Chapter 18 - A Game Of Russian-Roulette
What Joker was doing here was beyond sick. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to intervene, to stop him, to dosomething—but what could I do? I wasn't a hero. Heroes sacrificed themselves to save others, and I... I was just trying to survive.
So, I did the only thing I could: I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to block out the desperate cries of the victims. But it was futile. Joker was in no rush. He savored every agonizing second, stretching the torment as if their suffering were some twisted symphony he was conducting. The longer he took, the more they begged him to just end it, and that was his goal all along—to break them completely.
'Wait.'He was still talking. He hadn't killed them yet. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Logan's gaze. He was staring at me, but he made no move to step in, and the others were outside, standing guard as usual.
'This was my chance!'
If I was careful, maybe I could do something. My heart pounded as I hesitated, watching Joker bend down toward Vicki. I forced my trembling hands to move, subtly tapping my index finger on the outer right corner of the camera lens.Please, please, let someone see my signal!
"You see, this is howCRAAAZY Batman has made Gotham!" Joker's voice snapped my attention back to him. Before I could react, he was in front of me, gripping the camera I held like it was an extension of me. He pushed forward, forcing me to stumble backward as his manic energy consumed the room.
"You want order in Gotham? Batman must take off his mask and turn himself in!" he shouted, his voice rising to a crescendo. His words hit me like a punch. So that wasn't the real Batman. If this wasn't him, where was the real one? Why hadn't he already stopped Joker and saved me? I'd been in Joker's hands for almost a month. Surely, someone should have found me by now.
'Were they even looking for me?' The thought clawed at my mind like a vicious echo of Joker's taunts. 'Was Joker right all along?'
"Oh, and every day he doesn't, people will die... starting tonight!" Joker's face filled the lens as he leaned in, his lips nearly brushing the camera. "I'm a man of myword—ah..." His laughter erupted suddenly, manic and unrelenting, as he began bouncing on his toes like an unhinged child. Without warning, he pulled out his knife, his attention snapping back to Vicki and Brian.
My stomach dropped. He was going to kill them—just like he'd killed Gambol.
My mind raced, panic clouding every thought. I wanted to stay quiet, to avoid provoking him, to avoid being punished for speaking out again. But if I stayed silent, if I just stood there andletthis happen, I'd never forgive myself.
"NO! Please don't!" The words tore out of me before I could stop them.
The camera slipped from my hands, crashing to the ground as I bolted toward him. He already had the knife to Vicki's throat. "Joker, PLEASE! Don't do this!" I begged desperately, grabbing onto his coat sleeve with both hands.
For a moment, his head tilted slightly, as if he were actually considering my plea. But then his eyes snapped to mine—cold and full of contempt. His twisted grin faltered, replaced by a sneer. I knew instantly I had made a mistake.
I barely had time to flinch before he yanked his arm free of my grip. His elbow came crashing into my temple, sending me sprawling to the floor. Pain bloomed immediately, a sharp, hot sting radiating from my skull.
"Please, don't," I whisper in a final, pathetic attempt, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart.
"WHY NOT?!"His voice, a guttural growl laced with manic fury, cuts through the air like a blade. It's the worst sound I've ever heard—no, the second worst, because now all of his attention is locked on me. "Huh?"
My mouth opens slightly, but no sound comes out. I'm frozen, completely paralyzed by his piercing gaze.
"Have you alreadyforgotten-ahwhat Vicki said about me? And about you?" he sneers, his words slow and deliberate. "She hadsomuch to say about us, didn't she? Including that I was a pervert." He tilts his head, his painted smile stretching wider. "So, be honest,Ari-ah..." He leans down, his presence suffocating as I instinctively try to back away.
But my escape is short-lived—his hand shoots out, grabbing my leg and yanking me back toward him with inhuman strength. "Let go! Please!" I plead, my voice cracking with desperation. But my cries only seem to amuse him. His gloved fingers press into the wound on my leg, and I feel the sharp sting of pain shoot through me as fresh blood soaks into my jeans. A strangled gasp escapes me. His other hand clamps down on my chin, forcing me to meet his unrelenting gaze as I squirm under his grip.
"Be honest, kid" His voice is low and taunting. "You were just as angry about everything she said."
Behind him, Vicki lets out a muffled scream through her gag, her panic filling the room like a thick fog. I can only imagine what's going through her mind—she just wanted to go home, to forget all of this. But some dark part of me can't help but think... she brought this on herself, didn't she? She wanted her 15 minutes of fame, and now here we all are.
Joker's grip tightens, his gloved hand pressing my head so I can't look away. His tongue darts out, wetting his scarred lips, as his eyes glint with something dangerous."ANSWER ME!"
"Yes," I finally choke out. My voice trembles, but I know I have no choice but to tell the truth. "Yes, I was upset about what she said."
That answer earns me a smile. Not a kind or warm smile—this one is sharp and unhinged, stretching across his face like a twisted mask. His teeth are yellow, jagged, and uneven, and yet, bizarrely, I can't help but notice his breath smells... fresh.
"Iknewit," he purrs, his tone dripping with triumph. "Don't think I missed the devious look in thosebeautiful-ahblue eyes of yours."
"Yes, she's done enough bad things," I admit, my voice a mixture of fear and pleading. "But is murder really your answer to everything?"
I cling to the hope that maybe, just maybe, there's some shred of humanity left in him, something I can reach. But that hope crumbles as he tilts his head, his expression twisting into one of genuine confusion.
"Why not? Kill or be killed,Ari-ah." His tone is almost casual, as if he's explaining the weather. "Besides, murder's not the answer.Chaosis." He straightens slightly, his hand still gripping my chin as he continues. "Introduce a little anarchy, upset the established order, and everything becomeschaos-ah. I'm an agent of chaos. And you wanna know something else about chaos?" Before I can respond, he leans in closer, his lips brushing my earlobe as he whispers, "It's fair."
I shudder as he pulls back, finally releasing me, and turns his attention to Vicki and Brian. My heart sinks as I see Brian, still dressed as Batman, struggling against his bindings. His muffled screams through the gag are heart-wrenching as Joker inches closer to him, his knife glinting under the dim light.
"At least give them a chance!" The words tumble out of me before I can stop them.
Joker freezes mid-step, his body going unnaturally still. Slowly, he turns his head to look at me, his expression unreadable. "What?" His voice isn't angry—it's... curious, almost intrigued.
"Why... why don't you make a game out of it?" I stammer, the words spilling from me in a desperate gamble. My body trembles as I crawl forward on all fours, the pain in my leg making it impossible to stand. "If they win, you let them go. If not... they die."
The room falls into an eerie silence. Vicki and Brian stare at me like I've lost my mind, not that I can blame them. My suggestion feels insane, but it's the only thing I can think of to buy them even a sliver of hope.
Joker's head tilts slightly, his eyes narrowing as he studies me. And then, to my surprise, a slow grin spreads across his face. It was the only way. Joker loved his games—twisted, cruel games that made his victims wish for death long before it came. I knew firsthand what he was capable of. But instead of punishing me for speaking out, he laughed.
Laughed and laughed, the sound echoing through the room like a horrifying symphony of chaos. It was the kind of laughter that made your stomach turn, loud and unrelenting, as if he'd just heard the funniest joke in the world. Everyone froze, even Logan, his face contorted in confusion and unease.
Whatever he was up to, it couldn't mean anything good.
My heart pounded wildly as Joker approached me, the knife swinging lazily back and forth in his hand. Each step he took sent a fresh wave of panic coursing through me.
"Well," he drawled, his grin wide and unsettling, "that was by far the bestide-ahyou've ever had."
"Rea... Really?" I stammer, my voice trembling.
"Really?" he mocked in a sing-song voice, tilting his head with exaggerated amusement. "Why so serious, kid?" His tone shifted as he straightened, suddenly businesslike. "All right, why not? Oh! And I've already got an idea of how we can do it!"
He turned sharply, his wild eyes locking onto Logan. "Log-ah, boy!"
Logan stiffened. "Yes, sir?"
"Give me your gun." Without hesitation, Logan handed it over. Joker emptied the magazine, his movements deliberate as he removed all but one round. The metallic clink of bullets hitting the floor sent a shiver through me.
While Joker toyed with the weapon, I forced myself to move, to gather my strength and push myself up from the cold, unforgiving floor. My leg throbbed painfully, but I had to stand. I had to do something. Vicki and Brian's wide, tearful eyes burned into me, their faces pale with terror. "I'm so sorry," I whispered under my breath, though I knew my apology was meaningless.
"Ari-ah." Joker's voice was sing-song again, drawing my attention like a magnet. I limped toward him cautiously, every step an effort as Logan's worried gaze followed my movements. He didn't say a word—he didn't dare—but his silent concern hung heavy in the air.
Joker was examining the gun with the fascination of a child inspecting a new toy. "Um... so what game are you going to play?" I asked hesitantly, my voice barely above a whisper.
The corners of his mouth twitched, as if he was suppressing a grin. "Oh, I'm not the one who's gonna play." He turned to me slowly, his movements deliberate, and held out the gun. "You are."
For a moment, I thought I'd misheard him. I stared at the gun in his hand, confusion and dread swirling inside me. "Come again?"
"You heard me, kid." His tone was light, almost cheerful, but his eyes glinted with something far darker. "It's really quite simple. You take this gun—" He waggled it in front of me, tauntingly. "—and if you manage to fire it five times without catching the round, I'll let them live."
My blood ran cold. "No." I shook my head violently as tears streamed down my face. "No! No! I can't! I— I'm not playing!" My voice broke, the words coming out in desperate, trembling gasps.
Joker chuckled, the sound low and mocking. "Your choice, really. But if you don't want to play..." He trailed off, glancing over at Vicki and Brian with a twisted smirk. "Then they die. Right. Now."
"NO!" I cried, my voice cracking. "Please, please don't make me do this!"
"I'm not making you do anything." He spread his arms wide in mock innocence, his knife still glinting in his hand. "It wasyouridea, remember? So if youreallywant them tolive-ah, here's your chance to play the hero."
I stared at the gun as if it were a venomous snake, my hands trembling. "Oh, andAri-ah..." Joker leaned closer, his voice low and taunting. "Don't just carelessly pull the trigger.Squeeze."
My gaze dropped to the gun in my hand, its weight cold and alien against my skin. Could I do it? Could I pull the trigger? Just one round. Maybe... maybe if I was fast enough, I could shoot him instead. The thought burned in my mind, growing stronger as I glanced at his scarred face. Could I end this nightmare? Could I save us all?
"Oh, yeah," Joker's voice interrupted my spiraling thoughts, dragging my eyes back to him. His face was mere inches from mine now, and I shuddered at the proximity. "You can also try to kill me, of course."
My breath hitched as he chuckled, his tone playful but deadly. "If you're fast enough, maybe, just maybe you couldevenhit me." His grin widened, but the playful mask fell in an instant. He grabbed my collar, yanking me up onto my toes so our faces were level. His voice dropped, low and venomous. "But if you fail, your last punishment will look like achildren's birthday party."
My body went rigid as his words sank in, each one laced with a threat more terrifying than the last. He let go of my collar, shoving me back slightly as he smiled again, the manic light returning to his eyes. With a flick of his wrist, he tapped the tip of his knife gently against my nose, a mockingly affectionate gesture that sent a chill down my spine.
"So if I were you..." His voice dropped to a whisper, his gaze boring into mine. "I'd beverycareful where you aim that thing at."
B... But I— I've never used a—"
"DON'T."His voice cuts through my stammering like a blade. "Don't say you haven't. I know that you have."
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. How did he know? How could he possibly know so much about me? My grip on the gun tightens involuntarily. Yes, it was true—Ihadused a gun before. But that was a part of my life I wanted to bury, to pretend never happened.
It was the same night my parents died.
The memory was fragmented, a blur of chaos and grief, but the gun—that cold, heavy object in my hand—I remembered it too well.
"So," Joker's voice snaps me back to the present, his tone dripping with mockery, "what's it gonna be?"
I glance down at the gun in my hand, then back at Vicki and Brian, their muffled cries tearing through the air. They looked at me as if I held their lives in my hands, which, I suppose, I did. My stomach churned.
Joker was right about one thing. I wasn't a hero. They put themselves in this situation. They knew what they were walking into. I couldn't save them.
I let out a shaky breath and slowly placed the gun on the table, the cold metal clicking against the surface. Closing my eyes, I tried to block out the desperate sounds of their muffled pleas.
For a moment, there was silence.
No laughter. Just a long, drawn-out sigh.
"Well, that'sdisappointing-ah," Joker finally says, his tone as light as ever, though there's an edge of disinterest now. "But hey, I figured you wouldn't have the balls."
My chest tightened, his words digging into me like claws.
"You've always been too scared," he continues, his voice sharp and cutting, "and now their blood is onyourhands."
The anger starts to bubble beneath the surface.'No!He's the killer, not me.'
Joker leans in slightly, his gaze burning into me. "I'm really disappointed. Part of me actually thought you could do it. I mean, you had the chance to save them! But, oh, what am I saying?" He grins, his scars stretching with the motion. "You couldn't even save yourself out of that car when Mommy and Daddy—"
"Stop." My voice is low, barely audible. But when I open my eyes, the tears and fear are gone, replaced by a cold, simmering rage.
"Tell me I'm wrong, but hey I bet ifyour-ahmother had the change she would have left you behinde as well."
Lost in that moment I can feel rage taking over me.
BANG!
The deafening sound of the gunshot snaps me back to reality. The echoes of the shot are drowned out by Vicki's screams, muffled but desperate, as Brian thrashes in his restraints. My heart stops. I look up, my ears ringing, and see the bullet hole in the wall just inches from Vicki's head.
'Who fired the shot?'
The answer comes in the form of a sharp, hyena-like laugh. It rings in my ears, and I freeze as Joker leans in, his breath hot against my skin.
It's then that I realize—The gun is back in my hand and it's aimed directly at the hostages. My fingers tremble on the trigger, my mind racing to piece together what just happened. I don't even remember picking it up again.
Joker's laughter intensifies as he steps back, clapping his hands like an audience applauding a performance.
The realization hits me like a freight train. My vision blurs as the room starts to spin, the weight of the gun in my hand suddenly unbearable. I drop it, the sound of metal hitting the floor drowned out by Joker's relentless cackling.
I lost the game.
*A/N: Hello Guys :)
So Joker is still not done playing games with Aria and has actually managed to get her to pull the trigger.
How much longer can Aria withstand the madness before she snaps? Will Batman be able to save her in time and how will Aria deal with the fact that she has sealed the fate of Vicky and Brain?
Originally I was only going to put Brain in the scene, but with Vicky it's just that much more dramatic, but now that Vicki's gone, who will take her place as Gothams Gossip reporter?
Well however it may be one things for sure, Joker won't be put into the gossip spotlight.
Stay tuned to find out and as always, likes and comments are more then appreciated. :)*