The GCPD isn't as lovely as the PRPD; they were unnecessarily insensitive to the girl.
Shoving her this way and yanking her that way.
No one cared about how she was feeling or what she was going through.
It was like death was normal in Gotham.
It wasn't in Park Ridge; if one died, they were usually old, dying peacefully in their sleep.
In Park Ridge, people died quietly surrounded by their families and friends.
Not in a scary car crash, with strangers in a strange city.
They were heading to Gotham to see the circus as a treat for getting good grades.
Josephine Kerr or Josie'd always been bright, but this time, she made the honor roll.
And her grandparents were always doting, but she'd never been to Haly's Circus.
They were safely driving with their seat belts when a drunk came out of nowhere and slammed into them!
It flipped over four times; Grandpa James died instantly, and Grandma Jane hit her head, passing later in the hospital.
Josie herself miraculously walked away with only a few cuts and bruises.
The people at the hospital called her lucky.
Her grandparents were dead, and she was alone in the world.
How exactly was she lucky?
Her mom died in childbirth and her dad drowned before she was born.
The only thing she had of them was an old photo that her grandmother finally gave her after she caught her staring at it a million times.
Josie couldn't remember if there wasn't an orphanage in Park Ridge, so Gotham PD placed her there.
St. Aden was gray and dull, gloomy.
None of the kids talked to her, and they seemed to do as they pleased.
One of the kids, Collin Wilkes, seems to run the place.
That Collin kid does what he wants, and no one says anything.
Shouldn't I be allowed the same privilege? She asked herself.
Maybe if Josie snuck out, she could find a way back to Park Ridge.
Josie could live in her grandparents' house; she could take care of herself.
Her Grandpa paid for the house, so she didn't have to worry about money, and her Grandmother taught her how to cook.
Living alone in Park Ridge would be better than living in Gotham.
Something is always going on in this town!
Banks robbed here, and criminals are breaking out there!
And it's so noisy!
She took out the old photo of her parents.
Her mother, a woman, called Bex, short for Rebecca Brown.
She had hay-colored hair in a chin-length bob, warm honey-brown eyes, and peach-colored skin.
She was smiling at the man next to her.
Joseph Kerr had an oblong face, a long chin, high cheekbones, black hair, and kind gray eyes.
Her eyes.
He wore a big broad smile.
The two people in the photograph looked very much in love.
"I wish you were here."She mumbled to herself. "Or at least I could have been around then."
Josie's grandparents spent her life constantly talking about her mom.
Her mother was born in the early morning hours of June 9th, making her a Gemini.
She was 5ft 2, 118 pounds, and was fluent in French.
She knew all about Bex.
But Joseph Kerr, Josie knew nothing about him.
When he died, Bex was too miserable to talk about him.
They didn't know who he was, where he came from, or if he had any family.
Josie understood this, but it still stung; she wished someone knew something about the man!
She glanced at the television and saw a report about someone breaking out of a place called Arkham.
A man broke out a week ago, and the whole town when you crazy!
Again?!
Why do they keep talking about this?!
The guy broke out! Catch him and move on!
How hard can it be to catch one man?
The lady on TV said that Batman and the Commissioner would look for the man.
'And the statewide search for the notorious madman The Joker continues.
With no current knowledge of the criminal's whereabouts or motives, the citizens of Gotham are on edge.
Commissioner Gordon has issued a city-wide curfew for all residents until the madman's capture.'
Josie watched the people on TV run in and out of stores carrying water bottles and canned goods.
It was as if they were expecting an earthquake or something.
'The mayor urges Gothamites to stay inside and lock their doors.'
How bad could one man be? Is he that dangerous?
She stared at the TV as they flashed a video of The Batman.
A man dressed like a bat punched another man with question marks on his suit.
The Batman, but is that The Joker he's fighting?
He doesn't look so tough.
And why would he have question marks on his suit?
Wouldn't he look like a jester?
A jester or clown.
Yes, The Joker would look like a clown.
He can't be The Joker.
The others often talked about The Batman; he was a masked vigilante protecting Gotham.
When she lived in Park Ridge, Josie heard talk about a caped wonder in Metropolis.
She also used to hear the talk of a remarkable woman from her teacher and grandmother.
She didn't remember hearing about the Joker.
No one in Park Ridge talked about the Joker or The new Batman.
No one in Park Ridge talked about Gotham.
Her teacher, who went to school here, said Gotham was dark and gritty. She mentioned something about birds but never a Batman or a Joker.
And the kids at St. Aden or the grown-ups don't talk about the Joker.
Josie had to wonder how did the Joker look?
For some reason, she kept thinking about her father.
Or, more accurately, his name.
Joseph Kerr.
Joseph Kerr.
Then she thought about her name.
Josie Kerr.
Her mother insisted that she have her father's name, which is why Josie was proud of her name.
Joseph Kerr.
Joe Kerr
It kind of sounds like a joker, isn't that interesting?
Wouldn't it be funny if Joseph Kerr and The Joker were the same?
She giggled at the frivolous thought.
Joseph Kerr drowned in a river before you were born.
He could have been swept away by the current. Josie's brain countered. It's possible.
Why wouldn't he come back to your mother?
Maybe he hit his head and got amnesia. It happens all the time on Grandma Jane's soaps.
But on TV, they get their memories back in a month or two; how come he didn't come back then?
That's television, Josie! Grammy Jane used to always tell you about taking the word of that idiot box as gospel!
Okay, why didn't he find a doctor?
Doctors are bad! That's why grandpa never liked going to see them.
The Joker is a bad guy, and Joseph Kerr is a good man.
Amnesia, Josie. He might not even know who he is. Who you are.
They don't even look alike!
How would you know? You've never even seen this Joker guy!
The news lady won't show his-
The face the news lady showed.
The man had metallic green hair; his skin looked like he spent a year playing in a giant bowl of flour, and his eyes.
Her eyes!
The Joker has her eyes!
Josie had to find him.
She had to know.
She had to be sure.
She had never been the type to sneak out of bed in the middle of the night.
But sneaking out of St. Aden's was surprisingly easy for her.
She learned how after watching the redheaded boy Colin do it.
He had slipped out that very night.
What he went out to do, Josie could not say; she watched Colin dart off into the darkness.
Wonder where he's going? Josie pondered.
Maybe he's looking for someone too.
Josie ran in the opposite direction but had no idea where to go.
She'd only been here for a few days and didn't know anyone.
And she didn't know Colin that well, not enough to go to him for assistance.
Besides, he was a boy, and boys are gross.
Josie ran in no particular direction down the streets of Gotham.
She wished she'd had the good sense to print out a city map.
Or, at the very least, I researched the Arkham patient known as The Joker.
Joker.
Joker.
Joker.
The Joker is a clown, Josie.
What do you remember about clowns?
Clowns are silly.
They like to make people laugh.
Where would a clown go?
Clowns like to hang out at the circus or fairs.
There's no fair in town but a circus.
Haly's Circus, could the Joker be there?
If I'm smart enough to figure out this, wouldn't Batman do the same?
That thought made her pause; what if The Batman's already got him back in that Arkham place?
Should I go back to the orphanage?
Josie didn't want to return to the orphanage but wouldn't know how to get back there.
Maybe she should look for Colin.
An hour passed.
And it began to drizzle.
And it was cold.
Great.
Josie wasn't sure she could find him and wasn't sure if he knew who she was.
What if he didn't want to help her get back?
Well, the least she could do was ask.
"At least ask, Josie.", she mumbled to herself.
So she walked.
And walked.
And walked some more.
Where am I?
How long have I been out?
What time is it?
AAAAAAAAAH!
What was that?
It came from the alley; she slowly crept over to the gallery, peered around the corner, and saw three people.
There was a man on the ground clutching his arm; it looked like it was bleeding.
He was staring up at a man, a huge man
A big behemoth with red hair wearing a trench coat, in front of him, there stood a little boy who looked about her age.
He had a black hood, a black and green mask, and green gloves and boots.
He had a sword pointed at the man on the ground, dripping with blood.
'I don't know anything, I swear!' Said the bleeding man.
'Liar!' Screamed the boy.'Tell us what Zsaaz is doing with the missing children?!'
'I don't know!' Cried the man. 'I don't know anything, I swear!'
The boy stabbed his other arm; his blood-curdling scream made Josie resist the urge to scream out in protest.
She found herself turning away in disgust.
'Shut up.' He roared. 'You'll get worse than that if you don't start talking!'
The man began to cry; the boy said something in a strange language to the behemoth.
And the behemoth seemed to understand him, Josie wondered, he said.
'Okay! Okay! He's got a fighting ring!'
A fighting ring?! What's that?
'He's using the kids in the ning!' Said the man. 'They're making the kids fight to the death!'
The boy held the sword at the bloody man's neck.
'Please don't kill me!' He begged.
'Robin.' The behemoth growled. 'He's not worth it.'
The boy, the Robin, put his sword down and stepped back.
He put his hands on his hips and turned away.
The behemoth stood the man up roughly as the boy began to sway.
'Where's Zsasz?'
'I don't know!'
Josie stared at the boy; he seemed preoccupied with what was on the ground.
It happened so fast; one minute, he kicked a rock, and the next, something jumped up and stabbed her in the shoulder.
She looked and saw what looked like a star stuck in it. Gasping and stumbling back, she clutched her shoulder in bewilderment.
Josie looked up and saw the boy charging toward her, let out a terrified scream, and took off running.
'Robin!' Called the behemoth.
The boy called Robin darted after her.
Why is he chasing me?
'Get back here!' He screeched.
He grabbed her hair and threw her to the ground. He pounced on her and held a dagger at her throat.
'Where's Victor Zsasz?!'
'HELP!'
He pushed the star further into her shoulder, and she screamed.
'Where is Zsasz?'
'I don't know who that is! I'm just trying to get the circus.'
'Liar!'
He grabbed her head and slammed her backpack onto the ground.
The pain was sharp and made her feel fuzzy; she wanted to curl into a ball and cry for her grandmother.
But Grandma Jane is gone; she and Grandpa James are never coming back.
The thought of being alone hurt more than the pain in her head.
When the fuzziness stopped, he ripped the star from her shoulder.
The thunder drowned out her screams which were more out of fear than pain.
Without thinking, she slammed her knee upward, and he fell off her and rolled onto his back, groaning in pain.
Josie took the chance to get up and staggered away; she just had to keep running; she couldn't let him catch her.
It didn't matter how tired she was or how much her muscles ached; she just had to keep running.
Josie ran until her legs gave out, and she fell to her knees.
She couldn't run anymore, but she couldn't stop. She crawled to an alley filled with trash cans and boxes, hiding behind them, covering her mouth to hide her rapid breathing.
God, please don't let him find me. She prayed. Please don't let him see me.
When she heard footsteps approaching the alley, she wanted to cry, but he would listen to her.
'Robin!' Called a gruff voice. It was the behemoth.
'She got away!' He said.'The little brat got away!'
'Doubt she knows anything!' Said the behemoth.
'Then why would she be lurking around at night?!' He sounded angry.
'She's probably just a kid snuck out of the orphanage. She did look kinda familiar; what'd she say her name was?'
'Didn't ask.'
'Didn't ask?'
'Didn't care.'
He didn't care. Josie thought. What if I had a family? What would he have said to comfort them?
'What did she say?'
'She said she was going to the circus.'
Footsteps move closer to her hiding place. Josie held her mouth quietly and lay down.
'Could have been a lie, though.'
'Maybe not. There's a kid dumped at the orphanage not that long ago. Her folks died on the way to the circus.'
How did he know about me? She wondered.
Does he work at the orphanage?
He didn't look familiar.
'Whatever, she still could be working with Zsasz!' He raked his sword across the trash cans. 'What's the kid's name?'
Please don't know my name. She thought.
'Jenna or Joanie, something with a j. We're wasting time.'
'Little brat.' The boy growled. He said a bad word, kicked a trash can then stomped away. 'Could have sworn I saw her run this way. Let's go.'
Josie started to sit up when a sword pierced through the trash can missing her face by an inch.
It took everything in Josie to will herself not to cry.
'Not here.' The sword was gone as quickly as it came. 'Let's go.'
Josie slowly peered through the hole in the can; the two walked away.
She sat there silently crying; she didn't like Gotham and wanted her grandparents.
She slowly crept from behind the trash cans, shivering, the rain stopped, but lightning lit up the sky.
Josie could hear their voices in the distance, she didn't want to go that way, but there was a big fence with a padlock.
Maybe I could squeeze between the fences where the chain is. Josie thought. Or I could climb the wall.
Josie didn't think she could squeeze through the fence so that she would climb it instead.
She's never climbed a fence before, a jungle gym, yes, but never a wall
Isn't it the same thing?
She slowly approached the fence, still shivering, not just from her wet clothes and hair.
'Hey, you!' I called a voice.
She whirled around, expecting to find the Robin; instead, it was a tall man with blond hair, blue eyes, and scars all over.
Josie felt her body release a breath she didn't know she was holding.
'Yes?' She replied slowly.
'There's a curfew in effect! You shouldn't be here, especially with a madman on the loose.'
'Sorry,' she said, taking a moment to catch her breath. 'I was trying to get to the circus.'
'The circus?! Your mother's letting run the streets at night to go to the circus?!'
'Oh, well, I'm an orphan.'
His eyes widened at the admission, and it made her uncomfortable.
'Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.' He put his arm around her shoulder. 'What's your name?'
Something told her not to tell him her name.
'Becca.'
'Becca, that's a pretty name.'
'What's your name?'
'Mr. Zsasz.'
That's who Robin mentioned!
'Well, thank you, Mr. Zsasz. I think I should be heading back now.'
'Don't you want to go to the circus?'
'No, it's too late.'
'It's only 9. In Gotham, that's like 7 AM.'
'No, I think-'
'I think you should come with me.' He said, holding a knife at her throat. 'Little Becca.'
Josie bit down hard on his arm as she stomped his foot.
She tried to take off running but didn't get far because Zsasz grabbed her hair and yanked her back.
'Ooh, a fighter, you'll be perfect!'
'No!'
'ZSASZ!' screamed a woman's voice.
'This doesn't concern you, Ivy.'
They turned, and Josie saw a redheaded woman walking up to them.
Her greenish skin seemed to glow in the moonlight, and her clothes looked like leaves.
Her green eyes were narrowed and fixed on Zsasz.
'It does. The child works for me.'
She's trying to help me. Josie thought. I hope she doesn't get hurt.
'Liar.'
'I'm sorry, Miss Ivy.' Josie muttered right on cue. 'Robin got away.'
He let go of her, and she briskly walked over to the woman, Ivy, who glanced at Josie's shoulder, then turned to Zsasz.
'What happened to your shoulder?'
'Robin threw a ninja star at me.'
Ivy glared at him but said nothing. 'Let's go, sweetie.'
They started to leave when Zsasz said, 'Hey, kid. You dropped something.'
Josie turned to him. 'I did?'
He nodded, and Ivy went over to him and took what he claimed she dropped.
It looked like a piece of paper, which made her check her pockets.
My parents' photo! Where's my parents' photo?
She turned to Ivy as she stared at the picture. She whirls around to face Josie, who waves nervously.
She walked over and took her hand, 'Let's go.' She muttered quickly.
Her grip was surprisingly tight; Josie looked up at her.
'Are you mad at me?'
Ivy looked at her, taken aback. 'Why would I be mad at you?'
'Because of my picture.'
Her jaw tightened, and she closed her eyes.
'No, sweetheart, it's not your fault why I'm mad.'
She took to Josie to an abandoned candy factory.
There were lemon drops, sour balls, and other candies scattered throughout the building on the floor and tables.
Josie made a mental note to pocket as much candy as she could.
They walked up to two clown-masked men holding big guns standing in front of a door; they made Josie feel scared.
There was weird music playing behind it, and Josie could hear moans.
When Ivy heard the moans, she rolled her eyes and stopped before they reached the door.
She turned to Josie and squatted down to her level, and touched her chin.
'Wait here, sweetie,' Josie nodded obediently, and Ivy smiled.
'Good girl."
Ivy walked up to the men, and the men blocked her way.
'No one sees The Clown without an appointment.' Said the man in a mask with red hair. 'He's celebrating his release with his new piece.'
'I don't care! I need to see him!'
'Get lost, flower child!' Said the other man with blue hair.
She blew powder in their faces. 'Let me pass.' She said sweetly.
They stepped aside, and Ivy stormed into the room.
'Shit!' A man's voice called out as a young voice screamed, 'What the hell?!'
'Get out! I need to speak with the clown!'
'Excuse me, but we-'
'Out.' The man's voice said.
There was a slight whine of protest, but the door flew open and out stepped a young woman pulling up straps on her dress.
The door slammed shut behind her, and a screaming match ensued.
She looked only a few years older than Josie; she had long dark hair and eyes.
She was wearing a short red dress that shimmered in the light.
Her makeup was smeared and runny, and her fur coat hung off her shoulders.
She looked like she could've been a character on one of Josie's favorite TV shows.
She stopped short when she saw Josie; she fixed her coat and stood beside her.
The woman didn't look at her, but Josie's eyes stuck to her.
'What?' Huffed the woman.
'Hello.' That was all Josie could think to say.
'Hey.' Was her scratchy reply.
Besides the yelling coming from the other room, there was an awkward silence.
Josie felt weird talking to a stranger, but it was better than listening to the yelling.
'Um... I'm Josephine. What's your name?'
'Everyone just calls me Gaggy.' The woman must have felt the same.
'Your name is Gaggy?'
'Gabrielle.'
'Oh. Are you Joker's wife?'
'What?'
The question surprised her; Josie could see it in her eyes as she turned to her.
'What did you ask me?'
'Are you the Joker's wife?'
The shouting stopped, and they looked at the door. Somehow, Josie found the silence more terrifying than the shouting.
'No, we're... friends.'
Gabrielle looked away; her eyes darted around the room nervously.
'Oh.'
The door flew open, and Ivy stepped out; both stood up straight. She forced a smile and sauntered over to the little girl.
'What's going on?'
'Where do you live, honey?'
'St. Aden's orphanage.' Replied Josie, taken aback by the question.
'Well, tonight you'll stay with me,' she said, and Josie nodded. Ivy turned to Gabrielle, who flinched. 'You! You go to the orphanage and collect her things.'
'What?!' Said Gabrielle.
'In a few days, go to the orphanage and collect her and her things.'
'I don't even know what's going on! And I don't even think I want to!'
'Do as I say, or I'll turn you into mulch!'
Gabrielle bit her lip and nodded; Josie peeked around Ivy, looking behind the door, and she saw him.
There he stood, white face, green hair, red lips, and steel eyes; he studied Josie, then quickly slammed the door.
Ivy flinched, then gently stroked her face.
'We're going put our heads together and figure this out.'