Chapter 17
Hell
The harsh daylight shone below on the calamity that was Gotham City. People charged down the streets, all with a purpose and a drive to get them to where they were supposed to be. Car horns rang out from a block away, signalling the distresses of the everyday workers.
Amongst the crowd was a woman who walked slower than the rest. Her ginger box-dyed hair had been choppily cut to sit on her shoulders. The woman merged with the crowd, just another person going about their business, stuck in the daily slug.
She kept her head lowered, eyeing the pavement as she scuffed her dull grey trainers. Her hands were concealed in the pockets of her blue denim jacket that matched her unkempt black t-shirt and skinny jeans ensemble.
As she walked, lost in thought, a person holding a leather briefcase rushed past her, slamming their shoulder into hers. The woman abruptly snapped her head up to glare at the hurried passerby.
"Watch it," she hissed but the person ignored her threat, went about their day and disappeared into the crowd.
"Idiot," she grumbled under her breath as she slightly raised her shoulders to shield her face from the busy streets.
She continued to walk a few more blocks, noticing the streets start to die down as she entered the more unattractive side of Gotham. The heavy afternoon light didn't seem to brighten the street but merely highlight its destruction. Gaping potholes caused cars to screech and thump as they passed over them, rusting drains and grates gave off the smell of sewage and rat faeces, and buildings proudly showed off their dingy grime-covered walls.
An area so condemned that those who enter will rarely come back. Unless they were already attuned to the ways of the Narrows before.
The woman's eyes flickered up the walls of the buildings beside her, searching for a familiar neon sign. The green light blared into existence as her eyes landed on her desired location. A bar. She swiftly diverted away from the streets and entered the dark and moody space.
Letting the door swing shut behind her, blocking out the light, she took in her surroundings. This was a smaller establishment, with a dark wooded bar presented at the back of the room, along with six round tables strategically placed in front of it. Only three were occupied with day drinkers.
The woman sauntered over to the bar and sat on one of the raised stools, in front of the tired-looking bartender.
"Double vodka and coke," she nodded to the barman. The tall and bulky man nodded back and wandered away from the girl. As he left, a TV that was placed on the opposite shelf behind the bar continued its broadcast as if waiting for the woman to arrive.
"It's been almost 2 months since police officials failed to capture the Joker's henchwoman," the newscaster recounted. The woman's eyes flickered up to the screen as it fizzled against its signal.
"Ana Carter was last seen at Gotham Memorial Hospital after murdering a policeman and escaping the scene," the image flashed away from the news anchor and onto muted surveillance footage of the fugitive running down the hospital corridor, frantically opening the fire escape and bolting out of shot.
The barman placed a refreshing-looking vodka and coke in front of the woman and went back to cleaning glasses. The woman picked up the glass, feeling the cool condensation tingle her palm.
"The hunt continues onto day 60. Police are continuing to ask anyone who has any information about her whereabouts to get in touch and not engage with the fugitive, as she is considered armed and highly dangerous," the TV showed a zoomed-in screenshot of the footage, exposing a somewhat clear image of the Joker's henchwoman.
The woman at the bar let out a scoff and subtly raised her glass to the familiar face. Her familiar face.
"To Day 60," Ana toasted under her breath, before taking a large swig of her drink.
"Duncan, you can't do this!" the memory of Ana frantically yelled as she grabbed Duncan's forearm and spun him around to face her.
"I'm sorry Ana, but he doesn't want to see you. He told you to stay away, why are you testing his patience?" the memory of Duncan answered with a hint of annoyance in his voice as he looked down at his ex-lover.
"Duncan, I have nothing, you were everything I had," Ana's eyes were wide with desperation as she clung to Duncan's arm, "I need my job back, I need…" Ana trailed off before openly admitting how much she relied on the Joker.
Duncan lowered his head as he breathed a long exhale through his nose, trying to figure out why he agreed to meet up with her after all this time.
"Please, you owe me at least this," Ana stepped back as she raised her voice. Duncan snapped his head up in confusion.
"Owe you?" Duncan raised an eyebrow.
"6 months. 6 months I was in the hospital. Trapped. Alone. Abandoned!" Ana could feel the sense of betrayal driving her rage, allowing her to say everything that she truly felt with no filter or fear of vulnerability. "You weren't there. You didn't even come to visit me," Ana pointed at her old friend.
"I can't just waltz into the hospital, Ana," Duncan yelled and waved his arm in dismissal as he went to turn away.
"Why not? The Joker did?" Ana stepped towards him, ensuring that she was in his line of sight.
"You mean after he killed the rest of the team that was in the hospital?" Duncan snapped back and stared at the untamed girl, watching her struggle to find the right comeback.
Duncan observed Ana appear twitchier and more restless than usual. She was wearing clothes that weren't hers as they were too big and swamped her figure, presumingly stolen during her grand escape. He glanced down at her hands, which were trembling similarly to any relapsing drug addict.
Duncan looked up at her with sadness, as he realised that she was in trouble.
"What?" Ana snapped as she stroked her hands to calm her tremors.
"You're using again," Duncan flatly announced, causing Ana to look away and scoff.
"Yeah so? I fell seventy feet. I'm in pain. My back still hurts," Ana aggressively justified as she avoided eye contact. "I can't get hold of medication, since I'm on the run and everything. But this guy gave me a great deal on some coke," Ana spoke quickly and waved her arms around to aid her explanation.
"I bet he did, who is the guy?" Duncan cocked his head to the side, egging Ana to look at him.
"Oh, just some guy, Isaac Bat-something," Ana dismissed.
"Isaac Baxter?" Duncan stepped forward. "The dealer known for selling dirty stock, riddled with god knows what!?" Duncan yelled in disbelief.
"Yeah well, I can't afford the good stuff anymore," Ana barked back. She crossed her arms in a defensive move, obviously trying to shut down the lecture.
Duncan let out another irritated sigh. He felt his fingers twitch as they wanted to reach for his wallet. He glanced away from Ana and stroked his beard as he decided whether to help her or not. He rolled his eyes in annoyance with himself as he knew he couldn't stand by and watch her self-destruct.
"Look, I'm sorry but you can't come back," he explained as he pulled out his weighty-looking wallet, "But here, this should tide you over until you can get another job," Duncan pulled a wad of cash from the wallet sleeve.
Ana's eyes flickered down to the money, a sudden sparkle of surprise and gluttony glazed over them as she considered taking the offer with no questions asked.
"Where did you get that?" Ana gasped, still staring at the cash.
"Well, with Charles gone I've inherited the role as the Boss' right-hand guy," Duncan cleared his throat, "It pays well I guess," he shifted uncomfortably.
"The Joker's right-hand man," Ana repeated almost in a trance.
"Yeah," Duncan glanced away from his ex-partner as a sudden awkwardness between them filled the air. Duncan couldn't understand why things felt so strange between them after they were so close before.
"Things are different now, huh?" Ana lowered her head as her anguish suddenly felt heavier and more exhausting.
"I guess they are, yeah," Duncan looked down at the money in his hand and scuffed his shoe.
"I suppose there's no point in asking about my cat, Winston? I imagine the Boss cooked him or something by now," Ana rolled her eyes, allowing them to flash to the cash once more.
"Well actually, he's kind of taken a liking to the cat. Wince follows him around everywhere," Duncan chuckled as he reminisced moments when the cat chased after the clown.
"Really?" Ana smiled, "Oh Winston," she laughed.
The pair shared a laugh together, almost forgetting that they were no longer in the good old times. As they both remembered where they were, they allowed their laughter to fade simultaneously, with only silence available to fill the void. Duncan cleared his throat.
"Take it, it's your second chance at a normal life," Duncan forced his hand forward, urging Ana to take the money. Ana stared at his hand and swallowed a lump in her throat.
She looked up at the stocky man with an unmistakable expression of regret and yearning. Ana took a step forward, nudging Duncan's arm away and pulled him into an embrace. Wrapping her arms around his waist tightly. Duncan looked down at the girl in surprise, suddenly forgetting what to do in these situations.
He eventually dropped his head to rest against her blonde hair and draped his arms around Ana's shoulders. A time of peace and security, Ana wanted to stay in this moment forever. She felt a tear fall down her cheek as she buried her face into his chest.
"Okay," Ana's muffled voice against Duncan's t-shirt divided the two apart. She pulled back and gently took the cash out of Duncan's hand.
Her watery eyes peered back up to the Joker's right-hand man.
"I guess this is goodbye then," Ana breathed. Duncan slowly nodded as he took in Ana's face for one last time.
"Goodbye, Ana," he nodded.
"Goodbye," Ana lowered her head and turned to leave.
Ana sipped her drink as she remembered that night. No one from the team wants anything to do with her. She hasn't heard from the others since she met with Duncan. She felt a deep ache as if she missed them, she hated when that feeling appeared unannounced. She couldn't understand it. How can you miss a life full of blood and darkness?
It's all I know.
Ana shook her head and glanced behind her, noting the other drinkers, before taking another large gulp of her beverage. Her eyes fell on one guy who was sitting with a group of friends, enjoying a pint together. For a moment their eyes locked as he noticed the red-haired woman at the bar. Ana cheekily smirked at him.
After a few more double vodka and cokes, and a couple of shots, the afternoon shifted into the evening. A dangerous time in the Narrows, a time of recklessness, dazed thoughts and instability. A time to ignore the inner inhibitions telling you to run in the other direction. A time to feel alive to the ones who are in hell.
Ana let out a flirtatious laugh as she and her gentleman suitor sat at the bar doing another round of shots. More people were starting to pile into the establishment, and the crowds of laughs and hollers were increasingly suffocating.
"So tell me, Jared, do you play in the snow?" Ana asked as she twisted her barstool to face him directly, casually resting her crossed leg against his calf.
"That depends on what you mean by play?" Jared chuckled as he leaned in, resting his elbow on the bar.
"I mean do you play alone or with others?" Ana smiled as her leg moved up Jared's leg. His eyes flickered down to her jeans and then back up. Ana watched him, noticing the telltale signs of a fellow user.
"I can play with others," he smirked as he glanced over his shoulder to check the coast was clear, and pulled out a small sachet of white powder from his pocket.
Ana's smile grew slightly as her eyes calmly flickered down to her favourite product.
"You know, I think we could play together, back at my flat," Ana moved her hand up Jared's thigh, her fingertips faintly grazing the bulge behind his zipper.
Jared stared at the woman, his eyes glazing over with obedience.
In an unspectacular building block that had questionable tenants and poor plumbing, the drunken laughs of the steamy pair could be heard down the corridors.
Ana unlocked her apartment's front door and pulled in Jared with a giddy smile. After the door slammed shut, Jared pressed her up against the back of it and leaned in for a deep kiss. Ana melted under his lips as she moved her hand through his short hair. Enjoying the touch of another person.
"You want some snow?" he breathed heavily.
"Oh yes," Ana grinned before kissing him again and gently biting his bottom lip. He let out a chuckle as he took out his stash again and turned to address her room.
Ana's new apartment wasn't anything glamorous, a simple studio flat was all that she could afford with the money Duncan gave her. The box room had a kitchenette shoved in the far left corner, a sofa and old TV in the right, and her bed to the left of the door.
Jared clocked her bedside table and strode over to pour a line of cocaine to begin their night. Ana took off her shoes and jacket, carelessly walked over to him and knelt down.
Jared sat on the edge of her bed and watched as she knelt over the powder and sniffed it up with ease. She let out a moan of ecstasy as she felt it overtake her senses and numb her thoughts.
"Wow," she breathed as she look up at the man on her bed. "Join me," she ordered with a sensual smile. He grinned as he poured some more out onto the table and leaned over to snort.
Ana stroked his back while he allowed the snow to take over. As Jared turned back to Ana, they let out a laugh together before pulling one another into a kiss. Ana slowly stood up and pressed her body into his, pushing him down onto the bed.
She let out a heavy breath as she straddled him and kissed him along his jaw and down his neck. She could feel his hand caress along her t-shirt, and make their way underneath. In one frantic motion, she pulled him to sit up and removed her top. Jared followed suit and removed his shirt.
Jared traced his lips along her shoulder, over her collarbone and up her neck. He noticed an old gunshot wound in her right shoulder but instantly forgot about it as he continued down her cleavage. Ana let out a breathy moan as each touch made her skin tingle.
Her head felt fuzzy as the booze and drugs mixed together.
Ana leaned her head back as the man undid her bra and started to cup her breasts. Ana closed her eyes and imagined being back at the base. Jared lifted her and spun them both around so that she was on the bed and him on top.
Ana drew him in for a deep kiss as her fingernails gently etched down his spine. The man let out a groan as he felt the pained pleasure. He moved his hand down to Ana's jeans and started undoing her zip and hauling them off.
Ana smiled as she thought of Duncan in the lounge at the hideout. She imagined him on top of her on the sofa, kissing her with his beard brushing against her face. Ana felt the man's fingers along her inner thigh. She heard his zipper and a low thud as his trousers were thrown to the floor.
She opened her eyes and looked down at Jared. She let out another pant as she reached down to his face and lifted his chin for him to come back up. He smiled as he was locked onto her at eye level. Ana kissed him and bit his lower lip again. She studied every detail of his face and noticed his tongue dart out and lick the side of his mouth.
She thought of the Joker sitting on the sofa, and the image of Duncan disappeared. The Joker was drinking a beer and watching TV.
"You'd make a fine agent of chaos," the Joker's voice echoed in her memory. Ana stared blankly at Jared, not understanding what was happening.
"You okay?" he breathed as his hands stopped wandering along her body. Ana snapped out of her thoughts.
Enough thinking.
She hastily nodded and pulled him in, moving her hand down to her lower half.
"Do it," she breathed with a weak smile. Jared panted with a wicked grin before entering her.
Ana let out a loud moan as she threw her head back into her pillow and let herself get lost in the thrill. With every thrust, her thoughts got quieter. She arched her back and pressed her chest into Jared's.
"Yeah, just like that," she panted as she clung to his back and kissed his neck. The heat between them grew as her moans got louder.
Ana lay in bed and stared at the ceiling. Her apartment had turned to silence as Jared lay next to her asleep. After an hour of drug-fueled passion and sweat, the nighttime had arrived. It always arrives.
Ana stared at the cracks above her as she listened to the drunken noises outside, and the creaking of the pipes in the walls. She allowed the feeling of desertion to come back again.
Her heart felt heavy as she missed her fellow teammates, the sense of familiarity of the hideout and the need to be wanted in her job. She once felt so alive, how did it all change so fast?
Is this my life now?
Ana felt a tear begin to escape her left eye and trickle down her temple. She swiftly wiped it away and sat up. She looked back at the man warming her bed, offering her a moment of physical contact. Her eyes flickered down to the remnants of Jared's stash.
Ana let out a long quiet sigh as she wanted to quieten the loneliness so that she could fall asleep. She swept the powder onto the back of her hand and gave one hard sniff to finish the pile.
She let out a pained cry as she felt it burn her nostrils and start a sudden throbbing in her forehead. The apartment started to go blurry as the alcohol was reaching its peak. Her mind quieted down as Ana focused on her abrupt dizziness.
Ana's head slowly fell back until she couldn't control it. She smiled as she allowed herself to fall back into the bed and let the shadows in her apartment take her away.
Welcome to hell.