Arkham Buddies

CHAPTER 10: The Deal

Joker parks the car in the manor garden. He walks towards the huge wooden front door.
He looks around for awhile and then speaks into the intercom:
"Craaaaaane, it's meeeeeee." He says playfully.
I roll my eyes. He's such a child.
"You're sure he's here?" I ask quietly.
"I'm sure. Shut up." Joker replies curtly.
I choose better to listen to him, looking around nervously.
"Let me in, you big nerd!"
Joker presses the button again and the intercom finally crackles. A voice I don't recognize comes out.
"One moment please." The voice says. I can see Joker growing impatient. He steps closer to the door and then suddenly he throws a hand on it and knocks hard. The door finally opens.
Joker steps back and takes a fighting pose, still acting like a little kid.
Crane is standing in front of him and groans.
"You know how early it is?" He asks, yawning.
"Should I care?" Joker replies with a nasty grin.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
Crane notices me behind Joker and frown, confused.
"Hey Crane..." I say, waving.
"Harley! How nice to see you! I heard you escaped Arkham."
Joker doesn't let me the time to respond.
"You're gonna let us in or what?" Joker says with authority.
Crane steps aside and wide his arm to welcome us inside his manor. I look at him with suspicion. Never trusted this guy with his handsome face and his aristocratic manners.
I step inside the mansion. It's bigger than I expected. Big luxurious stairs are spreading in front of me.
"What do you guys need from me?" Crane asks, rubbing his sleepy eyes.
"We're here about the memory toxin you developed. Go get it. Now."
"Oh, yes! Yes, of course." Crane replies, and quickly goes up stairs. A moment later he returns with a small box. Joker looks at me with a nasty smirk on his face. I know he wants to say something, but he doesn't.
"What are you looking at me for?"
"Harley, Harley..." He begins, shaking his head. "You really think I would give you the toxin? You really think I would help you? You stupid bitch..."
I knew this was coming. I am not going to let him intimidates me.
"Just give me the box." I say, stepping closer to him.
"Just a joke, just a joke." He says with a wide grin.
Joker slowly opens the box and takes out a small vial of clear blue liquid. I try to grab it but he snatches his hand away.
"See, I don't think I'm gonna give it to you..." He says in an unconcerned tone.
"Stop being a jerk. Just give it to me."
I try to grab it again, but he backs away, out of my reach. He starts to laugh loudly, clearly enjoying this little dance.
Crane joins him. I'm getting annoyed.
"Don't you know how this works?" Joker says with a more serious tone. "You have to earn it!"
I send him the coldest look.
"How?"
"By doing something for me, of course!"
"What kind of thing?"
He got me where he wanted. His nasty smlie widen slowly.
"I need you to kill someone for me…"
I'm taken aback. Joker laughs again, sadistically.
"You're insane. I'm not gonna kill anyone for you ever again."
Joker smiles evilly.
"Fine." He says. "Then you don't get the toxin."
I'm about to argue, but I know it's not worth it. I sigh, reflecting for a second then I decide to know a bit more about his evil plan.
"Whatever. What do I have to do?"
"I want you to kill Ivy." Joker lets out with a nasty smile.
I look at him, shocked. Did I hear him right?
"What?" I ask.
"I want you to kill Poison Ivy. You're close to her, right? It will be easy to plant a knife in her heart while she's sleeping or something like that…"
I visualize what he just said and I feel instantly nauseous.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
Joker sighs then says:
"Just think about it, Harley. With this thing…" He shakes the blue vial between his fingers. "…you could erase every memory of me. You could live happily for the rest of your life. I won't bother you anymore. Ever."
My breathing becomes heavy.
"Come on Harley... I know this is what you wish..." Joker says with a large grin.
I try to lie.
"Just give me the towin and I'll do it."
Joker explodes with a loud laughter.
"Jeez! You really are a dumb dumby! You think I'd trust you?"
I bite my bottom lip. He's scaring me.
He stops laughing and approaches me, getting right in my face.
"So what do you say? One life lost and yours becomes a sweet dream..."
"I... I can't..." I mumble, tears in my eyes.
I think about Ivy, about how much I love her.
About how good she's making me feel every single day since that day she got thrown in my cell in Arkham.
I could never harm her. Never. I'd prefer to be dead.
"Fine, I guess you're just too dumb to not take this deal. Stupid bitch... I'll do it myself."
Before I can reply anything, I feel a fist smashing into the side of my head, knocking me onto the floor. I taste blood in my mouth.
Crane is watching me with an amused smile.
"You chose the wrong answer, girl..." He says with a sigh, shaking his head.
I try to stand up but Joker kicks me in the ribs and I roll on the floor.
Crane is standing above me, watching me whimper in pain, clearly enjoying this little morning fight.
Joker kicks me again, this time his foot meets my cheek.
"Stop it!" I shout.
Joker bends over my laying body.
"What's wrong? Can't handle a little pain? You've been a very bad girl..."
I don't reply. Crane laughs at me. I feel Joker's hands grabbing me.
Crane makes his knuckles cracking. In a second, his fist hits me in the face.
I start to lose consciousness.
"You know what happens to bad little girls, don't you?" Joker groans.
I spit on his face. He pushes me away and looks at me with anger. He wipes the blood off his face and grabs me again.
"You fucking bitch. I'm gonna mess you up good."
Another punch on my cheek and I fall roughly on the floor. I can't see straight. The room is getting dark. My eyesight is blurry, and I think I'm going to pass out from the pain. Crane and Joker keep beating me up for a few minutes, each one getting his turn.
I can't get up. I know my bones in my chest are broken. My mind goes to Ivy.
"I'm sorry..." I whisper with a sob.
A last kick on my temple and everything goes black...