It started that summer

P-Please

My hands were shackled behind me, my feet bound together. Every day seemed to blur into the next. My body ached from the constant abuse, and I couldn't lie to myself any longer, I was on the brink of breaking. The Joker's cruelty was relentless—each day brought a new tormentor, a new method of torture. My mind swirled in confusion and pain, trying to make sense of the chaos. What was his endgame? Why was this happening? Why is he bringing in other people?

Boots clicked toward me, and I forced myself to focus. "Q-Quinn, you're not here to let me out, are you?"

"Not even close!" she chirped. She grabbed my legs and dragged me across the rough floor. "You're awfully light, you know."

"S-Shocking what happens w-when you're being s-starved," I managed to mutter through gritted teeth. Every jolt and bump against the ground sent waves of pain through me, and I cried out, trying to stifle the sounds. Finally, we stopped. Quinn lifted me and moved me to my knees, positioning me by a bathtub. My heart pounded in my chest. She clicked her pen and held her clipboard, moving behind me. I tensed, bracing for whatever she was planning.

"Now, tell me who did this to you?" she asked, her voice playful but carrying an edge of menace. I hesitated, my mind scrambling. "Oh, don't be shy, birdy! Just tell me who locked you away. How'd you get all those cuts?" She poked a fresh wound on my back, and I hissed in pain.

"T-The Joker," I croaked.

"Wrong!" she sang out cheerfully. She grabbed my head and plunged it into the water. My panic surged immediately; drowning was my worst fear after the Lazarus Pit. The water filled my mouth, and I screamed involuntarily. I thrashed, desperate to escape, but the restraints held me firm. The sensation of not being able to breathe was overwhelming. I fought against the restraints with everything I had, but it was useless. She pulled my head back, and I gasped for breath, coughing up water. "Who did this to you?" she demanded.

"Th-The—" My anxiety spiked as I knew she might push me back in. I was paralyzed with fear. "W-Wait!" I begged, but she ignored me and shoved my head back under. My body screamed as I struggled for air, the suffocating darkness pressing in on me. My vision blurred, and I felt myself slipping away. She held me down longer this time, and my panic reached its peak. When she finally pulled me out, I vomited water and sobbed uncontrollably. "P-Please," I begged, my voice breaking.

"Wrong answer~" Quinn cooed delightedly. She pushed my head back into the water for a quick, torturous dip. The sensation was horrifying, and I felt like I was suffocating. "Who did this to you?"

Terror washed over me, and I forced out the words, "...B-Batman..." I gave in defeated.

"Good job!" she said with a gleeful tone, jotting down notes on her clipboard. Her twisted satisfaction was almost more painful than the physical torment. "Alright, birdy, it's time to dive into a new little game. I think we need to make things a bit more... refreshing."

She moved me to a large, heavy-duty clear water container. My heart raced as I tried to focus through the haze of pain and exhaustion. She opened the side and strapped me down. I was secured, making me completely immobile. Quinn connected the hose to the container and turned on the valve. A steady stream of water began to flow through the hose, creating a faint hissing sound as it entered the coffin. My breathing quickened, and a wave of panic washed over me as I realized the water was rising. "N-No, fuck fuck," I gasped, "P-Please, Not water. Anything but w-water."

Her smile widened. "Oh, but water is so therapeutic," she said with a comforting tone. "It's perfect for cleansing and revitalizing. And besides, you seem to need a little more... encouragement." She adjusted the hose to direct a stronger stream of water into the tub, the flow causing the water level to rise. The freezing cold water rose to my chest, I could feel it seeping into my clothes, making me shiver uncontrollably. The water moved fast, each rise heightening my fear. "I'm sure this will do wonders for your perspective."