CHAPTER 15
There was an awkwardness with sitting in this room. It's beige walls and black furniture cued an alarm in my head. I'd have to remember that night from four years ago. The horrible night that no 6 year old should ever witness. She sat cross-legged in her leather chair. While I sat tensed, upon her leather couch. It was freezing, even though I was wearing my huge purple winter coat. And multi-colored fuzzy gloves. My hands twisted the hat in my lap. I stared at it and she spoke.
"So, how have you been sleeping lately?" she asked. "Fine," I mumbled. The boy next to me fumbled in his seat. He never wants to be here. "Well, that's good. How are your parents doing?" she asked. "Fine," I said. I hated being here too. There was no need for therapy. "Would you like to talk today?" she asked the boy next to me. I heard nothing and glanced to the side. He was looking at me.
Brown eyes and two scars leading away from his lips. "Well?" she questioned him again. And then he looked away from me. "Of course he doesn't," I said. And words fell from her lips and a series of head shaking and nods came from me.
"You know Emma, you're parents told me you've been having nightmares," she said. "They've been lying," I said back. And then the continuance of questions and answers. This seemed to drag on forever. And forever this boy, that I knew so well, continued to sit quietly. Where was it he went after these sessions. He couldn't go home. He had no parents. They were dead. Did he go to a foster home? Of course I never found any of these answers. I didn't even no his name.
And never shut up long enough to let me ask him.
And then my parents came in and yanked me from the room. Yelling, "Keep that demonic child away from my Emma!"
I sat upright in bed. How could I forget so much? . I seen her once a week for the first two years then… once a month for two years…. After that day, I never went back. My parents wouldn't tolerate me being around… Him. And yet they never knew we had sessions together. Every single one. Did my parents even know? I don't think so…. Wow. Four years of my life I wiped clean. All of her visits came back to me now. Me and the Joker have quite a past, and I never knew it.
My forehead was wet and my clothes were sticking to me. Pajamas, shall I say. It was early morning. I could tell. The sun hadn't quite came up yet. I had to get some fresh air. I got up and headed over to my dresser. Tonight, I slept alone. I pulled out a long sleeved sweater and purple sweat pants. I remind you, it was still dark. I hurriedly brushed my hair. And grabbed the white hat on top of the bathroom sink and put it on.
Next, while being as sneaky as my clumsy self can be, I tip-toed down the hall way and into the stairwell. I focused sharply on the stairs beneath me, trying my best not to fall and wake someone. And by the time I reached the bottom, the sweater became hot. But I'll deal with it. I opened the heavy, metal door and entered the garage. It smelled like rust and iron. And oddly enough, I liked the way it smelled. And I noticed the garage was so much colder. I hurried across the long empty garage space and out the side door. Success.
No one was awake. And I wouldn't be gone long. Because of course, I had to walk.
And I walked. Fast down the long driveway, trying to keep myself warm. And I kept walking until finally I made it to a road. And just a little further down, about a block or two, I could see the city of Gotham, itself. I had no idea what I was going to do exactly. I didn't have any money. I was technically a missing person still. I wondered if I would be recognized by anyone. And plus, it was still early morning. And most shops were probably closed.
Finally I made it to some lively part of the city. Inside shops were people getting ready to open. Stray strangers walked the sidewalks. Some with their dogs. I walked down 53rd Street. Huge buildings towered above me. I never did live in the city before. It was a new experience. I walked and at the corner I saw a small coffee shop called BELLA'S. In huge red neon letters. It was open and already jammed with customers. Perfect.
I silently entered and a small waitress, with red hair tied in a bun bounced over to me. "Here," she said hurriedly, leading between filled tables to an empty booth near the window. And then she skipped away. I sat down in the red booth. Now that I was here, I wasn't sure I wanted to be. I had no money. It was busy. They probably needed the extra space. But when I looked around I saw couples sitting together, no food or drinks between them. Talking and laughing. Some people just sat there, using up their wireless internet privileges.
I envied the carefree people. The cute couples whose worst problem was paying their overdue bills. I eyed one couple that was sitting a couple tables down. The girl was a typical blonde, tan, despite the time of the year. And she was crying. "I don't want to leave New York." she was saying. And her boyfriend, or husband, or fiancé, whose face I couldn't see said, "But you're being kicked out sweetheart. You can't stay!" And he chuckled at her stupidity. Which was hilarious, especially when she started pouting. But I could still tell, that some how, she wasn't leaving New York. At least, she wasn't staying here.
And soon, I tired of listening to their arguing, when a waitress, a different one this time, came up to me, "Have you already gotten your check?" she asked. I looked up at her. Her hair was a mess. "Yup, already paid and everything. And the service was great, keep up the good work," I said, and a huge smile spread across her face and she turned and walked away.
I was just getting into the conversation of the two girls across from me when some one sat across from me. My heart pumped, as I expected it to be the Joker. But I noticed no one seemed to take notice. My head turned and this guy was sitting across from me. I looked at him and a huge smile met his pink lips. He had black hair and gorgeous blue eyes. "Hi there," he said. I just mindlessly stared at him. He must've mistaken me for someone else. And I'm guessing my stare must've scared him because his smiled disappeared. "Whoa, I don't have to sit here, I just noticed you sitting here by yourself and all the other booths are full and its cold outside. I didn't-" he wouldn't shut up. "No, its fine," I said, replacing my uninviting face with a new, friendly one. "Oh, okay," he said. And his smile returned, revealing a full set of perfectly white teeth. I smiled back. "I'm Toby," he said. He looked at me, an answer. "Sarah," I lied. I'm not sure why either. He didn't know who I was. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Sarah," he said. "It's nice to meet you," I said. "Can I get you something to drink?" He asked.
Well, I was thirsty. "Sure," I said. And we just sat there, talking while we sipped on hot chocolate and munched on chocolate chip cookies. And I felt guilty for not having any money on me. Coffee was almost four dollars a glass. And I had two. He had one. We talked. I talked about Ally and me, when we were younger. But I mostly listened to him talk about his self. He was born in Michigan where he lived there for 7 years and then him and his family moved to Britain. He just recently moved to Gotham, two months ago after finishing college.
He has a dog, a toy poodle named Boots that his ex girlfriend left with him. We shared a hysterical fit of laughter over that one. And I learned he's afraid to ride bikes because when he was little he hit a telephone pole. And has never rode one since.
"So why are you here Sarah?" he asked. Saying that name at me felt weird. "Oh me? Um me and my friend Mandy moved here not too long ago," my face turned hot. I was sure he knew I was lying. "Where's your friend?" he asked. "Job hunting, like I was suppose to be doing," I said, and giggled. He laughed too. I scanned out the window. My eyes raced over the now lit streets. The sun was up now. And then my heart began to race frantically. I should go back. My eyes caught sight of a clock on the wall. It read 7:52. How long was I gone?
"What's wrong?" he asked. "I should be heading home now," I said slowly, hating I had used the word 'home.' "Oh. Would you like me to walk-" "No!" I said a wee bit too loud. "Sorry, no thanks. I have to go." I got up from the booth and was about to walk. "Emma, wait," he said. I froze for a second and then turned around. "What did you just say?" "Sorry, Sarah, but I wanna know. Will I see you again?" he asked. I shook my head, "Probably not, it's a big city. Thanks for the coffee and cookies, though," I said, smiling. And then I turned to leave. "You're welcome!" He shouted over all the clanking dishes and the waitress's voices.
I could've been hearing things. For all I know he could've never had called me Emma right? Right. Anyways, I have worst things to worry about. Like how I'm not…there… and its 8. I hurried through the streets taking the turns I remembered and sure enough I saw an opening to the woods. Other roads branched off in other directions. But I could never forget the small curve to the right when entering. Street number 2. I hurried fast down the road, literally running at full speed. I could just make out some figures surrounding the Joker's van. Three people maybe. But I couldn't see the Joker. So I kept running and slowed when I knew I'd soon become visible. And it wasn't until I reached the three new faces did the Joker appear. And Charity and Mikey from behind him.
"Well, we're just about ready," said the Joker, his eyes finally flickering in my direction. He narrowed his eyes at me, his cold black eyes. I stood frozen, like I always did when he looked at me. He licked his lips and then spoke, "Where did you go?" He asked bitterly. The fear was back in me. I was hoping neither Charity or Mikey got in any kind of trouble because of me.
"I just went for a walk," I said, ignoring his eyes and staring over at Charity. She was shaking, either from fear or from the cold weather. Her arms wrapped around Mikey who she kept close. Pushing his little body into her own. The Joker sighed anxiously, "Well now that you're back, get in!" he shouted, his hand pointing to the car. "EVERYONE!" he yelled louder as I walked mindlessly past him and into the back seat of his van. Charity followed right behind me, hopping in and sitting Mikey between her and me. Two of the Joker's henchmen sat in the seats in front of us, while the Joker sat passenger. And then the driver hopped in. She had jet black hair and pretty blue eyes. But her face was scarred. A huge scar stood out across her eye. And another down her right cheek. She had a smug look on her face, even smugger when she caught me looking from the rearview mirror.
To another bank. That's where we ended up going. Always the bank and yet I never exactly knew what the joker did with all the money he got. Maybe he was just felt like being cliché. But we ended up going to a bank. Small in size and was oddly located between a coffee shop and a RadioShack store. We all were ordered out of the van and I stood freezing next to Charity and Mikey. The one girl had parked behind the bank, to keep all eyes from seeing us. I felt sort of claustrophobic, like the walls of the buildings around us were closing in on me. With no way to get out. The sky was still a grey color. Blocking us from the sun's warmth.
"Shood we go through the firah exit?" asked the girl with black hair in an accent. "Yes, Angie," said the Joker anxiously, "You're not blonde that's why I had you park here!" "Sheesh! I'm sowry," she mumbled. The Joker looked at the other two guys. "Okay boys, it's just the same old. We go in, you get what you need, we come out," he said. "How much boss?" the big guy, with all the tattoos. "Whatever your cold heart desires Patrick," He chuckled coldly. "But this time Henry," he began and the shorter guy, with the bald head straightened up, "Leave the girls alone!" I shuddered. The Joker laughed and then he finally turned to look at me but his eyes rolled over to Charity. "You two get in the car," he said. And I felt a little bit better to know they weren't joining.
I watched as the Joker shut his eyes and then opened them, looking at me. I saw something unexplainable in his eyes which made me gasp for my breath but then he just stared at me, a smile forming along his red lips and his eyes were dark again. "And Emma, you get the best part of all," he said. He outstretched his arm, almost like he was reaching for me. The wind blew, I shivered, and the way he looked just then, it gave me an odd feeling. "Can we git goin now, it freezing out her!" shouted Angie. "Shut up!" yelled the Joker turning his head to her, "Or you'll die," he said simply, and he began laughing. She shrugged her shoulders but kept quiet. The Joker put his arm down and looked over at me again.
"Dollface, hold my hand will you? I'm sure you'll like this," he said. I shuddered again and walked over to him, grasping his left hand with my right. And for some reason, doing this always felt shocking. Like there really was a connection here. "Alright Angie," he said, "Open the door." And it took me a moment to realize what she was doing. First cutting deep into a box of wires set up next to the door. And next she carefully pulled apart the door handle. And then she opened it gently, and not a siren went off. First the henchmen went in along with Angie and then me and the Joker walked in together.
Immediately there was panic. The fire door turned left into the main room of the bank. I stood slightly behind the Joker, still holding on to his hand but trying to keep myself hidden from the public. The Joker raised a gun into the air, "Ladies and gentlemen," he announced. And I could see the other three, already masked in clown masks, running out from behind him, guns in their hands too. The people in this room panicked. Screeching and moving about, aimlessly driving themselves toward walls and desks. "SHUT UP!" the Joker screamed and it was like everyone froze. They didn't move and they didn't utter a word. "we're just here for a daily withdrawal, " he said, laughing in the faces of the frightened people around him. And then he pulled me out from behind me.
I heard one person gasp but everyone else just stared at me. And they way they did… they didn't care. I sighed and looked away from the faces around me. If someone died right now, I'd hate myself. I really would. The Joker laughed. "That's much better," he said, looking around us at all the innocent faces. Already the other three were getting as much money as they could. And now I knew why we came to this bank on the outskirts of Gotham. It was miles away from the police station. The Joker pulled my arms, jerking me towards him so that I was facing him. He had already put the gun away. His right hand grabbed my chin so I'd look up at him. I already had tears in my eyes. And I wasn't sure why. Probably because I had a bad feeling about all of this. Like I knew someone was going to die or something.
"Leave that poor girl alone!" shouted some guy from behind me. The Joker looked past me and over at him, "Poor girl? Hmmm, no I'm sure she likes it," the Joker laughed quietly and returned his gaze to mine, "Don't cry sweetheart, everything will be okay." He laughed and then pressed his lips against mine. Everything became lost and for a moment, it was almost bliss. But then I heard a voice all too familiar, "Emma?…. Emma! EMMA!" she shouted. I pulled away quickly and looked for her. And then my eyes saw her. My mom, hunched on the ground, shaking, with tears flooding her eyes. I couldn't speak. And the joker followed my gaze, a smile pulling at his lips. "No," I whispered, "You leave her alone." But he just stared over at my mother. "Leave her alone!" I yelled at him, making his eyes return to mine. His hand tightened around mine. He gave me a deadly stare but I only stared back. Then he turned and shouted, "Come on pets, we're leaving." Angie turned around, "But boss, I needs me more money!" she said. "Emma…" my mom said, crawling forward a bit, almost as if she didn't believe it was me. "No mom," the words barely able to escape my lips. "Stay." She shook her head at me. "But Emma, what happened? " she said. Her tears now uncontrollable. And before I knew it, the Joker was dragging me back to the fire exit and into the van where I crawled back to the back seat.
Everyone quickly piled in as I thought carefully. Why was my mom here? And then the van was moving again. And I was leaving my mom again.