The Set Up

Red Roses

When I had gotten home later then usual that night Leah had jumped down my throat, saying how worried she was. When I had told her why she bombarded me with more questions then before. That was only a week ago and the relentless questions have yet to let up. We were at the mall doing some last minute costume shopping for Halloween and were currently digging through the temporary costume shop that had been set up a month earlier.

"Don't you think its weird that Carl gave us Halloween off?" Leah pondered while looking through some costumes.

I shrugged, "I didn't until I said if you're working then I am too and he answered by giving you the day off also. But, I don't really mind so much since I haven't had a Halloween off in a couple years." I looked back up at the blond, "Take it as a blessing I say."

There was a silence between us, the sounds of screams and Halloween music playing through the store's speakers. Leah suddenly turned to me, holding up a skin tight cat costume.

"What about this?" She asked, looking between me and the outfit.

"Its cliche but I mean there's not much left for us to pick from. I was thinking of saying screw it and being a skeleton since there's enough left of that to make a good costume." I answered while holding up the bone printed tank top.

After another hour of searching, Leah decided on being a bat and I kept with the skeleton, adding things like laced elbow length gloves, a delicately designed half faced skeleton mask, and black skinny jeans with the lower half of a skeleton printed on the front. We were now munching on some Chinese food in the noisy and crowded food court.

"What should we do for Halloween since we got the costumes now?" I asked while popping a wanton in my mouth.

"Well," my friend started while sipping her soda, "We could go to that one club, the Gold Room. Carl's told me and Amy about it before."

I stared at her, giving her my best are-you-fucking-joking look, "The one in the south side of Gotham?"

"Yeah?"

"You do realize that while this city is already pretty much a 10 on the crime scale, the south side is like a terminator 20, right?" I pointed out, seriously wondering if Leah was mentally sane.

"Sam, we work in a bar that is a front," Sighing, Leah placed a flier on the table for me to look at, "It's gonna have a giant Halloween party, over half the drinks will be at a discount."

I was quiet for a long time, looking at the piece of paper and seriously thinking. It was a horrible idea to go on that side of town but cheaper drinks weren't a bad thing and it was one of the best clubs in the city. Also, when's the last time I actually let loose. Groaning and rolling my head back before facing forward and rubbing my face, I gave Leah a look that said it all.

She cheered in delight, "Yay! This is gonna be so fun, you won't regret it!"

And that's all I heard all the way home.

All. The. Way.

"Well, I have to go call my mom and talk to her. Talk to you later?" The blond asked as I payed the cab.

"Yeah."

She then pointed to my small porch, "You got flowers."

I looked at my side of the duplex and sighed.

"Bet they're from the Joker." I stated with mixed feelings.

"I don't know if its such a good idea that he's so focused on you, Sam. He's really dangerous." Leah said, worry crinkling her face.

"He'll get bored when he sees I'm just another average Jo." I stated, hopeful.

"Then what?" She asked.

That was a good question. If he got bored, then what? Would he leave me alone? Kill me? I swallowed hard and tried not to think about it as I approached the bouquet of red roses with little white skull ornaments sprinkled throughout them. I seriously stared at the flowers for a moment, considering what my choices were. Where they dangerous? Should I just toss them?Frowning, I decided to pick them up and take them inside in the case someone was watching. Setting them on my coffee table, I spotted a playing card peeking out through all the red. Picking it up and flipping it over, I saw it was a joker card with red writing.

'Hope you enjoy the present, doll. I thought you seemed the type to like Halloween ornaments. And don't you worry, I'll be seeing you very, very soon. Until then, enjoy the roses as a reminder of me.

Sincerely,

Mr. J

P.S. Look at your phone.'

Pausing a moment and swallowing, I remove my smart phone from my back pocket. The phone sensed the movement and the screen lit up saying I had a text message. Opening it up I stared down at the phone with a dry throat, so dry in fact I felt as if I had cotton mouth.

From: +1-555-620-8555

Did you like my gift?

Finally finding my strength to breath, I clicked on the screen to respond with weak fingers.

To: +1-555-620-8555

How do you know my number?

Plopping down in my squishy armchair, I waited until I heard my phone jingle and looked and the text.

From: +1-555-620-8555

Now pet, you know I don't like repeating myself. It's cuz I wanted to know it. ;)

See you soon.

 I stared at those words, knots in my stomach. What the hell is going on?