Scaring The Crows

Chapter Four

"I think you're hungover, Dr Crane. You seemed to be pretty drunk last night. You tried to kiss me, it was weird" I shook, holding the ice pack to his head as he sat, whining in his chair. His desk was covered in scribbled notes and different types of forms. "In an elevator. It was cramped and uncomfortable so I...may or may not have kicked you and ran off"

He looked at me, raising an eyebrow with a 'I remember everything' look. "My head aches like mad. I woke up in the basement with a love songs CD playing, with an empty bottle of vodka next to me, my tie strapped around my head and my shirt undone. So yes, I do think I'm hungover. I bet this was Joker messing with me so he can sneak himself some extra supplies. I don't remember trying to kiss you, Kristie" he replied, rubbing his temples.

"How old are you, Dr Crane?" I asked, not really paying attention to what I was doing, or what he had said. I needed to get that question out of my system. "I'm 23 by the way"

"29…I think. I don't know. Birthdays aren't really celebrated in here" he replied, taking some ibuprofen.

"Oh" I sighed. "It's my birthday today. 23 today and no family to celebrate it with. For all they know, I'm dead"

"Well then, happy birthday Kristie" Jonathan replied without any hint of enthusiasm in his voice. "But that's no excuse for not getting to work."

His eyes seemed so blank behind those glasses and he seemed to be concentrating on something, I could see it in his face. He seemed to have pushed the hangover to one side in favour of sorting out something else. I gulped. Not yet. He sighed and took his glasses off, placing them open on the table, and then running a hand through his already messy hair. "You look a bit rough" I swallowed, to which he glared at me. Once again I could see the blank expression and dull eyes, but now there seemed to be a slight darkness behind the blue.

Ooh I like this one Johnny! She's feisty. Maybe you should introduce us, let me come out for a bit of playtime

"Not yet" Crane mumbled, rubbing his eyes. I swallowed.

"You're talking to yourself, Dr Crane" I shook. Maybe he never really 'recovered' from when he got pushed from head psychiatrist to a high class patient.

"Not really" he replied, almost a little too quickly. Of course you're not Johnny! You're talking to me! Now, for the best of this situation. You might want to excuse my eagerness.

I flinched as he slapped me hard across my cheek, his calm and collected manner now one of violence and pride. My cheek immediately began to burn, and I felt it heat up. That would definitely bruise. "Y-you hit me" I stuttered, holding back tears.

Anger seemed to burn up in his eyes and, despite his thin frame, he pushed me to the floor. My head collided with the wall and I sobbed in pain as my forehead began to bleed from the point of impact. He chuckled. "Yes, I hit you. Now what're you going to do about it? Cry in the corner like a child? Curl up and pretend it's all a dream? Well I have news for you sweetie, it's a living nightmare!"

"J-Jonathan?" I sobbed, looking up at him. My vision had begun to go blurry.

"No, Scarecrow" he corrected, and I could now make out the burlap mask he had on, with a tiny hangman's noose around the neck. I watched him mess with something around his wrist and a shot of gas spurted in my face. I sobbed and screamed even more, tearing at my hair and crying from how scared I was. He continued to laugh. I struggled and coughed, still coughing, before he dragged me back up and restrained me to the desk using some leather wrist straps. "Interesting" he mused, his voice muffled and hazed.

Through my clouded and teary vision I could see the mask crumple through flames and I screamed even more, thrashing my limbs as best as I could (though not very well, because of the restraints). He began to laugh, and the mouth of the mask opened, with a spider now crawling from the open crevice and up his cheek. I could feel my heart quicken and I scrunched my eyes shut. Spiders and fire. The two things I feared the most. It had turned to physical pain and it had become unbearable. My voice trembled through the pressure. "S-Scarecrow" I mumbled, over and over again through streams of tears.

Stop it! I like her ok! Don't put her through all of this, she doesn't deserve to be crazy! Please, I'll find someone else for you to hurt like this

"Looks like Jonny really doesn't want me to hurt you" Scarecrow smiled, and shrugged softly. "I'm doing him a favour, testing her to see if she's strong enough for both Jonny and me. Huh" he said through gritted teeth. I passed out.