Freak is an Ugly Word

The annoying sound of the alarm clock from the nightstand, awoke Jessica from her peaceful slumber. Though she hated the noise with a passion she refused to leave her spot on the bed and turn it off. She was just too warm and comfortable to move. The bed shifted as Greg rolled on top of her and switched the cursed thing off. A blissful silence filled the room and the room seemed stilled by it. Even Greg dared not move from his new position on top of her, leaning heavily on his elbows. The only noise in the room was the light breathing of the still sleeping pup on the floor.
“Merry Christmas,” Greg whispered from above her.
She smiled sweetly. “And a Merry Christmas to you, too. What time is it?” she asked scrunching up her face.
“Seven in the morning.”
“I thought you had to work early?”
“I did. Someone called an hour before my shift and asked me to switch them, so I did. I’ll be going in at one.”
She nodded in acceptance. It was something that she was used to. Him switching shifts seemed to happen a lot, usually ending in an inconvenience for him, but he never seemed to mind. Work was just a joke to him and she knew that. He did not have to work if he so chose not to. Work was just something that he liked to do or so he told her.
It did not bother her that he was working. What bothered her was the loneliness she felt when he was gone. When he left she was left all alone with no one but a puppy to keep her company. Not having anything else to do she usually cleaned the house which seemed never to really get dirty. After she was finished, Jessica was left with nothing else to do but read. Once she had tried to watch television but found it boring without Greg’s commentary.
The days he had off, which were few and far between, were her favorites. They were filled with laughter and a joy she had never felt before. Those days were nothing but watching him act out scenes from the television that were of his own making and him telling her funny stories of mishaps that had happened at the hospital. Not knowing if they were true or not, some seemed too ridiculous to be true, she still laughed at them. One day she would have to work up the nerve to visit him at work and see first hand.
Leaning down Greg captured her lips with his. She eagerly deepened the kiss entangling her fingers in his hair on the back of his head. A low rumbled growl came from his throat as her fingers tightened their grip in his hair her long nails lightly scraping his scalp. Breaking the kiss he removed her hand from his hair by her wrist and placed it above her head along with the other one. Transferring her wrist to where he held them in one hand, he returned his lips to hers. She whimpered in the kiss as his free hand traveled down her body until he reached her hip which he gave a tight almost painful squeeze.
His lips moved from her own to her neck, biting and sucking on it. The hand that held her hip left it, leaving a warm spot on her skin, and her nails dug into her palms knowing what was coming next. Pain flashed through her body as he entered her and she felt beads of sweat forming a slimy layer on top of her skin. She bit her lip to stop herself from crying out.
Normally he waited for her to adjust to his size before he started to move, but that morning he was more eager than most and he started instantly. Not that Jessica minded, she enjoyed the pain and had begged him many times to do so. That morning he had decided to give her what she wanted.
As he thrust in and out of her, he released the grip he had on her tiny, now bruised, wrist and slid it underneath her hand. With her hands now free she clawed at his back. This caused him to pull her hair and her back arched. Her arched back allowed his free arm to wrap around it and slid her down deepening each thrust.
She reached her peak and dug her nails deeper into his back cutting the flesh leaving crescent moon shaped cuts on his back. Knowing that he was not finished and fearing to cause further damage, Jessica removed her nails from his back and reached up above her and gripped her pillow tightly.
With one last deep thrust, he climaxed inside of her. Tears were spilling forth from her eyes and his heart sank. Fearing the worst he pulled out of her and lay next to her, cradling her against his chest. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he repeated over and over again.
Jessica sniffled. “Don’t be,” she told him. “You didn’t hurt me. Just don’t do that again. I don’t think that I can handle something that good again.” Chuckling Greg kissed her forehead. “Ugh, I need a shower. I’m covered in sweat.”
“Then go take a shower.”
“I don’t think I can get up,” she admitted. Greg burst into laughter and offered to help her.
An hour later she was sitting on the blue couch in the living room with Musket’s head in her lap, stroking it gently. The television was on but she paid it no heed. Instead she stared out of the window watching the flakes of snow fall slowly to the ground. Their graceful and purposed filled movements reminded her of Selina. She wondered what the woman was doing at that moment. No doubt her and Holly were up celebrating Christmas with Croc.
At the thought of the man, Jessica’s heart sank. The night before Selina had verbally attacked her for leaving the man without a word as to why. In her anger, the woman had called her many harsh things that she later regretted when Jessica told her what had happened. Holly had just looked at them with interest in her brown eyes. Holly and Selina were not true sisters or blood related in any way. Selina had found Holly on the streets and had decided to take care of her. They had formed a quick bond and quickly fell into calling each other sisters. Selina had badly wanted to take Jessica in as well but the women had been told if they helped the girl that they would be punished with the penalty of being strapped up and beaten.
No one was to help the girl. That was until Croc had asked to move in with her. If it had been any other man, they would have refused, but no one refuses Croc. Even the bosses were frightened of the man. His reputation of killing those that upset him left them with no other choice but to give him what he wanted. It made life easier for Jessica but not for them. It had become harder for them to punish the girl with Croc backing her. It, also, had made the others more brave with their attempts to protect and help her.
After all he had done for her, Jessica had left Croc without a word and heartbroken. She knew that Selina would relay her message of apology to the man. Hearing that she was safe would gladden the man, but Selina would not leave the part out of her being with another man. Though it would tear his already broken heart to shreds, Selina would not be able to lie to the man. Jessica respected and hated that about the woman. Already had she broken his heart once, why would she want to do anymore damage?
Her view of the window was blocked by Greg’s body. “You’re crying,” dully he stated to her.
“Am I?” Reaching up to her face with her left hand, the other occupied with petting Musket, she touched her cheeks. They were moist with the silent tears that she had not known that she was shedding. “I guess I am.”
Flopping down on the couch next to her, Greg wrapped a comforting arm around her small shoulders. “Why?”
Jessica sighed, leaning her head on his shoulder, and told him what had transpired the night before. Normally she had the ability to keep her mouth shut about such things, but found it lost on that man. She told him everything though she did not want to. For some reason or another, she felt as if she could not lie to the man.
“I see,” he commented after she was finish. “So, when do I get to meet him?”
Jessica stared at him incredulously. “What?!” she exclaimed. “Why would you want to meet him?”
“I would like to meet all of your old boyfriends and he seems to be the only one.” He leaned his head against her and continued to speak. “I would let you meet all of my old boyfriends and girlfriends, but most of them are bitter and far away. One I don’t ever want to see again.”
“But why?”
“For you, I want you to see how much better you are than them. And me, I just want to size him up. I’ve heard many things on the street about the Killer Croc and I would like to see him first hand. I want to know if he lives up to my expectations or not.”
Jessica could not help but laugh at the man. “Size him up?” she managed trying to catch her breath. “Oh, Honey, that man could beat you to a grease spot on the floor. His fist are the size of my head.”
“Really? That big?” Greg teased. Jessica frowned.
“My head isn’t big.”
A playful smile crossed Greg’s features. “No, it isn’t,” he conceded. “It’s perfect, but for fist to be that size, it is pretty daunting. Now, I have to meet him. Come on!” He pulled her up from the couch. “We’re going to the Narrows.” At his proclamation, Jessica felt a twinge of fear. Instead of moving like he wanted her to, she stood stock still. Seeing the girl was not going to move Greg sighed. “I know you don’t want to go back there and I know the reason why, but I’ll be with you. You don’t have anything to worry about. I won’t let them take you back.”
Trusting him more than most, Jessica gave in against her better judgment. “Wait!” called Greg. She stopped and turned to him. “I have something to give you before we go.” He left her standing in the doorway of the kitchen, shifting from one foot to the other in impatience. He was not gone long and when he came back he had a gray box in his hand, a dark blue bow tied around it. “Merry Christmas,” he said to her as he handed her the box. Taking it into her hand, it was heavier than she expected, and she stared at it, seemingly not know what to do. “Open it!” urged Greg.
With hands shaking Jessica did as she was told. Pulling on the edge of the ribbon she undid the bow and then opened the box. Inside was another box of a lighter shade of gray. Tilting the box upside down she forced the other slightly smaller one out. It took some effort for it had been a tight fit. Once the box plopped into her hand, she handed the two halves of the other to Greg. Dreading what the contents of the box in her hands were, she reluctantly opened it.
Inside, much to her surprise, was just a plain golden necklace. She had expected something more along the lines of diamond covered, but not a single jewel was spotted on the thing. Just a golden heart, the center open, with a thin gold chain stringed through the opening. “I didn’t get you anything for Christmas,” she declared still staring down at the necklace.
Sighing, Greg took the box from her hands. After retrieving the necklace from its container he clasped it around her neck. “Don’t worry about getting me anything,” he reassured her. Gripping the back of her neck lightly, he forced her to look up at him. “I already got what I need.” A blush tinted Jessica’s cheeks a light pink hue that stood out against her pale skin. He leaned in and gave her a peck on top of her lips. “You’re cute when you blush.” This statement only made the blush deepen. “Now, let’s go before it gets too late.”
“It’s only nine, the club doesn’t open until ten.”
“The Narrows is on the other side of town so it’ll take you a while to get there. And I get realized that neither one of use have socks on or a coat. That’ll take a little more time.”
Forty five minutes later they were in the car headed toward Jaded. The reasoning behind their late departure was Jessica had decided that she needed to change into something more simple. Now clad in a pair of faded flared blue jeans that clung to her hips, a plain black sweater and white tennis shoes, she felt ready to face her old life. She was still a little uncomfortable though he clothes were plain, they were still designer and everyone would pick up on that fact. Both had decided against coats considering they would be inside most of the time.
“I don’t understand why we couldn’t just take the bus,” Jessica announced.
“Buses don’t go to the Narrows,” Greg told her. “I don’t know why you’re so worried about it.”
Rolling her eyes, Jessica explained to why she was worried. “Greg, this is a nice car and we’re going to the poorest part of town. Do you know how long it takes six people to strip a car like this?”
“No.”
“Depending on the make and model, under a minute. They’ve had a lot of practice. I watched a group of four strip a Ferrari. It only took them forty-five seconds.”
“How would you know that?”
“Selina timed them. It was a bet. She bet them two bills they couldn’t do it in less than a minutes and they won.”
“I bet she was pissed.”
“Not really,” answered Jessica shrugging her shoulders. “She already made a few grand that night.”
Mouth agape, Greg took his eyes off of the road for just a moment. Seeing that, Jessica gripped the armrest on the door tightly. “If she makes that much, why does she still live in the Narrows?”
“Cuts. The mob gets fifty percent of the earnings and then the pimps get twenty-five. By the time all is said and done we’re left with enough to feed ourselves and pay rent,” she explained. “Could you pay attention to the road, please?” Her tone was panicky and rose in pitch at the end.
He did as she asked and she relaxed slightly. “What about you?”
“I had to give the mob seventy-five. Mike took his twenty-five, Andy took the rest of what I made, and Bob refused to take anything from me. To make things fair, the pimps would switch every two weeks. Some weeks I went hungry and others I didn’t. I was lucky enough that Bob was my landlord and would waiver my rent if it was due when it was Andy’s turn.”
“I don’t like this Andy character. I think if I meet him, I’ll have to hurt him.”
“You might get the chance. He’s normally at Jaded. Be careful around him. He’s deceiving and stronger than he looks. Only Croc has been the one to defeat him in a fight.”
“Hm, a challenge. I like it.”
The statement earned him another roll of the eyes from Jessica. Men. She did not know why she even bothered. If it was not for the fact that most women repulsed her she would have turned gay long ago. Just the thought of touching some of them made her gag. Not to mention the fact that women were far too bitchy for her taste. Men were no different, but they seemed to be more subtle about it.
Buildings flew by as Jessica stared out of the window. Slowly the scenery started to turn for the worse. Tall buildings with very clean windows that reflected the gray sky turned to shorter ones that did not look as lavish as their predecessors. Those shorter and plainer buildings soon turned to even smaller and plainer ones. As they approached closer to the Narrows, windows in building were broken out and there were large cracks in the mortar. Trash covered the streets and rats were appeared out of the sewers and scuttled in the gutters.
Most would have shied away from the sight of such depravity, but Jessica welcomed it. That disgusting hole of a place had once been her home not that long ago. It felt good going back there, though she was frightened as hell about what was to come. Not only would she be facing old friends she had abandoned, but and old lover and some enemies. Facing Croc was the most frightening thing of all.
Many questions ran through her head at the thought of the man. Would he hate her? Did he still love her? How would he react toward Greg? And many, many more. As Greg pulled up to the side of the building and parked, she forced the whirlpool of questions from her mind. She was about to find out the answers to all of them in a matter of moments.
“Hey!” Greg called to a guy walking down the sidewalk. The man stopped and looked to him. “Come here!” Jogging, the man did as he was told. Once the man was in front of him, Greg smiled his million dollar smile. Apparently Jessica was not the only one effected by it. “I’ll give you two bills if you watch my car.” Jessica’s jaw dropped. To hear that was an ample sum of money just to watch a car.
“Okay,” the man eager replied holding out his filthy hand greedily. Greg pulled out a wad of twenties and counted out five of them and placed it in the filthy hand that had been offered to him. “What the hell?!” the man exclaimed. “You told me two hundred.”
Greg shook his head. “Do you take me for an idiot. You’ll get the other half when we get back.” With a gesture of his hand, he commanded Jessica to come to his side. When she did, he instantly wrapped a protective arms around her shoulders. “If I come back and my car even had one scratch on it I’ll cut off your balls and feed them to my little Akita.”
The man scoffed. Threats of that nature were plentiful to him. “Or,” Jessica started, “you could always make him eat them.” She indicated toward the man.
“I like that idea better.” He smiled down at her. He turned back to the man to continue the conversation. “You look hungry enough to eat them. I bet they’ll be the biggest meal that you’ve eaten in a while.” Jessica witnessed the man’s Adam’s apple bob up and down as he gulped. “I’m sure we have an understanding.” Just as his Adam’s apple had done, the man’s head bobbed up and down in confirmation. “Good. We’ll be back later.”
Arm wrapped tightly around her shoulder, Greg led her around the building and to the entrance. No one was standing guard which was normal. Most of the happening were on the inside and no one really cared who came in. The place was owned by the mob and the cops would not touch it. The last one to investigate the place had ended up at the bottom of the docks with a cinder block attached to his feet. Whoever said old methods weren’t the best hadn’t ever been involved with the mob.
Already Jessica could feel the bass pumping from the building and it was made worse when they entered. To her surprise, the place was packed. All the seats were taken and there were people standing in the back leaning against the wall. When the song ended Jessica and Greg made their way up to the bar.
“I can’t believe you ditched work for this,” she complained to him.
Greg just shrugged. “They said that they didn’t need me anyways. There was too many people scheduled. I was the only one to call off so they just gave me the day off. I thought you’d be happy. It’s rare we get a whole day to spend with each other.”
“Yes, it is, but I never planned to spend a day at a strip club with you.”
Cheers erupted throughout the place and Jessica turned to see who was coming on stage. It was none other than Harley Quinn. She wore a red string bikini top and black bottoms. Six inch platform stilettos adorned her feet. The right one was red and the left one was red. Her long blond hair was down and swayed with her motions. When she turned to walk to the bar at the far end of the stage, Jessica spotted the signature silver diamonds on the back of her bottoms. There were four in total close together forming a larger but broken diamond.
“Who’s that?” inquired Greg in her ear.
“Harley Quinn,” she responded in his. “She’s the best stripper they got here.”
“Why do they call her Harley Quinn?”
“Because she mute. The idiots that gave her the nickname were thinking of a mine but somehow came up with a harlequin. I’m shocked they could even come up with a word that has more than one syllable.” Greg chuckled.
The smile quickly fell from Greg’s face and he pushed Jessica slightly behind him. Confused, she glanced around to see why he would react in that manner. Spotting the reason, Jessica frowned. A man was sauntering to them with a malicious look upon his face. Normally both of them would overlook such a thing, but the fact that the man was missing all of his fingers on one hand sent alarms ringing through their heads.
Bellows. Somehow the man had man had survived Joker’s assault against his fingers. Jessica could have sworn the man had chopped off all of his fingers, but it would seem she had been mistaken. Those times were filled with confusion and it would have been easy for her to think one thing and another happen.
“Well, lookie what we have here!” he shouted over the music. “The faggot and the whore.” He spat at their feet as if just speaking to them left a bad taste in his mouth. Greg’s eyes narrowed dangerously at the man. He did not say a word but let the man continue. “I lost my fingers because of you,” he proclaimed pointing with his only index finger at Jessica. “I want you to pay for that.”
“You’ll have to get through me first,” informed Greg.
“Hey!” a female voice shouted over the music. Jessica recognized it as Selina’s. “Why don’t ya go back to ya seat and leave them the fuck alone!”
The shouts of the woman attracted more attention then Jessica felt comfortable with. It seemed all eyes were on them instead of on Harley twirling around the bar. Creeping closer to Greg, Jessica tightly gripped his long sleeved button up black shirt. Sensing her unease, he wrapped a protective arm around her shoulder.
Bellows reeled on Selina who now stood a foot from him. “Why should I listen to you, cunt!”
Selina’s eye twitched in annoyance, but Jessica was the first to react. “Don’t call her that you prick!” Her screamed echoed across the bar. The music had been turned off and now all eyes were really on them.
“Ooh, and what’s the whore going to do about it? Joker’s not here to protect you.”
The wind chime laughter of Jessica’s filled the bar. The sweetness was gone from it and replaced with a hint of madness causing most to shy away from her. Bellow, being the man he was, was not going to be intimidated by a woman half his size.
As abruptly as it started, it stopped. A hardened look was on her face when she looked back to the man. “You really think I need him to protect me?”
“Oh no, that’s right, you got the faggot,” he pointed to Greg, “to protect you now.”
With a quickness she never realized that she was capable of she gripped Bellows’ wrist tightly in her hand. Though her hand could barely wrap around it that did not stop her from somehow holding it in place though he tried to pull away. “Call him that again and I’ll rip your tongue out.”
“With what? You ain’t got no weapons.”
Shaking her head, Jessica giggled madly. “Silly rabbit, with my hands.” She released his wrist and was proud to see a red handprint upon it. “By the way, it’s ‘You haven’t got any weapons.’ Learn to speak correctly, it makes you sound like an idiot. Well, an idiot would be a step up from what you are. Now, leave and take your friends with you.” She indicated to the men that were now standing behind Bellows as if to back him up.
“And if we don’t go? I’m sure you three can’t take all of us.” He had grouped Selina, who had a bewildered expression on her face, in with the couple.
“It’s not us you’re going to have to worry about,” she said matter-of-factly. “It’s him.” She pointed behind them. The five men turned and came face to face with Croc who loomed over them. “Now, be good little bunny rabbits and run away.”
Bellows accomplices made to leave but when the man himself did not move, the quickly changed their minds. He tried his best to stare down Jessica, but she was not going to have it. She just stared back up with him, arm folded across her chest. The necklace Greg had given her dug into the fabric of the sweater. Never taking his eyes off of him for a moment, not even to blink, her foot moved up and down slowly hitting the ground with a soft thump.
The tapping stopped. “What are you waiting for?” she asked the man darkly unfolding her arms from her chest. Taking a step toward him, she spoke, “I know that you want to hit me. I can see that much in your beady brown eyes. Why don’t you, huh?” A sarcastic smile formed on her lips. “Oh, I know!” She clapped her hands together. “You’re waiting for me to turn around. You won’t attack me unless my back is turned, isn’t that right?” The smile disappeared from her face like it never existed. “Just like you crept into my room that night after Joker left. Waited until I was asleep. I should rip your throat out for that.” Her tone was harsh and biting, making Selina flinch. That was the first time she had witnessed the girl’s anger. She almost felt sorry for the guy. Almost.
“I’m not afraid of you,” Bellows stated in bravado.
“The bravado is a nice touch, but it doesn’t suit you. I know you’re not brave. You proved that much when you opened the door and Joker was standing there. ‘Oh, please, Boss,’” she started in her best imitation of him. ‘I’m sorry, I won’t do it again. Please don’t kill me. I’m drunk and she offered it to me. She’s a whore. It won’t happen again.’” Her mockery of him ended. “Pretty pathetic if you ask me.”
When he pulled out the knife that she had known was in his pocket, Jessica did not flinch. Nor did she when it was coming at her. She just watched as it moved closer and closer to her with vague interest. For once she was not afraid. Her heart did not race as she expected it to. Her breathing did not quicken. Sweat did not bead her brow. Not a single symptom of fear formed itself in her body. No explanation as to why formed in her head. She just stood there transfixed as the blade neared her.
It never reached her. Greg stopped the man in mid motion grabbing the man’s hand. His fingers wrapped around Bellows’ thumb palm flat against the back of his hands, Greg pulled sharply back. The knife fell to the ground with a clatter and a loud snap echoed across the silent room followed closely by a scream.
“Bad move, Bellows, very bad move,” Greg gratingly told the man.
“What’s going on here!” a voice cut across the room.
Jessica stiffened at the recognition of the voice. Deep, commanding, and always with a bite of anger in it. Her heart raced, sweat formed on her brow, and her breathing quickened. The effects of fear barreled over her and sunk in deep. That was the voice of the one man she hoped they would not encountered with their surprise visit. The one man that could strike such intense and overwhelming fear into her.
Andy had finally appeared.

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So, I know that Joker hasn't been in it in a while, but he is coming back soon. I've just been having trouble getting Jessica to the place he's at, which all of you know is Arkham. She's getting there though. I believe it's either in the next chapter or the chapter after that he makes his return, I should know because I already have it written but my memory is horrible. You'll just have to wait until then. Review and rate please!