Roots

Life Lesson 2

No one has just one past.

"There are times in our life we have to realize our past is precisely what it is, and we cannot change it. But we can change the story we tell ourselves about it, and by doing that, we can change the future." -Eleanor Brown

Siren lounged on a couch that was off to the side; she preferred it that way. She hated attention. The goons crowded around the table, a deck of cards laid out. They were playing a made-up game, called Victim. It was like blackjack, except you received five cards, you could trade in if you wanted, but you needed to have five cards at the end.. There were three turns, and only cards 1-9 were used. You could only have two people unless you used two sets. The object was to make a 10 the best you can, or you'd lose a finger.
A crash sounded, but no one looked up. It was just the Joker with his latest entertainment. Sobs echoed down the hall, and a few minutes later, a dark haired girl burst in the room, pleading. "Please. You have to help me! He's insane!" She sobbed. Upon receiving no help from the guys, her crystal eyes scanned the room, falling upon Siren. Siren was dressed casually and had cuffs on her hands that day. She looked to innocent. So normal.

"Oh toots~ Where did you go?" A pause from the Joker, his voice close. "I wasn't done playing." His growled echoed.

As if that shot a jolt of electricity through the girl, she burst to the couch, and started shaking Siren, trying to 'awaken' her, "Come on! Let's get out of here!" Siren groaned and rubbed her eyes, confused to what was happening. The girl managed to get Siren to her feet, and dragged her down a different hallway, watching scared as the goons only stood up, glowering after them. "Please open!" She begged, jiggling a door knob. When it didn't open, she tried another one; no luck.

"You know," Siren began, yawning. The girl turned towards her, shocked. "Have you tried the far right door?" A slender finger fell towards the last door on the right, aross from the barred one.

The girl shook her head and headed towards it with Siren in tow. She took a breath and tried the knob. "It's unlocked!" She whisper shouted, and hugged Siren. "Thank you! Let's go!" She walked in and carefully closed the door after them, latching the bolt. She blindly felt the wall, trying to find a lightswitch. Siren's footsteps echoed through the room, away from the girl. "Pst! Where'd you go?" She whispered, fear lacing her voice.

"Who, me?" The girl nodded in the dark, forgetting it was pitch black. "Turning on the light." A click sounded, and after a buzz, a small light turned on. It barely illuminated the room.

"I love this room..."

The girl froze. There was no way he could be in here. She had locked it! Spinning away from the door towards the center, she saw the Joker with Siren, her neck held tightly by his hand. "L-Let her g-go!" She demanded.

The joker laughed, his cackles echoeing, "Let her go!" He mocked, releasing Siren to clutch his sides. "Okay!"

The girl smiled and pulled Siren towards her, "Are you okay?"

"I am..." Siren smiled, her hand going behind her back unnoticed. "But, you won't be." The girl blinked confused. "I really hate being woken up from my nap, doll." The girl whimpered as the light swayed, like a breeze blew in. The light illuminated half of Siren's face, showing absolute terror. She had her head tilted up and she looked down at the girl, a sneer and smile on her face. It was twisted. Screams echoed throughout the whole house, as the Joker did as instructed and helped torture the girl. Learning first hand how the boss liked it done.

Stepping out of the room, blood staining their clothes, "You'll have to buy me a new shirt. I really liked this one." She whined to joker, him rubbing a spot of blood off her cheek.

"Whatever you say, sweetcheeks." He grinned, and latched her arm with his, happily walking away from the body.

"How'd it go boss?" A goon asked, referring to the scream.

"Just peachy fellows. Glad you asked." Siren smirked, and ripped off the peel from her banana.

"Siren..." Joker started, unsure how to ask. He knew the goons have been with her for a while, but he never once heard them talk about how she came to be. Siren tilted her head, encouraging him to continue. "How did you come to be...so insane?" His ear splitting grin covered his face, letting her know he was purely curious.

"Doll, no matter how hard someone tries, they can never change their past. I merely embraced the pain and made it my own haven. Now, I inflict it." Joker closed his eyes, going into deep thought. She spoke enough to give him an answer, but not one he wanted. "How'd you come to be?"

He opened his eyes, grinning as he thought of all the rumors circulating around him. He figured he'd just tell something different everytime someone asked. He wanted to keep the mystery, like she said to.

"It all started when I was a comedian, Jack was the name..."