A Strangle of Veins

Hey to everyone reading this, lots of the Joker in this chapter. I noticed in the previous chapter that I'd made some shocking spelling mistakes, really sorry about that. I've read over this chapter more carefully so hopefully it's ok.

Thank you to the_joker_666 for your review, it gave me a good confidence boost in my writing, hope you enjoy this chapter :-)



Chapter 2: Confused conversations

Joker stared at her in astonishment for a second, a little taken back by her rather strangely put question having expected her to scream, cry, faint, or run at the sight of him, then he erupted into a fit of laughter due to the absurdity of her statement. Didn't she know who he was, how the hell could she not??

Estell backed away a little from the glass as his mad giggling exploded around her. She furrowed her brow, what was so hilarious about her question? Her confused face only seemed to make the strange man laugh harder, making his cackling echo loudly down the corridors. She became conscious that it might attract some unwanted attention and tentatively tapped the glass to try to make him stop.

“Hey Mr......please stop laughing so loudly.....HEY! Please... please be quiet!” she now banged on the glass desperately, she didn't want to be found alone in this corridor. Where was Mr Gordon?

Joker was currently rocking on his bed, with his knees hugged to his chest and head hung back, whooping like a maniac. At the sound of her little pleads for him to quit, he sobered his laughter to giggles and landed his feet heavily to the ground, bringing his head forward to look at her curiously. He'd noticed the strained, urgent tone in her pleading, and began to wonder why his loud laughter was bothering her so much. Maybe she was a patient who'd wondered off, it would explain her lack of fear and the bizarre question if she was crazy. He inhaled heavily to catch his breath after laughing so hard, and focused all his attention on the strange little girl in front of him, who now looked very relieved that he'd stopped making so much noise. She was an odd looking thing; long silvery-white hair that was almost luminescent with the dark backdrop of the hallway behind her, big emerald green eyes full of naivety, ghostly pale skin to match her hair, and she was tiny, only barley 4ft, maybe 4ft 1. A very pretty little thing who seemed very out of place in the harsh environment of Arkham. He leaned forward into the light more, clasping his hands together beneath his chin whilst clearing his throat.

“Did my ah laughter botherrr you? Its just that your que-westion tickled me jus-ta tiny bit.....ya see I was expecting you to scareeama.”

Estell blinked at that, both distracted by his weird way of talking and now understanding why his smile had seemed so odd to her earlier on; his face no longer hidden by shadows, she could see that his smile didn't seem to end, due to two jagged puffy scars running up either side of his cheeks. The only thing that ran through her mind at seeing them was, how? She shook herself out of it knowing more than a few seconds had gone by since he'd spoke and that it must have been quite obvious to him that she was again gauping at him rudely, not that he seemed to mind, she guessed he got it a lot.

“Ah?....” she swallowed realising she was a little confused by what he'd said and a little annoyed that he'd completely ignored her first question, which he'd just found hilarious. “Ah, why would I scream at you? And you still haven't told me why you're on everyone's mind, I want to know, why are you so special?”

Again Joker was lost for words, she must be a patient, he began to giggle again at the idea of him being on everyone's mind, the way she phrased it made it seem like people were pining for him, now that was funny.

Estell's eyes widened in alarm as he began to giggle again, “No no no, stop it, stop laughing, you'll make them come, what is so funny, I don't understand? You, people, everyone, you're all just so....complicated, I don't want to be here any more.” She slumped to the floor pouting fed up with being laughed at, and being scared.

The joker, continuing to chuckle to himself about the idea of being special, strolled over to the glass window of his cell and crouched down so he was somewhat level with her. She was becoming a great source of amusement for him now and he didn't particularly want her to wonder off just yet, you never know, she could somehow become useful.

“Aww come on now, stop the pouting, I wasn't laughing at you,” he put on the best sincere voice he could muster and pulled a fake “comforting” smile at her. “Besiiides, if we're go-ing to get picky about who's answerrred who, I believe I asked the firsss-t question hmm, which you..ah completely ignore-d.”

Estell sighed still pouting and stared at her hands a bit fed up, “I just want to know why the majority of the people I come into contact with keep thinking about the colour purple, and I know its because of you because well you're wearing purple aren't you and the feelings, they resonate out of you. Why? What did you do to make that happen, I'm beginning to think not nice things, because you're in here and when I get it from Mr Wayne, he always feels really angry and upset.....maybe I'll just ask him I don't think you're going to tell me.”

Estell went to stand up, maybe it wasn't such a good idea to talk to this man any more, she should probably go find Mr Gordon, then she could go speak to Tari, finally. “I'm going to go now, I'm meant to be visiting my brother and sister, Mr Gordon is probably really mad at me for running off, its just that I really don't like doctors and needles.”

The Joker stood up, very very confused by the girls ramblings, what the hell was she going on about flashes of purple from people, that made no sense. And what was she doing with Bruce Wayne and Gordon??? She had to be mad, but then why would she be visiting people? He was too curious about her now and he wanted answers or it would nag at his mind. It wasn't as if he had anything else to do to distract him from thinking about it, he was locked away in here.

“Wait! I'll answerrrr you're questions, I'm just curiousss........ why have you had the pleasurrrre of being in the presence of both the Com-missioner and Bruuce Way-naa?”

Estell hesitated and turned round to face him, a feeling now in her gut that she shouldn't talk to him and should instead continue to walk in the opposite direction. Something in his mental demeanour had changed now that he had taken a keen interest in her, and all sorts of warning signs were flagging up in her own mind due to the dangerous aura that now surrounded him. But yet she stayed, there was something else, something else beneath all that danger that was starting to draw on her. She placed a hand gently on the glass, maybe she could take a peek inside his mind, yes that's what she could do, she kicked herself mentally for not thinking it before, she could have saved so much time.

Closing her eyes, she relaxed her mind clearing it of all thoughts and blocking out everything that was going on around her, slowly building up the courage to let her mind spiral out and touch his.

Meanwhile Joker stood in front of her, eyebrow cocked and a little perturbed by the fact that she was now completely ignoring him, totally unaware that she was attempting to read his mind. It was now his turn to tap the glass, quite agitated. He'd never come across anyone who had dared to ignore him, he was the clown prince of crime, the lord of chaos.

“Ah, hello anybody in there?” no answer. He growled under his breath in anger, about to shout at her and bang on the glass louder really not liking being ignored, when he heard the sound of rushing footsteps down the corridor and the “joyous” sound of Commissioner Gordon's voice. Oh goody.

“Estell, ESTELL! Are you alright?”

Joker pursed his lips and exhaled, rolling his eyes exasperated by the new turn of events, and slumped back down on his bed, chin resting in his hands. Guess his little muse was about to be whisked away, not that he was getting any sense out of her any more. She still stood leant up against the window of his cell with her eyes closed, although weirdly she was beginning to whimper now. The kid had to be mentally challenged, not that he could judge.

Gordon rushed over to Estell incredibly happy he'd found her, though his smile instantly dropped from his face when he caught a glimpse of the Joker grinning from ear to ear at him, behind the glass. His heart sank, of all the places she could have run to, why here? Why to him?. He touched Estell's shoulder, noticing that she hadn't moved or spoken since he'd arrived, and hearing her whimpering.

“Hellooo Com-missionerrr, always a pleasurrre to see you.”

Gordon ignored the drawl of Joker's taunting voice, concerned for Estell's current state; her breathing was getting heavier and erratic, and her whimpers were getting louder.

“Joker what did you do to her?” Jim asked him gruffly.

“Meeee?” Joker replied incredulously, “How could I possibly do anything to herrr, while locked away in heerre?, now Gordon you should no betterrr than tha-t. She did it alll by herself.”

Jim was about to make a scaving retort back at the Joker, knowing there were a number of things the man could have said to her to send her into shock, when Estell began to shake violently. He gripped her shoulders tightly.

“Estell, its ok, come on now, he can't hurt you, calm down, its alright.”

Joker began to snigger at Gordon's attempt to relax the girl with no avail. Hmmm Estell, that's a pretty name, he was about to voice this opinion to Gordon and hopefully get a rise out of the man when a shrill ear piercing scream left Estell's lips, causing both men to cower over in pain, covering their ears in a vain attempt to block it out.

Estell buckled over as well letting out another distressed scream, this one far louder and of a higher pitch than the last. The glass between her, Jim and the Joker began to vibrate violently before shattering into a thousand tiny pieces, scattering around them. At that point the scream came to its climax and ended, Estell slumping to the floor unconscious.

Jim Gordon and the Joker carefully took their hands away from their ears, both still hunched over. Jim looked stunned at the broken glass around them and then to Estell's unconscious form on the floor. He hadn't really registered that Dr. Evans and his officers were now standing beside him, his officers were currently aiming their guns directly at the Joker's head, now that he wasn't exactly contained in his cell. Jim just stared down at Estell wondering what in god's name just happened.

The Joker also having similar thoughts, groaned as he got to his feet, absent-mindedly brushing off shards of glass from his clothing. It still hadn't really occurred to him that there was no longer a wall of glass separating himself from the open hallway.

“Don't move Joker and put your hands on your head!”

He raised an eyebrow, lifting his head in the direction of the gruff but very unsteady voice barking orders at him and smirked, finally realising the situation, even though there were two guns pointing directly at his head. He took a step forward but stopped when the officer clicked the safety off his gun.

“Its ok officer.” Dr. Evans moved in front of both men, “The patient is unarmed so there is no need for your guns, I've called for some orderlies to come and escort him to the recreation room, while we assign him a new room.”

The officers looked reluctant to do so, glancing down at commissioner Gordon, who was gathering Estell into his arms. “Sir?”

Gordon eyed the Joker who was standing casually, expecting his nails as though nothing in particular was happening, he also saw the smug smile on his face. Sighing and shaking his head slightly he stood up with Estell in tow, seeing the orderlies running down the corridor, one carrying a straight jacket.

“Its ok officer Grady, you can lower your guns.”

Dr Evans smiled satisfied and approached the Joker cautiously, now with three orderlies to back her up.

“Now then Mr Joker, seeing as your room is no longer secure, you are to go with these men to the recreation room and you are to be on your best behaviour is that understood, or do I have to give you a little booster shot to make you behave?”

The orderlies got in closer, getting ready with the straight jacket. Joker's smile had now dropped, hating how she spoke to him like he was three, a number of unpleasant things ran through his mind, all involving her. She had already got the needle out expectantly.

“So are you going to be a good boy and willingly get in the straight jacket, or must I use this?” she waved the needle in his face.

He gritted his teeth remembering his first two weeks of constantly being pumped with that stuff, having to just sit and drool like a vegetable, while everything around him raced by. He didn't want to go back to that, there was no possible way he'd get out of here If he couldn't think straight. Reluctantly he held his arms out for the orderlies, glaring right through them at the opposite wall. He noticed Jim Gordon's shocked expression at the fact that he was complying, then stared at the still unconscious Estell in his arms. Jim saw that and gave him a don't even think about it stare and held her tighter. He smiled what was so important about her? He was a little disappointed that he couldn't continue to converse with the odd little girl, he wanted to get to the bottom of her. His thoughts were interrupted by the smug annoying voice of Dr. Evans.

“Good boy, I'm sure it will be nice for you to stretch your legs anyway. We will however be having a little chat about what went on here, don't think you have gotten away scott free Mr Joker.”

He cringed at her stupid patronising voice, now completely strapped up and about to be dragged away from the scene. Oh he was looking forward to their little chat, this woman was going to learn why most of the other psychiatrists had cancelled their sessions with him, what was the number he'd gotten up to now 8 or was it 9? He didn't really care, they all thought the same thing, that they could “cure” him and become famous in the process. He chuckled a couple of them had ended up in the Asylum with him. As he was being led down the hall he took one last look at Estell, wondering when he'd encounter her again, if she was a patient most likely soon, but he was beginning to think she wasn't, even though it seemed to him that she probably should be. He'd definitely look her up, when he finally figured away to get out of this place.
Now humming to himself, he wondered if Johnny would be in the recreation room.

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Hope you enjoyed this chapter, I was going to jump straight in with introducing the twins but then thought it would be too rushed and wanted to start to build a relationship between the Joker and Estell. I'll see how the next chapter goes with that. Please review. Thanks PurpleTwist