Not Quite Human
Thinking
Alternate Personality/Mask Speech
Speaking
Chapter 9: First Day
"So what do you say Miss D? Will you lend your musical talents to help the mental health of Arkham's patients?" Strange had a hand clasped to my shoulder as the other waved around the empty wing.
"What will you need me to do?" I was pretty much trapped. I could jump out a window and take my chances but the only other way back was through what he called the Rogue's gallery.
"Excellent! I will inform the warden of your assistance and we will draft up a contract immediately. We will send it to your manager and await your signing. It will still be a few weeks before the main hall is repaired but I would like you to return on Monday so we can start going over your place in the healing of our more prominent patients."
"Alright I'll leave the address and number of my manager for you. Do you have a slip of paper and a pen?" I was pulled back towards the Rogue's gallery and he opened the door once again.
"Oh don't worry I'll get your information once we get back to the main offices. It is a pleasure to be in such company not many women of your caliber would be willing to take on such a project." I was pulled through the gallery so fast that he was nearly carrying me. Within what seemed like moments we were back to the main office and I left my address and number for him.
"Feel free to leave a message if you do call, my manger is quite busy." Oh Randi is going to hate me. And he doesn't know that the phone almost never rings, I hope.
"Of course my dear." His hand was on my shoulder again, almost as if to make me feel smaller then I was. "Now you have a nice night. I'll make all the arrangements for you." He flashed his creepy grin and I took my leave, nearly running outside the building to get some air.
"That was fast." Robin was leaning against his bike and it looked like he was playing a video game on his phone.
"You guys could have told me what I was supposed to be looking for. Now I'm stuck teaching a music class in the new wing."
"Well that's actually a good thing. It means that we've got someone inside to report the workings." He slid his phone into a pocket on his outfit and slipped his helmet over my head.
"Oh yea I really want to teach music to people who could probably kill someone with a pencil." I climbed up behind him on the bike.
"Oh don't worry I'm sure they won't put Joker into your music class. They're not that stupid." He took off and actually parked his bike in the parking garage before walking me to my door.
"I could have just climbed into the window you know. Its not that hard to scale a building."
"Oh but if I did that I would miss your charming personality." He leaned against the door frame and smirked at me.
"You're really enjoying this aren't you?"
"Oh every minute of it. Although I would rather have you suited up for the majority of it."
"Don't make me break your legs."
"Oh ouch, fine I'll take the hint. Sounds like people are home anyways. Have fun with your new job." He disappeared down the hall and I pounded on the door until Max opened it.
"Holy shit did you actually decide to use the door like a normal person? Is something wrong? Are you actually embracing humanity and adapting to our ways?" He gave a fake gasp and stepped aside to let me in.
"Fuck off Max. I just got roped into a second job and I have to break the news to Randi." I tugged at my sweater and felt something move around. I looked down and I still had the visitors pass attached to my shirt. I pulled it off and stared at it as if trying to make it burst into flames.
"The hell D? I just got a call from some psycho at Arkham saying that you're taking a job there teaching music to the crazies!" Randi burst from her room still clutching her phone in her hand.
"Its true sis. It was either that or have Batman lock my ass up there. I thought you'd rather see my smiling face here instead of behind glass."
"Oh my god did he hurt you?" She was at my side inspecting me for injuries, her anger forgotten for now.
"I'm fine. I just have to work around my new schedule." I sighed and waited for the screaming to start.
"That's actually pretty awesome. You're working for the Batman. It makes you what a superhero now, or a sidekick?" She was actually looking at me in awe. "Oh my god my sister is a superhero!"
"Geeze lay off Randi, its bad enough living with her now. Don't inflate her ego or we'll all suffer." Bernard was lying on the couch reading the paper. A bowl of cheerios was laying on the floor next to him.
"Just let me know when the contract arrives so I can look it over." I rubbed my head feeling a headache start to creep up on me.
"They said you already signed it." Randi looked as confused as I felt.
"I haven't signed anything."
"They had their lawyers approve it so you must have. So that degree in music you have is really going to come in handy isn't it." She smirked and I shook my head.
"I only got my doctorate in music because mom was ragging on me. I didn't actually expect to have to use the damn thing."
"I knew you got your doctorate in music for a reason, now I can call you Doctor D." She snickered and walked back to her room.
"Not happening!" I yelled at her retreating figure before heading to my room and locking myself in. I threw myself on my bed and screamed into my pillow. I didn't want a real job I enjoyed playing gig to gig and not having anyone really rely on me. Maybe I could throw myself off a bridge, fake my death and flee the country?
Monday came too soon and I was dressed in a pair of jeans and a long sleeved black shirt. I slipped a baggy blue sweater over myself and tied up my armored black boots. Randi had snuck into my room and hid my suit so I couldn't bail. I refused to wear makeup and I slipped the visitors pass into the back of my jeans. I didn't have a wallet so I just shoved some cash and my ID into one of my pockets and put my hair up in a simple ponytail. I slipped my guitar case across my back and a small traveling amp on my thigh. I wasn't sure what exactly I would be doing but I wanted to at least have something prepared.
"Freeze!" Max's voice rang out and I swung around to face him. A bright flash filled my vision and I blinked away spots for several moments afterwards. Pain filled my skull at the bright light and my eyes watered.
"Damn it Max you know she's light sensitive why'd you use the flash?" Randi's voice appeared and I felt a breeze on my face. She was trying to fan my vision back and I groaned.
"You guys suck. Its not the first day of school, you don't need pictures." I tried to blink my vision back and I groaned once it did. Everyone was standing in front of me looking like some proud parents sending their child off to the first day of school. I sighed and adjusted my guitar against my back. "So whose driving me to Arkham?" That made everyone pale and point at each other. I rolled my eyes and called a taxi instead.
Arkham was just as creepy in the daytime as it was the first night I saw it. I tried cleaning my glasses off but it didn't help. Walking inside I was met by a woman who spoke so fast I didn't know who she was or what department she came from. My visitors badge was exchanged for one with my picture on it. I was then passed onto a security guard who walked me to what would be my office, well one of my offices. I was sharing a temporary space with one of the doctors until the music ward was completed then I would be stationed there.
"Ah good morning! You must be the new doctor here to help with the new wing." I turned to see a middle aged man with graying hair standing in the doorway. He had striking features and I squirmed a little in his intense inspection.
"Yea I'm D. I guess I'm heading up the musical therapy department." I held out my hand for him to shake but he just ignored it and moved to the desk to rifle through the papers.
"I'm Doctor Jordan, I handle the children's ward here at Arkham."
"They actually send children here?" I gasped and he looked up as if no one had ever asked him that question before.
"Of course, Arkham is a family facility. We have wards for most any patient available. I would love to stay and chat but I am running late for an important meeting. It was nice meeting you doctor." He pulled some files from under the mountain of paperwork on the desk and took off down the hallway.
"Its going to be weird having to write Doctor in front of my name." I rubbed my forehead wishing that I had never moved to Gotham in the first place.
"Ah there you are!" It was Doctor Strange again. He was standing in the doorway with a white coat draped over one of his arms. "I wasn't sure of your size so I hope this fits. All doctors are required to wear them."
"I'm not a psychologist Doctor Strange. I'm just a Doctor of Music." I sighed thinking the title lame to my ears.
"But still a Doctor. Now slip this on, we need to get you set up for your first class." I set my guitar against the wall and took the coat from him. Slipping it on, it was a little big but I could always hem it later. I strapped my guitar against my back again and followed him down the halls towards the new wing.
"I didn't think I would be working with patients so soon. I haven't exactly done this before."
"Oh don't worry. I am sure you will do just fine. We offered music therapy to all patients. Your class will be small due to it being around the same time as the physical education class we also offer."
"You offer a gym class to patients?" My eyebrow raised and he chuckled.
"Nothing that fancy, we let them run around the courtyard and play some basic sports. We have armed snipers on duty the entire time so we don't have to worry too much about fighting amongst patients." He swiped his badge and we were walking through the Rogues gallery again. I didn't have the time to look around as Strange had increased his pace towards the other door. Stepping through it he finally slowed his pace.
"So do I have access to walk the facility or will I need a radio to call in an escort?" I adjusted my badge making sure it was still attached to my coat.
"Oh you have access to most of the facility, just nothing below ground level. Most of the therapy rooms are off limits but you do have access to the medical and intensive treatment ward.
"Is there a map I could get? I would like to know the layout in case I need to find the cafeteria or my way back."
"Oh of course." He ushered me into one of the larger rooms, it had been set up with rows of stack-able chairs and a white board. A desk stood in front of the board but the room felt emotionless. "Your class will start soon, the guards will bring them in and you can go from there."
"Am I allowed to at least decorate the space? Or carry a taser?"
"I will see that you are forwarded the necessary paperwork. I hope to talk with you again but I am needed in a meeting with the warden soon. Enjoy your stay." He actually didn't grab my shoulder for once and was gone with a swish of his coat out the door. I sighed and set my guitar on the desk before rifling through the drawers. I didn't have much to work with. I had a few markers, a ruler, some blank sheet music, some empty file folders, a few boxes of crayons and a small square button marked 'panic button' on the bottom of the last drawer. I sighed and rubbed my head. I was probably going to be stabbed sometime today I just knew it.
I wasn't sure what to write on the board. I didn't exactly have a name for this 'class' and I wasn't sure that I wanted my name in big letters across the empty board. I sat down in the chair and found that it spun, so I spent some time spinning myself dizzy.
"Alright ladies you know the drill. Make one move out of your seats and we will shoot you. If you become agitated we will sedate you and put you in solitary isolation. Try to escape and your punishment will be swift and severe." A younger guard marched into my room with full riot gear on and my hopes for a safe day went out the window. Another guard walked in and began setting up chairs in a row away from my desk. I stood up and dusted my coat off as I watched my new charges get marched in. I recognized two of the three men who walked in. There were only three people in my class so far. A paper was thrust into my hands as the guards walked out and took a guarding post outside the door. I looked down at the names then over at the faces of the restrained patients. This was not going to be fun.
"We meet again." I met the gaze of Riddler and I saw that they had at least re-bandaged his nose. He was still bruised but his swelling was almost gone. He could actually open both his eyes this time.
"Hello Riddler." I looked down at the list and saw that each name had an alternate next to it. It must have been their actual names.
"Oh please just call me Edward." His legs were cuffed to the chair but his hands were free, just like the other patients.
"I didn't know you were a psychologist." I looked over and met the stare of Crane. He was rubbing his arms and looking me over.
"I'm not." He seemed confused and a frown crossed his features.
"But you're a doctor?" A new voice popped up. It was from a lanky blonde man with bright blue eyes. He was sitting in his chair staring at me with a confused look on his face.
"I have my doctorate in the musical arts." I felt like a mouse thrown into a bin of starving cats.
"Well you are just full of surprises aren't you?" Edward was smirking and sitting up straighter in his chair.
"Very interesting indeed." Crane had his head tilted to the side looking me over as if he were trying to see right through me.
"Pleasure to meet you my dear." The blonde man spoke up his British accent made him sound charming.
"Nice to meet you as well," I looked down at my small list. "Jervis."
"Hatter if you please." His voice was calm and I caught Crane rolling his eyes.
"Alright Hatter."
"Splendid!" He clasped his hands together and smiled big.
"So what exactly are you going to teach us?" Crane leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes staring right into me.
"Well I've never actually taught before. And there are only three of you." I tried to think what I could teach them.
"Oh relax Jonathan, would you rather they put you back out on the yard?" Edward shot him a look.
"Why so defensive Edward? Could it be that you have a thing with this fragile flower?" Crane waved a hand at me and I felt like I was about to be in the middle of a fight.
"Gentlemen, gentlemen! Please calm down you're upsetting our teacher. I'm sure that we can better spend our time here then staring down the scope of a sniper in the yard." Jervis placed a hand on either man's shoulder and tried to calm them down. I wondered what he had done to earn his keep here.
"Shut up Jervis." Crane yanked away from his touch and scowled at nothing in particular.
"I'm sure you will do fine my little demoness." The anger was gone from Edwards face and he was looking me over with a curious glance.
"I knew it. You do have a thing for this…this woman." Crane spat out and pointed an accusing finger at Edward.
"That's none of your business you straw headed freak." I couldn't tell if Edward was blushing, red with anger or if his head was just going to explode. Jervis looked so helpless sitting in between them I did the only thing I could think of. I grabbed the ruler from the desk and slapped it against the wood so hard it nearly shattered. Everyone looked up at me in surprise.
"Are you all seriously going to spend the entire class arguing?" My fangs flashed and I saw everyone's gaze turn to them.
"You have the teeth of the Jabberwocky!" Jervis exclaimed and his eyes grew large. I sighed and shook my head.
"If you're all done can we at least pretend that you're learning something in here?" I sighed.
"If you think those teeth are impressive Crane you should see her in her skin tight suit." Edward smirked as Crane's face went red. Jervis was still gaping at me and I felt a headache coming on. Why god? Why me?