We'll Laugh Together

Chapter Eight

'Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. FUCK.' Aniyah thought repeatedly, gripping her purse tightly, 'I still have the car keys, maybe I can make a run for it.' She glanced back at the Chrysler then at The Joker's gun. 'I won't make it.' Aniyah tried to play through every scenario, something she could do to try and escape, but they either didn't work or resulted in death. She cursed one last time, looking down at the ground.

"Oh. Great."

Aniyah looked over at the man in the car, "...Dr. Arkham?" She furrowed her eyebrows together.

"Ladies first." The Joker opened the car door.

Aniyah glanced at him and hesitantly climbed into the car.

"Now we can go pick up Lyle." He sat next to Aniyah and put his gun away. Aniyah jumped slightly hearing someone bang on the trunk along with faint screams.

'Oh my God.' She thought, closing her eyes. 'Aniyah, don't freak out now. It won't end well if you freak out now.' She thought, trying to calm down.

"Why so quiet, doll?" Aniyah's eyes snapped open, realizing how close The Joker was.

"No reason." She slowly moved over. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back. Aniyah's breath got caught in her throat as she tried to pry his hands off.

"Isn't there a rule with writers-ah? If something like this happens, you have to, uh, live to write about it?" The Joker asked.

Aniyah stopped moving. "...I'm going to take that as a threat and not a question." She said.

The Joker laughed, making her flinch back, "Smart."

Aniyah shifted slightly, "Where are we going?"

"Well, after we pick up Lyle, we're going to dinner-ah."

"Where?" She glanced at him.

"That's a surprise, doll. I don't like ruining surprises." He grabbed a strand of her hair, twirling it around his gloved finger, "You, ever try dying your hair red? Red would look nice on you." He made Aniyah look at him, "It could match that fierce look in your eyes, way better than orange can."

"...I thought about it. I just like orange better." Aniyah responded, staring up at him as he licked his lips.

"What color was your hair before?"

"What color was your hair before?" Aniyah retorted.

The Joker chuckled.

"We're here." Dr. Arkham glanced back at the two.

"Great! Let's go. Grab the camera." The Joker grabbed Aniyah and got out of the car, "He lives in an apartment building. How cute-ah." He giggled, going upstairs.

Aniyah slowly took a step back as he broke into Lyle's apartment. The Joker glanced at her, making her freeze. He took his jacket off and put it around her shoulders.

"Hold this for me." He took off his gloves and put them in the pockets of the jacket. Aniyah stayed behind Dr. Arkham as they walked into the apartment to see what was happening through the camera's night vision.

'Why does he want to record all of this?' She thought.

She flinched slightly at Lyle's loud snoring as they got closer to his room.

"We have to be quiet." The Joker whispered, getting closer, "Lyle's sleeping." He giggled, moving towards Lyle's bed.

"Please don't kill Lyle." Dr. Arkham said as The Joker picked up a bat. He slowly aimed the bat at Lyle's head, preparing to hit him.