Chapter 25: Undercurrent

...

I kissed him.

It wasn't until the kiss ended that I realized the horrifying truth.

My brain, like a rusty machine, churned slowly and stagnantly.

I kissed... who?

The Joker...?

? ?

...

No, no—

those irrational impulses vanished completely, replaced by shame and terror. I'd never hated myself so much the moment before.

Damn it, what the hell did you do?

My body went cold, but the warmth lingered on my lips, like an indelible mark.

Blood surging in my chest, I shoved the face so close to me away.

Jack—no.

The Joker.

He looked dazed, with that innocent air that only "Jack" could muster.

...

Fake.

There was no Jack.

He'd deceived me, seduced me, toyed with me, treated me like a joke, watched me, like a fool, gradually let my guard down.

But I didn't want to play along anymore.

"You..."

My voice cracked. "What's your purpose?"

He froze, blinking.

"What's your purpose? Honey, what's wrong with you?

The voice sounded a little flustered.

"Don't call me that again!" I roared, trying my best to restrain my fist from falling on that hateful face, "Clown, you are not qualified--"

He suddenly realized, bent down to pick up the script that fell to the ground, and explained hurriedly while flipping through it:

"I'm sorry, I must have been distracted just now, where were I now, baby? "

The anger was so strong that I even felt a dull pain in my stomach.

This ridiculous response, this little trick full of loopholes -

I should have refuted him immediately -

I should have exposed his disguise immediately.

However.

His expression was too real, and there was a loss in his green eyes, as if he really didn't know what had just happened.

Some memories came to my mind:

the time when the Mad Hatter had a sword hanging over his head, he didn't resist at all.

The candies he often ate contained unknown drugs that inhibited nerve activity. According to the packaging, other candies were traced but there was no abnormality, suspected that they were swapped.

He went to the hospital alone to see a psychiatrist.

...

I clenched my back teeth.

Did this really happen, or was it another crazy gamble carefully planned by the Joker?

I stared at him, my breathing became heavy, and my fingers turned white because of the force.

I had the answer in my heart, but I tried not to think too much about it.

I didn't want to admit it -

the possibility that the Joker was a victim.

"Why are you looking at me like that? He looked very uneasy. "Honestly, honey, this brings back some bad memories... Did something happen while I was distracted?"

...

After a brief silence, I spoke.

"You just... weren't in your right state."

Jack seemed a little flustered, his lips trembling unnaturally.

"I... wasn't in my right state?"

"Just now you suddenly lost control," I whispered, observing his reaction. "You were screaming, shouting words I couldn't understand."

"I tried calling your name to calm you down, but it didn't work, so I just tried to comfort you. Later I found that calling the character's name can make you calmer..."

I made up these words without any guilt.

His shoulders shook slightly, and the expression on his face became more panicked.

"Jack," I pressed his shoulders, forcing him to look me straight in the face, "you need to see a doctor."

His eyes wandered, and he nervously pinched the corner of his clothes.

"Actually, I... have already seen a doctor. I have to admit—I have some psychological problems recently. "

He finished this sentence haltingly, paused, and added, "But the doctor said... it's not serious... I didn't expect something like this to happen..."

I slowly held his cold fingers.

"It's okay." I whispered to comfort him, "You're just sick, Jack. It's not your fault."

He didn't speak, as if trying to suppress his emotions.

"You need to rest well, I'll be with you." I hugged him from behind, like a close lover, "Come back to my manor, you'll get better there soon."

...

No matter who you are.

No matter if you are Jack, or the Joker -

from today on, you will never think of hurting anyone.