Author's note: Woah this is a long one. It wasn't supposed to be this long but so much is about to happen… Enjoy the penultimate chapter of The Boss!
Chapter 26
Lullaby
On the farthest side of Gotham City, Ana made her way to the hospital to visit Alli. Ana felt a tinge of annoyance that her friend hadn't taken her advice to flee the city, using the money Ana had given her. It was a miracle that Allie hadn't been caught by the police or even the Joker's gang.
To avoid being recognised, Ana had disguised herself by wearing a baseball hat and thick-framed glasses. With caution, she navigated through the hospital, mindful of the security personnel who might identify her from the news.
Ana took a deep breath, rallying herself before stepping into the room. As she entered, she suddenly remembered her own ordeal in the hospital. Her eyes scanned the room, it looked nicer and more comforting than the box that she had been stuck in for months.
She spotted Allie lying in the hospital bed, wrapped in soft lilac sheets. Allie's dark brunette hair was greasy and tangled, and a thin sheen of sweat glistened on her face, evidence of the challenging labour she had been through.
"Hello Allie," Ana spoke, closing the hospital room door, and blocking out the noise from the corridor.
Allie slowly opened her eyes being disturbed from her sleep. Ana watched as Allie groggily focused her eyes on her surroundings, glancing around her and then finally landing on Ana.
"Ana?" she tiredly asked. Realisation flashed across her face. "Ana!" she beamed, jolting into a sitting-up position.
"Keep your voice down," Ana hissed, walking towards the bed.
"I can't believe you came," Allie breathed a sigh of relief, laying back down.
"Well, now that I know you're still in the city…." Ana grumbled, scanning the room.
"I know, I know. I shouldn't have stayed but this is my home, it's the only place I know," Allie studied Ana's face. "You're still working for him then?" Allie asked noticing the cuts and bruises across Ana's face.
Maroni's demise only happened a few hours earlier. After Ana received Allie's phone call, she waited for the celebrations to die down and for everyone to pass out before leaving.
The superficial cuts from the crashing glass chandelier, along with the bruises from the brawl she had with Maroni's guards were still visual across her body. Thankfully, she had changed out of her torn gown and into more comfortable clothes with a pair of black jeans and a black baggy hoodie.
"Yes I am, we've finally taken down Maroni," Ana couldn't help but smirk at the thought.
"Wow, really? I'm surprised the Joker didn't get him sooner," Allie eagerly leaned in.
"We've been a bit preoccupied," Ana mumbled.
"How is everyone? Duncan and Charles?" Allied asked. Ana glanced down, letting out a long breath and feeling her chest deflate.
"They're dead,"
"What?! How? When?"
"Maroni…" Ana started to speak, feeling anger bubbling up, "… It doesn't matter now," she shook her head, abruptly halting her reaction.
"I'm so sorry, Ana. You and Duncan…" Allie started.
"It's okay, it's over now," Ana dismissed, leaving an awkward silence to fill the room. Allie shifted in her sheets.
"How's the Joker?" she tentatively asked. Ana's eyes flickered to the girl, hearing a slight break in her voice. It was a question that Allie had wanted to ask for 9 months.
"Same old Boss," Ana shrugged, watching Allie intently.
"Is he… does he… talk about me?" Allie's eyes looked huge, gawking up at Ana.
"I'm sorry Allie, but you know him. He's in his own little world," Ana explained.
"Oh… I see. Is he seeing anyone else now?" Allie mumbled reluctantly. Ana swallowed a lump in her throat. How could she be in the same position that Allie was in? She's forgotten how many times she lectured the girl on making poor decisions. No one gets close to the Joker and lives to tell the tale.
What even was Ana and the Joker doing? It felt different to Allie's blind devotion. There was a deeper understanding and partnership between her and the clown, but seeing Allie again started to unravel any lust that Ana felt.
"There's no one else," she lied.
"That's good," Allie smiled, breathing another sigh of relief.
"Allie, we need to talk," Ana started.
"He's ready for his mama now," A nurse spoke softly and entered the room, interrupting their conversation. "Oh, I see you have a visitor, how lovely!" she smiled.
Ana gave an awkward smile before her eyes flickered down to what the nurse was cradling in her arms. Ana was suddenly frozen in place, her eyes locked onto something different, something new.
"Thank you," Allie grinned happily at the nurse, eagerly holding her arms out. Ana felt her breathing hitch, she stepped backwards while the nurse moved across the room to hand over something.
Ana watched with wide eyes. She wasn't sure why her heart suddenly was pounding.
"I'll leave you both to it," the nurse squeezed Allie's leg before glancing over to Ana and exiting the room. Ana stared at Allie and the new addition.
"Ana, meet my son," Allie lowered her arms to reveal a tiny precious baby. Ana stepped forward, feeling captivated by his delicate features, soft-looking skin and fine dusty blonde hair. In Allie's arms was a newborn baby, full of innocence and joy. A miracle of life, created by an agent of death.
Ana leaned in closer, listening to the baby's gaggles. His eyes were closed but seemed to hold the secrets of life behind them. Ana couldn't tear her gaze away, feeling the room fill with a profound sense of peace and hope. As if the arrival of the Joker's son had brought a renewed sense of purpose, like the weight of the world has momentarily shifted into endless possibility.
"He's beautiful, isn't he? I think he kind of looks like his daddy," Allie smiled, kissing the baby on the forehead.
"What's his name?" Ana whispered. Allie's mouth pricked into a childish smirk.
"I wanted to name him after his daddy, but couldn't really call him Joker Jr. So, I thought what other playing cards were there?" Allie justified.
"Okay?"
"His name is Jack, like the Jack of Hearts," Allie excitedly grinned.
"Jack," Ana repeated. "He's beautiful," she glanced at Allie with a soft smile.
"Do you want to hold him?" Allie lifted the baby towards Ana. Before she could refuse, Allie placed Jack in Ana's arms, forcing Ana to quickly clutch onto the baby. Ana wasn't sure how to hold him, a sudden fear of dropping him rushed over her.
"You're a natural!" Allie giggled, watching Ana awkwardly stand there, her arms wrapped clumsily around the infant. Ana stared at Allie with panicked eyes, before glancing down at the sleeping baby.
"He's so precious. A little cutie," Ana laughed.
"I can't believe I made him… That the Boss and I made him," Allie slowly spoke, finishing with a tight-mouthed smile. Ana's eyes flickered up to Allie with sharp suspicion, hearing the coyness in Allie's voice.
"He can't know Allie. The Joker mustn't find out that you're alive and that he's a…" Ana sternly began.
"I know, but don't you think he'd be happy?" Allie laughed casually.
"Gunpower makes him happy. Chaos. Death. Not new life. Not innocence and… goodness," Ana gazed down at Jack again.
"But he should know…" Allie argued.
"Jack isn't safe if he found out," Ana snapped back.
"He'll protect him," the naive girl countered.
"Allie…"
"The Joker is all I have left. Everyone thinks I'm dead. I can't do this on my own," Allie glanced down at her lilac sheets, clutching onto the soft fabric, clearly trying to hold back her cries.
Ana felt her chest tighten at the sight of her friend struggling with the loneliness. This was something that Ana had experienced before, however, her coping mechanism had been vastly different from Allie's. Instead of seeking solace in the warmth and love of a baby, Ana had relied on her cocaine stash for companionship.
Ana remembered how it felt to be completely alone, abandoned and lost. Every day was a battle as the isolation overwhelmed and suffocated her. Cocaine had been her crutch, her escape from the harsh reality. She was lucky to have survived on her own.
Ana never realised that sending Allie away would have meant she'd endure the same fate. Ana glanced at Allie, seeing a girl who was stronger than herself. She didn't succumb to the darkness, she found hope in her unborn child.
What can I do to help them? Make sure they live good, full lives, without the Joker finding out. She could be there for Allie, offering her a shoulder to lean on, an ear to listen and help build a new life for her. She could turn her own dark experiences into something good.
Ana breathed out a long exhale, contemplating her next words carefully.
"You won't be on your own," Ana stepped towards Allie's bed and shifted Jack's weight into one arm, "I'll be here," Ana took hold of Allie's hand into her free hand. Allie's big eyes met hers with a look of hope. Ana leaned in and lowered her voice. "But the Joker must never know. Otherwise, we're both dead," she pressed.
"You'd be there for me and Jack?" Allie's eyes glistened with unshed tears.
"Yes," Ana lightly smiled.
"You'd protect him? Keep him safe?" she asked.
"I'll protect him," Ana let go of Allie's hand and went back to cradling the baby.
"I promise," Ana declared.
As Ana gently rocked the baby in her arms, a sense of responsibility washed over her. Suddenly the thought of Jack's future flashed before her. The milestones, the laughter, the tears, and the triumphs that would shape his life. It all could so easily be shattered if the Boss found out about him. Something so innocent and pure was fragile in the hands of chaos.
…
Ana decided to drive Allie and Jack home using one of the Joker's vans. It was well into the day, and her phone was buzzing nonstop from suppliers negotiating prices, and the Joker giving out orders. The Joker was none the wiser of Ana's whereabouts, as long as she was answering his calls and acting as if she was out to see suppliers then he would never know.
Ana parked up to an apartment building. it looked like a decent 2 floored set of condos based on the edge of Gotham. The building was painted a soft shade of cream, with dark green panelling adorning the windows. A row of colourful flowers lined the walkway leading up to the entrance, adding a touch of vibrancy to the otherwise understated exterior.
As Ana stepped out of her van, she couldn't help but admire the peaceful atmosphere that surrounded the building. She closed her eyes briefly and took a deep breath.
"This way," Allie ushered, cautiously carrying the baby along with her overnight bag.
Ana followed behind, carrying the rest of Allie's things, along with Allie's second-hand baby car seat. They made their way to an apartment on the ground floor. This apartment building may not have been the most luxurious or extravagant, but it had a certain charm and character that made it feel like home.
Allie fidgeted with her key, struggling to juggle the baby and her belongings. After a few more awkward moments they all made their way inside.
The apartment was cosy but small, with worn carpet and a large window next to the front door that had its curtain already pulled over. Ana stepped immediately into a lived-in lounge area with one sofa and cheap TV, and an unkept kitchen sitting behind it. Ana's eyes traced along the counter to all the baby supplies piled high. To Ana's left was Allie's bedroom, while on the right were two rooms for the bathroom and Jack's nursery.
"It's nice here," Ana commented.
"Thanks, it's done well on a waitress's salary," Allie explained, wandering into Jack's room to put him to bed. Ana placed down what she was carrying and followed Allie into Jack's room.
She caught her breath as the room portrayed such love and attention. The walls were freshly painted a mint green. At the back of the room was a light wooden crib with a delicate baby mobile hanging over it. To the right was another window covered by a curtain, and to the left was a wooden chest of drawers with books and more baby supplies on top, Ana wandered over and glanced at the books. They were being kept up with two heavy bookweights in the shade of a circus elephant and giraffe. Ana picked one up, admiring the detail and feeling how heavy it was.
"Where did you get all this stuff?" Ana chuckled.
"Just second-hand shops, I've been saving for a few months," Allie shrugged, placing Jack in his crib.
"You've been getting a lot of calls," Allie changed the subject.
"Yeah, I have to run a lot of errands these days," Ana leaned against the drawers and turned to address the girl.
"I don't remember you being on the phone that much," Allie scoffed, giving one final look at the sleeping baby.
"Yeah well…" Ana trailed off and glanced at Jack. She let out a long exhale, rallying herself to speak the next words.
"Duncan was the Joker's right-hand man after Charles's death, but…" Ana cleared her throat. "Duncan didn't just die, Allie. He was executed," Ana sternly explained. Allie flashed her a look of confusion.
"The Joker killed him," Ana figured it was best not to reveal her part in his death.
"Why?" Allied asked.
"Turned out he was the mole," Ana looked down and kicked her leg over the carpet.
"Oh my gosh, I had no idea," Allie leaned against Jack's cradle as if she had the air punched out of her. "So, who is the Joker's second in command now?" Allie queried.
Ana stared at her and cocked her head, trying to resist the sudden urge to smirk.
"You?" Allie stared at Ana, her mouth agape.
"Yep," Ana gave a tight-lipped smile.
"Wow! You've gone up in the world," Allie chuckled, before glancing back at Jack, "The Joker must really trust you, you must have some power with him, right?" Allie slowly asked.
Ana stopped herself from rolling her eyes.
"No, I can't bring you back," Ana flatly halted Allie's thought.
"He must trust your word though, to allow you to talk to his suppliers. We could just say that you thought I was dead but I ran away after you dumped me somewhere?" Allie quickly explained.
"You don't think the Joker will see through that in an instant?" Ana argued, her arms crossed.
"Not if we stick to the story. Yeah, because I was left for dead that night he…" Allie started.
"Almost beat you to death?" Ana snapped back.
"It wasn't his fault, I annoyed him and he snapped," Allie dismissed.
"Oh Allie," Ana breathed, shaking her head. Ana found it hard to believe they were talking about the same Boss. She knows what the Joker is capable of, she's seen it firsthand. But recently, there was a weird chemistry between them. It made it easier to forget all the truly dreadful things he had done.
"Listen to me," Allie pulled Ana out of her thoughts, "He'd want to know about Jack. Look at him, he's perfect. He almost looks like his dad, just without his scars, but that's not a problem, he's still his father's son," Allie grinned at Jack. "He'd forgive everything once he sees Jack," Allie's grin grew wider. Ana felt suddenly uneasy as Allie rattled on.
"Allie, stop it. Enough." Ana sighed. "He will kill me and you if he finds out that you're alive. As for Jack, yeah he might take him, but what would his life be? Who will change his nappies, who will cuddle him when he has a nightmare, who will teach him right from wrong?" Ana pushed.
"I will!" Allie protested.
"You're dead. You won't be able to," Ana replied without missing a beat.
"Well… you will!" Allie fumbled her words. Ana shuffled on her feet, taken back by Allie's blatant disregard for her own life.
"I'm dead too, remember? Besides, why would you want to leave your son alone with a madman?" Ana felt a sense of déjà vu. The girls have had this argument before. Raising a baby in a mob boss's hideout goes against every parenting book on the planet.
"I don't want to talk about this anymore," Allie waved her hand in dismissal and turned to admire the baby.
"Right then, I guess I'll start on dinner or something," Ana hesitantly moved out of the bedroom towards the kitchen.
"He almost looks like him," she heard Allie mutter to herself.
…
Throughout the evening, Ana caught Allie up on the past 9 months but Allie's curiosity about the Joker seemed insatiable. Every time Allie tried to learn more about the Joker, Ana kept sidestepping her questions, fearing that her obsession with the clown was worse than ever. They do say absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Seeing the girl seem uneasy and faintly agitated, Ana decided to stay the night and lend a helping hand to Allie and Jack.
After Allie had gone to bed, Ana lay awake on the sofa.
"What am I doing?" she whispered to herself, staring at the bobbled ceiling. She knew she was playing with fire. It's only been a week since being appointed the Joker's right-hand man and she had already betrayed him. Or had she?
Ana thought about how knowing about Jack may mess up the Joker's plans. He could never accomplish his movement of chaos whilst also looking after a baby. He's an intelligent man, he knows this. Ana continued to convince herself that she was doing him a favour.
If she made sure that Jack was safe, unharmed and protected then the Joker would never have to get distracted from his plots. And if Allie and Jack remained a secret then they could go on to live normal lives, and Ana wouldn't get killed for her betrayal.
Ana's eyes started to feel heavy. I just have to keep them safe. The Joker will never find out.
Ana started to drift off to sleep. I just have to keep him safe.
Ana closed her eyes.
A high-pitched screech pierced the air. Ana jerked awake and sat up straight on the sofa. Her head snapped to the clock on the wall, telling her that she had been out for a couple of hours. She noticed that Allie's bedroom door was open. The scream was from Jack, but it didn't seem like the usual newborn baby's cry.
Ana leapt up from the sofa and ran into Jack's room.
Allie's back was to her, she was reaching down into the crib. The baby was still screaming.
"Allie, is he alright?" Ana called from the doorway. There was no answer. Ana marched across the room, her eyes hastily trying to find Jack.
She stopped in her tracks, just behind Allie's right shoulder. Ana let out a gasp and covered her mouth. Her eyes were wide in fright, she didn't expect to see the cot filled with blood.
"It'll be okay, it'll be okay," Allie kept muttering, her eyes in a trance. She was clutching a bloody paring knife from the kitchen. She was giving Jack a Glasgow smile.
"ALLIE!" Ana shrieked, yanking the girl's shoulder to spin her around. Allie didn't budge, she turned her head to Ana with a glazed appearance across her face.
"He looks just like him now, he'll have to take us back," she smiled. Ana stared in horror.
How could she do this!? Ana's eyes flashed between Allie and the baby. Jack was covered in blood, it was too dark to see the extent of his injuries. His screams pierced through Ana.
Rage started to boil from within her, a stupid ridiculous obsession had now caused harm to an innocent child. Ana started to breathe heavier, and her hands began to shake.
"Get away from him!" Ana roared, lurching forward and wresting the baby out of her grasp. Allie started to scream as Jack fell back onto the mattress. The baby kept crying.
"What are you doing?!" Allie frantically yelled, trying to wrangle her wrists out of Ana's hands.
"What have you done?!" Ana spatted, yanking the girl away from the crib.
"Stay away, he's coming, stay away from him!" Allie screamed, snatching her knife-wielding hand out of Ana's grip, and slashing it recklessly in front of her. Ana jumped back, avoiding the sharp blow.
"Allie stop! You're not well!" Ana yelled over the girl's shrieks, dodging every stab.
"He's coming, he'll be happy to see him! You'll see!" Allie continued to scream. Ana had to get her away from Jack. She waited for Allie to slash her knife again, leaving her torso exposed for a brief moment. Ana dove for her and tackled Allie to the ground.
Allie thrashed around underneath her, trying to cut and stab Ana.
"Allie calm down!" Ana ordered, pressing her arms against Allie's and holding back the knife. The two engaged in an intense struggle, their bodies entangled as they rolled across the floor, each fighting for control. The baby kept crying in the background. Allie tried to stab Ana at slow proximity but Ana used her chest to wedge the weapon between them.
"Allie enough!" Ana growled with gritted teeth, rolling back on top of the girl.
"No, he's coming!" Allie cried. Ana's heart pounded in her chest as she fought to keep Allie at bay, the placement of the knife grew increasingly dangerous as Ana could feel the sharp blade poke her skin.
In a split second, a sudden movement caused Ana's hand to slip. A gasp escaped both of their lips as the realisation of what had just happened sank in. The woman stared at each other, panting heavily. Ana gawked down between them and saw the knife embedded into Allie's stomach. Blood was already gushing out over both of their clothes.
Ana's eyes widened with shock. She let Allie go and recoiled away from her. The atmosphere suddenly shifted into something darker and more sombre. Allie struggled to move; her breathing was shallow.
Ana's hands trembled as she reached out to help, her mind racing with guilt and regret. She had never intended for things to escalate to this point. She never wanted to cause harm to someone she once considered a friend. Tears welled up in her eyes as she knelt beside Allie, trying to stop the bleeding with her hands.
"Ana," Allie whispered.
"Allie," Ana breathed, tears falling down her cheeks.
"Help Jack," Allie struggled to talk.
"But you're…" Ana started.
"Please… help Jack," Allie exhaled. Ana glanced over to the baby, who was still crying in pain. Tentatively, she stood up, removing the pressure on Allie's wound and ran to the baby.
She frantically scanned the baby's face, seeing that the wounds were not as deep as she had previously feared. Allie hadn't sliced through the skin yet, but they could still potentially scar.
Ana grabbed some baby wipes and started to clean the wounds, her hands moving swiftly yet delicately.
"It's okay," she comforted the baby while she worked. She has had to clean wounds before, but never on someone so tiny. Ana briefly glanced at Allie, who was still struggling to breathe. Fear bubbling again, she continued to clean away Jack's blood, ensuring there was no chance of infection.
As Ana worked diligently, the baby's cries gradually subsided, replaced by a sense of calm.
"You'll be okay sweet baby, you're going to be okay," she gently soothed Jack. Ana pressed a button on his mobile, making it play a lullaby.
"He's going to be alright," Ana glanced over to Allie with a soft smile.
As Ana met Allie's eyes, her face dropped. She realised that Allie's eyes were lifeless, staring endlessly at the crib. Ana's heart sank, and her eyes started to well up more.
A weight of unexpected grief settled heavily against her shoulders, pushing her down and causing her to drop to her knees. Ana let out a sob as the lully continued to play.
"Allie," Ana cried. She had only just gotten back her friend, for her to be snatched away by insanity. Ana crawled over to the girl. Her hands trembling as she reached out to touch her still-warm hand.
"I'm so sorry Allie," Ana wept. her cries echoed into the room until the lullaby came to an end.
A vibration came from across the room on the drawers. Half-heartedly glancing over, she saw Allie's phone illuminating the room with its light. The screen faded again, signalling that she had received a message.
Ana pulled herself to her feet and weakly walked over to the phone. Her face scrunched up in confusion noticing her own phone next to Allie's.
"What?" Ana breathed, realising that Allie had taken her phone. Ana swallowed a lump in her throat as she touched Allie's screen and saw a message from a long phone number.
"ON WAY," the message read. Ana recognised the digits, it was the only digits she needed to memorise, other than her own. It was the Joker's number. Allie had figured out which one was his from her phone.
"Shit," Ana breathed.
Ana needed to clear the scene, so the Joker would come to an empty apartment. Ana desperately emptied the room, she dragged Allie's lifeless body across the floor and into her bedroom. Blood carelessly stained the carpet, leaving drag marks across the lounge.
After disposing of the body, Ana turned her attention to cleaning herself up. She washed her hands vigorously in the sink, trying to rid herself of Allie's blood. With trembling hands, she packed a bag for Jack, knowing that he needed immediate medical attention. Her arms were still covered in blood, and her top had red patches stained across it but it would have to do.
Ana ran into Jack's room and carefully lifted the baby. He began to stir again.
"It's okay honey, shush shush shush, go back to sleep," she soothed. She pressed Jack against her chest and bobbed up and down to make sure he settled. A surge of obligation washed over her.
The sound of a car outside jolted her back into reality. Ana's breathing hitched, she cautiously walked towards the window and peeked through the curtains.
She could see the Joker's van pull up to the condos. He undoubtedly had spotted her van on the street. Ana's heart started to pound harder, the only exit was through the front door. They were trapped.
Ana turned back around and tried to calm her breathing.
What am I going to do? Her eyes scanned the room. Perhaps she could convince the Joker that it was a prank. Or just say that Allie was alive, and she went to finish the job, not mentioning Jack at all?
Ana quickly placed Jack back down in the crib, noticing that his wounds had stopped bleeding. He stirred again momentarily, but to Ana's relief, he fell back to sleep. Ana dropped the baby bag by the door and ran out into the lounge, quietly closing the entry to the nursery.
Ana heard the van door slam shut. She ran around the room, hiding any evidence that a baby was there. She shoved baby bottles and nappies into cupboards and drawers and kicked the highchair to fall behind the sofa.
Ana quickly unlocked the front door, not wanting the Joker to bash his way in and wake the baby. She backed away, finishing several feet away from the door. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. She knew that confronting the Joker was going to be dangerous, his unpredictability was terrifying but their growing bond may prove her well. She had no choice but to stand her ground, Jack's quality of life depended on it.
The front door handle jiggled and clicked. Ana watched the door creak open, revealing the Joker in full makeup and attire, standing hunched in the doorway. His eyes scanned the room as he stepped in, adjusting to the darkness almost instantly like he was used to it. Landing on Ana standing before him, he gave a flash of confusion before letting out a chuckle and closing the door behind him.
"You know, crazy thing happened today," he turned to address her. "I was just minding my own business, driving around town and I get a message. A text from dear sweet Allie, saying that she has a surprise for me. Gave me an address and everything," the Joker explained, taking a step closer towards Ana.
Ana tried to control her nerves. So, he doesn't know about Jack yet.
"But that can't be possible, can it? Because she's dead," the Joker eyed Ana up and down. "Unless this is all a game to get me to this hotel room. You're kinkier than I thought," he revealed a cheeky grin. Ana couldn't help but scoff at the thought.
"Boss, I…" Ana looked away from him.
"But that can't be true, unfortunately. You're covered in blood," he flatly declared. Ana glanced down, wishing she would have had time to change.
Ana peered up at the Joker, he seemed closer than before. His eyes were locked onto hers. Ana tried to stand her ground but her pounding chest got the better of her. Her eyes quickly flashed to Allie's bedroom door and then back at the Joker.
Please don't catch that.
The Joker smirked and slowly turned to address Allie's bedroom door. As he strolled over to the door, Ana winced at herself.
"Boss, before you go in there…" Ana hastily spoke but the Joker ignored her, opening the door and peeking in. Ana watched his eyes survey the room and land on Allie's body on the floor. The Joker gave a pondering look, closing the door, and followed the blood smears across the lounge floor with his gaze.
"It's funny because it looks like that little Allie has been stabbed to death," the Joker walked towards Ana, "But that can't be true, because Allie was killed months ago. I remember, because I did it," the Joker's eyes burned into Ana's, "And I asked you to get rid of the body," he cocked his head to the side.
"I… I thought she was dead when we dumped her body in the junkyard, but I guess she wasn't," Ana lied, her eyes drifting away from the Joker's. "I got a message from her, last night. I came here to finish the job," Ana tried to keep her voice from quivering.
The Joker stared at her, scanning every detail of her face. His mouth twisted to a wicked smirk. He cocked his head to the side again and rested his gloved hand against Ana's cheek. His touch was both chilling and strangely intimate. Lost in his own thoughts, the Joker stared dreamily into Ana's eyes.
"Don't lie to me," he softly whispered, his fingers tracing delicate patterns on Ana's face. Overwhelmed by conflicting emotions, Ana could feel herself well up, how did he have this hold on her? He chose to speak kindly to her instead of exploding with rage, he knew there was more to the story. In that moment, fear and affection intertwined, creating a complex web of emotions that Ana struggled to comprehend.
"Why are you really here?" he asked, his gaze piercing into her mind. Ana's mouth went dry, the silence was deafening as she was supposed to talk.
Suddenly, as if on cue, a faint sound reached Ana's ears, slicing through the strained atmosphere. Jack had started crying. Ana was jolted back to reality, frozen in place only able to watch the Joker react.
His tender expression quickly faded away. His eyes were wider than usual, his smile completely dropped as he gawked at Jack's bedroom door. It was as if the Joker had forgotten that Ana was there, as he abruptly withdrew his hand and strode past her, narrowly missing bumping into her shoulder.
"Boss, don't go in there!" Ana desperately called after him. But her words seemed to fall on deaf ears, the Joker opened the door without hesitation and wandered inside. Ana ran after him, following him into the nursery.
As they entered Jack's room, the Joker's steps slowed, his gaze fixated on the crib at the back of the room. He cautiously approached as if he didn't want to startle a wild creature. Ana watched with saddened eyes, in one final attempt she grabbed hold of the Joker's arm.
"Boss, you don't want to look," Ana pleaded with him. Knowing that it would break anyone's heart to see a baby with an infamous Glasgow smile. The Joker shrugged her off and stepped towards the crib.
His face was stern. He peered down at the baby and froze. Ana swore she heard him stop breathing momentarily. The Joker's face twitched with anger. Jack's cries started to quieten once he looked up at his father.
"Is this some kind of joke?" the Joker growled, still watching the infant. Ana thought of her next words carefully.
"No. Allie… She wanted… it to… look like you," Ana breathed, stepping forward to stand next to the Joker. "I tried… I tried to stop her, but by the time I got to her it was too late," Ana stared at the poor baby. "She got stabbed when I tried to fight her off," Ana looked away, trying to push down any anguish that started to bubble over.
"You should have left her to me," the Joker coldly murmured. Ana glanced up at him. He raised his head and took in one long inhale, before stepping backwards. Ana watched him sluggishly back away before finding the windowsill and leaning against it. His face was blank, his eyes locked onto the crib.
Jack started to cry again at the sight of no one there. Ana glanced down at the baby and automatically went to scoop him into her arms.
"Now now, it's okay, I'm here," she reassured, cradling Jack closely in her arms. She gave a gentle smile, gazing at all the tiny details on his face. Despite the tears and the cuts on his face, Ana couldn't help but marvel at how beautiful Jack was.
As Ana swayed back and forth, trying to lull Jack to sleep, she noticed the Joker's intense gaze fixed on them. She felt a sense of unease at the silent presence, wondering what thoughts were running through the Joker's mind as he observed the tender moment between her and Jack.
She knew that at that moment, all that mattered was comforting the baby in her arms and making sure he felt safe. As she looked down at Jack's peaceful face, she felt determined to shield him from the darkness that lurked on the other side of the room.
The Joker pushed himself off the window and slowly approached the pair. Ana's heart began to race as he made his way to her. His face had a blank expression, making it hard to read. As the Joker's hand reached out towards Ana, she braced herself for what she thought would be a either slap or a kiss, her mind racing with a mix of fear and curiosity. However, instead, his hand sheepishly traced a path down her neck, over her shoulder, and finally rested on her arm that cradled Jack. Ana watched the Joker's gloved finger lightly touch the baby.
Ana and the Joker both looked up meeting each other in an intense gaze. At that moment, everything seemed to fade away, except for the three of them.
"Boy or girl?" the Joker asked. Ana shuffled uncomfortably on the spot.
"It doesn't matter," she reluctantly said. The Joker squinted at her briefly, sucking his scars.
"Oh? And why's that?" he responded.
"You're not seriously considering taking the baby?" Ana braced herself.
"Why wouldn't I? It is mine," the Joker loomed over her. Ana took a deep breath and held her stare.
"You can't raise a baby and be Gotham's most wanted," A sly smirk appeared on the Joker's face as if proud to hear that title.
"Oh really?" he cooed.
"Think about it. Your whole purpose is to make chaos, plan elaborate heists and build a team that respects you and is petrified of you. How are you supposed to do all of that with a screaming baby in the mix?" Ana held Jack close to her and started angling her body away from the Joker. The Joker's eyes flashed to the baby and back to her.
"It is my baby, my child. I think I should be the one to decide that, don't you think?" the Joker cocked his head to the side. A mocking yet slightly frustrated expression flashed across his face.
"But what would the point be?" Ana pressed further. The Joker sighed and stood up straight.
"Give me the baby, Ana," the Joker sharply requested.
"No, it's not a good idea," she twisted away further.
"Give it to me," the Joker growled, etching closer to her.
"And what about the baby? How will it live a normal life if it grows up around criminals?" Ana continued, being careful not to reveal Jack's gender or any more details about Jack for the Joker to latch on to.
"Ana," the Joker snapped. Ana looked away from the Boss.
"Hand me the baby," the Joker slowly demanded. There was silence as the Joker waited for her response. Ana swallowed a lump in her throat, still avoiding making eye contact with the clown.
"No," Ana turned her back on the Joker and started to walk towards the door, Jack still wrapped in her arms.
Making her first step, Ana felt a sudden gust of wind across her face as the Joker fiercely wrapped his arm around her neck and yanked her back against him. Ana let out a gasp, stiffening her hold around Jack.
"Don't play with me, Ana," the Joker whispered in her ear. The Joker's arm squeezed Ana's neck. He wasn't choking her, Ana could still breathe, but she couldn't go anywhere without letting go of Jack. Ana stared ahead with wide eyes, unsure what to do next.
She felt the Joker fish something out of his pocket. Before questioning what he was doing, she felt a cold sting from a blade pressed against her cheekbone. Ana held her breath, her mind racing.
"Turn around," the Joker growled. Ana remained frozen. The Joker's grip quickly tightened around Ana's neck, the blade puncturing a wound in her cheek. She winced, trying to steady her breathing as she felt blood trickle down her face.
Ana decided to obey, carefully turning around as the Joker kept his arms in place, ensuring she couldn't bolt.
Ana glared up at the Joker. She remembered when they had been this close before when he pulled her in for a passionate kiss at Maroni's penthouse. She glanced at his lips and then looked down at the sleeping Jack wedged between them.
"The cot," the Joker sucked his cheek, growing impatient of Ana's disobedience.
Ana's gaze was fixed on the baby, determined to do the right thing for Jack. She knew she had to play it smart, to keep him safe as promised.
She slowly met the Joker's eyes, failing to hide her anger in her eyes. She carefully moved past the Boss, towards the crib. The Joker observed her every move, his arms open in a gesture of permission for her to proceed.
Ana hesitated for a moment before finally placing Jack back in the crib. She lovingly tucked him into his sheets, feeling another surge of protectiveness towards the child.
As she stood back up straight, she could feel the tension in the room grow from the Joker's menacing presence behind her. Ana took in a final breath and spun around.
"Do you seriously think this is a good idea? You didn't even know about the baby until you got here and suddenly you want to play house?" Ana spat back at the Joker, ignoring his piercing glare. "You're Gotham's most wanted, the Clown Prince of Crime, the Joker. You take him home and that all changes," she pushed.
"So, I have a son?" the Joker raised an eyebrow. Ana's breathing hitched, mentally slapping herself for devolving more information about Jack. The less the Joker knew the better.
"No, he's not your son because he's not going with you. He's only a day old and his mother already tried to hurt him. God knows what you could do," Ana stood her ground, using her body to create a wall between the Joker and his son.
"A mother who was supposed to be dead," the Joker crossed his arms, "You know, I think there's more to the story here? Hmmm? His mummy dearest goes into labour and suddenly you're here. Such a coincidence for someone who didn't know she was alive," the Joker analysed with a smug look.
"Good timing, I guess," Ana shrugged off.
"And now there's a baby. My baby. Not yours. Why would you suddenly be protective over a child that isn't even yours?" he stepped closer. Ana wondered this too but already knew the answer.
"I made a promise," she sadly murmured.
"Funny thing to do with someone who has now just got you into some deep fucking shit," the Joker scoffed, taking another step towards her.
"She didn't mean any harm," Ana defeatedly sighed.
"Evidently," the Joker scoffed.
"She just wanted to please you, and you killed her," Ana furiously pointed at the Joker.
"Me? I wasn't even here, sounds like you killed her," the Joker pretended to be hurt by Ana's accusation.
"If you hadn't strung her along, made her infatuated with you, and then almost beat her to death, none of this would have happened," Ana explained, growing angrier as she remembered the past.
"Debatable," the Joker shrugged. As he dropped his arms back down his expression suddenly shifted. He appeared more hunched over, his head lowered and his playful smile gone, "Now, get out of my way, Ana," he darkly warned. Ana felt her heart pound louder, warning her of imminent danger. She had witnessed this behavioural shift before. She let out a shaky breath trying to maintain her ground.
"No," her breathing trembled. The Joker revealed an unnatural grin.
"Oh Ana, don't do this now, you and I were having such fun," he smiled, a dark glint in his eye.
"I have to, I'm your right-hand woman, I'm here to help you, and right now you're not seeing how much of a bad idea this is," Ana tried a different angle to reason with the clown. "Let me take him somewhere safe, so he can grow up and have a normal life. Then we go back to how it all was and continue bringing chaos to Gotham. Please, Boss?" she pleaded.
The Joker thought for a second, sucking his inner cheeks. He let out a light giggle and cavalierly walked towards Ana, maintaining eye contact. Ana tried to step back on his approach but was stopped by the crib's bars. Standing directly in front of her, the Joker gently cupped her face in both hands and caressed her cheeks. Ana flinched and anxiously observed his eyes filled with a darkened affection.
A sinister grin eerily grew on his face, revealing his yellow teeth. The Joker's fingers now pressing hard into her skin. Ana's eyes grew wide before the Joker violently hurled Ana to the side, causing her to collide with the drawers.
She let out a yelp feeling the wood strike her side. She grabbed the drawers to stabilise herself, watching the items on top steady themselves again. Her eyes flickered to the heavy bookweights wobbling back into place.
Ana heard the Joker mumbling to himself. She turned and saw him looming over the crib like some horrific nightmare.
Was she being cruel, standing in the way of the Joker and his son? Denying Jack of his father? Ana struggled to see what was right or wrong here. That baby may be his, but he is the most feared criminal in Gotham, capable of the unimaginable. Just because they share the same blood doesn't mean Jack should be punished with bloodshed.
Ana glanced down at the elephant bookend. She could still be the Joker's right-hand woman if she allows him to take Jack tonight. She'd have to apologise of course, but the unspoken bond that she and the Joker have developed may protect her. At least she could keep a close eye on Jack at the same time.
Her gut twisted and churned. It was wrong. She knew it was wrong. Jack can't go with the Joker tonight. Jack must never go with the Joker. He needs to be kept safe, and away from harm. Ana slowly wrapped her fingers around the bookend.
Ana glared at the Joker. He remained staring at the baby, his body angled away from Ana. For once he seemed distracted.
Ana seized the bookend, tensing her forearm to alleviate the heavyweight. She quietly snuck up behind the Joker, her heart racing, as if it was screaming at her to run in the other direction. In one swift motion, Ana forcefully smashed the bookend into the Joker's head, he let out an abrupt grunt and tumbled to the ground, the sound echoing through the air.
The room fell silent as the Joker lay unconscious. Ana watched with panicked eyes, dropping the bookend with a loud thud. She scanned his head, seeing blood glisten against the darkness. She had never successfully struck the Boss before.
What have I done? She screamed internally.
"Oh my god. Oh my god." She mumbled to herself, her eyes frantically scanning around the room for what she was supposed to do next. She caught sight of the baby bag she had packed before the Joker arrived.
That's it. She needed to take Jack to safety, somewhere the Joker would never find him.
Ana quickly grabbed the bag, slinging it over her shoulder. She then hurried to Jack and gently lifted him and held him close to her chest. He stirred but didn't wake up thankfully.
"Ok," Ana steeled herself as she turned to run. Just as she was about to leave, a sudden grip on her ankle caused her to jump. Ana frantically gawked down to see the Joker glaring up at her, his eyes filled with rage and murder. He clutched to her ankle like a biting vice.
"That. Wasn't. Nice," he snarled. In a desperate attempt to free herself, Ana let out a startled yell and violently kicked the Joker in the face. The Joker let out an exasperated groan stunning him momentarily, his vision filling with stars.
Without wasting another second, Ana sprinted away, her heart pounding as she held Jack close. Bolting out of the apartment, Ana carelessly lifted the baby seat, accidentally colliding it with the door frame as she ran.
Ana hastily set the baby seat in the van's front seat and placed Jack inside. She kept glancing over her shoulder to see if the Joker was approaching but there was no movement outside Allie's condo. Ana ran to the other side of the van and jumped into the driver's seat. Turning the key, the vehicle roared to a start.
Ana peered back at the apartment and saw a dark figure stumble out of the building. A gasp of fear escaped her lips, and she pressed down on the accelerator. The van screeched as it sped down the road.
Ana's mind was racing. What had she done? She just attacked the Boss. He would never let that slide, he would hunt her down and seek revenge, and it would be far worse than a blow to the head. In an instant, Ana had just thrown away her job, her home, her whole life, and for what?
Ana fleetingly stared at the sleeping baby. How could he be so calm in a time like this? Her heart pounded knowing that she needed to hide the baby somewhere safe. The Joker was coming for them, but he wasn't going to get his hands on Jack.
Screeching around a street corner, Ana noticed that the roads were empty. Peering at the clock, she saw it was 3:23 am, the whole of Gotham was asleep and naively unaware of what was happening. How much better it would be to live a normal ordinary life.
Ana suddenly got an idea of where to hide Jack. She sped her van through the quiet streets for another 30 minutes. She wanted to ensure that she was far away enough from Allie's place, but also far away from the Joker's hideout.
With a heavy sigh, Ana parked her van down the street from a fire station, her gaze filled with a bittersweet mix of emotions as she looked at the innocent baby sleeping soundly next to her. Deep down, she knew that this was his only chance for freedom. She swiftly retrieved a pen and a piece of paper from the glove compartment, her hands trembling slightly as she wrote a note.
When she was done writing, she leapt out of the van and pulled out the baby seat with Jack still sleeping inside. She quickly walked down the street to the entrance of the fire station and halted in her tracks.
Ana looked up at the building, the lights from the windows illuminated the night, signalling that firefighters were inside waiting for their next assignment. She took a deep breath and raced inside before anyone spotted her.
Peering into the entrance hall, she saw a dull cramped hallway with a tiny unmanned reception desk. Ana kept her head down, aware of any cameras watching. With a heavy heart, she placed the baby seat down on the reception desk and tucked the note into Jack's tiny hand.
"Goodbye, Jack. Stay safe and live a good life, buddy," she whispered before dinging a small bell on the desk, announcing their presence and walking out of the building.
Ana observed from the other side of the street as a fireman appeared at the front desk and spotted the baby. She silently watched him read her message.
"NEEDS MEDICAL ATTENTION ASAP. IN DANGER. KEEP HIM SAFE. KEEP HIM HIDDEN." It read. The fireman called out for help. Other team members appeared; two men and a woman. Ana watched them speak to each other with confused expressions. The woman started to dial a number on her mobile, assumingly 911. The others picked up the baby seat and disappeared into the back.
Satisfied that they would take care of Jack and get him to the hospital, Ana silently left the scene.
…
Ana drove around for a while, trying to clear her head and push down her tears. She wasn't sure who she was crying for. For Allie? For Jack? For herself? She wiped her face and let out an angry yell, hitting her steering wheel.
"What the fuck!" she screamed, hitting her wheel again. The tears started to fall again.
"God dammit, Allie," she cried, "God dammit!" she yelled out again. She continued to drive down the road, there was still no sign of life on the streets.
"What am I supposed to do now?" she muttered. She could try and go back to the base, perhaps the Joker has calmed down.
"No, that's stupid," she shook her head. She would be walking to her own death sentence. "Fuck," she whispered, wiping her tears away again.
Ana's van made its way downtown, the streets were silent, the ghosts of the night being illuminated by the golden hues of the streetlamps. She drove to the traffic lights and slowed to a stop.
"I'm going to have to start again. Fuck," she kept mumbling to herself. "I just got back on the team, stupid idiot," she rubbed her heavy eyes, realising the adrenaline was wearing off and revealing how little sleep she's had.
The traffic light turned green. Ana moved the van forward to cross the intersection.
"Stupid fucking idiot," she scolded herself.
Out of nowhere, just as Ana's van was crossing the intersection, the Joker's van suddenly appeared, hurtling down the adjacent road. With a thunderous crash, the two vehicles collided. The force of the crash sent shock waves through the air, the glass windows shattered and the metal shells of the van twisted and clanged.
Ana's van spun out of control, careening into a nearby lamppost with a deafening crash. The force of the impact sent her flying forward, her body slamming against the steering wheel with a sickening thud.
As the dust settled and the chaos quietened to a low hum, Ana woozily woke up from her daze. She felt dizzy and disoriented, struggling to make sense of what just happened. She tapped her forehead and saw blood on her fingertips.
"What the fuck?" she breathed and turned to where the impact came from. She saw the Joker's van nearby, it was all mangled and set alight. Ana started to panic, releasing that it wasn't an accident and the Joker had found her. She urgently struggled against her seatbelt and shoved at the jammed driver door to open.
The smell of smoke and gasoline filled the air, making it difficult to breathe. Ana's head was spinning, her vision blurred as she tried to focus. She could feel the throbbing pain in her chest and a sharp ache in her arm, but she pushed through the pain.
After what felt like an eternity, the door opened. Gasping for air, Ana tumbled out of the wreckage, her body hitting the ground with a jolt. Ignoring the pain coursing through her, Ana staggered away from the twisted metal, her legs carrying her as fast as they could.
She glanced back and saw a warped grin through the flames. Fear propelled her forward, her heart pounding in her ears as she ran, desperate to put as much distance as possible between herself and the Joker.
Ana sprinted through the dimly lit streets, her surroundings became a blur of flickering streetlights and ominous buildings. Her legs burned with exertion, but she pushed herself to go faster.
She could hear the Joker's heavy footsteps behind her, growing closer with each passing second. He let out a hysterical laugh as if he hadn't just been in a car crash. Panic threatened to consume Ana, but she fought against it, channelling her fear into adrenaline.
With every stride, Ana's mind raced, searching for an escape route, a way to lose the Joker in the labyrinth of city streets. She decided to dart through an alleyway and weave through the maze of buildings, desperately trying to shake him off. The city seemed to conspire against her, with dead ends and locked metal gates limiting her path at every turn.
The Joker's footsteps were growing closer. Ana let out a panicked cry as she pushed forward. Abruptly turning a corner she regained some space between them. The Joker skidded to a halt, letting out an irritated grunt and swiftly changing his direction to make the turn.
As he bolted down the alley, he lost sight of Ana. He slowed his run, scanning the alleyway for any clues about where she went. His eyes landed on an open metal mesh gate, leading down a narrower alleyway. Walking through, the Joker glanced around at the forgotten crates and barrels scattered about. His eyes snapped to the back of the passage, clocking that the back gate was locked. Realising he was about to be trapped he let out a sharp growl, twisting back to escape.
As he spun around, Ana slammed the metal gate in his face. Hearing the lock click, Ana stared at him with widened eyes, panting heavily trying to recover from their chase. The Joker, caught off guard by Ana actually outsmarting him, let out a chuckle and rested his hands against the fence, intertwining his fingers through the mesh. He was locked in a cage.
"Do you really think this will hold me?" the Joker scoffed, licking his scars.
"No, I assume you've got a gun on you," Ana panted. "But by the time you take it out, and either try to shoot me or shoot the lock, I'll be gone," she pointed out.
"My my, aren't we getting clever," the Joker mocked. Ana stared at the Joker with a pitiful look, watching him caged up like a wild animal.
"Don't you get it? This is exactly why you can't take him," she shook her head. The Joker watched her silently, a wicked smirk twisting on his face.
"Did you know that he wasn't in the van? Did you even think what would happen if he was when you came crashing into me?" Ana started to yell, ignoring her aches from the accident.
The Joker chuckled, lowering his head and crossing his arms.
"Your response tells me that you know I'm right," Ana spat.
"My dear sweet Ana, you talk as if you're any better. Who are you, the recovering drug addict, a fugitive, my right-hand gal? How are you any better than me to know what's right for my child?" the Joker smiled, trying to hit a nerve. Ana let out a frustrated sigh, looking away with annoyance that she was unable to answer.
"I built you up from nothing, fished you out of the harbour and raised you to be a fine member of my team. You've shown me nothing but loyalty," the Joker pressed his hands into the fence and leaned closer to the gaps. "You were going to be a spectacular agent of chaos," the Joker sighed, shaking his head. Ana locked eyes with the clown.
"What if… Maybe… We can forget this ever happened, forget about the baby and just go back to how it was," Ana slowly asked, shrugging at the absurdity of her own question.
"Are you going to tell me where he is?" the Joker cocked his head to the side and crossed his arms again, already knowing her response. Ana stared at him, her eyes glazing over with sadness. She lightly shook her head.
"Well then, it looks like we've reached the end of a beautiful relationship," the Joker opened up his arms, revealing a gun in his hand. Ana flinched. She stepped back, getting ready to run.
"At ta ta," the Joker aimed his weapon effortlessly, a smile curled on his face. He pointed the barrel directly at Ana's head through the mesh fence. A quick and easy shot from a few feet away.
Ana stared at the end of the gun, her eyes flickering to the Joker in a panic. How did he get to his gun so easily? An excellent magic trick, one that she wished he could have taught her.
"Boss," she breathed, her eyes welling up. The Joker was still, like a lion about to pounce and devour his prey. How did she get here? How did she throw it all away? To be standing in front of her executioner, after everything she had done for him, after everything they did together.
"Please," Ana whispered, a tear escaped as she locked eyes with the Joker. The Joker's smile twitched.
Ana lowered her head, waiting for him to pull the trigger and to end it once and for all. The Joker's smile started to fade, leaving a confused frown.
There was a long silence between them. Ana shifted uncomfortably, waiting for her bullet. She glanced up in confusion and noticed his gun was trembling.
"Boss?" she squeaked. The Joker dropped his arm down and let out an annoyed growl. Ana backed away. The Joker let out a sigh, which warped to a breathy cackle. He started to laugh harder and louder, holding his sides. His howls bounced off the alley walls and surrounded her.
Ana took another step backwards. She wasn't sure what was happening, but she knew she had to run. She stared at the laughing clown in the cage one last time, and then turned and sprinted.
"You can't leave the city!" he shouted after her, trying to calm his hysterics. Ana ignored him and continued at pace.
"The police will find you," the Joker called out, his warning echoing down the alley. Ana slowed to a stop, she was one of the most wanted criminals in Gotham, and now that she can no longer use the Joker's status, she would never make it out without getting spotted.
"Or maybe I'll find you. And Ana… I will find you, I promise you that," he darkly threatened.
The Joker's sinister threat echoed in the air, sending shivers down Ana's spine. She let you a shaky breath and started to run away.
This was it, after years of loyalty and dedication. Her time was up.
Ana couldn't let the Joker win. She had to hide if she wanted to live. She made this choice, and now she must disappear.
…