© Ellie Goodson 2016
Chapter Eight-Catwoman and rumours
~Arabella Jones~
The bat signal shone in the sky as my burning feet pushed me closer and closer to my apartment. Today had been hard, and I couldn't shake these new feelings I had for the Joker. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't falling in love with the clown but I...didn't feel the same as I did when I first met him. And now that I'd seen how he could possibly feel, after what he told me today...it had changed everything.
Attempting to shake the Joker from my thoughts, I sighed in relief as I put the key into the lock of my apartment door. Thank God, I was far too glad to be home. What had Scarecrow meant, when he said that I'd be fun soon? Was something going to happen? Whatever it was, it couldn't have been good if Scarecrow was looking forward to it.
Kicking the door closed, I flicked on the lights and dropped my bags to the floor with a loud thump, I should be more careful of the contents inside really. When I turned around so that I could walk further in, a familiar dark silhouette hovered on the inside of my window. Not again. "If you've stolen anything I swear to god-"
"No, no. I came to talk." She purred right back at me, coming into the light.
I stepped closer to Catwoman, crossing my arms over my chest. "Something's happening. I know it; word spreads fast in the criminal underground." Criminal underground...was that a real place? "They say something is to happen in Arkham, a big thing. Something that is to change the history of Arkham Asylum forever." The tall black figure turned and sauntered back over to the windowsill.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm no hero, and I'm not going to explain further. Miss Jones, you're a smart girl, you can figure this out for yourself."
The cat lady pushed the window up and out of her way. "I heard Batman rescued you the other day." She remained over on the windowsill as she waited for my reply, but I didn't know what to answer. Obviously understanding the fact that I literally had no way of replying to her comment, Catwoman spoke for me. "Be careful, okay? He obviously cares about you in some form of way to take time off his vigilante stuff."
"He told me that he had nothing to do anyway." I found my voice and replied confused.
"Batman is always busy, and is never free. For him to take time off and take care of you, you are important for some reason. Oh, and I didn't steal anything this time."
Absolutely dumb founded I remained silent, and for the second time Catwoman left me standing frozen, watching as she left my apartment. A...what? Was that was Scarecrow had meant, and was that what my instincts kept telling me? Whipping my head violently in a desperate prayer to get all of the questions out of my head, I took off my jacket and made my way to my bedroom. I didn't need food, I needed sleep. I was utterly exhausted.
And what had she meant about me meaning something to Batman, why would he 'take time off' just to get me-of all people-home? And...was that jealousy that I had heard in her voice when she spoke about me being important to him? And...and had she actually stolen anything? Why come to my apartment if not to steal things? None of this made any sense to me, and I felt myself getting seriously frustrated. It looked like I was in for a sleepless night.
I had hardly slept last night, exactly like I thought I would...wouldn't. I didn't feel mentally or physically prepared for today. Having spent the whole night tossing and turning, gradually growing more and more frustrated with the inability to answer my questions until I ended up in tears, there was no way in hell that I was going to be able to cope with today and all of my stressful patients.
On arrival to Arkham, I was more nervous than I had planned to be. My timetable had been changed so that I treated the Joker every day, Pamela and Harley four times a week and Two Face and Scarecrow three times a week-I found this out when I reached my office, having found a note and a new time table on my desk. The note read:
New time table, since you're doing so well.
Doctor Black :)
I mentally vomited at the smiley face as I threw the note in the bin. It was a kind gesture, but I didn't do the whole...smiley face thing. It just wasn't me. Catwoman's words circled my brain as I took a seat in my comfortable chair. Why would she come to me? Did she visit all the other Arkham staff to give them the same warning? Catwoman was evil, but she was hardly a hero or heroine either. I had checked over and over again throughout the night and this morning for anything missing, but everything was there-exactly as it was before.
Glancing down at my timetable I saw that my first patient was Ivy, after my last meeting with her things would be different between us. Fortunately, I only had two patients today and so I was left with the Joker as my ending of my hard working day. Well, I could at least experience those confusing emotions that I had for him once again and possibly-possibly-figure out what they were and what they meant.
It wasn't love, but it wasn't fear. I wasn't comfortable around him, but I was hardly rigid with worry around him either. I was beginning to slip into this blissful state of which I could look forward to our meetings, but still get slightly nervous and anxious about seeing the psychopath again. It was rather thrilling. But it was far more frustrating, not understanding them at all. I had always known what my feelings were and what they meant...until I met the Joker.
But I had to see Pamela first, and we would have to discuss about the ending of our last session. Everything was beginning to connect in a confusing way. Pamela being all nervous around me, Scarecrow telling me that I'd be fun soon, Catwoman's warning and my fearful gut feeling about Arkham. Oh, I was in for some form of dramatic event that was going to happen soon at Arkham.
I slipped on my white lab coat and put my notepad and pen in my pocket. Taking a deep breath, I locked my office door and left for Ivy's session. Wait. I always locked my door whenever I left it, how did Doctor Black get into my office this morning? My stomach dropped with liquid fear...and then common sense kicked in. He as higher up in the psychiatrist hierarchy than me, meaning that he could probably get spear keys for other offices. That made more sense.
Arriving at Ivy's cell, it wasn't that far away, I flashed my badge to the guards before entering. Ivy was sat at her desk, hair tied with thick, dark green vines that laced through her curled hair, contrasting against the red. "Doc I-"
"Good morning, Ivy." The plant lady slumped back into her chair, breathing deeply for a couple seconds. "We need to talk, about our last session and a common cat criminal I know you're friendly with."
Ivy twitched her head to the side, curiosity sparking in her eyes. I hadn't even brought the pen and paper from my pocket yet. Today's session was most likely for me, not Ivy. "Okay..." Pamela's brows furrowed as she sat forward once more.
"You see, strange things have been happening lately. And...all the dots are beginning to connect. First, you started acting weird. And then I start getting all these weird feelings like something bad is going to happen at Arkham, and I always trust my gut instinct. And then, Scarecrow tells me that I'm going to become fun soon. And then there was last night, when I got a visit from your cat friend telling me to be careful, that something is going to happen in Arkham and that I'm smart enough to figure out what for myself."
I tapped my head with my index finger, my face scrunching up to form a scrutinising expression. "You see, my brains been ticking away, and I can only think of one logical thing. Maybe an attack, a break in or perhaps a break out? Maybe...maybe you know?" I raised my eyebrows knowing at Pamela, who was clutching at her stomach as she paled once more.
I leaned in closer to the crazy plant woman, my face right in front of hers. "I know." Was all I said before getting up and leaving. "Think about it." I told her through the glass as the door closed behind me. The session had taken longer than expected, funny how time passed quickly when you're...caught in the moment. I had a matter of minutes before I was supposed to be at the Joker's cell, and then I had the rest of the day off. I had set myself the target of making my office more...warm and like home.
Deciding to head straight for the Joker, I turned left instead of right and made a beeline right for the Clown Prince of Crime's cell. I made a plan to speak to him about Catwoman and the whole situation with Arkham, see what he know and if I'd finally get some answers out of anyone. I wasn't in the mood for games today. I had no patience or tolerance, and so I was glad that Pamela and the Joker were my only patients, because I could then blow off some steam by...decorating.
Arriving at the Joker's cell, I showed the men my badge and entered. Seriously, they should have recognised me well enough by now so that I didn't have to show them all a picture of me along with my name and degree and a few other pieces of information. The door closed behind me, trapping me in the lion's den. The thought of the Joker being a lion and me being a weak human who had to attack and kill the beast was so hilarious; I ended up laughing out loud.
Slapping a hand over my mouth, I shook my head as the clown looked curiously towards me. I took my seat, leaving my notepad and pen in my pocket in case the clown got...angry-no, wrong word...worried...I didn't know how to phrase it-again. I placed my elbows on the table and leaned in close, watching as the Joker mimicked my movements. I started right into the eyes of the psychotic clown, knowing my next words could easily get me injured. "Tell me what you know about the big plan in Arkham."