The Joker

2.

The distance between the Arkham asylum and my apartment wasn't that long. Walking, I usually got there in thirty minutes. The thing that scared me in that particular evening was the fact that I felt like someone was following me. Turning around I realized that I was all alone and nobody was following me so I continued my walk.

Finally I got home and when I pushed my key in the keyhole I felt a cold metal against my temple. Too frightened to turn around I didn't move and I waited the worst to come.

"Dr. Quinzel," I heard a raspy voice saying "I know that you're mister J's new therapist. I want to tell you something. If he's not leaving the asylum in three weeks, you'll support the consequences. Be careful because we're watching you and every move you make. Have a good night lady." The strange man said then left me all alone.

I entered the door to my apartment letting out a breath I didn't even know I was holding. I was pretty sure that The Joker was behind all of that and I couldn't spend the rest of my days in fear. I couldn't let or help him leave the asylum neither. I thought for a moment about dropping his case but then I remembered that I couldn't do that. It wasn't about my workplace anymore. I just wanted him to leave that place so they can take him to prison.

That night I didn't get much sleep. The anxiety kept me awake for the whole night. I couldn't find a way to fall asleep even if I tried. All I was thinking about was that I had to start The Joker's treatment and I was scared, to say the least.

The next day I hailed a cab because I was too scared to walk alone. Once I got there I realized that I had two hours to spare until I start The Joker's therapy. I decided to go to visit my other patients and see if they needed anything. First of all I went to Dave's cell because he was the only one that was saner than the others and never tried to kill me.

"Hello there Dave! How are you today?"

"The same old, Dr. Quinzel. I heard all about your new patient." He told me with a frown on his face.

"Well I guess he needs help like all of you do." I said to him hoping that he would drop this subject. I hated the idea of The Joker but I couldn't do anything about it. I just had to suck it up.

"He's not like all of us and you know that well enough. Drop his case, dr."

"Dave, I can't do that. It's just wrong and I risk my job. I don't want to look like a coward in front of him. He's crazy and he's locked here, but all of his people are out there in the real world." I said without looking into his eyes.

"I guess you know better then. When do we meet again for my therapy session?" He asked with a little smile on the corner of his mouth.

"I think tomorrow. By the way, do you need anything?" I asked him.

"No. I am ok. See you then, dr." With that he waved and I continued to check on the others patients. The rest of them weren't that easy to talk to but I just wanted to see if they were fine.

Going to Ward 1 was like going to hell. I was really frightened but I couldn't show this because he could smell fear and that was the last thing that I wanted. I had to be brave in front of him. He was just a crazy man that was hard to understand. On a brighter side, I had always wanted to know what was inside that wicked mind of his. What was he thinking while killing all that persons? Why was he so cold blooded?

Entering the therapy room in Ward 1 I saw him. At the door were five guards that could stop him if he tried to kill me or something and he had a strait jacket on that didn't allow him to make sudden moves.

"Hello Mr. J! How are you today?" I asked him hoping that he would talk to me.

With a lopsided smile on his face he surprisingly answered me "Dr. Quinzel, I think we all know the answer. I hate being here and you know it. By the way, did you receive my message last night?"

My face fell "Joker, the thing that you've done is quite dangerous. If someone finds out, we all know where you're going. Belle Reve is worse than Arkham. You never get out of Belle Reve and you know that. If you want to send your dogs after me again you should think about it twice." I said with a stern look.

"My dear Dr. Quinzel... I thought you heard about me. I'm the most dangerous man alive, don't make me do something you'll regret." He told me, his smile never leaving his face.

"I don't care about regrets. Now I suggest you leave me alone if you don't want bigger problems. But let's start your therapy now, shall we?"

"Start it." He told me through gritted teeth.

"What do you feel when you kill someone?"

"Happiness."

"What do you feel when your plans don't work out?"

"Anger."

"Have you ever thought about madness?"

"Madness is the main thing that I feel Doctor." He said looking into my eyes.

"Your situation is pretty bad, Joker. You're
really fucked up, but I strongly believe that I can figure you out somehow."

"That's what all of them say, doll." He told me with a big smile on his pale face.

"Please tell me about your childhood, J." I said ruffling through the papers that were in front of me.

He got up really fast and screamed from the top of his lungs "I HAD NO FUCKING CHILDHOOD, HARLEEN!"

All the guards came rushing and took him.

"Go to the electroshock room and take care of him." I told them, too scared to come near him.

I left Ward 1 thinking that I could never handle this man. The tears streamed down my face as I went back to my office. I was crying because I feared my life. I was pretty sure that his dogs would come after me and I didn't have an idea about the way I could escape. I was really fucked up.