A Bat and Her Beginning

Chapter 9: Motivation

Barbara's POV:

I open my eyes, or should I say eye, the one is smiles shut, to the sound of an alarm going off. Maybe that's my salvation. With a minute both Harley and Joker are in my room.

Joker unlocks me with smile, he looks at Harley, "You know what poo, maybe we went about this the wrong way. Even if this girl is very strong willed that could have been used to our advantage." He looks to me again, "You know it's so hard to find good help in this town..." both of my hands are free, "what would you say to joining my gang? You would be nice little insurance policy. The dodo duo wouldn't fight you, and if anyone ever threatened us we could just kill you!"

I begin to crawl away. I've heard about Joker being able to coax people into doing his dirty work with mind control. As I crawl away he grabs my ankles and ties them together with what must be telephone wire, he pulls so hard my ankle begin to bleed. He then grabs my wrist and does the same.

He smiles at me again, "I know you don't like that idea much now but you will in time!"

I scream, every word hurting me as it comes out, "I WILL NEVER WORK FOR YOU!"

He laughs and then puts tape over my mouth. He begins to drag me down the hall by my wrists, my head banging the floor with Harley walking beside him. His walkie talkie goes off saying, "Batman and Robin are over powering us boss, we need your assistance."

I hear Joker mumble something. Then he hands me to Harley, "Keep going, you know the getaway plan!" She nods, as he takes off down the hall the opposite direction.

She begins to drag me, her being slower because she's obviously not as muscular as her "Pudd'n".

Harley is a lot less carful dragging me though. There are nails sticking up out of the floor. Every time we pass one I purposefully catch the telephone wire on it. By the twelfth nail the wire is weak enough to where I can free my self. But I have to wait for the opportune moment, on a good day I can take Harley down no problem. But being as weak as I am I only get one chance.

I begin to hear yelling down the hallway. Three familiar voices. One belonging to the Joker and the other ones to Batman and Robin.

Harley keeps going until we both hear the Joker moan in pain. Harley sets me down, bows my chance. She starts to walk toward the sound and just stands in the middle of the dark hallway staring at the direction we came, the same direction the yelling is coming from.

While she's distracted I wiggle my wrists free and untie my ankles. You know those stories of how a mother magically gets enough strength and free her two kids trapped underneath, Well I can feel that coming for me.

Harley turns around and I stand weakly and begin to try to choke her with the telephone wire. She slams her back against me and I hit the wall, but I'm not letting go. I'm so close to freedom.

She flips me over her back and onto the floor. I begin to hear footsteps coming toward us. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad one. As she leans down she reaches into her pocket. She pulls out a syringe. I find the strength to knock it out of her hand with one leg. It hits the floor beside me and doesn't break.

The footsteps are getting louder. I grab the syringe quickly and shove it in Harley's thigh. I press down the top quickly and Harley falls to the ground on top of me and slowly passes out.

I crawl out from under her and begin to limp away. I hear the foot steps behind me suddenly louder and closing in. They must have turned the corner and be able to see me now. I limp faster.

From behind me I hear a familiar voice scream my name, "BARBARA!" I know I'm in no danger I turn around and see Robin running towards me.

At the sound of his voice my mama bear strength leaves me and I fall back to the ground. He rushes towards me. I can see tears I his eyes. Maybe the Joker has tear gas. He picks me up gently and then begins to run.