I woke up with a throbbing pain in my head. I was unsure of my whereabouts, but I was lying on a dirty hardwood floor. Luckily, Harley had taken off the handcuffs.
I glanced at my watch. 9:00 AM.
My 'kidnapping' had probably been posted all over Gotham by now.
I hope Clarity and Glen are okay… I thought, shifting over and groaning. They are probably worried...
"Took you a while to wake up," I heard Edward say. I sat up straighter and rubbed my eyes, shaking my head.
"Sorry, but I was hit in the back of the head with a hammer," I mumbled.
"Here," he said, handing me a white pill and a glass of water.
"And how do I know this isn't poison?" I asked, raising my eyebrows at him.
"If I answered that puzzle for you, it would lose its value. What good is a riddle if everyone involved knows the answer?" He asked, leaning on his cane and watching my reaction.
"I'm going to guess that it is painkiller, for which I thank you. My head is suffering at this moment," I said, shaking my head and taking the pill.
"Do you know why you're here, Sable?" He asked me. My head still hurt like heck, but I felt myself perk up at that.
"What..."
"Riddle me this..' He paused while I sighed. I didn't have the brainpower to solve riddles right now.
"Everyone wants me, some attain me, and some hold others back from me. Some say that I am wings, while others say that I am water. While I am not either, they both are right. What am I?" He asked. I sighed, and let my mind wander.
Wings… water… ducks? I thought, shaking my head. Wings. Birds have wings… Robin? I doubt it… I sighed, puffing out my cheeks. He never let me just give up, so I had to find a suitable answer.
What are wings? Masses of muscle, bones, and feathers. What do they do? The allow birds to fly. What is flight? I thought, suddenly perking up. I had the feeling I was on the right track.
"Freedom," I answered, breathing in deeply and holding it. "Everyone wants it, some get it, but there are still oppressors. And then there is 'free as a bird', and 'a free-flowing stream', but freedom isn't a physical object. It's an idea," I explained.
"Correct. Very good, Sable," Edward said, smiling and holding out his hand. I took it, and he helped me get up off of the dusty floor.
"Thanks. So, I'm here for freedom?" I asked, shaking my head. "I don't think being kidnapped is part of freedom."
"Harley wishes to break The Joker out of Arkham today," Edward explained to me as he helped me walk.
"I knew that. Harley wants me to help. But why? Why do I need to be here?" I asked, more than a little annoyed at our resident Harlequin.
"She said that it would make the whole operation much easier. Guards will stay away if a hostage's life is at stake. I must say, she is smarter than she lets on."
"Great," I muttered, following him out of the little room we had been in.
"Good day, Child," I heard a familiar, icy voice say from the corner.
"Hiya Sable!" Harley said cheerily, her smile looking like it was going to burst from her face.
"I see that you are feeling better," I commented, smiling weakly at her. "And was knocking me out really necessary?"
"Sorry," harley said sheepishly. "I guess I shouldn't have hit ya so hard…" She started to grin again. "But you're awake now, and my puddin will be outa Arkham in just a little while!" She was practically floating in her happiness.
"And I'm a hostage?" I asked, sighing. "Harley... I would have preferred to stay out of this."
"Relax! I've got everything figured out!" Harley said, getting up to do a handstand. "You see, Eddie is going to disable the cameras and security systems in Arkham right off, and then Johnny and I will take you and get Mistah J. Then, as we leave, Johnny will release his fear gas into the ventilation systems, ensuring us a clean getaway," She explained. I just raised my eyebrows at her, and rubbed my temples.
"Won't the fear gas affect us as well as we escape?" I asked, not to keen on the idea of writhing in fear as hallucinations danced around me.
"Not with gas masks. As I said, I've got everything figured out," Harley answered.
"When are we leaving?" I heard Dr. Crane ask.
"In about an hour. I need to go gather supplies first. I'll be back a little later," Harley said, happy as a clam. I figured that by saying 'gathering supplies' she meant 'stealing stuff'.
"Very well," Dr. Crane sighed, walking to shelf and pulling down a clipboard.
"What are you doing?' I heard Edward ask. I closed my eyes, just listening to the conversation.
"You tell me that, Riddler." Crane challenged.
"I'll assume that you are 'perfecting your formula', as that is all that you ever do. I was merely trying to make pleasant conversation," Edward retorted.
I found it a little funny, how these two regarded each other. Their tone suggested mild annoyance, but they bantered like friends.
"I am not in the mood for conversation at the moment, Nigma. I ask that you kindly leave me alone."
Edward just laughed and tapped his cane lightly on the floor in a repetitive pattern, getting a scoff of annoyance from The Scarecrow. Edward seemed to eventually get bored of annoying him, and instead walked over and sat down next to me.
"Riddle me this! What falls but never breaks, and what breaks but never falls?" he asked before I could say 'hi'.
"Oh… um…" I stuttered for a moment before actually letting myself think. "That one's a bit contradictory, isn't it?" I asked when I couldn't come up with any answer. My head was still a little sore from Harley's hammer.
"It has two separate answers, and don't think so literally," he coaxed, smiling. I sighed and shook my head.
"I haven't the foggiest," I told him, shrugging slightly. He just smirked at me.
"Night and day. Daybreak, nightfall," he said, poking my foot lightly with his cane. "You just need to think."
"I guess I do," I said sheepishly. I should have gotten that one.
'Your turn," Edward commented after a moment of quiet.
"Come again?" I asked.
"You ask me a riddle this time. See if you can stump me," he said plainly, leaning back against the wall.
"Umm… I don't know very many…" I said, biting my lip. He'd know all of the ones I had to offer. He had probably created half of them!
"Umm… What has a foot, but no legs?" I asked, biting my lip.
"A ruler, a snail, and a mountain all work for that riddle," He replied without a moment of hesitation.
"Okay, what is short when it's old and tall when it's young?"
"A candle."
"What goes up but never comes down?"
"Age."
"I'm not going to stump you," I told him, already frustrated.
"I figured as much," he said, smirking.
"Then why have me ask you riddles you already know?" I demanded, rolling my eyes.
"I find it amusing," he said, playing with his cane.
I just sighed and rolled my eyes. He could be a pain.
"Alright then. I will stump you. One day," I said, smirking back.
"I doubt you could stump someone as smart as myself. Nonetheless, I'll enjoy watching you try," Edward replied, looking incredibly smug. I sighed, poked his arm and stretched.
"How long did Harley say she was going to be out?" I asked, wanting to return home as soon as I could. If I survived...
"She said an hour or so as she left. Then again, it could be longer," Dr. Crane replied. I sighed and buried my face in my hands.
"Why me?" I muttered, walking to the corner and leaning my head against the wall.
I never asked to be kidnapped and held hostage. These are my friends… But are they? Can I call them friends?
I hope so.
Author's Note: Well... sorry about the delay. School is frustrating.