Alice's Aventures in Arkham

"Alice! You need to keep up!"

The small eight year old looked around at all the windows in the hall her father was taking her down; it was a miracle he was taking her on this tour of his asylum at all. But she just begged to at least know the outside of their little apartment attached to Arkham Asylum.

Her curious eyes looked over people she had only seen on dads TV he occasionally let her watch, all she knew about her dads job was it was dangerous because he worked with the scary people on the news, daddy once told her he "made these monsters become people again" but Alice knew that wasn't true…

Jeremiah Arkham looked down at his precious daughter, he had decided since she was 3 to keep her in the apartment he used to use for overnight stays and make it into their permanent home, he never wanted her to get this bad, he wanted his little girl to be home schooled and stay there forever with him, in a safe house away from the crazy outside world. He didn't want her to end up like her mother. He cringed at this thought of his little girl in a strait jacket… no! He wouldn't allow it!

Just then one of the crazies pounded against the glass, frightening the young girl.

"Why lookie here," the joker giggled "looks like the little Asylum princess finally talked her dad into paying us criminally insane a visit!" he snickered as Jeremiah glared at the worst of all of his patients.

Alice started to tear up "how does he know I asked you that daddy???" she pulled on his coat and took a step behind her father.

"That's just Joker Alice… he always knows way too much, he is too smart for his own good!"*
Joker cackled at his "complement" and went back to his bed to stare at the wall.

Alice started to cry.

"What's the matter Allie?" Jeremiah bent down and scooped up his little pride and joy.
She nuzzled into his lab coat. "Why is he locked up daddy?" she whispered. "Why isn't he out here with us?"

Jeremiah froze at this. "Because he is a criminal sweetie… he did bad things so he must be punished…" he walked down the hall with his little bundle of tears. "You see Allie, it's kind of like when I catch you reading daddy's paper work and I put you in the corner… my job is like being a big mean daddy to adults!"

Alice giggled at this thought nuzzling into her father's coat more. "So the joker man is in the corner for grownups?"

"Yup! And daddy's got to be there to teach him right from wrong…" he put Alice down and took her hand once more. "Ok let's go to the rest of Arkham!"

Alice didn't move, she was once again in deep thought.

"What now Allie?" Jeremiah was becoming impatient. But he still smiled and tried to be as best of a dad in this situation that he could be.

Alice looked back and forth, thinking of her words carefully, and then making up her mind she let it out. "Daddy I want to go to normal school and be as smart as you!"

Jeremiah just stared down at his child. This was the first time she ever said anything of this sort. She was becoming rebellious… like her mother!

He straightened up at this and spoke. "Absolutely not! You know you cannot leave this apartment, if you do you'll end up like joker, how many times do I have to say it!?!?"

"What's so bad about being like Joker?" she titled her head.

"EVERYTHING ALICE! JUST SHUT UP AND LISTEN TO ME! YOU ARE NOT TO LEAVE THE APARTMENT! YOU ARE TO BE HOME SCHOOLED, AND YOU ARE GOING TO LIKE IT! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?"

Jeremiah ignored the stares from the windows and the rest of the hall, Pamela Isely was staring down at the child with pity from her bullet proof glass, Doctor Quinnzel started to tear up for the child as she walked by the Doctor Arkham with disgust and Edward Nygma just thought this man was stupid for thinking his child would benefit from living in the Asylum.

Alice cried. She just bawled her little eyes out. "bu-bu-but daddieee," she tried to wipe her snot on her sleeve. "I WA-wanna be a psych-lo-gist like you!"

Doctor Arkham pause his rage for a moment as he realized what he had done in front of not only patients but staff too. He got down to eye level with the tear full child.

"I know sweetie, and you will be! In fact someday you'll be in charge of all this!" he motioned around at the cells as if it were some sort of prize. "But you'll be taught by the best mind here is instead of some silly teacher from Gotham High!" he pointed at himself and Alice giggled her sweet little giggle once more. " and When you get to be big enough I will have a college professor come and privately teach you too"

Alice clapped happily at this!

Jeremiah sighed. "I'm sorry for raising my voice to you Allie… how about I buy you a new book when I go into town today?" He grabbed his child's hand and walked back down the hall of looming windows to the door of their apartment.

Alice practically jumped through the ceiling at this!

"Can I have Alice in Wonderland!?!? That movie was on, on the Disney channel and I thought it was funny daddy! And it has my name in it!"

"Wow! That IS cool Alice… but it's kind of a confusing book, let's just stick to the movie till your older, besides there's this new book out that will be right up you ally I think!"

"Yay!" Alice glanced back at the hallway one last time, still feeling sorry for that silly clown that got put in the grownups corner.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That night as Doctor Arkham tucked Alice into bed.

She snuggled right into her favorite dragon stuffy and looked up at her dad with a puzzled look.

"What?" he looked down at her like he didn't know what could possibly be turning in that little head of hers.

"Did ya get it?" she glared up at him.

"Get what???" he tilted his head at his daughter.

She started to tear up "daaadiiiieee!!!!! You said you wo-"

A wrapped gift landed on her lap before she could finish her sentence. Excitedly she destroyed the wrapping paper cover! Reveling the new New York Times best seller…

Eragon!

She hugged it and giggled. "Yay! Thank you daddy!"

He smiled down at her "you like it?"

She looked up with her bright eyes gleaming! "Yeah! I will love it FOREVER"

Oh how true those words would be…