Beauty and the joker

1. The beauty with no memories

"Go and declare it – the Joker is no more!"

"But..."

"No 'buts,' the Joker is dead."

She nodded and left. There was nothing more to discuss; the decision had already been made – the Joker was dead.

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Their faces remained hidden behind masks, creating the illusion of three shadows in motion.

"The Joker is dead."

"What?" one of them exclaimed.

"Why?" questioned another.

"The decision has already been made."

"Now what? What about us?"

"If there is no Joker, there is no 'us,'" the first one stated. A moment of pause followed. "The Joker left a message for all of us."

"What is it?" The tallest one inquired.

"Find your purpose," the first one said, handing the other two bags. "A gift from the Joker to you. And with this, I take my leave. Take care."

The other two stood holding the bags. Once again, tears welled up in their eyes. Once again, they found themselves without families. However, beneath their masks, they managed a weak smile. The Joker hadn't left them without guidance; they were bestowed with a new mission – to discover their purposes.

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"Why did you abruptly leave everything and come here?" his friend asked as they strolled along the riverside. The blue sky, the slightly cold air, and the greenery created an exceptionally soothing atmosphere.

"Nothing extraordinary."

"There has to be something. Typically, whenever you came, you informed me at least one month in advance. You came so suddenly this time; I couldn't even clean the entire villa."

"It's fine."

"Has something happened?" his friend paused. "You seem surprisingly quiet. And you've changed."

Zahran looked at his friend and smiled.

"Is it a positive change or a negative one?"

"I can't say right now. Give me a few days, and then I can tell you." Raihan smiled back.

The river's gentle flow painted a serene backdrop as they continued their walk. The peaceful ambiance of the blue sky and the rustling leaves seemed to wrap around them like a comforting embrace.

Once again, Zahran fell into silence. Raihan glanced at him and inquired, "How long do you plan to stay here?"

"Can't say," Zahran replied with a nonchalant shrug. His gaze fixed on the rhythmic flow of the water.

"Buddy, now I'm genuinely curious. Have you committed any crime or something?" Raihan asked, but Zahran remained silent and shook his head dismissively.

Probing further, Raihan remarked, "Your recent actions are quite suspicious."

"Just because you're a police officer, are you starting to view everyone as potential criminals?" Zahran teased. "You've become quite cynical since joining the force."

"Your recent behavior has me thinking you might have committed a crime in the UK," Raihan chuckled. "Aren't you framing your friend as a criminal because you can't catch a real one?" Zahran continued the banter, "Haha, just kidding. Now, don't sulk like a jilted lover."

Changing the topic, Raihan casually asked, "By the way, have you heard the news that the Joker has died?"

Zahran's eyes flickered, and his ears perked up. "Which Joker?" he inquired, playing along.