A Lonely Place In Dying

The Sound Of Laughter

The scariest type of monsters are the ones that seem human and familiar.

His monster held a knife, a crowbar, and a smile.

Assuredly, the most fearsome weapon he wielded was that minefield of a smile.

With every wound he inflicted on the boy, his smile became more deranged, and his laughter more demented.

The boy -Jason- had come to realize this every time the metal made contact with his skin. With every bone that snapped and every cry he made, he became aware of how true that fact really was.

It was only when the crowbar came crashing down on his head that the thought of him dying crossed his mind. It was only when black spots began to fill his sight, did he really begin to fear for his life.

The maniacal laughter sounded loudly throughout the warehouse, planting itself forever inside Jason's brain. He glanced up at his torturer through the shattered lens of his mask, watching that grin grow impossibly wider.

"So, our little birdie is awake after all! I thought you had gone to sleep on me!"

He trembled as the cool steel was pressed against his face, forcing him to look up at his captor.

"Let me tell you a little secret. This is going to hurt you a lot more than it does me."

He let out another burst of chaotic laughter as he brought the weapon down on Jason one, two, three, four times. He stopped only once to gather his breath, cackling with glee as he did.

Jason's breath came harder when the first rib broke. He cried out when the second and third crumbled, and he feared a punctured lung when he felt the fourth shatter.

The Joker knelt down into Jason's line of sight and poked him on the cheek.

"I'm going to ask you a very important question, so make sure you pay attention. I don't want to repeat myself!" He giggled as he stood up and dropped the crowbar. The clang of the metal echoing loudly as it hit the floor.

He grabbed Jason by his cape and dragged him to one of the warehouses support beams, a smeared path of blood following him. He leaned Robin up against it and Jason moaned when his ribs were jostled.

"Good, you're still awake. Now, pay attention! I want to hear your answer after!"

The Joker walked away and retrieved his crowbar, shaking it a few times to get rid of the blood.

"Tell me, what hurts more? A?" The Joker hit the side of Jason's face with the end of the crowbar, "Or B?" He swung the metal again, this time hitting the opposite cheek. Jason rolled his head with the blows, trying to lessen the damage. "Forehand?" he hit Jason again, "Or backhand?" Jason slumped forward and spit blood onto the floor, wheezing.

"Now-now-now, look at the mess you've made. Didn't Batman ever teach you any manners?" The Joker giggled when Jason fell onto his side, too pained to continue holding himself up.

The Joker stared down at Robin for a moment, face uncharacteristically blank. "I'll be back in a minute Birdboy, don't go anywhere!"

Jason watched as the Joker skipped away out of his line of sight.

This wasn't how it was supposed to end. Robin wasn't supposed to die. Jason inhaled sharply as he rolled onto his side. Where was Batman? Where was Bruce?

He clenched his teeth and forced his arms underneath his legs, bringing them to his chest, ignoring the cuffs for now. The weight of his body shifting onto his knees almost made him scream. He bit his tongue, drawing blood. He had to escape, he needed to get out.