Pandemonium | joker fanfiction

Chapter 6

     I watch as Chris stumbles back, his eyes glued to mine. I watch as his hand reflexively moves to the source of the pain, and realization flashes across his face as his fingers graze the chunk of glass lodged in his neck. I watch as that realization turns to fear.

     Fear of me.
          Fear of death.

     My ears ring.

He falls to the ground silently, and Liz runs to him, an ear-piercing scream leaving her throat. She cradles his body and tears cascade from her eyes down her beautiful cheeks causing her mascara to run. I stand there as she weeps and howls in pain. I should feel like her. I should feel overrun by grief and guilt, but I don't. For some strange reason, I don't feel much of anything.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?" she screeches at me as the life fades from Chris' eyes. I don't respond; I can't respond. I can do nothing but stare at her hunched form holding the body of the boy once known as Chris.

"ALEX! ALEX, CALL AN AMBULANCE, CALL THE POLICE, HELP!" she screams hysterically as he appears suddenly, chest heaving. He must have come running at the sound of Liz's screams. His eyes widen in horror at the scene before him, and he sprints back out of the alleyway.

The reality of the situation finally slams into me. I just murdered someone, and the police are inevitably coming.

What have I done, what have I done, what have I done?

I dart to my mostly destroyed belongings and begin to throw them into my bag. I don't know what I'm doing, but I have to get out of here.

Hurry, hurry, hurry.

I glance up and see Liz is still too focused on Chris' limp body. I swing the backpack over my shoulder and sprint out of the alley as fast as I can before she can catch on. I expect to have to dart past Alex, but he's already out of sight, most likely calling the cops. Liz finally screams after me, but I'm already gone.

     Blood runs into my eyes, and my head spins, but I don't stop. I think I pass by people, but their faces are blurred. My ears hurt; maybe they are yelling. I run until my lungs feel like they are about to burst and spots swim across my vision. I run until the blurry faces disappear.

When I slow to a walk, night has fallen, and the section of the city I'm in is completely deserted. For the past year, normally sketchy places like this are empty almost every night thanks to the emergence of the Batman. It's crazy how one vigilante can spark so much fear. Before he showed up, there were drug deals and robberies at every corner.

     By now, exhaustion has started to seep into my bones. My breath comes short and my whole body feels strangely clammy from blood loss. I want nothing more than to curl up on the ground and cry. However, the sirens in the distance push my battered body forwards.

Something vibrates in my bag causing me to nearly jump out of my skin. I drop to my knees in the middle of the sidewalk and pull my small phone out of my bag. Somehow, the busted thing is working. Jason's name flashes across the cracked screen, and I cry out in relief.

"Mara?" his soft voice calls out and hot tears roll down my face. I can't seem to hold back the waterworks any longer.

"Jason, thank God," I say, my voice thick with emotion.

"Mara, where are you? The cops are looking for you," he says with evident desperation.

"Outside of Sparky's Tattoo Parlor," I say, reading the sign on the building in front of me. I hear rustling on the other side of the call before he finally answers me.