A/N: Right. This is my first Batman/Dark Knight fic. I read Polly by LilthXasthur and I was inspired to write a sequel of sorts to it. If you haven't read Polly, you don't really need to for my story, but I would recommend you do since it's awesome. So without much else to say, here's Freeing the Songbird.
Credit: I don't own the Joker or the Scarecrow, they belong to DC Comics. And to prevent me from getting pimp slapped: I also don't own Polly, she belongs to Val aka LilthXasthur.
Enjoy!
Polly was dead. She knew she was, but why in the hell was she stuck here? Here, in this house where she spent the last few months of her life being beaten, raped, and tortured by those two sick criminals who ultimately ended her life. The Joker and the Scarecrow. Oh, they were there. No one knew where their hideout was or at least anyone alive that is.
When Polly first saw them, she tried to attack them, only to find that it went right through them or would only give them a chill where she attacked. Occasionally she was able to pick up stuff and throw it across the room, but they never seemed to notice or care. She spent most of her time just watching them, silently observing. She learned what their habits were and what they did all those times when they were upstairs. The Joker for example would take the newspapers, cut out the photos, and draw on them like a little kid, he would play darts with his knives occasionally, using a photo of Batman's head on the wall as a target, or watch the news. The Scarecrow, or Johnny as he was called by the Joker, would watch old shows like Leave It to Beaver or I Dream of Genie or read some type of classical piece of literature or psychology/medical journal. Both of them would occasionally make bombs and other types of weapons of destruction on the kitchen table or make up plans (that was more of Johnny's job) as to what they would do next.
She also noticed that they didn't kidnap any more girls after she was killed. She doubted they were mournful of her death, they probably 1.) thought it was too much of a hassle keeping her barely alive and didn't want to do that again or 2.) they hadn't found their target yet. That changed when after one night.
After a successful (if you want to call it that) day of causing chaos and mayhem on the city of Gotham. The pair of criminals decided to settle down on the couch and watch the media's recap of their paths of destruction and how the DA and the Gotham police were going to catch the Joker and the Scarecrow and bring them to justice. It apparently boosted their egos when they made the top stories. So the Joker flipped it onto one of his favorite news channels, Gotham City News.
"Good evening Gotham." the news anchor began. "Tonight is a very special night. Tonight we're not going to talk about the tragedies that have fallen our beloved city today." he announced.
"WHAT!" the Joker complained, just itching to throw a knife or shoot at the TV screen. Johnny just sat there on the couch listening to what the news anchor was saying.
"Instead of our usual newscast," the news anchor continued, "we are honored to broadcast a live debut of a special event occurring at the Gotham Opera House. The Gotham Opera is performing a concert to raise money to rebuild Gotham General Hospital and the Gotham Police Station, and to help support the families of the police officers who risked their lives in order to protect the citizens of Gotham. So with out further ado, I'd like to present to you the Gotham Opera starring, the Prima Donna and Sweetheart of Gotham, Elaine Dumont and the Gotham Orchestra." There was applause as the TV screen faded to an empty thrust stage and a live audience. The sounds of soft and somber organ and violins began to play the introduction.
"Great. Now we have to watch a fat lady sing in a boisterous voice in a language I can't even understand." The Joker once again complained as the music began and the audience was silent. Johnny didn't listen to what the Joker was saying; he liked classical music and actually was interested in hearing the so-called "Prima Donna of Gotham" sing.
"You never know Joker; you may actually find classical music to be quite enjoyable." Johnny commented as a silhouette walked up toward the spotlight.
"Psh. Yeah right, and that will be the day when I-" his thoughts were interrupted by the sound and vision he was experiencing from the television. There on the TV was the Prima Donna of the Gotham Opera, Elaine Dumont. She was a vision; she was a petite brunette in a white dress that showed off her voluptuous curves toned by years of ballet dancing and eyes like shining emeralds. Her voice wasn't like either one had ever heard before. It was pure and light, and could make the gods weep for its beauty. She was singing the Pie Jesu by Gabriel Faure in honor of the fallen police officers. The music seemed to flow through her and possess her entire being for when she sang; even the two hardened criminals watching were slightly softened by her performance.
Once the song was finished, the stage darkened and the sound of a lone violin could be heard. Then the sounds of voices "la-ing" to the melody. Shadows could be seen walking with candles onto the front of the stage. Once the shadows are in a line across the center of the stage, it's obvious from the candle light that there are five women wearing floor length, corset top, white dresses, Elaine in the center of the group. She starts to sing:
High is the moon tonight. Hiding its guiding light. High. Heaven and earth do sleep. Still in the dark so deep. I will the darkness sweep. I will the moon to flight. I will the heavens bright. I will the earth delight. Open your eyes with me. See paradise with me. Awake and arise with me
There was a crescendo in the music and the stage lights rose and you could see the stage clearer. The women blew out their candles and laid them on the floor. It was as if the morning sun was rising inside the theater. The women continued.
I am the dawn, I'm the new day begun. I bring you the morning, I bring you the sun. I hold back the night and I open the skies. I give light to the world, I give sight to your eyes. From the first of all time, until time is undone. Forever and ever and ever and ever. And I am the dawn and the sky and the sun. I am one with the One, and I am the dawn
The tempo of the song began to speed up; a man with a violin comes up onto the stage and starts to dance around the stage while playing the violin solo. Elaine also dances along with the violin soloist, doing. Then the chorus that was behind the five women joins in to finish the song.
I am the sky and the dawn and the sun. I am the sky and the new day begun. I am the sky and the dawn and the sun
Once the song was finished the new anchor came on and commented about the first set of the charity event. "That was the lovely Elaine DuMont singing Pie Jesu from Gabriel Faure's Requiem in honor of the fallen police officers. She was in also featured in The Sky And The Dawn And The Sky made famous by the group, Celtic Woman. For those of you watching at home who want to see Elaine and her singing ability for yourselves, she will be performing as Violetta Valéry in the Gotham Opera's production of Verdi's La Traviata starting next weekend. Miss DuMont, at the age of 20, will be the youngest singer in the Gotham Opera's history to perform the role of Violetta. We'll be back after this short commercial break." Then the station went to a commercial break. Both of the criminals who watched this were speechless. One was amazed at how beautiful the Prima Donna was and how enchanting her voice was. The other from throbbing pain of an erection hardening that was caused by the girl on the TV.
"So uh. That was uh, very enlightening. Never thought opera could be so uh…interesting." the Joker commented.
"Uh, huh." Johnny groaned out, still staring at the screen and trying to ignore the pain down below. Never in his life had he seen a woman like her and with a voice of an angel to go with it. He wanted her. He wanted her so badly; it was painful to think about it. The Joker felt the same way, but was better at controlling his urges than his partner in crime.
"Have any plans for this weekend, Johnny?" the Joker asked.
Johnny had finally calmed down his urges enough to be able to have a normal conversation with the Joker. ""Besides the usual, no. Why?"
The Joker looked over at Johnny and grinned his signature smile. "I think it's time we took the time to culture ourselves." The Joker reached over and patted Johnny on the shoulder. "I also think it's time we got ourselves a new pet. A songbird, perhaps." The Joker started to laugh and once Johnny caught on to the joke he started to laugh as well. Once the commercial break was over, they were down to giggles and eventually were quite so they could watch the rest of the show, leering lustfully every time Elaine was in the screen.
Polly, who watched the whole thing from the chair next to the couch, was angry and sad. She really wished she had the energy to pick up and throw something at the Joker to wipe that smile off his face. Poor girl. She didn't know it yet, but she was going to end up being another death caused by the Joker and the Scarecrow. Just like Polly. But not if Polly could help it. Polly, as she glared at the pair on the couch, swore that she was going to save this girl from being part of the statistics. She was going to do everything in her power to save Elaine from these two.