© Ellie Goodson 2016

Chapter Five-Would you like to go on a…date?

~Arabella Jones~

I had officially been working over one whole week at Arkham, and I still had my sanity. I tapped my biro pen on the wooden desk mindlessly as I waited for several minutes to pass so that I could visit my next patient. Other than Harley, Pamela, Two Face and the Joker, I had one other patient: Scarecrow. Leaving me with a total of five patients.

Scarecrow was terrifying, and completely insane. Unlike the Joker or Harley Quinn-who had a method and an understanding to their madness, Scarecrow was completely irrational and crazy. There was no logic in what he did. What's even more frightening was that he used to work in Arkham as a top psychologist.

His real name was actually Jonathan Crane, and if he wasn't insane I'd most likely feel attracted to him. He was okay looking for an...older man. But Jonathan started developing a gas commonly known as 'fear gas' which sent its victims into a severe state of fear. It could push them into insanity just by showing them their true fear under a high dosage, and it's one of the world's most toxic and deadliest weapons.

Doing this project sent Jonathan crazy, and so he came to be Scarecrow. He wore a fabric, potato sack material, scarecrow mask. It wasn't stitched together very well, so it made the face look twisted and contorted. That just made Scarecrow seem even more terrifying.

I had a lot of patients that needed treating today. It was half past eight in the morning, which meant that I was exhausted from having to get up early and then walk all the way here for twenty past eight. I had another ten minutes before my first session.

My first patient was Poison Ivy, which I didn't mind treating as the woman was logical and fair. As unprofessional as it sounded, a friendship could mostly likely develop between us. After that I was to treat Two Face once more, and although his face and attitude was shocking at first, you adjusted to it and I no longer felt any fear around him. He wasn't happy about that. Once that was done, I'd have one more patient before lunch break-the Joker.

After a total of two sessions with the man, my fear of him only seemed to have gotten worse. Even though he was yet to attack or threaten me, the eerie way he sat in his chair, how calm and controlled the man was, making me have to expect the unexpected-it was driving me crazy. Not literally.

I had a lunch break after that, and then my last appointment would be with Scarecrow. No Harley today then. Not one part of me was excited for my meeting with Scarecrow, and I was going to have to do my research on him. I wasn't walking into a session blind once again.

As for the scenario with Catwoman that happened not so long ago when she broke into my apartment and stole all of my precious jewellery, well it was yet to be solved. I hadn't seen the Cat ever since, and I was praying I didn't. My things cost money; I had to work very hard for it. I wouldn't just freeze this time either, heck I'd probably call for the old Batman himself.

Shaking my head to rid myself of the bitter thoughts, a knock on the door almost made me scream. "Who is it?"

"Professor Harrison." Replied the knocker, causing me to sigh in relief and relax back into my chair.

Professor Harrison was an attractive man in his mid-twenties. He had that not so common yet quite handsome look of short, bright blonde hair with vibrant baby blue eyes. Pale skin, pink cheeks that were naturally contoured and the whole supermodel look, Professor Nick Harrison really didn't look like he belonged in a place like Arkham.

We got on rather well, in a mutual friendship kind of way. Professor Harrison and I would mindlessly chat when getting food or walking around when insanely bored. He had told me about how he first came across the idea of being a psychiatrist, telling me about how he always tried to guide people the right way-even when they seemed hopeless. It was...sweet.

"Come in." I called, taking several deep breaths. What Professor Harrison wanted from me, I didn't know. Nick was called Professor instead of Doctor as he also specialised in Science, and was a major in biology. He had done a decent amount of research on the human brain, body and heart, it was quite interesting to talk and learn about.

Professor Harrison came into my office hesitantly before closing the door. He turned back around and placed his hands on my desk, leaning in close. On pure instincts, I leaned back into my chair slightly. "There's no denying it Doctor Jones, there's this...this raw connection between us. I know it; I feel it when I speak to you." His words were slow, careful and filled with passion.

I didn't know what to do, the way he spoke was calm and smooth and almost seductive yet his words were...obsessive. If you had just been able to understand the words, you'd think he'd be speaking in a harsh or angry tone. I was left utterly speechless for a minute or two.

I finally stood up from the desk, but Professor Harrison still towered over me. "Professor Harrison-"

"Nick, please call me Nick." I nodded my head, clearing my throat before carrying on.

"Nick, I've only known you a week. I-you can hardly say that there is anything serious between us I mean-"

"Please, Arabella, would you like to go on a date?"

Lost for words-again-my mouth hung open in a small 'o' as my brain scrambled for something to say. "How do you know my name?" I replied finally as I didn't remember telling him.

"Oh, I overheard Doctor Black calling you that and a few other people." I stared hard at Professor Harrison for a few seconds, but gave up after not being able to find any signs that the man was lying.

I took a deep breath, knowing that what I was about to say was most likely too fast for my own health. "Okay, I'll go on a...date with you." When I said the word 'date', I made small speech mark gestures, telling Nick that I didn't feel like it was a date at all. Nick nodded his head, beaming a wide smile.

"I'll see you at eight tonight then, at the restaurant around the corner." I nodded my head, curious as to why he wouldn't tell me the name of the restaurant.

I wasn't sure I liked secretive men after all. Shaking away the thoughts, I got one last glimpse of Professor Harrison before he left my office, closing the door politely. With only two minutes left before my session with Pamela, I found her file-I really needed to clean my desk, it looked like a bomb had hit it-and shoved my pen and pad into my overly large pockets.

I knew the way to Ivy's cell practically off by heart by now, and as I wandered the halls I tried my hardest not to think about Nick. There was no way in hell he could possibly have any form of attraction towards me. I was plain, ordinary.

My hair was this weird shade between blonde and brown, nobody could quite tell as it changed more towards one colour in different types of light. My eyes were grey normally, but in sunlight they turned a brilliant blue and naturally went more green or brown towards the pupil. My skin was naturally tanned as I had grandparents from other, hotter countries and I had the basic, slightly curved body size. Nothing special, just weird on occasions.

Chuckling to myself as I approached the guards, I flashed them my badge-unnecessarily-before entering the cell. "Morning, Ivy." I greeted the plant lady with a warm smile.

"Morning, Doc."

"I think we've gotten to the point where you can call me by my first name, so call me Arabella. Or...something shorter if you wish."

Ivy smiled kindly at me, obviously grateful to me for being less hostile. I briefly remembered her saying that on our first meeting that I needed to dial down on the hostility. I chuckled again, shaking my head when Pamela shot me a questioning look. "So, how are you today?"

"I'm missing my plants, and I hate feeling their pain as people kill more and more every day. It's like this sensation of pure, hot pain, just running through a certain part of a different body part each time. Hard to explain, and I haven't done a very good job."

"No, no, it's fine." I reassured her, scribbling away. My hand began to burn as the blood in it started running out of oxygen.

Clicking my pen and dropping it on the table, I clasped my hands together and felt the tension in the room thicken. "Okay Ivy, what are you hiding from me?"

"What?"

"Now, now, don't play innocent. You're too...overly polite. You keep shifting in your seat and the look of guilt on your face is obvious. Oh, and your conscience is playing up, that's why you felt like your explanation wasn't good enough. You've been lying, you're hiding something, now you better speak before I tell the guards you've got some form of evil plan."

All of the colour had drained from Ivy's green face as she sat rigid in her chair. "Bella...please..." I shook my head, getting up.

"I value what we have, but it seems that you don't. I'll speak to you when I see you next, Ivy. And don't worry, I won't be talking to the guards, I'm not like that."

I left Pamela's cell after that, returning to my office so that I could change her file for Two Face's. I roamed the halls, finding my way to my office as I trailed my fingers along the pristine, white walls. Everything was so white in Arkham...so clean and pure for a place that held so much murder and insanity.

A pang hit my stomach once again as the thought of me being in a restaurant...on a date...with Professor Nick Harrison. Well, at least it would be eventful. Shaking my head for the hundredth time that day, I collected Two Face's file, left Pamela's notes on top of her file on my desk, and began making my way to Harvey Dent's cell. Everything seemed to be becoming routine, I wished something...interesting would happen soon. But in an Asylum, maybe that wasn't the smartest idea in the world.