CHAPTER 7
"Emmmmma…" he whispered into my ear. I felt him nudge his face into my neck. And I cringed, barely pulling away from him. "You just can't resist can you? You love me!" He screeched into my ear, laughing afterwards. The anger was too much to hold in. "STOP IT!" I screamed, while ripping his arms from around my body. I turned around to face him. "Don't you dare say I love you! Don't you even think about saying it!" He just smiled at me, like this was so amusing, and it probably was ..to him. "Emma, I can see right through that shield of yours. I know what-" "I said SHUT UP! You don't know a damn thing about me. And you never will!" His smile was fading now, but humor was still in his eyes. "If you knew anything about what I wanted, you'd let me go." The Joker shook his head slowly, silently laughing to his self. He put his hands together and looked back up at me. "If I let you go, Emma. You'd come back." He was batting his eyelashes at me, smiling. I felt the rage boil up inside me again. "Like hell I would!" He seemed to just think this was hilarious, because now he was laughing. Bent over clutching his stomach because it was so funny. Then after a moment he snapped his head up to look at me. "Where else would you go?"
I didn't want to, but I cringed at his words. He made me think. Where would I go? Like before, I knew I couldn't go home. I couldn't go back to Paris. Where would I go? I stood there silently looking at him. He stood up now, and his smile remained. "See." he said. I started shaking my head, but I couldn't help but cry. Tears streamed down my face and I did all I could to avoid making eye contact with the Joker. This is what he wanted, wasn't it? He wanted to break me, so I would be his. I hated that feeling. That my mind was right. This is what he wanted. But why? Was he THAT bored? "Emma, you and I are forever. I can't live without you, you can't live without me." I started laughing now. "Oh really? You know you're are just hilarious Joker! I know just as much as you do that I mean nothing to you! I'm just some pathetic toy you got your hands on!" He laughed at this. I hated that he found everything funny. "Emma, you complete me!"
"SHUT UP! You make no sense!" I screamed. And then I melted to the floor. Sitting up against the bathroom door, crying my eyes out. He ruined everything for me! I could no longer be who I wanted to be.
"Okay well…." he said, a little too casually. "I have an errand to run." I heard him walk over to me. But I avoided looking up. But in the corner of my eye, I could see him kneeling in front of me. His hand grabbed my chin, forcing me to look over at him. His grip was too tight and I couldn't look away. "Do me a favor, dear. Stay home and be a good girl, please?" I kept my eyes away from his, managing to look over his shoulder, until finally he let go of me. He stood up , "Oh and Emma?" I looked up at him, even though I didn't want to. "Cheer up." He smiled down at me. That pure evil smile. "The worst is yet to come!" And then he started laughing. And with that, he left the room.
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It's not like I wasn't alone. I could hear voices on the other side of the door. They were having a casual conversation. Or at least it seemed so. So no going anywhere there. And even though the apartment was three stories, and I may even survive the jump, the window was bolted shut. And I could only open it about three inches. So an escape was completely impossible. Unless I killed myself. Which I would never even think about doing.
And it's not like this room completely terrorized me, so I walked about the room. The carpet was actually very soft. And the room was actually very pretty. And peaceful. But everything was white. And it was a little annoying. I made it over to the desk the Joker was standing at before. When I first came here. Everything was neatly put away, the desk was bare. I opened one drawer, which held a lot of newspaper article clippings. Some with the Joker's picture, some without. Some were of commissioner Gordon. Some had no pictures but all seemed to be based around the Joker. Nothing too brilliant there. I shut the drawer and opened the other one on the other side of the desk. This one was different. Inside were pictures. Some I couldn't make out. Others were too familiar. One was a picture of the building in which Amanda held her wedding. Another was a picture of Amanda and Sean. Some pictures were of people I didn't know. And then one picture in particular caught my eye. It was me, about 6 years ago. Yeah it was my senior year in high school. The picture of me getting the "Most Likely To Succeed" award. I giggled at the memory. I remembered think 'Yeah right,' as I was called up I front of the whole school.
Then I came across another newspaper clipping. One of two bloody bodies found outside the Building. It was Amanda and Sean, in their wedding clothes, dead in front of the building where they got married. Without thinking, I crumbled the picture, and shut the drawer. Not caring of the fact there were other pictures of me in there too. And I hopelessly walked away from the desk.
Next I made my way over to the rose. It was beautiful. I absolutely loved red roses. I touched its soft petals. And smelled its wonderful scent. It seemed too out of place in this room. The room was too bright, the rose seemed to not belong. I think the one in the black room was better. It fit perfectly, like the room actually had life. I grabbed the rose, careful not to detach the petals. I don't know why I was taking it out of it's vase, but I knew I wanted to hold it. I carried it over to the bed and sat down. Admiring the little waves designed in the rose's petals. It absolutely calmed me. I don't know why, but its softness made me feel a little better. And then, like from a horror movie, one petal slowly drifted off into the air, and landed on the white carpet. It seemed like my touch killed it. So I quickly ran over and placed it back into the vase.
Next I wondered over to the dresser. I wondered who used this room before me? Why it was filled with girl's clothes? But, I really didn't care. A couple looks into the dresser at all the white clothes and I was done. I hated to say it but…. I was bored. I could go insane just staying in this room. There was nothing colorful about it. Nothing wild and different about this room. Except it was too bright. So I wondered over to the window and opened the curtains. The sight was too good to be true. Although the sky was still grey. The rain had stopped. And outside surrounding this oddly placed apartment was nothing but woods. Fully loaded trees, with absolutely beautiful green leaves. Little wild flowers grew randomly throughout the woods. It seemed so pretty. So peaceful. But every time I remembered this was the Joker's place, everything beautiful was destroyed. And so now I couldn't bare to look outside anymore, but I longed for the fresh scent of air after a good storm. I cracked open the window, wind flowing in fiercely. I hadn't remembered how cold it actually was outside. And then I wondered over to the bed.
Of course my mind was still raging and there was no way I could rest. How could everything have gone so wrong? One little trip, to one friend's wedding and then….. I'm not even myself anymore. It's outrageous.
I did all I could to repress those certain memories and now, they're the only thing on my mind now-a-days. How long have I been here? 2 weeks? Maybe? I had no idea. There's no clock around here. Now calendar. Of course, I didn't expect there to be one. All I knew was that each seemed to pass by slowly and yet, I've been gone for so long. By now I'm sure my college has realized I was gone. At least I could take this time to enjoy myself. Well, those aren't exactly the right words. And as I laid there, I felt my eyelids began to droop. So it's been a long, hurtful day. I'm allowed to be tired. At least when I'm sleeping I can escape from all the pain and all the terror. Well, most of the time.
Sometime Later.
I don't know how long I slept. I just woke up and everything outside was still grey. There hasn't been a day of sunshine in I don't know how long. And after sleeping, I noticed how sore I was. The pain just started to kick in. Every move of my right arm stung. I guess that's what I get for jumping from a moving vehicle. And my mind seemed a little more 'here,' I guess you could say. I remembered the whole conversation from yesterday. Or was that today? But that didn't matter. What mattered was that I was no longer alone. And my peace was interrupted by the Joker. Who sat at his white desk. Which brought back the memories of those pictures. He had a newspaper on the table. But that wasn't what caught my eye. It was the bowl of fruit on the desk. My stomach growled at its sight. How long has it been since I've eaten? Days? I was so hungry. Only the sight of food had brought this new feeling along. I slowly, yet quietly, sat up in bed. I would steel the fruit as soon as he was gone.
I slowly moved my arm, to help balance me on top of the bed. A fresh wave of pain shot through my arm. And, of course, I whined in pain. Damn it. I just gave myself away. The Joker was now staring at me. I could see his make up was freshly done. No more smears and streaks. Then he turned back to his desk and began shoving papers into the drawers. Not very organized now are we? Then he got up from his chair and stretched his arms out in front of him. I shuddered at the sound of his shoulder cracking. Without looking over at me he said, "Are you hungry?" I couldn't tell if he was smiling, or smirking. Or whatever. So I didn't know if he had some plans of poisoning the fruit. But I was too hungry to deny anything. I still didn't answer. And so he looked over at me now. "Oh you're not? Cuz it's been about four days…" Wow four days? "Yes, I'm hungry." I barely choked out the words. I sounded raspy and pathetic. Almost as if I had begged of the food instead of accepted it. His hands wrapped around the bowl and carried the fruit over to me, setting it on the edge of the bed. I slowly and painfully crawled over to the fruit, picking up a green apple and bit into it. It was tangy and delicious.
I almost ate the whole core, seeds, and everything. All the while the Joker leaned against the wall, watching me. Although I normally felt uncomfortable when people watch me eat, right now I could care less. I then practically inhaled the grapes. And next I ate a banana. And then it hit me. I ate way too fast. And I couldn't eat anymore. I slowly leaned away from the bowl. Not even finishing the orange I had peeled. I was sticky, too. Icky. But it felt wonderful to get some food in me. I felt well rested and well fed. And then an awkward silence poured over as I sat there. Staring at my hands, feeling the Joker stare at me. "Thanks.." I just barely whispered it. Barely. But I still heard the Joker laugh to himself. I shouldn't have thanked him. He really didn't deserve it. But, oh well. I guess I was just to damn nice.
After a moment, the Joker said, "I have a little surprise for you." I instantly glared over to him. Last time he had said that, Amanda and Sean had died. Because of me. I shook my head slowly. "I don't want it." I heard him laugh, and he walked over to me, grasping hard at my wrist. Then he lifted me up from the bed. "She's really quite a talker." I looked up at him, confused. And Instantly I began to panic. Had he called Ally after all? Did he have her? I couldn't help but freeze up, and follow him like a dog as he led me down a hallway and to the stair case. But today we just walked down one set of steps, turning down another dimly lit hallway. We passed about two doors before finally entered one. Inside the room was just as plain as the first. Black and grey. And about five men sat around in the living room. This room was bigger than both of the rooms I had slept in. Three were on the couch, one guy was standing, and one sat in a chair. These were probably the Joker's Hench men. Then I spotted a woman. She was standing behind the couch. She had really long, black hair. Her complexion was pale and she was wearing black leather pants, and a black hoodie.
And then another girl, not much older than 18 maybe, was sitting on the floor. She had blonde hair, which covered her face. Obviously she wasn't one of them. The Joker pulled me into room. And over to wear the one guy was sitting in a chair. As soon as the guy locked eyes with the Joker, he instantly jumped out of the chair. "Sorry boss." The Joker laughed and then sat down. I just stood in front of him, having no idea what to do or where to go. "Emma…" he smiled, patting his leg. I stepped back from him. "I think I'd rather stand." He giggled at my remark and I walked over to the wall behind him. Leaning against it, I listened to them talk. "What should we do?" asked the bald guy on the couch. Of course I had no idea what they were talking about. "Nothing," said the Joker. A few of the guys looked at him confused. "What? What ya mean nothing!" screeched the tiny black haired woman. "They took every damn dime Joker!" I heard him start to laugh. "Alexa, I was going to burn the money anyway." "WHAT!" she screeched. Now making her way to stand in front of the Joker. Another guy in the room spoke up, "How were you going to pay us?" It was silly how Alexa tapped her foot impatiently. I couldn't help but laugh a little.
"I was never going to pay you!" the Joker screamed, getting up from his chair and towering over little Alexa. She stepped back a bit but continued to glare at him. "What do you mean Joker?" she said through her teeth. "I mean, I was never going to pay you in the first place." he said it slowly and carefully, to make sure she heard. "I quit!" Alexa screamed, turning away from him. But he quickly grabbed her shoulder, and ripped her back, turning her as well, then clenched her shoulders. "You're not going anywhere!" He yelled at her. Then to the rest, "None of you are!" Then he threw Alexa onto the ground, making her pretty much land all over the blonde sitting on the floor. The force threw them both back onto the floor and I caught sight of the blonde girl. Her face was so beaten. So bloody and swollen. Her eyes full of fear. She almost reminded me of myself. When I was first taken here. Which made me think. 'Was this the Joker's new girl?' 'Was he finished with me?' The questions burned in my mind, and without thinking, I spoke, "Who is she!"
The whole room grew deadly quiet. All eyes were on me.
"Oh her?" asked the Joker, picking her up by her hair. "I told you I had a surprise!" He screeched with laughter. The poor girl started crying. "Emma, meet Eliza." I stared into the girl's eyes. And she stared back. She was so frightened. So afraid. And mostly, so lost. Because she looked at me with the same hate that she showed when looking at the Joker. "She's going to be a great toy!" I winced at his words. I was so right. This was the end of me! At least this pain and suffering would end once and for all. But then the Joker threw her back onto the floor. And I lost contact with her eyes. And instead looked at the Joker. His look was horrified, in a theatrical kind of way. He was definitely enjoying himself. "Oh Emma!" He yelled, rushing over to me, "Don't be so jealous! She's not for me, she'd for them!" He pointed back to the guys surrounding her. I winced, I didn't dare think of what they'd do to her. And then I realized what the Joker had said. I inhaled sharply. "I am not jealous!" I whined. I felt myself blush. How could he even say such a thing! He smiled and grabbed my shoulders. "I know you too well Emma!" And then he kissed me, again.
His lips crushed mine. I almost thought I would have another lip bleed. I felt one of his hands wrap around the back of my neck, forcing me to kiss him back. My hand gently touched his arm, and when I heard him laugh against my lips, I realized what I was doing. I automatically grabbed his jacket, and tried to push him away from me. And he was laughing too much to care. One hand still resting on my shoulder. Finally, he looked back up at me. "You're coming along quite well, Emma. It's only a matter of time!" And then he laughed some more. I was so blushing by now. Everyone had seen that. Seen how gently I rested my hand on his arm. Surely it was nothing. I just shook it off and slumped to the floor. How embarrassing.