No Rest for the Wicked || The Joker's Daughter { ON HIATUS}

Chapter 1: Arkham

     "Mary, Mary, got a face that's so scary!" Two children chanted in unison before giggling and pulling a blonde girl's hair. This wasn't a new development. Torturing her had become an everyday routine. Tears welling in her eyes, the girl known as Mary lost her balance and fell to her knees. The gravel beneath her tore her stockings and scraped her skin. "Aw, look! The baby is crying!" A crowd had gathered and the laughter was growing louder. Slowly, Mary reached forward and gripped a rock in her tiny palm. No one seemed to notice, though, as she stood and was immediately shoved again by the little girl with a brown braid. Without warning, Mary lunged forward and bashed the stone across the other child's head. 

     A collection of gasps could be heard but the young blonde heard none of it. She couldn't stop herself and instead gripped her weapon with both hands as she continued to slam it into the bully's face over and over. Everything blurred together for her until she was violently jerked back by a teacher. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING? MARY." The shouting grew fainter and fainter as Mary zoned out, a grin forming on her innocent looking, blood stained face.

     An hour had passed and the police had already come to collect Mary before her mother could even be contacted. The little girl sat in the police station, completely content. The officers, on the other hand, had no idea what to do with the young sociopath in their custody. She stood excitedly, however, when Harley finally entered the building. "Mommy!" She chimed, though was pulled back forcefully. 

    "Miss Quinzel." One officer stepped up and spoke. "I'm Commissioner Pickett. I assume you've been informed of the incident with Mary." He immediately noticed the scent of alcohol on the woman's breath. Her eyes were glazed over and she was incredibly calm about the entire situation. "We've contacted Arkham Asylum and they have agreed to look after your daughter until her issues are resolved." The mere mention of the establishment fueled a hate fire that had stayed dormant in Harley Quinn for so long. She began to shake her head vigorously and reached for her baby. "She doesn't have any issues! She is a good girl!" The two embraced each other before being yanked apart. "You can't do this!! She didn't do anything wrong! The little bitch had it coming!!" The woman was now becoming hysterical, causing her to be escorted out. 

     Picket sighed and turned to the child alone in front of him now. He knelt down in front of her. She just smiled at him and he couldn't help but smile back.

▶▶ 

Present Day

     Standing in front of a mirror in a strikingly white room, Mary turned the faucet on and ran her hands under the cool water. A sting jolted up her arms as the liquid flooded the wounds on her wrists. It pooled into her hands and she splashed a bit onto her face. Staring at her drenched face in the reflection, she let the water continue down the drain.

     "Quinzel." A voice spoke from outside the door. It was an officer there to take her back to her cell. Of course, they wouldn't call it that. "This is the only way to keep everyone safe." She remembered Commissioner Pickett saying as he left her. Every time he left. She, on the other hand, would call it much worse than a prison. Hell would not do the place justice. "I, um, just give me five more minutes..." Mary scrambled to stuff her makeshift blade under her sleeve. It was barely hidden as the officer jammed her key in the door and forced it open. "You know these doors aren't supposed to be locked." The woman gripped the inmate by the arm in an attempt to pull her out, slicing her palm in the process. "Where'd you get that?" She inquired, angrily, leaving no opening for an answer before she grabbed the girl again. Mary struggled in her hold, screaming as she clawed and bit at the officer. It was no use, however, as there was no freedom for the cursed child. There was a sharp prick on Mary's neck and in moments, she felt reality fading from her. The darkness came and she went limp, falling into the officer's arms.

     Mary blinked her eyes open, what felt like, moments later. She was groggy and her head was buzzing. Looking around her surroundings, she found that she was back in her cell, tucked in a plain white bed. There was another officer standing outside the gate. "Oh, look who's awake." He teased. The girl rubbed her eyes and sat up. "Something came for you today." A box was slid under in door. Her heart fluttered for a moment as she thought of her best friend, Eli. He was the son of the only man who ever treated her like a human being, Officer Pickett. Therefore, Eli, was raised alongside the troubled little girl that his dad vowed to look out for. Mary sat on her knees and pulled the sides of the box open. A letter sat on top titled "My friend Mary." She picked it up and looked down to see a pile of pictures before continuing on to read the note.

Dear Scary Mary,

She couldn't help but grin at his sarcasm.

I'm sorry that I haven't been around lately. Graduation is really kicking my ass. Dad wants me to narrow down colleges and honestly, I'm not even sure if I wanna go. I'd like to settle in Gotham City and start my film career. You could even be my first star! I'm bringing my new camcorder to visitation next week and I have some exciting news to share with you.

Mary shifted on her legs for a moment. To her, no news was good news. Soon he could be leaving her for good. Her heart skipped a beat as she thought of the excitement he must feel.

Anyways, here's a graduation gift for yourself until I get there. "Prison-schooled" or not, you've accomplished so much. This is every single photo I have of the two of us, along with a few of my favorite candids of you. The camera loves you, after all.

Her face flushed pink and heated at the compliment.

With much love,  Eli