The Right Side of Wrong

The Final Joke: Part 2

{One week later}

Veronica's POV:

I don't know how long it's been since my first day in this chair, in this darkness, with these voices repeating old and new insults, reliving all my worst memories. But at some point, I feel myself leaving the chair, but I can't see anything through the sack over my head as I hear a familiar voice.

Harley: "This is only part of my crew. Where's my sister?!"

I'm thrown forward onto my knees.

Joker: "Say hello, Nica."

Joker removes the sack from my head to reveal Harley with explosives tied to her chest.

Harley: "Nica, you're ok! Wait, why are you crying? Are you hurt?"

Me: "A-Are you real or is this all in my head?"

Harley's eyes widen before she dons an angered look. I turn away, expecting her to yell at me, but she turns to Joker.

Harley: "What the hell did you do to her, you sociopath?!"

Joker: "Wasn't me. Scarecrow created a helmet that delves into your mind and brings out your deepest darkest fears. She's listened to everyone she loves, including you, ridicule, harass, and torment her for a week, and now she can't tell what's real and what's not. She's as crazy as I am!"

I look up as Harley locks eyes while donning a sympathetic look. But I can't tell if she's serious or messing with me again.

Joker: "So how about you make this easy for all of us and put the outfit on?"

Harley turns to Joker with her previously angered look.

Harley: "So, I put this on, you let them go?"

Joker: "All except Nica. I want to see how far she gets before she drives herself off the ledge, metaphorically speaking. Maybe. And if you don't, I kill them all."

So, she puts on the suit.

Joker: "There she is! Harley Quinn, original recipe. Why'd you have to go and mess with a classic?"

Harley: "Are you gonna let my crew go, or what?"

Joker presses a button, and the guys fall through the walls toward the exit.

Harley: "Ok, I'm in the costume. So what's the plan? Want me to make you a chocolate cake, put on Legally Blonde, and call you Puddin'?"

Joker: *laughing* "Harley, I've got the city by the balls. The cops are mine. Batman's tied up and gagged. I have everything a man could want. But I'm not happy. And do you know why?"

Harley: "Because you're a textbook sociopathic narcissist with a chemical imbalance in your parasympathetic nervous system?"

Joker: "Hey, that's what Batman said. No, the reason I wasn't happy was because we weren't together. It wasn't until I got everything that I realized it means nothing without you by my side."

Harley: "Really?"

Joker: "Harley, you're the missing piece to my happiness. I knew you'd be back."

I see Harley pull out a blade from behind her back. Real or not, he'll do the same for her, and I can't let that happen.

Harley: "I guess I could never stay away from my Puddin'."