Sacrifice

Sacrifice

Fear clenching at her throat as she tried desperately to escape the never ending nightmare. Nails digging slowly deeper into the dirt, rain pounding against her trembling body. All the strength left in her was directed to her arms, which were straining to heave her forwards. Monsters, daemons, taunting and teasing. It had to stop, before they destroyed everything she had left to hold onto.

"Puddin'! Must save Puddin'..."

Dead Man's Drop. If the rocky cliff edge didn't chill you, the bleak, dark drop that slept underneath it would. Her life's fluid pouring down her fragile frame. Climbing further towards the edge, a shocking, sick sight suddenly occurred; for that life fluid, began to pour as tears from those baby blue eyes. Blood curdling screams echoed through the lightning and the rain, as the energy drained, and Harley collapsed, victim to the devil plaguing her last moments.



Stumbling over his own footsteps, time ticking, slowly, quickly, as each passing moment brought him more anxiety over his little clown princess. She hadn't been herself, and had seemed so frightened of everything, then the illness. Now missing. Every other time before, a reason, which he had known. What worried him, it was not that she had gone, but that the knowledge of why escaped him. Goons planted all over the city, but no reports. Eight long dreary hours of torment. Is this the way it was going to end? There was a last resort of course, there always was, but to use it was another matter. As ludicrous as it seemed, the old saying goes 'desperate times call for desperate measures'. She meant more to him than he'd ever admit to. Nothing left except her. Doing this was the only way he'd even have a chance of seeing her again. Without thinking about the consequences, he abandoned the ware-house, and heading straight for the signal. The bat signal.



"Oh common Bats, does it really take you this long to get here."

Pacing up and down the roof, his patience was being tried. They'd been fighting for so long, but he would have though the Dark Knight would have spared him the one occasion and helped him.

"Joker? What game are you playing at this time?"

"I need help."

"If you need that, I'll be happy to ship you back to Arkham."

"I need YOUR help."

The cold winds of Gotham wrapped around Batman. Eerily, he knew The Joker wasn't lying. This wasn't a scheme, a joke. The Joker turned to look his nemesis in the eye. Make up that had streamed down his face from crying over this unfortunate situation. Pity almost overtook Batman, but not quite.

"Go on then."

"It's Harley. She's missing."

"What's this got to do with me? I'm sure you have enough men to go and search for her yourself."

"You'd think so. I've tried. It's been nearly ten hours now. I can't find her."

"Not my problem. I'm surprised you're even concerned. You've never shown much affection for her. Or anybody else for that matter."

"Who says I'm concerned about her? If she goes, I'll have nobody to manipulate. Also something else..."

"Yes?"

"Before she vanished, she was acting all strange. Not good strange. She kept looking around, as if something was following her. I've never seen her so scared. Not even facing death. Then she was really ill for a few days, kept murmuring under her breath. I think she was being poisoned. Please help me find her Batsy."

This was his chance. Handcuffed, without a scratch, ready for the authorities and more importantly Arkham. Though he seemed like a different person. Harley had seemed to have broken through his corrupt soul, and made him that little bit more human. In a way, it was nice to see The Joker broken down. Without even looking at his pleading face, he nodded. Careful, he still had to be.



Traces of her admiration still hung in the air. That sweet, loving smile. The glint of innocence in her eyes. Ripped from her soul, and locked in a jar, hidden from the rest of the world. He needed to find that jar. The fact of the matter was that he couldn't think of anybody that would even dare do this to her. A magnificently bloody death awaited the slime who'd done this. The ware-house felt more empty than ever before. Dimly lit, paper scattered all over the place. Same as always, but very barren.

"So Bats, what do you think of the place? Great isn't it."

Grunting at the comment, Batman scanned his eyes around the room. Not exactly what he expected
from the Clown Prince of Crime. Then again, making it too exclusive would have led Gordon straight to him. Something caught his eye, lying there on a bed.

"A whoopee cushion? What do you use that for?"

"You see Bats, if I told you that, I'd have to kill you."

Casually The Joker meandered forward, towards the one place he'd never dared enter. Anger had always placed her there, patience as she waited for him to scream her name once more. Such a little room, held so much secrets. Maybe that was why he would never take a step inside. Fingers trembling as he grasped at the handle of the door. The Caped Crusader was elsewhere, searching through some documents, figuring he wouldn't get an opportunity like this ever again. Creaking as it opened, The Joker clasped his eyes shut. An insight into her mind lay ahead. What really did go on inside of that pretty little skull? Of course, it was all about him. Every inch, every detail. Finding the courage inside, he managed to force his eyes open.



Paralysed with shock, blinking repeatedly just to make sure it was legitimate. Drawings, photographs, writing etched into the walls, and blood. Dedicated to her one and only Puddin'. A shrine. Horrifying, flattering, so many words to describe it, but he was completely speechless. In some screwed up way it was sweet. At least to him anyway. Before he became too engulfed in the 'little tribute' towards him, the long search began, for any signs as to where Harley could be. A while later, The Joker stumbled across a diary. A sigh of relief, and he raced out of the room to inform Batman of his discovery.

"Look what I've found Bats!" Waving the diary in his face, almost as if he was trying the mock him.

"Read it then."

"I'd thought I'd give you the honours."

Afraid. Bruce knew The Joker was afraid to read that diary. Why? Because he loved her too much to know how much pain she was in. Of course he'd never admit that. Not even to himself would he accept it. He gently opened the black book, guessing The Joker would be incredibly pissed off if he mistreated it.

"Okay, so the last few entries. This is the first. Help me please. These daemons that chase me, they
tell me such horrible things. Make it stop, please make it stop. The second, over these past few days I've been having these fits, where I just shake uncontrollably. I keep throwing up blood. I can't tell Mistah J though. I'm the least of his worries. The daemons won't leave. I'm so scared. Why can't anybody see them? It's all since I started with that drink Pam gave me..."

"IVY! WHAT HAS SHE DONE!?"

"Oh this last entry is interesting. I must save him, I have to save Puddin'. I can't let them kill him.
They can't take him from me. He's so precious. I won't let Batman kill him. I must do as the voices say. Sacrifice. It's the only way."

His suspicions had at least been confirmed. Harley was being poisoned. By Ivy so it seemed, but he would have to dig deeper into that. It didn't make any sense, they were best friends. Though, with neither of them clinically sane, it was hard to judge any of their actions. Soft sobbing sounds, came from underneath him. Looking down, he gazed upon a sight he'd never seen before. On his knees, tears streaming down face, and even shaking, there was The Joker. For once he was weak, defenceless, and even more disturbing, human. Only ever having comforted women, Batman stood there in awe; wishing that all of Gotham could have beheld this phenomenal sight.



Ripping the phone of the hook, practically punching the numbers into the small device. He wanted answers, and now! Why would Ivy do this? How had she done it? Most importantly was Harley going to die from it? A peculiar beeping sound came from a device, located in Batman's hand.

"I'm tracing the substance that's in this bottle that Harley's been drinking from."

Although used in the worst way possible, it was a beautiful bottle. Vines entwined around the outer shell, rose buds sprouting from all corners. The bottle itself was emerald green, and shone with a mysterious glow.

"Hey Harley darling, how are you?"

"You should know. WHERE IS SHE?"

"Joker, what are you on about?"

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HARLEY AND WHERE IS SHE!?"

"Ha! She's all mine Joker. You've no idea where she is. I'll find her, and then she'll be all mine. Besides I've always treated her better."

"Listen here Ivy, Harley is mine, you know it, I know it, and she knows it! If she dies, I'm going to make you feel so much pain you and your little green friends will never see the sunlight again. Oh wait a minute, ding ding! We have a special prize! You Ivy, will suffer and die whether I find Harley or not, either dead or alive!"



Words, with no sound, slumped over the armchair, ghastly images engulfed his mind. Brain beaten out of her skull, blood pouring from every open access. The Joker shuddered with disgust. Rain pounding against the ware-house was all that clogged his ears. Sighing deeply, tears began to well in his eyes once again. He desperately needed her. She did all the little things, nobody else could do. The way she organised the papers on his desk, the way she lined up the pencils. The tiny cheese sandwiches she'd always bring in on a blue plate every night when he was concentrating on plans, and couldn't sleep. She always knew if he was upset, and even if he pushed her away, she'd be there. But now, everything had changed. He realised just how much he cared about her. Dare say he loved her. She was lost, and suddenly he was too; and more lonely than ever before.

"I've identified the substance Harley's been drinking. A remedy that could only be created by Ivy of course. She's managed to develop some sort of poison, inside a red rose. Which means she'll have an antidote. We'd best head over to the Botanic Gardens."

"Antidote? Why would Harley need that? She's only having hallucinations."

"You remember that time where you threw her out of a window? Well, she had to have blood transfusions and such. Externally she's got great strength. Internally not so good. This thing Ivy's been slipping her, besides the fact that she keeps forgetting she's not human any more therefore things will react differently to her body; it's killing Harley. If we don't reach her in time... I'm sorry Joker."

"Botanic Gardens. NOW BATS!"



"Oh really, is it necessary to handcuff me to the inside of your car Batsy?"

"Be quiet and stay put."

If he didn't save Harley, he knew The Joker would do everything in his will to destroy him. Though the whole situation brought a smile to his face. Oh the irony. Bruce chuckled as he entered through the colossal gates. Unique plants were sprouting all over the place, along with a green mist, which consumed the inside of the building. Delicate whispers could be heard from nearby, Batman knew it could only be one person. Vines covering her as a door, opened gently to reveal the mastermind herself.

"Why hello Batman. Babies it's okay, he won't hurt us, will you?"

"Wouldn't dare."

"What brings you to my wonderful home Batman?"

"Antidote, to the drink you've been slipping Harley."

"I see Joker sent you..."

"Where is it Ivy?"

"You don't need an antidote my love. She'll just been seeing a few things, that's all. Besides I don't even know where she is. I thought she'd be at the ware-house..."

"She's dying Ivy."

"Stop messing with me...

"I'm not. You keep forgetting, your blood isn't like anybody else's. Besides, Harley's blood has been tampered with after many incidents. Your little poison is killing her. So. Antidote. NOW."

After pulling out a small green vile from down her wispy shirt, she handed it to Batman.

"Here. She can drink it or inject. Either way will work fine."

"When did she start drinking the poison?"

"A week ago. How much time does she have?"

"We'll be lucky if she lasts another hour."

Dumbfounded and on the verge of tears, Batman decided to leave her. He'd gotten what he wanted. Time was ticking, and Harley didn't have much left...



"Robin, contact Commissioner Gordon and tell him to pick up Ivy from the Botanic Gardens. She won't be hard to take in."

"You got it Batman. Oh and we got a heads up on where Harley might be. There's apparently a body lying on top of Dead Man's Drop, wearing a red and black outfit."

"Thanks. Over and out."

Noticing The Joker twiddling his thumbs, he placed the car on auto pilot and handed him the antidote.

"Thank you Bats. I know we aren't really meant to get along, but this really does mean a lot to me."

"You're welcome?"

"Ha! Well I'll put in a good word for you when you finally join us at Arkham!"

Why did he do that? He didn't need to. He laughed at what The Joker said. Part of him knew that it was true. The other part denying it. The rest of him just laughing at the scene of it all. Once in a blue moon. As the approach to Dead Man's Drop slowed down, Batman spotted a figure sprawled on the ground at the peak of the cliff. After releasing The Joker from the handcuffs, he could only say one thing.

"Oh my..."



Sprinting towards the seemingly lifeless body, clutching the small vile tightly in his hand, he only hoped he wasn't too late. As his eyes fell upon his clown princess, the tears began to pour from his dark eyes. Broken, was all he could describe her by. Blood tracing her entire body, closed eyes, dirt all over, and her adorable little outfit was torn. Falling to his knees, he gently placed her in his arms, cradling her delicate frame. Pouring the liquid into her mouth, watching it slip down her throat he could only hope for the best. Her eyes remained shut. With his breathing steadily on the increase, his heart plummeted. It couldn't be the end. They still had so much to do. He never told her how much he really loved her.

"We're two of a kind, I... I can't lose you Harley. I desperately need you. Please, you've got to wake up. I, I love you."

Choking on the words as he forced them out, with a lump in his throat. It didn't feel real. For this death, which she didn't deserve, he would be nothing. Eyelids starting to flutter, with all the strength she could find, she managed to open them, staring up at his deathly face.

"Harley! You're alive!"

"Puddin', the voices. They said..."

"I know, shush now. Don't worry, everything's going to be okay now. The daemons are never coming back. Oh Harley, I love you."

That smile, radiated off her face, and it was almost as if the whole world smiled with her.

"I love you too..."

Letting her eyes rest, The Joker dug his face into her neck. She was his again. Once more. Forever...



The Dark Knight watched this event from afar. Somehow, it shed a little warmth and reassurance on his heart. To capture this moment was truly breathtaking, and for the rest of time, it would be stored in the back of his mind. Knowing it best to leave the two for the reunion, he drove away.

"Robin, do you believe in miracles?"

"Why do you ask?"

"I think I just witnessed the greatest one of all time..."