p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The following day, I woke up with a massive headache. On the bright side, the stab wound in my thigh was better./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Feeling pretty hungry, I decided to try and get out of the normal looking room and try to surf the place for something to eat. I never really got to see the place, I couldn't even remember where exactly I was./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"I tried the door, but unusurprisingly it was locked. Sighing, I searched my pockets for my cellphone, an iPhone 6 that I absolutely loved. Simple, easy to use but expensive as hell./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"A new message, from an unknown number./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Hello." It said simply, and out of boredom I decided to answer./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Who is this?" I replied lazily, sitting comfortably in my bed. Suddenly, my phone began ringing. It read 'unknown caller'. Why would they hide their number? I waited a few seconds, thinking whether I should answer or not. What if it was the police?/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Screw it, I thought as I pressed the green button./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Hello?" I called out into the phone, trying to keep my voice down./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Miss Nathalia Maev?" A masculine voice asked, and at that point I was pretty sure it was the police. Fuck it, they didn't know where I was anyways./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""...yes?" I reluctantly answered, and then a short, yet awkward silence followed./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""My name is detective Gordon, and I have been following the Joker for a good amount of years now. I know you are with him, and I also know about your crime. Don't panic. I won't ask you to tell me where you are, seeing as he is a master at running away. But, miss Maev, I ask you to kill the Joker whenever you get the chance. If you do so, I will make sure that nobody will ever know about your crime, you have my word. Throw this phone away, smash it. Please be careful, I wish you the best of luck." The man said and hung up. Adrenaline was flowing through my veins yet again, and I destroyed the phone without thinking twice. Then, I started pacing around the room. That was it. That was my chance to escape, I just had to kill the Joker. It was easy enough, all I needed was some time. I could just do it while he was sleeping and then run away, right? Just how hard could it be?/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"I sighed, throwing my body onto the bed, staring at the plain white ceiling. I knew I had to do it. It was my only way out, the ticket to continuing my normal life. And just thinking of the amount of lives I would save…/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"I dozed off for a while, and then woke up about two hours later even hungrier, and my headache did not dissappear either. I got up after stretching for a bit and I started hitting the door with my fists, hoping someone would hear me. I needed to be fed./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Nothing, nobody answered. I didn't even have a place to take a shower in, or go to the bathroom. I heard laughing outside, so why didn't anyone care about me? I sighed./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"There was nothing else to do but wait./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;" /p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"-11 PM—/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;" /p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"I felt horrible, and did nothing the whole day. I had kind of accepted my own fate, and although I tried yelling and kicking the door a few more times, nothing changed./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Suddenly, everyone fell silent, and I heard someone unlocking my door./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Finally!" I cried out, hoping to see someone with a plate of food. Instead, I saw the same face as yesterday, none other than The Joker./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Missed me, doll?" He chuckled, closing the door behind him./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Yes, I'm hungry as hell!" I stated, my stomach making a weird noise which confirmed what I had just said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Having a conversation with The Joker was very strange. I knew what he did, who he was, he made me feel like a dumbass, made me feel scared, and then there were those moments when I actually felt normal talking to him. Those were the creepiest moments, because I'd talk, and then I'd remember who I was talking to, and wonder how come we were having a normal conversation./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""You mean... You haven't been fed?" He asked, his facial expression suddenly shifting into a dead serious one. I shook my head. Grabbing my wrist, he dragged me out of the room. My leg was hurting, his grip was so hard that he would probably bruise the place, and not to mention I was incredibly dizzy due to my hunger./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Finally, I could see the rest of the place. It was normal looking, the only thing out of normal I noticed was the fact that it had multiple, metal tables with matching metal chairs. A lot of men, of varying body shapes were sitting there, all of them looking at us./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The Joker pulled out a dagger. "Innie, minnie, minnie, mo..." He began pointing at random men, but stopped at the man I recognized to be Tim. "C'mere, boy!" The Joker called out, a huge grin plastered onto his face. His dagger then pointed to me. "I thought I told you to... Feed her!" He growled, twisting the knife between his fingers./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"."Uhh..." Tim began, his voice shaking, obviously afraid, "I-I'm really so-sorry boss... I forg-ot... Bob and I began playing cards... Then the others joined in and we... We lost track of time... I am so sorry! Please forgive me." My eyes were fixated on the Joker, and was quite amused to see the incredibly bored expression on his face, and the childish eyeroll he made./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Blah, blah, blah." The Joker simply said after Tim rambled. Suddenly, his hand quickly bent into my direction, and I backed away simply because he scared me. "You scared, doll? Come on, take the knife." He commanded. I didn't really have any choice, did I? So I took the dagger, feeling its weight in my hand./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Now, kill him." He said, the whole room was watching. I didn't do anything at first, but I felt a strong punch directly in my face. It hurt like hell, but luckily adrenaline helped me get over the pain, so I rolled over. I saw him lift his leg. He was much stronger than me, bigger, but I had a dagger. So I had an advantage, but I had to play it smart. Awkwardly, I countered by lifting my left arm so that he cannot stop my next move, and sank the knife right into his leg. He yelled in pain, and I removed the dagger with some effort, pulling it out. It affected him, but not that much, so I still had to keep going strong. With my left fist, I pretended to try and punch hin in the face, so all his focus was on my left hand. I quickly drove the knife in his stomach. Game over. I thought proudly, as I watched him fall to the ground./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"I felt my leg being grabbed, and I fell with him. Due to the sudden move, I didn't know what to do, so I soon felt my dagger sliding out of my hand. I realized that he had it, and was ready to stab me./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Boom. And he's dead. Blood was everywhere. I was exhausted and hurt, again. Dirty and hungry, and all I could hear was the Joker's bone chilling laughter./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"I pushed myself onto my feet, threw the dagger at him. "I'm still hungry." I complained./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Ah, I think you should go to your room." My room? What was I, a dog? A child? I didn't like it, the way he said it. I was exhausted, though. It was a mental battle I had with myself, but my brain didn't choose either option, since I just fell on the floor, swimming in my own and Tim's blood./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"With a long, deep sigh, he grabbed my wrist yet again and yanked me onto my feet. My eyes were tearing up, I wasn't crying, no, but excessive pain always made my eyes teary, even though I could somehow take it./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"I was dragged all the way to 'my' room and thrown on the bed, my blood staining the sheets./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Why did you kill him?" I asked, my curiosity taking over me once again./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Because you couldn't, obviously!" He stated, left, and closed the door. The Joker seemed to be in a hurry, I had no idea why, I just supposed he had some evil plan to carry out./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"I groaned in pain, and thought of what just happened. I knew he didn't care one bit about me. I would be stupid to think he got mad I hadn't been fed because he cared, no, it was because he had been disobeyed. He told Tim to bring me food, but he didn't./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The Joker certainly did not seem to have any sort of friends, or even people he knew the names of. I bet he didn't care to remember Tim's name, so that's why he just labeled these… Henchmen with short, simple names./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"It was cruel, really. What did he care about? Who? Why did he choose this life? How did he end up like this?/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"So many questions that I had./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"And those scars, how did he get them? Did I really want to know?/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Who am I fooling, of course I wanted to know. Sighing, I threw myself on the bed once again and got lost in thought./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"An hour later, I was still not asleep, and after a lot of thinking I came up with a nickname for the Joker. J. Just J. I thought it suited him./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The door opened, and I saw none other than the Joker. I giggled, seeing him with a tray of food, cooked food. Fries with chicken breast. Delicious./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Dinner!" He shouted out happily, and I grinned./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""That looks delicious, did you cook it?" I asked with honest curiosity, not digging in just yet, as I found it quite rude to speak to someone while chewing, even though I was starving./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Of course." He grinned, looking almost proud./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Fuck it. I thought, and took a fry to eat./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Aren't you scared it's poisoned?" J asked with a mischievous smirk as I was reaching for the fry./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Poisoned? Doesn't really seem like your style." I stated as I put it in my mouth, chewing it. "It's actually pretty good! Never knew you actually ate this kind of things." I stated with a nod as I kept eating more and more fries, leaving the chicken for last./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""What do you think I eat, human meat?" He asked with a chuckle. And yet again, this conversation was almost normal. Excluding his dark humor and the fact that the bed and I were covered in blood./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""More like instant noodles, and a shit ton of coffee." I stated with a smile, which I didn't really know if it was fake or not. I was a very adaptable person, and sometimes I didn't know if I was being fake or not. I liked to believe I was, since I had a mission that I had to complete and the fact that this guy was a serial killer. That didn't really bother me much, I wasn't very empathetic, but I just felt like a disappointment to society if I truly accepted him as he was. Fuck, I really have to stop caring about what other people think of me./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""That, is a huge part of my diet." He stated after a few seconds. Surprisingly, I had finished eating everything./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Hey, you got a cigarette?" I asked casually. Seeing as I was on 'vacation' from my life, I didn't see why I couldn't cheat a little and not give a fuck or feel guilty when I smoke./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Mhmm, come along." He said. It took me a minute to move, mostly because his makeup was smudged off for the most part, and I could see bits of actual skin color on his face. It made me wonder what did he look like without it./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Nevertheless, I obliged and followed. He was on the balcony of the huge cabin thing, and I stared at it for a few seconds before going next to him. It was covered in plants. Smart./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""There ya go." He said, extending his palm with the cigarette in it, but closed it as I reached for it. That bastard. "Not so fast, doll. You gotta do something for me, first."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"I sighed. "What?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""We're gonna play a game, 'cause I'm pretty bored." J said casually, inhaling the smoke from his own cigarette and blowing it out./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Okay." I said, actually quite glad we would play games, but also a bit nervous, since I knew he was pretty sick and twisted when it came to… Games./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""It's called twenty questions, with a little twist. If you don't want to answer the question, you have to cut your hand. If you think the other is lying, you cut their hand. Easy enough?" He asked with a grin, obviously pretty excited to start the game./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Whatever, yolo. I thought. What difference did a few extra scars make? Fuck it, this is the most excited I had been to play a game in a long time./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Sounds good to me." I grinned, still a bit anxious to play./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Good, good. Ladies first." He said, handing me the cigarette which I eagerly lit and began smoking. J placed the same dagger I had used earlier that day on the wooden, square shaped rail./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Do you consider anyone to be your friend?" I asked eagerly, and his scarred lips extended into a huge, happy grin. Why was he so happy, I didn't know./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""No." J simply said, offering no further explanation, as that was a yes or no question, so really, he didn't have to. I was a bit sad he didn't even think twice before answering. Inside myself, in a very very dark, hidden part of me, I wanted his approval, wanted him to think of me as something other than just a playtoy, or a henchman./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Your turn." I stated simply, trying to hide how anxious I was about what his question would be./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""What were your dreams.. You know, before all this. Your… Goals, if you will." He asked, using strange hand gestures to express himself./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I didn't want to have a boring life. I wanted to do something that I liked, something that would never get old. I didn't want to become a zombie." I said simply, and soon realized it was my turn./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Why are you killing people?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Ahh, doll, that's a tough question. You won't understand.. Not if you don't see what I see… Not until you see the world as it really is. Not until you realize life's too short to waste your time on those who are not worth it." He stated, and I realized the last bit was mostly about the henchmen, or well, that was my opinion. I still had a long way from figuring out what was going on in that twisted brain of his. I didn't even know why I wanted to get to know him that bad. Everything… It happened so fucking suddenly, and I guess that helped me adapt to this environment faster than I would have otherwise. Besides, I had nowhere to go other than this place. At least not until I finish my mission./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""That doesn't really count as an answer." I stated blandly, disappointed that his explanation hadn't been clear enough for me./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Ah, yes, you're quite right." J said, and with the dagger, he cut a vertical line on his arm, which bled profusely. It was his turn./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""So tell me, do you wanna know how I got these scars?" He asked out of a sudden. It was starting to creep me out. Why would he ask that? Was he testing me?/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Not really." I stated blandly, but I knew It was a lie, and I was expecting my puniahment./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"And there it came. My already hurt wrist was grabbed, and with the knife, he cut a line with a curve at the end on my arm. It bled. A lot. And it stung like hell. I couldn't even look at the/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"shape, since it was dark and the wound was full of blood. I pressed my palm against it, which helped the pain a little. I had to concentrate on this stupid game, even though I was holding back tears. I needed to be strong, so I thought of my next question./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Why are you keeping me around?" I really didn't find myself interesting or anything, so I wasn't trying to lowkey make him say that, because I knew it wouldn't happen./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""You haven't bored me. No, not yet." He simply said, and I believed him. It probably was the truth, why would he lie to someone as insignificant as I?/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"His turn./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""You murdered three people. How does that make you feel?" J asked, and I stared at his face for a bit. The facepaint he was wearing looked very gloomy, creepy while being illuminated by the moon./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Two—"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Three, Nath. Don't give me that bullshit, he would have died even if I hadn't shot him. Do not play dumb with me, and do not try to mask what you have done." He stated, demanded even./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"God, was I weak. There I was, again. Embarrassed as fuck, tears forming in my eyes, humiliated. That dark corner of mine, it was yelling in my head./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"But I had to look tough, so I tried my best not to think about it and just answer./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I'm not feeling anything. Not yet, I suppose not enough time has passed for me to realize what has happened yet. All I feel is guilty that I am not feeling guilty or mourning the three men that died by my hand."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He nodded silently, pulling out another cigarette for himself and another one for me./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Fair enough, your turn, prin-cess."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Why was he mocking me by calling me princess? Was it because I was being too sensitive./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Overthinking, again. Smart, Nath./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""How do the normal moments make you feel? I mean, like, when you're not killing anyone. When you're, for example, here, playing this game with me. Or when you brought me food, or when you just smoke a cigarette and clear your mind." I asked. A stupid question, indeed, but I was running out of things to ask./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""What a strange question… I suppose I never really paid much attention to that." J said, and with the dagger, he started the cut from the other one's end, and created a 'V' on his hand./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Your turn." I stated the obvious, kinda nervous about what he would ask./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""How do you feel about your scars?" His face was emotionless. It was annoying that I couldn't read him./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Ashamed. Stupid." I admitted, and quickly blurted out my question./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""How did you get those scars?" I asked. He was silent for a moment, and I quickly grabbed his wrist, and with the dagger, added another line to the cut, parallel with the first one but still connected to the second one. It made an N. I thought it was fair, seeing as the scar he made was a J. I had noticed that when the blood stopped flowing./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""You wouldn't have told the truth anyways."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He began laughing. That wicked laugh. It always sent shivers down my spine. Made me feel small. Echoed through the whole forest./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I think it's time for bed, princess. Enough games for today." He stated, after his cackling stopped, however a huge, red, cheshire grin was still plastered onto his facial features./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"I nodded, intending to head to bed, however a sharp pain on my arm reminded me that I still had to get my brand new J scar bandaged up. "Right, uh, do you happen to have some band aids?" I asked innocently, hoping not to anger him or anything./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Go to your room." He ordered, and I could just comply. So to bed I went, and to my surprise, the whole room was clean./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"I had fresh sheets, and a whole bunch of products like shampoo on my night stand. And band aids! Perfect./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"So I grabbed some, bandaged my wound up, and wondered if I should take a shower or not. I decided not to, I'd rather do it in the morning, so I just threw myself onto the clean bed which smelled amazing and fell asleep almost instantly./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Feeling pretty hungry, I decided to try and get out of the normal looking room and try to surf the place for something to eat. I never really got to see the place, I couldn't even remember where exactly I was./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"I tried the door, but unusurprisingly it was locked. Sighing, I searched my pockets for my cellphone, an iPhone 6 that I absolutely loved. Simple, easy to use but expensive as hell./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"A new message, from an unknown number./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Hello." It said simply, and out of boredom I decided to answer./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Who is this?" I replied lazily, sitting comfortably in my bed. Suddenly, my phone began ringing. It read 'unknown caller'. Why would they hide their number? I waited a few seconds, thinking whether I should answer or not. What if it was the police?/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Screw it, I thought as I pressed the green button./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Hello?" I called out into the phone, trying to keep my voice down./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Miss Nathalia Maev?" A masculine voice asked, and at that point I was pretty sure it was the police. Fuck it, they didn't know where I was anyways./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""...yes?" I reluctantly answered, and then a short, yet awkward silence followed./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""My name is detective Gordon, and I have been following the Joker for a good amount of years now. I know you are with him, and I also know about your crime. Don't panic. I won't ask you to tell me where you are, seeing as he is a master at running away. But, miss Maev, I ask you to kill the Joker whenever you get the chance. If you do so, I will make sure that nobody will ever know about your crime, you have my word. Throw this phone away, smash it. Please be careful, I wish you the best of luck." The man said and hung up. Adrenaline was flowing through my veins yet again, and I destroyed the phone without thinking twice. Then, I started pacing around the room. That was it. That was my chance to escape, I just had to kill the Joker. It was easy enough, all I needed was some time. I could just do it while he was sleeping and then run away, right? Just how hard could it be?/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"I sighed, throwing my body onto the bed, staring at the plain white ceiling. I knew I had to do it. It was my only way out, the ticket to continuing my normal life. And just thinking of the amount of lives I would save…/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"I dozed off for a while, and then woke up about two hours later even hungrier, and my headache did not dissappear either. I got up after stretching for a bit and I started hitting the door with my fists, hoping someone would hear me. I needed to be fed./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Nothing, nobody answered. I didn't even have a place to take a shower in, or go to the bathroom. I heard laughing outside, so why didn't anyone care about me? I sighed./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"There was nothing else to do but wait./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;" /p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"-11 PM—/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;" /p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"I felt horrible, and did nothing the whole day. I had kind of accepted my own fate, and although I tried yelling and kicking the door a few more times, nothing changed./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Suddenly, everyone fell silent, and I heard someone unlocking my door./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Finally!" I cried out, hoping to see someone with a plate of food. Instead, I saw the same face as yesterday, none other than The Joker./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Missed me, doll?" He chuckled, closing the door behind him./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Yes, I'm hungry as hell!" I stated, my stomach making a weird noise which confirmed what I had just said./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Having a conversation with The Joker was very strange. I knew what he did, who he was, he made me feel like a dumbass, made me feel scared, and then there were those moments when I actually felt normal talking to him. Those were the creepiest moments, because I'd talk, and then I'd remember who I was talking to, and wonder how come we were having a normal conversation./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""You mean... You haven't been fed?" He asked, his facial expression suddenly shifting into a dead serious one. I shook my head. Grabbing my wrist, he dragged me out of the room. My leg was hurting, his grip was so hard that he would probably bruise the place, and not to mention I was incredibly dizzy due to my hunger./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Finally, I could see the rest of the place. It was normal looking, the only thing out of normal I noticed was the fact that it had multiple, metal tables with matching metal chairs. A lot of men, of varying body shapes were sitting there, all of them looking at us./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The Joker pulled out a dagger. "Innie, minnie, minnie, mo..." He began pointing at random men, but stopped at the man I recognized to be Tim. "C'mere, boy!" The Joker called out, a huge grin plastered onto his face. His dagger then pointed to me. "I thought I told you to... Feed her!" He growled, twisting the knife between his fingers./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"."Uhh..." Tim began, his voice shaking, obviously afraid, "I-I'm really so-sorry boss... I forg-ot... Bob and I began playing cards... Then the others joined in and we... We lost track of time... I am so sorry! Please forgive me." My eyes were fixated on the Joker, and was quite amused to see the incredibly bored expression on his face, and the childish eyeroll he made./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Blah, blah, blah." The Joker simply said after Tim rambled. Suddenly, his hand quickly bent into my direction, and I backed away simply because he scared me. "You scared, doll? Come on, take the knife." He commanded. I didn't really have any choice, did I? So I took the dagger, feeling its weight in my hand./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Now, kill him." He said, the whole room was watching. I didn't do anything at first, but I felt a strong punch directly in my face. It hurt like hell, but luckily adrenaline helped me get over the pain, so I rolled over. I saw him lift his leg. He was much stronger than me, bigger, but I had a dagger. So I had an advantage, but I had to play it smart. Awkwardly, I countered by lifting my left arm so that he cannot stop my next move, and sank the knife right into his leg. He yelled in pain, and I removed the dagger with some effort, pulling it out. It affected him, but not that much, so I still had to keep going strong. With my left fist, I pretended to try and punch hin in the face, so all his focus was on my left hand. I quickly drove the knife in his stomach. Game over. I thought proudly, as I watched him fall to the ground./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"I felt my leg being grabbed, and I fell with him. Due to the sudden move, I didn't know what to do, so I soon felt my dagger sliding out of my hand. I realized that he had it, and was ready to stab me./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Boom. And he's dead. Blood was everywhere. I was exhausted and hurt, again. Dirty and hungry, and all I could hear was the Joker's bone chilling laughter./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"I pushed myself onto my feet, threw the dagger at him. "I'm still hungry." I complained./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Ah, I think you should go to your room." My room? What was I, a dog? A child? I didn't like it, the way he said it. I was exhausted, though. It was a mental battle I had with myself, but my brain didn't choose either option, since I just fell on the floor, swimming in my own and Tim's blood./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"With a long, deep sigh, he grabbed my wrist yet again and yanked me onto my feet. My eyes were tearing up, I wasn't crying, no, but excessive pain always made my eyes teary, even though I could somehow take it./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"I was dragged all the way to 'my' room and thrown on the bed, my blood staining the sheets./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Why did you kill him?" I asked, my curiosity taking over me once again./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Because you couldn't, obviously!" He stated, left, and closed the door. The Joker seemed to be in a hurry, I had no idea why, I just supposed he had some evil plan to carry out./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"I groaned in pain, and thought of what just happened. I knew he didn't care one bit about me. I would be stupid to think he got mad I hadn't been fed because he cared, no, it was because he had been disobeyed. He told Tim to bring me food, but he didn't./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The Joker certainly did not seem to have any sort of friends, or even people he knew the names of. I bet he didn't care to remember Tim's name, so that's why he just labeled these… Henchmen with short, simple names./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"It was cruel, really. What did he care about? Who? Why did he choose this life? How did he end up like this?/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"So many questions that I had./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"And those scars, how did he get them? Did I really want to know?/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Who am I fooling, of course I wanted to know. Sighing, I threw myself on the bed once again and got lost in thought./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"An hour later, I was still not asleep, and after a lot of thinking I came up with a nickname for the Joker. J. Just J. I thought it suited him./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"The door opened, and I saw none other than the Joker. I giggled, seeing him with a tray of food, cooked food. Fries with chicken breast. Delicious./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Dinner!" He shouted out happily, and I grinned./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""That looks delicious, did you cook it?" I asked with honest curiosity, not digging in just yet, as I found it quite rude to speak to someone while chewing, even though I was starving./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Of course." He grinned, looking almost proud./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Fuck it. I thought, and took a fry to eat./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Aren't you scared it's poisoned?" J asked with a mischievous smirk as I was reaching for the fry./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Poisoned? Doesn't really seem like your style." I stated as I put it in my mouth, chewing it. "It's actually pretty good! Never knew you actually ate this kind of things." I stated with a nod as I kept eating more and more fries, leaving the chicken for last./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""What do you think I eat, human meat?" He asked with a chuckle. And yet again, this conversation was almost normal. Excluding his dark humor and the fact that the bed and I were covered in blood./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""More like instant noodles, and a shit ton of coffee." I stated with a smile, which I didn't really know if it was fake or not. I was a very adaptable person, and sometimes I didn't know if I was being fake or not. I liked to believe I was, since I had a mission that I had to complete and the fact that this guy was a serial killer. That didn't really bother me much, I wasn't very empathetic, but I just felt like a disappointment to society if I truly accepted him as he was. Fuck, I really have to stop caring about what other people think of me./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""That, is a huge part of my diet." He stated after a few seconds. Surprisingly, I had finished eating everything./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Hey, you got a cigarette?" I asked casually. Seeing as I was on 'vacation' from my life, I didn't see why I couldn't cheat a little and not give a fuck or feel guilty when I smoke./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Mhmm, come along." He said. It took me a minute to move, mostly because his makeup was smudged off for the most part, and I could see bits of actual skin color on his face. It made me wonder what did he look like without it./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Nevertheless, I obliged and followed. He was on the balcony of the huge cabin thing, and I stared at it for a few seconds before going next to him. It was covered in plants. Smart./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""There ya go." He said, extending his palm with the cigarette in it, but closed it as I reached for it. That bastard. "Not so fast, doll. You gotta do something for me, first."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"I sighed. "What?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""We're gonna play a game, 'cause I'm pretty bored." J said casually, inhaling the smoke from his own cigarette and blowing it out./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Okay." I said, actually quite glad we would play games, but also a bit nervous, since I knew he was pretty sick and twisted when it came to… Games./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""It's called twenty questions, with a little twist. If you don't want to answer the question, you have to cut your hand. If you think the other is lying, you cut their hand. Easy enough?" He asked with a grin, obviously pretty excited to start the game./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Whatever, yolo. I thought. What difference did a few extra scars make? Fuck it, this is the most excited I had been to play a game in a long time./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Sounds good to me." I grinned, still a bit anxious to play./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Good, good. Ladies first." He said, handing me the cigarette which I eagerly lit and began smoking. J placed the same dagger I had used earlier that day on the wooden, square shaped rail./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Do you consider anyone to be your friend?" I asked eagerly, and his scarred lips extended into a huge, happy grin. Why was he so happy, I didn't know./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""No." J simply said, offering no further explanation, as that was a yes or no question, so really, he didn't have to. I was a bit sad he didn't even think twice before answering. Inside myself, in a very very dark, hidden part of me, I wanted his approval, wanted him to think of me as something other than just a playtoy, or a henchman./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Your turn." I stated simply, trying to hide how anxious I was about what his question would be./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""What were your dreams.. You know, before all this. Your… Goals, if you will." He asked, using strange hand gestures to express himself./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I didn't want to have a boring life. I wanted to do something that I liked, something that would never get old. I didn't want to become a zombie." I said simply, and soon realized it was my turn./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Why are you killing people?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Ahh, doll, that's a tough question. You won't understand.. Not if you don't see what I see… Not until you see the world as it really is. Not until you realize life's too short to waste your time on those who are not worth it." He stated, and I realized the last bit was mostly about the henchmen, or well, that was my opinion. I still had a long way from figuring out what was going on in that twisted brain of his. I didn't even know why I wanted to get to know him that bad. Everything… It happened so fucking suddenly, and I guess that helped me adapt to this environment faster than I would have otherwise. Besides, I had nowhere to go other than this place. At least not until I finish my mission./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""That doesn't really count as an answer." I stated blandly, disappointed that his explanation hadn't been clear enough for me./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Ah, yes, you're quite right." J said, and with the dagger, he cut a vertical line on his arm, which bled profusely. It was his turn./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""So tell me, do you wanna know how I got these scars?" He asked out of a sudden. It was starting to creep me out. Why would he ask that? Was he testing me?/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Not really." I stated blandly, but I knew It was a lie, and I was expecting my puniahment./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"And there it came. My already hurt wrist was grabbed, and with the knife, he cut a line with a curve at the end on my arm. It bled. A lot. And it stung like hell. I couldn't even look at the/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"shape, since it was dark and the wound was full of blood. I pressed my palm against it, which helped the pain a little. I had to concentrate on this stupid game, even though I was holding back tears. I needed to be strong, so I thought of my next question./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Why are you keeping me around?" I really didn't find myself interesting or anything, so I wasn't trying to lowkey make him say that, because I knew it wouldn't happen./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""You haven't bored me. No, not yet." He simply said, and I believed him. It probably was the truth, why would he lie to someone as insignificant as I?/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"His turn./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""You murdered three people. How does that make you feel?" J asked, and I stared at his face for a bit. The facepaint he was wearing looked very gloomy, creepy while being illuminated by the moon./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Two—"/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Three, Nath. Don't give me that bullshit, he would have died even if I hadn't shot him. Do not play dumb with me, and do not try to mask what you have done." He stated, demanded even./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"God, was I weak. There I was, again. Embarrassed as fuck, tears forming in my eyes, humiliated. That dark corner of mine, it was yelling in my head./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"But I had to look tough, so I tried my best not to think about it and just answer./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I'm not feeling anything. Not yet, I suppose not enough time has passed for me to realize what has happened yet. All I feel is guilty that I am not feeling guilty or mourning the three men that died by my hand."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He nodded silently, pulling out another cigarette for himself and another one for me./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Fair enough, your turn, prin-cess."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Why was he mocking me by calling me princess? Was it because I was being too sensitive./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"Overthinking, again. Smart, Nath./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""How do the normal moments make you feel? I mean, like, when you're not killing anyone. When you're, for example, here, playing this game with me. Or when you brought me food, or when you just smoke a cigarette and clear your mind." I asked. A stupid question, indeed, but I was running out of things to ask./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""What a strange question… I suppose I never really paid much attention to that." J said, and with the dagger, he started the cut from the other one's end, and created a 'V' on his hand./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Your turn." I stated the obvious, kinda nervous about what he would ask./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""How do you feel about your scars?" His face was emotionless. It was annoying that I couldn't read him./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Ashamed. Stupid." I admitted, and quickly blurted out my question./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""How did you get those scars?" I asked. He was silent for a moment, and I quickly grabbed his wrist, and with the dagger, added another line to the cut, parallel with the first one but still connected to the second one. It made an N. I thought it was fair, seeing as the scar he made was a J. I had noticed that when the blood stopped flowing./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""You wouldn't have told the truth anyways."/p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"He began laughing. That wicked laugh. It always sent shivers down my spine. Made me feel small. Echoed through the whole forest./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""I think it's time for bed, princess. Enough games for today." He stated, after his cackling stopped, however a huge, red, cheshire grin was still plastered onto his facial features./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"I nodded, intending to head to bed, however a sharp pain on my arm reminded me that I still had to get my brand new J scar bandaged up. "Right, uh, do you happen to have some band aids?" I asked innocently, hoping not to anger him or anything./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;""Go to your room." He ordered, and I could just comply. So to bed I went, and to my surprise, the whole room was clean./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"I had fresh sheets, and a whole bunch of products like shampoo on my night stand. And band aids! Perfect./p
p style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"So I grabbed some, bandaged my wound up, and wondered if I should take a shower or not. I decided not to, I'd rather do it in the morning, so I just threw myself onto the clean bed which smelled amazing and fell asleep almost instantly./p