"Even for the deaths of innocent people who will die because of her?"
"I will not allow this," I retorted.
"We are not always able to keep our promises. And you certainly will not be able to control the actions of this eco-terrorist. When she commits her atrocities again, Ivy will return to my care."
"Her name is Pamela," I looked into the eyes of the mad experimenter. "And believe me, I will make sure that you never see her again."
It looks like we've reached our destination. I stopped in front of the door of Arkham's most dangerous patient.
"As I already said, Mr. Reath, we cannot always keep our promises," he took off his glasses and began to wipe them with the hem of his white coat. "Be careful with this guest. His mood is very changeable, especially today, because a thunderstorm is starting outside."
"Thank you for the advice. Sasha, you stay here, I'll go in alone." I informed.
"He won't hurt me, don't worry," I assured the dissenting Bordeaux. "Everything will be fine, just wait for me here."
I opened the door and entered the abode of the clown prince of the criminal world. As soon as I crossed the threshold, the Joker immediately hugged me.
"Alex, I'm so glad to see you!" He began to pat me on the shoulder. "I thought you wouldn't come to see me again. Four days have passed, after all. But look at me, don't you notice anything?"
"You're not wearing a straitjacket?" I assumed.
"That's right! Ha-ha-ha, I don't know why, but this time my hands are free. And I can guess why…" Damn Hugo Stange deliberately didn't put the Joker in a straitjacket. I don't know what he wanted. Did he want J to kill me or for me to run away with my tail between my legs? It doesn't matter, either way, it doesn't matter. I'm not afraid of the possible consequences. Probably because I believe that the clown won't kill me.
"So, why did you come to my humble abode again?"
"Can't I just visit a friend?"
"Oh, you consider me a friend! That's so sweet," the Gotham maniac said innocently.
"I was at Harley's, and there I found out that each patient in Arkham is given a choice of different toys," I took a quick look at the interior of his ward. "Did you get something too?"
"Of course! In fact, I asked for a small optimist gift set," the Joker said cheerfully. "But they didn't give it to me," he slumped his shoulders from the sadness that had washed over him.
"And what kind of optimist set was it?"
"A rope, soap and a stool. Ha-he-ha! But in the end I had to make do with books. I read A Clockwork Orange - it's a grand masterpiece. I liked it even more than 'It'."
"I'm flattered, because I wrote it for one reader. But I hope you don't mind if I publish it and show it to the whole world?"
"Why not? The main thing is that my face is on the covers," he smiled and said.
The cover really did feature the Joker's face, only without the white makeup and scars. After all, I made it to order.
"J, I've looked into your case," I plopped down on a chair. "All the doctors you've seen have diagnosed different types of psychosis. From split personality disorder to... The list is endless."
"Thank you, I'm trying," and again a smile from ear to ear.
"What is it like? Living with constant madness?"
"Quite refreshing. This world is too terrible to take seriously. To be insane is to cut yourself off from its influence. It's not so bad, really. It has its advantages," the comedian sat down opposite me, crossing his legs.
"You don't want to be normal again?"
"Never! It's too boring! Without chaos, you can't fully enjoy a quiet life. People never appreciate what they have too much of. But when their usual way of life suddenly changes, everyone immediately panics. They begin to appreciate what they always ignored, because they took peaceful days for granted. That's why the world needs me,to teach them to appreciate it, bringing a bit of chaos into this world."
"It's as reasonable as it is crazy," I commented on the motives of the interlocutor.
"Yes, yes, it is crazy, the absolute heresy of a crazy terrorist. But do you understand the irony? For all this chaos, I only need dynamite, gunpowder and gasoline. And you know what the best thing about them is? They are cheap! Ha-he-haa-h-ahh-ha! This world is just asking for me to organize anarchy in it," the prince of crime declared at the top of his voice, climbing onto his bunk.
"How did this happen, J? Why did you become ?" I asked, feeling as if I was standing on thin ice, ready at any moment to fall down into the abyss of cold darkness. Who else, brave and foolish, would ask such dangerous questions to the insane psychopath of Gotham, except me? True, no one... But I have my own interest in this.
The last time, when the Joker was taken away by the police, thanks to my intuition, I was able to sense a blurry silhouette looming over him. I tried not to think about it until now, because it was too early for me to encounter something so powerful. But I realized that I can't ignore it. I need to make sure, and if necessary, take countermeasures.
Even though it sounds absolutely ridiculous, considering who I'm going against. The first time I visited J, I couldn't sense this silhouette, but this time, I will use all the mental energy I have. Even if I have to empty the entire vessel filled with intuition. I can't see everything with the eyes of an ordinary mortal, so the only hope left is my sixth sense.
"Many people have asked me this question," answered the villain, jumping down and landing on the floor with a loud stomp. "It only takes one bad day to drive a person completely insane. That's how far removed from the rest of the world I am. Just one bad day. Hard to believe, right? But I know it is. I can tell you. For example, I'll bet my underwear with my initials that Bats definitely had a bad day, and then everything changed. Otherwise, why would he dress up as the Flying Menace?" He spread his arms out to the sides.
Yeah, one day ... The events of the killing joke immediately come to mind, when he wanted to prove to everyone that one day is enough to fall into madness. I will definitely not allow this story to be repeated, because I can't allow Barbara to be humiliated and paralyzed. Not on my watch…..
All this time, while we were talking, I was trying to feel the presence of an abstract creature again. And then, finally, a foggy veil seemed to fall from my eyes, and the image of a girl appeared before me. She was looking straight at me, not hiding her sincere curiosity. At least, that's what it seemed to me. I could not see her appearance very clearly, except for her eyes. One was green with silver specks, and the other was blue. Her unearthly image was complemented by butterflies and fish fluttering and hovering around her. It turns out I was not mistaken... One of the seven abstract creatures personifying different aspects of the universe.. I actually saw her - the youngest representative of the Endless family, known as - Delirium.
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