Adopted by Joker

Chapter 7

(One week later)
I sit in my room staring out the window with my favorite blanket wrapped around my legs and feet. I sit here in my baggy sweatshirt and sweat pants and I'm watching as the kids play in the backyard. I hear someone walk in and I look to see Miss Selena coming in with a hot cup of soup.

"Hey, Kendrick. How are you feeling?" She asks as she sits next to the window seal where I'm perched and she hands me the cup. I take a sip of the hot liquid and she pushes some hair out of my face. I lay my head against the wall and I look at her.

"I don't feel well, Miss Selena." I say and she nods. Since I had gotten back to the orphanage i've barely had an appetite and i've had a fever for most of the time, that is why I am wrapped up in a blanket in the middle of summer.

"Do you feel well enough for an interview? There is a woman downstairs that has asked for you by name." She says and I look at her.

"What? She specifically said 'I want Kendrick'?" I ask and she nods her head. I stare at her shocked. I then stand and throw my blanket on my bed and we walk downstairs. We walk into the interview room and there is a woman sitting a chair. I sit across from her as I study her. She smiles.

"Hello, Kendrick. My name is Gloria. I want to adopt you." She says and I look at her a bit sceptical.

"Why?"

"I'm sorry?" She says confused.

"Why do you want to adopt me? I don't know you, and you don't know me. Why did you ask for me specifically?" I demand and she sits back a bit shocked.

"You should be thankful that someine wants to adopt you with that adittude! You ungreatful brat!" She yells as she stands to her feet. I slowly stand to my feet as glare at her.

"What did you just call me?" I challenge and her eyes grow wide and she looks down.

"I-i-I'm sorry, s-s-sir!" She says and she holds out her hand and I see that she is holding something. I take it from her and I see a note from Mister J.

'How are ya Kendrick? This worthless woman works for me. She was sent to pick you up for me, since I can't come myself. Just do what she says. You and I will talk when you get to my place. Oh by the way she is going to give you a phone. It has my number in it. Text or call me if you need anything. See you at home!
~J'

I look up at the woman and she refuses to look at me.

"When do we leave?" I ask and she looks to Miss Selena who just walked in.

"What's the soonest I can take him home?" She says faking a smile. Miss Selena stops.

"Uhh... Three days." She says and I look at her.

"Why three days?" I question her.

"Because, Kendrick. Your councilor has to assess you one more time before you go." She says and I know that she is lying

"You're making that up. Councilors never have to assess kids before they leave." I say calling her out and she looks at me.

"It's because of what happened a few weeks ago, Kendrick. We don't want you to relapse." She says and I roll my eyes.

"Fine." I say and I look back to Gloria.

"Please let me walk you to your car." I say and then we leave. As soon as we are out of Miss Selena's earshot I look at Gloria. "Mister J. Said that you have a phone for me. Where is it?"

"Right here, sir." She says as she hands it to me.

"Good. You be back here the day after tomorrow at 10:30 sharp. I don't like to be kept waiting. Also she is going to try to convince you not to adopt me, because my health has been very poor since so got out of the hospital. Don't let her talk you out of it, or I will make sure that Mister J hears about it. Got it?" I say and she nods.

"Yes, sir." She says. I turn to her and smile just so Miss Selena sees it and I hug Gloria.

"I'm sorry if I seemed short or rude. I'm on some anti-depresents and they cause mood swings. I'm usually much nicer." I say and she nods.

"I understand. Message Mister J about what Selena said so he doesn't shoot me." She says and I nod.

"Alright. Be safe heading back." I say as I open the car door for her and she gets in. Then she leaves and I start coughing again.

"Come on, Kendrick. You'll catch your death out here." I hear Miss Selena say and I follow her back inside. I go back to my room and lay down in my bed. I pretend to goto sleep as Miss Selena checks on me again. I hear her walk over to my abandoned tea.

"You missed your dose. I'll have to double up on it next round." I hear her say and then she leaves. As soon as I hear the door click closed my eyes shoot open and I look to see if she is still in here. She is gone, so I pull out the phone and text Mister J.

'Mister J, it's Kendrick. Miss Selena won't let me leave for three more days. She is saying that it has something to do with my councilor, but I think I have bigger problems. I've been sick since I left the hospital, and I think I'm being drugged.' I hit send and then I set the phone under my pillow so my head sits on it. My eyes close and the phone buzzes. I pull it back out, and I have a message from the Joker.

'Don't take anymore medication from here. If she gives you pills hide them under your pillow, or flush them. If she gives you a drink dump it out. I will make sure that she is dealt with it personally. I will be coming with Gloria, but I will be disguised.'

'Thanks Mister J.' I text back and then I fall asleep.

(A few hours later)
I wake up in a daze and I look around the room. It's dark outside. I can no longer see the sun peaking through the window. I slowly sit up and go to the bathroom taking the phone with me. After I finish in the bathroom I go downstairs to get a drink. I grab a bottle of water out of the fridge and I hear something fall in the main sitting room. I try to write it off as normal, but I can't shake the feeling that something is wrong. I looks towards the sitting room from the hall with the staircase. I slowly walk into the sitting area and I see a short fat man with a cane.

"Who are you?" I say a loud and he turns to me with a ugly look on his face.

"Go back to bed, boy." He hisses and I glare at him.

"Not until you are out of my house." I say in a low threatening tone.

"Your house? Ha! You have no right to say such things." He says mocking me. I glare at him and another man comes out of the kitchen.

"Oh look. It's one of the orphans. Hmm... Surely nobody will miss this one. Will they?" He says as he walks closer to me.

"One more step and you won't live long enough to regret it." I say and he freezes. "Now both of you get out before I call inspector Gorden."

"Very well, boy. We'll leave, but rest assured that this will not be the last time we meet." The fat man says and they leave. I lock the door behind them and then I go into the sitting room. I grab a book and turn a lamp on as I open the book to read it.

(Several hours later)
I finish the third book of the night when I hear someone come downstairs. I turn and see Miss Selena and she turns to me.

"Kendrick? What are you doing out of bed?" She says and I narrow my eyes at her.

"I couldn't sleep. Not after I found those men in our sitting room." I say and her eyebrows raise.

"There were men in here?" She says faking surprise as she looks around the room in a mock search for them.

"Yeah. They aren't here. I kicked them out. They've been gone for at least four hours." I say and she looks at me.

"Why didn't you wake me? You know you should never confront strangers." She says scolding me like a small child.

"Yeah. I've really never followed that rule. Especally as of late." I say and she sighs.

"You should get some rest. I'll make you some calming tea." She says and I roll my eyes.

"Don't worry about the tea. I'm not thirsty." I say as I get up and go to my room. I lay back in my bed. I grab my journey and begin writing in it. I write until I begin to get tired. I then put my journey back where I hide it and I go to sleep.