The Killing Joke

Chapter Five: Troubles come by Twos

"Troubles rarely ever come one by one. . . They come by twos instead."

She stood in line at the bank. . . she was bored. She knew what was coming in a few short moments. A bank robbery and no matter how much she wished different it seemed like she would be getting caught in the middle of it. She would have to watch her reactions. Wouldn't want them to think she was going to be a problem.

She was second in line when the first gunshots were fired. She followed the victims example and got down following the shouted orders. She noted the familiar dress of the joker. His mask completely opposite from the Glasgow smile etched on his face beneath the mask.

He came around remaining silent and handing each of them grenades. He came to her and just handed her one. He gave her a searching look before moving on without pulling out the pin. She sighed in relief not really wanting to have to throw the RPG.

She didn't like explosives much. Though she knew the joker did this more out of wariness for her throwing it at him. And she would without hesitation if he pissed her off enough. As of now he still held her respect. Small though it was she didn't need to make an enemy of him.

When he killed the final robber and then the bus driver she commended him logically for his cunning. Emotionally she was disgusted by the lack of value he put on life. He then was called attention to the bank manager. He stuck a smoke bomb in his mouth though the man didn't realize it.

"I believe whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you. . ." he pulled off the mask revealing the glasgow smile. His war paint and his dark as death eyes. "Stranger."

He had a flare for dramatics and putting on a show. He had a knack for terrifying people after of coarse they knew what he was capable of. He wasn't narcissistic or psychotic. He was an anarchist at heart and a man with brains beyond the criminal world and within it. He was the worst or best of monsters depending on how you looked at it.

Before the sirens pulled in she tossed her RPG aside and walked out. So much for the bank today. She rode her bike back home. She was going to start training again. Her earlier fight with the joker was proof she had let herself slip.

She would have plenty of time to pick up her precious human package later. For now she prepared herself. Something was coming. Something was beginning now. She needed to be prepared. Better to get your umbrella ready before the storm unleashed its fury.

'The clouds have gathered all that's left is for it to begin rolling across the city.' she reasoned while she ran.

**************★**************

Alisa was bouncing up and down with excitement as she waited for the illegal liquor to be unloaded. The mobsters exchanged cash for the liquor and marijuana. She had seen this many times in her life. It wasn't surprising and she realized it was just another day.

Eli was supposed to be here after the mobsters left. No one in the city needed to know her criminal connections. Though everyone in the family didn't agree with her lifestyle no one wanted trouble brought to her doorstep.

When she saw Eli's short casual clad frame walk around the ally ways mouth she jumped out of the truck and ran to her. She collided with her mother,  for all intents and purposes, Eli's arms wrapped around her snuggly.

"You have grown so much little bit. How was the ride?" she asked kneeling down before her.

"Pretty good the boys were nice enough." she shrugged.

Eli wrapped an arm around her shoulders and walked to the truck. Grabbing Alisa's bags and the chest of her special delivery of moonshine.Soon Eli promised that she could meet Corcoran. She couldn't wait.