Beautiful Anti-Hero

Old Tricks

Felicia arrived at Gotham airport the next morning with a positive attitude. She had spent her plane journey thinking about a fresh start. Picking up some leaflets to inform her of Gotham's history, tourist attractions and hotels she made her way out of the airport carrying her luggage. Gotham looked like her kind of place. The atmosphere screamed a black and white corrupt city. Gothic buildings loomed upwards equipped with stone gargoyles overlooking the citizens of Gotham with an angry glare. Felicia wrapped her raven black coat around her as the air grew chilly. Even though it was morning in Gotham City, Felicia felt like she was walking down the streets at night.

Felicia came across a hotel located near Gotham Bridge. She turned her head around constantly as she felt a little nervous being alone in Gotham due to it's high crime rate. Who was she kidding? She had partipated in crimes before. So why did she feel so anxious? Making her way inside the hotel, she saw a plump women with a kind smile wave at her.

"Hello. Welcome to The Ritz Hotel." She immediately burst out laughing. Felicia smiled. A sense of humour. This was the personality she needed right now. Joining in the laughter, she waited for the woman to correct herself.

"Woo boy. Sorry could not resist. My name is Jane and welcome to the Shadowbridge Hotel." The woman said kindly.

"Felicia Hardy." Felicia extended her hand and the women shook it. "I am looking to stay a few nights until I find a good job. Any vacancies you know of?"

"Come to think of it. Yes. There is an amusement park not to far from here. Mr Riley was looking for some recruits to help him in running the park. Interested?" Jane smiled.

Felicia hesitated. Theme parks were not really her thing. They were kind of...boring and too colourful. All those fancy dress, bright lights and noisy people just was not her style. Nevertheless she did need a job if she wanted her own place.

"Yes. How can I contact this Mr Riley?" She asked.

Jane wrote Mr Riley's number down on a piece of paper and handed it to Felicia along with the room keys. Once the hotel was paid for, Felicia headed upstairs to give the man a ring and settle into her new room. She plopped herself down on the comfy bed and laid her blonde hair on the ocean blue pillows. She closed her eyes to just have a moment's rest but then remembered to ring Mr Riley. Dialling the number in her phone, she waited for his reply.

"Hello Mr Riley here." A cheerful voice was on the other end of the receiver. It made Felicia feel at ease.

"Hello. My name is Felicia Hardy. I heard that you were looking for people to help out at your amusement park."

"Ahh you interested? That would be great. You can come for an interview today if you want. Early evening say five?"

Felicia's eyebrows widened. She shrugged and smiled. "Sure. See you at five." Putting the phone down, she decided to get ready. Deciding to leave a little early in case of getting lost, she headed out at half three to get down to the park.

"Taxi." She called to a passing licensed taxi and getting in. "Gotham Amusement Park."

"Ok lady." The taxi driver sounded moody which made Felicia roll her eyes. She expected this sort of behaviour in a city. Sorting out her purse, she avoided eye contact with the driver in front and thought about the interview questions that she would be asked and more importantly the answers she would give. She immediately snapped out of her thoughts when the grumpy driver told her that this was her stop.

"Thanks." She gave out a fake smile to him. He drove away. "For nothing." She added. Gazing up at the glittering fairy lights up ahead she followed them down to the rides. Her heart raced a little at how quiet the place was. It all seemed a little too eerie. Felicia was not a scaredy cat by any means but she jumped when one of the amusements (a fortune teller machine) started beckoning her over.

"No good luck for me." She mumbled but put some money in anyways. The fortune read:

"Beware the clowns."

What did that mean? Felicia shuddered. Clowns freaked her out anyways. She remembered when her father used to take her to the circus and she rejected any audience participation that was thrown on her. Her mother expected her to just take part and be the good little girl. In truth, Felicia was always a daddy's girl and did not think much of her mother.

"Miss Hardy I presume?"

A bold voice spoke out from behind her. Felicia turned to see a middle-aged man in a tattered shirt and unkempt jeans. His shoes had muck all over them. Not the best impression an employer could give but Felicia shook his hand anyways.

"Yes. I am here for the interview."

"Interview?" He laughed. "I would say a formal chat judging by what I am wearing. You got a good fortune?" He pointed to the piece of paper she held which was crumped up.

"No. Funny that. It's all a con anyways."

Mr Riley stared at her then laughed. "Okay Miss Hardy. Let's pop into my office."

The office was not impressionable either. A wooden chair and desk was placed in the centre of the room. The wall was painted white but had dirt stains on it. The only thing that grasped Felicia's attention was the drawings on the wall. Rainbows, balloons and fancy lettering were drawn on. Felicia traced her finger along the lines of the rainbow and then turned to Mr Riley.

"You did this?" She asked.

"I did the fancy lettering. My children did the rainbow and balloons."

Felicia nodded. The drawings were comforting to look at. It reminded her of a childhood innocence she once had before her path into adulthood. Deep down, there was an innocence about her which only Spider-Man brought out. Other than that she was reserved and kept things hidden.

"So Miss Hardy. Or Felicia." He chuckled looking at her passport. "Have you ever worked in a place like this before?"

"No. However I am happy to gain experience in it." Felicia lied. She did not like lying to the man. He seemed nice and genuine but she really needed this job.

"What can you bring to my amusement park?"

Felicia clasped her hands together tightly. "Depends on what job I am doing."

"You will mostly be operating the rides but there is the task of serving customers in stalls, fixing amusements that are broken. I will teach you everything. Do not worry."

"I'm not." Felicia said.

"You got the job. First thing tomorrow. Phew that was short right?" He laughed. "My kids Adam and Harriet will be here tomorrow too. Maybe you could meet them. They love the rides."

Felicia laughed. "I bet they do since they get them free."

Felicia's quips made Mr Riley chuckle. Felicia could not help feeling sorry for the man. He seemed to be worrisome and absent minded. Dropping her papers on the floor, he mumbled "sorry" then smiled nervously at her. Sighing, she helped him pick up the papers and thanked him for the job.

"No problem. See you tomorrow." He waved.

Felicia made her way out of the amusement park and waited for a taxi. She hoped that she would not get the same driver.

................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

"HARLEY!"

The Joker sat in his hideout watching his men closely. One of them kept laughing at a comic he was reading and the other munched on some food. They were a dreary lot. Where was Harley?

"RIGHT HERE PUDDIN." Harley came in bounding and squeaking like a little girl.

"I need a change. I am getting bored in his hideout running from the Bat freak. I need to go out, cause some ,mayhem and have some laughs. You know the drill slugger?"

Harley nodded in agreement. "It has been a bit boring here Mr J. Nobody is really doing anything. Even the babies are acting timid." Harley's two hyenas Bud and Lou were sleeping and Harley put her hand on her chin in boredom.

"Hey boss." One of the Joker's henchmen piped up. "Did you hear about the one..."

BANG.

Joker shot the man in the face with no hesitation. Harley gasped but then a smile lit up on her face.

"Finally some action. I wonder what he was going to say though. Could have been funny." She shrugged. Walking over to the dead man, she had a look at his comic. Inside was an advertisement for the Gotham Amusement Park which had just been newly opened.

"There's that amusement park. We could have some fun there. It is run by Mr Riley." She handed Joker the comic who looked at it. A smile formed on his face and he grabbed Harley's hand.

"Harley dear. You're the greatest. I have a smashing new idea. Come now. We need to plan this through carefully. No mistakes. GOT IT?"

"Yes sir."

The Joker whispered some of his plan to her and her red lips widened into a grin. "Perfect Mr J. I cannot wait." She gleefully tied her hair into a bun and put on her Harleen voice.

"Hello there Mr Riley." She screamed with laughter. The Joker just winked at her.