CHAPTER 22
He had just come in for the Joker's precious. He had no clue that the literal part of that term was actually upstairs. Henry had been one of the quieter ones. He just recently joined their group so seeing Emma nearly lifeless and asleep in a bed meant nothing to him. He considered shooting her, but thought against it. Too much noise. He just passed the room and headed down the hall to where the Joker used to keep his precious. His favorite knife.
For so many reasons.
He considered it to himself as he raided the room looking for the small scrap of metal. 'Should I tell the Joker there's an intruder?' And then decided against it. He was up here for a reason. He'd probably get the shit beat out of him if the Joker knew he was messing around with other things. Besides, in weeks time, they'd be back. And she'd probably be gone.
But again he passed the bedroom and looked at the girl asleep upon the bed. She looked oddly familiar but he couldn't quite place it. Eh, things like this always happen. Henry walked down the fire escape and made his way to the bottom. He opened the entry to the garage and made his way across and out. Two others were standing outside, cigarettes in their mouths. The Joker was anxiously twirling his thumbs, looking down.
"Did you get… it?" he asked. Henry held up his right hand and smirked.
"This piece of shit? Sure did?"
The Joker stopped twirling his thumbs and looked intently at his left hand.
"IT'S NOT A PIECE OF SHIT!" he yelled.
Henry widened his eyes and a smile nervously spread across his face. "My bad, don't get too serious…."
The Joker shook his head and laughed. Then proceeded to get into the van, still laughing. The other two guys jumped in the van as well.
"Put those DAMN CIGARETTES OUT!"
Henry shook his head and jumped into the driver's seat.
"Where to, J?"
The Joker smiled and leaned back in his seat. He shrugged his shoulders and then turned to stare out the window.
Henry started up the van, which took a moment to start. Then with a loud bang, the engine roared to life and they began to drive off.
"You see anything else I left in there?" he asked.
Henry looked in the rearview mirror at the Joker and shook his head.
"Nothing."
~~~~Emma~~~~
BANG! I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I must've had a bad dream. But I heard something. And then I had the shit scared out of me. Shaking and shivering I got up out of bed and hoisted myself over to the window. That was really weird. I wonder if the weather looks okay. I pulled the curtains back slowly and to no surprise the sky was grey and dull. But there wasn't any rain and no sign of it.
Then, I should go for a walk. I could use the exercise.
Outside wasn't like magic. But I had realized how stuffy that old place had been. And I knew the truth. The Joker wasn't coming back. I hurt him, a lot apparently. And I had no idea I could even do that. The scary thing was, being in that bedroom made each day go by so slow and yet, so fast. I had no life in there. I didn't know what I was going to do but I had to do something. So instead of slumping around I decided to walk. I passed some scarily familiar banks and coffee shops, but I kept walking. All the while trying to keep myself stable. Controlled. I had absolutely lost everything there was to lose. And now I had to deal with myself. I kept walking until I passed a small park I hadn't noticed before. There was a swing set and twisty slide. And one of those things you hold onto and spin yourself on. Like a miniature merry-go-round. And I seen this woman there. Sitting on one of the swings. It was like out of a picture. The clouds and sky behind her were completely grey. And she stuck out like a sore thumb. With a head full of red curls.
Oddly enough, and I know I'm a grown woman, or at least 25 and have outgrown playgrounds, but this chick had the right idea. Swinging seemed like a lot of fun. Although I didn't want to impose, I walked over anyways. I could care less right now if someone didn't want me somewhere. She seemed to be in her own world. Just swinging back and forth. Her eyes were closed and she seemed… happy. Okay, it's a little weird I would be describing her but she did.
I looked around and found it odd that there really wasn't anyone else around. And as I got closer I could see the rust and chipped paint that gave the playground age. I approached and realized the woman was humming. And I actually felt embarrassed to have intruded into her intimate scene. I didn't make a sound, just hopped on the only swing next to her and began to swing.
I stared straight ahead and heard a long sigh. And then "Oh." I turned to look at her and then the weirdest thing happened. She gasped and held a hand to her mouth, stopping her swinging abruptly. Which stopped mine too.
"What?" I said. She looked at me and shook her head.
Then she cleared her throat, "Uh…nothing…um….you just startled me that's all."
I relaxed a little and smiled, "Sorry, swinging just seemed like a good idea at the moment."
She nodded her head, "I understand, I was just trying to clear my head."
I nodded my head as well, "You have no idea."
I continued to swing but I couldn't help noticing that something still wasn't right. I could feel this woman looking at me. I turned my head to her and what do you know, caught her staring.
"Do you always swing on deserted swing sets?" I asked. Her brows furrowed and then she realized it was a joke. She laughed oddly and shook her head.
"No actually, I'm usually always at work."
I looked at her and realized she couldn't be any older than me. Maybe even younger.
"You're too busy to get a life, huh? Me too…"
Fact was I wasn't busy. Just bored. She smiled but she still seemed a little on edge. Maybe she really didn't want anyone around her right now.
"I'm Emma."
She nodded her head, "Yeah…"
"What?"
She looked at me and blushed slightly, "How embarrassing. No, I mean….I don't…" She sighed and looked down for a moment.
"I'm in a bit of a trance right now. It's nice to meet you Emma. I'm…"
She stopped and I felt my smile slipping.
"Going to be late for my business meeting. I'm sorry. I do have to run." She jumped from her swing and the image reminded me from when I was younger. When Ally and I would compete and see who could land the farthest from our swing. I smiled and what's-her-name left.
~~~~Meanwhile~~~~
The Joker walked incognito. Passing innocent spectators without second glances. On the very outskirts of Gotham, he walked back and forth along an old strip mall with nothing good to give. He was destined to leave already but the van was low on gas. He felt odd. A mixture of sadness, for he lost the one thing worth keeping to him. And anger, because her leaving meant he had to give up his city….their city….
"Ya making me dizzy, mistah." Her voice was raspy and delicate at the same time. It stopped the Joker in his tracks. He turned and a young woman, no older than 18, maybe, sat in a wooden chair outside the Starbucks. Next to her was a tall black ice coffee. Disgusting. And in her hands was a book. Its face so worn out the title was illegible.
"Excuse me?" the Joker responded, smacking his lips. He was in no mood to take shit from anyone. Female or not, they would die.
A crooked smiled shaped on the girl's lips, "Just sayin'. Ya know, if ya need help find'n some place, you could always ask."
The Joker huffed and turned around. The boys were taking too long.
"Of course, I know how it is. Guys don't have the balls to ask."
The Joker turned sharply and looked at this girl. She looked almost rugged. Like she lived in trash. But the way she had herself together, it was like she knew how sexy she was, and she was trying to make it work for her.
"What do ya want?" he hissed. The girl's eyebrows raised but she smiled.
"Not an attitude. I have my own." She shook her head and sipped on her coffee.
The Joker smiled, "You like your coffee black?"
She narrowed her eyes at him and smiled, "With ice."
The Joker contemplated getting his own coffee. Strange as it sounds, he needed a boost. Of course there's always booze…
"Do you know where the nearest liquor store is Miss…?"
The girl sighed and looked up at him, "The name's Ellie. And you are?"
"….John Nixon."
Ellie smiled at the Joker's lie.
"So, Ellie. Do you know where the nearest liquor store is?"
Ellie sighed and shook her head disapprovingly, "You men are the all the same. It's Sunday. No near liquor store is gonna sell anything worth your while."
The Joker looked away and was already about to leave when her raspy voice chimed in again.
"Of course, I've got some pretty good stuff back at my place….. If you be interested."
The Joker turned to Ellie then and smiled.
"Of course."
~~~~Emma~~~~
The walk around town was horrible. First, dozens of low lifes stared at me. Like I was some low life myself. And I know that I practically am, but I have an ego here! And plus, no one should be judging anyways….bunch of low lifes…..
To top it off, it rained. Twice since I'd left. So I was practically soaked by the time it started getting dark. And then things started getting scary. The moms and their kids began to take things inside. The grandma's with their stories and red hat tea parties began to break up. And now, the creatures of the night were beginning to appear. And I was among them.
I shivered and realized I'd better get somewhere and quick. How much did I have on me? $30. Was that enough for maybe a horrible room in some run down Gotham City hotel? Well hell, it should be.
I paced back and forth along streets I was only semi-familiar with. I seen some pretty ugly looking hotel rooms and then I just decided against it all. What was the worst that could happen? I would be kidnapped? Because I'm pretty sure I could deal. Although I'm not really in the mood for blood and violence. Or meeting new people.
I shrugged off my annoyances and concentrated really hard on the restaurant in front of me. It's closed, obviously. So it must be what now? 10.…11? Okay… wait. I know I've seen this place before. But where….
I didn't need to know when I had last seen this restaurant to know where I was at. Like God was sending me a miracle, my location dawned on me and I soon knew exactly where I was. And where I could go. But did I really want to go back to that hellhole? It was quite lonely there. But…. Where else could I vanish to for the night?
I finally reached a solution and decided that yes, I was going back to my own perdition. My isolation. And I was completely against it. And yet, that's where I was headed. What else could I do when I had no one? No place to go to? Nothing. So I just walked down the creepy, dimly lit road and turned left at the old road sign and realized that my calculations were correct. The woods were right there. About a mile walk ahead. Nothing but cold, dark, silence awaited for me. I walked anyways.
By the time I made it to the woods, I was utterly freaked. I'm afraid of the dark. Wait, no. I'm NOT afraid of the dark. I'm not afraid….nope… So why am I sprinting through the woods to a very less satisfying environment? I have no clue. I just kept running and dodging trees. Why didn't I take the driveway? I think its because I'm afraid. I feel as if someone bad is waiting for me. Someone terrible is lurking and waiting for me to just come walking by. And don't ask why I feel this way. These things are unexplainable, even to myself.
And then I saw that the outside garage light was on. And there was in fact a figure standing there.
~~~~Meanwhile~~~~
The Joker had just reached the end of the block with Ellie when a male voice shouted from behind, "Boss! I really need to talk to…." The man's voice stopped when he seen the Joker with this new chick. He turned around, anger and annoyance in his face. Henry froze and swallowed his next words. "And what the hell could you need this time?" Henry shook his head violently. The Joker released the young girl's wrist and stomped toward Henry. "WHAT THE HELL DO YA WANT? Can't you see… I'M BUSY!" Henry nodded his head, "Sorry boss, I just thought you'd like to know….."
The Joker grasped Henry's shoulder "Not unless it's important."
The Joker turned around, figuring their conversation was over.
"I found this," Henry said. He knew this could be the end of him, but he was risking it anyways. He held up the photo and the Joker completely froze at the sight of it.
After a moment's silence, the Joker looked directly at Henry. "Why were you snooping through my things?" the Joker asked coolly.
Henry swallowed in fear and shook his head. "I-I wasn't…"
By now the scene had displeased Ellie and she had continued on her own to her apartment.
"Then why the HELL do you have it?" he snapped.
"It fell out…."
The Joker ripped the photo from his hands and shoved it in his pocket without a second glance. The Joker was too infuriated for words, he just turned around.
"I thought you'd-"
"WHAT?"
The Joker was now facing Henry again.
Henry, despite the large amount of fear inside him, spoke much more calmer than he felt, "I saw her."
Henry didn't expect the Joker's fury to vanish so quickly.
"I… don't care. At all. She's nothing," the Joker lied.
Henry nodded, "Well….."
Then turned around and began to pace back to where the crew was waiting.
"Where?"
Henry smiled and then slowly turned around. "Thought you might ask."
But the Joker's look made Henry's plan to lead him along completely vanish.
"At your apartment. When we went back for your…precious." He said the last word awkwardly, as it sounded weird aloud.
~~~~Emma~~~~
I hid ever so closely to the tree I was closest to. Trying to make out the figure at the main door. But it was no luck. It was obviously no one I completely recognized. My heart sank. Now where was I suppose to go? Because my vision was limited by the darkness, my hearing seemed to work 10 times better than it usually does. I listened carefully.
"What was the point of this? I thought we were gone for good?"
"Yeah, well, I'm not sure myself."
Both voices were male, that much was obvious. And they seemed familiar. But maybe that was my mind playing tricks on me. Maybe I wanted it so badly to be someone I knew.
"Seems were stuck her' until some'n happens."
One of the males, unfortunately hidden behind another tree yawned loudly and I couldn't help but to yawn myself.
"You gotta cig?"
"Nah, haven't been no drug store lately. Damn freakzoid won't stop anywhere but liquor stores."
"And your point is…?"
"I am not paying no damn 6 bucks for ciggs. We're underpaid as it is!"
I rested my back against the tree, no longer caring to look at the two indistinct figures. I just really wanted them to be gone already.
"Pansy."
One of the guys sighed too loudly. And it reminded me of an annoyed child.
"Wonder what's taking so long?"
"Ya know the boss. This could take all damn night."
I instantly froze at the use of 'boss.' Now I know there are many other mafia mob things out there, and many of the head honchos probably go by 'boss', but these voices sounded familiar.
I rolled from the tree I was at and stood at another angle. I could barely make out reflections of taillights. But I couldn't quite tell whether they were a van's or not.
"Wish he'd hurry. What's he looking for anyways? He said he had everything he needed when he left."
I gulped. Okay, maybe the months I was gone, the Joker had left and some other gang moved in and left before I returned. But what were the chances of that happening?
These two must be out here on guard. I sucked in a breath of air and decided to bite the bullet. I slowly walked out from behind the tree I was hiding behind and walked the last 10 yards or so into visible range. Immediately the two thugs raised their weapons at me. But I wasn't so much as scared. Because both froze at the sight of me. The guy I could see from far behind, I did recognize. The other, I had no clue who he was.
"Henry, go get Boss."
The man I found to be as Henry, stood frozen for a moment and then turned around and walked inside the garage.
"Aw, doll face, have we missed-"
"Don't call me that," I said quietly. But I was sure he heard it.
"You look… awful."
"Thanks," I said, agitation in my voice. The cold air was getting to me and instead of listening to what's-his-name, I walked around him.
"Hey! Get back here."
I shrugged my shoulders and kept walking until I reached the garage door. Then I went inside.
"Suit yourself," he yelled back as the door shut.
I could only explain it as an adrenaline rush and a want that made me run full blast across the garage and up those emergency stairs. I hated it, but I was absolutely wanting, needing to see him. I reached the 3rd floor, where I knew he would be and entered the main hallway. Silence. And then a door creaked open and out came Henry. Who stopped and looked at me. And then the Joker walked out of the room from behind him.
It was like a scene from a movie. Because we both just stood there speechless. Emotionless. I knew the look on my face read nothing but boredom and annoyance. As did his. We were mirror images. And neither of us said anything for a good five hours. (Or so it seemed. More like 30 seconds, I do believe.)