will he or won't he attack me?"
He shrugged again. "Nah, well. I don't know. Probably not. Unless he has a reason too, but I don't think he would. He's never even met you anyway. He'd have to be really pissed at ya to attack you." They neared the end of their journey. He stopped, pointing. "Well. Here he is. Good luck."
"T-Thanks."
He definitely had a reason. But he'd never actually seen her before, so hopefully he wouldn't recognize her voice. She wasn't the only girl here. He couldn't possibly remember exactly what she sounded like. Right?
She peered in through the bars. He was on his cot, sitting down. He looked pretty angry. Suddenly he looked up, glaring at her and rolling his eyes.
"So? You're my new guard, huh?"
She didn't answer. She was too scared to.
"What? Can't you speak?" He continued, rather annoyed.
She still didn't answer.
"You think you're too good to speak to me!?" He screamed.
Nothing.
"Well, you're not. In fact, you're not even worthy to be in my presence. Imbeciles like you couldn't possibly be able to guard me."
Ariel glared, rolling her eyes.
"D-Did you just roll your eyes at me!? I'll show you not to mess with the Riddler! Just because some woman got lucky at guessing my riddles doesn't mean she's any more genius then me!"
He got up from his cot and ran up to the bars in front of her, sticking his arm through, trying to grab her collar but she moved back just in time causing him to growl and to reach out further.
"Come here, you low life, stupid, little maggot!"
He was tugging on her last nerve.
"I said, come here! Why don't you speak? Are you too stupid to comprehend what I'm saying!?"
She balled up her tiny fist and punched him through the bars in the face. He cried out and stumbled backwards, falling to the ground.
"How dare you hit me!"
"How dare you call me stupid!" She screamed. But caught herself too late.
His eyes widened at her. "You...!"
Oops.
"You're the woman from the store!?"
He was behind bars, he couldn't hurt her. Could he? There was no reason to be scared. So she smirked, rolled her eyes, and put her hands on her hips. "Yeah. What's it to ya?"
"I could kill you right now!"
"Really? I'd like to see you try."
He growled and ran back to the bars. "Why don't you open the door! We can settle this right here, right now!"
She raised a dark red eyebrow, black lips turned down into a frown. "You'd hit a girl? You're not much of a man, are you?"
"E-Excuse me!? I am too a man! More man then all the men in here combined!"
"Ha! Doesn't look like it to me. You're more like all the women in here combined."
"How dare you!?"
"Whatcha gonna do? Huh? You can't reach me."
"You little idiot! I could reach you anytime I want! I can escape whenever I like! I'm the Riddler! I'm smarter then everyone here. I'm a genius! I-"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're smart and stuff. I get it."
"Don't interrupt me!"
"To me you're just a narcissistic, annoying, weakling of a man that can't let go of his past and would threaten to kill a girl he doesn't even know all because he's feeling a little self-conscious."
"Why you little!"
But she interrupted, continuing. "Someone who wants to prove his worth to everyone by outsmarting them."
"I can outsmart anybody!"
"Oh? Well you didn't outsmart me."
"I-I-"
"I guessed your riddle correctly. Your plan failed because of me. Because I ended up being more intelligent then you."
"You are not as intelligent as me, nor are you better!"
"Oh? Well. Let's see who's the better one, eh?"
"Is that a challenge?"
"It sure is."
"Bring it on, woman!"
She rolled her eyes. "Go ahead. Give me some riddles. If I get them all right you have to admit that I'm just as or even more intelligent then you."
"B-But-" He stuttered, shaking his head nervously.
"What? Think you'll lose?"
"Of course not!"
"Then go ahead. Let's start."
He nodded. "Fine! Riddle me this!? What goes up white and comes down yellow and white?"
She smirked. "An egg."
"Correct. But that one was easy! A baby could have solved it. My next one will be even more difficult!"
"Go ahead. Give me your best shot."
"The more you have the less you see. What am I?"
"Darkness."
"C-Correct..." He stuttered again.
"What's wrong? Doubting yourself?"
"No!" He cleared his throat. "If you have me, you'll want to tell me, but if you tell me you'll no longer have me. What am I?"
"A secret."
"How are you doing this!?" He screamed. "You're cheating! You have to be!"
"No. I'm just better then you."
"No you're not! Shut up! I-I'm a genius! More intelligent then anyone in the world. A mere woman such as yourself could never beat me."
"Sexist bastard." She screamed, sneering and glaring at him.
His mouth gaped open. "E-Excuse me!? How dare you!?" He growled again. "Fine...If we're calling each other names here then It's my turn. Idiotic, little bitch."
Her eyes widened. "Weak, ugly, dim witted asshole!"
He scoffed. "Dim witted!? Dim witted!? Why you stupid, little, insolent-"
"ENOUGH!"
They both turned to look at the person who interrupted them. Dr. Arkham was standing there, glaring and tapping his foot. The inmates around them were leaning against their cell bars smiling, obviously enjoying the show. Ariel stopped looking at the said inmates and Riddler, turning back to Dr. Jeremiah Arkham who was still fuming with anger, his arms crossed. "That's. Enough."
She sighed, fiddling her fingers. "Sorry, sir."
"I don't take apologies. You should know better then this. I would expect this from Riddler, but you?"
Riddler gaped. "What is that suppose to mean!?"
"It means you're predictable." Ariel whispered.
"I am not!" He screamed, eyebrows furrowed.
"Yes you are."
"Am not!" He screamed again, prepared to argue with her all night if he had too.
Ariel smirked, still turned around, her back to Riddler. "You're eyes twitching, isn't it? And you're fists are clenched."
"How did you-"
Dr. Arkham smirked. But Riddler wasn't amused. "Lucky guess, that's all."
"Whatever makes you feel better, Riddler. Whatever makes you feel better..."
Jeremiah chuckled but stopped himself. "That's enough, the both of you. This is your only warning. Get back to work."
She nodded again. "Yes, sir. Sorry, sir."
As Dr. Arkham walked away Riddler leant down to her ear. "Snobby, insolent, ignorant-" But she didn't let him finish. She socked him in the face again, chuckling. "Like I said, Riddler, whatever makes you feel better..."
