Down Come Seven (ReWrite 2018)

W I N N E R

It really wasn't that funny.

I laughed anyway.

If only to fill the silence that comes with squishing someone under a giant chess piece.

One down. Two to go.

And those two weren't going anywhere. To busy nursing wounds. Overcoming trauma and betrayal.

...kinda boring really.

"Hurry up." The Witch said, leaning against my throne.

I smirked under the mask.

"Scared you're going to lose witchy-poo?"

She scoffed, just as disenchanted with the idea as I was.

"We both know you can't live with what you have done." She bent to whisper in my ear. "So get it over with, so I can rub it in that coward's face."

The coward, being me.

The me who thought this time might be different.

"Don't you worry your pretty little head." I reached up a hand to ruffle her curls. "Nothing has changed."

Despite her meddling.

I knew there was nothing for me.

Even if I spared them. Changed my ways and betrayed the Witch.

There was no forgiveness, redemption or peace waiting for me at the end of this road.

Even before meeting the Witch. Becoming the Joker.

I didn't know how to live with the guilt.

"How do you always suck the joy out of everything?" I muttered, glaring down at the two remaining contestants. "Do you realise how gross squishing people is when you have a conscious? I'll give you a hint, it starts at very."

All I could do was wait for the day someone put me out of my misery.

The Witch rolled her eyes.

"You asked for it."

A part of me had anyway.

I huffed, unamused.

"Yeah, well. You owe me one." I crossed my arms. "The next game, I want every contestant to be a hot guy. A harem! For me to woe and betray! That is my price!"

"Seriously?" A dry voice drawled. "You couldn't go any lower."

I sat bolt upright, rounding to find another person leaning against my thrown.

"You!"

Smiley Face stared down at me, arms crossed.

"You missed." He explained. Borderline sarcastically.

I sat there, momentarily speechless, while behind my back the Witch sniggered.

"Don't disappoint me Joker..."

Even without looking, I knew she was gone.

Didn't matter.

I could handle this alone.

"Dude!" The outrage! "Get off my tower!"

The taller boy had the audacity to reach over and poke me in the mask.

"Make me."

I gaped at him. Slowly pointing to the card still in my hand.

"...I thought we already went over the part where I threaten to chop you into little pieces?"