Arkham Buddies

CHAPTER 9: Amnesia Toxin

I wake up from a nightmare, sweating and panting.
Mistah J was beating me so much in my dream, I feel dry tears on my cheeks.
Ivy raises up, rubbing her sleepy eyes, noticing I'm not feeling well
"Are you okay?" She asks with concern.
"I'm fine, sorry I woke you. Just a bad dream."
"What happened? What did he do to you?"
She guessed I dreamt about Joker. I smile at her.
"Nothing, it's fine now."
She seems to believe me, but still she asks with the softer tone:
"Can I get you anything?"
I kiss her.
"No, it's fine." I look at her face. "Just fine."
She gives me a warm smile and snuggles next to me under the blanket. Her body warmth helps sooth my soul.
"You know he won't hurt you anymore. I'll protect you." She says softly.
"I know..." you reply. "But I'm afraid of what he did to me, who I allowed myself to get too close to in the first place…"
She stroke my hair tenderly.
"I know baby. It wasn't your fault." She says.
I smile at her, a genuine smile. She gives me a kiss before drifting back to sleep. I look at her sleeping form and think about how lucky I am to have her.
But I can't go back to sleep though. I decide to get up and walk around the quiet apartment. I notice a lighter and a pack of cigarettes on the coffee table, grab them and head outside, on the balcony. I take a long drag and hold it, letting the smoke out slowly as I look at the dark city spreading in front of me.
I think about Joker. I try to block out the pain I feel every time I think about him. I have to move on, or I'll never be able to be happy again. But it's so hard.
I think about Ivy, about how nice she is with me. Her voice, her smile, the way she says my name... I start to get wet just thinking about her.
"What you doing? You can't sleep?" Ivy appears behind me.
"Just thinking about you…" I reply. "Thinking how nice you are to me."
She smiles and puts her arms around me from behind.
I feel her soft lips on my shoulder as she leaves light kisses here and there. I smile, taking another drag. The feeling of her lips on my skin and the taste of the cigarette on my tongue makes me feel better.
I turn to look at her and kiss her. But Joker comes into my mind again and I abruptly stop the kiss.
"What's wrong?" She asks.
I shake my head, hiding the tears in my eyes.
"I have to go." I curtly say.
"What now? It's the middle of the night!" Ivy says with a frown.
"I have to…"
I go back inside. I put my shoes and jacket on and head towards the front door.
Ivy grabs my arm to stop me.
"Please just... let me go okay?"
She gives me a sad, worried look.
"You don't have to do this, you know."
"I do though. I have to see him. I'll be back soon."
"And I'm supposed to do what? Wait? And then come rescue you again? I'm tired of your shit Harley." She explodes with a sad tone.
"I'll be fine this time…" I promise.
She doesn't look convinced.
"I'll come with you." She says. "That way I can keep an eye on you."
"No." I retort dryly.
"No? What do you mean no?" She shouts.
"I SAY NO ALRIGHT?"
I pass a hand on my face to calm me down. Ivy doesn't understand why I'm being so curt with her, and it frustrates me.
"Will you just go back to sleep? I don't want to fight with you right now."
She sighs heavily.
"Fine."
But you notice she has tears in her eyes.
"I won't come for you this time Harley. You're on your own." She says dryly; walking back to her bedroom. She slams the door violently behind her. I feel tears on my cheek but turn around anyway.
I walk down the stairs and exit the building.
I put my hands in my pocket as the cold winter air hits my face.
The wind wipes my tears away as I think about Ivy and how mean I've been to her.
I look around the quiet and dark streets of Gotham and notice there are a lot less cops around than a few weeks ago. Must be fear, since Joker is wandering freely, terrorizing everyone in the city.
I'm not sure if I should go to the docks or head back to his mansion again. I think about what he would do and opt for the docks; it's more likely that he would be there by a night like this one.
As I walk towards the docks, I notice a man dressed in all black leaning against a wall. His arms are crossed as he stares at me. He looks scary but I'm not a pussy. I'm Harley fuckin' Quinn god damnit!
"Hey. I'm looking for Joker. Is he around?" I say, sounding as casual as possible.
He looks at me, up and down.
"Who are you?"
"I'm... a friend of his."
The man rolls his eyes with a grin.
"Of course you are."
I blush. I know he thinks I'm one of Joker's whore.
"Is... is he here?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
The man points towards a large boat.
"There."
"Thanks."
I start to walk in the direction the man told me. I reach the boat and notice that there's no one around. I hop onto the boat and sit down on a barrel to take a look at the surrounding area.
"Mistah J?"
There's no answer. I look around and notice there is a cabin forward. That has to be where he is.
The door squeaks as it opens. I freeze, then slowly start to step inside.
Joker stands there, holding a cutlass. He slowly looks up at me as he wipes his brow with his cutlass.
"Fuck! You again? What do you want this time?"
He says obviously annoyed. He still has bruises on his face and a cut at his bottom lips, where Ivy hit him.
"I... uh..." I stutter at a loss.
"I swear to god, you're worse than the fuckin' Batman." He says between his teeth.
"I need your help." I let out.
He looks at me with a nasty grin. Then he laughs.
"Of course you do."
"Please." I beg. "I'm trying to put an end to this once and for all. I really am."
He looks at me, scratching his head. Then he takes a step towards me, his face inches away from mine.
"I don't think you are."
He steps to the side and slams the cabin door behind me. I startle. I hear the wind blows outside as he walks over to a chair. He sits down and calmly stares at me.
"What is it you need my help for?"
"I..."
I look down as I try to think of how to explain this in a way he'd understand.
"I need the amnesia toxin you'd be working on with Crane."
He looks at me with a sly grin.
"Why?"
"That's my problem."
He nods. After a few seconds, he hops up from his chair.
"Okay. Sure. I can help you with that. We should probably get going though."
I nod, even if I'm really surprised he's agreeing to this so easily. I know he can't be good. I know it's hiding something. I will have to pay him back for this one way or another.
I follow him out of the cabin and down the boat.
We walk to his car. He opens the passenger door for me and I take a seat in silence.
He gets into the driver's seat and starts the engine.
"Where are we goin'?" I ask as he speeds down the road.
"Crane's house."
I'm shivering at the name but nod anyway.
I look out the window as we pass a forest and meadows.
The morning sun is rising as Joker keeps driving dangerously on the narrow roads, taking me away from Gotham