Brink of Madness

Bagpipes and Gunshots

"Harley where are you going?" Sloanne questioned.

"To the Commissioner's funeral," she replied.

"Why in the world are you going to that? It's dangerous to be at public events now with the Joker running around!" she screamed.

"I'm just going to pay my respects to the commissioner," she lied.

"You're a horrible liar. You're going to try to find the Joker, aren't you? You're going to get yourself killed!"

"I'll be fine. I won't actually approach him if he's there."

"Harleen I forbid you to go!" Sloanne screamed and attempted to get up with her broken foot.

"Sloanne stop. I promise you I'll come back in one piece," Harleen tried to calm her. Sloanne said nothing.

"I'll be back in two hours," Harleen said slamming the door.
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The sound of bagpipes filled the air on this dreary day. Harleen pulled her tan trench coat closer to her and shivered. It was so cold out, and there was still no sign of the Joker. Maybe she shouldn't have come. It was a stupid idea in the first place. This event was supposed to honor the commissioner, not to try to come in contact with a psychopath. Harleen was walking relatively toward the front of the parade. She stayed on the sidewalks so she wasn't actually part of it. When every one stopped marching, Harleen leaned against one of the shop buildings. The mayor began to speak. She scanned the crowd for a sign of anyone wearing clown makeup. Where could he be? 

"Ready, aim, fire," the soldiers fired their fake guns. Harleen continued to scan the crowd. 

"Ready, aim, fire," Harleen locked eyes on one of the soldiers. She couldn't see his face very well but she could very clearly see that he had scars into his face.

"Ready, aim.."

"No!" Harleen called out. But it was too late. The Joker took his shot at the mayor. Jim Gordon leapt in front of him to take the bullet. The crowd broke out into mass panic. The Joker scrambled to get out of it. Harleen you need to run, her mind said. Finally her legs got the memo and she staring sprinting as fast as she could.

"Oof!" She had run into someone. The stranger caught her in his arms.

"Hello gorgeous," he said. She looked up and her eyes widened. She was being held by the Joker. But he was a scarred Andrew at the same time.

"You. It's you.." she stuttered.

"I don't have time for this right now so I'll have to take a rain check," he smiled and laid her on the sidewalk. He vanished back into the crowd. She sat there speechless. She actually had dated a psychopath. 

"Miss you have to get up and find shelter," a policeman said helping her up.

"Thank you. I'm going straight to my car," she told him and ran from the sound of gunshots.